Episode #14
Gaming Historian Kurt Kalata Talks PC Engine Box Art
Are you ready to Turbo-charge your gaming with the higher energy video game system? Joining our resident nostalgia nerd Nate Evans is gaming historian and retro-enthusiast Kurt Kalata, founder and editor-in-chief of Hardcore Gaming 101 and author of Bitmap Books’ PC Engine: The Box Art Collection, a collection of hundreds of photos, illustrations, and - of course - gorgeous box-art scans of some of the most popular games released for NEC’s groundbreaking console, aka the TurboGrafx-16 elsewhere. Developed by Hudson and launched back in 1987, the PC-Engine was an immediate sensation in Japan, going toe-to-toe and often besting Nintendo’s best-selling Famicom (NES). It also became one of the longest supported consoles, outlasting all its competitors thanks to a never-ending series of add-ons (i.e. the first CD-ROM attachment) and enhancement cards that helped prolong game development continue into the late 1990s. While it wouldn’t find much success outside Japan, those who experienced its incredible library at the time (or may be discovering it now) are usually spoiled for choice. Listen as Kurt shares what inspired him become one of the most popular gaming historians, both online and in print, and chats with Nate over their favorite memories of both the console itself and its best games, including much love for Nihon Falcom and legendary musician Yuzo Koshiro (Ys Book 1&2). They also discuss the crushing disappointment over many of the console's best games (Street Fighter, Castlevania, and Ghouls 'n Ghosts) never leaving Japan, the difficulties facing new collectors to the retro community, and the possibility of a gaming future without physical media. PC Engine: The Box Art Collection is available now from Bitmap Books.
