The PC-FX was NEC's 32-bit sequel to its PC Engine (US:TurboGrafx 16). The PC-FX only used CDs as opposed to the PCE's (TG16) use of HuCards(it did have a CD peripheral, though). What's unusual about the PC-FX is its computer-like design. It stand upright like a tower computer while most other consoles lay flat. The controller resembled the Sega Genesis's in shape, only with more buttons. Another interesting feature was its three expansion ports, as expansion ports are relatively underused in consoles and therefore their inclusion increased the price without offering a great deal to the end user.

History

The PC-FX was designed based on a new 32-bit development kit by NEC called "Iron Man". Iron Man was designed in 1992, at the time the PC Engine was quite popular in Japan. It was around the time of the first running demonstration units in mid 1992 that NEC started discussing an imminent release of an Iron Man based system with its many third party developers. Many PC Engine developers seemed upset and disinterested since the PC Engine market was still growing, as a result NEC halted work on the Iron Man and continued making modifications to the PC Engine. By 1993 the 32-bit 3DO platform was released with lots of the developer interest and Sega and Sony let it be known that the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation would be ready for the Japanese marketplace in late 1994. Bandai was also readying the release of a new 32-bit system in Japan called Playdia. At this point NEC realized they needed a 32-bit platform ready for release in 1994. While Sony, Sega and Bandai had developed systems using newer technology with strong 3D rendering capabilities. Now in a rush to keep the large development base that made the PC Engine so successful NEC had to make a decision, rather than spending the time to develop a new more powerful platform capable of competiting with their competitors marched out the now dated 32-bit Iron Man architecture to be used in the PC-FX. The result was that NEC wound up with a severely underpowered system that failed to woo consumers and then developers which ultimately led to its untimely demise.

As the PC-FX struggled NEC started being far more liberal than most companies with regard to the type of titles that it allowed to be released for the platform in an attempt to get whatever development support they could. As a result the PC-FX has gained quite a reputation for hentai and other adult themed games. The main genre of game released for this system was Japanese Dating Simulation games because of their lenient licensing.