Turbo Express Multi-Player Resource

VestCunt · 09/27/2007, 07:38 PM

I've always been interested in the TE's ability to play special two-player modes in Bomberman and Falcon. Unfortunately, information about TE multiplayers, GT compatibility and the TurboLink has been impossible to find.
After recently picking up a 2nd Express and some additional gear on the cheap I ran some tests and made a few other discoveries along the way.

*No need for a TurboLink! Not only are they impossible to find, but you can save yourself $15 and buy an eighth-inch TRS (stereo) cable at Radio Shack; I tested it and it works fine.

*If you're a stubborn collector, you could try to order a TurboLink here: http://www.videogamer.org (no idea if this dealer is any good, I got mine on ebay).

*PCECP apparently updated their advanced search filters sometime in the last year and I finally found out what all of the GT multi-players are: Columns, Puzzle Boy, Spin Pair, Bomberman, and Bomberman 93.

*The TE multi-players are: Bomberman, Bomberman 93 and Falcon.

*The skimpy instructions included with the TurboLink list Ballistix, Davis Cup Tennis and Andre Panza Kickboxing as additional, upcoming games that are Link compatible but I strongly doubt the final releases included this function because there is no mention of the feature in any of the manuals or on PCECP.

*Region compatibility! I played US Bomberman 93 on a TE linked to PCE Bomberman 93 on another TE with a Mirai adapter last night and it worked fine. I don't have a GT to test, but I'm sure it would be fine linking the two considering that the software is compatible and the 1/8" stereo jack is such a simple interface.

These discoveries raise a few other questions.
1. Is there any way to use the TG16 expansion port to link two turbografx units together? (and if so, how come they never made multi-player Doom???

)
2. Any chance Ballistix, Davis Cup Tennis or Andre Panza Kickboxing are actually compatible? Who wants to mail me their loose extra copy to test?
3. Why is multiplayer Bomberman 93 so stupid? There's only one level, no computer players, and the only power-ups are bombs, flames and viruses (no kicks, chainbombs, etc.) Is it hard to sync two units? Primitive hardware? Stupid cable?

Keranu · 09/27/2007, 09:56 PM

Thread of the year! Seriously this thread is downright awesome! Thanks so much for the outstanding information!

Now to get this straight, the only way to play two player games on Turbo Expresses is to link up only the compatable games with the Turbo Link like Bomberman? So you couldn't play Cadash on two Turbo Expresses for example?

Also, how is two player Falcon?

VestCunt · 09/27/2007, 10:42 PM

Quote from: Keranu on 09/27/2007, 09:56 PMSo you couldn't play Cadash on two Turbo Expresses for example?

Yep, it sucks. For a system that dominated every other portable on the market, the TE/GT totally got it's ass kicked in the multi-player department. The titles I listed are the only confirmed two player games.

Quote from: Keranu on 09/27/2007, 09:56 PMAlso, how is two player Falcon?

I don't know because I don't know how to play Falcon--I've played the game for all of five minutes. I do own two copies and I tested it out the other day but it looks pretty boring. Nothing but two flight-simulator planes slowly flying around trying to shoot each other.

I haven't tested the first Bomberman because I only own one copy.

BTW, that videogamer.org site is the only dealer in the world I've found who still sells Turbolinks.

I would seriously love to know if it would be possible to link two TG16's or PCE's via the expansion port. It would be fucking sweet to see some kind of Double Dungeons/Faceball/Final Lap Twin type homebrew use this function and play a game on two TVs (this would be a good money-maker because people would have an incentive to buy two copies). It also wouldn't be unreasonable considering how cheap TG16 decks go for. Even if such a game were never developed, I'd still like to play the lame Bomberman/Falcon modes on a couple home systems.

Do any of you techies know if this is possible? I don't understand this shit: http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/pcebp.php

PCEngineFX · 09/28/2007, 03:29 PM

Yes, thank you for posting up this info VestCunt...there is a serious lack of multiplayer TE info online.

As far as linking Turbo hardware together, it is my understanding that the game has to support some kind of system link setting to detect the other hardware. Even if you perfectly hook up two TG-16's via the expansion port, they won't even look for the port unless the game specifically calls it out.

theoakwoody · 09/29/2007, 11:12 PM

Linking two tg16's would be sweet for bomberman alone. Two systems, 2 tvs, sounds good to me.

I guess someone would have to start narrowing all hardware differences between the express and 16. I know its pretty common knowledge that the express(Or was is the shuttle?) is only missing 1 pin that would allow it to except the cd attachment so right there is a minor difference.

sideshow · 09/30/2007, 12:29 AM

The Turbo Express was so damn expensive when it came out you were lucky to find somebody else to link to. Strange how they made Falcon a link game cause its a very boring game. Bomberman makes perfect sense for linking. Parasol Stars would of been a great link game. Anyhow great information nonetheless.

Turbo D · 09/30/2007, 08:10 AM

I have a Turbo Express, but no one to link with

esteban · 09/30/2007, 08:51 AM

Quote from: Keranu on 09/27/2007, 09:56 PMThread of the year! Seriously this thread is downright awesome! Thanks so much for the outstanding information!

Woohoo! I agree. Thanks for the info, VestCunt.

I've been too lazy to check on this myself because I do not own extra copies of the "TurboLink-compatilbe" games.

Someone here on these boards sold me a TurboLink not too long ago (nat? and maybe it was a year ago, now that I think about it) because I've never been able to find the damn cable. Well, I missed one on ebay once (and it was cheap), but that's because I was an idiot.

Keranu · 09/30/2007, 10:33 PM

Quote from: turbo D on 09/30/2007, 08:10 AMI have a Turbo Express, but no one to link with

Wanna link up, buddy? ;)

Seriously, I was hoping I could finally link up with someone at Turbo Fest last June but I don't think anyone else brought an Express. Maybe next year

.

Turbo D · 09/30/2007, 10:57 PM

definitely next year

hoobs88 · 04/12/2008, 01:02 AM

Parasol Stars is not linkable?

NecroPhile · 04/12/2008, 01:18 AM

Quote from: hoobs88 on 04/12/2008, 01:02 AMParasol Stars is not linkable?

Correct.

OldRover · 04/12/2008, 06:26 AM

I was wondering about the TurboLink. I figured "hey, standard 1/8th inch plug, wonder if a normal stereo patch cable will work". Good to know it does.

As for the games themselves, Aaron is right...the software has to specifically use the comlink port. I don't believe this is an issue ever tackled by homebrewers, though I think maybe it's about time someone did some poking around the registers looking for it. With the existence of flash carts now, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out. Now if I could only get two flash carts and another working TE...

VestCunt · 04/13/2008, 02:29 AM

Heck, even something like Crash or Humpball would be awesome on two TVs.

spenoza · 04/13/2008, 11:23 AM

I really wish Cadash had been made linkable. In the TG-16 version you have to be on the same screen as the other player, obviously, but in the arcade you could wander far apart from each other. In fact, if you joined a game already in progress you started at the beginning and had to wander through the areas the other player(s) had already passed. You still got to kill regular enemies but the bosses, naturally, were defeated and gone.

The GT/TE would have been perfect for emulating this mode of play.

OldRover · 04/25/2008, 12:21 AM

In the arcade version of Cadash, both players on the same machine still had to stay "on screen", but the slave machine could have its characters go off somewhere else. Each machine though was still limited to its two characters staying on the same screen. At least that's how I remember it.

Duo_R · 11/18/2008, 05:56 AM

Found this awesome thread - thought it deserved from reviving. First question - has anyone ever pinned the Turbolink port to where it runs to on the PCB? Does it go to one of the Hu chips? That might be an interesting start for the possibility of TG-16 linking to TE's. Great find on the games being region free for linking (bomberman 93 and Bomberman probably only games to do so). That actually perked my interest in this topic!

ccovell · 11/18/2008, 09:19 AM

Wasn't Spin Pair TE-compatible? Worth checking out (on a real TE system, of course.) How about other 1990/1991 games like Hatris or Battle Lode Runner?

Duo_R · 11/18/2008, 01:58 PM

I thought Battle Lode Runner was TE link compatible.....that would be sweet!

blueraven · 11/21/2008, 06:37 PM

Quote from: guest on 04/13/2008, 11:23 AMI really wish Cadash had been made linkable. In the TG-16 version you have to be on the same screen as the other player, obviously, but in the arcade you could wander far apart from each other. In fact, if you joined a game already in progress you started at the beginning and had to wander through the areas the other player(s) had already passed. You still got to kill regular enemies but the bosses, naturally, were defeated and gone.

The GT/TE would have been perfect for emulating this mode of play.

I agree. That was one of my favorite parts about the arcade version. I was distraught when they removed the Cadash cabinet from the arcade by my house.

kattare · 07/26/2009, 02:16 PM

It's an old thread, but I recently repaired a couple of Turbo Express units and picked up a second copy of Bomberman '93. I really wanted to do the multiplayer thing with my kids on the road.

The good news:

Standard stereo headphone jack cables work as com cables. (I think they're 1/8in mini jacks?)

The bad news... really, really bad news:

Bomberman '93's com multiplayer mode is a JOKE. You hook up, one person is black, the other is white. No options for computer players. You pick the number of trophies, and off you go. No choice of map. Up to this point I was just a little bummed... but after the third round with my 7 year old, he said, "Dad, why are the items in the same place every game?" ... and I realized...

The map, block location, power-up locations, skull locations... everything is the SAME EVERY ROUND.

Then I thought, ok, what happens at the end of the game and a new game is started? SAME MAP.

What if we turn off the units and resync? SAME MAP.

The Bomberman '93 game has one com link map and one map only. It is the exact same every single round.

Unbelievable. I'll have my second Express, second Bomberman '93, and "Com Link" cable up on Ebay shortly. ;-)

guyjin · 07/26/2009, 06:55 PM

Quote from: kattare on 07/26/2009, 02:16 PMThe Bomberman '93 game has one com link map and one map only. It is the exact same every single round.

WTF, hudson? WTF?

CrackTiger · 07/26/2009, 07:11 PM

I recently put a video on youtube of Bomberman 93' being played on a Turbo Express linked to a PC Engine GT-

There are some unique screens with artwork for the link mode.

esteban · 07/26/2009, 10:46 PM

Quote from: CrackTiger on 07/26/2009, 07:11 PMI recently put a video on youtube of Bomberman 93' being played on a Turbo Express linked to a PC Engine GT-
There are some unique screens with artwork for the link mode.

Well, that answers that question!

Awesome to see that working.

But is kattare correct about the unchanging placement of power-ups and lack of maps?

kattare · 07/27/2009, 12:46 AM

Sweet video ... but... LOLZ... that's the same map me and my kiddo were playing.

Who wants to put together a legend to the location of all the powerups in com link Bomberman '93? ;-)

esteban · 07/08/2013, 04:21 PM

Quote from: kattare on 07/27/2009, 12:46 AMSweet video ... but... LOLZ... that's the same map me and my kiddo were playing.

Who wants to put together a legend to the location of all the powerups in com link Bomberman '93? ;-)

Sure, sounds like a plan. Let's not waste any time getting this map completed.

Duo_R · 07/09/2013, 02:28 AM

Someone needs to hack the rom to somehow randomize the power ups. Thats just pure laziness lol

Duo_R · 07/09/2013, 12:14 PM

Haha that's ok