Well, I've never seen one of those machines working... I search like crazy for emulators for that system. Don't seem to exist.
I've got no clue how those computers must've even looked like! Hehe...

So... What's the deal?

Well, there should be al lot of MSX games that were released on that system as well.
Sometimes, I think the MSX-versions of the games are actually "out-cooled" by the PC (something) versions.

Games like Snatcher, Xak...

Me, as being a crazy Telenet-fan, can only stare in awe at a thing like this:

http://gyusyabu.ddo.jp/MP3/1988/SAZI.html



Did you ever see this in the MSX Sa-Zi-Ri?
Me neither, but it's in the PC 8800 version!
Why? Why do so much games appear to have been a little bit cooler on that kind of system? Was it a sort of Amiga? (Sorry for the swearing... )

There are a number of games released on the PC 88 and PC 98 that were also released on MSX. For instance all Xaks, Illusion City, Rune Worth 1 to 3, arcus 1 to 3, Legend of Heroes 1 to 4 (at least) and stuff like that. But on the whole there aren't that much really cool games for the system IMHO. A great many of the games on PC 98 I saw are hentai, text based adventures or point-and-click adventures.

There are emulators for the system. I have them on my computer. I'll get back to you on the name. But you're right: on most retro computer websites you don't even see these systems. Probably since they weren't released in any form outside Japan (unlike MSX or PC Engine for instance).

They're several emulators for the PC-98 and PC-88. Best place to look is here, www.jcec.co.uk/index.html.
For the PC-8801 the best emulator is M88.
For the PC-9801 I prefer using Anex86, but Neko Project II is quite good.
For the PC-9821 your only choice is T98 Next.

It's true that the majority of games are hentai, digital comics, RPGs, and simulation. Buy they're plenty of fantastic games in the action and shoot'em up genre. You just have to search for them.
I've posted some youtube clips of several shmup games from the PC-8801 and PC-9801. Also of Policenauts from the PC-9821. Check them out here, youtube.com/profile?user=jimxk.

I personally love the PC-88 and PC-98. I've only played the games on emulators, but I'm so enticed by them I'm trying to get my hands on a PC-9821 laptop. But damn they're so expensive to import.

{mod: thou shallt tag thy URLs}

http://www.jcec.co.uk/index.html
http://youtube.com/profile?user=jimxk

Sorry if those links aren't working. I should have removed those periods.