Tell me about the TG16

[Dylan]

I know there have already been a few threads about this, but I still have a few questions.

1. How expensive is it to get a fully functional TG16 or Turbo Duo?
2. Which of those two is better overall, or would it be better to get a PC Engine?
3. How expensive are games on average?

I'd also like to ask those of you that own one, which games do you like on it? Are there any genres that it caters to?

[final fight cd]

i don't know much, but i know the duo is considerably more than the turbo grafx.

[Hobie-wan]

1. How expensive is it to get a fully functional TG16 or Turbo Duo?

Probably $50 minimum for a TG-16 by itself, $150 plus for a US duo. This would be for just a console, cords, and a controller. I swear it seems that the TG plus CD unit actually goes for more than a Duo, but maybe that's because of the case that usually comes with it. Or maybe I just was seeing the wrong auctions before I got mine. If you get a TG/PCE and CD rom unit, you need to make sure to get a CD card with it. The '2' card will let you run CD rom 2 discs, the '3' card will let you play Super CD discs. Duos do not need a system card.

2. Which of those two is better overall, or would it be better to get a PC Engine?

Well, TG/PCE CD games are not region encoded, so you don't have to worry about that. Without modding or a terribly expensive adapter you will only be able to play cards from your region. If you like shmups of which there are plenty of good ones, this isn't a problem for importing. Like the Saturn, it was more popular in Japan, so a lot of the really good later games never made if here.

3. How expensive are games on average?

There are a lot of $20-50 games, plus a few crazy $100, and some $200+ ones.

I'd also like to ask those of you that own one, which games do you like on it? Are there any genres that it caters to?

I have mostly shmups which are generally good to excellent on the system. Blazing Lazers, Super Star Soldier, Final Soldier, and Soldier blade are well known and easy to get. Alien Crush and Devil Crash/Crush are good pinball games (though I have the Gen version of DC myself). Gate of Thunder is excellent.

http://www.pcengine.co.uk/

[Dylan]

1. How expensive is it to get a fully functional TG16 or Turbo Duo?

Probably $50 minimum for a TG-16 by itself, $150 plus for a US duo. This would be for just a console, cords, and a controller. I swear it seems that the TG plus CD unit actually goes for more than a Duo, but maybe that's because of the case that usually comes with it. Or maybe I just was seeing the wrong auctions before I got mine. If you get a TG/PCE and CD rom unit, you need to make sure to get a CD card with it. The '2' card will let you run CD rom 2 discs, the '3' card will let you play Super CD discs. Duos do not need a system card.

Wow, sounds complicated. I've heard that the cards can get pretty expensive, does the PC Engine use similar cards?

2. Which of those two is better overall, or would it be better to get a PC Engine?

Well, TG/PCE CD games are not region encoded, so you don't have to worry about that. Without modding or a terribly expensive adapter you will only be able to play cards from your region. If you like shmups of which there are plenty of good ones, this isn't a problem for importing. Like the Saturn, it was more popular in Japan, so a lot of the really good later games never made if here.

Is the console very difficult to mod? It seems like it would be cheapest to mod a PC Engine and then go from there.

[pepharytheworm]

Here's agood site to help with the Turbo/PC-engine confusion. http://pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html

The site Hobie suggested is pretty good.

[aeon]

Personally I got a PC Engine, they seem a bit cheaper to obtain due to low demand (as opposed to a T16) but you really have to wait for a good auction. I just recently saw a PC Engine/hookups, controller with games go for $50 on Ebay.

The reason I got a PC Engine over a T16 was mostly because of the shmup library. Final Soldier and Popn'Twinbee, for example, were not released in the States.

The downside to owning a PC Engine is that games that are native to both regions (like Legendary Axe) tend to be more expensive on the PC Engine side of things, probably due to importing. The NTSC-J cover art is ALWAYS better for display though.

As far as modding... Both are rather difficult, with the PC Engine being the most difficult to region mod. A T16 can take a bypass card, but they are expensive and hard to obtain. A PC Engine HAS to be modded internally.

The easiest route for modding seems to be installing a switch. THIS GUY offers some very reasonable mod services for both machines (as well as the Turbo Duo) for about $50 each.

[Hobie-wan]

Wow, sounds complicated. I've heard that the cards can get pretty expensive, does the PC Engine use similar cards?

Yes. That's why Duos are in such demand. They're all in one and you don't need any cards except for a very few rare CD games that need a memory card that's kind of like the memory expansion for the N64. If you can get a bundle that comes with a card, its ok. But if you get a 2 card and then need a 3 card for Super games later, or don't get a card at all, it isn't cheap to get upgraded.

Is the console very difficult to mod? It seems like it would be cheapest to mod a PC Engine and then go from there.

The main difference between the TG and PCE cards is a few of the connectors in the middle are flipped, though the Japanese systems also have some extra region checks between the system and cards. US systems do not perform these checks. I've seen stuff before where people modded to flip those lines, but modding it in a manner which looks good might be another question. I've seen so many Saturns modded with a region switch that look like crap with a giant flipper toggle switch looking like a tumor hanging off a back corner.

I had gotten a TG, then lucked into a cheap PCE Core Grafx and went that route before lucking out again and picking up a fairly cheap Duo RX. I also picked up a Turbo Booster for the TG so I had composite out, so I never did resort to modding. TG/PCE collecting isn't as cheap as more mainstream systems, but its a great system that has good games on it. Look into that site I linked and learn about the games. Check what's been released on the VC and figure out if you want to take the plunge. I'd say try to get some playtime on a real system, but its less common so that's harder to do.

[Dylan]

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful. I've only got one more question, I can see that there are multiple versions of the PC Engine, is any one model more desirable than another?

[Thierry Henry]

The TG16/PC Engine are great systems but there's seems to be always something 'extra' you need to get to have the gaming experience you prefer, imo.
I mean one controller port forces you to get a multiplayer adapter, the ridiculous short controller cords forces you to get controller extension cords, if you want AV out(although the RF quality on these units is very good) and you don't have the CD unit you need the TurboBooster/Plus add-on, unless you own the DUO the CD system 2.0 card is not enough to play all the CD based games(I stand to be corrected here but even then I believe there are a still a few games which need another card).

That said though, the games are great and I've had a ton of fun with mine. It's just that I would have preferred a little simpler out-of-the-box ready to go with some of the above included as standard. This is strictly my opinion though and others might feel very differently.

[Hobie-wan]

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful. I've only got one more question, I can see that there are multiple versions of the PC Engine, is any one model more desirable than another?

For the plain card only systems, I believe the white original PCE is RF out only if you only have the system by itself. The blue/gray and orange/gray Core Grafx units have composite out, but are basically the same. If you're looking on the cheap, the Genesis model 1 power supply will run a TG and a PCE, so that may be one way to save on a cheaper purchase. Be sure to get the AV cable though if you get a Core Grafx model. Also note that the TG pads are not compatible with the PCE without an adapter, but I believe the US Duo did switch to the smaller pad plug that the Japanese systems used all along.