Super FX

Background

Super FX is a coprocessor designed by Argonaut Games on the Graphics Support Unit (GSU) added to select Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) video game cartridges, primarily to facilitate advanced 2D and 3D graphics. The Super FX chip design team included engineers Ben Cheese, Rob Macaulay, and James Hakewill. While in development, the Super FX chip was codenamed "Super Mario FX" and "MARIO". "MARIO", a backronym for "Mathematical, Argonaut, Rotation, & Input/Output", is printed on the face of the final production chip. Because of high manufacturing costs and increased development time, few Super FX based games were made compared to the rest of the SNES library. Due to these increased costs, Super FX games often retailed at a higher MSRP compared to other SNES games.

Logo (September 1994)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a box with the beveled word "FX", with the text "SUPER" in a futuristic font surrounded by a gold border. Below it was the text "LICENSED BY NINTENDO". The border spins like a cube and then the logo shatters.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A whooshing sound, and then an explosion.

Availability: Only seen on Electro Brain's Vortex for the SNES.