PC-FX: Polygon Capable?

[Kitsunexus]

So we all know this pic of SSS3D:



But is it real? It looks to be about the level of the Namco System 21 hardware, however like in the case of SEGA CD Silpheed it can be easily faked.

What do you think?


As for me, I want to believe it's real, but the simple fact that FX Fighter had to be FMV makes me skeptical.

[Keranu]

Well it could be possible since from what I know any system can do polygons, but it sucks up all the hardware which can make it run really slow and barely have any shading. There are a few Genesis games that show off real polygons (can't remember their names, they were mentioned in the Ranger X thread) and looked awful, so with the more powerful PC-FX hardware it could be possible. Or maybe this game used that unreleased 3D card thing.

[GUTS]

I doubt its real, although that screenshot doesn't really look much better than Virtua Racing on Genesis so it might have been possible.

[handygrafx]

NEC's 32-bit console was in development for over 4 years, a long time for a console to be in R&D in those days.

that picture is realtime polygon graphics generated by the Project Tetsujin board aka IronMan
aka Hudson 32-bit board from 1992,  basicly the early PC-FX when it was going to have some level of 3D polygon capabilities.  Hudson & NEC did away with / scrapped the polygon capabilities, and instead improved the FMV playback quality, for the final system.

see this thread for more detailed info on the changes the PC-FX went though during its development.

[FM-77]

I wonder why they didn't make it capable of handling 3d? A strange decision.

[Necromancer]

Easy question - $$$

NEC wanted to cut costs to be price competitive with the Saturn and the PlayStation (which was still cheaper).  Unfortunately, they weren't competitive by any other measure.

[Kitsunexus]

NEC's 32-bit console was in development for over 4 years, a long time for a console to be in R&D in those days.

that picture is realtime polygon graphics generated by the Project Tetsujin board aka IronMan
aka Hudson 32-bit board from 1992,  basicly the early PC-FX when it was going to have some level of 3D polygon capabilities.  Hudson & NEC did away with / scrapped the polygon capabilities, and instead improved the FMV playback quality, for the final system.

see this thread for more detailed info on the changes the PC-FX went though during its development.

Sweet. Thanks!

[FM-77]

Ah, I get it then. They wanted it to be a failure. Good move.

[Necromancer]

They gambled and lost big time.  They must have thought that 3D was nothing more than a gimmick and that gaming would remain 2D.  Definitely not the sharpest knives in the drawer. 

[Kitsunexus]

They gambled and lost big time.  They must have thought that 3D was nothing more than a gimmick and that gaming would remain 2D.  Definitely not the sharpest knives in the drawer. 

See also: Sega Saturn

[handygrafx]

I weap everytime I read these old EGM Quarterman Gossip columns


May 1990



June 1992

[Kitsunexus]

EGM Quarterman

Notice why he's not in the new editions of the magazine? BECAUSE 95.7% OF THE TIME HE WAS FULL OF SHIT.

I wish I could find his "Sega is releasing a Halo-Killer" rant for you guys, it's pure hilarity.

It's dumbf*cks like him that make video gaming journalism not taken as serious.

[GUTS]

He still has a monthly column in EGM, and he actually is right more often than not.

[Kitsunexus]

EGM SUCKS!

[Tatsujin]

So we all know this pic of SSS3D:



As for me, I want to believe it's real, but the simple fact that FX Fighter had to be FMV makes me skeptical.

if the PC-FX would use FMV to show the upper pic, it would look in minimum a 100 times better than that. i'm sure it's fo'real. and not that impressive though, since even a SFC with FX-chip could handle this few polygons.