Turbo Grafx/Duo questions

[orrimarrko]

I thin kI asked this about 5 years ago, but can't seem to find the thread.

I don't know why this is so difficult for me to understand, but for some reason it's still just confusing as hell for me.

Hopefully, this will do it.

I know that a TG-16 will play US Hu cards.

I know that a TG-16 w/CD add-on will play US Hu cards and US CD games.

I know that a Turbo Duo will play both.

Where I get all messed up is in regards to playing ALL of the PC-Engine cards and CDs.

There were just so many damn types of releases for these systems that it makes things terribly tough to follow.

So - What would I need, in order to play ALL cards and ALL CDs, regardless of region?

Thank you experts on TG/PC-E stuff!

Orri~

[ApolloBoy]

A region modded Super Grafx attached to a Super CD-ROM2 add-on and an Arcade Card Pro will let you play everything.

[RadiantSvgun]

A region modded Super Grafx attached to a Super CD-ROM2 add-on and an Arcade Card Pro will let you play everything.

Yes, for the exception of Altered Beast CD, which requires you to have a system card 1.0.

Here is an easy way of remembering the system formats:

Turbo grafx= Hucards
Turbo CD+ appropriate system card(in which 3.0 is the highest of the US released cards)= Cd-rom games
Turbo Grafx+ Turbo CD+ Super system 3.0 card is the same as a Turbo duo.

To play the entire turbo library with no problem you will need:
Super Grafx(a slightly enhanced PC-engine)
Region modification of that super grafx.
RAU-30 unit to connect the supergrafx to a Super Cd rom2 unit
Arcade card pro

Here is a more in-depth chart.

http://pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html

[ApolloBoy]

RAU-30 unit to connect the supergrafx to a Super Cd rom2 unit


Actually the Super CD-ROM2 add-on attaches directly to the Super Grafx; the RAU-30 is needed for the original CD-ROM2.

[RadiantSvgun]

Thats right, and a Super CD-rom 2 unit is a lot easier to track down too.

[jcalder8]

Why do you need the Super Grafx?
Wouldn't a modded Duo with arcade card do the same thing?

[InsaneDavid]

Why do you need the Super Grafx?
Wouldn't a modded Duo with arcade card do the same thing?

It wouldn't run the handful of Super Grafx games.

[RadiantSvgun]

Quoted for truth:

It wouldn't run the handful of Super Grafx games.

The super grafx library is not large at all, I think it is about 5 or 6 games. Thats why I just got the modded duo.

[InsaneDavid]

Quoted for truth:


The super grafx library is not large at all, I think it is about 5 or 6 games. Thats why I just got the modded duo.

Yeah, the only Super Grafx game I really enjoyed was 1941 Counter Attack.

[orrimarrko]

So, a region modded PC DUO-R wouldn't play everything?

Just curious.

[orrimarrko]

To play the entire turbo library with no problem you will need:
Super Grafx(a slightly enhanced PC-engine)
Super CD-ROM 2 unit
Region modification of that super grafx.
Arcade card pro

Here is a more in-depth chart.

http://pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html

First of all - thank you for the link; very helpful (mostly!) The formats are still kind of confusing.

At the risk of sounding retarded; to make sure that I understand...

Not only do I need a SuperGrafx, but I need a Super CD-Rom 2 unit (which will connect directly to the SuperGrafx), an Arcade Card Pro (not Duo), and...

The SuperGrafx has to be modded to play all regions.

If that's correct, where the hell can I get all of that? And, will it play on a NTSC TV?

Again, I appreciate all of the help!

Steve

[ApolloBoy]

If that's correct, where the hell can I get all of that? And, will it play on a NTSC TV?

You could try asking around or looking at Yahoo Japan through a middleman service. And yes, the Super Grafx will work perfectly on an American TV. It's only the original PC Engine you need to worry about, since it uses Japanese RF.

[RadiantSvgun]

First of all - thank you for the link; very helpful (mostly!) The formats are still kind of confusing.

At the risk of sounding retarded; to make sure that I understand...

Not only do I need a SuperGrafx, but I need a Super CD-Rom 2 unit (which will connect directly to the SuperGrafx), an Arcade Card Pro (not Duo), and...

The SuperGrafx has to be modded to play all regions.

If that's correct, where the hell can I get all of that? And, will it play on a NTSC TV?

Again, I appreciate all of the help!

Steve

You can get the console stuff on ebay. As far as region mods, ask around here. The moderator of technical and restoration forum, omendon can do it. Also, D-lite can too. omendon runs oldschoolgamer.ca, which does good work and takes paypal.

Honestly, I'd go the duo route.

[orrimarrko]

Honestly, I'd go the duo route.

Which DUO route?

Would a modded DUO-R play everything?

[ApolloBoy]

Which DUO route?

Would a modded DUO-R play everything?

Everything except for the Super Grafx games. Keep in mind that all three Duo models (Duo, Duo-R, Duo-RX) are essentially the same, with some cosmetic differences.

[shadowfire36]

i think the better question is how much money you wann spend i paid 150 for my super graxf when i was in japan 4 years ago and i see them on ebay for 200 ++
the cdrom2 is a bitch to get took me 3 years to get one and dont bother getting a supergraxf with a rau 30 that dam thing is so damn bulky , but you have the same problem as the cdrom to it is hard to get one .
you really want to make it ez on your self i recommend geting a duo-r there where only 5 games for the super graxf and i have all of them aint 1 but 1941 worth playing.

i have a duo-r, supergraxf with cdrom 2, and a coregraxf with crdrom 1

ias far as region mod you better off buying a ram cart from neoflash and install the roms yourself that way you have everything you want.
pc engine is like the fm town marty and neo geo
you think the machine is cheap but find the good games cost a ton, are hard to fine and then you have a very expensive habit of buying games from japan stock !!!!!

the best is truly define what you want in my eyes i think ez way out to this
if you want mods see d-lite he modded my supergraxf's

[Soviet Conscript]

Which DUO route?

Would a modded DUO-R play everything?

NO

a modded duo (any version) is just the easiest and maybe cheaper route. you will be able to play most games with this setup but not all of them. you WILL NOT be able to play the 5 supergrafx games with the duo aption nor will you be able to take advantage of the whopping (2?) PCE games that use the supergrafx extra power.

honestly, if your not a turbo fan just mod a duo. but if you do want 100% compatability with everything then yes. buy a supergrafx + a Super CD-ROM2 + arcade card pro

hmmm...either way if you do go though the region mod thing see if you can get an S-video mod to...the quality increase is signifigant in my opinion

[orrimarrko]

Okay, in summary...

A modded DUO-R will play on my NTSC TV, and will play everything except the 5 or so Super Grafx CD games.

If the DUO-R is region modded, and S-video modded, then I should be all set. Correct?

[Tron 2.0]

Okay, in summary...

A modded DUO-R will play on my NTSC TV, and will play everything except the 5 or so Super Grafx CD games.

If the DUO-R is region modded, and S-video modded, then I should be all set. Correct?
Yes a modded duo will play every thing u.s to jpn hucards.Long as it has the,region switch put in...and the cd games are region free and the (s-video) is worth it for a better picture.

Keep in mine though a turbo duo or pce duo suffer from sound issue problems.

Your best bet is to get a duo-r or rx model they have a better track record.

Also for the record suprgrafx own games are on hucards not cds.

[orrimarrko]

Thanks everyone!

[orrimarrko]

Thought I had this down, but nope.

Okay, questions again.

From reading the compatibility guide, it appears there are:

US & Japanese HuCards
Supergrafx HuCards

CD-ROM2 System CDs
Super CD-ROM2 System CDs
Arcade CD-ROM System CDs

(Hopefully, I'm correct in that the CDs are not region specific.)

We've established that in order to play all of these, I need a SuperGrafx with Super CD-ROM2 unit, and an Arcade Card PRO.

If I understand this correctly:

The Arcade Card PRO allows for the use of the Arcade CD-ROM System CDs.
The Super CD-ROM2 Unit allows for the use of the Super CD-ROM2 System CDs and the CD-ROM2 System CDs.
The SuperGrafx will automatically play PC-Engine HuCards and SuperGrafx HuCards.

If the system is region modded, then the same system will also play all US HuCards.

Assuming that I have this correct, this seems like the most logical choice.

If I went the DUO-R route...

Wouldn't I need:

PC-Engine DUO-R, region modded. This will allow me to play TG-16 & PC-Engine HuCards, but not SuperGrafx HuCards.
This will also allow me to play CD-ROM2 System and Super CD-ROM2 System CDs, regardless of region. However, I cannot play Arcade CD-ROM System CDs without an Arcade Card DUO.

Is this correct?

Assuming so, then the DUO-R region modded with an Arcade Card DUO will allow me to play everything except SuperGrafx HuCards.

Do I finally have this?? (Please someone say yes!)

If so, does anyone have a link to the best TG-16/PC-Engine (HuCards & CDs) website out there?

I truly appreciate everyone's time, patience, and assistance with this.

Thanks!

Orri~

[ApolloBoy]

Yeah, you've got it right. As for the best PC Engine/TG-16 site, that would be PCEngineFX.com.

[James8BitStar]

Another option (incidentally the one I went with) was get a Japanese console with CD-ROM and then just a standalone TG16 for American Hucards. Much cheaper than installing a region switch I'm sure.

[ApolloBoy]

Another option (incidentally the one I went with) was get a Japanese console with CD-ROM and then just a standalone TG16 for American Hucards. Much cheaper than installing a region switch I'm sure.

Actually it's not cheaper by much; a region modded Duo will save both space and money. Trust me, it's better to have one system do everything than to have two systems for different purposes.

[Tron 2.0]

Another option (incidentally the one I went with) was get a Japanese console with CD-ROM and then just a standalone TG16 for American Hucards. Much cheaper than installing a region switch I'm sure.
Actality a region mod,doesn't cost much now thanks to a new pcb that is used now.

I had d-lite region mod my coregrafx for $38.00 and it works great so far.

Realy region mods are worth it plus better then useing a expensive converter.

Plus for what,Apolloboy stated it is much more convenient to have one console do it all.

[orrimarrko]

Yeah, you've got it right. As for the best PC Engine/TG-16 site, that would be PCEngineFX.com.

Excellent - I'm glad I can put this to bed.

As for the site though - isn't that just a PC-Engine FX site?

I'm really looking for something similar to AtariAge.com or NintendoAge.com, where there's a database of all games made for the TG-16/PC-Engine, including HuCards and CDs.

Format, box art, screenshots - you know, all that stuff.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Orri~

[Soviet Conscript]

Excellent - I'm glad I can put this to bed.

As for the site though - isn't that just a PC-Engine FX site?

I'm really looking for something similar to AtariAge.com or NintendoAge.com, where there's a database of all games made for the TG-16/PC-Engine, including HuCards and CDs.

Format, box art, screenshots - you know, all that stuff.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Orri~


no, pcenginefx.com is a great place to ask people pce info as well as buy the things your looking for. its also a good place to ask to get the mods done.
this may be of help to you also on that site http://www.pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html

as for other tg-16 sites and databases

http://www.pcedaisakusen.net/2/36/home.htm

and

http://www.vgden.com/vgden_hu.htm

and

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

hope that helps

I am a river to my people.

[orrimarrko]

no, pcenginefx.com is a great place to ask people pce info as well as buy the things your looking for. its also a good place to ask to get the mods done.
this may be of help to you also on that site http://www.pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html

as for other tg-16 sites and databases

http://www.pcedaisakusen.net/2/36/home.htm

and

http://www.vgden.com/vgden_hu.htm

and

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

hope that helps

I am a river to my people.

Awesome - thank you!

[Gentlegamer]

I hope this isn't seen as a completely retarded reply, but you can play all TurboGrafx, SuperGrafx, CD games through emulation. You might want to at least try them via emulation before tracking down all the hardware.

[Mr. Smashy]

There seems to be a bit of confusion here on a couple points regarding the Arcade Card Duo and Arcade Card Pro.

1: The Arcade Card Pro is the better of the 2 cards. It'll do everything that an Arcade Card Duo can do and more.

2: The Arcade Card Duo is suitable for use with a SuperGrafx system paired with a Super CD-ROM2 add-on unit.

[Mobius]

And people think all the PS3 models are confusing these days... What the hell was NEC thinking?

Aw, who am I kidding... I love the PCE/Turbo line.

[orrimarrko]

There seems to be a bit of confusion here on a couple points regarding the Arcade Card Duo and Arcade Card Pro.

1: The Arcade Card Pro is the better of the 2 cards. It'll do everything that an Arcade Card Duo can do and more.

2: The Arcade Card Duo is suitable for use with a SuperGrafx system paired with a Super CD-ROM2 add-on unit.

Yeah, but I thought you needed the Arcade Card DUO to use with the DUO systems, and the Arcade Card PRO to use with the SUperGrafx.

Is this not the case?

[ApolloBoy]

Yeah, but I thought you needed the Arcade Card DUO to use with the DUO systems, and the Arcade Card PRO to use with the SUperGrafx.

Is this not the case?

The Arcade Card Duo won't work with anything other than a Duo or a Super CD-ROM2 add-on because it depends on the extra RAM found in those systems. I would go with the Arcade Card Duo since it's cheaper and easier to find than the Arcade Card Pro. The ACP is only needed if you're using an original CD-ROM2. I should've mentioned that in my first post but I was too lazy to double check.

[Soviet Conscript]

I hope this isn't seen as a completely retarded reply, but you can play all TurboGrafx, SuperGrafx, CD games through emulation. You might want to at least try them via emulation before tracking down all the hardware.

Blasphemer!!!!!!!!!!

[orrimarrko]

Yeah, I'm afraid I don't do emulators of any kind. Just not my bag.

Have another couple of questions.

You know those cardboard boxes that the US HuCards come in (in the box is the jewel case, card, sleeve and instructions.)

1. Iis there a list of what titles were released in those cardboard boxes?

2. Did the CDs come in them as well?

3. What about PC-Engine HuCards/CDs?

Thanks everyone - you've all been a big help!

Orri~

[Tron 2.0]

Yeah, I'm afraid I don't do emulators of any kind. Just not my bag.

Have another couple of questions.

You know those cardboard boxes that the US HuCards come in (in the box is the jewel case, card, sleeve and instructions.)

1. Iis there a list of what titles were released in those cardboard boxes?

2. Did the CDs come in them as well?

3. What about PC-Engine HuCards/CDs?

Thanks everyone - you've all been a big help!

Orri~
Ok you have alot of question whew.

1.Some hucards such as air zonk only came in a box for some u.s titles while others,have the jewlcase.

2.CD games come in the jewlcase doesn't matter if it's jpn or u.s

3.PCE hucards/cds come in a jewlcase.

Hope that helps ya.

[Soviet Conscript]

Ok you have alot of question whew.

1.Some hucards such as air zonk only came in a box for some u.s titles while others,have the jewlcase.

2.CD games come in the jewlcase doesn't matter if it's jpn or u.s

3.PCE hucards/cds come in a jewlcase.

Hope that helps ya.

i always kinda wondered that myself. i suppose its soemthing i should know being as NEC stuff is the #1 thing i collect for

everything came in a jewlcase except for US Hucards then, right?

[ApolloBoy]

everything came in a jewlcase except for US Hucards then, right?

Everything except for later TG-16 HuCards (meaning ones made after 1991).

[orrimarrko]

Wow - that was a little more confusing than I thought it would be.

Let me try it this way...

Did CDs (US & Japan) just come in a jewel case, or was there a outer cardboard slipcover?

What US HuCards were packaged without the cardboard box?

ApolloBoy - are you saying that the HuCards manufactured after 1991 did not come with the cardboard, or they replaced the jewel case with a plastic tray, inside the cardboard?

For example

Air Zonk picture link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AIR-ZONK-TURBO-GRAFX-16-PC-ENGINE-IMPORT_W0QQitemZ220178869147QQihZ012QQcategoryZ620 53QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l124 7QQcmdZViewItem

Devil's Crush link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Grafx-16-Express-Duo-DEVILS-CRUSH-Complete-BOX_W0QQitemZ350031944687QQihZ022QQcategoryZ62053Q QrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQ cmdZViewItem

What I'm looking for is what makes a title "complete"? Obviously, at some point, there was a packaging change (probably to save money) from the cardboard box/jewel case style to the cardboard box/inner plastic tray style.

Does anyone know what games (specifically) were affected by this change?

Again, thanks for your help!

Steve

[ApolloBoy]

Let me try it this way...

Did CDs (US & Japan) just come in a jewel case, or was there a outer cardboard slipcover?

What US HuCards were packaged without the cardboard box?

ApolloBoy - are you saying that the HuCards manufactured after 1991 did not come with the cardboard, or they replaced the jewel case with a plastic tray, inside the cardboard?


All CDs came in a jewel case (to my knowledge), although TG-CD games came in an outer cardboard box while PCE CD games came with a spine card. All US HuCards came in cardboard boxes (even the ones with jewel cases), while later HuCards came with just a box and plastic tray.

[klausien]

Just my two cents:

DO NOT get an original Duo unless you want your sound to fail eventually. It happens no matter how well you treat it. I had a Duo for 10 years that I handled with kid gloves and the sound died. It wasn't the capacitors either, as I replaced them all to no avail. Save yourself the money and heartbreak.

Get a region switched Duo-R or RX. The only differences between an R & and RX is the different logos on the systems and the six button pad that comes with the RX (which is not worth the extra money the RX commands). Get an Avenue Pad 6 if you want to play fighters. I highly recommend D-Lite. When my US Duo died, I got a Duo R with S-Video (ESSENTIAL), a region switch, and a purple power LED from him. It is the best thing I could have done.

As for the SuperGrafx, there are 5 real games: Battle Ace, Granzort, Ghouls & Ghosts, 1941 & Aldynes. The Capcom ports are good, but are overshadowed at this point by the $20 Capcom Classics available on PS2 & XBox. Aldynes is also good, but not better than the best PCE CD shooters. Battle Ace is a somewhat decent AfterBurner/G-LOC clone and Granzort is a difficult side-scroller known for its one-hit deaths. There is also the egregiously expensive boss rush Darius Alpha, but it is beyond rare at this point. Darius Plus for the PCE has no flicker on the SGX, but it really is fine on a PCE. I like the redbook audio on the Super Darius CD better anyway. All in all, it really isnt worth it unless you MUST have these games. They all play fine in Magic Engine and Mednafen.

A SuperGrafx with a Super CDROM2 unit attached is also an ungainly beast next to the smooth lines of a Duo or original PCE w/CDROM2.

And one final note, Space Harrier does not work on a modded SGX.

[orrimarrko]

Just my two cents:

DO NOT get an original Duo unless you want your sound to fail eventually. It happens no matter how well you treat it. I had a Duo for 10 years that I handled with kid gloves and the sound died. It wasn't the capacitors either, as I replaced them all to no avail. Save yourself the money and heartbreak.

Get a region switched Duo-R or RX. The only differences between an R & and RX is the different logos on the systems and the six button pad that comes with the RX (which is not worth the extra money the RX commands). Get an Avenue Pad 6 if you want to play fighters. I highly recommend D-Lite. When my US Duo died, I got a Duo R with S-Video (ESSENTIAL), a region switch, and a purple power LED from him. It is the best thing I could have done.

As for the SuperGrafx, there are 5 real games: Battle Ace, Granzort, Ghouls & Ghosts, 1941 & Aldynes. The Capcom ports are good, but are overshadowed at this point by the $20 Capcom Classics available on PS2 & XBox. Aldynes is also good, but not better than the best PCE CD shooters. Battle Ace is a somewhat decent AfterBurner/G-LOC clone and Granzort is a difficult side-scroller known for its one-hit deaths. There is also the egregiously expensive boss rush Darius Alpha, but it is beyond rare at this point. Darius Plus for the PCE has no flicker on the SGX, but it really is fine on a PCE. I like the redbook audio on the Super Darius CD better anyway. All in all, it really isnt worth it unless you MUST have these games. They all play fine in Magic Engine and Mednafen.

A SuperGrafx with a Super CDROM2 unit attached is also an ungainly beast next to the smooth lines of a Duo or original PCE w/CDROM2.

And one final note, Space Harrier does not work on a modded SGX.

Thank you very much for the info, especially the SuperGrafx info.

So, this Darius Alpha is pretty rare, huh?

[Soviet Conscript]

Thank you very much for the info, especially the SuperGrafx info.

So, this Darius Alpha is pretty rare, huh?

$1000+ rare if you want it complete

its my holy grail as far as my NEC game collection goes

[orrimarrko]

$1000+ rare if you want it complete

its my holy grail as far as my NEC game collection goes

Dang!