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PC-Engine Demonstration   |
The September 1987 issue of Famimaga brought its readers this SCOOP! (they say.) NEC demonstrated their new PC-Engine hardware and games, set to be released that October. The report doesn't really reveal any secrets or revolutionary information, but it is cool to see prototype hardware and games that are slightly different from when they were released. The original white PC-Engine has a slightly different controller (see below) and controller plug, and the casing is also slightly different: All markings (ON/OFF, ANT, NEC, HE System... are painted (silkscreened) on the case rather than being embossed as the released hardware has them. Additionally, the small arrow pointing into the card slot is not here in this prototype. (Yes, I know, very small differences.) |
| Announced as being in the daydream/planning stage are such hardware add-ons as the CD-ROM unit, LCD screen, and phantoms like the keyboard, PC link board, and modem unit. All of these were actually produced, but the latter 3 didn't get any release outside of NEC/Hudson's offices. I'm sure the PC link board is what Hudson's graphic artists used to draw graphics on their PCs and display them through PCE hardware as seen in some videos. Famimaga marvels at the small size of the hardware and HuCards, the large size of its graphic characters, and complain for a whole paragraph and a half about its high price. I don't know... ¥24,800 doesn't seem like that high a price, but the mag does vent the same criticisms later made in the U.S.: At such a high price, the system still comes with just a single controller, and to connect more pads requires a PCE Tap and purchase of more controllers... definitely not something that two kids can just pick up and play out of the box. NEC said they might rethink the price, but they never did, demonstrating their arrogance even early on in the game. The games shown at this time were The Kung-Fu, looking identical to its release version save for the title screen, as well as Kato & Ken. In addition to that was a game titled Paris-Dakar Rally (a very popular title for games at this time...) which would become Victory Run, of course. Criticism was leveled at the rally game as lacking any sense of speed compared to OutRun and Highway Star (Rad Racer) despite their similar looks. The player couldn't just barrel along as in those games, but rather painstakingly plan for every leg of the rally. Slightly disappointing, then. Other notable games announced in the PCE's early release schedule include Pinball (released only in a heavily modified form as Alien Crush, most likely) and Jungle Story, which, naturally, transformed into The Legendary Axe. |
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(I've transcribed the article above into text. Check the bottom of this page for the text and a translation link!)
| The prototype controller in the article, shown at the PCE announcement, is slightly different from the released pad and Turbopad. The cross pad itself is clearly smoother and more disc-shaped than the one released, making it look more akin to the FM-Towns' controller. Other visible differences are smoother plastic/rubber for the Select and Run buttons, and the HE System logo which is silkscreened, not embossed. |  |
Below is another very early ad for the PCE's games lineup, showing an early vehicle design for Victory Run; Jungle King, transforming gradually into Legendary Axe; and Dynamite Ball, a pinball game unreleased in such a form. It probably became Alien Crush, despite bearing an uncanny similarity to the also-unreleased Time Cruise.
(Thanks to the Game ad Museum for this pic!)
The Kung Fu shown at the PCE announcement looks identical to the released version, except the "Hudson Soft" font is different.
Paris-Dakar Rally, also demonstrated, looks very close to the final Victory Run, except for missing parts wear indicators, and your vehicle, of course. Good thing Hudson wised up and dumped the dumpy-looking rally truck for the final smooth rally car (a Porsche?). But -- OOPS! -- the cover art for the Japanese Victory Run still shows the truck, doesn't it?
