New 16-bit console!

[Nightcrawler]

http://www.vanillaicemedia.com/acan/acan.htm
http://www.vanillaicemedia.com/acan/acan2.htm

Well it's not new, but it is a 16-bit console that I had never heard of before.  I didn't know this guy existed.

Super A'can are the first Taiwan video gaming system
Super A'can release on 1995 by Funtech Entertainment Corp.
Super A'can is 16Bit console with 2 CPU 68000 10.6Mhz & 6502 3.58Mhz
Super A'can are 32768 Color system

That's got enough CPU horsepower to smoke the Genesis AND SNES.  Not sure of the graphical capabilities, but the 32768 color spec matches the SNES, so I assume based on that graphics would be better than genesis.. and possibly match SNES or even surpass.  We only have those few in game screenshots for reference.

Have you ever heard of this one, Techie?

[Great Red Spirit]

Sango Fighter!!!!!  
In more than 4-bit colour!
And everyone doesn't look like a freak anymore!
And the backgrounds don't hurt my eyes!

Ahem *regains composure*

I've been spoiled with the graphics of today

This definetly beats the SNES for raw power, and I wonder if it uses a pallette like the SNES or actually uses 15-bit colour (where is that missing bit? Is it used as a transparency flag?)

However, there is a 5 year difference between the two, and gaming (and computer) technology was increasing at an exponential rate at that time. So the extra power would be expected (then again, comparing the GBA to the SNES....)

[TechMaster]

Actually, yes.  I think I heard it either from Death Adder or D... I forgot.  It was probably D though...

Btw, the Sango Fighter game is actually illegally made.  The company made it didn' have permission to do so, or so DA/D says.

[Great Red Spirit]

If it plays better than the original, then I won't complain if its illegal or not
The original felt so slow and unresponsive...

[byuu]

(where is that missing bit? Is it used as a transparency flag?)

The bit is simply ignored by the video processor. Same as any system. Transparency in palette based systems is done via palette entry 0, or whatever. There'd be no reason to have two transparency entries in one palette. Now a priority/alpha bit directly in the palette could be interesting... but I seriously doubt that's the case.

Mr. D mentioned this a longass time ago, but I'm sure Death Adder showed it to him.

The system and its games are rare as hell.
It is indeed more computationally powerful than the SNES and Genesis, but from the screenshots shown, it has a pretty no-thrills video renderer. The Genesis is way more powerful than the SNES, but because of the SNES' video processor, the SNES looks far superior. I'd almost bet the SNES has better video capabilities than this Chinese system. There's also zero mention of how it does sound. If it uses the 6502 for that (and uses waveform output with it...), then the sound would be on-par with NES games. Ick. Still, I'd like to get my hands on one of these.

[D--]

Its specs are most comprable to the Neo-Geo if you want the truth.

I think RxSparxter showed it to me back in 2002 or so, and I showed it to DA and Techmaster around then.

T2D always included the Super A'can in its system list, but given NOBODY HAS ONE no reviews were ever done for it. Quite a shame. I hunted eBay Taiwan for quite a while and never saw one, so these things must be beyond rare.

I'm interested in that Yinsu Feilong game (Sonic Flying Dragon, that one with the baseball bat kid). It looks like another sidescroller for me to devour. Sadly I'll probably never get to play it.

[byuu]

I'm interested in that Yinsu Feilong game (Sonic Flying Dragon, that one with the baseball bat kid). It looks like another sidescroller for me to devour. Sadly I'll probably never get to play it.

It looks like a simple Sonic 2 clone, personally. But yeah, 100:1 says none of us ever get to try it out

[Great Red Spirit]

The bit is simply ignored by the video processor. Same as any system. Transparency in palette based systems is done via palette entry 0, or whatever. There'd be no reason to have two transparency entries in one palette. Now a priority/alpha bit directly in the palette could be interesting... but I seriously doubt that's the case.

Ah, thanks byuusama

[HazardousHalf]

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by bumping this old thread  

The A'can system really is a neat item.  I've got two of them (one boxed for display and one unboxed for use), and so far I've only been able to collect two games for the system, though I plan on getting more.

As far as graphics go, of course it's more powerful than the Genesis and SNES.  It was released in 1995 after all.  Someone mentioned its power is around that of the Neo Geo, and I would say that's correct.  However, I haven't seen a game yet that utilizes its true power.  The closest thing is probably the starting sequence for the system, which is pretty impressive.

The two games I have are Speedy Dragon and The Son of Evil.  Speedy Dragon is a "Sonic Clone."  Your main character is a fast running punk kid brandishing a baseball bat. The game itself is rather difficult, but it's ok.  Nothing extraordinary.  The Son of Evil is an RPG.  A Final Fantasy clone, and when I say Final Fantasy, I mean Final Fantasy One.  The graphics are VERY unimpressive for this title.  It's a damn shame too, because they could have been SOOO much better.  I haven't played it much though, because everything is in Chinese.

If you have any specific questions about the system, just ask and I'll try my best to answer them.

[mades]

I hope I'm not breaking any rules by bumping this old thread  

The A'can system really is a neat item.  I've got two of them (one boxed for display and one unboxed for use), and so far I've only been able to collect two games for the system, though I plan on getting more.

As far as graphics go, of course it's more powerful than the Genesis and SNES.  It was released in 1995 after all.  Someone mentioned its power is around that of the Neo Geo, and I would say that's correct.  However, I haven't seen a game yet that utilizes its true power.  The closest thing is probably the starting sequence for the system, which is pretty impressive.

The two games I have are Speedy Dragon and The Son of Evil.  Speedy Dragon is a "Sonic Clone."  Your main character is a fast running punk kid brandishing a baseball bat. The game itself is rather difficult, but it's ok.  Nothing extraordinary.  The Son of Evil is an RPG.  A Final Fantasy clone, and when I say Final Fantasy, I mean Final Fantasy One.  The graphics are VERY unimpressive for this title.  It's a damn shame too, because they could have been SOOO much better.  I haven't played it much though, because everything is in Chinese.

If you have any specific questions about the system, just ask and I'll try my best to answer them.

awesome dude! i never heard of that system before. was it ever released in north america. honestly though, it looks likean awesome system.

Mades

[HazardousHalf]

awesome dude! i never heard of that system before. was it ever released in north america. honestly though, it looks likean awesome system.

Mades

Well, the answer to that is yes and no.  You see, the A'can wasn't a successful venture for Funtech, so when they hit rock bottom (or somewhere close) they tried to dump the system on the American market as scrap.  They were sold through an electronics catalog, and from what I understand they were sold system only.  Also, the cases were stripped of their screws, so there was nothing holding it together.  So while there was no official American release (as far as I know it was only officially released in Taiwan), it was dumped on the US market, for really cheap to.

[mades]

Well, the answer to that is yes and no.  You see, the A'can wasn't a successful venture for Funtech, so when they hit rock bottom (or somewhere close) they tried to dump the system on the American market as scrap.  They were sold through an electronics catalog, and from what I understand they were sold system only.  Also, the cases were stripped of their screws, so there was nothing holding it together.  So while there was no official American release (as far as I know it was only officially released in Taiwan), it was dumped on the US market, for really cheap to.

cool.
i wonder if i could find one around... mmm, i wonder if any shops sell games that go with it.

Mades

[HazardousHalf]

cool.
i wonder if i could find one around... mmm, i wonder if any shops sell games that go with it.

Mades

If you mean in a game shop in the US, the chances are about a million to one.  You would have to buy it from someone online.  Oh, and usually you will find A'can systems in the hands of collectors, who are usually unwilling to sell because the system is notoriously hard to get.  If you do find someone who will sell, it will usually be very expensive.

[skullo]

http://hawanja.com/super_acan.htm

just been searchin to see if i could find ne thing else abt the A'can.

this site has some pics and info.

added this page

http://darkwatcher.psxfanatics.com/console/acan.htm

[mades]

If you mean in a game shop in the US, the chances are about a million to one.  You would have to buy it from someone online.  Oh, and usually you will find A'can systems in the hands of collectors, who are usually unwilling to sell because the system is notoriously hard to get.  If you do find someone who will sell, it will usually be very expensive.

i was thinking in Canada, that's where i am.
anyway, we got loads of small independent shops who sell a bunch of games. heck, some of them sell brand new games. for example, if you'd wanna buy final fantasy 7, 8 and 9, you could easily get them new.

Mades