PC Engine Super Grafx Question, plz help.

[SpiritualK]

Hi I just bought a super grafx from ebay and I want to know if I can play it here in the states seeing how its from japan. any difference in ac power supply specs/ voltage?

Thanx in Advance :)

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, it'll have a different PSU than a domestic TG-16, and possibly different from regular PC Engine units as well. I asked about power bricks when I got a PC-GT (Japanese Turbo Express) - unfortunately I don't remember what my discoveries were anymore, but you can find the topic with the Forum's search.

[ApolloBoy]

Yeah, it'll have a different PSU than a domestic TG-16, and possibly different from regular PC Engine units as well.

It actually uses the same power supply as a regular PC Engine. The TG-16 PSU will work as well.

[SpiritualK]

im not sure what PSU is, anyone else know if I can play it here?

[SpiritualK]

It actually uses the same power supply as a regular PC Engine. The TG-16 PSU will work as well.

so I could play it then? sorry I dont know to much about specs stuff.

[Ed Oscuro]

The system came with its own power cable/brick, right? The only difference between power in the U.S. and through most of Japan is the voltage: 120V in the States, 110V through most of Japan (the system is designed for that). That mainly causes problems with systems that really use a lot of juice, like a hair dryer, when you're using a device that wants more power than the socket provides. Lucky for you, the PC-Engine isn't as demanding as a dryer, and it needs less voltage than the wall socket can give, not more. It'll work on your regular wall socket, although I would be careful as I think the slightly mismatched voltage could affect the longevity of the device. I don't have any proof of it, but I like to be on the safe side. Unplug the system when you're not using it - that'll help.

I didn't realize the consoles take the same voltage, and I seem to remember that the situation is different with the portable Express/GT systems. Oh well.

[SpiritualK]

thanks guys ill test it out when I get it for a while, I got it mostly for show but I like to know it works just in case I ever decide to play it (wich I probably will eventually)

P.S. I also received a game called NECROMANCER is it any good? hows the rarity on that?

[Ed Oscuro]

Is it good? I dunno.

Where can you find the rarity? Here:
http://digitpress.com/DP/cmf/search.cmf?

Have fun!

[SpiritualK]

Is it good? I dunno.

Where can you find the rarity? Here:
http://digitpress.com/DP/cmf/search.cmf?

Have fun!

I know I cant find it.

[SpiritualK]

I know that the supergrafx was backwards compatible with some hucards, can I play US turbografx games aswell? I have a Ton

[ApolloBoy]

I know that the supergrafx was backwards compatible with some hucards, can I play US turbografx games aswell? I have a Ton

Not unless you buy a converter or have your Super Grafx region modded.

[Ed Oscuro]

I know I cant find it.
I found it right away. R3, meaning something like "between common and somewhat uncommon." Rated at $10 complete. Probably not an earth-shattering game!


I know that the supergrafx was backwards compatible with some hucards, can I play US turbografx games aswell? I have a Ton
Nope; not without an expensive converter - that I'm 100% certain on - the pin order has been reversed (or some such electronics magic) resulting in incompatibility between the types of cards - even though they're the same format.

[SpiritualK]

I found it right away. R3, meaning something like "between common and somewhat uncommon." Rated at $10 complete. Probably not an earth-shattering game!


Nope; not without an expensive converter - that I'm 100% certain on - the pin order has been reversed (or some such electronics magic) resulting in incompatibility between the types of cards - even though they're the same format.

anyone know were I could find this converter? not that I need it But just to have.

[ApolloBoy]

anyone know were I could find this converter? not that I need it But just to have.

There's actually a number of converters, all of which are hard to find and expensive. Personally I wouldn't bother with a converter, it's much better to have your system region modded. This guy can region mod your Super Grafx for about $55: http://www.multimods.com

[SpiritualK]

Thanx Alot Guys For all your Help.

[Ze_ro]

Actually, even WITH the converter, you STILL need to modify your systems. Japanese PC-Engine's will refuse to play 99% of North American HuCards. The reason for this, from what I understand, was that Hudson/NEC had to change a bunch of their games for the North American market (JJ & Jeff being a prime example), and didn't want companies selling the shitty North American versions on the Japanese market. So, the North American games will actually check the region of your system and refuse to run if it's Japanese. Strangely enough, the Japanese versions never perform this check. The mod involves lifting one of the pins of the CPU I believe.

--Zero

[rbudrick]

Actually, even WITH the converter, you STILL need to modify your systems. Japanese PC-Engine's will refuse to play 99% of North American HuCards. The reason for this, from what I understand, was that Hudson/NEC had to change a bunch of their games for the North American market (JJ & Jeff being a prime example), and didn't want companies selling the shitty North American versions on the Japanese market. So, the North American games will actually check the region of your system and refuse to run if it's Japanese. Strangely enough, the Japanese versions never perform this check. The mod involves lifting one of the pins of the CPU I believe.

--Zero

Whoa. This is the first I've ever heard of this. I'm very surprised this has never come up before. I know my US system plays ALL my JP cards via a converter. I've never heard of issues going the other way, though.

-Rob

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Whoa. This is the first I've ever heard of this. I'm very surprised this has never come up before. I know my US system plays ALL my JP cards via a converter. I've never heard of issues going the other way, though.

Yes, that is correct...if you want to play American Hu Cards on a Japanese system, a Kisado converter alone won't help you. You need to ground out one of the pins to bypass the region lockout in addition to using the converter.

[staxx]

You may as well buy a TG-16 since it is way cheaper than buying a converter or getting the SG modded. TG-16 in local flea markets can range from $10 to $35.

[InsaneDavid]

Actually, even WITH the converter, you STILL need to modify your systems. Japanese PC-Engine's will refuse to play 99% of North American HuCards. The reason for this, from what I understand, was that Hudson/NEC had to change a bunch of their games for the North American market (JJ & Jeff being a prime example), and didn't want companies selling the shitty North American versions on the Japanese market. So, the North American games will actually check the region of your system and refuse to run if it's Japanese. Strangely enough, the Japanese versions never perform this check. The mod involves lifting one of the pins of the CPU I believe.

Yup, one of the reasons you don't see USA to JPN HuCARD converters. I thought this was more widely known, either way the mod instructions and theory can be found here (http://www.gamesx.com/importmod/necjapmod.htm).

Remember that doing this alone will NOT allow the play of USA HuCARDs on a JPN system, you must also use a compatible converter or install a region switch that swaps the address pins of the HuCARD slot between the two regions. When you have, say, a PCEngine Duo-R modded for US HuCARDs this modification is performed as well. (at least I hope the few people doing said mods know enough to perform this as part of the operation as well)

[ApolloBoy]

You may as well buy a TG-16 since it is way cheaper than buying a converter or getting the SG modded. TG-16 in local flea markets can range from $10 to $35.

But it's also limiting; that's why I sold my TG-16 months ago and bought a region modded PCE Duo. The TG-16 has different controller ports compared to all other PCE systems, and it's RF-only, unless you're able to track down a TurboBooster.

[digitalpress]

Interesting, I never knew about issues playung US HuCards on a PC Engine either.

So riddle me this, folks. I have a converter, made in Japan, that allows you to play TurboGrafx-16 cards on a PC Engine. I've never tried it, it seemed kinda senseless to me since just about every decent game produced in the US is already available on the PC Engine. So what's the deal? This thing won't actually work?

Perhaps I'll find out for myself. I have a PC Engine Duo in the store, the converter is there too...

[InsaneDavid]

Interesting, I never knew about issues playung US HuCards on a PC Engine either.

So riddle me this, folks. I have a converter, made in Japan, that allows you to play TurboGrafx-16 cards on a PC Engine. I've never tried it, it seemed kinda senseless to me since just about every decent game produced in the US is already available on the PC Engine. So what's the deal? This thing won't actually work?

Until you ground pin 29 of the Hu6280 chip nearly all games shouldn't work. I'm sure there are a few HuCARDs that will play without the mod, however, since there always seem to be at least a few exceptions to this stuff. Could be an interesting experiment to verify this here at Digital Press.