Why do GTs seem to go for so much less than Expresses?

TheMilford · 03/10/2009, 08:07 PM

Just curious.

There are 6 boxed GTs available on eBay right now for $199 whereas I can't seem to find a boxed Express for less than $400...

SignOfZeta · 03/11/2009, 12:47 AM

Its not just Express/GTs. All US stuff is massively overvalued compared to JP stuff. A US Duo is worth double what a Duo R is worth, etc. Many games are worth four times as much as a TG-16 release than they are as a PC Engine release even if both versions are identical software-wise and have all English text. You can sometimes buy half a dozen Arcade Cards Pros for the price of a US Super System card.

Don't try to understand it, you never will. Just cash in on the savings and buy the JP versions which are usually superior anyway.

termis · 03/11/2009, 04:21 AM

Simple high school economics, really. There's just a LOT less of the US stuff out there, which keeps the prices high.

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/11/2009, 10:16 AM

Please, please, please do not use inflated ebay buy-it-now auctions to gauge prices; Game Squad and his ilk will likely sit on those overpriced items 'til the cows come home. You'll find much better deals than $400 if you look at Expresses that have actually sold, such as:

$225 - with six games (all boxed, complete)
$133 - with OEM AC adaptor
$132
$125 - with six loose games
$101 - with TurboVision and one game

Quote from: termis on 03/11/2009, 04:21 AMSimple high school economics, really. There's just a LOT less of the US stuff out there, which keeps the prices high.

Agreed. For every TurboDuo sold, I'd bet there was at least four Duos sold (three versions combined).

MotherGunner · 03/12/2009, 06:24 PM

Better yet, just get it from mindrec.

Keranu · 03/14/2009, 02:30 AM

Quote from: MotherGunner on 03/12/2009, 06:24 PMBetter yet, just get it from mindrec.

Agreed! That's where I got mine from a couple years ago (like $70 new with game).

TheMilford · 03/14/2009, 11:09 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 03/14/2009, 02:30 AM
Quote from: MotherGunner on 03/12/2009, 06:24 PMBetter yet, just get it from mindrec.
Agreed! That's where I got mine from a couple years ago (like $70 new with game).

Link?

Duo_R · 03/14/2009, 11:24 AM

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=mindrec

TheMilford · 03/14/2009, 11:44 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 03/14/2009, 02:30 AM
Quote from: MotherGunner on 03/12/2009, 06:24 PMBetter yet, just get it from mindrec.
Agreed! That's where I got mine from a couple years ago (like $70 new with game).

Thanks for that "link" Duo-R...

As for cost Mindrec is selling TEs for $220 now.

Duo_R · 03/14/2009, 12:38 PM

the link worked no? Just giving you a hard time.

Yeah I figured the TE's would not be that cheap anymore.

Quote from: TheMilford on 03/14/2009, 11:44 AM
Quote from: Keranu on 03/14/2009, 02:30 AM
Quote from: MotherGunner on 03/12/2009, 06:24 PMBetter yet, just get it from mindrec.
Agreed! That's where I got mine from a couple years ago (like $70 new with game).
Thanks for that "link" Duo-R...

As for cost Mindrec is selling TEs for $220 now.

MotherGunner · 03/14/2009, 02:39 PM

$220 beats $400 any day...

TheMilford · 03/14/2009, 03:44 PM

Quote from: Duo_R on 03/14/2009, 12:38 PMthe link worked no? Just giving you a hard time. Yeah I figured the TE's would not be that cheap anymore.

Quote from: TheMilford on 03/14/2009, 11:44 AM
Quote from: Keranu on 03/14/2009, 02:30 AM
Quote from: MotherGunner on 03/12/2009, 06:24 PMBetter yet, just get it from mindrec.
Agreed! That's where I got mine from a couple years ago (like $70 new with game).
Thanks for that "link" Duo-R...

As for cost Mindrec is selling TEs for $220 now.

Yeah, it worked... I was joking about your little joke.

nat · 03/21/2009, 05:08 AM

Are you fucking shitting me? Mindrec had TEs for $80 or $90 last time I checked, and that wasn't THAT long ago. In 2008 sometime.

Ceti Alpha · 03/21/2009, 11:16 AM

Quote from: Duo_R on 03/14/2009, 11:24 AMhttp://lmgtfy.com/?q=mindrec

x 2

Arkhan Asylum · 03/21/2009, 10:54 PM

i paid 45$ locally in a shop for my Express...

>_> *ducks*

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/23/2009, 11:55 AM

Quote from: nat on 03/21/2009, 05:08 AMAre you fucking shitting me? Mindrec had TEs for $80 or $90 last time I checked, and that wasn't THAT long ago. In 2008 sometime.

If I'm not mistaken, those had dead caps. Not that it makes 'em worth more than double, but these have had their audio and video caps replaced.

awack · 03/23/2009, 12:39 PM

Yea, the $90 TE had bad capacitors, some had no sound or picture.

stevenhill321 · 03/24/2009, 09:25 AM

I have just bought one of these GT's from ebay at £199.00 they are absolutley brand new, no scrathes at all. Why on earth would you want a Turbo express anyway, other than for the US games obviously, there is more out for the JAP GT anyway. You have got the converter issues of course but if you can lay your hands on one then problem solved. PC engine JAP is the way to go. No offence but the Turbo Grafx and express are just ugly man!

Game liquidation postage from the states was realtively quick and the unit is ulter brand new believe me there isnt a blemish on it. I should think not for $200.00.......!!!

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/24/2009, 11:58 AM

Quote from: stevenhill321 on 03/24/2009, 09:25 AMI have just bought one of these GT's from ebay at £199.00 they are absolutley brand new, no scrathes at all. Why on earth would you want a Turbo express anyway, other than for the US games obviously, there is more out for the JAP GT anyway. You have got the converter issues of course but if you can lay your hands on one then problem solved. PC engine JAP is the way to go. No offence but the Turbo Grafx and express are just ugly man!

Game liquidation postage from the states was realtively quick and the unit is ulter brand new believe me there isnt a blemish on it. I should think not for $200.00.......!!!

So was it $200 or £199.00 (roughly $300)? Not that it really matters; it's your dime.

While looks are subjective, I'll agree that the TG-16 is less aesthetically pleasing than the PCE/Core/CoreII, yet I can't call it ugly. As for the Express, it's no more ugly than a GT, considering the only difference is the logo.

termis · 03/25/2009, 11:13 PM

Quote from: stevenhill321 on 03/24/2009, 09:25 AMYou have got the converter issues of course but if you can lay your hands on one then problem solved. PC engine JAP is the way to go. No offence but the Turbo Grafx and express are just ugly man!

Nah, not really. Unlike US units, you CAN'T just use the converter on Japanese PCE units (GT or likewise). You'd need to open it up and ground pin 29 of one of the ICs of the GT... and if you were going to go through that trouble, might as well forgo the whole converter hassle and put a region switch in there anyway!

Duo_R · 03/25/2009, 11:19 PM

logos on a system don't change the look of it much. And pretty soon my Turbo Express will be able to play JP and US games without a converter......

TheMilford · 03/25/2009, 11:46 PM

Quote from: Duo_R on 03/25/2009, 11:19 PMlogos on a system don't change the look of it much. And pretty soon my Turbo Express will be able to play JP and US games without a converter......

How hard is the this mod in such a tiny space?

Also, which is less problematic as far as caps and screen issues the GT or the TE?

I wonder if games like Order of the Griffon would suck of the TE/GT...

termis · 03/26/2009, 12:17 AM

Quote from: TheMilford on 03/25/2009, 11:46 PMHow hard is the this mod in such a tiny space?

Also, which is less problematic as far as caps and screen issues the GT or the TE?

Certainly a possible mod, but not quite as straightforward as using the pole switch for regular console versions. I've seen it done with the IC-based mod -- not really a mod for beginners.

As far as reliability goes, I don't have the figures, but considering they're exactly the same units (minus logo & some traces switched around), both versions are probably equally subject to dry caps and/or dead pixels.

Duo_R · 03/26/2009, 12:22 AM

most likely it would

QuoteI wonder if games like Order of the Griffon would suck of the TE/GT..

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/26/2009, 09:36 AM

Quote from: Duo_R on 03/26/2009, 12:22 AMmost likely it would

Agreed. I think it'd play fine, but it's a lengthy game and inputting tedious passwords is for the birds.

guyjin · 03/26/2009, 12:32 PM

I wonder: would it have been possible for a memory unit to connect to the TE through the same port that is used for linking them?

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/26/2009, 02:29 PM

Quote from: guyjin on 03/26/2009, 12:32 PMI wonder: would it have been possible for a memory unit to connect to the TE through the same port that is used for linking them?

I don't see why not, though it'd probably have to have its own power supply.

Duo_R · 04/18/2009, 02:21 AM

a memory unit in the TE would kick so much @$$!

Quote from: guyjin on 03/26/2009, 12:32 PMI wonder: would it have been possible for a memory unit to connect to the TE through the same port that is used for linking them?

Lord Thag · 04/27/2009, 05:41 PM

I really wish some wise company would make a new PCE/TG16 portable, like they are with the new NES and Genesis portables. I mean, Hucards are nice and small anyway, and since the TG-16 is such a basic design (3 chips I think), it wouldn't be that hard. Imagine a unit about the size a gba micro (roughly) that lasted for ten hours on three triple AAA batteries and played everything on a nice, shiny new full-res screen.

After all, they Geny one is launching next month, and there are several NES ones. Why not a Turbografx / PC Engine one? Even if it was japanese only (which you would think it would be given the popularity of PCE over there), we could import one....

Of course, I got my Turbo Express for $50 at an expo, so I can't complain....

Ceti Alpha · 04/29/2009, 02:16 PM

Quote from: Lord Thag on 04/27/2009, 05:41 PMI really wish some wise company would make a new PCE/TG16 portable, like they are with the new NES and Genesis portables. I mean, Hucards are nice and small anyway, and since the TG-16 is such a basic design (3 chips I think), it wouldn't be that hard. Imagine a unit about the size a gba micro (roughly) that lasted for ten hours on three triple AAA batteries and played everything on a nice, shiny new full-res screen.

After all, they Geny one is launching next month, and there are several NES ones. Why not a Turbografx / PC Engine one? Even if it was japanese only (which you would think it would be given the popularity of PCE over there), we could import one....

Of course, I got my Turbo Express for $50 at an expo, so I can't complain....

I would lose my ever-lovin' mind if that actually came to be.