New console from NEC

[michaeljamesjohnson]

I'm sure there are some old timers here like me that grew up playing the Turbo Grafx 16/CD/Duo. Would any of you love to see NEC and maybe Hudson Soft get together and return to the console market???

I dream of the following in a new NEC console:

-Backwards compatiability with all NEC related games via hardware and emulation
-Downloadable back catalog
-A focus on 2D games with modern 1920x1080p resolution and lossless audio. A sort of old school 2D game revival (these would be new 2D games...i.e. Street Fighter 2 HD Remix, etc.).
-Focus on pure gaming without all the other stuff...which would allow:
-Prices competitive with Nintendo's Wii which could allow them to overtake Nintendo similiar to the days of the PC Engine.

So how would we ask the powers-that-be at NEC/Hudson Soft (now Konami?) what they think?

 

[Tahir2]

A 2D sprite pushing monster with millions of colours and paralax scrolling galore?

Would be awesome.. wonder what kind of specs they would go for. Off the shelf components would probably be the easiest and quickest way to get the machine out.

Do current graphics cards have the architecture to really push 2D or are they too 3D-centric?

How to ask Konami/NEC? Point them to this thread!

 

[vazel]

And bring back 2D animation in the cinema while you're at it! Too bad the vast majority of people are 3D-whores these days and refer to anything that doesn't have a billion pixel shaded polygons as 'gay'.

 

[DeadlyNinja]

I'm glad I'm not the only one here who can still appreciate the beauty of 2D graphics.

 

[ShaidarHaran]

PSN games such as Super Stardust HD, Everyday Shooter, Blast Factor, and LocoRoco CocoReccho, have proven that high quality 2D/2.5D graphics are still viable, to me at least.

 

[Skrying]

Pure 2D graphics? Eh, no thanks. 2.5D though would simply be awesome. I love New Super Mario Bros. on my NDS and man it has beautiful graphics and the unique features the mixture of 2D and 3D offer really propel the gameplay. Scale that up to very high resolutions and even better animation quality and you'd certainly have some very beautiful games that can take advantage of what minor 3D can offer.

 

[DJ12]

PSN games such as Super Stardust HD, Everyday Shooter, Blast Factor, and LocoRoco CocoReccho, have proven that high quality 2D/2.5D graphics are still viable, to me at least.

Yes, but if they tried to charge you £40+ I'm sure you wouldn't be so happy.

 

[ShaidarHaran]

Yes, but if they tried to charge you £40+ I'm sure you wouldn't be so happy.

Precisely why this would have to be a very inexpensive console with a download distribution method for inexpensive games. It would be a nice alternative to buying a 40GB PS3 or Xbox 360 Arcade just to play casual games at least.

 

[michaeljamesjohnson]

I would pay top dollar for extremely well done 2D modern versions of games from the major players though ...Square-Enix, Capcom, Konami, Falcom, etc. Can you imagine a new Final Fantasy 2D game with all the latest 2D technology, art, high-resolution, lossless sound, etc. Or think about a return to 2D side-scrolling or vertical shooters! Anime influenced art and sound making a big come back...I could go on and on.

I wish there was a way to actually talk to the people in charge at these companies (NEC and Hudson Soft). Would love to hear what they think. The system could be very simple, yet very powerful if it was focused on modern 2D graphics and emulation of the older library of PC Engine, etc. games. Knowing that PC Engine was more popular than Nintendo's hardware in Japan...I really think they could pull it off again if they went up against Wii. No need to compete with XBOX360 or PS3 (totally different demographic IMO).

 

[Megadrive1988]

back in 1989, NEC and Hudson were supposedly working on a true 16-bit console that was meant to come out sometime in 1990. it was supposed to rival the Super Famicom. unlike the PC-Engine, the new system was meant to have a 16-bit CPU, graphics capabilities that included scaling & rotation, and new improved sound hardware. none of which the SuperGrafx had, a console that came out in November 1989 that was a very modest upgrade from the PC-Engine.

I would've been all for a true 2nd-gen, 16-bit PC-Engine. but SuperGrafx was a huge disappointment.


I seriously would not mind a 2D-only console that relies entirely on sprites, parallax scrolling, scaling & rotation, etc. it would be vastly more powerful than the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16, CD-ROM2, SuperGrafx, SuperCD-ROM2, Arcade Card CD, and also the PC-FX, but still 2D. no modern 3D hardware.

1992 EGM article on Hudson IronMan prototype board which had been in development since 1990. was reworked into the PC-FX by 1994.

Hudson's 32-bit IronMan board, also known as Project Tetsujin, was potential chance for an outstanding console, a true successor to the 8-bit PC-Engine family line. but Tetsujin was downgraded, or never fully developed. they cut out, or never implemented the 3D portion of it (we're talking flat shaded graphics of MODEL 1 class or less, though) upgraded the FMV capabilities, released it as the PC-FX with mostly (95%) anime-based games and very few sprite-based games


that's just an example.


a new NEC system should be nothing like modern consoles such as Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation2, PlayStation3, Gamecube, Wii. Yet, more powerful than NEO-GEO, PC-FX or Saturn. The use of standard DVD would be fine. Yet I don't know what kind of chipset would be right for purly 2D visuals. nobody is making 2D hardware anymore. all 2D games from the last 8-9 years or so, on consoles or PC, have been run using 3D hardware. Dedicated 2D hardware is better for the job. example:
Street Fighter Alpha 3 looks better on the Saturn compared to the Dreamcast version. something about 3D hardware that makes 2D sprite based games not look as good, compared to using 2D sprite based hardwar (I could be wrong about that though, it could be that 2D games on 3D hardware turned out worse for other reasons).

I would prefer low to medium resolution. all the high resolution 2D I've seen on PCs looks cheap, as if it was similar to Flash-based graphics. they almost always look flat and cheap looking. I don't even think stuff like Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is the right way to go.

Anyway, I'd love to see updates of my favorite PCE/turbo games: Blazing Lazers, Legendary Axe, Military Madness/Nectaris, Bonk, Rayxanber, Spriggan and a bunch of other PCE classics I cant think of at the moment.

 

[michaeljamesjohnson]

Wow! I think I remember reading that article back in the day. Looks like EGM (which I had a subscription to back in the early 90s).

Honestly, I dont think most of us know what a high resolution 2D game would look like granted it had the old school Asian/Anime art style and feeling. Hard to imagine 1920x1080 @ 60FPS of animation with highly detailed hand drawn 2D sprites. Couple that with high resolution uncompressed audio and sound effects. Now that is gaming heaven! The only thing I can even think of that would be close would be Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale on the PC (even though they are practically 10 year old American games).

I always thought NEC/Hudson Soft hardware and software had more of that Asian and mature gamer feel back in the day and the hardware looked badass. Its definitely stuck in my mind to this day. I will never forget my first experience with the Turbo CD and Ys Book I & II. In fact, the redbook audio of that game is still probably the best I have ever heard (I have the songs ripped to .wav files on my PC).

Do you think there is even anyone left at NEC / Hudson Soft that worked there when the PC Engine / TurboGrafx / PC-FX was around? There has got to be someone in the company that still has the desire to make a come-back...or at least propose the idea. I have posted on the Hudson Soft forum and also sent a message to NEC, but I doubt the forum mod or customer service rep will care...or know what I am talking about...heh

 

[2real4tv]

had a lot of memories with the TurboGraphics 16 my regret was that I gave it away.

 

[blakjedi]

why would your wish not be possible on current machines... 3d focus does not preclude 2d capabilities

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I was wondering that. These current system could totally demolish and 2D graphics thrown at them. They have bandwidth for multiple full 1080 alpha blended overdraw, and that's all 2D needs. Chuck the sprites onto quads and you have hardware rotation and scale to boot.

The only thing not covered by the current systems is full hardware support for the back catalogue. If someone could produce a USB game cartridge reader that cached the game carts to memory for running on an emulator, you'd be sorted.

Truth is this thread was inspired by nostalgia and not a rational reasoning for a new console player!

 

[Megadrive1988]

why would your wish not be possible on current machines... 3d focus does not preclude 2d capabilities

current consoles also cost too much. a new NEC console should launch at no more than $199 like the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. I think the Japanese PC-Engine cost around $150 at the time the TG16 came out.

Also, 3D machines don't seem to do 2D sprite graphics as well as a machine with dedicated 2D sprite hardware.

 

[assen]

Also, 3D machines don't seem to do 2D sprite graphics as well as a machine with dedicated 2D sprite hardware.

Blatantly false. Nothing ever produced can match a 8800GTX for the purpose of drawing "sprites". If you want only sprites drawn, it's more economical to take something which is mass-produce and use only 30-40% of its transistors, than to custom design a "true 2D" part, but live with much smaller production runs.

Everything you need to display high-performing 2D graphics is made kindly available to you by Microsoft in the form of XNA for the 360. Feel free to implement your console yourself, you won't need NEC!

 

[V3]

I can't see a console, but I can see a handheld. I think in the future the handhelds gaming market will be far bigger than consoles market.

Just create a handheld, that can output 1080 HDTV kinda like the new PSP, though PSP resolution is kinda limited. Though I don't think it should be limited to 2D. It would be nice if it also has 1080 capable screens.

 

[assen]

I can't see a console, but I can see a handheld. I think in the future the handhelds gaming market will be far bigger than consoles market.

Just create a handheld, that can output 1080 HDTV kinda like the new PSP, though PSP resolution is kinda limited. Though I don't think it should be limited to 2D. It would be nice if it also has 1080 capable screens.

Very high quality LCD panels are starting to approach 150 dpi - with them, 1920x1080 means 13x7", or 33x18 cm...

 

[V3]

Very high quality LCD panels are starting to approach 150 dpi - with them, 1920x1080 means 13x7", or 33x18 cm...

They have 7.1" 1080 LCD at 310 dpi, if I remember correctly. I am sure there will be smaller one in the future as process improve.

It'll be nice to have high dpi screens, it'll be closer to print stuff.

 

[Rangers]

current consoles also cost too much. a new NEC console should launch at no more than $199 like the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. I think the Japanese PC-Engine cost around $150 at the time the TG16 came out.

Also, 3D machines don't seem to do 2D sprite graphics as well as a machine with dedicated 2D sprite hardware.

$199 bucks for a 2d monster? I think if this idea has any chance, it has to be dirt cheap, and I imagine all the 2D monster you'd need could be had for like, 50 bucks. What the heck is this 199 talk. The Xbox 360 is nearly down to that price range. I mean, what would Neo Geo hardware, the most powerful 2D system I know of, cost today to produce? $1?

I think people are also missing the fact Sony and MS dont really want a 2D focus on their machines and restrict it. The place you can do it is XBLA and PSN.

This hypothetical NEC machine would fully allow and encourage a 2D focus. That is the difference.

I also submit it would need to be download games mostly, or only.

I can see this type of thing, with those parameters, being a real hit.