Driver:PC-88

NEC PC-88xx architecture

BASIC versioning

PC-8001/PC-8801 and children employs a BASIC operational mode. These are controlled in dip-switches that exists in physical form on real HW except for newer machines which moves them in a software setup mode.

N[-Basic]: PC-8001
N80SR: PC-8001mk2SR
V1S: original PC-8801
V1H: PC-8801mkIISR+ in PC-8801 compatible mode and weights reduced.
V2: PC-8801mkIISR+ native mode
8 MHz: Z80 high clock select for PC-8801FE2+ machines
V3: PC-88VA

V1/V2 are also known as N88-Basic. Later iterations are more or less compatible with the previous ones, provided you set operational mode settings properly.

Common boot troubleshooting

The vast majority of PC-88 SWs are self-bootable (so they should leave the BASIC prompt after few seconds). A few of them requires a separate Disk BASIC, which are around V1S/V1H modes at best. To load those, insert a System Disk like 'n88syst' in first drive then swap it with SW of choice. Issue a 'files' to check files content, then 'load "<casesensitive_filename>"' finally run if no error arises. For example load "DRK1" from this picture, from the 'ankosei' set.

N-Basic/N80SR SWs

Loading PC-8001 SWs in PC-88xx may show the following garbage text layer if run from N88 Basic:

These needs BASIC to be set to N-BASIC and preferably V1S or V1H in BASIC speed/Version select dips. Obviously trying to load any of the N88 SWs in N-Basic mode will often fail one way or another.

SW boots but video lack red gradient

Trying to load a N88 V1S/V1H game under V2 mode will generally show like this:

When this happens, flip the BASIC version select dip to V1 Mode. A few oddballs will lack sound from pc8801mk2sr and onward machines, these wants the original pc8801 / pc8801mk2 BIOSes for buzzer sound (i.e. no OPN/OPNA support), or an expansion sound card.

The other way around (loading V2 SW in V1 mode) is usually more explicit, with a "SET V2 MODE" drawn on screen and hanging there.