Messages

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Was it nostalgia or curiousity]

I was in grade school.  Before the console was released, my friend was obsessed with the Turbo.  He'd go on and on about Bonk and Bomberman and Turbo ads in the gaming magazines of the time.  He finally got a Turbo Express and I remember playing Bonk and Legendary Axe when he brought it over for a party.

I was hooked, but I didn't have the money for a system.  Ultimately I was able to trade some of my prized NES games (One of which was Dragon Warrior III, a favorite at the time)  for a used machine and a few games at one of the few gaming stores that had a used system in stock.  My first two games were Bonk and Neutopia.

For some reason, I later sold my Turbo stuff.  I had regretted it ever since.  I think that it was for some SNES game at the time (in 1994) and the Turbo was ready to check out after the PCFX release.  Ultimately, I made it a goal to replace it and picked up a CD system and an Express within a few years.  Later, a PC Engine.  I collect more Japanese games these days than US releases.

Still one of my all-time favorite game machines.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: For Sale: Arc the Lad Collection and Hint Guide For Playstation 1]

Good price.  ;)

I already have the game, as you probably already know.  PM me here or elsewhere if you decide that you're interested on  letting the guide go without the game.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What happened to hit-japan?]

I've always had a good experience with Hit-Japan.  His BIN prices are a bit high, but I tend to just throw about a half a dozen offers at one time, between 50%-75% of the BIN price for what is listed.  Depends upon the game and the current average prices.  He's more likely to work with you if you are buying several items.  Everything is always well-packed and in good condition.  I've only had one or two CD games that were a bit lower quality than what I'd normally expect, but still not bad.

Might also depend upon the time of day.  I always make offers in the mid evening, which would be late morning in Japan.  It's easier to work with someone when they haven't had to deal with all of the usual BS of the day.

I've only purchased from Yamatoku one one occasion.  No real problems either.  I like that he does bid auctions on most items.  I ordered a CoreGrafx from him a year ago and it literally arrived from Japan in two days.  I was shocked at how fast it was.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: NightWolve WINS!! Soldier Blade (US) with damaged back]

Congrats NightWolve.  It's a great game even if it's got a bubble.  ;)

One of my favorite shooters.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB - TurboGrafx 16 Console Manuals.]

Want to buy a TurboGrafx 16 manual and all of the enclosed pack-ins (registration card, ads, etc.)

Sealed manual package preferred.  If not, opened but in excellent shape might  be fine.

Please PM me if you have one!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - TG-CD: Total capacitor replacement chart + useful info]

Yes, a good deal of slightly newer drives have 220A in them. Unfortunately, for some reason I have encountered more bad 220A lenses over the years than older the style 162a lens.

I've got a few spare Discmans with lasers of both types, so hopefully that is at least some insurance for the future. 

My 220A-based drive was in beautiful shape when I opened it up.  A little bit of white grease and now it sounds / runs like new.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - TG-CD: Total capacitor replacement chart + useful info]

Believe it or not, my TG16 CD drive came stock with a KSS-220A.  I was completely expecting it to contain a 162A, since this seems to be the norm.  Has anyone else observed this?

[General Gaming / Re: GameCollector app now based on subscritipn]

I keep my collection at GameFAQs.  Works fine from my PC or Android.

[General Gaming / Re: Class of Heroes 2!]

Not that I really care what you think, but how will Vic learn if nobody says anything?  I understand that it's an extra (though expecting an unbroken case certainly isn't), but I'm betting he wants people to be happy else he'd not have bothered at all.  It's obviously too late for this one, but in the future he could make such certificates slightly smaller than the umd case (instead of slightly larger) and then there'd be no issues at all.

The topic was already discussed In the Gaijinworks forums.  He posted that they mailed many samples to see the results of the transit in the padded envelopes with the certificates.  They found this padded mailer to be acceptable.  The smaller envelope was used to keep everything from moving around and causing poor results.  A box was too cost prohibitive.

I'm pretty sure that this certificate is a one-time thing anyway.  If history shows us anything, he does something different with every game.

Unfortunately, you happened to get a damaged case but I haven't seen any others report this.  I know that they he mentioned that some spares were fabricated for warranty purposes, so they might be able to swap it out.

[General Gaming / Re: Class of Heroes 2!]

I put about 40-50 hours into the game and really enjoyed it.  It had been years since I'd played a Wizardry-styled game (Maybe the mid-90's?).  I didn't actually think that I'd like the game but was pleasantly surprised all the way to the end of the game.

I'm not sure that the certificate is worth whining about.  It was a free pack-in and wasn't even part of the preorder.  He did it, along with the individual holograph numbers and KS version, as a reward for those who waited it out.  Yeah, it's probably going to bend the corners a bit.  We're all in the same boat because they all got mailed the same way.

I liked the physical  digital release and hope that they do it again with future games.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB - Soldier Blade Case and Manual.]

Looking for the case and manual for the Japanese version of the game.  Anyone have one to sell?

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB - PC Engine - Core Grafx I Expansion Port Cover.]

I purchased a first model Core Grafx (with the blue text), but the seller didn't indicate that the expansion port cover was missing.  Anyone wish to sell one?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine CoreGrafx PAD-105 / PAD-106 Power Supply Question. Regulated?]

I agree that the official supplies are probably little more than a transformer and that there was a voltage regulator in the PCE, but couldn't find any photos.  There would likely have to be, since everything internally is largely +5VDC.

Thanks for confirming that there is a LM7805.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / PC Engine CoreGrafx PAD-105 / PAD-106 Power Supply Question. Regulated?]

The original PC Engine units used the PAD-105 or PAD-106 9VDC 1A Negative tip power supply.  Mainly, I'm curious as to whether or not these were regulated supplies, which were relatively uncommon when these devices were manufactured.

I have a 9VDC power supply that is unregulated, and appears to have a voltage around 11.5-12VDC under load from a CoreGafx.  I'm assuming that this is fine, since most devices have voltage regulators.  However, if anyone would be so kind, could you take a measurement of the official PAD-105 and PAD-106 voltage when the console is running?  It can be measured by slightly pulling out the 2.1 mm plug and measuring its difference against a GND on the chassis (The outside of the video plug seems to be fine).

Thanks!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

Ha?  Is this supposed to be some kind of a threat?  You're kidding, right?  Absolutely amazing!  What do you propose that you'll do to "make me think twice about it"?  You *might* manage to make me laugh to death.

My "threat" as you put it is that we'll go through these little exchanges over and over if I catch you talking me about again. I dunno what you thought I meant. But anyhow, if all they're doing is making you laugh as you seem to claim, then you shouldn't at all feel deterred. We'll test that claim out in the future, though.

If you catch me?  If I truly have anything to say about you (and not just some idle comment about your choice in software) , I'll be damn sure you know about it!    Wouldn't miss it for the world.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

Oh sure, you can say whatever the hell you please, but know that if it involves me and I catch you doing it, I'll make sure you think twice about it. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Ha?  Is this supposed to be some kind of a threat?  You're kidding, right?  Absolutely amazing!  What do you propose that you'll do to "make me think twice about it"?  You *might* manage to make me laugh to death.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

Meh.  Well, here we go again.

Let's just put it this way.  I'll say whatever I please, whether you take it personally or not.  You just happened to get bent out of shape over something that wasn't even intended as a personal attack against you.  Seriously, man.  You've got some big problems in the way that you deal with people.  I could sit and try to psychoanalyse you all day, but this little retaliatory tirade of yours has gone on for far too long.  Really...  Get yourself some help.  Normal and stable people don't go postal over message board threads.

One of us has to concede here, because you sure as hell aren't going to shut up.

"Never argue with an idiot.  They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Have a nice day.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

Seriously, man?  Is that all you've got is a lame retort about a typo I made in regards to cdrdao (I'll bet you already knew that Xak III has several typos, so you should be pretty familiar with them)?  Everything I said "about you" can be summed up into less than a sentence.

Just so we can quit going around in circles here, let's get back to the point.  Let me quote you one more time...

You:

"Eh, you're actually the first for Linux and will probably be the last. The demand just hasn't been there to motivate me to really care about non-Windows platforms. "

Compared to what I said:

"...because NightWolve has no interest in using open/cross platform software that works to its *full potential*. "

So?  What am I making up here?  Didn't you say it yourself?

Nothing more to say here.  All I did was quote you, more or less, and comment on Cdrwin (which is still broken, by the way).  I can't help it you get your little panties in a bunch and take it personally.  I don't portray you as anything.  *You* have portrayed yourself exactly in the manner described here.

And, frankly, I honestly don't give a shit.  You can use whatever you want with your project.  I was simply telling someone else that what they were doing was not wrong at all, and that Cdrwin was problematic and its BIN/CUE files are turning up in all sorts of weird sizes (not to mention that it's broken crippleware).

I don't really have anything else to say to you.  You seem only interested in keeping a conversation going in circles, completely unrelated to the topic at hand, in spite of the fact that I've produced evidence that contradicts what you say.  Frankly, of all of the places to get upset about someone defaming your character, a message board on the internet is probably the worst place to worry.  I mean, what's it like to get all bent out of shape about what some strange person out there in cyberspace thinks about you?  Judging by your level of communication skills,  it sounds like it happens a lot.  Sorry about that, chum.  Must really be sad to be you.

So, keep trying to turn this around again and again if you like.  You'll not get anywhere.  You've done a noble job of trying to pull a response out of your ass, but have effectively made yourself look foolish because I've trumped every comment you've made so far on this issue (note the link in my first reponse, which knocks down all claims you made to me initially).  I'll bet it just burns you up and pisses you off that you can see how you've so blatantly contradicted yourself (not to mention your claims that I never once contacted you about the cdrwin problems) and had that link thrown back at you, and now you don't know what to do.  Why try to take it any further?  You'll just get burned and make yourself look silly.  I'm not really interested in "discussing" anything with you anymore, and frankly - talking with you is a waste of my time.

So, you like opensource.  Good for you.  Want a cookie?  Now go back and tell me that what is posted in that link is not what you said back in May.  I'm not making shit up, no matter what delusional way you want to look at it - or no matter what sorts of wild accusations you want to claim I've made about your character.  I believe that Ronnie had a similar dementia of sorts...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer's_disease

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

You'd be accurate to say that I do hate Linux users now, but that's because of them, given the years of their anti-Microsoft, anti-PC propoganda, their bragging, their badgering software developers to port to their platform, like they do to David Michel for the MagicEngine, etc. Sell Linux on its own damn merits instead of "hahah, screw Microsoft/PC!!" all the damn time. (For the record, I worked on Solaris at my old job, and I did install and use Redhat for a time at home, the only distro I ever liked. It didn't have firewire support and I wanted it for a server to access my large external drive. But yeah, it's not like I'm totally anti-UNIX and its various flavors like Linux because I realize it has important roles to play in certain circumstances. However, most of my legacy work has been built up on Windows, and I do not see a reason to change that. At some point though, I started to enjoy making fun of Linux and its proponents cause they got to me - I'm just saying, I wasn't always like that.)

Well, you sure have a high horse now, don't you?

Judging by your assumptions that you make about me (and others), it's pretty obvious that you're just being a rude jerk that has nothing to say in regards to the topic at-hand;  Seeing as every response that you've had in this thread has been some sort of flame or stereotype about people who use alternative operating systems.  I'm quite flattered that you joined these forums just to bitch about Linux users and my criticism of CDRDAO.  

But, hey...  You've earned your 15 minutes of fame by translating a mediocre game for the community.  I guess you deserve a bit of rant time after all.

Ok.  Times up.

I think that your own responses, and the link that I've provided, shed a little light on the subject.  Now please get off of your high horse.  I don't expect you to do anything.  I frankly just don't like Cdrdao.  Nothing personal.  It's just a program.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

After trying like hell to get my bin size to match up on Linux, I had to resort to using that shitty Goldenhawk CDRWIN progam (on my work PC) because NightWolve has no interest in using open/cross platform software that works to its *full potential*.

Well, excuse me for not catering to you and 4 other whiny Linux zealots. Maybe you could've emailed me your little lecture about open/cross platform software and I would've considered adding another patch for this software. Oh, but why do that when you can just bitch about it here??

You seem to know a lot about me, but apparently never read the part in the Xak III ReadMe where I stated the following:

Also, included in the patch contents are binaries for Linux & MacOS-X.
 Run those binaries on the command line & follow what's in patch.bat to
 figure out how to apply the patch(should be a no-brainer) if patching
 on those platforms.. I can't test them, but i've included them to reach
 out to more gamer's platforms .. While CDRWIN doesn't exist for these
 platforms, there may be other CDRW programs that are compatible with
 the bin/cue standard. Good luck!

Oh yes, clearly I had zero interest in open/cross platform software, that's why I once went to the trouble of including PPF patcher binaries for Linux and MacOS-X. Though I subsequently did remove them given I couldn't much test on those platforms, and I knew there wasn't a CDRWIN for it. Since you had to get a BIN/CUE from a PC anyway, I later decided it was pointless, plus the backup plan for them was to just have downloaded the archive the group I was with already had made, and then you'd only have to worry about the burning aspect with whatever software worked well with your burner on Linux or Mac that supported BIN/CUE.

Now, I could spend some time filling in context and history on why I and many others did what they did with Goldenhawk's CDRWIN, why it was a preferred choice for some ~3 years (which is why you'll find several tech support guides instructing you on how to dump with it), but I'm not going to bother given your, you know, expert opinion on the software summarized with "shitty."

I think what most offends me with your comment is that you make the assumption I somehow knew of a better alternative back when I made this patch and started the whole idea of such a project, but I purposely chose not to use it to fuck you worthless Linux zealots over. I was somehow obligated to you, to seek out this unknown cross-platform solution years ago, at the time? As if I had the resources, the desire to expend energy in this regard, or even the help? You actually have the effect of sealing my general opinion of Linux users.

Well, I am so deeply sorry I failed you - I'm sorry I had the utter audacity of using platform-dependent patching and burning solutions. Forgive me for those were the only solutions I knew of at the time and there was heavy investment in them with the group I was with - they taught me CDRWIN. Blame them if you must and spare me your wrath. Shucks, if only you were there to have led them in a different, more platform-independent direction, why, things might've worked out differently. Anyway, I'm also very sorry for preferring the PC platform and Microsoft over Linux, and for lacking the initiative to "think" more platform-indepedent mindedly in what I do. Really. Heh.

Wow.  You've sure got something up your ass.  It wasn't a personal attack on you; but rather a comment that Cdrdao is crippleware junk.  Lighten up a bit.

Actually, I did mention it to you, and I was quite polite.  Still didn't seem to matter for you, but seeing as you have the attention span of a gnat, I can see how it was easilly missed (the magical Google does not lie):
  http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:X14a9VQ1C40J:rigg.arrowsmash.com/mb/ikonboard.cgi%3Fact%3DNW%3Bf%3D7%3Bt%3D1257

As an FYI: I only suggested the move to Cdrdao or something else because I anticipated that Cdrwin would break for even Windows users.  Looks like the case.  And, I'm merely quoting what *you* said; that you had no interest in making it work.  Hey...  Would you look at that?  Not only do I mention the README (that you insist I had missed), but I even offer to make future patches for you that will be cross-platform compatible.  Seems you didn't care after all, judging by the response.  Not that I take it personally.  I just say it how it is.

Congrats on the shutdown of your piracy ring.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Xak III Patching issues]

You aren't doing anything wrong!

I got it working.  After trying like hell to get my bin size to match up on Linux, I had to resort to using that shitty Goldenhawk CDRWIN progam (on my work PC) because NightWolve has no interest in using open/cross platform software that works to its *full potential*.

Odds are that CDRWIN's non-standard bin/cue format has changed again, and is producing bin files that simply will not matched up to what is required for the patching program.  I think that I used version 3.9K in order to rip the disk, patched it, and then burned it with the Windows port of CDRDAO (also known as BurnAtOnce - http://www.burnatonce.com/index.htm?news), seeing as I didn't want to wait until the end of eternity re-burning the game at 1x (which is the limitation of the unregistered CDRDAO).

As a fallback, I can send you a copy as well...  But it looks like CrackTiger has you covered.  PM me if you ever need it.

[Off-Topic / How much would YOU Pay?]

It depends upon the game.  No offense to some of the other guys out there who have made "new" PCE games;  they've been noble efforts, but haven't been all that interesting.

Now, for a quality RPG?  Probably as much as $50, but it depends upon how good the game is (among things like packaging).  If you want to charge professional game prices, you need to have a professional-grade game.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / HuCard converter on ebay]

Purple Barney gets a lot of crap, but I have to say that mine's been exceptionally reliable.  I guess it's a toss-up as to whether or not you get a good one, but mine's allowed me to expand my import collection quite nicely.  Almost all of my games are now Japanese PCE titles these days.

[General Gaming / 360]

This still makes me laugh  

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/23/xbox.scuffle.ap/index.html

Melee cancels local Xbox sales.

Wow.  People are such morons.  It's a flippin game system, and they're fighting over it!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Advice]

I've purchased from TZD a few times, but as most mention the selection is getting a bit slim there.  I do most of my purchasing on Ebay these days.  I would suggest that you start looking into buying the Japanese imports instead of the North American games.  You'll often find that they are better priced, in better condition, and more easy to find.  The exceptions, of course, would be any text-heavy games.  I tend to try to go for the English titles in those circumstances.  I used to buy US releases, but I just found that the Japanese releases are much more viable - to a point at which almost my entire collection consists of Japanese PCE games.  Good luck!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / I Purchased Sapphire!]

Ha.  I suspect that if Aaron were to check the IP, this one would match one of the other users.  

Funny post though.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / I Purchased Sapphire!]

Damn, people.  Just chill out and enjoy a game of Sapphire.  

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / I Purchased Sapphire!]

Here's a larger version:



The paper actually doesn't look very old, it's just a weird yellow tone which my scanner tries to eliminate in the first place...

Maybe it looks better in b/w... /letter_top.jpg

Or like this: /letter.jpg

lol, any particular photo you'd like ;) ? Maybe today's paper alongside with it ? (don't you dare....)

Wow.  Very interesting!

Nice to see that you're still following this thread.  By the way...  I'm still very happy about my Sapphire purchase. 

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / I Purchased Sapphire!]

Haven't been here in a while...can't believe this is still a topic of discussion. I can't fathom anyone believing these are anything other than bootlegs.

I bought one, its so obvious looking at it its not even funny.

Heh.  I've been away for a month or two as well.  Hard to believe that a topic I started *months* ago is still going on.  

Hey. I'm just happy that I am able to play a game I'd likely not otherwise be able to play (downloading pirated copies with inferior lossy audio aside).

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / I Purchased Sapphire!]

I doubt that Hudson will ever say *anything*.  They likely don't know, or don't even care.

This is undoubtably a fake.  A good one, but certainly fake.  I knew it when I ordered one.  Most everyone else did.  The likelyhood of Hudson reproducing a game for a niche market *in Europe* (where all of these seem to come from) is slim to none.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Question about controllers. Calling all experts.]

I'm going to do this as well.  I have a brand new Avenue Pad 6 and am planning to use it with a TG16.  I haven't decided if I'm going to do a cable swap, makje an adapter, or build a reverse Turbo Tap from a DUO tap.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / TURBO DUO SOUND FIX!! (56k beware)]

Nice work!

[General Gaming / Should there be a new powerful dedicated 2D/arcade console?]

nah!
what we need is a company bought the license and release reworked NeoGeo in more compact and at much much lower price with all the back catalogue in wallet friendly price - say $25-30 per pop and if you buy 4-5 titles at once transaction you get the console for free otherwise $45+ per unit...

he he

I'd buy it!  Majesco?  They did it with a few SEGA systems.  

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Interest in refurbishing Turbo Expresses?]

so are u bringing back to normal or are u making it even better?

If by normal, you mean like new, then yes  

The only part I need is a working PCB.  The screen and controls and case are all brand new.

Do you have a stockpile of these things, or something?  

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / pc-engine looks bette]

What's the most beautifully engineered console ever made?  The Dreamcast!  It just looks great, and has tons of power packed inside that small design.    It's right up there with the PCE in terms of lots of power packed in a small size.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / possibly answerd before but serch didnt supply answer]

Yeah. That's one reason why I mentioned that 7V would be the lower end of the operating voltage

ive got a multivolt adaptor and have found a socket that ALMOST fits. 7.5 volts gives sound but no picture, and 9 volts gives sound and pictures. now all i need is a socket that fits perfectly and ill be happy.

as far as im concerned this topic is closed

Sometimes, those power adapters have a slightly lower than rated voltage when a load is applied to them.  While one might work on the 7.5VDC setting, another may not.  It's a toss-up.  You never quite know what you'll get with those generic adapters.    Regardless, I'm sure that the Express/GT has an internal voltage regulator that will compensate for slight variance.

By the way...  I suspect that an adapter that can supply up to 700mA of current is sufficient.  Most generic adapters are typically rated up to 1500mA (1.5A).  It doesn't matter if it's higher, since the system will only draw what it needs.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / possibly answerd before but serch didnt supply answer]

Remember the Express takes 6 x 1.5 V AA batteries = 9V
Rechargeable batteries = 1.2 V each normally = 7.2 V

You will notice that rechargeable batteries crap out much faster.

Yeah.  That's one reason why I mentioned that 7V would be the lower end of the operating voltage.  NiMH cells don't have the same discharge curve as alkalines.  They usually retain 1.2VDC throughout 90% of the usage cycle, and rapidly drop thereafter.  While they'll last much longer than alkalines in the Turbo Express, you'll know when the cells are dying, because the machine will promptly begin to die.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / possibly answerd before but serch didnt supply answer]

Seeing as it takes 6 AA batteries, I'd say around 7-9VDC is fine (7 is listed on the Turbo Express).

Yeah, 7 is also listed on the GT but after serching  the web for an adaptor all the multiple voltage ones i could find listed 3,4.5,6,7.5 and 9 volts!, would the 7.5 volts burn out my GT?

Probably not.  Remember that it takes 6 AA 1.5VDV cells that are in series, which probably varies between 7 to 9V under normal operating conditions.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Double Dragon 2]

In the NES version to do the hurricane kick you jump up in the air by hitting both buttons, then rapidly press one after the other, so it goes like A+B then A followed quickly by B.  I could consistently pull it off about 9/10 tries with that method.  You have to be fast though, so your guys button mashing method would probably yield about the same results.  I never liked button mashing though, I always liked knowing the proper commands and trying to do them consistently, hah.

This is correct, but I seem to remember that jump kicking was executed similarly.  Perhaps it was a directional jump, rather than stationary.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Double Dragon 2]

Oh yeah, I remember there being a spin kick or hurricane kind of move on DD2 but i can't remember how to do it.  how do you pull off the move?

I seem to recall that I would rapidly press both attack buttons on the NES version.  It was actually a matter of proper timing though.  I used an NES MAX controller, and You could just hold both rapid fire buttons down to perform this attack with perfection.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / possibly answerd before but serch didnt supply answer]

How long do those recharable batteries last?

By the way, you can buy Turbo Express AC adapters from TZD.com , but I don't know if they are the same as PCE GT AC adapters.

I've never timed it, but I have to say that I've never had them go out during gameplay.  I typically keep them fully charged up before I play any games on the express.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / possibly answerd before but serch didnt supply answer]

Doesn't matter, as long as you apply the proper DC voltage that is listed on the machine's jack.  Seeing as it takes 6 AA batteries, I'd say around 7-9VDC is fine (7 is listed on the Turbo Express).

Really, it might be easier if you just buy a bunch of high-quality NiMH rechargables instead.  I've been using them for years, and the life is excellent on this machine.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / MANY MANY TROUBLES WITH MY NEW TURBO DUO, I NEED HELP!..]

My opinion is that the Turbo+CD and PCE+CD are the most reliable systems, followed by the DUO R(X).  None of these systems have the same problems that seem to eventually plague most standard DUO systems.

My Turbo Grafx w/CD is going 15 years strong now.    It also plays CDRs without any problems, but I don't have many of those (just the Rigg translations of XAK III and Ys 4, that I created from my own legitimate pressed copies of the games).  The Japanese PCE with CD addon might be a better choice if you want to play a lot of Japanese games.  I know I find that I use a Hucard adapter more often than not, particularly because all od my CDROM system/arcade cards are Japanese.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Gradius II]

I think that several of their games (like the US release of Castlevania) included an additional sound chip inside the cart, which produced much beefier tunes.  I wonder if Life Force was one such game as well?

See, now I am thinking that it was the other way around (the Japanese got the the special sound, which was stripped from the NES version).  Ahhhh, brain no longer functions.

Well, that is the case for Castlevania 3.  It was the opposite for Castlevania 2 though.  I'm not sure why they did it one way and not the other.  I think that the original Castlevania 2 was for the Famicom Disk system, and the US release gained the added audio channel.  The Japanese cart release of Castlevania 3, however, gained a Konami sound chip (The VRC6 or something).

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Gradius II]

It probably doesn't help that when you die, you start off at the begining of the sector instead of appearing where you left off.  However, it is possible to get quite far after a lot of play.  It's also very rewarding to do so.

Still, I was able to get much further on Life-Force with limited lives, and it was (overall) more enjoyable in many respects.  There was just something about the way that game was designed.  The NES game sounded great as well.  Konami was always good at making those NES games sound superb.  Heck...  They've always made great music for all of their games.  I think that several of their games (like the US release of Castlevania) included an additional sound chip inside the cart, which produced much beefier tunes.  I wonder if Life Force was one such game as well?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Question TurboExpress]

Converters will work fine.  I use a WH-301 "Purple Barney" converter with my Turbo Express to play Japanese games.  You could also get it modded instead.  It's much harder to do on the portable systems, but I'll bet D-Lite could handle it.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / The "HE" symbol]

My thought is "NEC Home Electronics" - "NEC-HE".

Note that you'll see "NEC Home Electronics" listed on the lincense information on the title screen of some games.  I think that I really noticed it last night.  It's interesting that you bring it up today.  

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / CALL FOR DEAD DUOS]

Thanks for the excellent information, D-Lite. I am going to be sure to power up my Turbo Duo whenever possible so it doesn't have any problems. By the way, will you ever look into the PCE CD's problems more in the future? It would be nice to understand more information about it's problems as well.

You can't stop capacitors from failing, but they can ultimately be replaced.  Electrolytic capacitors have an electrolyte that (as D-Lite mentioned) can dry out over time, reducing the ability for the cap to charge.  There is, unfortunately, nothing that you can do to stop this from happening.  It solely depends upon the electrolyte and the general construction of the capacitor.  As manufacturers cut costs to produce these things, the quality seems to be dropping as well.

During the '90s (particularly in the late '90s but all the way through 2002), there were a lot of bad electrolyte solutions out there.  It's certainly possible that they could stretch back to the date of the DUO manufacturing.  The fact that the DUO has such common problems like this has always led me to believe that there were some faulty caps that were used in the construction of the system.  Hard to tell if it's somehow related to all of the caps that were blowing up in motherboards several years ago (I was one such victim).    I think that D-Lite mentioned that the overall condition of the faulty caps *looked* fine, so it sounds like it could be a different problem.

I've long suspected bad caps as being the culprit, and I believe it's something that only affects DUO systems (but not systems with the CDROM addon).  I still really want to get my hands on a bad DUO.  If anyone wants to sell one or supply it as a test system (which I would be willing to attempt to fix for free with no guarantees that I have the solution to the problem), please send me a private message.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Hucard Sound Output]

   

Sega used the cheapest sound synth they could get their hands on, and at the time, Yamaha wasn't even middle-of-the-line in terms of synth quality...they were pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel. Although it's all individual taste in the end, most people will say that the MD's sound quality was on the verge of abysmal. For such a crap chip though, there were a few notable standouts (Sonic The Hedgehog, Streets Of Rage, Bubsy), and then a whole boatload of utter crap (Spiderman, Chakan, Street Fighter II, the list goes on seemingly endlessly).

It's mostly because it's a pretty primative FM synth gnerator, but its DAC also only could handle 8-bit PCM samples.  Not particularly high quality, by any means.  I've always found that it sounded pretty terrible, even back when it was a rather new system.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Background on Street Fighter 2]

Cosmetically, I prefer the PC Engine version to the other systems.  It has nice vibrant colours, and the sound fx are nice and bassey.  I really like that in a fighting game.

If SF2 was on CD, there would likely be huge load times, and that's something you don't want in an arcade game.

OD

The color pallette is lacking compared to the SNES version, but it's the play that counts.  It certainly plays very well.  The audio is distorted and tinny, and lacks depth, but the songs are fairly true to the arcade.

As for the CD, you may have forgotten that several Neo Geo "arcade games" were ported to the PCE, and made use of the "Arcade Card".  These were top-notch ports.  Though they were not "arcade perfect" (nor is Street Fighter 2), they are superb conversions.  I suspect that they wanted to be able to offer the game to a much larger userbase.