I just got a TG16+CD...

[Platinum]

So I got a few questions to ask...

1.) What are the different system cards and what do they do?
2.) How dependable is the TG16-CD hardware (I already have a regular TG16)
3.) Any way I can get a Composite or S-Video cable for my Turbografx?

By the way, it came with Last Alert. How is it? any fun? Any value?

Thanks

[tomaitheous]

Did it come with any system cards? Also composite output should already be on the deck of the CD base attachment unit. The composite output is incredibly clear. You need a mod to get s-video.

Last Alert is a pretty good game. The dialog is great (very funny voice acting). Lots of memorable lines/quotes from that game. And the game itself is fun (and it's long too. Lot's of stages).

It's 3/4 view and it's similar to Ikari/Heavy Barrel/etc style of games. The levels are laid out in that you have to work your way through spanning large areas; it's not just 'keep moving up'. Some stages require exploring to find hostages or defuse bombs. The stage design is similar to Bloody Wolf, if you've played that. You also get experience from killing enemies and gain new levels. Each new level, you get a new gun (to pick from, you can switch back to any gun at any time). There's also options and secondary weapons you can pick up, but have limited time/ammo. It's a bit on the easy side, but the length makes up for it. The game is old CD (CD 2.0) and it's actually a pretty good game for a setup that only had 64k of cart space at a time (CDRAM). For a CD 2.0 game, I rank it fairly high. For a game in general, from that era, it still ranks fairly high. It's great fun :)

[Atariguy]

The 2.0 card was the standard card that came with it, and it will play all TurboGrafX-16CD games, including imports. What it will not play are SuperCD or Arcade CD games. The 3.0 card will play the former, and the Arcade Card will allow you to play all CD games. The arcade card is import only, so you would need to mod your system or get a converter to use it, but there was a US release for the 3.0 card, though they aren't that cheap. In any case, you will need at least one of those cards to play any CD games at all.

As for reliability, they don't have a good reputation. And I don't know anything about getting S-Video out of the thing.

Edit: And I should probably point out that there are only a dozen games that use the Arcade Card, so don't bother looking for one unless you really want those specific games. A 3.0 card will be your best option for the vast majority of the CD library.

[theclaw]

It can be very difficult to find a US CD drive in any condition now. More so if working. Even harder than that, to get one sold apart from the base console.

I ended up having to upgrade to Duo, too few usable condition CD drives for sale.

[todesengel]

If you can find a cheap import adapter just go ahead and get an Arcade Card Pro. The Arcade Card Pro also has the System 3.0 card built in so you'll be able to play all the CD games with it. Also the American 3.0 card is expensive as hell since it was mail order only when it was released.

[retroman]

Go with converter and arcade card...i have a Duo with the arcade card

[theclaw]

That's right. I did get an arcard card game on that bundle. Never thought I'd have use for one. Hehe.

[tomaitheous]

It can be very difficult to find a US CD drive in any condition now. More so if working. Even harder than that, to get one sold apart from the base console.

I ended up having to upgrade to Duo, too few usable condition CD drives for sale.

I have no experience with fixing the original CD units, but from what I've read in the 'repair' section over at PCFX, you can replace the laser units. Some guy even replaced the gear from the known gear issue (there's a certain gear that has shown up broken on a few CD players).

[Tron 2.0]

So I got a few questions to ask..
2.) How dependable is the TG16-CD hardware (I already have a regular TG16)
Well the gear in the turbo-cd can ware out and break then your screwed.Now there has been talk over at the pcfx forums about finding a replacement or making a new gear,but so far nothing has come of it.

Btw the best way to play the games on cd is either a duo-r or rx.

[Platinum]

From what I gather it is the standard issue 2.0 system card.

Also thank you for all your replies. I've known for a long time how difficult it is to come by these units and that is why I asked about the dependability.

So now I ask, where can I get this composite cable? Or is it the standard composite cable I can by at a C-store?

[ccovell]

On the back of the CD interface unit are your standard Yellow-Red-White triplet of phono plugs. Just buy a standard phono-to-phono AV cable.

[Platinum]

I love it when I can get the standard jacks from the superstores to work with game consoles. I was ecstatic when I found out that my 3DO would take standard composite and S-video. Now I'm even happier to know that my TG-CD will accept standard composite as well...

Now if I can just get the damn thing to run on S-video... hey, is that possible?

[staxx]

S- Video mod is possible on the TG16 though a lot go for the RGB mod. With the RGB mod you can hook it up to monitors or TVs that can accept RGB (15KHz) or buy a converter to HDMI or Component. As for the TG16 CD addon, yeah the weak spot is a middle gear. Right now though there is research in getting a molding of the middle gear. I think within a week we will hear if the molding was a success or not. If it is a success then there will be a huge break through in finding a replacement middle gear. As for the laser, you can buy a replacement laser online. It is a bit of a pain to replace the laser (much easier to replace in a duo). For the price of buying the TG16 CD addon, you may as well buy a Duo R or RX instead. Buy a Duo if you know how to replace some capacitors...long story in that one.

[Platinum]

Ah yes, I was considering RGB mod, however i'm in the good ole' US of A. Finding televisions with RGB Scart is ridiculously difficult around here in the midwest. Not to mention, the RGB to component convertors from what I gather cost a pretty penny, and a VERY pretty one at that.

Can someone fill me in on this?

[Emperor Megas]

All that I have to add is that Last Alert is absolutely FANTASTIC. It's got some of the best, most memorable dialog...ever. Make sure to get Final Zone II, also. The dialog is almost as terrible, which is an amazing feat in itself. It would be as bad if it were as long a game.

Mr. Lee ("of the Hong Kong Mafia")'s Engrish alone is worth the price of admission. Just OUTSTANDING.

[staxx]

Ah yes, I was considering RGB mod, however i'm in the good ole' US of A. Finding televisions with RGB Scart is ridiculously difficult around here in the midwest. Not to mention, the RGB to component convertors from what I gather cost a pretty penny, and a VERY pretty one at that.

Can someone fill me in on this?

The RGB to Component doesn't cost that much unless you are going for a XRGB-#
Here is a cheap RGB to Component the

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SCART-RGB-YUV-Component-Video-Converter-Scaler-/220698772855?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3362ac0577#ht_1603wt_932

[Platinum]

That's pretty nifty. Thanks Staxx.

Also, I heard Last Alert is sort of like Heavy Barrel. Is this true?

[tomaitheous]

If you're interested in s-video mod for the PCE, I'm working out the details/design for one for the system. It doesn't require a separate encoder chip like the other mods do. Plus, you get the accurate (read: real) colors of the system - not the RGB scaled stuff like you do with other mods. The PCE has a specific fixed color set for composite that's unique to it, because of the low precision stepping of the table and YUV DAC outputs (it's a hard coded table). I'm also working on a component output of this too, but that's more detailed and requires some demodulation - but you still get the same authentic PCE color palette with it (again, as opposed to other component setups out there). If you're a PC Engine purist, that is ;) Some people are just happy enough to have s-video or component output and don't really care about color accuracy/authenticity.

[Platinum]

Here is what I am in a nutshell... I demand the absolute best possible video quality.

Whether it is through mods or not.

[sheath]

I am very interested in accurate and encoderless mods. I would probably stick to S-Video mods of this type purely because video capture devices that work with these systems typically don't have Component inputs. I still keep watching for an HD PVR for less than $200 though.

My upscaling VGA to Component adapter for my Dreamcast resulted in video quality settings changes with each resolution from 480i/p, 720p and 1080i. Fortunately Impact Acoustics provided the device with its own video settings adjustments. But that still leaves me eyeballing changes and arbitrarily deciding what is "best".

Dreamcast is my only system with any sort of unorthodox setup and I have no desire to go back to vanilla S-Video for it. I will try hooking the VGA adapter straight to my new LCD set just to see if I like it better though. Somehow I am doubting that I will want to give up the upscaling capabilities of the adapter though.

[Breetai]

Platinum, here is the lowdown:

The Turbo CD should at least come with a System 2.0 card. This allows regular CD games.
There is an upgrade card called the Super System card (System 3.0). This allows "Super CD" games. This is as far as US games ever got.

The CD games are region free, so they are import friendly!

In Japan, there was an "Arcade Card", which was the final upgrade. Only a few games were released. Unless you are a crazy collector who likes dropping money on $300 shoot 'em ups and cheap 16-bit Neo Geo ports, then don't bother with it.

I definitely recommend getting a Super CD (System 3.0) card. Some of these Super CD games are among the best 16-bit games there are. Examples include Castlevania Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, Lords of Thunder and Gate of Thunder. Unfortunately, as others have said, getting a US Super CD card is not easy/cheap. It might actually be easier to get a Japanese PC Engine (that is the name of the Turbografx-16 in Japan) Super CD system.

There is a reliability issue with the Turbografx-CD unit. One of the internal plastic gears becomes brittle over time and can literally shatter. If that happens, the CD unit is toast. Getting a replacement gear is VERY difficult. I do know of someone (over at the Pcenginfx.com forums) that can fix them, but he still has to look for the correct parts (only found in a specific mini cassette player, I think).

Due to the difficulty of getting a Super CD card, the reliability issue with the CD unit and the fact that CD-games are region free, a lot of people keep their Turbografx-16 for US games and also import a PC Engine Duo for playing CD games and Japanese import HuCards/Turbochips on. If you get serious about the TG-16, this is the best way to go. There are three versions of the PC Engine Duo. All are good, but the original Duo sometimes has sound issues (which ARE fixable without too much difficulty, unlike the original CD unit...).

So, the best route, IF you cannot find a decently priced US Super CD card, is to import a PC Engine Duo. Then you have access to ALL TG-16 and PC Engine games (except for a few Arcade card games, unless you buy that of course) and won't have to worry about the thing breaking down beyond reasonable repair. Getting a US Duo is also an option, but it is actually more expensive than importing a PC Engine Duo. Your call, there.

As for modding the system to get s-video or SCART, I think Tomaitheous might be able to help you. I cannot personally vouch for him, though. I don't know him except through reading his posts. I can personally vouch for some of the members at Pcenginefx, if you want a mod. Just PM me if you want a name.



Last Alert is definitely a fun game. I compare it to Ikari Warriors or the overhead levels from Super Contra, except it is more mission based. It would be worth buying if you weren't already getting it.

[tomaitheous]

As for modding the system to get s-video or SCART, I think Tomaitheous might be able to help you. I cannot personally vouch for him, though. I don't know him except through reading his posts. I can personally vouch for some of the members at Pcenginefx, if you want a mod. Just PM me if you want a name.

I'm not offering services. I'm offering the schematic for a more cost friendly (doesn't require a new/replacement encoder) and PCE color accurate s-video solution (the replacement encoders get the 512 color palette wrong). Someone else will have to build it for him.

[Platinum]

Oh my gosh I love this thing. The Turbo CD is fun, Last Alert it pretty good too, no doubt it has the worst voice acting I've ever whitnessed in my life.

Now... What can someone tell me about R-Type on the Turbo CD, I already have the TG-16 one and really want the CD version.

[runinruder]

Now... What can someone tell me about R-Type on the Turbo CD, I already have the TG-16 one and really want the CD version.

Here's a review and screens for the CD one:

http://www.thebrothersduomazov.com/search/label/R-Type%20Complete%20CD

[Platinum]

This is an interesting piece of hardware. When I first got it in the package, it was colder than an icicle. So, I took it inside... got it all warmed up in the game room... so finally about an hour goes by- I decided to fire up this bad boy. I plug in all the cords, dust down the system, plopped the CD on the spindle, and then I turn the system on.......

Well, the TCD screen comes up, and it tells me to press RUN. So I did, but I got nothing, the disc was not spinning at all, the laser did fire up though.

Then I got an idea!

I use to repair certain vintage game systems for my local video store about a year ago. I learned many things, and if there is one thing I learned about vintage electronics is that you gotta tinker around with it for a while.

So I did, I pressed the buttons on the TCD, no response. Finally after I pressed the PLAY button for about the 30th time, it reads!!!

Now it fires up like a champ.