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Difference between revisions of "PC-88 VA"

From NEC Retro
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{{sub-stub}}The '''PC-88 VA''' is a computer released as part of the [[PC-8800 series]].
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{{sub-stub}}The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a computer released as part of the [[PC-8800 series]] in 1987.
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
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The PC-88 VA was designed to compete with the then-upcoming Sharp X68000 (which incidentally debuted in the same month). It was the first 16-bit machine of the PC-8800 series, and its upped specifications, including a brand new video mode and sound hardware also seen in the [[PC Engine]], effectively makes it a third-generation PC-8800 computer with its own line of software. It is also the first to omit the "01" in "PC-8801", although the longer name would return in subsequent hardware revisions.
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While numerous PC-8800 computers had been released by NEC by this point, the PC-88 VA can be considered to be the "third generation" model, following the original [[PC-8801]] and the [[PC-8801 mkII SR]]. It replaces the CPU of the mkII SR with a 16-bit [[V50]] and adds an "V3 mode" for graphics, making it the most graphically capable line of PC-8800 computers (while still being backwards compatible with previous PC-8801 software).
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The system also includes much more RAM and VRAM; 512KB and 256KB respectively, versus the 64KB (192KB in the [[PC-8801 mkII MR|MR]] and [[PC-8801 mkII MH|MH]]) and 48KB of previous generations. All of this was put in place so that the PC-88 VA could compete with the then-upcoming X68000 from [[Sharp]] (which incidentally debuted in the same month).
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It is also the first to omit the "01" in "PC-8801", although the longer name would return in subsequent hardware revisions.
  
 
===Technical Specifications===
 
===Technical Specifications===
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===Release===
 
===Release===
 
===Legacy===
 
===Legacy===
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The PC-88 VA is not seen as a particularly successful machine, partly due to the ongoing existence of the technically superior [[PC-9800 series]], which after already becoming the computers of choice for business, were becoming more commonplace in the home. The "V3" graphics mode was also rarely utilised by developers, particularly those associated with video games, as by sticking with the stock V1 and V2 modes, games would continue to function with older hardware.
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The PC-88 VA is not seen as a particularly successful machine, partly due to the ongoing existence of the technically superior [[PC-9800 series]], which after already becoming the computers of choice for business, were becoming more commonplace in the home.
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Many games tapped into the PC-88 VA's sound hardware, however, though it essentially made the system more of a glorified sound card than an exciting new games format.
 
  
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One of the nails in the PC-88 VA's coffin was hammered in by NEC themselves, thanks to the release of the [[PC-98DO]] in 1989 which was backwards compatible with PC-8801 software (and in many ways made more sense from a fundemental point of view - the PC-98DO was a 16-bit machine with an added 8-bit mode, while the PC-88VA was an 8-bit machine with an added 16-bit mode).
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The "V3" graphics mode was also rarely utilised by developers, particularly those associated with video games, as by sticking with the stock V1 and V2 modes, games would continue to function with older hardware. Many games tapped into the PC-88 VA's sound hardware, however, though it essentially made the system more of a glorified sound card than an exciting new games format.
  
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More importantly, by 1987 the technology for everything PC-8801 related was considered outdated, with little interest outside of hobbiest communities. While NEC continued to play with the line for a few months, the array of more powerful computers (including the X68000, which was a huge success) made the PC-88 VA obsolete from the get go.
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While the VA might have worked as a next replacement for the PC-8801 mkII SR line, NEC did not fully commit to it, as while hardware revisions in the [[PC-88 VA2]] and [[PC-88 VA3]] were released, it continued to release SR updates, including the [[PC-8801 FA]] and [[PC-8801 MA]] later in the year.
  
 
==List of games==
 
==List of games==

Revision as of 17:13, 9 January 2022

PC88VA logo.png
PC88VA.jpg
PC-88 VA
Manufacturer: NEC
Release Date RRP Code
PC-88 VA
JP

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|image=https://necretro.org/images/b/bf/PC88VA.jpg
|site_name=NEC Retro
|locale=en_GB
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This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.

The PC-88 VA is a computer released as part of the PC-8800 series in 1987.

Hardware

While numerous PC-8800 computers had been released by NEC by this point, the PC-88 VA can be considered to be the "third generation" model, following the original PC-8801 and the PC-8801 mkII SR. It replaces the CPU of the mkII SR with a 16-bit V50 and adds an "V3 mode" for graphics, making it the most graphically capable line of PC-8800 computers (while still being backwards compatible with previous PC-8801 software).

The system also includes much more RAM and VRAM; 512KB and 256KB respectively, versus the 64KB (192KB in the MR and MH) and 48KB of previous generations. All of this was put in place so that the PC-88 VA could compete with the then-upcoming X68000 from Sharp (which incidentally debuted in the same month).

It is also the first to omit the "01" in "PC-8801", although the longer name would return in subsequent hardware revisions.

Technical Specifications

History

Development

Release

Legacy

The PC-88 VA is not seen as a particularly successful machine, partly due to the ongoing existence of the technically superior PC-9800 series, which after already becoming the computers of choice for business, were becoming more commonplace in the home.

The "V3" graphics mode was also rarely utilised by developers, particularly those associated with video games, as by sticking with the stock V1 and V2 modes, games would continue to function with older hardware. Many games tapped into the PC-88 VA's sound hardware, however, though it essentially made the system more of a glorified sound card than an exciting new games format.

While the VA might have worked as a next replacement for the PC-8801 mkII SR line, NEC did not fully commit to it, as while hardware revisions in the PC-88 VA2 and PC-88 VA3 were released, it continued to release SR updates, including the PC-8801 FA and PC-8801 MA later in the year.

List of games

References



PC-8800 series hardware
PC-8801 (1981) | PC-8801 mkII (1983) | PC-8801 mkII SR (TR | FR | MR | FH | MH | FA | MA | FE | MA2 | FE2 | MC) (1985-1989) | PC-88 VA (VA2 | VA3) (1987-1988)
stuff
haven't worked it all out yet
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