Messages

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Could this be the worst game on the US Turbo?]

Trust me, there were PLENTY of games we tried to talk them OUT of releasing (or at least suggested changes to) and our advice in the game-testing division (Wood Dale, IL) was completely ignored.

So the games would go out, sell poorly, the sales of the system would then suffer as a result and... well... you know how things ended up.

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Playing Super CDs on TG-CD]

Cool.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Playing Super CDs on TG-CD]

I'm drawing a blank here.  Which card is needed in order to run Super CDs on a USA TG-CD system?

I'm seeing super system cards on eBay, but these appear to be for the PC Engine only.

Anyone?

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Name the new Bonk contest]

That sounds painful.

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Sega Master System games: Did it hurt the Turbo?]

In my 3+ years at NEC, I don't ever recall us having a discussion about the Sega Master System having any sort of negative impact on the TG-16's sales.

It was the Genesis that killed us.  Practically killed us outright, in fact.  That and our own, shoddy marketing (and the fact we took FOREVER to port games over from Japan, didn't secure enough 'trademark' games, like Spiderman, etc.)

So many things...

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo controller on Computer?]

Requires soldering??

Bummer.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Name the new Bonk contest]

Me, I kinda like 'Bonkinator'.

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Bonkinator and other Treasures]

Amen to THAT.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB Valis 3 III US version]

So what does a USA 'Valis III' CD go for these days?

Just curious.

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What games do you love that you think others give short shrift?]

Splash Lake!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS - Turbo Grafx 16 w CD Attachment, System Card, Games]

Whoa... a PC Engine CD-ROM drive, eh?

And will work on the TG-16/CD hardware?  Outstanding.

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Bonkinator and other Treasures]

Thanks again for the welcomes, everyone.  Great to be here.

Regarding the EPROMS, as testers, we'd get them in all the time - it's pretty much all we'd play on as we evaluated the games and gave our opinions on whether or not we thought the game should be released (sometimes we were listened to, sometimes not).

I recall seeing the burners they used to burn the games onto the chips - obviously they'd re-use chips and boards all the time.  I'm trying to recall if I ever worked with anyone in development in the actual burning of chips - I want to say I did, because I remember being so impressed at how efficient those things worked - NEC had such great hardware, even in development - too bad that wasn't the same case when it came to marketing.


Also:

Welcome aboard Frank.  Since no one has said it I will.   "Believe or not, I'm walking on air..."

Thanks!!!  Long live, GAH!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Map of Turbo Game Stores]

I swear I could have run the marketing dept. better when I was like 12 years old back then. In addition to that I'm pretty sure I could have made MUCH better decisions on what games to translate and bring to the US. SO many great Japanese games were overlooked for one reason or another.

Also, who the hell was in charge of cover art for the game boxes and manuals! Idiots! They should have just slapped English titles on the Japanese art and called it good, I am 100% convinced that a lot of people saw the box art for TG games and instantly went and bought a Genesis.

Oh man, of that I have no doubt.  We were constantly in battle with development about which games they were bringing over and what they chose not to, etc.  And the constant 'cleaning up' of games - stuff that wasn't even necessary - changing the mask in Splatterhouse from white to red so Paramount wouldn't sue them for copyright on 'Friday the 13th'... ridiculous.

We were also always on them about the box art too, which is why they FINALLY dropped that 'black border' around the edge of the game box (the early releases) and went to 'full box graphic display' (like Bonk's Adventure, etc.) because it looked SO much better.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Pcenginefx Outlet Stock (updated 1.7.09)]

I have some of those BONK bumper stickers - they're great!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB: Turbo 'Tap' for TurboDuo]

Not sure that'd work, but certainly worth a look.  I believe I have a few taps from each system in the collection somewhere around here...

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB: Turbo 'Tap' for TurboDuo]

Aw hell.  Really?

Well, so much for that.  I have a few PC Engine taps - I'm guessing someone at some point has painted one dark grey/black, right?

 

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB: Turbo 'Tap' for TurboDuo]

Was such a thing produced?  I'm assuming it was.  I'm currently using a PC Engine tap for my (USA) TurboDuo, but would like a tap that matches the color of the original console, etc.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What kinda TV do you play TG16 on?]

55" Samsung LED 1080p HD, bought early last year.

 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Bonkinator and other Treasures]

Thanks for the welcome.  Yeah, I was there basically from when they started hiring until they moved to CA (1989-1991, 92? - trying to remember).

The support hub had a lot of really great people working for it throughout the years, but we always knew the products were far better than the marketing department supporting it, which was quite aggravating at the time.  Ah well, it was still a great, GREAT job, no doubt about that.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: TG-16 / TurboDuo Manuals for trade / want list]

I didn't realize there was any demand for manuals only.

Will have to look through what I have...

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS - Turbo Grafx 16 w CD Attachment, System Card, Games]

Nice setup!

I wonder if anyone is selling just the CD-ROM drives...

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Map of Turbo Game Stores]

So great to see all these posts about places selling TG-16/CD stuff, and RECENTLY.

I tell ya, it seems like when the product was first available, there wasn't as much interest THEN as there is NOW (yes, our marketing dept., for most of the original run anyway, really sucked - sad, but true).

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Bonkinator and other Treasures]

Hello to all!  This is Frank from Chicago, and this is my first post.

Thanks to Henry for letting me know about the site and forums here.  Interesting to know what this 'Bonkinator' game I have is all about - I myself never had the chance to play Air Zonk (it came out after NEC had sold everything to Hudson Soft and moved from Wood Dale, IL to CA), so I wasn't quite sure WHAT it was when I first booted it up.

As for TV Sports Baseball, that is a 4-chip EPROM that I can't seem to get to load - not sure it ever did.  Makes me wonder if it ever was a 'working' prototype or just what the story is, etc.

Nice to meet you all!

 

--Frank