Hyundai Comboy (현대컴보이)

Introduction

The Hyundai Comboy is an interesting but little-known chapter of the Nintendo Entertainment System's history. Little information is available about it, especially in English. I would like to share with you what I know about the system.

The Hyundai Comboy

The Hyundai Comboy (현대 컴보이) is the licensed version of the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was distributed in South Korea by Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. (현대전자산업주식회사), now known as Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. The system seems to have been marketed from at least 1989 to 19921.

Hyundai Comboy with games. Click for a larger version of the picture.

Hardware

The Hyundai Comboy is an NTSC Nintendo Entertainment System, but uses the 3195A lockout chip. Games will not load on an unmodified US NES.

The cartridge lid reads "Hyundai Comboy" in Korean, and "Nintendo Entertainment System Korean Version" in English. Other than the labeling on the lid and the sticker on the bottom of the unit, the exterior appears to be identical to a US NES.

Game Releases

Comboy releases consist of North American releases with a 3195A lockout chip and changed labeling. Most game descriptions and manuals are translated into Korean.

The following games were released for the Comboy. There may be others out there, but this list is as good as I have figured out.

English Korean Number Front Back Anticipation 영어낱말 알아맞추기 NES-AP-KOR Balloon Fight 풍선싸움 NES-BF-KOR Batman









Blaster Master NES-VM-KOR Bubble Bobble NES-B2-KOR Castlevania 바니아 성 NES-CV-KOR Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest 바니아 성2: 싸이몬의 모험 NES-QU-KOR Cobra Triangle 코브라 트라이앵글 NES-CU-KOR Double Dribble 더블 드리블 NES-DW-KOR Faxanadu 훽사나두 NES-FX-KOR Ghost'n Goblins 고스트 앤 고블린 NES-GG-KOR Goonies 2 구니스2 NES-GU-KOR Gun.Smoke 건 스모크

NES-GK-KOR



Hogan's Alley 호간스 앨리 NES-HA-KOR Ice Climber









Ice Hockey NES-HY-KOR Kid Icarus

꼬마 이카루스







Knight Rider 나이트 라이더 NES-NR-KOR Kung Fu NES-SX-KOR Legend of Zelda NES-ZL-KOR Life Force 라이프 포스 NES-LF-KOR Megaman 3 NES-XU-KOR Metal Gear 메탈 기어 NES-ME-KOR Metroid 메트로이 드 NES-MT-KOR Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

펀치 아웃







Pinbot 핀보트 NES-IO-KOR Pro Wrestling NES-PW-KOR R.C. Pro-Am 자동차 경주 NES-PM-KOR Rad Racer 래드레이 서 NES-RC-KOR Robo Warrior 로보용사 NES-RR-KOR Rygar









Super Mario Brothers / Duck Hunt NES-MH-KOR Super Mario Brothers 2 슈퍼 마리오 브라더스 2

NES-MW-KOR Super Mario Brothers 3 NES-UM-KOR Superspike V-Ball 슈 퍼 스파이크 V볼 NES-VJ-KOR Tetris 테트리스 NES-EI-KOR Tiger-Heli









To the Earth 지구를 향하여 NES-ZE-KOR Top Gun 탑 건 NES-TG-KOR Track and Field II NES-F2-KOR Trojan 트로쟌 NES-TJ-KOR Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link NES-AL-KOR

The Fate of the Comboy

The Comboy enjoyed some success. However, I believe it was doomed for failure before it was even released. I imagine that the market for home video game systems was already flooded with both legitimate and knockoff Family Computer systems. The 60-pin Famicom format, like in most areas of the world, was and is the most popular format for 8-bit Nintendo games in South Korea.

The Legacy of the Comboy

Most game store owners that I ask know are not familiar with the Hyundai Comboy. They usually think that I'm asking about the Super Comboy (Korean version of the Super Famicom). However, if I describe the system to them (front loading, huge cartridges), it usually jogs their memory. From a console standpoint, the Mega Drive and Super Famicom systems licensed for South Korea were much bigger successes in South Korea.

To Be Continued...

세 피로스