The Light Gray "TurboGrafx System."

[OceanBlueKirby]

Legend has it that there was a TurboGrafx-16 released in European countries. I have not yet confirmed its existence, since some sources have stated that it was only released in the US, while a few others had said it was released all around the world.

In ScrewAttack's Video Game Vault on Bonk's Adventure, however, the TurboGrafx-16 system that was featured in it appears differently from a regular US one. The logo on in only says "TurboGrafx" in just white letters, while there are red and blue dash lines underneath. Although its lighter color may mostly be due to a camera flash, it still appears to be a lighter gray judging from the darker areas of the picture. The TurboPad, which appears later in the video, has the same color scheme for the logo and the covering of the controller itself. However, in the top center, the marking in that portion has a squiggled symbol perceding the "TurboGrafx" letters. It may be possible that this is a modified system, but as I have never seen another TurboGrafx-16 system simliar to this, I cannot say exactly what it is.

Obsolete: screwattack.com/archive/VGV/Bonk.html
Update: https://roosterteeth.com/watch/video-game-vault-bonks-adventure

I am wondering what this system is. Could it be the European system, or possibly a modified console ?

[nat]

Yeah, that's the TurboGrafx that was released in Europe, as you suspect.

Differences: plastic color, logo color, the absence of the "-16" after the system name, and PAL video output (instead of NTSC).

[Joe Redifer]

Actually I think it just contains some extra video encoder to turn the NTSC into PAL.  That'd have to look pretty bad.  I hope it at least took the RGB and turned that into PAL vs the actual composite NTSC feed.

[awack]

Its as if they shipped a plane load of them to Europe and stored them in a warehouse and forgot about them, so its believed they were never officially released which is why you can find them brand new pretty easily, just go to ebay.uk and I'm sure there will be at least one new one on there.

[OceanBlueKirby]

Yeah, that's the TurboGrafx that was released in Europe, as you suspect.

Differences: plastic color, logo color, the absence of the "-16" after the system name, and PAL video output (instead of NTSC).

Thanks, Nat! So, they were available in Europe after all. Now, I wonder how those two pictures were obtained? Sure, they may have been from the best picture results they can find, but its strange to see ScrewAttack display a European console when they are from Dallas, Texas. Then again, they do have a ScrewAttack Europe foundation...

Which games were available in Europe for this system, also? I can expect most of the titles released in the US to come there, but I wonder if some PC Engine titles were released in that country, also? Speaking of these, I'm hoping that ScrewAttack will be able to launch more Video Game Vaults on TurboGrafx-16 titles. I've been waiting for them to do so for a while .

[nat]

The game library for the European version is the same as the library for the US TurboGrafx line. The same carts play on both European and American TurboGrafx consoles.

The pack-in game with the European TurboGrafx was Blazing Lazers instead of Keith Courage, though.

[SignOfZeta]

Thanks, Nat! So, they were available in Europe after all. Now, I wonder how those two pictures were obtained? Sure, they may have been from the best picture results they can find, but its strange to see ScrewAttack display a European console when they are from Dallas, Texas. Then again, they do have a ScrewAttack Europe foundation...

People are known to collect pointless things. If there are Japanese collectors with PAL Turbos (which is totally pointless), then I'm sure some American has one.

I have both US, and JP modems, keyboards, and mice for the Sega Saturn. Why? Not sure. I've literally never used the JP modem, and I'm not sure I ever will.

[CrackTiger]

One of my unfinished projects is a detailed breakdown of the PAL TurboGrafx. When I got it, I photographed everything as I took it apart. I also took pics of the North American TG-16, both of them together, etc.

Aside from the cosmetic differences, the PAL TG has a Coregrafx/Duo AV port and the power supply and such come in a separate box. Here are a few pics-

[Keranu]

I can't wait to see the rest of that, CrackTiger. That looks awesome.

[MurderDate]

CrackTiger -  I didn't even have to ask !  You rrrule!

[Ceti Alpha]

Great pics B_T. It's great to finally see these guys side by side.

I have to say I think I prefer the US TG, though I do like how the "16" was dropped. The whole "TG16 isn't 16-Bit" thing back in the day probably wouldn't have been as bad as it was if NEC didn't tag the number "16" after the name.  It just drew attention to the fact that the TG16 only had an 8bit CPU when nobody would have been the wiser, or at least it wouldn't have been such a big issue. If ever questioned about it NEC/Hudson could just say, "Yeah, the TG16 only has an 8bit CPU. So what? It's tweaked so much we can do whatever else the competition can muster up if not better." But that's just one of the many marketing blunders the US marketing team had with the TG...16.

[CrackTiger]

Here's the separate accessories box-



It came with Alien Crush and a cheap photocopied manual as they're pictured-



These last two things really make it look like it was a test marketing lot and not intended for retail.

[Joe Redifer]

Very interesting.  Together it almost looks like the US version is the Halloween Edition of the TurboGrafx console and the grey one is the normal one.  How about the expansion ports... same shape?

[CrackTiger]

Very interesting.  Together it almost looks like the US version is the Halloween Edition of the TurboGrafx console and the grey one is the normal one.  How about the expansion ports... same shape?

I didn't count the pins or anything, but they look the same-

[Joe Redifer]

Is the controller port PC-Engine sized or TurboGrafx-16 sized?

[NecroPhile]

Nice pics CrackTiger, thanks for sharing.

People are known to collect pointless things. If there are Japanese collectors with PAL Turbos (which is totally pointless), then I'm sure some American has one.

Truer words were never spoken.  I'd like to have one of these machines for myself, though I'm not really sure why.

[nat]

Is the controller port PC-Engine sized or TurboGrafx-16 sized?

It uses the US TG-16 controller ports.

Here's the separate accessories box-
It came with Alien Crush and a cheap photocopied manual as they're pictured-

These last two things really make it look like it was a test marketing lot and not intended for retail.

Interesting.

Blazing Lazers was the pack-in game for every one of the European TurboGrafx units that I've ever come across. Maybe the one you picked up actually is some kind of test-/pre-market deck?

[OceanBlueKirby]

The game library for the European version is the same as the library for the US TurboGrafx line. The same carts play on both European and American TurboGrafx consoles.

The pack-in game with the European TurboGrafx was Blazing Lazers instead of Keith Courage, though.

Thank you once again, Nat! Your powers of intellegence impress me once more . A good choice that Blazing Lazers was the pack-in game for it (me and Keranu had a discussion about this once). Oddly, though, Bonk's Adventure never came with the console itself, in spite of being a mascot stellar platformer for it.

Thanks, Nat! So, they were available in Europe after all. Now, I wonder how those two pictures were obtained? Sure, they may have been from the best picture results they can find, but its strange to see ScrewAttack display a European console when they are from Dallas, Texas. Then again, they do have a ScrewAttack Europe foundation...

People are known to collect pointless things. If there are Japanese collectors with PAL Turbos (which is totally pointless), then I'm sure some American has one.

I have both US, and JP modems, keyboards, and mice for the Sega Saturn. Why? Not sure. I've literally never used the JP modem, and I'm not sure I ever will.

According to Handsome Tom's Closet/Video Game Collection, they only have a US TurboGrafx-16. I hardly find anything at all in it that would be considered pointless .

One of my unfinished projects is a detailed breakdown of the PAL TurboGrafx. When I got it, I photographed everything as I took it apart. I also took pics of the North American TG-16, both of them together, etc.

Aside from the cosmetic differences, the PAL TG has a Coregrafx/Duo AV port and the power supply and such come in a separate box. Here are a few pics-

Wow! I learned something new about the TurboGrafx-16 today: there's a big lump to where the plastic covering on the back of the unit is and the CD-ROM add-on attaches! I always thought that this area was flat, only with a few connections in it. I'd never thought that you had a PAL TurboGrafx, SuperPCEngineGrafx. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this, especially if there's any differences between the internals.

[Kitsunexus]

Blazing Lazers was the pack-in game for every one of the European TurboGrafx units that I've ever come across.

That is the most brilliant marketing decision that a mortal mind could ever make.

[Turbo D]

What I want to know is why they put a blown up r-type screenshot on the box if the pack-in was blazing lazers! 

[Joe Redifer]

Oddly, though, Bonk's Adventure never came with the console itself, in spite of being a mascot stellar platformer for it.

It came with my US TurboGrafx-16.

[Keranu]

What I want to know is why they put a blown up r-type screenshot on the box if the pack-in was blazing lazers! 

Was wondering the same. Nevertheless, the R-Type screenshot looks awesome though.

[CrackTiger]

Is the controller port PC-Engine sized or TurboGrafx-16 sized?

I believe that the only difference physically is the the A/V out.



I packed it back up after taking the photos.

I planned on consulting the experts before plugging it in to test, since the voltage is different.

[OldRover]

I planned on consulting the experts before plugging it in to test, since the voltage is different.

All you would need to do is check the input voltage of the console itself. This probably shouldn't be any different than the US model, since the circuitry inside is virtually identical. Obviously you can't use the EU adapter with it if you're in the US, but you should be able to use the US adapter. I'm not 100% sure on this though, so again, check the voltage requirements for the console itself.

[NecroPhile]

Oddly, though, Bonk's Adventure never came with the console itself, in spite of being a mascot stellar platformer for it.

It came with my US TurboGrafx-16.

As well as with my US TurboDuo.

[OceanBlueKirby]

Oddly, though, Bonk's Adventure never came with the console itself, in spite of being a mascot stellar platformer for it.

It came with my US TurboGrafx-16.

As well as with my US TurboDuo.

When did you purchase your TurboGrafx-16, Joe Redifer? I don't remember ever hearing about Bonk's Adventure being included with the console. Was it given as a free offer?

Sure, the TurboDuo came with Bonk 3-in-1 CD, but I was referring to the first game. If that did come with the system, then that would be an interesting thing indeed .

Is the controller port PC-Engine sized or TurboGrafx-16 sized?

I believe that the only difference physically is the the A/V out.




I packed it back up after taking the photos.

I planned on consulting the experts before plugging it in to test, since the voltage is different.

Wait a minute. Where's the second controller port ?! Usually consoles have at least two so another player can join in the game. If it really doesn't have another one, then I wonder how the two boys were able to play with each other in the TurboGrafx-16 commercial (assuming that the multi-tap wasn't available yet and they were playing with each other at some point)?

One final question for this console, though: When was its release date? Seeing that it has an A/V port, I expect it to be launched at least one year later.

[nat]

All NEC consoles from that era have only one port. The TurboTap provides the ability for multi-player action. The Tap was available at the time the system was released.

[OceanBlueKirby]

All NEC consoles from that era have only one port. The TurboTap provides the ability for multi-player action. The Tap was available at the time the system was released.

What a strange design . First, I've discovered that the TurboChips need to be shoved into the system from the front as opposed to pushing the catridges on the top like most other consoles at the time, then I find it has only one controller port. I suppose that's why the TurboTap has 5 connectors on in, and not just for convenience reasons.

[Ceti Alpha]

Only having one controller port on the Turbo did kind of suck, but at the same time having the TurboTap rocked. So in the end I would take one controller port over two anyway. A five player game of Dungeon Explorer is the shit - still haven't experience 5 player Bomberman or Battle Royale. It really wouldn't have made sense to give the Turbo two controller ports when they were planning on creating the TurboTap and multiplayer games. Also the TurboTap wasn't that expensive either. The Turbo was pretty cheap compared to the Genesis and eventually the SNES, so picking up the TurboTap really wasn't that big a deal really.

[Joe Redifer]

Nobody who owned a Turbo had any friends, hence the need for only one controller port.

I got my TurboGrafx-16 with Bonk inside the box in 1991.

[awack]

Nobody who owned a Turbo had any friends, hence the need for only one controller port.

HA:D,thats because we had a inferiority complex and had no friends, we would never whip ours out because we were told that our CPU was only half the size of other consoles and that it could never satisfy the needs of a real gamer.

Black tiger, that smokey grey euro turbo grafx looks really good, i think it looks much better than the halloween collord turbo grafx 16.

[Ceti Alpha]

Nobody who owned a Turbo had any friends, hence the need for only one controller port.

haha. That's because we were afraid, or puzzled rather,  by all of those gamers running around with "Genesis Does" written in their eyes and screaming "Sega!". It was frightening and made no sense to us, therefore, we stuck to ourselves until the myth of blast processing faded and the state humanity returned to normal.

[OldRover]

Actually guys n gals, having a single port which is expandable through a single device is more efficient than having two ports. The multitaps other consoles had required very specialized programming to make use of, but since the PCE/TG16 was designed to work this way from the very beginning, it was far easier to make use of.

[CrackTiger]

I planned on consulting the experts before plugging it in to test, since the voltage is different.

All you would need to do is check the input voltage of the console itself. This probably shouldn't be any different than the US model, since the circuitry inside is virtually identical. Obviously you can't use the EU adapter with it if you're in the US, but you should be able to use the US adapter. I'm not 100% sure on this though, so again, check the voltage requirements for the console itself.

This is one of the first things I did, since I'm able to play my PAL Megadrive with North American Genesis power supplies.

It turns out that both the input and output on the AC adaptors is different. The console itself only lists the output.

Here are the specs of each AC adaptor:


PAL TurboGrafx:

Input: 220VAC 50Hz
Output: 10.5VDC 780mA


NTSC TurboGrafx-16:

Input: 120VAC 60Hz 15W
Output: 10.5VDC 730mA

[OceanBlueKirby]

I got my TurboGrafx-16 with Bonk inside the box in 1991.

Hm. After all, I have not heard much about the advertising for it in 1991. This may also be related to the same ordeal that you had included stickers with yours. Since that is the year Bonk's Revenge was released, are you positive it was Bonk's Adventure, or was it the sequel instead?

Nobody who owned a Turbo had any friends, hence the need for only one controller port.

Haha. That's because we were afraid, or puzzled rather,  by all of those gamers running around with "Genesis Does" written in their eyes and screaming "Sega!". It was frightening and made no sense to us, therefore, we stuck to ourselves until the myth of blast processing faded and the state of humanity returned to normal.

A couple of individuals I know on YouTube, who are LaiSteve66 and BoilerPlate, told me that nobody was really talking about the TurboGrafx-16 around its release; it was all about the Sega Genesis and later the Super Nintendo. Also, having a TurboGrafx-16 would be the possible cause of a "social isolation" since a person would not fit the "herd mentality."

With the amount of scary games (to my past experiences, at least ), and sometimes scary advertisements (which are more relevant to the Sega Saturn), the Sega Genesis was somthing to be feared of. It was one evil console, indeed .

I planned on consulting the experts before plugging it in to test, since the voltage is different.

All you would need to do is check the input voltage of the console itself. This probably shouldn't be any different than the US model, since the circuitry inside is virtually identical. Obviously you can't use the EU adapter with it if you're in the US, but you should be able to use the US adapter. I'm not 100% sure on this though, so again, check the voltage requirements for the console itself.

This is one of the first things I did, since I'm able to play my PAL Megadrive with North American Genesis power supplies.

It turns out that both the input and output on the AC adaptors is different. The console itself only lists the output.

Here are the specs of each AC adaptor:


PAL TurboGrafx:

Input: 220VAC 50Hz
Output: 10.5VDC 780mA


NTSC TurboGrafx-16:

Input: 120VAC 60Hz 15W
Output: 10.5VDC 730mA

For the most part, it looks like the European TurboGrafx has more power useage, although it doesn't do so as quickly. It interesting to see how the PAL electrical currents work and compare to the NTSC ones.

[nat]

CrackTiger, I think you'd be fine to use the US AC adapter on the PAL TurboGrafx. The US TG-16 adapter works great with the white Japanese cores as well.

A difference of 50mA isn't going to change anything.

[OldRover]

The output of the adapter is what the console expects. The US adapter may not have enough power though. 50mA can be a considerable difference in output. It all depends on whether or not the console actually uses all that amperage. That extra 50mA may be required for the signal conversion circuitry. Try it...if it doesn't work, then it's not enough power.

[nat]

That's true, I forgot about that goofy NTSC->PAL converter.

Still, I say it'll be fine. The worst that'll happen is that you'll have no picture using the US adapter. You can't harm the console though.

[CrackTiger]

That's true, I forgot about that goofy NTSC->PAL converter.

Still, I say it'll be fine. The worst that'll happen is that you'll have no picture using the US adapter. You can't harm the console though.

Alright then, I'll blame you if it goes up in smoke.


EDIT: I dug out the main PAL TG unit and a standard PCE A/V cable and when I tried to plug it in... it didn't fit. Instead of forcing it at all, I compared the male and female ends and it was too close to call, although they looked a little off.

So I went and grabbed the accessory box and compared the PAL A/V cable and it was clearer that they are indeed different (but still similar). I also tried a TG-16 "halloween" Turbo Pad and it fit fine.

So I finally got it hooked up with the TG-16 ac adaptor, hit the switch and... it worked! But not only did it power on and run on my HD LCD, it runs smooth without the stuttery frame rate that NTSC Turbo/PCE systems cause on this TV.

So far the only game I've tried is JJ & Jeff and the sound seems as though it may be a little different(I haven't played it in a while). This TV has simulated surround sound though, so that may be all it is.

Now I'm going to try a few more Turbochips and a PCE HuCard just for the hell of it.


EDIT AGAIN: The games are cropped to a wider perspective. The rest of the screen is black, and some of the off-screen bg/foreground building pieces can be seen in Aeroblasters(I'll need pics to explain properly). The image appears to look less distorted than this TV makes other retro/240p consoles look.


The following games seemed to run fine at full speed:

JJ & Jeff
Magical Chase
Dragon's Curse


These games ran slow, sound and all:

Aeroblasters
Bonk 3
Ninja Spirit

Bloody Wolf didn't work at all, but I only tried it 3 or 4 times. It just produced a white screen the same as a PCE HuCard.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a decent video camera at the moment. Once I do, I'll hook the PAL TG back up and do some comparison videos.

[Keranu]

More reasons why JJ and Jeff is a well made game  .

[nat]

That's true, I forgot about that goofy NTSC->PAL converter.

Still, I say it'll be fine. The worst that'll happen is that you'll have no picture using the US adapter. You can't harm the console though.

So I finally got it hooked up with the TG-16 ac adaptor, hit the switch and... it worked!

Told you so. 

[OceanBlueKirby]

That's true, I forgot about that goofy NTSC->PAL converter.

Still, I say it'll be fine. The worst that'll happen is that you'll have no picture using the US adapter. You can't harm the console though.

Alright then, I'll blame you if it goes up in smoke.


EDIT: I dug out the main PAL TG unit and a standard PCE A/V cable and when I tried to plug it in... it didn't fit. Instead of forcing it at all, I compared the male and female ends and it was too close to call, although they looked a little off.

So I went and grabbed the accessory box and compared the PAL A/V cable and it was clearer that they are indeed different (but still similar). I also tried a TG-16 "halloween" Turbo Pad and it fit fine.

So I finally got it hooked up with the TG-16 ac adaptor, hit the switch and... it worked! But not only did it power on and run on my HD LCD, it runs smooth without the stuttery frame rate that NTSC Turbo/PCE systems cause on this TV.

So far the only game I've tried is JJ & Jeff and the sound seems as though it may be a little different(I haven't played it in a while). This TV has simulated surround sound though, so that may be all it is.

Now I'm going to try a few more Turbochips and a PCE HuCard just for the hell of it.


EDIT AGAIN: The games are cropped to a wider perspective. The rest of the screen is black, and some of the off-screen bg/foreground building pieces can be seen in Aeroblasters(I'll need pics to explain properly). The image appears to look less distorted than this TV makes other retro/240p consoles look.


The following games seemed to run fine at full speed:

JJ & Jeff
Magical Chase
Dragon's Curse


These games ran slow, sound and all:

Aeroblasters
Bonk 3
Ninja Spirit

Bloody Wolf didn't work at all, but I only tried it 3 or 4 times. It just produced a white screen the same as a PCE HuCard.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a decent video camera at the moment. Once I do, I'll hook the PAL TG back up and do some comparison videos.

"Male and female" ends? That's "polarized and neutral (non-polarized)", not "male and female", Black Tiger .

It is a common problem for PAL consoles to have slowdowns when running on 50Hz (there is the possiblity to switch to 60Hz for these systems). This is more prevalent in earlier-made ones.

[Turbo D]

the connector that looks like a weiner is male. The hole connecter is female. Just like in real life.

[Joe Redifer]

Hm. After all, I have not heard much about the advertising for it in 1991. This may also be related to the same ordeal that you had included stickers with yours. Since that is the year Bonk's Revenge was released, are you positive it was Bonk's Adventure, or was it the sequel instead?

Here is a picture of my TG-16 box:



I never owned Bonk's Revenge until I purchased the Super System Card which came with it on the Gate of Thunder CD.  The stickers came with the CD unit I believe.

PS - CrackTiger, I think your HDTV accepts a PAL signal.  Just a guess on my part.

[Keranu]

Oh yes, the totally happy Turbo Grafx dude strikes back!

[CrackTiger]

It is a common problem for PAL consoles to have slowdowns when running on 50Hz (there is the possiblity to switch to 60Hz for these systems). This is more prevalent in earlier-made ones.

PS - Black Tiger, I think your HDTV accepts a PAL signal.  Just a guess on my part.

The reason I first tried it on my LCD is because I know that it does PAL. My projector does too, but only the LCD doesn't run NTSC PCE video correctly.

The weird thing is that later last night I was testing a TG-16 with RF for an unrelated issue and it also ran smooth. I was sure that I had tried a few different PCE systems, including my Duo RX and Shuttle and that they all turned out choppy. Maybe the Turbo's artifact reduction doesn't work when run through RF or something.

[guyjin]

from the picture on the box, I'm guessing turbo sized - the pce controller connector isn't as long.

[CrackTiger]

from the picture on the box, I'm guessing turbo sized - the pce controller connector isn't as long.

From the picture on the box, it looks like it comes with a wireless pad plus receiver.

[Ceti Alpha]

I think I actually prefer the Halloween theme. 

[Turbo D]

Halloween theme ftw!!1!!