Why PC-Engine? It is supposed to be PC Engine!

[Seldane]

There's one thing on this page that's always been bothering me, and that is the "PC-Engine/SuperGrafx General Discussion", etc.

Why does it say PC-Engine? That is incorrect.

I know it is not a big deal, but why spell it wrong? I see no good reason to it.

Look at the logo. 

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[OldRover]

Kinda reminds of of how nuts it drives me when people call it "Martial Champions"...it's not plural, you &@^#%*&^@#*^s!

[Keranu]

I guess it is a little annoying, but not quite as annoying as people spelling Ys as " Ys ".

[esteban]

There's one thing on this page that's always been bothering me, and that is the "PC-Engine/SuperGrafx General Discussion", etc.

Why does it say PC-Engine? That is incorrect.

I know it is not a big deal, but why spell it wrong? I see no good reason to it.

Look at the logo.  

hahahahahhaa . Excellent observation, I'm glad you brought this up. I'm guilty of using PC-Engine. Personally I hate "PC Engine" as text, because I always read it as two unrelated words, as in "There was a PC and then there was an Engine."

"PC" and "Engine" are such common words, especially on the internet and especially in the high-tech and video game realm:

Source is the engine used for the best PC game ever: Half Life 2. ... The Torque engine by Garage Games was used to create the amazing PC game Tribes 2, ...

So, I use a hyphen to:
1. Combine parts of a "compound word" (two words linked together to create a new word; a word made up of two or more existing words, often separated by a hyphen)
2. Improve clarity of a term (in this case, the specific name of a console)

With a hyphen, the term "PC-Engine" makes it overtly clear that I am not talking about any PC or any Engine but rather I am talking about the PC Engine console, which is not a PC, nor is it an Engine.

Logos/branding are effective at communication because they can take generic words such as "PC" and "Engine" and transform them into a new, singular, unique concept (term). Logos/branding is often achieved via aesthetics (creative use of colors, graphics, images, fonts). Logos can have many dimensions (length and width, at minimum, but sometimes there are additional layers/dimensions)... but not all logos translate nicely into raw text.

PC Engine, for me, is one of the biggest offenders of this phenomenon: It has a distinctive logo/branding, but everything is lost when converted to raw text.  

I am a search engine junkie and I really hate it when I get false positive hits for searches. By always using "PC-Engine", I ensure that folks will see "PC-Engine" and instantly recognize that it is relevant, as opposed to "...Radio, PC, Engine parts..." or "...JT talked to PC. Engine is ready for testing..."

From the perspective of a purist, I am bastardizing PC Engine when I write it as "PC-Engine". But I use a hyphen for clarity. Personally, I wish everyone would use a hyphen, but that's not going to happen, since people don't even bother using a hyphen when they are supposed to (e.g. PC-98, PC-88, PC-FX, TurboGrafx-16, etc.

P.S. I know I am insane .

[OldRover]

When you google for PC Engine, write it in quotes: "PC Engine".

[esteban]

When you google for PC Engine, write it in quotes: "PC Engine".

Of course! I don't have a problem using search engines. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for everyone else...

As I pointed out, I use "PC-Engine" for clarity, for the benefit of fellow readers. I want folks who are scanning text on a page (or the results from a search engine) to instantly recognize that they have found what they are looking for. "PC-Engine" is the most effective and efficient means of doing this.

"PC-Engine" instantly, and unmistakably, signifies the PC Engine console.

Now, pluralizing "PC Engine" would be as egregious as pluralizing "Martial Champion". I'm not doing that! I'm clarifying a term, a brand name, with a hyphen according to the rules of grammar and punctuation.

Am I taking liberties? Am I bastardizing things? Perhaps. But I feel that clarity in written language is more important. My agenda is very specific. I'm not advocating the gratuitious use of hyphens, I'm advocating for the thoughtful and intelligent use of hyphens.

OK, my ranting is over. My brother just arrived and he's eager to play a few matches of Martial Champions on my PCEngines. I just acquired a second 6-button controller, errrr... I mean 6 button controller, and I can't wait to whoop his ass.

[Keranu]

Man I can't get enough of Steve's observations!

[TurboXray]

"PC-Engine" instantly, and unmistakably, signifies the PC Engine console.

Agreed. Plus it looks cooler