View source for PC-FX

{{Short description|1994 video game console}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| title = PC-FX
| logo = File:NEC PC-FX logo.png
| image = PC-FX-Console-Set.jpg
| developer = [[NEC]], [[Hudson Soft]]
| manufacturer = NEC
| type = [[Home video game console]]
| generation = [[Fifth generation of video game consoles|Fifth]]
| releasedate = {{vgrelease|JP|December 23, 1994}}
| discontinued = {{vgrelease|JP|February 14, 1998}}
| unitssold = 300,000
| media = [[CD-ROM]]
| cpu = [[NEC]] [[V810 (microprocessor)|V810]]
| predecessor = [[TurboDuo]]
| display = 256x240 to 341x240, 16.77 million colors
| graphics = [[HuC6270]], [[HuC6271]]
| CPUspeed = 21.475 MHz
| memory = 2 MB
| sound = 16-Bit stereo, two ADPCM Channels, six 5-Bit sample Channels
}}
The {{nihongo foot|'''PC-FX'''|ピーシー エフエックス|Pī Shī Efu Ekkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[32-bit]] [[home video game console]] co-developed by [[NEC]] and [[Hudson Soft]]. Released in December 1994, it is based on the [[NEC V810]] [[CPU]] and [[CD-ROM]], and was intended as the successor to the PC Engine (known overseas as the [[TurboGrafx-16]]). Unlike its predecessor, the PC-FX was only released in Japan.

Its [[Computer form factor|form factor]] is like that of a [[Computer tower|tower PC]], intended to be similarly upgradeable. The PC-FX was uncompelling in the marketplace due to lack of a 3D [[polygon]]-based graphics chip, high price, and limited developer support and is considered a [[commercial failure]]. It was discontinued in February 1998 and NEC subsequently exited the home video game console business.

==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 [[SuperGrafx]], an upgraded PC Engine that had been released the year before to low sales and was already discontinued) as early as 1990.<ref name=NLife/> The companies designed a prototype system known as "Tetsujin" ("Iron Man"), a 32-bit console with full-screen video playback, 2 megabytes of RAM, and CD-ROM. NEC designed the console itself based on its previous experience with electronics, and Hudson provided the necessary custom chipset and co-processors.<ref name=NLife/> The prototype was announced in 1992 and presented to companies that expressed interest. To demonstrate the system's capabilities, Hudson created a version of ''[[Star Soldier (video game)|Star Soldier]]'' displaying 3D objects over pre-rendered backdrops. When this presentation garnered considerable support, NEC and Hudson began to move forward with the project.<ref name=NLife>{{cite web |last=McFerran |first=Damien |title=Feature: What NEC and Hudson Did Next: The {{sic|Disaste|rous|nolink=y}} Story of the PC-FX |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_what_nec_and_hudson_did_next_the_disasterous_story_of_the_pc-fx |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=July 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402204745/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_what_nec_and_hudson_did_next_the_disasterous_story_of_the_pc-fx |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>

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.<ref name=NLife/> Publications speculated that the PC Engine's continued success in the market made NEC and Hudson reluctant to release a succeeding platform.<ref name=NLife/> The release of technologically-superior consoles in late 1993, such as the [[Atari Jaguar]] and [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]], made the Tetsujin's hardware look more dated by comparison. Publications grew skeptical on how well it would perform in the market due to its inferior hardware and the amount of competing platforms.<ref name=NLife/> While NEC and Hudson knew that the system's technology was unimpressive, time constraints prevented them from designing a new one from scratch.<ref name=NLife/> Instead, the system was redesigned to resemble a [[Computer case|PC tower]] with slots that allowed for future modules to increase its capabilities.<ref name=NLife/> Very little of the hardware itself was changed from the Tetsujin prototype, although it upgraded to a new 32-bit V-810 RISC CPU.<ref name=EGM54>{{cite magazine|date=January 1994|title=NEC of Japan Reveals Specs on New FX 32-Bit Game System! |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_54/page/n67/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=Sendai Publishing|issue=54|page=66}}</ref> The system was renamed to the PC-FX, the "PC" believed to be a nod to the PC Engine brand. Unusual for a fifth generation console, the PC-FX does not have a polygon graphics processor.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Next Wave |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=60|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=July 1994|page=110}}</ref><ref name=GPro64>{{cite magazine |title=Overseas ProSpects: NEC PC-FX|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=64|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=November 1994|page=268}}</ref> NEC's reasoning for this was that polygon processors of the time were relatively low-powered, resulting in figures having a blocky appearance, and that it would be better for games to use [[pre-rendered]] polygon graphics instead.<ref name=EGM66>{{cite magazine |title=NEC Launches New PC-FX Game System!|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=66 |publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=January 1995|pages=172–173}}</ref>

The PC-FX was announced in late 1993<ref name=EGM54/><ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1994 |title=Yet One More 32-bit System|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n177/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=56|page=184}}</ref> and showcased at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show in June. Presented alongside several competing systems—the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, [[Neo Geo CD]], and [[Bandai Playdia]]—its PC tower design was met with ridicule from commentators.<ref name=NLife/> Hudson demonstrated ''FX Fighter'', a full-motion video fighting game created in response to Sega's ''[[Virtua Fighter (video game)|Virtua Fighter]]'', to showcase the system's capabilities. Its smooth-shaded polygonal visuals were met with praise from publications, which contributed to the anticipated launch of the console.<ref name=NLife/> The system's [[target audience]] was roughly five years older than that of the PC Engine, in hopes that PC Engine fans would be brought over to the successor console.<ref name=EGM66/> The console was launched in Japan on December 23, 1994 at the price of ¥49,800. In an interview roughly a year before the system launch, a representative stated that NEC had all but ruled out a release outside Japan, concluding that it would most likely sell poorly overseas due to its high price.<ref name=EGM66/>

The PC-FX was discontinued in early 1998 with only 300,000 units sold.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hardware Totals|url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/hardware-totals|website=Game Data Library|access-date=October 13, 2016}}{{better source needed|date=December 2022}}</ref>

==Technical specifications==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1.4em;"
|-
| [[File:NEC-PC-FX-Motherboard-L1.jpg|none|150px]]
| [[File:NEC-PC-FX-Motherboard-L2.jpg|none|150px]]
| [[File:NEC-PC-FX-Daughterboard-Flat.jpg|none|150px]]
|-
| style="width:100px;"| {{center|<small>PC-FX motherboard</small>}}
| style="width:100px;"| {{center|<small>PC-FX motherboard</small>}}
| style="width:100px;"| {{center|<small>PC-FX [[daughterboard]]</small>}}
|}

The PC-FX uses [[CD-ROM]]s as its storage medium, following on from the expansion released for its [[HuCard]] based predecessor. The [[game controller]] is virtually identical to a DUO-RX controller, but the rapid fire switches have been replaced with mode A/B switches. Peripherals include a PC-FX mouse, which is supported by strategy games like ''Farland Story FX'' and ''[[Power DoLLS|Power DoLLS FX]]''.

The PC-FX uses the [[HuC6270]] and [[HuC6271]] graphic chips, and is able to decompress 30 [[JPEG]] pictures per second while playing digitally recorded audio, essentially a form of [[Motion JPEG]].<ref name=GPro64/><ref name=EGM66/> This gives the PC-FX superior [[full motion video]] quality over all other fifth generation consoles.

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 Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]], it features a built in power supply.

The PC-FX includes an HU 62 series 32-bit [[system board]], an LSI chip, and a 32-bit V-810 [[RISC]] CPU. The system can display 16.77 million colors (the same amount as the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]).<ref name="EGM54"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=NEC PC-FX |url=http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Video Game Console Library}}</ref>

Unusual for a fifth generation console, the PC-FX does not have a polygon graphics processor.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 1994|title=Next Wave|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_60/page/n109/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=Sendai Publishing|issue=60|page=110}}</ref><ref name="GPro64"/> NEC's reasoning for this was that polygon processors of the time were relatively low-powered, resulting in figures having a blocky appearance, and that it would be better for games to use [[pre-rendered]] polygon graphics instead.<ref name=EGM66/>

==PC-FX GA==
[[File:PC-FXGA(C-BUS) 01.jpg|thumb|A PC-FX GA for the C-BUS]]
NEC also released the PC-FX GA ("game accelerator") expansion cards for PC-9800 and DOS/V computers, allowing those computers to play PC-FX games. 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nicole.express/2020/what-did-pcfx-deserve.html | first=Nicole Caroline | last=Branagan | title=What did we do to deserve the PC-FX? (and the PC-FX GA) | date=2020-11-20 | access-date=2021-05-01}}</ref> Unlike most computer graphics accelerators of the time, (as well as arguably the most comparable device to it, the [[Creative Labs]] [[3DO Blaster]]) the PC-FX GA outputs over a separate video connection rather than from the PC's interface itself. This makes use of the card somewhat cumbersome, as games are still booted using the DOS prompt, and therefore requiring one to use either a second monitor or an input switcher. The relatively high price of the card, coupled with the state of the PC-FX itself, resulted in the card selling poorly, below even the sales of the dedicated PC-FX unit. The card has since become highly sought after by vintage PC hardware collectors due to its scarcity.

==Library==
{{see also|List of PC-FX games}}

The library consists of 62 games. The [[launch game]]s were ''Graduation 2: Neo Generation FX'', ''Battle Heat'', and ''[[Team Innocent]]'' on December 23, 1994 and the final game released was ''[[First Kiss Story]]'' on April 24, 1998. The system and all games were only released in Japan. A number of demo discs were released with publications which allow the user to play the disc in a CD-equipped PC Engine or the PC-FX.

NEC directed [[Hudson Soft]], continuing their partnership over the PC Engine, to develop only games based on popular [[anime]] franchises and using prerendered animated footage. Though this policy played to the hardware's strengths, it barred Hudson Soft from bringing successful PC Engine series such as ''[[Bomberman]]'' and ''[[Bonk (video game series)|Bonk]]'' to the PC-FX.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1995|title=Hudson Soft|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-003/page/n83/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=3|page=81}}</ref>

==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.<ref>Game Machine Cross Review: PC-FX. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.335. Pg.167. 12–19 May 1995.</ref> 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".<ref name="UFG">{{cite news |title=What is the NEC PC-FX then? |url=https://archive.org/details/ultimate-future-games-05/page/n39/mode/2up |access-date=November 30, 2020 |agency=Ultimate Future Games |issue=5 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=April 1995 |pages=40–41}}</ref> ''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.<ref name="GCritic">{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://archive.org/details/gamecriticismvol141995600DPI/Game%20Criticism%20Vol.%201-4%201995%20%28Searchable%29/page/n30/mode/2up |access-date=November 30, 2020 |agency=Game Criticism |issue=1–4 |publisher=Micro Magazine |date=1995 |pages=30–33 |language=ja}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{NEC video game consoles}}
{{Fifth generation game consoles}}
{{Home video game consoles}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|Electronics|1990s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pc-Fx}}
[[Category:CD-ROM-based consoles]]
[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
[[Category:Fifth-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video game hardware]]
[[Category:NEC consoles]]
[[Category:Hudson Soft]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:1990s toys]]
[[Category:Discontinued video game consoles]]