For people in Japan with spare time... (old computer thread)

[kozo]

I'd pay teh bucks for someone to pick me up a working PC-98DO machine. I've avoided YJ because it would be nice to have someone actually turn the thing on and make sure it works, and to pack it in a way it will make it. I'd be willing to match the service fee of SMJ or whatever for your trouble.

I own quite a few PC-88 and PC-98 games (they're all Falcom, yay) and the DO sounds like it can handle both formats. There's so little info about these machines it's hard to really know what all I need, though. I guess if the DO is too out there, I would settle for an 88-series model, but being able to use the 98 games would be cool too.

Yeah, emulation works too, but I'd love a real machine...it may be a bit too impractical, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[rolins]

Yeah, emulation works too, but I'd love a real machine...it may be a bit too impractical, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

The PC98DO and PC98DO+ may not be the model you want. It can run PC-8801 and PC-9801 software, more or less. It definitely has compatibility issues...or at least this what I was told. It definitely won't run Policenauts since that's for the PC-9821 but you probably already know that.

Try asking around at Tokugawa forums, there's people there who have better knowledge of these systems than I do.

I'm also a fan of the old NEC computers especially the PC-8801. I've been on a look out for a cheap PC-8801FA model which has the OPNA (YM-2608). Problem is the shipping probably would cost more than the computer I bet.

[kozo]

Problem is the shipping probably would cost more than the computer I bet.

That's true, for sure. Thanks for the info on the DO, though...good to know. I'll ask over at the forums.

Oh, BTW, on the PC-8801FA - is there any huge reason I'd want that over a, say, PC-8801SR or PC-88VA?

[rolins]

Problem is the shipping probably would cost more than the computer I bet.

That's true, for sure. Thanks for the info on the DO, though...good to know. I'll ask over at the forums.

Oh, BTW, on the PC-8801FA - is there any huge reason I'd want that over a, say, PC-8801SR or PC-88VA?

If you're going to spend big make sure you get your money's worth. The FA model has the better sound board with its YM-2608 (OPNA), while the mkIISR model has the YM-2203 (OPN). All PC-8801 games will work on either model but some games have OPNA music and they sound awesome.

Just know that the FA model isn't the only PC-88 with OPNA. There are other models too but even more expensive.

The PC-88VA is whole different system. It's really a suped up PC-88 computer. I'm not entirely sure if the PC-88VA is backward compatible, but I know that VA games can't run on the older models. There isn't too many VA games out there but the 2 I'm most interested in is Sorcerian and R-Type. The VA even uses the YM-2608 (OPNA). The soundtrack to both games are pretty damn good. You can listen to the soundtracks yourself with Hoot.

[Ed Oscuro]

PC-88VA R-Type vs. X68000, any thoughts?

Porting it to the VA seems possible if difficult.

If it has new stuff, that's always welcome too...

[kozo]

Ah, very interesting.

My copies of Star Trader and Ys 3 both say "PC-8801 SR/PC-88VA" on the side...enhanced for VA, maybe? My copy of Sorcerian only says "PC-8801 SR" so there must be a VA version out there.

So a VA machine can play standard and VA games, but the VA games are only playable on the VA systems...right?

[PROMETHEUS]

Crazy, I had no idea those machines and those games ever existed @_@

[Ganelon]

PC-88VA R-Type vs. X68000, any thoughts?

On that note, I'm interested to know whether any port available on both the PC-98 as well as the X68000 is better on the PC-98. As far as I've heard, the X68k seems to have the most solid versions of everything.

[lgb]

Crazy, I had no idea those machines and those games ever existed @_@

PC-9800. That computer that ZUN experimented with. Yeah, that thing.

[Magic Knight]

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[kozo]

Interesting, I actually have seen the cover art for it (purple background instead of green). Never seen one on eBay or Y!J though.

I did check out the music files for the VA versions - they are slightly better. Pretty sweet there's a whole version of Sorcerian's music I didn't even know about.

[Magic Knight]

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