Quest to mod the PC-FX to be backwards compatable.....

[_joshuaTurbo]

The PC-FX seems to have a far more reliable laser.  It also has a controller scheme that is similar to the PCE's.  6 button, select, run buttons- D-pad.

Looking at the specs or the console, is there even a slight possibility of creating an emulator for Turbo/PCE games to be played on the PCFX?  Similar to a NES/SNES emulator that runs on a PSX or Dreamcast...

Like a way to make an emulator CDr that would boot into the PC Engine Emulator, then you could replace the disc with a Duo CD or SCD game.... maybe?

Could this even be slight possibility?

Other than creating an emulator/ or bootup disc- could the console itself be modded to do more?  Opening up the console, it seems like there was room for expansion/ modding.  What could they have been planning?

I know I'm just rambling, so you guys can just tell me to shut the hellup.... lol- just asking some of the modders/ coders. 

[SignOfZeta]

What makes you think the laser is more reliable? Keeping in mind that all FXs are newer than all PCEs (except maybe some really late run RXs) and keeping in mind that PCEs get a shitload more play time, I don't see why the PCE should be considered less reliable. A great number of FXs have barely even left their original packaging more than two or three times. Of course they haven't broken down yet.

Other than the fantastic look of the systems and the (shitty) six button pad, there is no hardware similarity that I know of.

Is the FX powerful enough to do good quality PCE emulation? Probably, but someone would have to a) really be skilled at FX dev and b) really give a shit. I don't see that happening. Apparently those two conditions didn't even exist when the system was still current.

It would absolutely kick ass if someone pulled it off though.

[_joshuaTurbo]

That is true, one would have to factor in the most PC-FX owners probably don't spend the amount of time playing that PCE owners do, er did.

From what I understand just from reading around here and talking to people.  Lots of PC-FX owners made CDr backups of some of the harder to find games (Myself included) and played them for A shit-ton and not too many problems occured. 

From my experiences, The moment I started f*cking around with CDr's was when my Duo's lenses would crap out.  The PC-FX(again, just from my experiences, and from what I've heard) seemed to be able to handle the different CD types.

Maybe it is stronger given that it is a newer generation of CD-lenses?

[SignOfZeta]

CD-Rs don't kill lenses.

[_joshuaTurbo]

So are you saying that if the piracy/ clone CDing of Turbo CD games fad didn't happen (or isn't happening) that we would still have the problems we have now?

I've seen examples of US Duo's that have TONS of issues, and some that work just like new without Lense swaps.  Usually when I ask how the owner kept the Duo running so well, they reply with "I keep CDr's away from it".

I could see the main problem being with the actual burning process itself rather than the CDr's that are hurting the lenses, but I believe that a DUO that has only ever played actual software will outlast one that had been used to play CDr's.

[nat]

Like Zeta mentioned, there are no internal similarities between the Duo and the PC-FX. The PC-FX is not a "souped-up Duo," it doesn't share a CPU or any on board components with the Duo. f*ck, even the CD-ROM is different. Therefor, an emulator would have to be written from scratch capable of real-time emulation of the Duo hardware. I'm not convinced the FX has enough horsepower to pull this off, but I'd love to be wrong.

As for the PC-FX being more reliable than the Duo.... Again, see Zeta's post.

The lot of PC-FXes I was selling a few years ago on the cheap were all decks that came to me as "broken," in every single case the laser was the issue. I'm not sure the PC-FX CD-ROM is actually any more reliable than what the Duos use. They're just newer and have seen less use. Get back to me in five years, and then we'll talk.

[Necromancer]

Shut the hell up, turboStar! 

If you're willing to play on an emulator (which will never be 100% accurate), just get a little media PC and hook it up to your TV.  The PC-FX controller is meh and there aren't any joysticks available, whereas your options are nearly endless on PC; plus a PC could give a shit if it's an original disc, a CD-R, or even just an image.

[KingDrool]

This brings up a good point: I know the replacement lens for the Duo is the HOP-M3, or whatever (I forget the exact one), but what's the replacement lens for the PC-FX? And is it easy to find for purchase and install? I replaced the lens in my Duo once, and that was fairly easy for a techno-moron like me.

[_joshuaTurbo]

Shut the hell up, turboStar! 

HEY!

If you're willing to play on an emulator (which will never be 100% accurate), just get a little media PC and hook it up to your TV. 

Well, yeah but,...

The PC-FX controller is meh and there aren't any joysticks available, whereas your options are nearly endless on PC;

yea but....

plus a PC could give a shit if it's an original disc, a CD-R, or even just an image.

yea BUT!!!

Shut the hell up, turboStar! 

Ok fine!