Pc engine, pioneers of the modern video game console?

[jperryss]

1. While the Zelda cartridge (Famicom/NES) was, I think, the first to use a battery to save progress in a console game, the PCE's solution (a central location for saving both HuCard and CD-ROM media, via the CD-ROM hardware or back-up devices) is a much more elegant, and flexible solution.

Except when you ran out of space (damn you, Exile WP) and had to start wiping stuff (or use a Tennokoe Bank).

[Arkhan]

I prefer each game saving data, though this doesn't work for CD-ROM games so well.

That way you can take the cart to a friends and be good to go.   


but, the lack of save-space on the cards is what kept their size small

[esteban]

I can't believe no one has followed up on my other insightful comments from my prior post (i.e. about  PC-Engine Hyper Catalog (CD-ROM Capsule), Ultrabox, Game Database, Game Demos, etc.)!

I mean, COME ON!

[SuperDeadite]

NEC also made the Virtual Cushion.  Probably the first home feedback device.

[SignOfZeta]

First karaoke add-on (ROMROM Amp)? Maybe.

As for it pioneering the "modern" era, that depends on your definition of modern. Certainly the Playstation and Saturn owe a lot to the PC Engine, but with systems like the PS3 and 360...honestly the discs the games ship on are just a formality, IMO, since updates sometimes nearly a GB is size are required for most top tier games every other time you turn it on. Game delivery and storage is mostly the internet and the hard drive. We have MS to thank for that, more or less.

It seems like Nintendo is the only company with the confidence to ship a finished product on a fixed disc.

[Arkhan]

having online updates is lame.  It just lets the programmers be lazy bastards.

"ah its ok! well patch it in 5 months"