How you discovered the TurboGrafx-16

[jelloslug]

I have just about every back issue of EGM, VG&CE, and Gamepro from issue 1 of each up through the mid '90s so if there is something specific that someone wants scanned I can probably find it.

[esteban]

Here are links for scans of the articles that I posted earlier:

www.jelloslug.com/TG-16/

Thank you! I put them here:

https://www.tg-16.com/new_turbografx_magazine_scans.htm

...and they will eventually be listed on this page: https://archives.tg-16.com/magazine_database.htm

I have just about every back issue of EGM, VG&CE, and Gamepro from issue 1 of each up through the mid '90s so if there is something specific that someone wants scanned I can probably find it.

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN! Thanks to the previous scans, I got off my lazy ass and threw together some comparisons this morning and made this thread: https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13284.msg263093#msg263093

Notice that the resolution/detail from the .pdf is lacking...probably due to the setting chosen when creating the .pdf ... if you still have the original files (.tif) I can use them. Also, call me crazy, but I say we create .pdf's with highest quality (least lossy setting), even if the file size suffers (sucks for mobile users).

[rrob78]

My first discover of the TG-16 was way back in 1989, I already had my NES, but my friend told me his dad got him a new system, so he asked me if he can bring it over to play. He brought over a TG-16 with Bonks Adventure and Keith Courage. I tripped at this "Cards" that came in CD cases & not needing to blow on the to get them to start like the NES. So I was taking back with the bright colors and big sprites from the system. That was the first & last time I played the Turbo Grafix 16. Every since then I've never run into a system or game in the wild when out hunting for games, also Syphic re-introduced me to the system and with the help of another friend getting hooked up with a TG-16, was able to re-live that day I got to play Bonk's and Keith Courage.

[turbokon]

I first saw the commerical with legendary axe around 1989 or so. We first had the nes and was looking to buy the next generation gaming system around 1990 or 91, can't really remember. The turbografx-16 was sleek compared to the genesis and I was captivated about the  game cards and like the graphics I saw on tv. My brothers and I bagged our father for one during that christmas season. Finally we ended up picking up one at Montgomery Wards for 99.99. The best Christmas grift we ever got and we don't get much gifts and presents growing up.

[Aggie Tsubi]

I feel like the odd one out here. I didn't have the TG-16 back when it was still an active system, and it seems like many of you come from richer families than me, haha. I never had more than one system in each gaming generation until I bought my PlayStation in '99 (I already had the N64 since it launched), and my parents never really bought me home consoles since the average cost for them was beyond what my parents wanted to spend on a Christmas/birthday gift. The only exceptions were that they got my brother his NES in '87, and I talked my mom into getting my N64 on the agreement that I would buy my first game for it myself (but even then it was an extravagant gift at the $250 launch price).

Anyway, I had to slowly save up the $100-some myself to get my SNES when I was 11. That was for the bare-bones model, since one with a game would've been more expensive yet, but it worked out because Nintendo had an offer for a free copy of Super Mario All-Stars with the purchase of a SNES (although it required me to demonstrate the patience of a saint as I had this shiny new system I was so excited about, which was also my first and only video game system in years as my brother had sold off the NES a while prior, and I had to wait several weeks for the game to arrive by mail). Back then I wasn't even aware of the existence of the TG-16. I don't recall ever seeing an ad for it on TV or elsewhere (didn't subscribe or buy any game magazines until 1995, and that was just Nintendo Power), and I don't remember ever seeing it in stores either. I also didn't know anyone who had it or ever talked about it. Although, admittedly, I didn't even know much about the Genesis, so I don't know how much was me being in a personal gaming bubble or my environment.

Anyway, 1999 was the year that I got a lot more serious (and open-minded, expanding beyond Nintendo) about gaming, and it was also when I started collecting old games, first with the goal to reacquire the NES games I loved as a little kid. Not so coincidentally, it was the year I started using the internet a ton, so I was learning a lot. I'm guessing I first learned of the TG-16 around then. At some point I became interested in owning one, but Dracula X: Rondo of Blood was the real catalyst. I had long been a Castlevania fan and really wanted to play this critically acclaimed but hard to obtain gem, and I wasn't about to resort to glitchy emulation. By sheer luck, I came across a guy on a forum selling the game for $70, which was an excellent deal back then before any US releases existed and you were lucky to get it for under $150. I sat on that copy for quite a while with no system to play it on, and oddly enough, I got another opportunity to pick up a copy which was also for about $70. I flipped that spare copy for around $150 and essentially had Rondo for free.

Then in '04 or '05 my fiance surprised me with the Christmas gift of a PC Engine Duo-RX lot he got from Japan Yahoo via a friend acting as a middleman. It came with a bunch of great games and accessories, and he got a great deal himself, only paying something like $120. The rest is history from there, although I can add that it was only a couple years ago that I finally entered the US side of the system. I was participating in a Secret Santa gift exchange and the guy wanted TG-16 games, so I bought a couple small lots, gave the guy several of the games and kept for myself the system and games that he already owned. I got a few good games that way, but I'll always favor the Japanese library over what I consider a somewhat limited US library.

[thesteve]

trust me i had no money back then
and like you, game systems were far too pricey for Christmas.
got most systems used, NES new @ $100 (saved a long time for that)
TG16 new @ $30 (in its last days)

[TR0N]

I feel like the odd one out here. I didn't have the TG-16 back when it was still an active system, and it seems like many of you come from richer families than me, haha.

Not me i got it the console the hard way.When it came out i had a nes by that point so i sold it all and went half with my parents to buy a TG16. To buy the Turbo-CD,i ended up getting a part time job during the summer and i earned enough to buy one. Not to mention when i had enough $ to buy a turdo-cd i remember it having a price cut by that point.

Still the irony in it after the TG16 died out in the us i traded it in for store credit. I didn't get the console again until 03.

[turbokon]

We weren't rich, we grew up in the hood where the cars were more expensive than the houses. The only games we bought new were Aero Blasters and Andre Panza Kickboxing but somehow we ended with over ten games. We had a neigbor who's a few years order then us that also had turbografx. We bought both bonks games, china warrior, splatterhouse and legendary axe from him for $10 each. We bought super star soldier from a pawn shop for $15. We bought sinitron, r-type and space harrier from the flea market, can't remember how much we paid for them. Somehow we also ended up with ninja spirit, dungeon explorers and the turbotap with a few controllers. I think I borrowed thoses from a kid at school and never returned them. We had it for a couple of years when it started to act up. Finally we got no picture. My brothers and I got mad and decided to take it outside in the back yard and stomped the hell out of the turbografx. Can't believe we did that. We moved on to other systems from there and forgotten all about the turbografx. Don't ever know what happens to the games. I didn't rediscover the turbografx again until 1999 when I had my first good paying job at $10 per hour when I picked up my first turbo duo system from a retrogaming website.

[jlued686]

My family was actually pretty lower-lower middle class when I was growing up. My parents never bought me anything that cost any significant amount of money. Our 2600 was second-hand, well after the "crash of 83", and they refused to buy me an NES because it was too expensive. But for some reason, they broke their own rules for the Turbo line of consoles. They were divorced, so I maybe when my Dad bought me the TurboGrafx-16, the gloves came off and my Mom was all like, "Oh no you didn't!" and tried to one-up him by getting me the TurboExpress and later the Turbo Duo.

The benefits of a broken home, eh? ;)

[turboswimbz]

ahhhh it's always (well sometimes anyway) the ones that always wanted them and never got them BITD, that are players now-a-days. LOL!  Like wise I never owned a new turbo game or system, my dad bought some used games a long time ago, we only had 9 games Bonk A/ Bonk R, splatterhouse, parasol stars, deep blue, tricky kick, Kieth courage, Boxy boy and Pac land. I always wanted more, started my collection from that when I got back into it.

[esteban]

ahhhh it's always (well sometimes anyway) the ones that always wanted them and never got them BITD, that are players now-a-days. LOL!  Like wise I never owned a new turbo game or system, my dad bought some used games a long time ago, we only had 9 games Bonk A/ Bonk R, splatterhouse, parasol stars, deep blue, tricky kick, Kieth courage, Boxy boy and Pac land. I always wanted more, started my collection from that when I got back into it.

Even though I owned some games back in the day, I lusted for all of them...so I'm slowly satiating my desire to play all the 8-bit and 16-bit games I missed in my youth. Now that I think about it, it's kind of sad and pathetic.

BUT, I do the same thing with music and films: there are tons of great things out there and I want to taste a lot of them.

[tiptopjames]

i was working in a used game shop a couple years ago, and one of our pickers brought in a TG16+CD unit, fully working. Had never played TG games on original hardware before, popped in bloody wolf, LOVED IT, especially the music!

My boss decided to keep that system for himself, so i traded a sealed knuckles chaotix for a turbo grafx console on racketboy, and a CD unit also from racketboy. Having that, i then set my sights on a japanese duo system with a region mod. thanks to member keithcourage, i'm now rockin like it's the early nineties.

Growing up, i would read about the turbo in gamepro and the like, but it's a system which is basically unknown in my area. Damn shame, i would love to have nostalgia for these games, then again, it's nice to be able to play them for the first time!

[Tatsujin]

Don't worry, nostalgia will come fast enough..lol.

[FraGMarE]

First time I played a TG-16 was when they had a display set up at Children's Palace (it was like Toys R Us) with Keith Courage running.  They had that display, side-by-side with a Genesis display running Altered Beast.  Honestly, I found the Genesis display more impressive at the time.  *ducks*

[jlued686]

Children's Palace! THANK YOU! You just helped me remember where I got my TG16. I've been trying to remember that store's name for years. It was the Children's Palace in Roseville, MN.

And yes, at first I picked out the Genesis, but the TG16 was $20 cheaper, so I got that instead. Best gaming decision ever.

[jlued686]

That's hilarious. Great story!

[InuitSaffron]

For lack of an introduction thread I guess I'll start here.

I spent seven years working in a used games store and I had always been a bit of a collector. The first year and a half that I worked there we had a TG-16 for sale and I always told myself that I would buy it one day. On two occasions people bought the system before I could and returned it for one BS reason or another (most likely just didn't know what it was). The third time someone bought it it was gone. So I was pretty angry at myself for letting it pass me by. However a few months later a middle aged man looking to get some cash came in with a TurboExpress, TV tuner, Bonk's Revenge, and a bunch of junk SNES games. We made a deal for the SNES stuff through the store but I personally bought all the Turbo stuff off of him for a very nice price. The Express worked great, no sound though, I got a few solid months of playing out of it before the screen started to go. Apparently this happens (IDK). Now I'm just looking for a way to repair the system and hopefully get a chance to play the other two Hu Cards I have picked up since.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

That 'Express likely just needs a cap job, so hit the repair area for specifics or contact one of the local repair gurus (chops, thesteve, bmw, keith, etc.) if you don't want to do it yourself.  Mine was the same way (no video or sound), but good ol' chops fixed her right up and I couldn't be happier. 

[Marll]

I was already quite the gamer by the time that the Turbo came around. Started playing Atari 2600 at around 3 years old (system released the same year and month I was born), my Dad got a NES for Christmas the year it came out, and I loved most of the games that I played on that system.

I remember seeing the Turbo Grafx and PC Engine in game magazines back in 1988/89 if I remember correctly. I was instantly hooked. When you looked at the tech specs as well, it just seemed like the better system, more on screen colors, for one was a big selling point during the 16 bit era as I recall. The TurboChip tech was mind blowing and cool, and overall I just liked the "vibe" that I got from the system.

I remember seeing the systems and the games at the Fred Meyer is Marysville, WA and also at the Toys R Us in Everett, WA and just drooling over it. The Genesis, while a good system, was instantly on my shit-list. There was NO WAY it could compare to the Turbo!! I also love the fact that it was the underdog, but I was sure there was no way it could lose once they started importing all those awesome games from Japan! *sigh* I defended the Turbo rabidly to all nay sayers. I was ecstatic the year I got one for Christmas in 1989. Couldn't put it down and saved up all my money to buy games. I'd put things on layaway and pay over time if needed.

Then in 1990 I got the TG-CD. This was a shock because of the price and the fact being a military famliy, we didn't exactly have a ton of cash, but since my Dad was always into new tech, and had a shitty childhood, he always went all out at Christmas for us. I remember getting Sherlock Holmes and Ys Book I&II with the unit...best Christmas ever! Best part was also that I could go to all my Genesis playing friends and was like "What now bitches!! Look at this CD amazeballs shit!!! Ys, motherfuckers!!!!" (Or something similar to that LOL).

With that I was confident that I had just won the console war.

[psychobear]

I got mine in 91 from my rich cousin who didn't want it cause it didn't play Mario or Sonic games. With that being said before he gave it to me I feel inlove with this machine cause of 2 games R-Type and Raiden whick to this day I still have the games, unfortunately the console was lost when I moved to Vegas. I almost sold all the games I had for it but for some reason I couldn't, about 6 years ago I was doing a construction job and the owner of the house I was working on ask me if I could help him move some stuff from his garage to the curb. I did and in a box in the corner I saw a Turbo with a few games, complete system, he said it was his when e was young, long story short I told him my story 3 days after we finish the job he called me to the garage and told me to take it, he knew it was going to a good home.

[TurboCro]

Back in 1989, I saved up and bought a turbografx-16 with my own money from a sketchy local store. My first game was JJ and Jeff. It was almost my last, but luckily my friend got Bloody Wolf.

[Todd Gill]

Back in 1989, I saved up and bought a turbografx-16 with my own money from a sketchy local store. My first game was JJ and Jeff. It was almost my last, but luckily my friend got Bloody Wolf.

lol

I remember the first game I played on the TG16 was bloody wolf.

[Nec.Game.head]

I first got to play The Tg16 in 91 when I was 11 years old .. An older cousin of mine named Frank had come from Mexico to live with my family for a while to work for my father's construction business .. On the weekends we would both take the bus together to a Toy's R Us in Bell Gardens ca and would go check out all the newest toys and video games .. I remember the day we went back to Toy's R Us and saw the turbografx16 .. I told him in spanish look Frank theirs the Turbografx16 .. I was like wow that's the super cool system and it's down to $99.99 !! I had remembered seeing all the Tg16 commercials .. And told him you have got to buy it Frank !! He did that day and also bought Victory Run, China Warrior and Ninja spirit I think .. It was soo amazing to see those little Turbo Chip Hu Cards .. We were both like woah, how is it that these little cards have games in them ??

A year later or so he went back home to Mexico and I never got to play a Tg16 again, until 2001 when I scored on my very own Tg16 from a friend of mine that gave it to me with a few games and it had no ac adapter or a rf cord .. I went out and bought both ac adapter and rf cable from a electronics store called Net Electronics .. It felt so good to play a Tg16 again !! It reminded me of all the awesome times I spent with my cousin playing Tg16, eating Now & later candies and reading Gamepro magazine for all the latest tips and secrets ..

Shortly after that I discovered the Turbo Zone Direct mailing order catalog and ordered a few games for it .. I now wish I could kick myself in the ass for not ordering a Turboduo from them and more new items .. They had em new in the box for $199.99 !! I just the other day found some catalogs I printed back in 01 and this awesome one that Tzd Direct sent me in the mail ..
                                   
                                       Thank you cousin Frank for being my hero and inspiration when it comes to gaming !!!
                                                          /img0002pvk.jpg

[turboswimbz]

NGH - That's pretty cool.  I wish I had know about TZD at all... I would have bought so much stuff.

[esteban]

ADVISORY: Although I haven't commented on each story individually, I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading all of the anecdotes!

Keep 'em coming .

[turboswimbz]

ADVISORY: Although I haven't commented on each story individually, I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading all of the anecdotes!

Keep 'em coming [

+1

[Nec.Game.head]

lol Hah !! What can I say ?? I guess the Tg16 has a lot of fun stories and memories when it comes to how Ive acquired my collection over the years .. I'm Just glad I came across this site and have found so many cool and helpful people on here .. Thanks you guys ..

[JohnnyPhantom]

For me it was the NickArcade TV Show, it  used to show Bonk all the time as one of the Arcade games, I had to research and found it was a TurboGrafx Game. Thats how I first heard of the system. Late (and more recently) I saw a post on a thread with someone selling the system, being curious about it for years I picked it up, played it, then replaced it with a TurboDuo and I'm still loving it ^_^ Splatterhouse was my must have game and someday I'll give Bonk (the start of my TurboGrafx Story) a try

[roflmao]

ADVISORY: Although I haven't commented on each story individually, I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading all of the anecdotes!

Keep 'em coming .

You read my mind, esteban!  Thanks everyone for sharing your stories!

[Choplifter]

I was ten years old in 1989 when the Sega Genesis and Turbo Grafx 16 were released. I begged my parents for a Sega Genesis but they told me it was too expensive and I would have to make do with my NES. I will never forget Christmas morning 1989 when I became the proud owner of a Sega Genesis.

I loved my Genesis. To say I became a Genesis fan boy would be an understatement. I was fiercely loyal to Sega and any time a Turbo Grafx vs Genesis debate would flare up at school I was the first to jump in and proudly extol the virtues of the Genesis over the Turbo. I knew my parents would never get me both systems, and if I couldn't have the Turbo Grafx then I decided I was going to hate it. I have a vivid memory of drawing an anthropomorphic Sega Genesis that was plunging a sword through a Turbo Grafx as blood dripped from its corpse. Yea, I took fanboy to a new level when I was a kid. It wasn't enough to simply enjoy my Genesis, there was a war going on and the Turbo Grafx was my sworn enemy.

But, as much as I loved my Genesis, there was always a nagging question that would keep me up at night. I don't mean that figuratively, I would literally lay awake at night wondering, even panicking... Should I have chosen the Turbo Grafx instead? I saw commercials featuring Legendary Axe, Blazing Lazers and Bonks Adventure. Oh my god, I thought, those games look... amazing.

I spent a huge amount of time and energy hating the Turbo Grafx but deep down I wanted nothing more than to experience the Turbo Grafx games for myself. It was the old grass is greener effect. Those games had to be great because they were the ones I couldn't have. A few years would pass and the 16 bit war turned into Sega vs Nintendo as the poor Turbo seemed to fade away. Then one day in Toys R Us I saw that they were getting rid of their Turbo Grafx inventory and were selling them for $59. I wasn't the immature fanboy anymore and I couldn't pass it up. I was finally the proud owner of a Turbo Grafx 16. It felt good to shed my immature vitriol for the system I once pretended to hate and I finally got to enjoy the games that had such a psychological hold over me as a child.

[esteban]

I was ten years old in 1989 when the Sega Genesis and Turbo Grafx 16 were released. I begged my parents for a Sega Genesis but they told me it was too expensive and I would have to make do with my NES. I will never forget Christmas morning 1989 when I became the proud owner of a Sega Genesis.

I loved my Genesis. To say I became a Genesis fan boy would be an understatement. I was fiercely loyal to Sega and any time a Turbo Grafx vs Genesis debate would flare up at school I was the first to jump in and proudly extol the virtues of the Genesis over the Turbo. I knew my parents would never get me both systems, and if I couldn't have the Turbo Grafx then I decided I was going to hate it. I have a vivid memory of drawing an anthropomorphic Sega Genesis that was plunging a sword through a Turbo Grafx as blood dripped from its corpse. Yea, I took fanboy to a new level when I was a kid. It wasn't enough to simply enjoy my Genesis, there was a war going on and the Turbo Grafx was my sworn enemy.

But, as much as I loved my Genesis, there was always a nagging question that would keep me up at night. I don't mean that figuratively, I would literally lay awake at night wondering, even panicking... Should I have chosen the Turbo Grafx instead? I saw commercials featuring Legendary Axe, Blazing Lazers and Bonks Adventure. Oh my god, I thought, those games look... amazing.

I spent a huge amount of time and energy hating the Turbo Grafx but deep down I wanted nothing more than to experience the Turbo Grafx games for myself. It was the old grass is greener effect. Those games had to be great because they were the ones I couldn't have. A few years would pass and the 16 bit war turned into Sega vs Nintendo as the poor Turbo seemed to fade away. Then one day in Toys R Us I saw that they were getting rid of their Turbo Grafx inventory and were selling them for $59. I wasn't the immature fanboy anymore and I couldn't pass it up. I was finally the proud owner of a Turbo Grafx 16. It felt good to shed my immature vitriol for the system I once pretended to hate and I finally got to enjoy the games that had such a psychological hold over me as a child.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Love conquers all.

[shabba]

I just remember the commercials and wanting a TG over the other systems. When I was 18, the TG-16 was one of the first things I bought with my new job money...I bought a brand new one at KB Toys for 99.99 with a half dozen games (the system was about $50 and the games were deeply discounted). I remember wanting a Turboexpress but thinking how insane NEC was for the price point they expected. I sold my Turbo and all the games in the late 90's when I decided to stop having sex and get married. Good times.

[esteban]

I sold my Turbo and all the games in the late 90's when I decided to stop having sex and get married. Good times.

Hahhahhahahahhahhaha. Good times.

[fsa]

I remember that issue of VGCE (video game and computer entertainment) with the Turbo on it and I kept reading that article to find out as much as I can about the system, once I say Blazing lazers, that was it for me (SHMUPs are my fav. kind of games). One day in 1989 during my lunch hour at school I walked the nearest store (Towers, one of the few stores that has the turbo at that time). I bought the system and Walked back to school and man, was everyone drooling over the system, since I was carrying it by the handle. I put it into my locker ad was scared that someone might steal it, so I kept going to my locker to check on it. Went home right after school an played KC in AZ, I think I played it until midnight or something like that.

[majors]

I remember that issue of VGCA (video game and computer entertainment) with the Turbo on it

This?

Hells yeah! I remember picking this up when I was at a school summer program at ASU when I was a rising sophomore. I remember reading this mag cover to cover and also going the the student commons arcade where R-Type and Street Fighter (the first one) were the rage.

[BlackandBlue]

Ah, brings back memories.  A good friend of mine had the Turbo when I was growing up.  We use to skip school and play countless hours of Double Dungeons.  We would often throw in other games to the mix, like Bonk and Splatterhouse, but DD was what I remember most.  I personally never had one, since I already had a SNES and when the Genesis 2 went to $99, picked one of those up.  I remember seeing them on clearance at Toys'R'Us, when they still had the ticket you brought up to the front, for $50.  My friend already had the Turbo, so I figured I'd grab a Genny.  I still regret it, since they had a ton of clearance turbo games as well and am pretty sure that the all mighty Magical Chase was one of them.  What can you do, I got blinded by Sonic's speed I guess.  Plus I was maybe 13 or 14, so I didn't have much disposable income and my parents weren't going to buy it for me just because I wanted it.

Back in 2006 or 2007, My wife and I finally made space in the basement, which is partially finished.  I quickly took claim and setup my old consoles to a cheap TV I bought from work.  This was just before what I like to call the "retro age" where retro consoles became the cool thing to have.  Now that I was in my 20's, I had money to blow on items from my past I didn't get to have, so I went out and found a Turbo on Ebay and let the good times roll.  Then I went a little nuts and picked up a few others, like the CD unit, a Core I and Core II (with Briefcase for the Core and CDROM2 for the Core II), Turbo Duo, Duo-R, and an Express.  Needless to say, it is my favorite console (slightly beating out the Dreamcast).

Unfortunately, I changed jobs and then positions within my new job since setting up the basement and time is no longer as bountiful as it once was.  Hopefully I will have more time to visit the forum and play some more Turbo in the future.  Once you get to know the regulars here (and keep on their good side!), its a great place to learn.

[jelloslug]

I remember that issue of VGCA (video game and computer entertainment) with the Turbo on it

This?

Hells yeah! I remember picking this up when I was at a school summer program at ASU when I was a rising sophomore. I remember reading this mag cover to cover and also going the the student commons arcade where R-Type and Street Fighter (the first one) were the rage.

I have scans of that article here: https://jelloslug.com/TG-16/