Is it possible that what would -eventually- become the PC-FX was reported on as far back as 1990? I think so. If you look at Electronic Gaming Monthy number 10, the one with Konami's Super C for the NES on the cover, in Gaming Gossip page 28, Quarterman (Steve Harris) writes the following in the 2nd paragraph:
"I've also learned that NEC's advanced game machine was not the Super Grafx but instead will be a 32-Bit with enough power to drill all existing systems into the ground. The machine is still rumored to be in the development stages, but evidentally NEC wants it to happen."
I believe what he is talking about here was the (early) Ironman (or Iron Man FX) that would be shown two years later--I'm pretty sure the Ironman was the Hudson 32-bit board with 5 large chips and morphing capabilities, also seen in EGM.
That same board, I believe, was also shown in Video Games & Computer Entertainment, October 1992, (News Bits section) page 24. Although here it was called the HuC62! The HuC62 seen in VG&CE is clearly the same, or similar to, the Ironman board. Two years later in 1994, and four years after EGM's report, the PC-FX is launched in Japan. From what I understand, many of the major elements of the Ironman/IronmanFX (the chipset) was used in the PC-FX. Does this sound about right to you guys?
Btw, I know that Ironman/Ironman FX was also known as Project Tetsujin but I only saw this name used in GameFan, not EGM or VG&CE.
Can anyone come up with a quote eariler than EGM's number 10, which was from May 1990, that rumored an NEC 32-bit system? It's interesting to see just how far back the first reports of a console go.
some links:
EGM number 10, showing its from May 1990: wayback://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm1990.htm (https://web.archive.org/web/20040827054736if_/http://nestral.topcities.com/gallery/egm1990.htm)
Ironman/Tetsujin 32-Bit chipset/board: https://faberp.tripod.com/IronMan.htm (by brizio (https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?action=profile&u=10387))
(https://web.archive.org/web/20190630222314im_/http://faberp.tripod.com/IronMan.JPG)
Hudson's own website, linking HUC62 chipset (Ironman?) to PC-FX: lost link :o
Edited by: AM2forever at: 11/15/02 3:28:04 pm
That sounds correct. You did see the info I have on pcengine-fx.com about this right?
As for info before that 1990 article, I've not seen any. I used to have that magazine (but I think I cut out the article and archived it somewhere before I tossed it).
I've seen the info & picture of the Iron Man FX/Tatsujin board on pcengine-fx.com (very cool btw) but I haven't looked at the magazine article sections for several months, so haven't seen if you made any additions. I'm going to look though.
hot stuff!
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Edited by: AM2forever at: 11/27/02 7:28:52 pm