10/31/2023: Localization News - Dead of the Brain 1!

No, NOT a trick, a Halloween treat! Presenting the Dead of the Brain 1 English patch by David Shadoff for the DEAD last official PC Engine CD game published by NEC before exiting the console biz in 1999! I helped edit/betatest and it's also a game I actually finished in 2023, yaaay! Shubibiman also did a French localization. github.com/dshadoff/DeadoftheBrain
twitter.com/NightWolve/PCENews
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Topics - JohnnyPhantom

#1
Getting back into TG16, it's going to be a slow road as I notice the prices have jumped and leaped a few times since I last collected. Luckily I got a everdrive to help with the game droughts in between pickups as I wait to find games at a decent price (Still waiting to find Magical Chase for $2 at a yard sale) I grabbed this last night for $10 at my local game store (they didn't have much of a selection, about 6 games, and most were $80+)

It's a Classic! Keith Courage!

Let the re-collecting begin!

signal-2021-10-04-173250.jpeg
#2
Not sure if anyone has one for sale. I just picked up a TurboExpress, but the back housing has some annoying scratches and white stress marks in the bottom corner of the system on the back housing. Looks like it fell and hit some concrete some point in its life. The front shell, battery cover, and everything else is fine. Just the back shell could be replaced to kick up its condition a notch. It's also missing the rope like wrist strap if anyone has a spare one of those for sale.

Thanks everyone!
~John
#3
For a while, I wasn't collecting TG16/PCE stuff, I had some in the past but didn't use it much so sold it all (was about 20-30 games, 2 TurboExpress systems, and a Turbo Duo) Big regrets selling it, and I did miss it in the back of my head. I sold it because I was in the middle of moving and trying to raise money and clear clutter. Now time has passed and I'm in my house with my wife now and it's all finally settling down (the move ended up being a huge headache with contractors screwing me over and lawyers and goodies like that). Anyway, yesterday after some yard sale hopping just looking for random things I have an interest in, I came across this, and I picked it up, I didn't even care it it worked or not, for that price I had to have it. I even talked the seller down to $20. I got it home, the screen lights up, and that seems to be all it does. I did get a TurboExpress and same behavior, lights up, no picture. So I'll recap it. It's also rekindled my love for the PCE/TG16 and starting the collecting back up, just picked up a DUO-R (non working) off eBay last night, hope I can fix that as well.

Glad to see there are still some bargains out there, just far and few between.
#4
Hey Everyone, It's been about 6 years since I sold off my PCE/TG16 stuff and was on this site. (big regrets selling it, looks like prices have shot up a ton since then)
Anyway, I'm working on getting back into the PCE/TG16. I picked up a Turbo Express broken that I think just needs a recap, the caps come in tomorrow from console5, as well as a LCD I haven't decided if I want to install or not in the express, so I'll know soon if that's all it needs. I also just won a PCE Duo-R last night https://www.ebay.com/itm/334056446113 looks like it powers on, it's in pretty good shape, and it's playing some game (anyone know what game that is in the pictures?) I'm assuming the game is a CD based game. The description says the system works but won't play hu card games. Any idea what might cause this? Would bad capacitors cause this? I hope it's repairable and not something like a bad special chip/processor/cart connector destroyed (something that's not easily sourced to be replaced, like capacitors would be).

Just looking for some possible ideas on what it could be, It should arrive in about a week (also ordered the controller that shipped with that system, it's super yellow, so UV+peroxide based de-yellowing is in my future)

Thanks in advance everyone! It's great to be back!
#5
Hey Everyone,
I had my collection listed on eBay, and figured someone here might be interested as well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321804234498

On eBay I'm asking $800 but here I'll take any reasonable offers ^-^

IMG
#6
Hey everyone,
I'm not sure how many people were following my journey into PC Engine goodness, but a late last year, I picked up a Turbo Duo Cheap! It played some games, but it had the common issues that seems to plaque a lot of Duo systems :( plus it also has a spot on the CD drive lid that wouldn't come off, looked like dried glue, but nothing took it off, and it felt like it was in the plastic. I noticed when playing Castlevania, that the music would chop, or static, or just vanish. I've replaced all the caps in the unit, and that seemed to fix it. Then I tried other games and noticed that barely anything was working. I then replaced the laser, still no luck. I greased up the drives gears and put a couple drops of hobby motor oil in the motor, and problems remained the same. I then adjusted the pots and still nothing. My system would not skip audio tracks, causing most games to freeze. If I played a music CD and just let it sit and play, it would play the entire CD, but skipping a track would cause the issues to occur. I then did the best move ever, I sent my system to chop5. He tested the machine, and in no time was able to determine that the lasers motor wasn't spinning at the speed it should have been. He replaced it with a new motor and now it runs beautifully!! This was my only Duo, so I had nothing to compare the motor speed to, so I had no clue the motor wasn't spinning up to par and getting the laser to its destination on time. He then also replaced the audio caps I replaced, with even better caps! He dose INCREDIBLE WORK!!!! I got my system back and dove right in to some games, and I've never had a single problem since. Now that my system plays beautifully, its time to make it match that on the outside. Since the Duo is a hard to find system, shell parts are hard to find. so I needed something to cover that Drive lid issue.

Then I think I came up with a good idea, take a look! Black carbon decals!

I wasn't sure If i just wanted to cover the drive, or put a decal across the entire system, I've included the before, CD only, and across the entire system decal pics.

TurboDuo1.jpg
facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151706544244374
TurboDuo2.jpg
facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151706544404374
TurboDuo3.jpg
facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151706544409374

Let me know what you think!

I'm loving my system now! BIG THANKS TO CHOP5 Who also gave me a Chop Sudo and works incredibly on my Memory Bank card!

Now I just need to detail clean it ^-^ get rid of all that dust build up in the nooks and crannys
#7
Hey everyone,
I'm working on making a Japan to US hu card adapter, and if all goes well, I can make a few for sale cheap.

I have the idea and how im gonna do it in my head, but curious, whats the best thing I could use as a hu card slot. I saw some folks use a PCI connector, that seems to work, but I'm looking for  something a lil better..

I'll post updates when I get started on this project, it's going to be a timely thing

Thanks!
~John
#8
Hey everyone.
This is my "Last Attempt" thread post before I ship it out to "thesteve"
I have a Turbo Duo. I've replaced all the Capacitors and attempted to adjust the pots by ear and also with a multimeter measuring the resistance using the chart below. I also tried both the original laser and a new replacement laser. Same results.

IMG

It almost seems to be working great!... almost. What it does it, It will turn on, play HU cards PERFECTLY, but when I play a CD based game, either a real retail game or a CD-R copy. It'll play the intro of the game, the music, and then thats it. It will pretty much freeze. I've tested the system with a Audio CD and found that it will play Track 1 of any music CD just fine, perfect audio, crisp, clean of clicks or pops, and no static. BUT! when it goes to play any track higher than 1, the laser struggles, can't find where it should read, goes back and forth, the cd will stop spinning at times, and it never plays audio track 2 or higher.

I've attempted to adjust the pots and the dial on the laser as well, so far no improvements. Right now I'm back to the measurements from the chart above, based upon the problems, can anyone tell me where I should start to troubleshoot? or what pot to focus on?

Here's a video I shot of the problem
I'm open to suggestions, and like I said, if no luck still, off to "thesteve" it goes ^-^

Thanks everyone!
#9
My Duo is still in some need of a good looking CD drive Lid,

Mines okay.. but melted :(

If you have one to sell let me know and your asking price

thanks!!
~John
#10
Hey everyone, It's been a while,
It's great to be back ^-^, was wicked busy with other problems/projects these last few months. BUT!! Free time now, so I dusted off the non working Duo and replaced all the caps! Wooo!!
I also replaced the laser when I last touched it.
Now its like 99% almost working. Here's the scoop. I adjusted the pots according to this guide, https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=8926.0 , measuring resistance with a multimeter
Using this chart...

IMG

Now, all my pots are lined up pretty close to those numbers. EXCEPT!!! 105.
on my 105 pot, AC is correct, BUT!!! not AB. AB shows ABSOLUTELY NO RESISTANCE at all. a big ol' 0 shows up on the multimeter, and when I do a connection test, the multimeter makes the "beep" noise to indicate those two points are connected. I looked around the entire board and I don't detect/see any solder bridges or anything. I can't see whats causing the connection. When I power the unit on, and load a game, as far as I can tell, the machine runs perfectly! Games load, HU card sounds, CD sounds, and redbook audio sounds perfect, no clicks or pops or anything.

Could it be a bad pot? are they replaceable? what should I do?

I'd like to make sure the system is 100% repaired, but this pot having no resistance makes me a lil.. iffy.

Should I just ignore it?

thanks for the help everyone!
#11
I just got a Turbo Everdrive for Christmas this year, man that things sweet!!

Been playing alot of those games I'll never get my hands on (mainly Magical Chase)

Is there any free to distribute awesome homebrew games I should check out?
#12
Hey everyone,

looking for the possible dangers here,
I have a power adapter that came from a old device thats been trashed long agi (possibly speakers or something, I always save the cords on stuff I toss) it has the right amps and polarity to be used on the Turbo Express, and the tip fits! but!

The voltage is only at 5v not the 7v the system wants. I know to use anything over 7v is bad since it could blow something.
but what are the dangers of using a power supply thats slightly less than what is asked?

I tested it and the device powers on and works what appears to be just fine, are there any long term effects?

Thanks everyone!
#13
Hey everyone!
I've received my 2 Turbo Express's in the mail today

I'm gonna have to swap some parts around to make 1 awesome stock one, and 1 ready for LCD mod goodness.

One of the Expresses has a pristine looking case! and the screen is perfect! but no backlight, assuming its a bad bulb, I'd like this one to stay stock. So I'll swap the insides of this one with the insides of the next one I'll tell you about

The other Express powers up, backlight, but no video or sound (cap issue, in fact I'll be replacing caps on both units), but the case has a lil more battle damage, and the screen lens is scuffed up. So This one will become the modded one with a 3.5" LCD (since it will end up with the bad backlight screen) and a new lens for the 3.5" LCD mod from thesteve.

now that the story is out of the way, now onto the topic question. The first express case looks great BUT! the screw in the top right of the unit (when face down) spins and spins and never catches, looks like it was stripped, whats the best way to repair this? the hole it goes into looks just fine on both halves of the unit, just seems the few threads it actually catches have been ripped out :(

any advice?
thanks all!
#14
Too Many Choices! Help Me Decide! ](*,)

Sorry for the crowded subject line... but here's where I'm at.

I'm awaiting on 2 TurboExpress units. 1 I will keep as stock as possible, replace the caps, and that's it. The other (hopefully has a bad Screen/dead pixels to justify doing this) will be modded with a new LCD screen and a Video out port.

My question to you all is.... which screen should I do?
I'll be sending the device to thesteve for the mod.
Currently he offers the 3.5" lcd and from what I've read on this forum he does a great job.
If I want to go with a 2.5" lcd, he hasn't found a good quality screen that he's happy with and will offer the service if I supply the LCD myself.

So here are my questions
What would you go with?
I like the bigger screen size offered by the 3.5" but you loose the original border/screen lens, and from the pictures I've seen the video doesn't go right to the edge of the 3.5" and theres still a blank/black border on the video so you don't really get the 3.5"

the 2.5" I also like since it preserves the original look of the system, you keep the screen lens that says NEC and TurboExpress on it. so I can't decide. but it's a bit smaller than the original 2.6" but MAN is it a better picture

Also can anyone tell me a great LCD screen thats the 2.5" and where to get it?

Thanks everyone!
#15
Hey everyone.

My Turbo Duo appears to be getting worse and worse... ::sigh:: but lets see if I can't get some help and bring my buddy back to life.

What it does currently is play All my HU cards just fine, when I put a game CD in, it will play the game up until there's some Redbook audio then it won't load anything (no image, no audio, just spins, gives up, click, spins, gives up, click. over and over)

Example if I put Ys I & II in it loads, plays the intro screen, then as soon as it fades to black to go to the next scene that has audio, nothing happens.

On Ys III I get nothing at all since that game starts with audio. IF I load this game up and press the eject button on the lid, the game will un-hang and show video (just no audio)

These are Retail CD's (not burned copies) and are spotless

Things I've done so far. So far I've replaced the caps in the unit, greased up the gears and rods, and even tried replacing the laser with a new HOP-M3 (either with the new or original laser the issues remains the same)
On the replacement laser I attempted to twist the dial from one end to the other, barely turning the dial at all each attempt.
Also both the white and red cables that attach the lens to the main board have been reseated and attached firmly all the way, no loose connections

What else can I try? what should I look at?

Thanks everyone!!! I hope this can be resolved. ] ]
#16
I own a Turbo Duo, and working on getting a Turbo Express soon. I saw and love the idea of the Tennokoe Bank (a device I could use to backup and transfer my saved games between systems).

My only concern, which I'll assume to be true, is since the Tennokoe Bank is a Japan device, will it not work on my USA systems? will I need to get a adapter/converter? or will it work natively in my systems?

Are there any USA alternatives to the Tennokoe Bank device?

Also, I think I saw that the Tennokoe Bank uses a battery to power the memory to save the games, anyone know or can link me to a "how-to" on replacing the battery?

Thanks everyone!!
#17
Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB: Ys III Manual
11/20/2012, 04:44 PM
Hey Everyone!
Just picked up Ys III cheap! has CD and Case, but no manual :( looking to buy a manual if anyone has one for sale
thanks!!
#18
Hey everyone!
I love those weird "WTF?" games that are super fun, so since I'm still a TG/PCE n00b what's the weirdest game around? Import or not, don't matter, just curious ^-^

Thanks all!
#19
 My local game store has a cd only of beyond shadowgate. I'm staring at it now. Is it worth $99.99? I can't find it online anywhere
#20
Hey Everyone,
I just won a set of 3 games for the TurboGrafx CD, each game comes with case, manual, and CD
I won these 3 games for $30

Ys I & II
Addams Family
Sherlock Holmes

Did I do good?

Looks like this was still cheaper to get all 3 rather than getting Ys I & II alone
#21
Looking to complete my Splatter House game, just Need the manual, if anyone has one for sale let me know :)
#22
Hey everyone
that darn cat of mine (well my wife's) had chewed up a 2" long area of my TurboDuos power cord, the cord isn't cut in two, and still works fine, just the outer plastic casing around the wire has teeth marks and a bit of the wire showing. Right now I have it covered with some electrical tape. Can anyone tell me of a better solution?

I'd really like to just put some heat shrink wire wrap on it, but it would have to be a .5 inch diameter to fit around the tip and be able to shrink to .2 inch to wrap around the cable, and I don't think its gonna shrink that much.

Any advice?
#23
Hey everyone,
This could have been a mistake by me, a result of a bad cap (currently in the process of replacing them all) or maybe its just my eyes
I had just replaced some audio caps to fix a issue, plugged it into the TV for some play, and it seemed to me the colors were a lil... faded...

but im not 100% sure on this. I may be remembering wrong, or im being to paranoid since I started replacing caps, or I have some new bad caps to replace, or my AV cable is junk. I don't remember.

but my question is (and I kinda feel the answer will be yes) but would bad caps cause the colors to wash out? if not what should I look at to resolve this?

Thanks!
#24
Hey everyone!
Curious, what are some great games to get me hooked in on the TurboGrafx-16 or TurboGrafx-CD awesomeness?

I've been a owner of a TurboDuo for a couple weeks now (which is neat since the manufacturing date was 10/1992 and I got it 10/2012 so 20 its year anniversary I got the system) I've been playing some of what I think are some must haves like Dracula X and Splatterhouse but I'm sure there are more great ones out there

The ones I'm dying to play are Ghost Manor, Neutopia, Neutopia II, and Loom (just working on getting any of those for a decent price)

looking for any suggestions ^-^
Blazing Lasers looks good too, but I'm not much into scrolling shooters, I do love Puzzle games and RPGs
#25
Hey everyone,
This Duo has been a nightmare, but I still love it ^-^
So where I'm at now, I've replaced all 6 caps from this video ->
and the 1 cap from this video ->
which has resolved my static audio problem, however now, when the system warms up, the audio quality will degrade and become garbled (almost sounds like under water) and will be gin to get choppy.

What caps should I look at next?

Thanks everyone!!
#26
I had a nice one until this large fat orange cat in my house ate it :/ now need a new one
#27
Hey everyone,
My TurboDuo works fine but came with only a A/V cord with a yellow and a white end (mono) is there a place where I can get a stereo version (Yellow, Red, White) of this cable? or how to make my own?
Thanks!!
#28
Hey everyone!
I recently got a TurboDuo for $5 and it works, long story short. The CD door has something on it or melted into it that I can't seem to remove. I've tried vaseline, soap + water, gasoline, and more with no difference. So looking for any advice on what to try next (looking for solutions that wont cause any more damage or eat away the plastic). I've also posted a WTB topic looking for a replacement door. Or is there a badass looking decal I can slap over it? or should I just leave it alone/as-is?

IMG

Thanks everyone!
#29
Hey everyone!
I've grown up as a Nintendo only kinda guy, with some Sega splashed in and a hint of 3DO.
I never knew about the TurboGrafx growing up. I recently just got a TurboDup for $5 at my local gaming store (pretty sure the price was a mistake) but anyway. I have alot of questions about this great lil machine and am excited to find such a awesome site exists for new and old fans of the TG/PCE!!

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot, if I'm not, please let me know and I'll fix that.

First the history, here's my story so far...
My local game store was having a sale where everything game, movie, music, and toy realted is 50% off!
I already grabbed a bunch of awesome deals
but I stopped by again the next day (the sale was a week long) and I saw this tucked away behind the counter, asking what it was (since I coudln't really make it out) it found out it was a Turbo Duo! With the controller, power, and tv hookups!
I asked how much? The employee said, I'm not sure if it even works, we havn't tested it out yet, how about $10? I asked "is that before or after the 50% off?" it was before. So I paid him the $5+tax and speeded home to play with it to see if it even worked. and by golly! it WORKED!!!

The only thing I don't like is what ever it is on the CD drive door, not sure if its just worn down or its some kinda gloss/glue on it, I'm gonna give the system my cleaning overhaul and find out ^-^

now here's where I'm at and could use a little input,
since the system only had a 7 day return period (not that it mattered, I wasn't going to return it for $5) I wanted to make sure it works so I burned a few games on CD-R's to test it out, as well as two game I wanted the most (Dracula X and Ys IV) are Japan imports only and I wanted to play them in english and found the patches to do so, so they have to be played on a CD-R. It seems like every game I tried had the same problem, they would load and play, but in about 10 minutes the music would suddenly static for a half a second and stop completely, and would only return when I went to another area or stage where a different track would play (or if i reboot the system).
I did some searching online and saw the Duo had a cap issue which would cause some sound issues, so I replaced those and the problem remained.

I then saw that the discs TOC's had to be correct, so I used binchuck and tocfixer and I'm getting better success but still a few games will cut out. Is this more a burning CD-R issue, is it because im using a 70min CD-R vs a 65min? could it be the laser (which I ordered a new one of to replace anyway just in case). or is it something else?
I don't have any REAL TurboGrafx-CD games just yet, waiting for a few in the mail.
Also I read that using CD-Rs will ruin the laser, is this true?

Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks everyone!!

MyTurboDuo.jpg
#30
Hey Everyone!
I just got myself a TurboDuo and working on restoring it to a much better looking and working state. However its CD door/cover has some epoxy or glue or something on it I cannot get off, so I'm hoping to find a replacement cover.

please PM me if you have one for sale ^-^

Thanks everyone!!!
~John