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.
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| 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 |  |
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| Balloon Fight | 풍선싸움 | NES-BF-KOR | ||
| Batman |
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| 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 |
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| Ice Hockey | NES-HY-KOR | |||
| Kid Icarus |
꼬마 이카루스 |
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| Knight Rider | 나이트 라이더 | NES-NR-KOR |  |
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| Kung Fu | NES-SX-KOR | |||
| Legend of Zelda | NES-ZL-KOR | |||
| Life Force | 라이프 포스 | NES-LF-KOR |  |
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| Megaman 3 | NES-XU-KOR | |||
| Metal Gear | 메탈 기어 | NES-ME-KOR |  |
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| Metroid | 메트로이 드 | NES-MT-KOR | ||
| Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! |
펀치 아웃 |
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| Pinbot | 핀보트 | NES-IO-KOR |  |
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| Pro Wrestling | NES-PW-KOR | |||
| R.C. Pro-Am | 자동차 경주 | NES-PM-KOR |  |
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| Rad Racer | 래드레이 서 | NES-RC-KOR | ||
| Robo Warrior | 로보용사 | NES-RR-KOR | ||
| Rygar |
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| 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 |  |
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| Tetris | 테트리스 | NES-EI-KOR |  |
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| Tiger-Heli |
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| 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 |  |
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| 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...
