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[IrishNinja]

From a bad article written by gamepro.

Reliable japanese figures:
PC Engine: 5.84 million (of which 1.92 million are PC Engine CD-ROM2 or Duo models)

Mega Drive LTD provided by Sega to CESA (japanese gaming industry association) is 30.75 million.

ah, didn't know that! as for Mega Drive LTD, Sega-16 seems to put the # closer to 40 mil when incorporating Tec-Toy/etc conversions in other countries, nomad etc sales too. all revisions put together, some of them think it's quite a bit higher.

 

[Ban Puncher]

What is the technical or proper name for those Apple cables you can use as PCE controller extensions? I want to try and find a couple on eBay.

 

[sixteen-bit]

What is the technical or proper name for those Apple cables you can use as PCE controller extensions? I want to try and find a couple on eBay.

8-pin mini-DIN

 

[antibolo]

What is the technical or proper name for those Apple cables you can use as PCE controller extensions? I want to try and find a couple on eBay.

Apple serial cables.

 

[D.Lo]

So my replacement RGB Duo is on the way. Last one had mobo problems. Now I'll have an RX instead of an original Duo which I'm conflicted about, The RX is a better piece of hardware, but I love the original Duo's utilitarian design. Classic early 90s.

ah, didn't know that! as for Mega Drive LTD, Sega-16 seems to put the # closer to 40 mil when incorporating Tec-Toy/etc conversions in other countries, nomad etc sales too. all revisions put together, some of them think it's quite a bit higher.

Yeah there's always arguments about MD final total.

The problem with counting Tectoy etc is you should then also count the recent 'system in a controller' stuff, which are equally genuine licenced Sega products with the same or parts of the same chipset. And I'd dare say some famiclones should be counted as 'legit' system sales before 'Sonic in a controller' sales from 2009 or whatever (though counting famiclones might put the NES final tally at like 200+ million consoles sold or something crazy).

Also reminds me of the final original Xbox 'sold' figue - the last couple of million were dumped in stores are sold for nothing, I got one for $30 (in Australia). It didn't beat the Gamecube in genuine profitable in-lifetime sales, they just made a couple of million too many which were left over when they dumped the system in the garbage to launch the 360.

 

[Teknoman]

Guys at Falcom sure were creative soundtrack wise. Who would've thought this would be a Pirate hideout:

http://youtu.be/dNZXVmbeudM

 

[smbu2000]

Well I don't have a SuperGrafx, but I saw these at one of the stores I usually check out so I picked them up. For 100 yen each is pretty good I think. They don't usually have too many PC Engine games there.

 

[TheWraith]

Recently got a copy of Bonk 2 (PC Genjin 2), but the game has the weirdest issue: enemies and flowers are misplaced on the screen and some other sprites like coconuts are moving along the screen. Bonk is also untouchable or can't touch enemies and can just run through the levels.

Anyone heard of this? Was this is a bug on a limited production run, or did I just get a weirdly malfunctioning cart somehow? My PCE Duo seems to be running fine on all other games btw.

 

[Ban Puncher]

8-pin mini-DIN

Apple serial cables.

Thanks guys. Eventually found one for a decent price of $8 including free delivery from South Korea and not $5 for the cable and $30+ for shipping like all the other listings.

Recently got a copy of Bonk 2 (PC Genjin 2), but the game has the weirdest issue: enemies and flowers are misplaced on the screen and some other sprites like coconuts are moving along the screen. Bonk is also untouchable or can't touch enemies and can just run through the levels.

Anyone heard of this? Was this is a bug on a limited production run, or did I just get a weirdly malfunctioning cart somehow? My PCE Duo seems to be running fine on all other games btw.

Tried cleaning the pins on the HuCard?

 

[Polioliolio]

Well I don't have a SuperGrafx, but I saw these at one of the stores I usually check out so I picked them up. For 100 yen each is pretty good I think. They don't usually have too many PC Engine games there.

Oh shweet. Makes me miss the Japan life. Coming across a handful of great games for peanuts. Good times.

I didn't know Ghouls 'n Ghosts was on PC engine.. (I barely know a thing about the PC engine library though). That would have made my week.

 

[Mzo]

It's not. It's a SuperGrafx game.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Oh shweet. Makes me miss the Japan life. Coming across a handful of great games for peanuts. Good times.

I didn't know Ghouls 'n Ghosts was on PC engine.. (I barely know a thing about the PC engine library though). That would have made my week.

It's a Supergrafx title.

 

[Polioliolio]

It's not. It's a SuperGrafx game.

It's a Supergrafx title.

Does it play in a Turbo Duo?

I guess I'm not familiar with the distinction between what's what when it comes to this/these platforms.

 

[sixteen-bit]

No, it won't work on a Turbo Duo

 

[Polioliolio]

No, it won't work on a Turbo Duo

:O

Oh my. Well I didn't realize that.
Looks like I need to expand my horizons further.

Anyone care to give me a rundown on Supergrafix?

 

[TheWraith]

Tried cleaning the pins on the HuCard?

Yep, although cart looks just like new. Don't think that is the problem...

 

[MikeHattsu]

Yep, although cart looks just like new. Don't think that is the problem...

I've had similar problems with the same game. The card looks fine but it doesn't work right. Mine got some corrupted graphics and after you get to level 3 you can't progress further. I just bought another copy.

 

[Mzo]

:O

Oh my. Well I didn't realize that.
Looks like I need to expand my horizons further.

Anyone care to give me a rundown on Supergrafix?

It's the successor to the PC Engine. They made like 6 games for it (2 of which can also play on the PCE), but it can play all PC Engine games and hook up to the old PCE CD.

 

[Mercutio]

:O

Oh my. Well I didn't realize that.
Looks like I need to expand my horizons further.

Anyone care to give me a rundown on Supergrafix?

It is the strangest physical design of any console ever.

 

[sixteen-bit]

from a design standpoint the supergrafix is mad ugly imo but it has its fans!

 

[Mercutio]

The Game Sack where they try to use a Hex wrench on the "bolts" gets me every single time.

 

[Polioliolio]

Wow. Only 6 games. Crazy. Was it a major bomb?

Are the controllers interchangeable? I think I have a couple Super Grafix gamepads thinking they were all just PC engine gear.

 

[Mercutio]

Wow. Only 6 games. Crazy. Was it a major bomb?

Are the controllers interchangeable? I think I have a couple Super Grafix gamepads thinking they were all just PC engine gear.

Yep, same exact port. If you wanted to have the "ultimate" NEC system, you'd combine one of these guys with a Super CD system. My understanding is that it would be a good deal more expensive than getting a good Duo R though. If you watch doujindance's eBay, RGB modded Super Grafx systems come up once a month or so. There are tons of them unmodded floating around though, around $200. Boxed ones are more of course.

Here's a great breakdown of the version differences in what you just bought, by the way:

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33981

 

[Teknoman]

Yep, same exact port. If you wanted to have the "ultimate" NEC system, you'd combine one of these guys with a Super CD system. My understanding is that it would be a good deal more expensive than getting a good Duo R though. If you watch doujindance's eBay, RGB modded Super Grafx systems come up once a month or so. There are tons of them unmodded floating around though, around $200. Boxed ones are more of course.

Here's a great breakdown of the version differences in what you just bought, by the way:

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33981

Sucks that the Duos werent jacks of all trades. Cant see myself snagging a Super Graphx for just a few games, unless I found it for cheap.

 

[Mercutio]

Sucks that the Duos werent jacks of all trades. Cant see myself snagging a Super Graphx for just a few games, unless I found it for cheap.

Yeah, it's a bummer... but there just isn't anything truly worthwhile on the Super Grafx. Only true NEC completionists or those who have a thing for console oddities will really bother.

 

[Teknoman]

Did the Gate of Thunder 4 in 1 CD (Gate, Bonk, Bonk Revenge, hidden Bomberman) have official cover art?

 

[Mercutio]

Did the Gate of Thunder 4 in 1 CD (Gate, Bonk, Bonk Revenge, hidden Bomberman) have official cover art?

I don't think it had unique art... Instead you got the booklet / covers for the 3 featured games.

 

[smbu2000]

Yeah, it's a bummer... but there just isn't anything truly worthwhile on the Super Grafx. Only true NEC completionists or those who have a thing for console oddities will really bother.

Yeah, definitely. I only picked up the SuperGrafx games because I found them for dirt cheap ($1 each) otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.
The game that drew my eye was Daimakaimura and I can already play that on my Megadrive without having to buy additional hardware.

They do make a nice addition to my collection though even if I never play them. If I happen to find a Supergrafx machine for cheap though I'll probably pick it up though.

 

[Mercutio]

Yeah, definitely. I only picked up the SuperGrafx games because I found them for dirt cheap ($1 each) otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.
The game that drew my eye was Daimakaimura and I can already play that on my Megadrive without having to buy additional hardware.

They do make a nice addition to my collection though even if I never play them. If I happen to find a Supergrafx machine for cheap though I'll probably pick it up though.

I think most people like the MegaDrive version better, too. "Better music" is always what they say.

Looks like DoujinDance actually just put up a Super Grafx:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=191275664100&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

 

[sixteen-bit]

I think most people like the MegaDrive version better, too. "Better music" is always what they say.

Yuji Naka actually worked on that Mega Drive port as a programmer. That Sega port was really good for the time.

 

[foobarry81]

It is the strangest physical design of any console ever.

I think it's just supposed to resemble an automobile engine... because of the console's name in Japan.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Speaking of strange physical design, what were they thinking with the Shuttle?

 

[Emperor Bohe]

The Game Sack where they try to use a Hex wrench on the "bolts" gets me every single time.

which episode? i don't remember that haha

 

[Mercutio]

Speaking of strange physical design, what were they thinking with the Shuttle?

My understanding is that they were thinking "We need to make it look more like a toy for a younger audience."

 

[Teknoman]

I don't think it had unique art... Instead you got the booklet / covers for the 3 featured games.

In that case I need to find someone to make a unique cover for a CD case or DVD case.

 

[reson8or]

My understanding is that they were thinking "We need to make it look more like a toy for a younger audience."

Correct, the shuttle was designed to be for a younger audience. Think of it as a "My first" type of thing. Even the box art was aimed at children.

 

[Baron_Calamity]

Yep, same exact port. If you wanted to have the "ultimate" NEC system, you'd combine one of these guys with a Super CD system. My understanding is that it would be a good deal more expensive than getting a good Duo R though. If you watch doujindance's eBay, RGB modded Super Grafx systems come up once a month or so. There are tons of them unmodded floating around though, around $200. Boxed ones are more of course.

Here's a great breakdown of the version differences in what you just bought, by the way:

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=33981

I did not realize that it was less powerful than the Genesis. I assume that it was at least a step up.

 

[sixteen-bit]

I did not realize that it was less powerful than the Genesis. I assume that it was at least a step up.

The best contemporaneous home version was definitely the X68000 release.

 

[antibolo]

I did not realize that it was less powerful than the Genesis. I assume that it was at least a step up.

Hardware and capabilities-wise the PC Engine is closer to the Famicom/NES than the rest of the 16 bit era consoles.

Basically you take a NES, you add a lot more colors, bigger and more simultaneous sprites, two more audio channels, and that's it.

The biggest disadvantage it has over later consoles is that just like the NES, the PPU only has a single layer to work with. The SuperGrafx added a second layer but it was too late.

 

[andymcc]

The best contemporaneous home version was definitely the X68000 release.

does it allow you to change directions while crouched in the x68000, or is it more close to the arcade version in that respect?

i think that is a huge advantage to the genesis version, even if inferior in graphics and sound.

 

[Celine]

Hardware and capabilities-wise the PC Engine is closer to the Famicom/NES than the rest of the 16 bit era consoles.

Basically you take a NES, you add a lot more colors, bigger and more simultaneous sprites, two more audio channels, and that's it.

The biggest disadvantage it has over later consoles is that just like the NES, the PPU only has a single layer to work with. The SuperGrafx added a second layer but it was too late.

PCE was in the mid between NES and SNES, just like DC was a console "in between two generations".
I mean there is a clear gulf between something like Street Fighter 2 Dash on PCE and what you can find on NES.
What gave the competitive edge for PCE afterward was the CD addon though (the boost in ram and in game size which came with it).

 

[antibolo]

PCE was in the mid between NES and SNES, just like DC was a console "in between two generations".
I mean there is a clear gulf between something like Street Fighter 2 Dash on PCE and what you can find on NES.
What gave the competitive edge for PCE afterward was the CD addon though (the boost in ram and in game size which came with it).

But the PC Engine is closer to the NES than the SNES. It has no digital sound (without CD-ROM addon, which adds only one channel), no multiple layers, no alpha blending, no Mode 7 equivalent, etc. The CPU is also similar to the NES (6502 with 8 bit registers and 16 bit addressing), just higher clocked. It has much superior sprite capabilities but the basic philosophies are the same.

According to Wikipedia, Hudson designed the PC Engine hardware with the intent to selling it to Nintendo as the successor to the Famicom (the plan failed, so they partnered up with NEC instead). With that in mind, it makes sense that they made it similar.

 

[Celine]

But the PC Engine is closer to the NES than the SNES. It has no digital sound (without CD-ROM addon, which adds only one channel), no multiple layers, no alpha blending, no Mode 7 equivalent, etc. The CPU is also similar to the NES (6502 with 8 bit registers and 16 bit addressing), just higher clocked. It has much superior sprite capabilities but the basic philosophies are the same.

According to Wikipedia, Hudson designed the PC Engine hardware with the intent to selling it to Nintendo as the successor to the Famicom (the plan failed, so they partnered up with NEC instead). With that in mind, it makes sense that they made it similar.

Guess which other system "has no digital sound (without CD-ROM addon, which adds only one channel), no alpha blending, no Mode 7 equivalent"

SF2 dash is really a testament of something a NES or Master System cannot pull off with the same (acceptable) degree of fidelity (not saying the SNES/MD/PCE ports were perfect but at least they were close to the source material).

 

[andymcc]

Guess which other system "has no digital sound (without CD-ROM addon, which adds only one channel), no alpha blending, no Mode 7 equivalent"

SF2 dash is really a testament of something a NES or Master System cannot pull off with the same (acceptable) degree of fidelity (not saying the SNES/MD/PCE ports were perfect but at least they were close to the source material).

Wasn't World Warrior and the PC-E Dash released almost simultaneously? i remember an old EGM going on about how much better it was than the SNES world warrior.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Wasn't World Warrior and the PC-E Dash released almost simultaneously? i remember an old EGM going on about how much better it was than the SNES world warrior.

they were released about a year apart (Summer '92 and Summer '93)

egm prolly mad at nintendo for not giving out review copies or some shit

 

[andymcc]

they were released about a year apart (Summer '92 and Summer '93)

egm prolly mad at nintendo for not giving out review copies or some shit

ah, gotcha.

EGM wasn't the bastion of integrity. lol

i remember being mad jelly at the turbo getting that in Japan only though.

 

[AmyS]

Wow. Only 6 games. Crazy. Was it a major bomb?

Not counting the two PCE Darius games that barely used the extra hardware (mainly no flickering sprites or slowdown when played on a SuperGrafx) there were only 5 truly dedicated games released which would only work on that console.

Launched with one game in late 1989:
- Battle Ace

Two more games in 1990:
- Granzort (a follow-up to Keith Courage in Alpha Zones)
- Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'N Ghosts)

And two more in 1991:
- Aldynes
- 1941: Counter Attack

By 1992 the console was dead, no more software, was well on its way to becoming a collectors item. Supposedly just 50,000 consoles were manufactured.

And we thought the Sega 32X bombed.

 

[baphomet]

Yea but the ratio of good games to shit ones is forever in the supergrafx favor. Only battle ace is bad, the rest are anywhere from good to excellent.

 

[Friend of Sonic]

My 32X is my Kolibri machine and I will forever love it.

 

[sixteen-bit]

32X more like dirty poo X