What does EGM think of the PC-FX?

CrackTiger · 10/26/2006, 11:02 PM

EGM & 1up.com recently ran a feature on video game systems that never appeared in North America. Here's their summary of the PC-FX-

Say wha? The follow-up to NEC's excellent TurboGrafx-16 was neither excellent nor turbo. Overpriced, undersized, and underpowered?it launched in Japan at the same time as the vastly superior PlayStation?PC-FX quickly degenerated into a breeding ground for crappy anime and porn games.

MIA: PC-FX never came to America, and all evidence points to the fact that it sucked hard as the primary reason it never made its way over here.

Major games: Dragon Knight 4, Der Langrisser

Did we miss out? Not at all. The PC-FX had very little to offer anyone who wasn't turned on by hot anime action.

PC Gaijin · 10/26/2006, 11:19 PM

Can we turn this thread into what we think of EGM? In their own words..."sucked hard"

SignOfZeta · 10/26/2006, 11:29 PM

EGM does suck (hard even) but its pretty damn difficult to come up with a counter argument to their crude statement. The PC-FX was a huge huge huge disapointment.

Keranu · 10/27/2006, 01:02 AM

QuoteSay wha? The follow-up to NEC's excellent TurboGrafx-16 was neither excellent nor turbo. Overpriced, undersized, and underpowered—it launched in Japan at the same time as the vastly superior PlayStation—PC-FX quickly degenerated into a breeding ground for crappy anime and porn games.

Umm, is that sarcasm or something?

Yeah EGM blowz.

shubibiman · 10/27/2006, 05:09 AM

I guess it is. I too think that there's nothing good you can say about this console.

SignOfZeta · 10/27/2006, 07:09 AM

Quote from: "shubibiman"I guess it is. I too think that there's nothing good you can say about this console.

Well, it is cool looking, and the controler is nice...sorta.

Odonadon · 10/27/2006, 12:39 PM

Quote from: "shubibiman"I guess it is. I too think that there's nothing good you can say about this console.

I hate to admit it, but I've always wanted a PC-FX but only for the sole reason of having it. None of the games interest me. It's one of the coolest looking consoles I think, though.

OD

GUTS · 10/27/2006, 02:54 PM

The controller and the system looks cool, but yeah as a game system its not worth owning unless you're a collector. I sold mine since there are only about 5 good games on the system.

PC Gaijin · 10/27/2006, 08:02 PM

I don't disagree with EGM's assessment of the FX. It's a disappointing console to me, both in its capabilities and the software library, whether taken on its own or in comparison to its predecessor. What bothers me about the EGM article are details like the "undersized" comment that Keranu mentioned. That sort of thing makes me wonder if the author has ever even used an FX. I don't care if people dislike something if they can back up their statements, but in most of the gaming forums I frequent there's a tendency for people to "pile on" games, systems, etc. that are considered bad, with many comments coming from people who seem to have never even played the game/system in question.

This reminds me of the "Jaguar controller is worst ever" article from awhile back. Again, that makes me wonder if the author ever used a Jaguar pad, or if he just read about "how crappy the Jag was" in a bunch of gaming forums and decided to put it at the top of his list. I mean c'mon, there's plenty of controllers worse than the Jag pad.

Another point, can anyone provide list prices for the launch of the PSX, Saturn, and FX? I'm curious about his overpriced comment. I remember the Saturn usually being slightly more expensive than the PSX in Japan, and the FX seemed to run a little more than a JP Saturn at import shops at the time, but I don't recall the FX pricing being that out of line with the other 32-bit systems. When I bought mine from NCS, it cost me about $250 IIRC, while JP Saturns were around $200. I don't remember what the pricing was in yen though; lower demand for FXs compared to Saturns could have explained that price difference via importers.

GUTS · 10/27/2006, 08:53 PM

The Jag pad IS the worst controller of all time, I couldn't possibly think of a more horribly designed pad. It fit perfectly with the horribly designed system though, what a combo.

Keranu · 10/27/2006, 09:24 PM

Before I actually used a Jaguar controller, I thought it looked really silly and poor in the pictures I saw, but when I actually did get to use it, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It fits in your hand just find and controls decent enough. Hell I'll take the Jaguar pad over something like the X-Box controller.

SignOfZeta · 10/27/2006, 11:19 PM

Quote from: "PC Gaijin"This reminds me of the "Jaguar controller is worst ever" article from awhile back. Again, that makes me wonder if the author ever used a Jaguar pad, or if he just read about "how crappy the Jag was" in a bunch of gaming forums and decided to put it at the top of his list. I mean c'mon, there's plenty of controllers worse than the Jag pad.

How many is plenty? The 3D0 pad was pretty horrible. Not horribly designed necessarily, but just horribly made. Diagonals were a bitch, etc. I don't think there are "plenty" of controlers worse than Jag. Maybe two or three. The Jag overall was such a terrible system that it ranks up there with the PC-FX. Its probably even worse.

QuoteAnother point, can anyone provide list prices for the launch of the PSX, Saturn, and FX? I'm curious about his overpriced comment. I remember the Saturn usually being slightly more expensive than the PSX in Japan, and the FX seemed to run a little more than a JP Saturn at import shops at the time, but I don't recall the FX pricing being that out of line with the other 32-bit systems. When I bought mine from NCS, it cost me about $250 IIRC, while JP Saturns were around $200. I don't remember what the pricing was in yen though; lower demand for FXs compared to Saturns could have explained that price difference via importers.

I'm pretty sure all three systems were about the same when they came out, or soon after that. After not too long they were all going for 38,000yen. There might have been a time when the FX was 10000 yen more than the others, I don't remember. $200 Saturns and stuff came years later as the machines were much more expensive than that at first.

SignOfZeta · 10/27/2006, 11:29 PM

Quote from: "Keranu"Before I actually used a Jaguar controller, I thought it looked really silly and poor in the pictures I saw, but when I actually did get to use it, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It fits in your hand just find and controls decent enough. Hell I'll take the Jaguar pad over something like the X-Box controller.

I don't know about that. I %100 boycott everything MS, especially Xbox, but I have to give credit where it is do. The XBox pads (barring the original US model) are extremely well made. They suck for OG games like Street Fighter, or anything where you have to wail on buttons repeatedly, but for the sorts of games people play nowadays the stuff is great.

OldRover · 10/28/2006, 11:44 AM

Quote from: "Keranu"Before I actually used a Jaguar controller, I thought it looked really silly and poor in the pictures I saw, but when I actually did get to use it, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. It fits in your hand just find and controls decent enough. Hell I'll take the Jaguar pad over something like the X-Box controller.

Yeah I remember the Jaguar controller being silly-looking and unwieldy, but when you actually use it, it's a whole different ballgame, as it was pretty decent for most games. It sucked for Kasumi Ninja though, which was a shame considering it was one of the best (of the very few it got) fighting games on the Jag...which ain't sayin much considering it was pretty sucky.

Boycotting MS for no reason is sillier than the original Xbox controller.

SignOfZeta · 10/28/2006, 01:45 PM

Quote from: OldRoverBoycotting MS for no reason is sillier than the original Xbox controller.

Why do you say, "no reason"?

GUTS · 10/28/2006, 02:10 PM

Bill Gates rules.

Odonadon · 10/28/2006, 02:14 PM

I personally try to give as little money to MS as possible. Which is why my XBox is second hand, my controllers are 3rd party, and my power and AV cables are also 3rd party.

I bought MS Plus! 98 back in the day, I think that was the only time I directly gave money to MS.

I'm with SignOfZelda - I'll avoid MS if I can.

OD

Seldane · 10/28/2006, 03:19 PM

Quote from: "Odonadon"SignOfZelda

Ha ha ha!

I'm a Microsoft boycotter myself. I try to use Linux as much as I can, but sometimes I have to use a proudly downloaded, pirated, cracked and illegal version of Windows XP. I've never bought a Microsoft product and I never will.

It actually hurts my hands to play on the original Xbox controller. Me (reluctantly) and a friend used to play Burnout 3 on his Xbox, and that was very, very painful for me.

It was also really hard, as the controller was nearly impossible to use. The trigger buttons are the worst - why do you have to push them so hard?

As for the PC-FX, I'm sure it is a pretty bad system, but I'm totally convinced to get one. I LOVE that thing, and the game boxes are just as awesome. It is a top-priority item for me to get.

Keranu · 10/28/2006, 09:59 PM

I'm also one of the many who would never purchase Windows; been pirating it my whole life. I also love to see how nearly all the programs I use on my computer are open source programs

.

Quote from: "Zeldane ;) "As for the PC-FX, I'm sure it is a pretty bad system, but I'm totally convinced to get one. I LOVE that thing, and the game boxes are just as awesome. It is a top-priority item for me to get.

Haha, I like this point and agree with it in a way, though I find the system to actually be a little more playable than people make it out to be. I can't wait until there is steady homebrew development for the console though, then we can really make it a worthwhile console.

SignOfZeta · 10/28/2006, 10:37 PM

QuoteHaha, I like this point and agree with it in a way, though I find the system to actually be a little more playable than people make it out to be. I can't wait until there is steady homebrew development for the console though, then we can really make it a worthwhile console.

Yeah, I should have said that although the system sucks, I definitely plan on getting one someday.

Odonadon · 10/28/2006, 11:58 PM

Quote from: "Seldane"
Quote from: "Odonadon"SignOfZelda

Ha ha ha!

[/quote]

That is a pretty funny slip - sorry SignOfZeta

QuoteI also love to see how nearly all the programs I use on my computer are open source programs Very Happy .

I hear ya. A far cry from the way things were even just a few years ago. Pretty much everything I use on a day to day basis (except the OS) is open source.

Anyway, back on topic

OD

GUTS · 10/29/2006, 02:00 PM

I've never understood why so many internet nerds hate microsoft so much, yet love Nintendo/Sony, whatever. Just in case you guys hadn't figured it out yet, they're all huge corporations with only one goal: to make money.

esteban · 10/29/2006, 03:00 PM

Quote from: "GUTS"I've never understood why so many internet nerds hate microsoft so much, yet love Nintendo/Sony, whatever. Just in case you guys hadn't figured it out yet, they're all huge corporations with only one goal: to make money.

Well, there are lots of reasons. If you want, we can list them all. Yes, Nintendo, Sony and MS are all greedy corporations, but there are huge differences between them. Nintendo is games-only. Sony has music, film, some computer hardware and home electronics. But MS has the broadest and deepest impact on many of our lives since it's OS (and software) dominates the computer world, and MS has used its monopoly, power, money, influence and lobbyists to limit, hurt or infringe on our rights as consumers and computer users. That's why so many folks have a gripe with MS: they have a history of exploiting us that goes far wider and deeper than Nintendo or Sony.

When the politics of the computer industry (and all the other areas of life effected by it) are under discussion, MS is at the very core of nearly all issues.

And I am talking about many fundamental issues -- such as what digital formats our government(s) should use to archive and share public documents -- that go well beyond mere "entertainment."

Seldane · 10/29/2006, 06:02 PM

Bing bong!!

Keranu · 10/29/2006, 06:26 PM

Quote from: "GUTS"I've never understood why so many internet nerds hate microsoft so much, yet love Nintendo/Sony, whatever. Just in case you guys hadn't figured it out yet, they're all huge corporations with only one goal: to make money.

It's not like I don't use Windows or anything, because I do and I still plan to. But me paying over $100 just for a operating system is simply not worth it, so I'll just keep pirating and not bother to give Microsoft a dime for it. Why don't I use Microsoft programs? Simple, they suck.

SourceForge is your friend

.

GUTS · 10/29/2006, 10:26 PM

Oh I wasn't lumping you in with the internet nerds Steve, I was talking about all these other guys.

OldRover · 10/30/2006, 12:03 AM

98% of the "applications" on sourceforge are garbage, sorta like 98% of the "applications" Microsoft puts out are garbage. People whine all the time about how much crap software there is for Windows...then use equally crap or WORSE crap on Linux. At first, this strange phenomenon didn't make sense, but then I realized that the Linux crowd has this strange need for justification coupled with the typical "well at least it isn't Microsoft" retort. This has resulted in a long long stream of substandard Linux applications that people simply "accept" because it's Linux. How long did it take to get a decent replacement for GiMP, for example? 10 years or so? Sheesh. Now, I'm not a Microsoft fan or anything, what I am is realistic...it makes zero sense to go harping on Microsoft for making shit software when barely anyone outside of Microsoft can make it right either.

Keranu · 10/30/2006, 12:28 AM

Quote from: OldRover98% of the "applications" on sourceforge are garbage, sorta like 98% of the "applications" Microsoft puts out are garbage. People whine all the time about how much crap software there is for Windows...then use equally crap or WORSE crap on Linux. At first, this strange phenomenon didn't make sense, but then I realized that the Linux crowd has this strange need for justification coupled with the typical "well at least it isn't Microsoft" retort. This has resulted in a long long stream of substandard Linux applications that people simply "accept" because it's Linux. How long did it take to get a decent replacement for GiMP, for example? 10 years or so? Sheesh. Now, I'm not a Microsoft fan or anything, what I am is realistic...it makes zero sense to go harping on Microsoft for making shit software when barely anyone outside of Microsoft can make it right either.

I don't use Linux even though I use a lot of made-for-Linux programs on my Windows OS, but I prefer to use Windows simply because it's easier for me to customize. I simply use a lot of open source programs that were originally designed for Linux because I generally find them to be better than software designed for Windows. I'm not exactly bashing software for Windows, but I generally prefer de open source software

.

SignOfZeta · 10/30/2006, 07:21 AM

Quote from: OldRover98% of the "applications" on sourceforge are garbage, sorta like 98% of the "applications" Microsoft puts out are garbage. People whine all the time about how much crap software there is for Windows...then use equally crap or WORSE crap on Linux. At first, this strange phenomenon didn't make sense, but then I realized that the Linux crowd has this strange need for justification coupled with the typical "well at least it isn't Microsoft" retort. This has resulted in a long long stream of substandard Linux applications that people simply "accept" because it's Linux. How long did it take to get a decent replacement for GiMP, for example? 10 years or so? Sheesh. Now, I'm not a Microsoft fan or anything, what I am is realistic...it makes zero sense to go harping on Microsoft for making shit software when barely anyone outside of Microsoft can make it right either.

There are so many alternatives to both open source, and MS that its mind boggling. Its not the either-or situation you make it out to be whatsoever. MS software honestly isn't that good. Using the OS makes sense (even though it sucks) for various reasons, but why anyone would use the stupidly feature heavy MS Office to type a letter is beyond me. Nobody, anywhere, uses even 1/4 the features that huge beast offers. Then there is Media Player, which sucks, but not as bad as the wmv format itself. WTF makes people to this day still encode videos in this suck format? Despite having pretty much the same sort of quality/size attributes as other formats, it seems to hit the CPU twice as hard to actually play a WMV movie. Also, skipping through the movie with the scrubber is laggy, and often causes playback to fuck up untill you restart the program. Then there is the scan tool I use at work (a Honda dealership) that runs on WinCE and crashes all the time. Then there is the WinXP Embedded based ATM that my old bank uses. I actually switched to another bank because the only ATM they have in town is out of order at least 1/3 of the time I try to use it, and I can't make it there during business hours. Compare this to the old AS400 ATMs that never break down until there is a failure of a physical part like a receipt printer or something.

The only good piece of software I've ever used from MS is Fortza Motorsport for XBox, and MS's game division is the one I avoid more than any other. MS has no expertise in games whatsoever, they merely decided (as mega corporations routinely do) than the money Sony was making from the business was in fact money that MS was losing. So MS enters the business, loses more money than it took to bring down Sega, SNK, and anyone else you can name combined, and in this race to the bottom now Sony isn't making any money either.

MS, honestly, isn't good at anything, at least not anything I've been exposed to, and every day they are looking to new businesses they can dominate with their mediocrity. I will not give my cash to people that are really bad at their jobs just out of some base capitalistic respect/worship for all the money they have.

Seldane · 10/30/2006, 07:47 AM

Don't forget: Microsoft hasn't come up with anything themselves. Internet Explorer was a rip-off of Netscape, and the latest IE7 is just Firefox with a new skin.

Odonadon · 10/30/2006, 08:35 AM

Quote from: "Seldane"Don't forget: Microsoft hasn't come up with anything themselves. Internet Explorer was a rip-off of Netscape, and the latest IE7 is just Firefox with a new skin.

Don't forget about the reduced compatibility and gaping security holes in IE7

And you have insulted Firefox by comparing it to IE7 sir!

OD

Seldane · 10/30/2006, 09:53 AM

Sorry about that. I deeply regret it.

I forgot: Microsoft HAS come up with some stuff: odd standards. Instead of following the standards, Microsoft makes their own, rendering everything incompatible with everything. Ingenious, if I may say it myself.

esteban · 10/30/2006, 11:39 AM

Quote from: "GUTS"Oh I wasn't lumping you in with the internet nerds Steve, I was talking about all these other guys.

Hahahahaha. I noticed that I forgot to include smiely faces in my post, so I sounded way too serious.

You know, sometimes I just go off on rants

.

PC Gaijin · 10/30/2006, 02:25 PM

This used to be a PC-FX thread, right?

GUTS · 10/30/2006, 03:57 PM

You should know by now that any thread that makes it to 3 pages around here is going to go off on tangents.

Keranu · 10/30/2006, 05:02 PM

Hahaha, so true.

Emerald Rocker · 11/28/2006, 11:27 PM

I'm going to go out on a limb and actually respond to the original message, which I hadn't seen before tonight. I actually think the PC-FX is a *GREAT* console. The games all feel like they had effort put into them. Even stuff I've barely touched -- like Megami Paradise 2 -- make me want to give them a chance, because I can tell the developers really tried to put together something they would like.

Welcome to Pia Carrot -- best version of the game
Der Langrisser FX -- awesome version of Langrisser 2, with the awesome "hard" mode exclusive to PC-FX
First Kiss Story -- great, great romance sim with an exclusive PC-FX mode: HuneX Fighters '98!
Super Real Mahjong P5 -- nice version of the game with a secret "viewer" mode (not available on other ports)
Zenki -- not the greatest game in the world, but it has an aura of "ambition" about it that was hard to find in 32-bit 2D games
Chip Chan Kick -- this game RULES.
Boundary Gate -- Better than the Playstation version.

It even has Battle Heat, which most people love. (I think it blows)

And the thing is, I've only played 9 or 10 PC-FX games. If seven of those are cool, how many other excellent titles are out there?

Keranu · 11/29/2006, 12:02 AM

Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/28/2006, 11:27 PMAnd the thing is, I've only played 9 or 10 PC-FX games. If seven of those are cool, how many other excellent titles are out there?

Wait, I thought you had like 40-50 games for it? Nice post though.

esteban · 11/29/2006, 12:04 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 11/29/2006, 12:02 AM
Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/28/2006, 11:27 PMAnd the thing is, I've only played 9 or 10 PC-FX games. If seven of those are cool, how many other excellent titles are out there?
Wait, I thought you had like 40-50 games for it? Nice post though.

Maybe that was runin?

Keranu · 11/29/2006, 12:06 AM

Quote from: stevek666 on 11/29/2006, 12:04 AMMaybe that was runin?

Haha, I don't think Runin has even played any PC-FX games.

Emerald Rocker · 11/29/2006, 12:22 AM

I've got tons of games, I just haven't played them.

Seldane · 11/29/2006, 02:16 PM

Looks like most of the games you posted are ports. Doesn't matter if they're marginally better than other versions or not - they're still ports/not exclusive to the system. Better to play them on something else - something better - with more good (exclusive) games.

Emerald Rocker · 11/29/2006, 08:49 PM

I agree. Amazing exclusives like Gears of War and Enchanted Arms are the reason that the Xbox 360 is the best console ever.

But every now and then, I have this crazy urge to play some non-exclusives like Chip Chan Kick!, which was ported to other systems like.... uh..... well, anyway. When I want to play awesome non-exclusives, I like to play the best version available. And that's where the PC-FX comes in.

SignOfZeta · 11/29/2006, 09:13 PM

Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/29/2006, 08:49 PMI agree. Amazing exclusives like Gears of War and Enchanted Arms are the reason that the Xbox 360 is the best console ever.

Oh man, I was going to let your praise of the FX slide since this is an FX site but...seriously, 360? You're utterly nuts.

esteban · 11/30/2006, 12:12 AM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on 11/29/2006, 09:13 PM
Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/29/2006, 08:49 PMI agree. Amazing exclusives like Gears of War and Enchanted Arms are the reason that the Xbox 360 is the best console ever.
Oh man, I was going to let your praise of the FX slide since this is an FX site but...seriously, 360? You're utterly nuts.

His tongue was firmly in his cheek when he made the comment about the 360

.

Emerald Rocker · 11/30/2006, 12:52 AM

The 360 rules. Best console since... well, since the Xbox. That one had amazing exclusives like Ninja Gaiden Black, Otogi, and Halo.

Seldane · 11/30/2006, 01:48 PM

Yeah, Halo was exclusive on Mac too. And PC.

CrackTiger · 11/30/2006, 04:57 PM

Quote from: stevek666 on 11/30/2006, 12:12 AM
Quote from: SignOfZeta on 11/29/2006, 09:13 PM
Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/29/2006, 08:49 PMI agree. Amazing exclusives like Gears of War and Enchanted Arms are the reason that the Xbox 360 is the best console ever.
Oh man, I was going to let your praise of the FX slide since this is an FX site but...seriously, 360? You're utterly nuts.
His tongue was firmly in his cheek when he made the comment about the 360 .

I like how so many gam3rz can look back at previous generations and praise them all and discuss them without console war bias cuz their h@rdc0re and down with the old school, but still act like it's 1991 when talking about current hardware.

GUTS · 11/30/2006, 05:32 PM

He must have missed all those other consoles that Halo appeared on when he called it exclusive, I hear the PS2 version is pretty good.

esteban · 11/30/2006, 07:30 PM

Quote from: Emerald Rocker on 11/30/2006, 12:52 AMThe 360 rules. Best console since... well, since the Xbox. That one had amazing exclusives like Ninja Gaiden Black, Otogi, and Halo.

If you are limiting the universe of consoles to Xbox and Xbox360 only, then I agree.