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The central CPU of the TG-16 is 8-bit while the graphics card is 16-bit and can display 482 colors at once. Games were on small cards called Hucards. They were roughly the size of a credit card & about twice as thick. The TGX16 was also notable for having a large expansion dock on the rear of the console. When not used it was hidden under a large plastic cover. But if you had the optional TurboBooster accessory ( approx. $50 ), which boosted the systems video ram, you also had the option of using composite video cables for the TV hookup & limited stereo sound. This was a fairly new novelty in 1989!
The PC Engine was very popular in Japan. It outsold the Nintendo Famicom upon its release. It is considered equal to the Super Famicom which is also a 16-bit gaming console that was not released in Japan until 1990. The PC Engine sales started to drop due to the release of the Super Famicom. Nippon Electric Company then released an Arcade Card that greatly increased the system's RAM. The expansion was not released in the U.S.
The TGX16 came out in North America with a CD-ROM peripheral that cost about $400 USD. It was called the TurboGrafx-CD. This was the first major home console peripheral in the US to use CD's. The debut titles of the TGXCD were considered to be must-have, but the library of TG-CD grew very slow compared to the TG-16 HuCards. Although the library did not grow as fast as the TGX16, the TGXCD had some games considered to be gems by gamers like Dracula X: Rondo of Blood.
The TGX16 is considered a 16-bit console, but struggled against its competition since it was an 8-bit/16-bit hybrid. It also struggled in North America
because many big developers supported the PC Engine, but also made games primarily for Nintendo. Nintendo's licensing policies of the day made developers sign exclusivity agreements with them to insure games on the NES would not be ported to other consoles. Nintendo said at the time this was to insure there would not be another crash of the video game market like 1984. This made it all but impossible for the TGX16 to import well known franchises for it's limited American audience.
According to Gamepro.com, the TurboGrafx-16 is the #9 worst-selling game systems of all time.
Hardware Specifications
Note: HuC6280A is also used to control sound
The TurboGrafx-16 is a 16-bit console that sold well in Japan, but failed in the North American market.
The TurboGrafx-16 is a 16-bit video game console made by Nippon Electric Company. It is known in Japan as the PC Engine and was released in Japan on October 30, 1987. It was released in North America on August 29, 1989, and was released in a very limited manner in Europe in 1990. In Europe it was simply called the TurboGrafx.The central CPU of the TG-16 is 8-bit while the graphics card is 16-bit and can display 482 colors at once. Games were on small cards called Hucards. They were roughly the size of a credit card & about twice as thick. The TGX16 was also notable for having a large expansion dock on the rear of the console. When not used it was hidden under a large plastic cover. But if you had the optional TurboBooster accessory ( approx. $50 ), which boosted the systems video ram, you also had the option of using composite video cables for the TV hookup & limited stereo sound. This was a fairly new novelty in 1989!
The PC Engine was very popular in Japan. It outsold the Nintendo Famicom upon its release. It is considered equal to the Super Famicom which is also a 16-bit gaming console that was not released in Japan until 1990. The PC Engine sales started to drop due to the release of the Super Famicom. Nippon Electric Company then released an Arcade Card that greatly increased the system's RAM. The expansion was not released in the U.S.
The TGX16 came out in North America with a CD-ROM peripheral that cost about $400 USD. It was called the TurboGrafx-CD. This was the first major home console peripheral in the US to use CD's. The debut titles of the TGXCD were considered to be must-have, but the library of TG-CD grew very slow compared to the TG-16 HuCards. Although the library did not grow as fast as the TGX16, the TGXCD had some games considered to be gems by gamers like Dracula X: Rondo of Blood.
The TGX16 is considered a 16-bit console, but struggled against its competition since it was an 8-bit/16-bit hybrid. It also struggled in North America
because many big developers supported the PC Engine, but also made games primarily for Nintendo. Nintendo's licensing policies of the day made developers sign exclusivity agreements with them to insure games on the NES would not be ported to other consoles. Nintendo said at the time this was to insure there would not be another crash of the video game market like 1984. This made it all but impossible for the TGX16 to import well known franchises for it's limited American audience.
According to Gamepro.com, the TurboGrafx-16 is the #9 worst-selling game systems of all time.
Hardware Specifications
CPU
- Processor: 8-bit HuC6280A at 7.6 MHz
Graphics
- Two 16-bit HuC6270A's
- Maximum Color Palette: 512
- Maximum Colors On Screen: 482
- Maximum Sprites On Screen: 64
- Screen Resolution: 256 x 239
- Possible AV Outputs: RF, Composite
Sound
- 6 Channel Wavetable at 3.5 MHz
Note: HuC6280A is also used to control sound
Memory
- Main Memory: 8KB
- Video Memory: 64KB
TurboGrafx-16 games
Edit
| Name | Platforms | Developer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Magical Chase |
TG16 | Quest Corporation |
|
|
Don Doko Don |
ARC, TG16, NES | Taito Corporation |
|
|
Tokimeki Memorial |
SNES, SAT, PSP, PS1, TG16, PC, GBC | Konami Corporation |
|
|
JB Harold Murder Club |
TG16 | |
|
|
Boxyboy |
TG16 | |
|
|
RayXanbeR III |
TG16 | Datawest |
|
|
Heavy Unit |
TG16 | Taito Corporation |
|
|
Strider |
X68K, TG16, SMS, ARC, GEN | Sega, Capcom |
|
|
TV Sports Hockey |
TG16 | Cinemaware |
|
|
Marchen Maze |
WSHP, X68K, TG16, ARC | Namco Bandai Games Inc. |
| Platform Name: | TurboGrafx-16 |
| Release Date: | Aug. 29, 1989 |
| Online Support: | False |
| Install Base: | 10,000,000 |
| Original Price: | $199 |
| Producing Company: | NEC Technologies, Inc. |
| Total Games: | games |
Game machines
a list of 16 items by effjay
a list of 16 items by effjay
|
Bonk first in Bonk's Adventure |
4
|
|
King Drool first in |
3
|
|
Bomberman first in Bomberman |
3
|
|
Wonder Boy first in Wonder Boy |
2
|
|
Bub first in Bubble Bobble |
2
|
|
Dobkeratops first in R-Type |
2
|
|
Bob first in Bubble Bobble |
2
|
|
Princess Za first in |
2
|
|
Ken Masters first in Street Fighter |
1
|
|
Vega first in Street Fighter II |
1
|
|
Space first in Spacewar! |
10
|
|
Jungle first in |
4
|
|
Japan first in |
3
|
|
Desert first in |
3
|
|
Underground first in |
2
|
|
Unnamed South American Country first in |
2
|
|
The Beach first in |
2
|
|
China first in |
2
|
|
Soviet Union first in |
2
|
|
Japanese Castle first in |
2
|
|
Virtual Console first in |
72
|
|
2D first in Tennis for Two Simulator |
23
|
|
Side-Scrolling first in |
23
|
|
Boss Fight first in DND |
22
|
|
Lives first in |
15
|
|
Game Over first in |
14
|
|
Vertical Scrolling first in Caverns of Mars |
13
|
|
Jump first in Donkey Kong |
12
|
|
High Score first in Seawolf |
12
|
|
Cheat Code first in Manic Miner |
10
|
|
Sword first in |
10
|
|
Laser first in |
9
|
|
Bullet first in Spacewar! |
7
|
|
Spaceship first in Spacewar! |
6
|
|
Bomb first in B-17 Bomber |
5
|
|
Fireball first in Super Mario Bros. |
5
|
|
Spread Gun first in |
5
|
|
Blocks first in Tetris |
4
|
|
Car first in |
4
|
|
Bat first in |
4
|
