Messages

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Anybody got a copy of Blazing Lazers (U) for sale?]

My brother's birthday is coming up in a few weeks.  In order to keep his (US) Duo from sitting on the floor and collecting dust, I've decided to get him the most sublime Blazing Lazers.

Anybody got an extra hucard?  I'll pay you with Paypal or whatever else works.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB: Arcade Card Pro...I want to play the cool games :D]

I'm wondering if anyone here has an extra arcade card pro (not duo) for the PC engine that I could buy.  They sell on ebay for about $40, but someone suggested 40 is a little pricey and that I might look around here first to see if someone would sell it for a little less.  Does anyone have a card for sale or know some websites in Japan where I could buy it cheaper?

Please help me fight the predicament of having Sapphire but not being able to play it!  Thanks!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Turbografx Startup Screen Color?]

I have three Turbografx consoles, and each one displays a different color upon starting up:

1 - Whitish pink

2 - Brilliant pink (almost magenta)

3 - Blue / purplish

The games seem to look the same on all of them, but now I'm getting paranoid.  Is there a certain color that should display on every Turbografx startup screen?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: TG-CD: So near, yet so far]

Did you try formatting the system? (Press Select on the Title screen)

Didn't think of that.  Tried formatting the system and unfortunately the same result!

Here's something else interesting.  I was playing a HuCard and pressed play on the CD player to warm it up.  After about 10 minutes, it started playing the soundtrack to Y's 1&2 along with the audio to my HuCard game!  I guess it can play both at the same time....

I don't think it's the docking station, though, is it?  Is it normal for a docking station to prevent a CD player from playing games?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / TG-CD: So near, yet so far]

I feel like this TG-CD unit is so close, yet there's just something simple that's preventing it from playing games!

Now that I have Y's 1&2 to try on the system, I gave it a shot.  I booted up the TG and let the CD player warm up (10 mins or so) by pressing play.  It eventually started playing the CD's tracks.  Track 1 was some girl telling you to stop playing the CD in a stereo and put it in the TG.  The following 42 tracks were songs from Y's 1&2 (which has a sweet soundtrack). 

That's all fine and dandy, but when I press run to actually play the game, it's still stuck at 'just a moment.'  CD's spinning normally, but game never starts.  I tried turning it off and on; cleaning the system card w/ alcohol, swapping out another Turbografx, all had the same result.

The CD player seems fine; it plays audio CD tracks, CD-ROM game tracks, arcade CD-ROM tracks (I tried Sapphire), and even the tracks from a Playstation game!  But it's not getting past the system screen.   

Laser issue, maybe?  It's at the center of the player where it should be.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: When TZD had a liquidation sale...]

While we're on the subject of TZD's glory days, check out what I found....

This is what their website used to look like in...

1996:  http://web.archive.org/web/19970418014246/www.tzd.com/tzd.htm

2003:  http://web.archive.org/web/20030409034546/http://www.tzd.com/

2007 (near the very end):  http://web.archive.org/web/20071009122717/http://www.tzd.com/

Man, check out that catalog!  Factory sealed Turbo Duo's for 200?  Brand new Hu Cards for $19?  Repairs for any hardware?

Pretty bittersweet.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need some advice on my TG-CD]

I'm a few steps further (now that my docking station is working again, cough).  If I play HuCards for a while it will warm the system up, so that when I put the system card in and press "play" on the CD player, it only takes 3-4 mins for the CD to start spinning and actually playing the audio through my TV.  That's admittedly pretty cool.

I press stop on the CD player and press "run" on the controller.  This makes the CD player say "PC" instead of the track number of the CD and go back to spinning.  However, it's still stuck at the "just a moment" when this happens.  Stupid system screen.

Could be the system card, but I should probably try with a real game first.  So I'll get a game on ebay...like, are there any games that can play on a system card 2.0?  I'm looking at the list on Wikipedia and it looks like Fighting Street is the only notable game that doesn't require a super system card...

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

Ok.... this is interesting news. I have a buddy that just picked up a "broken" cd dock off of eBay for $20 with no CD player. I'm curious now if the locking bit just needed to be turned. That'd be super cool if that's all it was. I'll have to let him know. Thanks guys!

Also, been lurking forever. Glad I can finally post! 

I saw that broken docking station on ebay.  I was wondering who would end up taking it on...let me know if he ever gets it to work!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / When TZD had a liquidation sale...]

Was anyone ever on TZD's mailing list?

I just found this farewell e-mail:

Turbo Zone Direct must clear out inventory! Our loss is your gain!

Well it had to happen, TZD must clear out thousands of inventory items before we must move in 30 days. This is your opportunity to save a bundle and lighten the load we must move. Here's an offer you can't beat, one we've never made before. We're offering 50% off our ENTIRE inventory for the month of November. Here are the details: You must include MOVING SALE in the comments section of your order. You must purchase at least $30.00 worth of merchandise at the net cost (after the 50% is deducted.) We will adjust the order total here. Your credit card is not charged until the order is picked to assure you the correct amount.

As usual nothing is held back, there are no limits to the number of items you may purchase or the number of orders you may place. This offer will end November 31,2007. We expect to close out a number of titles during this sale; we will make every effort to update the web site. This is a golden opportunity for you to stock up on your favorite Turbo merchandise at a super price. Don't miss out! Turbo merchandise not sold by TZD is getting harder and harder to find. As you know everything we sell is new, factory-sealed merchandise.

We do not know yet where we will be in 30 days so act now!

TZD is also looking for a wholesaler that might be able to take on or take over the legacy we started in 1994. If any of you know of a company or organization that can handle bulk resale of these classic video games, parts and accessories, please use our email contact at www.tzd.com

Feel free to write if you have any questions, you know we value your input and support.


I swear, I started riding my TG nostalgia just a few years too late.  If only I had known that a business was still selling factory-sealed TG merchandise as late as 2007...stuff that makes people on ebay very, very wealthy these days.

Does anyone know if any wholesalers "took on the legacy' that TZD started?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

Wow, this guy's absolutely right.  I put the CD player back on and locked it in and all of a sudden it worked again.

Take the CD player out and the Turbografx won't power on. 

That's weird!  It's almost as if NEC is demanding that you have them together at all times.  At any rate, thank you for all the help.  I'm so glad it works again.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NUS-45MM.html

Would that do the trick?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

The CD player knob seems to be fine.  I've tried with it both locked and unlocked and there's no effect.  The CD player can't get power from the docking station.l

I think something is loose in the back of the station.  I would take it apart to see but I would really have no idea what I'm doing...I don't even know what kind of screwdriver is required.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

Update:  I hear something sliding around in the back.  It jiggles when you shake it, and when you move the system around, it slides around.  I have no idea what this could be.  Maybe a chip, a capacitor...no clue.

Can docking stations be taken apart?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / This is not good...the docking station won't turn on]

Aw man, now another problem?  The docking station won't even power the TG-16 anymore.

I admit I left it on all day because I forgot to turn it off last night.

But should that make such a difference?  I power it up and nothing happens.  I tried using the Turbografx 16 alone and it works fine.  I tried using the docking station's adapter on the CD player and it works fine.  The issue seems to be with the docking station itself.

I suspect it might be that little wheel thing on the bottom that locks into place.  It seems a little loose.  Is this what powers the station up?  Is there any way to address this?  I don't know what else it would be.  I really want this thing to work

Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need some advice on my TG-CD]

Once it warms up and starts spinning, I can take it out of the TG, plug it in with a standard Turbografx (10.5 V) adapter, and then it will play the audio CD without problems.

But why won't it play the CD when it's attached to the Turbografx?  Can't get past that stupid startup screen. 

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need some advice on my TG-CD]

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice.  The ebay guy e-mailed me back and said it'd be cool if I dropped it off at his place, so I have that option.

I still don't know...$85 for a repair could be a total waste of money if it's something as stupid as some pot tweaks, but if he gives it a full "tune-up" that makes it good as new and gives it endurance, then I'd be all for it.

But I feel like some people on this site might be able to better evaluate it and give it the repair it deserves.  I would like to choose this option, but what about the issue of gear replacements?  I've heard that they're pretty elusive and people are currently working on trying to find a good solution.  If the ebay guy is using old Sony walkman gear units, can these be trusted?

Sometimes TG decisions can be pretty tough to make.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Need some advice on my TG-CD]

What's up everyone...you know how it goes.  I'm new here but am very gratified to be a part of this community

I just got a Turbografx with CD attachment from a guy on craigslist.  Of course, the CD player isn't working, though he never guaranteed that it would work.

Here's the question:  regardless of whatever the problem is, is the $85 that the guy on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Grafx-and-PC-Engine-CD-Drive-Repair-system-duo-/110632633518?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c23804ae) is charging for CD repair outlandish?  The reason I ask is because the guy lives in Valparaiso; I'm going to Chicago next weekend and Valparaiso is right on the way.  Maybe I could drop it off there and have him take care of it.

But I don't want to do that if $85 is a complete rip-off.  It seems a bit pricey to me, though if that would guarantee that it could practically work forever and not break down anymore then it might be worth a shot.  Would it be better to have someone else take care of it? 

If it helps, the problem is:  screen hangs at "just a moment" and doesn't spin anything.  After about half an hour, the CD starts spinning, but screen is still stuck at "Just a moment."  I don't have any games yet, so I was just using an audio CD.