* The PC-8801's CPU was a 4 MHz NEC µPD780, which was updated in 1986 and later using a 8 MHz µPD70008. Both were compatible with the Z 80 A found in the MSX.
PC-88: Difference between revisions
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In the 1980s, Western personal computers were scarce in the Japanese market, in large part because they were not equipped to handle Japanese characters. Instead, Japanese electronics companies like Sharp and Fujitsu marketed their own brands of personal computers, and many others sold the [[MSX]]. But NEC, the company which later developed the Turbografx16 console, dominated the Japanese PC market with its PC-8801 series. Introduced in 1981, the PC88 (as the system is commonly known) held sway until the 16-bit NEC [[PC 98|PC-9801]] gradually displaced it in the late 1980s. |
In the 1980s, Western personal computers were scarce in the Japanese market, in large part because they were not equipped to handle Japanese characters. Instead, Japanese electronics companies like Sharp and Fujitsu marketed their own brands of personal computers, and many others sold the [[MSX]]. But NEC, the company which later developed the Turbografx16 console, dominated the Japanese PC market with its PC-8801 series. Introduced in 1981, the PC88 (as the system is commonly known) held sway until the 16-bit NEC [[PC 98|PC-9801]] gradually displaced it in the late 1980s. |
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Revision as of 23:58, 24 May 2018
In the 1980s, Western personal computers were scarce in the Japanese market, in large part because they were not equipped to handle Japanese characters. Instead, Japanese electronics companies like Sharp and Fujitsu marketed their own brands of personal computers, and many others sold the MSX. But NEC, the company which later developed the Turbografx16 console, dominated the Japanese PC market with its PC-8801 series. Introduced in 1981, the PC88 (as the system is commonly known) held sway until the 16-bit NEC PC-9801 gradually displaced it in the late 1980s.
Over a dozen different models of the PC-8801 were made. The PC-88VA/VA2/VA3 deserves special mention: it was a 16-bit machine which tried to bridge the gap between the PC-8801 and PC-9801, and also appeal to gamers with graphical capabilities superior to both. However, the NEC TurboGrafx-16 console, introduced the same year, took away a lot of interest (confusingly, "PC-Engine" was also the name of the PC-88VA's operating system), and the PC-88VA failed to catch on as Japanese gamers looking for a more powerful 16-bit system generally preferred the Sharp X68000.
Notable videogame developers Enix, Game Arts and Nihon Falcom all released their first games on the PC 88.
Specifications
* PC-8801: Starting from 64KB up to 192KB of RAM, and 48KB graphics VRAM (plus 4KB text VRAM in later models).
* The PC-8801's V1 graphics mode could display 640×200 with 8 colors, or 640×400 monochrome. The higher resolution was useful for displaying Kanji characters.
* An internal speaker was all the sound that was available on pre-1985 models.
- Asteka
- The Black Onyx
- Door Door (the first game published by Enix)
- Dragon Slayer
- Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
- Dragon Slayer Jr.: Romancia
- Dragon Slayer V: Sorcerian
- Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes
- Emerald Dragon
- Final Zone
- Genesis: Beyond the Revelation
- Hover Attack
- Hydlide
- Hydlide II
- Hydlide III
- JESUS
- Knights of Xentar
- Last Armageddon
- Nobunaga's Ambition
- Popful Mail
- Revolter
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms
- RPG Maker
- The Scheme
- Silpheed
- Snatcher (predates the MSX2 version by a month)
- Star Cruiser
- Star Trader
- Thexder
- Valis: The Fantasm Soldier
- Valis II
- Veigues: Tactical Gladiator
- WiBArm
- Xak: The Art of Visual Stage
- XZR (AKA Exile)
- Ys
- Ys II
- Ys III
- Zeliard