PC-98

PC-98 is a family of personal computers developed by NEC and widely used in Japan from the 1980s through the 1990s. Its distinctive hardware and software ecosystem made it a major platform for Japanese business and gaming.

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Intel 8086: A 16-bit microprocessor introduced by Intel in 1978 and used in early personal computers. The PC-9801 launched with an 8086, establishing the architecture of early models.
N88-BASIC: A BASIC programming environment developed by NEC for its PC-88 and PC-98 computers. N88-BASIC let users write and run programs on PC-98 systems.
IBM PC compatible: A personal computer designed to run software and peripherals made for the IBM PC architecture. PC-98 hardware was a separate Japanese platform rather than an IBM-compatible design.
Japanese personal computer market: The market for personal computers developed and sold in Japan. PC-98 became the leading domestic platform during a formative period for this market.
Intel 80286: A 16-bit Intel microprocessor that added protected mode and expanded memory addressing. Later PC-98 models used the 80286 as applications demanded more processing power.
Japanese word processor: Software for composing, editing, and printing text in Japanese. PC-98 systems became widely used for Japanese business documents and publishing.
PC-8801: A NEC personal-computer series introduced in 1981, preceding the PC-98 line. The PC-8801 was NEC's earlier 8-bit platform, while PC-98 systems targeted 16-bit computing.
Japanese input method: A system for entering Japanese text using a keyboard, commonly through phonetic conversion. PC-98's widespread use helped normalize keyboard-based Japanese text entry in offices.
C-Bus: A 16-bit expansion bus used in NEC PC-98 computers. C-Bus cards added graphics, storage, and specialized interfaces to PC-98 systems.
Touhou Project: A series of Japanese bullet-hell games created by ZUN, beginning with PC-98 releases. Its first five games appeared on the PC-98 before the series moved to Windows.