PC-FX
| PC-FX | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | NEC | |
| Type | stationary game console | |
| generation | fifth generation of consoles | |
| publication |
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| Main processor | NEC V810 RISC | |
| Storage media | CD-ROM | |
| Units sold | approx. 80,000 | |
| Most successful game | Blue Breaker: Ken Yorimo Hohoemi o | |
| predecessor | PC engine | |
The PC-FX is a stationary game console of the fifth console generation from the Japanese manufacturer NEC . In contrast to its predecessor PC Engine , the 32-bit console uses CD-ROMs as a data carrier as standard and looks similar to a PC of the time, which is set up on end. The gamepad is similar to that of the Sega Mega Drive , but has more buttons. The system also has three connections for hardware expansions, which increased the manufacturing price, but were hardly used.
history
The PC-FX was designed using NEC's 32-bit Iron Man development kit . Iron Man was developed in 1992 when the PC Engine console was becoming even more popular. When the technology was first introduced in mid-1992, NEC announced the imminent release of a new console based on Iron Man, which should be supported by numerous third-party developers. Many PC engine developers were skeptical of this, however, as the PC engine market continued to grow. As a result, NEC stopped work on Iron Man and focused on enhancements for the PC engine. In 1993 the 32-bit platform 3DO appeared . The developer interest was great, so Sega and Sony announced the 32-bit consoles Sega Saturn and PlayStation for 1994. Also Bandai working on a 32-bit system called Playdia . It was then that NEC Corporation realized that it too had to bring a 32-bit platform to the Japanese market in 1994. While Sony, Sega and Bandai had developed their systems on the basis of modern technology and equipped them with good 3D rendering capabilities , NEC was now forced to use the now obsolete Iron Man technology in the new PC-FX console To lose time and the developer base that is important for the success of the PC Engine. As a result, the PC-FX was a hopelessly inferior and doomed system in terms of performance.
In view of the weak sales figures for the PC-FX, NEC was significantly more liberal than the competition with regard to the permitted game content in order to take advantage of any developer support. As a result, PC-FX was soon known primarily for eroge and other adult games. A large part of the software titles made up Ren'ai games ( Ren'ai simulations , Ren'ai adventure ).
Technical specifications
- CPU
- 32-bit NEC V810 RISC with 21.5 MHz, 15.5 MIPS.
- Storage
- 2 MB RAM, 1.25 MB VRAM, 1 MB ROM, 256 KB CD buffer, 32 KB backup RAM.
- Sound
- 16-bit stereo with 2 ADPCM channels and 6 sample channels with 44.1 kHz.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ The top-selling PC-FX games. In: vgchartz.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019 .