[I ♥ The PC Engine] PC Engine FAN @ Magweasel

[I ♥ The PC Engine] PC Engine FAN

Posted on May 18th, 2009 keving 50 comments

I’ll be mentioning this magazine at least once in nearly every I ♥ The PC Engine entry, so I should probably go into depth on it a little more.

PC Engine FAN was the longest-lasting magazine in Japan exclusively dedicated to NEC systems, beating out rival mags Gekkan PC Engine (Shogakukan) and Marukatsu PC Engine (Kadokawa Shoten) to the market by a month in late 1988. Published by Tokuma Shoten, the mag started out as a separate department of Family Computer Magazine, Tokuma’s flagship console publication; the “FAN” name was also used by sister titles MSX FAN and Mega Drive FAN.

Most of PC Engine FAN’s covers were either drawn or designed by Akemi Takada, an artist and illustrator who’s best known overseas for her contributions to the Patlabor anime series. Takada began her run by drawing original compositions based on whatever hot game was being discussed inside, but after 1993 the magazine created Mana, a sort of anime-girl mascot, and made her the main subject of most covers. Near the end of the mag’s run, Tokuma released a CD-ROM that had hi-res versions of all the covers that featured Mana, along with a few audio tracks of her singing. (That’s her up there, dressed as Chun Li, in mid-’93.)

Gekkan and Marukatsu folded with their respective January 1994 issues, making FAN and Dengeki PC Engine the entirety of the PCE-specific marketplace. Dengeki renamed itself to Dengeki G’s Engine (currently Dengeki G’s Magazine) in 1996 and became a multiplatform mag devoted to “girl games,” but FAN couldn’t do this since Tokuma already had a gal-game mag, Virtual IDOL, in its lineup. In the end, both PC Engine FAN and MSX FAN became targeted primarily toward amateur software developers for their final years, although that trend didn’t last long — PC Engine FAN closed up with its October 1996 issue, with two specials released late on in ’97.

A lot of the PCE’s history in Japan is intertwined with PCE FAN. Kazuhiro Ochi drew a Cosmic Fantasy manga in it for a year or so. The magazine sold a second pressing of Magical Chase via mail-order after the original publisher went bankrupt almost immediately after releasing the shooter classic. And so on.

A PCE game’s “PC Engine FAN Score” in my entries is the average score for the game as rated by readers who sent in scores to the magazine. The score’s out of 30 and divided into six fields, from character design to “addictiveness” (netchuudo) and value for money. I have these average scores for most, but not all, of the PCE library, and while PCE FAN’s readers had a tendency to rate gal-games high and the more obscure, obtuse releases lower, it’s still a reasonably accurate guide to what’s good and crap in the PCE library. Generally speaking, if a game’s PCE FAN score is over 20.00 then it’s very solid; if it’s over 25.00 then it’s a vital part of any PCE owner’s collection.

I ♥ The PC Engine, Magweaseling
50 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Gaia no Monshou @ Magweasel July 7th, 2009 at 23:24
  
  [...] NCS (Masaya) Release Date: 9/23/88 Price: 5500 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 19.90 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Makyou Densetsu @ Magweasel July 9th, 2009 at 22:55
  
  [...] Musical Industries Release Date: 9/23/88 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 22.28 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Turbo Stick @ Magweasel July 13th, 2009 at 20:58
  
  [...] up for the system. Sales were accelerating, the platform had a killer app in R-Type, and three dedicated PCE magazines launched in Japan near-simulataneously in late ‘88. The console had built a reputation for [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Fantasy Zone @ Magweasel July 14th, 2009 at 00:08
  
  [...] NEC Avenue Release Date: 10/14/88 Price: 4900 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 22.47 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Sadakichi Seven: Hideyoshi no Ohgon @ Magweasel July 14th, 2009 at 17:22
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 11/18/88 Price: 4900 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Adventure PC Engine FAN Score: 23.92 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Fighting Street @ Magweasel July 21st, 2009 at 00:27
  
  [...] Release Date: 12/4/88 Price: 5980 yen Media: CD-ROM² (17.68MB + 23 audio tracks) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 24.41 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] No-Ri-Ko @ Magweasel July 28th, 2009 at 23:57
  
  [...] Release Date: 12/4/88 Price: 4980 yen Media: CD-ROM² (19.34MB + 96 audio tracks) Genre: Girl PC Engine FAN Score: 22.30 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Space Harrier @ Magweasel July 29th, 2009 at 23:19
  
  [...] NEC Avenue Release Date: 12/9/88 Price: 6700 yen Media: HuCard (4 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 22.72 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Dragon Spirit @ Magweasel July 31st, 2009 at 23:16
  
  [...] Namco Release Date: 12/16/88 Price: 5900 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 23.71 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Appare! Gateball @ Magweasel August 2nd, 2009 at 21:44
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 12/22/88 Price: 4900 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 22.52 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Bikkuriman Daijikai @ Magweasel August 3rd, 2009 at 00:01
  
  [...] Release Date: 12/23/88 Price: 4980 yen Media: CD-ROM² (46.26MB + 71 audio tracks) Genre: Other PC Engine FAN Score: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Vigilante @ Magweasel August 17th, 2009 at 20:26
  
  [...] Item Release Date: 1/14/89 Price: 6300 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 19.65 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] SonSon II @ Magweasel August 21st, 2009 at 00:23
  
  [...] NEC Avenue Release Date: 1/27/89 Price: 5400 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 21.98 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Nectaris @ Magweasel August 29th, 2009 at 21:45
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 2/9/89 Price: 5800 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Strategy PC Engine FAN Score: 22.62 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Motoroader @ Magweasel September 3rd, 2009 at 23:01
  
  [...] NCS (Masaya) Release Date: 2/23/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 21.19 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Hani in the Sky @ Magweasel September 16th, 2009 at 21:49
  
  [...] Face Release Date: 2/28/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 21.98 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Winning Shot @ Magweasel September 22nd, 2009 at 20:43
  
  [...] Data East Release Date: 3/3/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 20.79 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Dungeon Explorer @ Magweasel September 28th, 2009 at 22:33
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 3/4/89 Price: 5800 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 23.66 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Out Live @ Magweasel October 29th, 2009 at 23:49
  
  [...] Sunsoft Release Date: 3/17/89 Price: 5600 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 23.26 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman @ Magweasel November 2nd, 2009 at 23:39
  
  [...] NCS (Masaya) Release Date: 3/18/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 21.16 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] P-47 @ Magweasel November 3rd, 2009 at 22:59
  
  [...] Aicom Release Date: 3/20/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 20.69 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] F-1 Pilot @ Magweasel November 7th, 2009 at 01:49
  
  [...] Pack-In-Video Release Date: 3/23/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 17.04 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Shiryō Sensen @ Magweasel November 10th, 2009 at 17:20
  
  [...] Victor Musical Industries Release Date: 3/24/89 Price: 5500 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 19.66 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Ganbare! Golf Boys @ Magweasel November 23rd, 2009 at 23:58
  
  [...] NCS (Masaya) Release Date: 3/28/89 Price: 5300 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 18.59 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Kyūkyoku Tiger @ Magweasel December 1st, 2009 at 00:02
  
  [...] Taito Release Date: 3/31/89 Price: 5500 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 24.37 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Deep Blue @ Magweasel December 4th, 2009 at 00:27
  
  [...] Pack-In-Video Release Date: 3/31/89 Price: 5300 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: n/a Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Cobra: Kokuryuoh no Densetsu @ Magweasel January 20th, 2010 at 00:12
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 3/31/89 Price: 5980 yen Media: CD-ROM (78.12MB + 9 tracks) Genre: Adventure PC Engine FAN Score: 24.90 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Makai Hakkenden Shada @ Magweasel February 25th, 2010 at 01:01
  
  [...] Data East Release Date: 4/1/89 Price: 5500 yen Media: HuCard (2mb) Genre: ROG PC Engine FAN Score: 19.64 / 30.00 Rarity: Common (I purchased this complete for 200 yen in [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Energy @ Magweasel February 26th, 2010 at 17:17
  
  [...] 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2mb) Genre: Action (or, according to the box, “ESP Adventure”) PC Engine FAN Score: 16.83 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Wonder Momo @ Magweasel March 2nd, 2010 at 00:42
  
  [...] Namco Release Date: 4/21/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 21.12 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Susa-no-Oh Densetsu @ Magweasel March 15th, 2010 at 20:40
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 4/27/89 Price: 6500 yen Media: HuCard (4 Mbit) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 23.36 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Power Golf @ Magweasel April 2nd, 2010 at 21:38
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 5/25/89 Price: 5800 yen Media: HuCard (4 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 20.37 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Naxat Open @ Magweasel April 3rd, 2010 at 20:45
  
  [...] Naxat Soft Release Date: 5/30/89 Price: 6300 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 18.98 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Pac-Land @ Magweasel April 5th, 2010 at 18:16
  
  [...] Namco Release Date: 6/1/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 21.66 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Wai Wai Mahjong @ Magweasel April 16th, 2010 at 22:18
  
  [...] Video System Ltd. Release Date: 6/19/89 Price: 5800 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 19.92 / 30.00 Rarity: [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Fire Pro Wrestling @ Magweasel April 27th, 2010 at 22:50
  
  [...] Human Release Date: 6/22/89 Price: 6300 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 22.57 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Valis II @ Magweasel May 5th, 2010 at 23:27
  
  [...] Soft) Release Date: 6/23/89 Price: 6780 yen Media: CD-ROM2 (5.73MB + 53 audio tracks) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 24.24 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Cyber Cross @ Magweasel May 20th, 2010 at 21:26
  
  [...] Face Release Date: 6/23/89 Price: 6300 yen Media: HuCard (3mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 20.14 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Jimmu Denshō @ Magweasel May 24th, 2010 at 21:16
  
  [...] Bigclub Release Date: 6/28/89 Price: 6700 yen Media: HuCard (4mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 18.55 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Tengai Makyō Ziria @ Magweasel June 15th, 2010 at 20:25
  
  [...] Release Date: 6/30/89 Price: 7200 yen Media: CD-ROM² (141.58MB + 3 audio tracks) Genre: RPG PC Engine FAN Score: 25.68 / [...]
- Forgotten treasures « i was a teenage pc engine fan June 21st, 2010 at 20:49
  
  [...] on Lords of Thunder, while the other touts the Turbo Duo system and software in general) and four PC Engine Fan magazine inserts (including some sort of Dragon Knight II strategy guide, see [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] The Ninja Warriors @ Magweasel June 25th, 2010 at 21:43
  
  [...] Release Date: 6/30/89 Price: 6200 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 21.94 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Gunhed @ Magweasel July 8th, 2010 at 19:05
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 7/7/89 Price: 5800 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 24.10 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Final Lap Twin @ Magweasel March 16th, 2011 at 21:23
  
  [...] Namco Release Date: 7/7/89 Price: 6200 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Racing PC Engine FAN Score: 23.04 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Sidearms @ Magweasel March 23rd, 2011 at 16:15
  
  [...] NEC Avenue Release Date: 7/14/89 Price: 5400 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Shooting PC Engine FAN Score: 20.86 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Takeda Shingen @ Magweasel March 31st, 2011 at 19:58
  
  [...] Aicom Release Date: 7/28/89 Price: 5600 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Action PC Engine FAN Score: 17.18 / [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Maison Ikkoku @ Magweasel April 25th, 2011 at 21:08
  
  [...] Micro Cabin Release Date: 8/4/89 Price: 5900 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Adventure PC Engine FAN Score: 17.69 / 30.00 Kōgien Description: “The player becomes Godai as he tries to find what [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Power League II @ Magweasel May 3rd, 2011 at 14:32
  
  [...] Hudson Release Date: 8/8/89 Price: 5200 yen Media: HuCard (3 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 22.76 / 30.00 Kōgien: “The popular previous game receives updated data and several [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] Break In @ Magweasel May 5th, 2011 at 18:54
  
  [...] Naxat Soft Release Date: 8/10/89 Price: 5500 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Sports PC Engine FAN Score: 19.34 / 30.00 Kōgien: “A total of six billiards games are available for play. Each [...]
- [I ♥ The PC Engine] F-1 Dream @ Magweasel May 16th, 2011 at 19:22
  
  [...] NEC Avenue Release Date: 8/25/89 Price: 5400 yen Media: HuCard (2 Mbit) Genre: Racing PC Engine FAN Score: 19.76 / 30.00 Kōgien: “A game that simulates growth process from street racer to F-1 [...]
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This weblog is about video games, Japan, and assorted interesting things. It is, however, unlike any other blog you have ever read on those topics. That is because I am writing it.

[I ♥ The PC Engine] PC Engine FAN

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