Editing PC-FX (section)

==History==
In 1987, NEC partnered with game publisher [[Hudson Soft]] to create the PC Engine, released internationally as the [[TurboGrafx-16]]. The PC Engine was successful in Japan, but the TG-16 struggled in overseas markets.

The success of the PC Engine created a strong relationship between NEC and Hudson, who began work on a true successor (as opposed to the [[SuperGrafx]], an upgraded PC Engine that had been released the year before to low sales and was already discontinued) as early as 1990.<ref name=NLife/> The companies designed a prototype system known as "Tetsujin" ("Iron Man"), a 32-bit console with full-screen video playback, 2 megabytes of RAM, and CD-ROM. NEC designed the console itself based on its previous experience with electronics, and Hudson provided the necessary custom chipset and co-processors.<ref name=NLife/> The prototype was announced in 1992 and presented to companies that expressed interest. To demonstrate the system's capabilities, Hudson created a version of ''[[Star Soldier (video game)|Star Soldier]]'' displaying 3D objects over pre-rendered backdrops. When this presentation garnered considerable support, NEC and Hudson began to move forward with the project.<ref name=NLife>{{cite web |last=McFerran |first=Damien |title=Feature: What NEC and Hudson Did Next: The {{sic|Disaste|rous|nolink=y}} Story of the PC-FX |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_what_nec_and_hudson_did_next_the_disasterous_story_of_the_pc-fx |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=July 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402204745/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_what_nec_and_hudson_did_next_the_disasterous_story_of_the_pc-fx |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>

The Tetsujin was originally set to be released in 1992, but the lack of completed games pushed the launch date to early 1993, which was also skipped.<ref name=NLife/> Publications speculated that the PC Engine's continued success in the market made NEC and Hudson reluctant to release a succeeding platform.<ref name=NLife/> The release of technologically-superior consoles in late 1993, such as the [[Atari Jaguar]] and [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]], made the Tetsujin's hardware look more dated by comparison. Publications grew skeptical on how well it would perform in the market due to its inferior hardware and the amount of competing platforms.<ref name=NLife/> While NEC and Hudson knew that the system's technology was unimpressive, time constraints prevented them from designing a new one from scratch.<ref name=NLife/> Instead, the system was redesigned to resemble a [[Computer case|PC tower]] with slots that allowed for future modules to increase its capabilities.<ref name=NLife/> Very little of the hardware itself was changed from the Tetsujin prototype, although it upgraded to a new 32-bit V-810 RISC CPU.<ref name=EGM54>{{cite magazine|date=January 1994|title=NEC of Japan Reveals Specs on New FX 32-Bit Game System! |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_54/page/n67/mode/2up|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=Sendai Publishing|issue=54|page=66}}</ref> The system was renamed to the PC-FX, the "PC" believed to be a nod to the PC Engine brand. Unusual for a fifth generation console, the PC-FX does not have a polygon graphics processor.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Next Wave |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=60|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=July 1994|page=110}}</ref><ref name=GPro64>{{cite magazine |title=Overseas ProSpects: NEC PC-FX|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=64|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=November 1994|page=268}}</ref> NEC's reasoning for this was that polygon processors of the time were relatively low-powered, resulting in figures having a blocky appearance, and that it would be better for games to use [[pre-rendered]] polygon graphics instead.<ref name=EGM66>{{cite magazine |title=NEC Launches New PC-FX Game System!|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=66 |publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=January 1995|pages=172–173}}</ref>

The PC-FX was announced in late 1993<ref name=EGM54/><ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1994 |title=Yet One More 32-bit System|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n177/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=56|page=184}}</ref> and showcased at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show in June. Presented alongside several competing systems—the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, [[Neo Geo CD]], and [[Bandai Playdia]]—its PC tower design was met with ridicule from commentators.<ref name=NLife/> Hudson demonstrated ''FX Fighter'', a full-motion video fighting game created in response to Sega's ''[[Virtua Fighter (video game)|Virtua Fighter]]'', to showcase the system's capabilities. Its smooth-shaded polygonal visuals were met with praise from publications, which contributed to the anticipated launch of the console.<ref name=NLife/> The system's [[target audience]] was roughly five years older than that of the PC Engine, in hopes that PC Engine fans would be brought over to the successor console.<ref name=EGM66/> The console was launched in Japan on December 23, 1994 at the price of ¥49,800. In an interview roughly a year before the system launch, a representative stated that NEC had all but ruled out a release outside Japan, concluding that it would most likely sell poorly overseas due to its high price.<ref name=EGM66/>

The PC-FX was discontinued in early 1998 with only 300,000 units sold.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hardware Totals|url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/hardware-totals|website=Game Data Library|access-date=October 13, 2016}}{{better source needed|date=December 2022}}</ref>