magazine

sIZE mATTErs
The PC Engine is a famously dinky piece of gaming hardware –
here’s how it stacks up against other devices
PC
ENgINE
Length: 14cm
Width: 14cm
Depth: 3.8cm
NEs
CArTrIdgE
Length: 13.3cm
Width: 12cm
Depth: 2cm
“I ACTuAlly lovE
ThAT wE dIdN’T
hAvE AN offICIAl
rElEAsE BECAusE
wE goT All ThE
TITlEs IN ThEIr
PurEsT forms”
Paul Weller
One of the customers funnelled into the
PC Engine market by the press and importers
was Paul Weller, who today runs the PC Engine
Software Bible at pcengine.co.uk, one of the best
online resources for fans of the system. “It was
the first machine that truly felt like the arcade
experience. Previously I had a Sega Master
System and while it was great, the limitations
were obvious. But the PC Engine ran fast and
smooth with loads of sprites and amazing sound.
It was a turning point in consoles for me,” Paul
reflects. “The physical design of the machine was
also highly appealing, and because the games
were all imports it added an exotic air to them.”
mEgA
drIvE
Length: 28cm
Width: 21.2cm
Depth: 7cm
ATArI
lyNx
Length: 27.3cm
Width: 10.8cm
Depth: 3.8cm
3
mAIN ChIPs
make up the PC Engine –
the HuC6280A CPU/sound
generator, the HuC6270
GPU and the HuC6260
video encoder.
The import market didn’t go
unnoticed. Within a few months,
NEC would take out advertising
that warned users about imported
PC Engine consoles – they were
likely modified without NEC’s consent and the
company wouldn’t offer warranty support or
repairs for them. Its intent as a deterrent against
import purchases was obvious, but went
largely unheeded by players. As far as the
public was concerned, the PC Engine was
available and NEC’s endorsement was
no big deal – after all, the company still
hadn’t come forward with any release
plans to make waiting worthwhile.
xBox
CoNTrol PAd
Length: 12.7cm
Width: 16.5cm
Depth: 7.6cm
Ps Tv
Length: 6.5cm
Width: 10.5cm
Depth: 1.36cm
22 | RETRO GAMER