1up.com: Saving the System - TurboGrafx-16

[BigT]

I bought one of the PAL systems as a curiosity... it has legit and official looking packaging.  Certainly seems like a limited official release.  The actual console has a nice gray finish.

[Damon Plus]

Nec should've tought of taking the European Market. Nintendo wasn't as strong/interested in it, and look Sega was number 1 here. But Nec did even worse than Nintendo. They released the Turbografx too late in 1992 in small quantities in UK, France, Spain, and I think, Italy. I still ask myself if it was a test market, or small importers who did that.

It was in 1990.

I have to believe it was a test market, or just a ridiculously small legit release. The PAL TurboGrafx stuff has NEC labeling all over the packaging, I'm fairly sure if it hadn't been a legit release someone would've been facing some major legal action.

Yeah, it was a legit release, not only that but the system is design wise different from the US TurboGrafx, different colored plastic, different clock speed, AV coming out of the system itself. This wasn't a gray market import.

Didn't thought of that. Also, it was 1991 in Spain, not 1992. Games run at 50 Hz.

[DragonmasterDan]

did the PAL games run at regular speed?

The PAL system ran at 50HZ as mentioned above. The games were just US HuCards so in certain cases they ran slow. Very similar to the Genesis/ European Mega Drive in the sense that they generally weren't modifying games to run correctly on a PAL system.

[nodtveidt]

They would run slower if they were timed with the vsync rather than the timer. Most games were times to vsync so yeah, I think most games would probably run slower.

[Joe Redifer]

I've explained the tap thing before but people don't usually tend to understand it, heh. The system was designed for multiplayer from the start, and the single-port setup was a serious advantage for developers because the system was mind-numbingly easy to code multiplayer games for. An easy system to work with = more potential developers = more games produced = more money made = more happy kids.

Not really buying it.  First, there aren't exactly a ton of multiplayer games for the PCE.  Secondly, there is no way you could fit 5 human beings in a single Japanese dwelling simultaneously.  The biggest dwelling in Japan is the size of my bathtub.  Third of all, most people wanted to play two player games, not 5.  So going from systems that included to ports and two controllers (NES and SMS) to one port and one controller with an idiotic accessory to buy if you even wanted to play two players is a really bad marketing decision.  Fourthly, "a single port is a huge advantage for developers because it is so easy to code multiplayer" doesn't even make any sense.  At all.  That's like saying "We sell hot dogs because hamburgers are so delicious".

Bottom line, they should have figured something else out, allowed for two players and if people wanted 5 they could buy the stupid adapter, just like the other systems.

[nodtveidt]

Not really buying it.  First, there aren't exactly a ton of multiplayer games for the PCE.  Secondly, there is no way you could fit 5 human beings in a single Japanese dwelling simultaneously.  The biggest dwelling in Japan is the size of my bathtub.  Third of all, most people wanted to play two player games, not 5.  So going from systems that included to ports and two controllers (NES and SMS) to one port and one controller with an idiotic accessory to buy if you even wanted to play two players is a really bad marketing decision.  Fourthly, "a single port is a huge advantage for developers because it is so easy to code multiplayer" doesn't even make any sense.  At all.  That's like saying "We sell hot dogs because hamburgers are so delicious".

Bottom line, they should have figured something else out, allowed for two players and if people wanted 5 they could buy the stupid adapter, just like the other systems.

You don't get it because you don't understand how the system works internally. It is far easier to use a single port to do multiplayer, because you are polling a single port on a timer rather than polling one port and then a second port on a timer. It keeps code size and complexity down. And it doesn't matter if a lot of games were made for it that supported five players... the plan was multiplayer from the start. It doesn't matter what you "buy"... reality and history are not subject to your approval.

[Flare65]

Very interesting readl.  Didn't know about the exclusive Mortal Kombat deal.  That would have been a game changer for sure.

[DragonmasterDan]

You don't get it because you don't understand how the system works internally. It is far easier to use a single port to do multiplayer, because you are polling a single port on a timer rather than polling one port and then a second port on a timer. It keeps code size and complexity down. And it doesn't matter if a lot of games were made for it that supported five players... the plan was multiplayer from the start. It doesn't matter what you "buy"... reality and history are not subject to your approval.

Yes, but the point he's making is they simply could have put the turbo tap internally in the system and given 2,3,4 or 5 ports to the buyer from day one without having to buy a multi-tap.

[nodtveidt]

That would have increased the size of the system by quite a bit.

[Joe Redifer]

Of the PC Engine, yes, but not the Turbo.

[c0ldb33r]

that would have been a neat addition. 5 ports on the front of the unit.

If they planned it, it would have looked good a la gamecube or dreamcast.

[vestcoat]

one of the biggest failures of the system was the necessity to buy extra adapters for multiplayer, composite video/stereo sound, etc.  That's just extremely stupid design. 

Let's not forget the "RPG Adapter":  the $400 CD-ROM!

[Joe Redifer]

No, that was the composite adapter that could also play a track from the Scorpions' "Winds of Change" album.

[vestcoat]

Man, I'm still pissed about all of the adapters/accessories required to do anything.  I was so happy when I bought my TurboGrafx in '92; and then I realized...

Want stereo sound?  Buy TurboBooster - $34.99
Want to play with a friend?  Buy TurboTap and TurboPad - $39.98
Want to save your game/scores?  Buy TurboBooster Plus - $59.99
Want to play the best-looking games on the system? Buy CD-ROM player - $299.99
Want to play the new best-looking games on the system?  Buy SuperCD ROM Card - $59.99
 

[c0ldb33r]

Want to play the best games? Buy PC Engine converter - $ priceless
Want to play kickass fighting games? Buy arcade card