1988 Super Famicom prototype console + 1989 EGM SFC article

[parallaxscroll]

The following is the first Super Famicom prototype system, revealed to the Japanese in late 1988, a full two years before a revised version was released in Japan in November 1990 and about three years before the U.S. SNES release in August-September 1991.









In the same style as the 16-bit Super Famicom prototype, a redesigned 8-bit Famicom prototype, also from late 1988:



...I like this much better than the released, redesigned AV Famicom and NES released a few years later.

As for that Super Famicom prototype, I really like it, a lot. Perhaps it's not as good as the final, released Japanese Super Famicom but without question it *is* FAR better-looking than the American SNES, IMO.



Complete EGM issue #2 article on Super Famicom from summer 1989:

http://i41.tinypic.com/rvyjcg.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/fom4vo.jpg
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http://i40.tinypic.com/zklwtg.jpg

[TonyTheTiger]

I think the American SNES is easily the more aesthetically pleasing console. The Super Famicom looks like a sad robot clown.

[parallaxscroll]

I think the American SNES is easily the more aesthetically pleasing console. The Super Famicom looks like a sad robot clown.

The design of the American SNES seems to be disliked by most gamers, while the final Super Famicom seems to be much-loved by the same majority.

[ProgrammingAce]

I like the super famicom better, but i always thought it looked like a loaf of bread.

[crom]

I think the American SNES is easily the more aesthetically pleasing console. The Super Famicom looks like a sad robot clown.

gonna have to agree here

[Mathius]

Thanks for the EGM article. Reading that brought back a lot of memories of me in school reading the magazine when I should have been studying.

[Push Upstairs]

Perhaps it's not as good as the final, released Japanese Super Famicom but without question it *is* FAR better-looking than the American SNES, IMO.

The N64 is better looking than the American SNES, and I loath the existence of the N64.

[aclbandit]

I think the American SNES is easily the more aesthetically pleasing console. The Super Famicom looks like a sad robot clown.

That made me actually laugh out loud. Mostly because I never saw it that way, and it's hilariously true.

[Kid Fenris]

I love that redesigned Famicom for some reason. It's so Fisher-Price compact.

I also love the ad on this page. I wonder how long Taxan's VIDEODICTION newsletter lasted.

[todesengel]

Is it just me or do the controller ports on the SFC proto look like the ports that where used for the gamecube?

[parallaxscroll]

Thanks for the EGM article. Reading that brought back a lot of memories of me in school reading the magazine when I should have been studying.

Welcome.

I was surprised to find out more than a year later that the Dragonfly demo became Pilowings.

I love that redesigned Famicom for some reason. It's so Fisher-Price compact.

I would've imported that redesigned Famicom if it had been released.

I also would have imported the Super Famicom if the released version looked like that.

There's something about them I like that can't put my finger on.

[FamicomFreak]

Very interesting stuff. I think as long as they play the games, I don't care how they look.

[gokugohandave]

WOW. I love em both, they look awsome.

[tomaitheous]

Have you ever played a Nintendo game that slowed down or encounter problems in playing music when a lot of characters were on the screen at once? Well, with the Super Famicom, this problem is a thing of the past!

Hah! Man, was he wrong. Hehehe.

[MarioMania]

Can you play SFC games on the Prototype System??

What did NOJ did with the systems

[ccovell]

Can you play SFC games on the Prototype System??

Highly unlikely, since the SFC prototype system at the time had only 8KB (!!) of main RAM, compared to the whopping 128KB in the final system.

(More here: http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/c...secrets11.html )

What did NOJ did with the systems

Remember the final scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

[emceelokey]

Both of those designs are better than both American versions of each system. I don't understand why they had such different designs compared to their Japanese counterparts, except for the original Famicom though.

***There's a hell of a lot of text in that article. Only the first page had a picture then every other page was all text... wow. Plus the SFC had FOUR buttons!!!***

[Mathius]

Hah! Man, was he wrong. Hehehe.

I noticed that too. Gave me a good laugh!

[parallaxscroll]

While remembering a tape recorder I had as a child:


I love the "Fisher-Price-look" of the SFC & redesigned FC prototypes.

[parallaxscroll]

More pics of the Super Famicom,
the 'Dragonfly' flight simulator demo that became Pilotwings,
and other interesting stuff!

Special thanks & credit to Chris Covell for uploading these,
many of which have been seen here on DP before,
but will be new to some people.







two different Dragonfly title screens



Dragonfly, the prolific tech demo for the SFC!


Dragonfly and.....Altered Beast!
probably just comparing SFC to the Megadrive...