About to buy first PCE... few questions

[TheMilford]

Howdy Guys,

I've been lurking a few days while my account was being approved... And now I'm pretty sure I want to get an original white PC Engine. 

I've had my TG16 since Christmas of 1989/90 and have been playing the small handful of games I've had for years... I eventually bought a TGCD on clearance for $99 in the early 90s... that's when I got Ys I/II and started reading mags about the PC engine/superG, etc. But I had discovered music by then and would spend all my money on music equipment so I never took the plunge into the Japanese systems... I did manage to collect many older US systems and was pretty obsessed with Atari and Coleco...but those things were easily collected via flea markets and garage sales.

Now I'm older and have found this great site... and prices seem to be more reasonable now...

I'd like to get an original white PC Engine because it's so cool looking and it would be fun to play some Japanese titles. I'd also like to get a Super CD card (v3.0) for my TG/CD set-up as there are some Duo and Super CD games I would like to try out. I love RPGs but understand the language barriers so I'll probably steer clear unless there are easy language patches available... But I also love puzzle and classic games which the PCE seems to have many of.

So a few questions:
How problematic is the RF hookup with the original PCE? I really don't want a modded system and would like to avoid the AV booster... at first anyway.
How hard is it to do the language patches on JP/CD games? Are there good ones for the classic RPGs (Ys III, VI etc.)
I don't want to buy a JP/US adaptor... So can I use the Arcade Card with my TG16/CD combo? Should I just get the V.3 card?
What would be the first 5 HuCard games I should get for the PCE?

I recently just discovered Rising Stuff and JapanGameStock and intend to buy in the next few weeks... but I also have some TG and other vintage game stuff I will be selling here and on ebay to fund this.

Cheers,
David

[Black Tiger]

How problematic is the RF hookup with the original PCE? I really don't want a modded system and would like to avoid the AV booster... at first anyway.

The last time I tried it, it worked on a couple channels in the 70's or 90's. But that was on an old CRT. They use the same kind of RF switch as a TG-16, NES, etc.

How hard is it to do the language patches on JP/CD games? Are there good ones for the classic RPGs (Ys III, VI etc.)

The only english patches for CD RPGs are Ys IV and the adventurey Xak III. Ys III was officially released in english, but Ys IV was the last Ys game on PC Engine. Some people have trouble patching the isos, but as long as everything happens as it should it's fairly straightforward. If you are unable to patch them yourself, send me a PM and I'll see to it that you get to play them. :-"

I don't want to buy a JP/US adaptor... So can I use the Arcade Card with my TG16/CD combo? Should I just get the V.3 card?

No, you can't play japanese HuCards on your TG-16 without a converter or region mod. The U.S. Super CD card is very hard to find and very expensive since it's a collector's item. If you're serious about play Super CD games and possibly more, you should consider a Duo system if price is factor or a PC Engine CD-ROM if you have your heart set on only using a white PC Engine to play games.

What would be the first 5 HuCard games I should get for the PCE?

Street Fighter II'
Bomberman '94
Parodius
Son Son II
Bikuriman World

[Tatsujin]

Street Fighter II'
Bomberman '93
Parodius
Son Son II
Bikuriman World

[Black Tiger]

Street Fighter II'
Bomberman '93
Parodius
Son Son II
Bikuriman World

I also prefer Bomberman '93, but I'm assuming that he's interested in import-only titles since he's already TG-16'ing.

[TheMilford]

I don't want to buy a JP/US adaptor... So can I use the Arcade Card with my TG16/CD combo? Should I just get the V.3 card?

No, you can't play japanese HuCards on your TG-16 without a converter or region mod. The U.S. Super CD card is very hard to find and very expensive since it's a collector's item. If you're serious about play Super CD games and possibly more, you should consider a Duo system if price is factor or a PC Engine CD-ROM if you have your heart set on only using a white PC Engine to play games.

Darn! I really don't want to use another system... i'm trying to consolidate Especially with the new baby about to start crawling    

If I region mod my TG16 can I still play US HuCards on it? What is the cheapest adapter?

[TheMilford]

Street Fighter II'
Bomberman '93
Parodius
Son Son II
Bikuriman World

I also prefer Bomberman '93, but I'm assuming that he's interested in import-only titles since he's already TG-16'ing.

so that's three votes for virtually the same games... Cool!

Thanks guys!

[Necromancer]

Welcome aboard, Milford.  Here's my two cents:

How problematic is the RF hookup with the original PCE? I really don't want a modded system and would like to avoid the AV booster... at first anyway.

It can be a problem, as not all televisions will be able to tune in properly since Japanese channels 1 and 2 don't exactly match US channels 95 and 96.  If you really, really want a PCE, then get a CoreGrafx for built in composite (they're the same sexy shape, just in a different color).

How hard is it to do the language patches on JP/CD games? Are there good ones for the classic RPGs (Ys III, VI etc.)

Patches are generally easy-peasy to apply and use; the only caveats being that not all systems like CDRs (mine doesn't) and that a flashcart is necessary to play translated HuCards.  In addition to those mentioned by Black Tiger, there's a few translations in other genres as well as a couple of RPGs in progress (Emerald Dragon and Cosmic Fantasy) - click somewhere for more info.

What would be the first 5 HuCard games I should get for the PCE?

Bomberman '94, Final Soldier, Batman, Street Fighter II, and Hatris.

If I region mod my TG16 can I still play US HuCards on it? What is the cheapest adapter?

Region mods can be made permanent, but they're usually installed with a switch to flip between both regions.  The cheapest route would probably be the Chopsado^TM, but you'd be better off with a normal switch mod if you're going to be playing a lot of different HuCards.

[TheMilford]

If I region mod my TG16 can I still play US HuCards on it? What is the cheapest adapter?

Region mods can be made permanent, but they're usually installed with a switch to flip between both regions.  The cheapest route would probably be the Chopsado^TM, but you'd be better off with a normal switch mod if you're going to be playing a lot of different HuCards.

What about having Chop5 permanently mod a JPN v3.o card to work in my TG16?

[Necromancer]

What about having Chop5 permanently mod a JPN v3.o card to work in my TG16?

If you're willing to forgo full HuCard compatibility, slapping one of Chop's creations on a Japanese Super System Card would certainly be an economical way to get into Super CDs.  Personally, I'd rather spend the extra $20 (based on Rising Stuff's prices) and use an Arcade Card Pro, as I know I'd want one sooner or later.

[TheMilford]

What about having Chop5 permanently mod a JPN v3.o card to work in my TG16?

If you're willing to forgo full HuCard compatibility, slapping one of Chop's creations on a Japanese Super System Card would certainly be an economical way to get into Super CDs.  Personally, I'd rather spend the extra $20 (based on Rising Stuff's prices) and use an Arcade Card Pro, as I know I'd want one sooner or later.

A few UK/EU retailers are listing the HuCard adapters for around $50...

[ceti alpha]

What about having Chop5 permanently mod a JPN v3.o card to work in my TG16?

If you're willing to forgo full HuCard compatibility, slapping one of Chop's creations on a Japanese Super System Card would certainly be an economical way to get into Super CDs.  Personally, I'd rather spend the extra $20 (based on Rising Stuff's prices) and use an Arcade Card Pro, as I know I'd want one sooner or later.

I'd just go for a full region mod on a Coregrafx II, but if you just want to mod a system card, then yeah, the Arcade Card Pro is definitely the route to take.

As for top 5 Japanese Hucards to pick up?

1. Street Fighter II CE
2. Bikkuriman World
3. Son Son II
4. Salamander
5. Xevious! ...seriously though...  

[nectarsis]

Welcome to the funny farm

Some good Hu's that were missed (and one common fav):

Genji Tsushin Agedama
Jackie Chan Action Kung Fu
New Adventure Island
Air Zonk
Son Son II

[termis]

Yeah, if you're going to go the chopsado/region mod route, definitely get the Arcade Card Pro (over the SuperCD 3.0 card).  That'll make sure to give your Turbo maximum compatibility, and it's not that much more $.

I'd definitely avoid the US SuperCD 3.0 card.  It's just not worth what they go for if your goal is to simply play SuperCD games.

[pcenginesales]

Why don't you want a modded system? If it's the lead perma-attached on most of these units or the holes in the casing, I do a mod with a detachable cable with a Genesis II AV port configuration which fits the original RF out socket. No holes made and it looks like it's meant to be there, check out my site (sig).

I sold them all though but I have more units to finish and stick on the site. I'm just super snowed under with cables to wire at the moment, but if I get interest in a console I'll finish one and update the site.

[paladinken]

Listing only 5 games is too limiting to me. So I'll list 10 

1. Afterburner II
2. Photograph Boy
3. Dragon Egg
4. Gomola Speed
5. Mr. Heli
6. Shinobi
7. Volfied
8. Dragon Saber
9. Final Soldier
10. Operation Wolf