PC-FX
Developer | NEC, Hudson Soft |
---|---|
Manufacturer | NEC |
Type | Home video game console |
Generation | Fifth generation era |
Release date |
|
Lifespan | 1994—1998 |
Discontinued |
|
Units sold | 400,000 |
Media | CD-ROM |
CPU | NEC V810 @ 21.475 MHz |
Memory | 2 MB |
Display | 256x240 to 341x240, 16.77 million colors |
Graphics | HuC6270, HuC6271 |
Sound | 16-Bit stereo, two ADPCM Channels, six 5-Bit sample Channels |
Predecessor | TurboDuo |
The PC-FX
Its
History
In 1987, NEC partnered with game publisher Hudson Soft to create the PC Engine, released internationally as the TurboGrafx-16. The PC Engine was successful in Japan, but the TG-16 struggled in overseas markets.
The success of the PC Engine created a strong relationship between NEC and Hudson, who began work on a true successor (as opposed to the
The Tetsujin was originally set to be released in 1992, but the lack of completed games pushed the launch date to early 1993, which was also skipped.
The PC-FX was announced in late 1993
The PC-FX was discontinued in early 1998 with only 400,000 units sold.[7]
Technical specifications
PC-FX motherboard
|
PC-FX motherboard
|
PC-FX
daughterboard |
The PC-FX uses
The PC-FX uses the
The PC-FX's computer-like form factor was unusual for consoles at the time. It stands upright like a tower computer while other contemporary consoles lay flat, and it has three expansion ports. Similar to the 3DO, it features a built in power supply.
The PC-FX includes an HU 62 series 32-bit
Unusual for a fifth generation console, the PC-FX does not have a polygon graphics processor.
PC-FX GA
NEC also released the PC-FX GA ("game accelerator") for PC-9800 and DOS/V computers. The PC-9800 version is a combination of two cards, while the DOS/V variant uses a single ISA card. Both cards integrate an additional 3D chipset (Kubota/Hudson HuC6273) over the regular PC-FX.
Library
The library consists of 62 games. The
NEC directed
Reception
Shortly after the PC-FX launched, Famitsu awarded the console an 18 out of 40, one point lower than the score it gave the PlayStation.[12] A writer for Ultimate Future Games in April 1995 said the PC-FX had impressively competitive hardware, but its game library relied largely on animation over gameplay, so readers should "[not] expect much just yet".[13] Game Criticism writers believed the system was troubled by a weak software lineup and a lack of innovation and creativity from NEC, and served as an unsuitable and inferior follow-up to the PC Engine.[14]
Notes
References
- ^ Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the originalon April 2, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c "NEC of Japan Reveals Specs on New FX 32-Bit Game System!". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 54. Sendai Publishing. January 1994. p. 66.
- ^ "Next Wave". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 60. Sendai Publishing. July 1994. p. 110.
- ^ a b c "Overseas ProSpects: NEC PC-FX". GamePro. No. 64. IDG. November 1994. p. 268.
- ^ a b c d e "NEC Launches New PC-FX Game System!". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 66. Sendai Publishing. January 1995. pp. 172–173.
- ^ "Yet One More 32-bit System". GamePro. No. 56. IDG. March 1994. p. 184.
- better source needed]
- ^ "NEC PC-FX". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Next Wave". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 60. Sendai Publishing. July 1994. p. 110.
- ^ Branagan, Nicole Caroline (November 20, 2020). "What did we do to deserve the PC-FX? (and the PC-FX GA)". Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- Imagine Media. March 1995. p. 81.
- ^ Game Machine Cross Review: PC-FX. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.335. Pg.167. 12–19 May 1995.
- Future Publishing. Ultimate Future Games. April 1995. pp. 40–41. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ "早期CD-ROMの導人による時代の先躯NEC. FXに対する本音はどこにあるのか. PC-FX" (in Japanese). No. 1–4. Micro Magazine. Game Criticism. 1995. pp. 30–33. Retrieved November 30, 2020.