Author Topic: Euro Turbografx (Read 818 times)

Spector · « **on:** September 16, 2006, 11:01:13 PM »

When referring to the TG-16, Wikipedia says: "A PAL version of the system also saw a very limited release in the UK and continental Europe in 1990 as "Turbografx" (not including the "16" in the title, and uncapitalized "g" in "grafx")."

Now I don't remember this at all at the time. I knew of the PC Engine back then because I had been blown away by the screenshots in game reviews in British magazine C&VG and later "The Complete Guide To Consoles Book III" (a spin-off publication). Yet in neither of these magazines was there a mention of its release, limited or otherwise, over in Britain. In fact, in December 1990, "The CGTC Book IV" came out, reviewing all the systems, and in its summary of the PC Engine, said "there is a rumour of a UK release in the Spring of 1991". This suggests that it hadn't been released at all at that point.

Can anyone here confirm that they had a Euro/GB Turbografx in 1990?

FM-77 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2006, 02:45:53 AM »

Quote from: "Dementia"

Because I love you guys, I went and pestered Mr. Greiner for you this morning! The Turbo Grafx was never officially released in Europe. It was however, given distribution as a "gray market" item through the Guillemot brothers (now owners of Ubisoft). The sold around 50,000 units and it made them a lot of money. They basically took the PC Engine and put PAL conversion units onto them and enabled them to play US games.

As stated, the Turbo Grafx was a gray market item, therefore there was no advertising, official Hudson marketing, or other aspects involved in the process - though we gave Guillemot a lot of support. NEC handled the distribution of games in Europe which were basically the American titles you all know and love. The system could be found on store shelves throughout Europe and received a lot of press coverage as well from the various magazines there.

Hope this helps!

Kaminari · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2006, 05:12:42 AM »

To my knowledge, the Turbografx was only released in Spain. Guillemot (Sodipeng) were a French company. They used to cover the French and Benelux markets with modified Japanese systems. They might have conducted local experiments with the Turbografx, but my guess is that it never took off because the volumes of Japanese imports were so much bigger.

Odonadon · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2006, 04:10:34 PM »

Quote

They basically took the PC Engine and put PAL conversion units onto them and enabled them to play US games.

I'm confused - the box pictured is clearly a TurboGrafx16 and not a PC Engine. I assume he Dementia meant the TG16 with a PAL conversion unit.

OD

Keranu · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2006, 06:03:21 PM »

Hey I've never seen a pic of that "Turbo Grafx Accessories" box before with the PAL TG16, that's cool!

Joe Redifer · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2006, 06:36:33 PM »

I know. I want those accessories, and I don't even know what's inside the box!

Keranu · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2006, 07:38:41 PM »

Once again, a box attracts me into wanting to buy something!

FM-77 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2006, 11:47:10 PM »

I've been planning on buying the pictured system (I hotlinked it from an auction). If I buy it, I can take some photos of whatever's inside.

lkermel · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2006, 12:54:11 PM »

I also own a PAL Turbografx. The console is virtually identical to the American TurboGrafx-16 if I remember well. The accessories I got were just the controllers and maybe the power supply. However the console came with Blazing Lazers instead of the average Keith Courage in alpha zones (which is great if you ask me). Games look identical to American TurboChips though. I bought it a couple few years ago in England, this is why I also think it was also released there.
I'll try to post some pics on the forum...

Tatsujin · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2006, 02:05:04 PM »

Quote from: "Odonadon"

Quote
They basically took the PC Engine and put PAL conversion units onto them and enabled them to play US games.

I'm confused - the box pictured is clearly a TurboGrafx16 and not a PC Engine. I assume he Dementia meant the TG16 with a PAL conversion unit.

OD

no reason to be confused. the french market received a japanese model pce core (later also core grafx and core II), which simply was modified to PAL/Secam TVs insteat of NTSC-J. also germans and swiss got those modified PCEs in regular shops. nothing official!
the box from above is the spain version of the turbografx-16, which was never introduced in to the market due to some license conflicts what ever.

lkermel · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2006, 04:35:27 PM »

Here's as promissed pictures of my TurboGrafx PAL. Notice the serial number HES-TGX-11. The accessory Boy only contains the AC Adapter, and RF Uniy/AV Cable.

IMAGE 1 - out of the box
IMAGE 2 - the console
IMAGE 3 - controller
IMAGE 4 - specs
IMAGE 5 - side of the box
IMAGE 6 - Blazing Lazers

Keranu · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2006, 04:37:11 PM »

Awesome pics, thanks! I noticed they still left the 16 part intact in the TG16 logo on Blazing Lazers. Also the instruction booklet for the system looks just like the American one.

Joe Redifer · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2006, 04:45:33 PM »

Does it play US games or only specialized PAL games?

Tatsujin · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2006, 04:56:32 PM »

made and printed in taiwan

aren't the games just the US version? never played any games on that one.

FM-77 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 19, 2006, 01:06:53 AM »

Quote from: "Dementia"

They basically took the PC Engine [Turbo Grafx 16] and put PAL conversion units onto them and enabled them to play US games.