Unit-e, a small arcade game developer, has announced a PC Classic mini game system. The company is preparing for a crowdfunding campaign to begin in late November and is planning to begin shipping the PC Classic by summer 2019.
The PC Classic is being billed as a miniature game console to play classic DOS games from the ’80s and ’90s. Unit-e is targeting $99 for the unit, which will be joystick-enabled and be full of properly licensed games games. The prototype shown in the video can be seen running Doom, Commander Keen 4, Jill of the Jungle, and Quake 2. Unit-e’s prototype is shown with three USB ports, an HDMI port, power, and confusingly composite A/V out.
Unit-e is planning to ship the system with “at least” 30 games, with more available for purchase. The company has yet to nail down what will come with the system, but noted their past success of licensing music for other games.
Unit-e’s PC Classic is joining the glut of other mini game systems released in recent years. Nintendo championed the idea into the mainstream with 2016’s NES Classic Edition, which hosted 30 games from the original Nintendo Entertainment System for $60. Nintendo then released The Super Nintendo Classic released with 21 games at $80, including such favorites as A Link to the Past, Super Mario World, and Chrono Trigger. Sony is releasing the Playstation Classic in early December, with 20 games for $99. Other companies, like Atari and Intellivision, have released “flashback” mini consoles over the past decade, each bundled with dozens of titles for relatively low prices.
Unit-e was founded in 2011 by Eric Yockey, and is based out of Baltimore, Maryland. The company released its first product, Transgression on the Xbox Live Indie Marketplace in 2012. From there, Unit-e moved towards arcade systems, including Neon FM, and World’s Fastest Drummer. Unit-e also sells giant game controllers, and lighting systems for events. More information regarding the PC Classic can be found at Unit-e’s website, along with mailing list signups.
