Prevent NTSC/PAL NES from loading games that need the Expansion port

[FoxhackDN]

This change prevents loading all variants of Family Basic carts and Family Trainer games on non-Japanese hardware. Since stock systems lack the expansion port to use the keyboard (and consequentially, the audio port for the tape deck), and the Family Trainer pad uses a different interface compared to the US / PAL releases, this renders them unusable. It also causes the same issues that were mentioned in MAMETesters bug 8443 with the Family Basic games.

Also added Family Trainer support to Family Trainer 6 and 10 via the software list.

[angelosa]

I'm okay with the principle. However does this also means that anything with an exp_default should be filtered out, which means all the Family Trainer games as well? If true I suggest to rename the compatibility filter as exp instead of fbasic.

[FoxhackDN]

I'm okay with the principle. However does this also means that anything with an exp_default should be filtered out, which means all the Family Trainer games as well? If true I suggest to rename the compatibility filter as exp instead of fbasic.

... hold on a sec. I just noticed Stadium Events (US/PAL) has no exp_default, I don't think the game is even playable without the Power Pad. Is this by design?

[etabeta78]

Stadium Events uses Power Pad that plugs into controller port, not the Family Trainer controller that plugs into the expansion port

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On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM FoxhackDN ***@***.***> wrote: *FoxhackDN* left a comment (mamedev/mame#14265) <#14265 (comment)> I'm okay with the principle. However does this also means that *anything* with an exp_default should be filtered out, which means all the Family Trainer games as well? If true I suggest to rename the compatibility filter as exp instead of fbasic. ... hold on a sec. I just noticed Stadium Events (US/PAL) has no exp_default, I don't think the game is even playable without the Power Pad. Is this by design? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#14265 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACGSVPDMHPW3J3RCFGWWAG33WZXHJAVCNFSM6AAAAACIJNEDD2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTGOBWGE3TQMZUGQ> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[FoxhackDN]

Stadium Events uses Power Pad that plugs into controller port, not the Family Trainer controller that plugs into the expansion port

Yeah, and I assumed exp_default would boot the game with the necessary device already plugged in.

If this isn't used for non-JP systems, then okay. I had no idea. I'll make the suggested changes later today and submit them after testing.

[cuavas]

Is there a reason you didn’t express this positively in the code by adding an “exp” filter to systems with the expansion port?

[FoxhackDN]

Is there a reason you didn’t express this positively in the code by adding an “exp” filter to systems with the expansion port?

I only had examples where the negative was used as a reference - specifically, the CD-i and its filter to prevent discs that required the DVC expansion from being loaded. I'm not opposed to someone cleaning the code up, but I'm not experienced enough to know how to do it properly.