pc-engine looks bette

[scuzzo84]

the tg16 is the american version of the pc-engine right? so why is it uglier and look a lot bigger?

http://konsolen.emubase.de/index.php?action=nec/pcengine&page=1

can anyone explain these cosoles? what the heck is a shuffle and grafx and so on?

I though its only the pc-engine, tg16, and then the unites that add on, and the units that are both as 1....

*beats up keranu*

[lord_cack]

I think is answered by the same reason that we got only a handful of titles and japan got a ton of titles...they misunderstood the market.

Am I wrong?

[Keranu]

Before I post anything, I want to thank you for that wonderful link! It's a nice link to show the variety of all of the consoles.

The Turbo Grafx-16 is the American version of the PC Engine. The reason why it looks so different is because companies often do change the design of a console when they bring it out to different countries. Some people may say that the PC Engine got "beaten with an ugly stick" on it's way to America as the Turbo Grafx 16, but I still love the design of the TG16, even if it is a little dorky. Japanese figure us American "like big car", so why not like "bigger console"?

There are MANY different types of PC Engine consoles out there, including the PC Engine Core Grafx, PC Engine Core Grafx II, and the PC Engine Shuttle. All of these play and the other ones play PC Engine games, but the Core Grafx systems add AV outputs which the original didn't have and the PCE Shuttle didn't have the back expansion to hook up to a CD system. Don't be frightened by all the various PCE versions!

The Super Grafx, however, is almost an entirely new console. It takes the existing PC Engine hardware and boosts some things up (I forget what exactly, but I'm sure someone can post the difference in hardware terms). There were only six games made for the Super Grafx, and that's mainly because it didn't sell well and the PCE was still selling like hotcakes in Japan at that same time. Also, the Super Grafx is backwards compatable and can play PC Engine HuCards, which is certainly a nice feature! It can even hook up to the PCE CD system using the Rau 30 adapter.

*Kicks Scuzzo in the shins*

[scuzzo84]

how the hell did hudson have money to put out so many consoles... doesnt make sense. And these consoles werent even entireley new, but just lil mods...Who else even does that? Usually they just let the console finish its life and then release the next gen system.....

Its like some sony ceo is like hey we forgot this tiny feature, lets put out a ps2 fx just to add this lil feature. No1 does that...unless they got super money or risking some shiznit i duno, just sounds odd, and I didnt expect that they would put out so many.

[Keranu]

Hudson Soft was making the mad money after a couple years of their release of the PC Engine and since NEC was/is a huge electronics company, they had plenty of money to afford the costs for new consoles and the other console formats sold too, so they were still hot on the money. Out in the USA was an entirely different story though.

[Blasta_Mazta]

i just learned today hudson soft had a big role in the pc engine, etc. sunsoft could have helped too. am i forgetting a soft?

[scuzzo84]

i just learned today hudson soft had a big role in the pc engine, etc. sunsoft could have helped too. am i forgetting a soft?

micro jk

[esteban]

One of the reasons the TG-16 is bigger than the PCE is because FCC regulations require some shielding. Now, it could very well be that the shielding (and any other requirement) could have been retrofitted into the existing PCE design... that's when Keranu's point comes into play (if you pay $200 for a console, you wanna get your money's worth in plastic!).

BUT, here is an interesting tid-bit: The japanese DUO was designed with the U.S. market in mind, because they allowed room in the console's design to add shielding.  It doesn't mean that the DUO was destined for the U.S. market... but it reveals some foresight by the engineers/designers to keep the option open, just in case the DUO did make it overseas.

So, there are two issues here:

1. To what extent was the TG-16 designed strictly for aesthetics

2. To what extent was the TG-16 designed to meet technical / economic constraints

I think both factors played a role. Personally, and you'll laugh, I think that the U.S. TG-16 is kool. Let's consider contemporaries:
* the NES is a box, a box I LOVE, but a box nonetheless. The later A/V redesign is even uglier than the original NES design, IMO. Now, I happen to love the look of this box... but you could never describe the style as "inspired"... "utilitarian" definitely, but not artistic.
* SMS -- I love the original design. Yes, it's angular, but it is NOT boxy and therefore has an awesome 80's high-tech feel to it. SMS, you rule. The later redesigns: ugly.
* Sega Genesis -- sorry, but I never found this console attractive. The original design is much more interesting than the later redesigns, IMO, but it's still pretty ugly.
* TG-16 -- SEXY AND SLIM, like a more sophisticated version of the original SMS. Eschews the top-loading cart (which is ugly, folks) in favor of front-loading. The original NES rocks because it is front-loading... but for practical reasons they should have ommitted the "pressing down" aspect.
* TG-16 + TG-CD -- oh crap, this is not sexy and it is not slim. BUT IT IS A FRIGGIN' ODD SHAPE and therefore a compelling design (all those nooks and crannies!).

In summary: top loaders are ugly, while genesis ruled, it was an ugly console, SMS & TG-16 had the koolest 80's hi-tek aesthetics out there.

[scuzzo84]

now this is sexy

[Blasta_Mazta]

that jaguar system is the ugliest system ever. why show that? this is a form of terrorism.

[nodtveidt]

The Super Grafx, however, is almost an entirely new console. It takes the existing PC Engine hardware and boosts some things up (I forget what exactly, but I'm sure someone can post the difference in hardware terms).

An additional VDC and quadruple the scratch RAM (32K instead of 8K). But they forgot to upgrade the CPU...

[lord_cack]

that jaguar system is the ugliest system ever. why show that? this is a form of terrorism.

no the original SNES design is ugly, the Nintendo 64 isn't the best design, the Xbox should be called the X crate that thing is ENORMOUS. The Playstation 2 isn't anything spectacular....come to think of it....most consoles weren't all that...

[Blasta_Mazta]

the nes looked cool for its time. and i disagree with you on the ps2, i happen to like the way it looks. of course it would be far cooler if ther was a hucard slot, but that's another story. i just don't like that black and red combination. doesn't the jaguar and everything els atari make suck anyways?

[scuzzo84]

the nes looked cool for its time. and i disagree with you on the ps2, i happen to like the way it looks. of course it would be far cooler if ther was a hucard slot, but that's another story. i just don't like that black and red combination. doesn't the jaguar and everything els atari make suck anyways?

yes , but the design is simple and slick, and not boxy like tg16

Atari didnt make the jaguar by the way, and didnt manufacture it. Flare 1 was behind it and IBM manufactured it.

And you stink!

[Blasta_Mazta]

what relevance does the maker of the console have? it never caught on simply because it was crap and nobody liked the way it looked. this is of course not the reason turbo failed in the u.s.