i need help with Turbografx

[watchman]

hi to everyone,
i'm from Italy and i have a brand new Turbografx console. as a retrogamer and collector i always wanted pc engine, so i came up founding that one.
i also found that site which is simply fantastic! i'm in need of a guide or a "redirection" to right topics (if they are here yet) about what games to buy and if / how can i use jap games . i just have the ALien Crush Hud (very nice game!!!)
in bundle. i'm pointing on buying pal hud , but i'm searching also system cards...i've red the pcengine guide of console but i'm still confused on what accessories i need first.

thanx to everyone in advance!!

[nat]

You need to be more specific on what you have, exactly...

Do you have a European (PAL) TurboGrafx or a US (NTSC) TurboGrafx?

As for running Japanese games, you will need either an adapter or to get your system modded.

[watchman]

ok,
i think it is PAL (european) since the cables are perfect for the TV screen, and there is a 220v adaptor.

[nat]

ok,
i think it is PAL (european) since the cables are perfect for the TV screen, and there is a 220v adaptor.

Ah, OK. One other way to be sure-- does the name on the system say "TurboGrafx" or "TurboGrafx-16"? Only the US (NTSC) model has the "-16" suffix.

Well, like I said... I don't have much experience with the European TG, but you should be able to run any US games on it with no modifications. But for Japanese region games you'll need a region converter or send your system away to get modded.

[watchman]

ok,
on the box it is just "turbografx" the 16 appear only on the little logos here and there...
so its pal i suppose...well in that case i've seen that european and usa games are harder to find also on ebay it's right? i've also seen system cards to make some games running.. can u tell me about theme? thank u very much

[nat]

Yeah, that's definitely a European/PAL TurboGrafx.

Japanese games are more common and as a result are usually cheaper. But I wouldn't go so far to say that US games are hard-to-find. A good majority of US games are common and cheap, too.

System Cards are only used to make CD games run. It sounds like you just have a core system (no CD drive) so you won't need a System Card for anything.

[cho_aniki]

   Gli giochi che sono stati venduti in Europa sono identici ai giochi americani.  Tutti questi giochi funzioneranno senza problema.

   Per i giochi giapponesi, ci vuole un adapter pero è difficile da trovare.  Penso che sarebbe più facile e meno caro di comprare anche un Pc-engine 
   giapponese.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Welcome aboard, watchman. 

Gli giochi che sono stati venduti in Europa sono identici ai giochi americani.  Tutti questi giochi funzioneranno senza problema.

   Per i giochi giapponesi, ci vuole un adapter pero è difficile da trovare.  Penso che sarebbe più facile e meno caro di comprare anche un Pc-engine 
   giapponese.

Spaghetti, rigatoni, vino, scampi, parmigiana, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo.  Fiat, Alpha Romeo, Lamborghini, Ferrari.

Sorry, but I couldn't resist (no offense intended to anyone).  You are quite right cho_aniki - if watchman's having a hard time find getting the US versions, then he might want to look into getting a PC Engine or region modding his TG-16.

[watchman]

hi to you all!!! sorry i skipped my introduction:

i'm a singer / guitarist (heavy metal) from Rome, many the interests:music, retrogaming, body building(due to my job i'm just maintaining me to an athletic shape, sigh), japan robots collection, all things that make my money fly away, and stomach aches hard to stand(due to the lack of things to eat!! spending for hobbies:))
cho _ aniki your italian is very good, and you are right necromancer, no offenses all good things(girls too;))

this topics may be in the Off Topic section i think , so cme back to the point: well buying usa/eu hud cards may be the fastest way to have games , but in fact its not so easy as japanese.. but i'm asking all to be "inside" the pc engine way to be, i always knew that console but never touched it before, no i have it and i want to appreciate every aspect

[Ceti Alpha]

Welcome watchman. You'll have a great time here. There are loads of really knowledgeable Turbo/PC Engine folk in these here parts as you've probably already gathered.  Very rarely are there fights, except when the classic Sega vs. Turbo debates come up. hehe 

[Turbo D]

welcome aboard dude 

[rag-time4]

hi to you all!!! sorry i skipped my introduction:

i'm a singer / guitarist (heavy metal) from Rome, many the interests:music, retrogaming, body building(due to my job i'm just maintaining me to an athletic shape, sigh), japan robots collection, all things that make my money fly away, and stomach aches hard to stand(due to the lack of things to eat!! spending for hobbies:))
cho _ aniki your italian is very good, and you are right necromancer, no offenses all good things(girls too;))

this topics may be in the Off Topic section i think , so cme back to the point: well buying usa/eu hud cards may be the fastest way to have games , but in fact its not so easy as japanese.. but i'm asking all to be "inside" the pc engine way to be, i always knew that console but never touched it before, no i have it and i want to appreciate every aspect

Like Nat said, the system cards are only used for making CD games run. If you have a TurboGrafx, you will need to buy the CD-ROM drive and the connector. Here is a picture:


Also, you will need a system card in order for the CD games to work. If you are using a TurboGrafx, then you must have a USA system card, but you can used CD games from any region.

Only the HuCard games require a converter or system modification.

If you want to play Arcade CD Rom games, you will need a Japanese Arcade Card Pro for your TurboGrafx. The Japanese system cards require a converter or system modification to work on a TurboGrafx.

If you want info about what games to buy, check out runinruder's useless thoughts thread. He has reviews for many games and other board members chip in and share there thoughts as well.

For a nice review site that also has pictures, check out Laurent Kermel's videogameden.com. He's based in France, so don't hesitate to send him an email. He may know good places to find PC-Engine stuff in Europe.

If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask!

[TR0N]

welcome aboard dude 

What he said if ya got any question on prices and any,questions for the hardware your at the right place.

[Keranu]

Welcome aboard, har, haaarrr, haaaaaarrrrrr!

[watchman]

thanx to everyone for the replies!

i came across some usa hud card turbografx games, so if i well understood they will function on my " pal " turbografx  right? just to be MORE sure..

[nat]

AFAIK you should be OK with those. Perhaps one of our European members could clarify. I'm not sure if they released seperate PAL cartridges for the European market or if they just imported the American carts.

[guyjin]

They didn't. All non-Japanese cards work in all non-Japanese systems, be they Korean, European, or American.

Something you should be aware of as a European, though: a french group called sodipeng imported PCEngines and games to europe years before the euro turbografx came out. If you find used games locally, check the back; if there is any Japanese writing, it's probably a Japanese game.