Author Topic: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction  (Read 593 times)

MurderDate

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TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« on: September 22, 2007, 04:27:43 AM »
hi folks,

I posted this on the Cheap Ass Gaming forum and didn't get too much of a response - but someone over there suggested I check out this place-  and I LOVE IT!

what do you guys think:   does the Turbo Booster really enhance the graphics enough to make it worth the bucks?

here's my initial post:

Hi all ,

I just joined the forum this morning looking for some advice and input on my newest fixation: the TG-16. Let me introduce myself and set up my story..

so I just moved into the country (North Carolina) from Brooklyn, NY. I am a bit of an artist and spent most of my time in Brooklyn unemployed, scowering the streets and thrift stores and trash cans for debris & gunk to decorate my house & use in artwork.. anyway, long story short, about a year ago I found a red bag next to a trash can that someone had wrote "WORKS!" on, in marker. I opened up the bag and much to my surprise - there was a beautiful TG-16 system, controllers and everything.
Let me flash back to 1990, I was 10 years old and a NES junkie !! My family never had too much extra money to spend on video games and the like.. I owned plenty of games but more often than not was a heavy duty game renter, pretty much had 2 or more games rented out of the local video store weekly. (let's set the stage - I grew up in rural southern New Hampshire). ANYWAY, my best friend at the time got a Turbo Grafx 16, and I was completely floored by the thing - I really really loved it, wanted it more than anything. Took me about 15 years but I finally got my own!

Anyway, I didn't start gaming again until a couple weeks ago, when I moved out of the city. I bought a couple of games I remembered on Ebay: Keith Courage (of course), Ninja Spirit, Chew Man Fu (had never heard of this one but a youtube demonstration sealed the deal!), Fantasy Zone and Dungeon Explorer. Anyway, I'm having a great time ,and all of this cost me (including the system, of course) about $40. (which is great, as I'm still unemployed, and have to watch every penny I let go of)

SO , the reason I joined and decided to bug you guys with my own personal problems - -- I WANT MORE !!!

this TG16 gaming lyfestyle is my new thing for sure .. although I'm keeping it pretty low key and laid back , lights out and the shades drawn, smoke in the air, etc etc.

anyway guys, it wasn't until this morning that I learned about the Multi tap . This is a no brainer for me - I gotta get one! I figure I'll be patient and wait until the next time I see a Tap + extra controller on Ebay and snag it.

another new find, and the thing I'm most curious about: TURBO BOOSTER. is it really worth it? Does it improve the graphics by a land slide? Am I going to notice? As I said before, I fancy myself a bit of an artist and I LOVE the early 90s video game graphics.. Huge waves of nostalgia wash over me.. I would have no problem laying down a couple bucks for a Booster if I was really going to notice the difference in the visuals. I like the cool synth music a lot too, and I understand the booster tweaks the audio and makes it better as well. What do you guys think? Does a newly converted TG fan need to shell out the dough for the booster or what? Also, I know this Turbo Booster Plus adds a memory card, which is definately cool. . . but I think they run about twice as expensive as the no-frills Booster, right?

I guess my first concern then, is wether to invest the money / time into tracking down a booster ..

If your grandmother only had a couple hundred bucks in savings but decided she loved the TG-16 and was having a hell of a good time playing it , would you reccomend the old lady spend some of her meager money on a Boost, or what?

Dying to hear from other TG enthusiasts such as myself ..
"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO! JUST KILL ME AND GET IT OVER WITH!"
"Don't be vulgar. We're artists..."
Jess Franco's La Comtesse Perverse

nodtveidt

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2007, 05:01:35 AM »
It's not really worth it, IMO. Yes, the graphics are going to look crisper when you use component video as opposed to RF but you're better off with a TurboBooster Plus so you get the advantage of backup RAM. Of course, you're far better off with a "briefcase" or a Duo, because then you get the advantages of the TurboBooster Plus in addition to being able to play CDROM games. :D

MurderDate

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2007, 05:17:06 AM »
yeah, your probably right.  I'll just hold off on the add-ons right now  and then sell my TG-16 when I find a good deal on a Duo.   
"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO! JUST KILL ME AND GET IT OVER WITH!"
"Don't be vulgar. We're artists..."
Jess Franco's La Comtesse Perverse

nat

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2007, 06:27:48 AM »
And if you're really after good video from your Turbo, send it to D-Lite and have it modded for S-VIDEO.

ceti alpha

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2007, 08:10:54 AM »
Quote
And if you're really after good video from your Turbo, send it to D-Lite and have it modded for S-VIDEO.

Yeah, how much is it to get it modded for S-Video? And does D-Lite do the HuCard mod as well?


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TR0N

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2007, 05:22:52 PM »
Quote
And if you're really after good video from your Turbo, send it to D-Lite and have it modded for S-VIDEO.

Yeah, how much is it to get it modded for S-Video? And does D-Lite do the HuCard mod as well?
Send him a e-mail if ya want a price etc.

He does it all though region mod and adding s-video etc.

I just had him region mod my coregrafx and it's finsh too.

Can't wait to get it back and play my u.s hucards again.

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Keranu

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2007, 05:53:15 PM »
Quote
And if you're really after good video from your Turbo, send it to D-Lite and have it modded for S-VIDEO.


Yeah, how much is it to get it modded for S-Video? And does D-Lite do the HuCard mod as well?

According to his website, it's $95 for an S-Video mod. He's famous for doing region mods and those cost between $50-55 according to his site.
Quote from: Bonknuts
Adding PCE console specific layer on top of that, makes for an interesting challenge (no, not a reference to Ys II).

Turbo D

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2007, 06:17:13 PM »
I would recommend the regular booster and to pay around $30 for it. The save feature isn't really taken advantage enough to justify the extra $10 or $20 on the plus version. It really does make a difference both visually and in audio. Also, you'll definitely want to pick up that multi-tap to play dungeon explorer with your friends  :)

TR0N

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2007, 08:04:49 PM »
Quote
And if you're really after good video from your Turbo, send it to D-Lite and have it modded for S-VIDEO.


Yeah, how much is it to get it modded for S-Video? And does D-Lite do the HuCard mod as well?

According to his website, it's $95 for an S-Video mod. He's famous for doing region mods and those cost between $50-55 according to his site.

His,site is some what out of date and he only charged me $35.00 for the region mod.

Thanks of corse to grahf coming up with that circuit board.

It's great that d-lite get's to continue where he left off.

PSN:MrNeoGeo
Wii U:Progearspec

Keranu

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2007, 07:00:29 AM »
$35 is a nice deal!
Quote from: Bonknuts
Adding PCE console specific layer on top of that, makes for an interesting challenge (no, not a reference to Ys II).

ceti alpha

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2007, 07:46:03 AM »
Quote
$35 is a nice deal!

It certainly is. I'll definitely be getting both the region mod and the S-Video done. Saaaaweeeeet!


"Let the CAW and Mystery of a Journey Unlike Any Other Begin"

OldTurboBastard

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2007, 11:36:46 AM »
what do you guys think:   does the Turbo Booster really enhance the graphics enough to make it worth the bucks?


It definitely enhances the sound in "Champions Forever Boxing". The first time I popped that game in after having the booster add-on I was blown away
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vestcoat

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2007, 06:08:11 PM »
I don't think a booster makes that big a difference on the graphics, but it's worth it to listen to the sound on decent speakers.
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Gentlegamer

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2007, 08:44:18 PM »
So it sounds like it is much more worth it to have your TG-16 or Duo modded for better video output. My eventual goal is to get a Turbo Duo modded for S-video and region. Does D Lite still take work orders for these mods?

MurderDate

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Re: TURBO BOOSTER / introduction
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2007, 03:41:21 AM »
yeah,  I'm going to mod my TG16 and then sell it,  buy a Duo with the money I make from that & then maybe mod that (if necc.).

Love this place, guys.

I have 1 more game left I'm allowed to buy this month (I bought 9 already...) ..  I need to get a semi-cheap one.

Blazing Lasers looks like a good shoot'em up (I'm a sucker for those big, over the top early 90s TG16 graphics!)..
any fans on here?
"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO! JUST KILL ME AND GET IT OVER WITH!"
"Don't be vulgar. We're artists..."
Jess Franco's La Comtesse Perverse