Talk:Dendy (console)

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[edit] Popularity?

I grew up in Moscow during the 80s and I never heard of this product once. It says that it enjoyed great popularity, but there's nothing confirming the fact. Are there any sales figures or something like it available? Peter Isotalo 09:53, Apr 17, 2005 (UTC)

Hm. When I first introduced information about the Dendy to the main Nintendo Entertainment System article I put in some references, but I can't find them now. Short of wading through the history section there, a cursory search of Google gives a relatively large number of Russian-language websites with mention the Dendy alongside the Famicom/NES (like here, for instance). There's also this page, but that's really more along the lines of hearsay (though it does have some other information that should probably be added to the article, but I digress).
The problem is that accurate sales data is hard to come by, given that the Dendy wasn't officially licensed hardware. And, my knowledge of Russian being somewhat shaky (read as: nonexistent), I personally can't go digging very deeply into Russian web sites for more information. That being said, there does seem to be a great deal of circumstantial support for claiming that it was, at the very least, uniquely popular as far as NES hardware clones go.
But obviously, having lived there, you're probably a better source of information than I am, so I am more than willing to be corrected on this point. Just a thought, though: the vast majority of NES clones didn't hit the streets until relatively late in the NES/Famicom's lifespan (after 1990 or so, rather than during the '80s), and the same seems to be true of the Dendy. Could that be the source of the confusion? – Seancdaug 22:40, Apr 18, 2005 (UTC)
I moved to Sweden in 1990. That probably explains my ignorance. :-) Peter Isotalo 23:09, Apr 18, 2005 (UTC)
I grew up in Moscow in the late 80's and early 90's and this system was extremely popular with me and all of my friends, perhaps more so in the mid 90's. -- vex5 22:32, 8 February 2006 (UTC)
Dendy popularity only took off in early 90'es, it wasn't even in existence before that. I first played NES in 89, but it war genuine Japanese Famicom, bough by one of the friend of my mariner father. I've got my own a year later, and it was also imported. --Khathi 13:44, 14 April 2007 (UTC)

yeah it was popular in mid90s in Ukraine

Indeed, it was quite popular all over the USSR in 90s.

True, it was very popular. So much, that cartridges for it sells even now! I self from Russia and have Dendy Junior 1 and Dendy Junior 2. It was released in Russia by a company named Steepler (Стиплер). In the beginning Dendy was constructed on Taiwan, and later in Russia (on Tenzor factory).

I was made a few changes in article, in order too in details describe Dendy. As I mentioned in the article I was use information from commercial booklet. You can find it as well as some other old Russian magazines (Video-ASS Dendy (Видео-Асс Денди) which later was renamed in Great Dragon (Великий Дракон) and was one and only popular magazine about Dendy in Russia) and information about Dendy here: http://dendy-new.by.ru/videoas.html I'm new to Wikipedia, so I don't know how to make link it the article.

Need I also add that said 'Dendy' VG Console was widely advertised on TV? It actually was the first video game system widely introduced in former USSR. (Sega 'Mega Drive' and Sony 'PlayStation' outshadowed it much later). However, other illegal hardware clones existed, namely 'UFO', 'Zhiliton' and many, many other cheap East-Asian clones. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.205.193.185 (talk) 14:41, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Differences, sources

I reformatted the article, also tried to make it more clear what were the differences between the versions and it has become obvious that the data in the article is quite random. I think only the following statement really suffered from my reformatting though:

In Dendy Junior II port for a light gun was in front, but ports for controllers was on a back side of a console. They also was different from controllers ports in Junior. And controllers in Junior II was unremovable.

This one I had to remove. It is obvious that more research needs to be done before fixing all of this. First google search for "dendy junior ii" shows pictures of something Dendy-looking with clearly detachable pads.

I don't really think it would be possible to find quality sources for this article, but there must be some nostalgia sites that provide enough basic information at least, perhaps backed up by decent pictures and/or brochure scans.Svofski 07:57, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

I don't try to look at google, but ports for controller in Dendy Junior II is unremovable. I know it, because I self from Russia and I have right now both Dendy Junior & Dendy Junior II. As about sources greater then my word, I was already referred to a commercial booklet and Great Dragon magazine (sponsor of it originally was Steepler, but it later has became independent). Yeah, I know, they on Russian, but so do I, so I can read them. On the five page of booklet, written "Video game Junior-II. Variation of Dendy-Junior with two unremovable controllers. System PAL." That booklet as well as magazines, do have many information about Dendy. Even interview with director of Steepler in the first number of Video-ASS Dendy (page 2). What else information, do you think would be good to add in article? As about photos... I don't have digital camera right now. But I may be will have it later, and then make a photos of console and cartriges. - Burakki

[edit] Dendy photos

I finally get the digital camera for some time. And as promised I was made a few photos of Dendy (paste all links on photos in new window). You can use them in Wikipedia and any other site. Here is Dendy Junior (with cartridge inserted): http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior1.jpg As you see controllers connected in the front, and detachable. Here is back side of Junior: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior1back.jpg In junior 1 back side contains 4 ports. First one (from left side) is for electricity, next two is audio\video for connecting with TV, and last one also for connecting with TV but on different way. From the last port Dendy can be connected with TV by using antena port of TV (normally used with a special device which allow you to switch between dendy and a real antena). This is done for compatibility with old TV, that did not have audio\video ports. On Dendy Junior II all ports from Junior exist, and also there is 2 more ports for controllers. And unlike Junior in Junior II they undetachable. Here is box cvers of Dendy Junior: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior1box1.jpg http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior1box2.jpg Here is Junior II: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior2.jpg It's all, almost exectly like a Junior 1, but with controllers on the back. And in front there is a port for a light gun. Here is box of Junior II: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior2box1.jpg http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior2box2.jpg And here is controller of Dendy Junior I (with exeption of port it is the same sa Junior II controller). http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/junior1controller.jpg As you see it have A\B and Turbo A\B buttons, D-pad and select & start. On Junior II second controller doesn't have select\start buttons. It makes sometimes impossible to get continue for a second player in games where he needs to push start in order to get it. Here is Dendy cartridge: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/cart001.jpg http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/cartinside.jpg Don't be suprised to see Pokemon geme on it. No, official Pokemon games was never released on NES. But... in Russia there is many (I guess about 10 or so...) Pokemon hacks of other games and pirate games. Not only that. There is even a not official Pokemon games for Sega Genessis in Russia too! And here is symbol of Dendy: http://burakki.narod.ru/misc/dendysymbol.png As a side note Dendy and it's cartridges still sells in Russia. A few days ago (on 21 september of 2007) I was is shop Radiotovari in Kostroma City, where I live, and was seen Dendy for 350 rubles (1$ - ~25 rubles) and many cartridges with prices from 40 rubles for 1 game cartridge and more for several games cartridge. There also sells 2 other then Dendy clones of NES (yes, Dendy is not the only clone of NES in Russia there is a few others, less famous!) for 370 rubles. They use the same cartridges as Dendy. - Burakki —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.113.215.97 (talk) 00:07, 23 September 2007 (UTC)