PC Engine vs. TurboGrafx? Which is better?

[JapanTokei]

This is definitely an interesting phenomenom I've observed over my gaming career, which started with the Famicom back in 1984...
I moved to the States during 1990 and I bought a TG-16, fully knowing its the US version of the PCE.  Knowing PCE's awesome selection of games, I actually dreaded seeing the TG-16 get its rear handed to it on a plate by SEGA Genesis... it pained me as a TG-16 owner... Later on I bought the TG-16 CD unit and started getting into import games, which made life better as I was able to show off Gate of Thunder to my friends in school about 1 year before they brought the Duo over to the States 

I sold off all my TG-16 stuff in 1997/1998ish, and recall during then the US counterparts of TG-16 stuff was worth very little on the secondary market.  This seemed to make sense given the Hucards NEC Americas chose to bring over were really crap (Yo Bro!  ?  Timeball?  Sonic Spike Volleyball?  etc..)   

Well I got back into PC Engine gaming recently and started buying up stuff in Japan during business trips there.  I am blown away on how well designed the original CD-Interface unit is, how compact and awesome it is given it came out in 1988!  Then a question hit me... what has happened the last 10 years+ that suddenly made US-version of TG-16 / Duo hardware so much more desirable?

I notice the US version hardwares; i.e. TG-16 units, and Turbo Duo, command much more prices these days on Ebay...  But why?  Very few US-exclusive Hucards are good ... Magical Chase is the one that comes to mind with special pluses over PCE versions.  Also sure, you can play good games in English like Cadash and Dungeon Explorer, but the US-CD rom games are compatible with JP hardware, so why would people shell out more for TurboDuos?  I saw some dude's TurboDuo set go for over $700 on Ebay that just doesn't register 

So,  what do you guys think?  JP Hardware with access to its Hucards librarray plus all CD games or US hardware with access to US Hucarrds and all CD-roms?    I go for the JP versions...

[ceti alpha]

OBEY TEH PCE!

The PCE is leaps and bounds ahead of the TG16. The only differences are the cosmetics and the library of games. In both departments the PCE dominates. The PCE own all the 16 bit consoles, though, so the TG shouldn't feel too bad. Now, I do love the TGCD unit, possibly more than the PCE briefcase, and the Turbo Duo looks better than the PCE Duo - I'm not a fan of the purple.

As for why Turbo stuff is going for so much on eBay, I'm not really sure. The Wii VC could have something to do with that, but I'm sure others here would be able to explain it better.

[JapanTokei]

hmmm, so you're telling me you like that Cadillac-sized black TGCD docking unit compared to the slick, compact PC Engine Interface brief-case/docking unit all-in one?  Personally I owned both and I was shocked to realize how slick/compactly designed the PCE Interface/briefcase is... I've seen it in pictures but after picking one up in person I was amazed at its real size...

Agree on PCE ruling over TG.... 

OBEY TEH PCE!

The PCE is leaps and bounds ahead of the TG16. The only differences are the cosmetics and the library of games. In both departments the PCE dominates. The PCE own all the 16 bit consoles, though, so the TG shouldn't feel too bad. Now, I do love the TGCD unit, possibly more than the PCE briefcase, and the Turbo Duo looks better than the PCE Duo - I'm not a fan of the purple.

As for why Turbo stuff is going for so much on eBay, I'm not really sure. The Wii VC could have something to do with that, but I'm sure others here would be able to explain it better.

[Necromancer]

Nowadays, there's no logical reason to buy anything other than a Duo-R (barring a deal too good to pass up, of course); it's well built, relatively cheap, allows access to almost the entire PCE/Turbo library, and can easily be modded to play the handful of US exclusive HuCards.  The only reasons to buy anything else are aesthetics, nostalgia, or the aforementioned sweet deals.

As for why the US stuff is so pricey, I think ceti is close to the mark.  There's a retro game fad going on, being led by the Wii's VC, so a lot of people are jumping on the "it's old school, therefor I'm hardcore!" bandwagon, consequently driving up prices.  The Turbo goodies have gone up far quicker in price (compared to the PCE) due to its poor sales making it legitimately more rare, coupled with the fact that it's relatively easy to assemble a complete collection due to its small library.  Increased demand plus a bunch of goons that desperately "need" a game for a collection that'll never get played equals high prices for us all.

Dear Robot Jesus, please let this fad soon end and force more clowns to sell their goodies at a loss.  Amen.

the Turbo Duo looks better than the PCE Duo

TurboDuo über alles.  Sleek, black, and sexy trumps all.

[ceti alpha]

hmmm, so you're telling me you like that Cadillac-sized black TGCD docking unit compared to the slick, compact PC Engine Interface brief-case/docking unit all-in one?  Personally I owned both and I was shocked to realize how slick/compactly designed the PCE Interface/briefcase is... I've seen it in pictures but after picking one up in person I was amazed at its real size...

Don't get me wrong, I love the PCE briefcase design, but there's just a certain je ne c'est quoi with the TGCD. 

[JapanTokei]

lol.  2nd that.  someone sell me Beyond Shadowgate!! 

Seems interesting the WII VC is determined to be one of the main sources pushing demand....

talking about the DUO-Rs.... I own a Duo-RX, a SuperCD-Rom attachement, and a oldschool CDRom unit with the Interface kit.  As you can see I collect as well as play  
The oldschool CD unit does seem louder when spinning/pulling data off CDs, compared to the DUO-R/Rxs..... the SUPERCD unit is just too cool for me to not own. 

I play the CD  w/interface since it's AV out is generic.  I've got the other two with minty boxes put away for another day
Looking at the LT as perhaps the next target.......  that or the Laseractive... hmm.  tough choice.

Dear Robot Jesus, please let this fad soon end and force more clowns to sell their goodies at a loss.  Amen.

the Turbo Duo looks better than the PCE Duo

TurboDuo über alles.  Sleek, black, and sexy trumps all.

[Arkhan]

naturally the PCE > TG16.

Its got a larger library, and almost all of the same games.   The exclusive US titles aren't really must have in comparison to the Japanese exclusives.


Hardware wise, its all preference.   Any CD-ROM unit is just as doofy and can break, so you just pick "White, or black?"

the Duo-R/X are the best units though.

[RoyVegas]

I don't think anyone can argue the fact that the game library for our fellow Japanese version is a ton better and the Japanese Duo-R and Duo-RX are a ton more reliable.  For me it's exactly as Necro stated in part of his post:

The only reasons to buy anything else are aesthetics, nostalgia, or the aforementioned sweet deals.

It's nostalgia for me.  When I had a Turbo as a kid, I never even knew about the Japanese market.  I only had a Turbo and a couple of games and wasn't a hardcore gamer at all.  Now I can pick up and play all the games I missed out on as a kid.  Sure the Japanese stuff is cheaper with only minor to no differences, but the Japanese stuff wasn't what I couldn't have as a kid (like I said I didn't even know about it at the time).  So for me personally, I wan't what I couldn't have back then.  And those were the U.S. games.

Sure I'll dive into the Japanese games after I've beaten a large portion/all of the U.S. games but as for now U.S. stuff is where it's at for me.  I'll dive into the PCE eventually as I wouldn't want to miss out on the Japanese goodness.

[Arkhan]

its not like it matters as far as aesthetics.


SuperGrafx > All

[Joe Redifer]

The TurboGrafx-16 is way more gooder than the shitty PC Engine.  For one, the graphiks and soundz are way better there are better gamez and better control.  The TurboGrafx-16 has an adpator to be bakwords compatible with the shitty PC Engine so you can play all of its games the Turgobgrafx wins!

[ceti alpha]

The TurboGrafx-16 is way more gooder than the shitty PC Engine.  For one, the graphiks and soundz are way better there are better gamez and better control.  The TurboGrafx-16 has an adpator to be bakwords compatible with the shitty PC Engine so you can play all of its games the Turgobgrafx wins!

Take this truth pill and call me in the morning. 

[tru]

I vote SuperGrafX with rau-30 and briefcase cdrom... yes, I actually owned that at one time...

Actually... as the question asks... pce or tg16... I have to say pce... the briefcase was awesome... If you ask me, that was what designed the duo...

[TheClash603]

Turbo wins because I can read the game names and I'm ignorant.

[Arkhan]

Turbo wins because I can read the game names and I'm ignorant.

lol

awesome.

[nat]

TurboDuo wins because this is America, dammit.