Wanting to buy a turbografx, need some pointers please!

[Breetai]

Thanks - a modded pc engine duo seems like the most ideal setup.

Yup...

...unless you want to spend a bit more and get a Super Grafx/Super CD-ROM2/Arcade Card set up. Mod the Super Grafx if you want. That will play EVERYTHING.

[retrosportsgamer]

Thanks - a modded pc engine duo seems like the most ideal setup.

Yup...

...unless you want to spend a bit more and get a Super Grafx/Super CD-ROM2/Arcade Card set up. Mod the Super Grafx if you want. That will play EVERYTHING.

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0618340034

I have to ask a noob question though - what am I looking for on my HDTV with the RGB - a VGA iput?

[theclaw]

That depends whether the HDTV model correctly accepts low-res via component (some sets don't). If it does, you're set. A simple direct external transcoder from RGB to component will be enough. Letting the TV itself handle scaling from the console's native resolution.

Otherwise... It gets complicated as a scaler to a video mode the TV accepts will be necessary.

[Breetai]

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0618340034

I have to ask a noob question though - what am I looking for on my HDTV with the RGB - a VGA iput?

That would set you up nicely, although I really don't know much about SCART stuff. I've never got into that. I always just use composite or s-video. Not the top quality, but the easiest without modding things.

[retrosportsgamer]

That depends whether the HDTV model correctly accepts low-res via component (some sets don't). If it does, you're set. A simple direct external transcoder from RGB to component will be enough. Letting the TV itself handle scaling from the console's native resolution.

Otherwise... It gets complicated as a scaler to a video mode the TV accepts will be necessary.

Nice - so a RGB to Component Cable adapter - I can swing that. Interesting, thanks.

So - let me ask the PC Engine experts, is the Arcade CD Rom access worth the extra $90? What titles are out there?

[Breetai]

So - let me ask the PC Engine experts, is the Arcade CD Rom access worth the extra $90? What titles are out there?

Don't pay $90 for an Arcade card... You can probably find one for half that if you look around enough, unless they've gone up in the couple years since I've been pricing them.

Is it worth it? No, not for the average retro gamer. Unless you either really need the Arcade card games or found a good deal on it, don't bother with the Arcade card. The Super CD card will have you covered for 97% of the best PC Engine games.

The majority of Arcade card games consists of:

-Sapphire (holy shit, are those polygons running on the PC Engine!?!)
-a lack-luster port of Strider
-a bunch of really well done Neo Geo ports.

Sapphire is absolutely awesome, but it runs around $200-300 for a copy. It makes Radiant Silvergun look cheap! If you really need that game, then you aren't exactly going to be worried about the price of an Arcade card. Strider, as I said, it underwhelming. The Genesis version is better overall. The Neo Geo ports are surprisingly very well done. Games like Art of Fighting are a graphical showcase for the system (so is Sapphire). You won't believe the PC Engine is actually pumping out graphics like that. It actually puts the Super Nintendo to shame.

Buy the Arcade Card if you have money to burn, what to show off to your friends just how awesome the PC Engine can look graphically, and want to try out Sapphire; one of the most impressive shoot 'em ups of the 16-bit era.

[retrosportsgamer]

Thanks - the Arcade upgrade to this type of system is around $90ish, which makes me think just having the card expansion won't work for whatever reason (maybe i'm wrong).

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEC-PC-Engine-DUO-R ... 2eb64c2a0b

My next quest is to figure out why most controllers have two buttons (like the original) and some others have 6 buttons!

Thanks for your helpful responses.

[Hobie-wan]

A Duo/Duo R/Duo RX system will run up to Super CD ROM games with no extra cards needed. You only need the arcade card for the few arcade games. Most games only use 2 buttons, but obviously Street Fighter II for PCE used 6. Offhand I'm not sure what else uses the extra buttons, I don't think any of the games I have do. There is also a 3 button pad.

[Breetai]

A Duo/Duo R/Duo RX system will run up to Super CD ROM games with no extra cards needed. You only need the arcade card for the few arcade games. Most games only use 2 buttons, but obviously Street Fighter II for PCE used 6. Offhand I'm not sure what else uses the extra buttons, I don't think any of the games I have do. There is also a 3 button pad.

Forgotten Worlds used the 3-button pad. A few games, mostly fighting games, made use of the 6-button pads. Mostly SFII', Martial Champions (a vs. fighter by Konami), and the Neo Geo ports.

[theclaw]

Thanks - the Arcade upgrade to this type of system is around $90ish, which makes me think just having the card expansion won't work for whatever reason (maybe i'm wrong).

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEC-PC-Engine-DUO-R ... 2eb64c2a0b

My next quest is to figure out why most controllers have two buttons (like the original) and some others have 6 buttons!

Thanks for your helpful responses.

There's two versions of Arcade upgrade. Basically, the cheaper Duo for Super CD systems (as its Duo name suggests). And the more expensive Pro for older models. Both were released only as Japan format cards. Hence no non-Japanese system can play any Arcade expansion games without some kind of import conversion.