Question about hooking PC-FX up to a PC-98....

[oldschooldave]

When you hook a PC-98 to a PC-FX, do you just need the hard drive from the PC-98, or do you need the keyboard, mouse, monitor, or any other peripherals?

[Nutribrain]

You can buy the expansion card PC-FXGA in three different versions (see also here and scroll down to the bottom), the main difference is the slot format and software, and then you have the real PC-FX hardware in your PC-98. The card itself features the same joyports as the original PC-FX hardware. The computer's HD is used as a memory card plus the software bundeled with the GA enables you to write your own FX programs. These programs can only be run on a PC-FXGA enabled computer and not on the real hardware.
So the monitor and the computer's HD is used by the PC-FXGA. I don't know if the PC's mouse is supported, I guess you need the FX mouse.
I have two PC-FXGA cards but are lacking a compatible computer, so I haven't tried them myself.

[oldschooldave]

Well thanks for that information!

My main concern was wether you could use the TV as the monitor, or if, as you said, you need the PC-98's monitor.

I still find it weird, though, that the PC-FX couldn't play PC-88 games-isn't the PC-98 backwards compatible with the PC-88?

[dj898]

iirc pc-98 used analogue rgb monitor.... and don't think it has the socket for normal tv...

[Kaminari]

These programs can only be run on a PC-FXGA enabled computer and not on the real hardware.

They're supposed to run on the FX if you don't use the HuC6273 3D chipset in your code.

I still find it weird, though, that the PC-FX couldn't play PC-88 games - isn't the PC-98 backwards compatible with the PC-88?

No, you're just confused by the fact that some early PC-98 games were hybrid -- they contained both PC-98 and PC-88 versions. Why should the FX be compatible with the PC-88? The FX hardware has nothing in common with the NEC computers.

[oldschooldave]

These programs can only be run on a PC-FXGA enabled computer and not on the real hardware.

They're supposed to run on the FX if you don't use the HuC6273 3D chipset in your code.

I still find it weird, though, that the PC-FX couldn't play PC-88 games - isn't the PC-98 backwards compatible with the PC-88?

No, you're just confused by the fact that some early PC-98 games were hybrid -- they contained both PC-98 and PC-88 versions. Why should the FX be compatible with the PC-88? The FX hardware has nothing in common with the NEC computers.

Yes I was confused, so thanks for the info!

[sabre470]

These programs can only be run on a PC-FXGA enabled computer and not on the real hardware.

They're supposed to run on the FX if you don't use the HuC6273 3D chipset in your code.

Absolutely, check this page for proof, the guy is the programmer of a multi platform game called Frog Feast he managed to do excellent stuff with the FX-GA SDK.

Cheers

Sabre