What is your primary gaming machine?

[D-Lite]

I figured this would be a fun question for hardcore Turbo gamers.

I plan on eventually posting this at DigitPress too as I suspect it'll be a VERY different answer.

[OldRover]

I can't vote in this one since I don't own any of them anymore...

[D-Lite]

I can't vote in this one since I don't own any of them anymore...

????!!!!!    

And this is the guy developing new games for it!

[dj898]

D-Lite
I'm using SGX you modified with SCD module...
I do have a PC Engine Duo-RX but it's much convenient that way since Duo-RX is packed away in the storage room...

[jlued686]

My main machine is the US Duo.  Every now and then I bust out the PC Engine or the PC-FX, but the Duo gets the most attention.  Beyond that, I sometimes set up the Turbografx in the bedroom.

I still need to order my Turbo Express...  Sold mine many years ago, like a fool.

[twor2005]

The multiregion supergrafx acd wins for sure. Too bad there's no way to modify a duo to play supergrafx games.

I used a Turbografx CD with 3.0 card up until late last year when I got a PC Engine Duo.

I was thinking about bringing back the old Turbo Grafx 16 (and leaving the CD in storage) to play American Hucards. Unfortunately I lost the back piece cover so it looks silly without the CD. Guess I've gotta get a Turbo Booster.

[rolins]

I'm more of a hucard player and I use my Core Grafx II more than my Duo and Duo-R.  Its compact design makes it sturdy and cool. For six years It has been thrown into walls, dropped from a flight of stairs, and has scratches and scuff marks to prove it. After all that it still manages to play Galaga 88, Super Star Soldier, Aero Blasters, and Adventure Island.

[esteban]

My TG-CD is the primary gaming unit, though I must say that my PC-Engine (CoreGrafx I) is a close runner-up (there are a lot of fun HuCard games, goddammit!).  I tend to play CD's a lot, so the LED track display (and CD control panel) on the TG-CD can't be beat. If only the DUO had that! Then it would be perfect.  

I have a DUO (US), but I haven't spent nearly as much time on it. It's in pristine condition and I think I'm afraid to use it too much. It's safely packed in its box.

I know it's ugly to most folks... but the TG-CD is beautfiful in its own way. I think it looks far more interesting than the orginal Genesis + CD-ROM (double-stack)...

I would love to get the orginal PCE + CD-ROM suitcase, or the other configurations (CoreGrafx + SuperCD)... but that will have to wait...

TANGENT: Has anyone ever noticed that the Panasonic REAL FZ-10 3DO console is VERY similar to the DUO (both in size and layout). I only recently got 3DO and was surprised how similar it was.

[lord_cack]

I don't have my US Duo where I live yet, so until then...Magic Engine....

[DragonmasterDan]

US Duo here, I use my turbo express quite a bit, but due to its small screen and low battery life it doesn't see as much use as one might think. My regular TG16 just sits in a box since I have no controllers for it and no real use for it since I have the Duo and the Express.

[pixeljunkie]

My beloved Duo R modded by D-Lite!  

[CrackTiger]

I've been playing a Turbo Duo since it was released, but will switch to RX now that I have one.

Before that my main system was the Turbo CD combo and before that just the TG16.

And in each case, these weren't my main Turbo/PCE machines, but my actual main video game systems.

[xolik]

I'm still on my old Turbo w\CD attachment. Bless my parents for actually getting it for me for Christmas way back when along with Ys III to play on it. The little bugger hasn't given me an ounce of trouble since the day I got it. Too bad they don't seem to be making things last like this anymore.

[CrackTiger]

I'm still on my old Turbo w\CD attachment. Bless my parents for actually getting it for me for Christmas way back when along with Ys III to play on it. The little bugger hasn't given me an ounce of trouble since the day I got it. Too bad they don't seem to be making things last like this anymore.

Yeah, I don't know why so many people report problems with theirs, none of the Turbo systems I've bought brand new have ever given me any problems and I've actually abused them at times.

[TurboHuC6280]

I'm still on my old Turbo w\CD attachment. Bless my parents for actually getting it for me for Christmas way back when along with Ys III to play on it. The little bugger hasn't given me an ounce of trouble since the day I got it. Too bad they don't seem to be making things last like this anymore.

I've got one too (and an extra boxed, brand new Turbo as a spare).  That combination is as solid as can be.  CDROM drive is 15 years old and still running like a pro.  

[PC Gaijin]

I use a Turbografx-CD combo. I've had the Turbografx-16 for almost 16 years, and the CD attachment for 15 years. Both still work perfectly fine, although I would like to find some way to clean the HuCard port. Heck, the Turbo-CD was actually my very first CD player . I used to listen to music CDs on that thing, something I never did with subsequent consoles.

Never had a Duo, and while I have a PC Engine/CD-ROM suitcase setup, I seldom use it since I don't play JP HuCards very often (and I just play JP CDs in my Turbo). I also have a TurboExpress, but again I don't play it too often.

Speaking of durability, what's the longest your save games have lasted? I believe the CD unit uses a capacitor for the saves, and while the manual says something like you should turn the unit on every 2 (or was it 4?) weeks to charge it, I had my Turbo-CD in storage for over seven years and when I plugged it in my old Ys saves were still there .

[Keranu]

Turbo Duo for me because it's the only system I got out of the bunch so far. I'd love to get a PCE+CD and Turbo Grafx 16+CD myself. I can see where Steve is coming from about the Turbo CD and I think I would agree with him if I had the chance to use one. The LED track display sounds pretty rad!

[TurboHuC6280]

Speaking of durability, what's the longest your save games have lasted? I believe the CD unit uses a capacitor for the saves, and while the manual says something like you should turn the unit on every 2 (or was it 4?) weeks to charge it, I had my Turbo-CD in storage for over seven years and when I plugged it in my old Ys saves were still there .

Wow.  I've never had it last more than a few weeks at best.  I remember when I found out the hard way by not playing my TG16 for a while.  I lost several saves.  I still need to buy a Tennoke bank, just in case.

It would appear that memory is indeed backed up by RAM that's charged with a capacitor.  It was probably the least expensive method at the time, but certainly the least reliable.

[OldRover]

The Saturn used the smartest method of battery backup...a replaceable, common battery (the same battery used for CMOS data in modern PCs). The capacitor idea isn't half bad (batteries lose charge life over time but capacitors don't) but it's not quite as reliable as a battery, that's very true.

[TurboHuC6280]

The Saturn used the smartest method of battery backup...a replaceable, common battery (the same battery used for CMOS data in modern PCs). The capacitor idea isn't half bad (batteries lose charge life over time but capacitors don't) but it's not quite as reliable as a battery, that's very true.

I think that flash memory is the best option in most cases.  No moving parts, no batteries, and you usually get thousands of saves out of it.  That's why most consoles (since the PSX) have been using it.

[OldRover]

Flash memory is certainly the most viable method today but keep in mind that back then, it was quite expensive, and keeping costs low was a priority (nowadays they dont give a shit since people buy it all up like penny candy anyways). Sega made a backup cart for the Sega CD but if memory serves, it was battery-powered as well.

[esteban]

I can see where Steve is coming from about the Turbo CD and I think I would agree with him if I had the chance to use one. The LED track display sounds pretty rad!

Plus, you have all the basic buttons for music CD's available, so you don't need to turn on the tv and use the GUI.  

A few times, when I was a kid, I've even popped out the CD deck and used it as a standalone CD player. It was big and clunky, even by 1990 standards, but it was very kool to have a LED display on a "portable" cd player (ok, you had to keep it plugged in).

Yes, I'm the person who continues to use an old-ass TI calculator because it has a LED display.

I've always wanted to have a *working* vintage LED watch. My dad had one, but by the time he gave it to me, it was broken.  Or maybe it simply needed a new battery.  Damn, I wish I kept that.

[Keranu]

Hahaha, LED displays kick ass.

[dj898]

Flash memory is certainly the most viable method today but keep in mind that back then, it was quite expensive, and keeping costs low was a priority (nowadays they dont give a shit since people buy it all up like penny candy anyways). Sega made a backup cart for the Sega CD but if memory serves, it was battery-powered as well.

anyone remember mid 80s Fujitsu FM-8 with its funky bubble memory? o_O
man I'd love to have it but at that time I couldn't afford - it was already superseded and was getting rare even then - so had to settle with FM-NEW7... still think it was way ahead of its time since haven't seen anyone toyed with bubble memory since...

one of these days I might pick up FM-8 just for sentimental value...

[TurboHuC6280]

Yes, I'm the person who continues to use an old-ass TI calculator because it has a LED display.

I've always wanted to have a *working* vintage LED watch. My dad had one, but by the time he gave it to me, it was broken.  Or maybe it simply needed a new battery.  Damn, I wish I kept that.

My grandfather gave me one of those old calculators with the red LED display.  The thing literally *got warm* after being on for a few minutes.  Heh.  Don't know what ever happened to it.

[PC Gaijin]

anyone remember mid 80s Fujitsu FM-8 with its funky bubble memory? o_O
man I'd love to have it but at that time I couldn't afford - it was already superseded and was getting rare even then - so had to settle with FM-NEW7... still think it was way ahead of its time since haven't seen anyone toyed with bubble memory since...

I wasn't aware of the FM-8, but I do remember the hoopla over bubble memory. It was supposed to be the next big thing around the early 80s. Density and speed were always problems with bubble memory though, which is probably why it never took off.

After reading your post I did a little research on the FM-8 -- interesting machine! The details of the main CPU/graphics CPU, sharing memory between the two, halting one while the other accessed memory, etc. all reminded me very much of the Atari 8-bit home computer design. I really do miss the "old" home computer scene, it was an exciting time with lots of fascinating designs.

[dj898]

I still have my FM-NEW7 though haven't taken out of its box more than 17 years! o_O

being a fool I gave away my NEC PC-88SRmkII and Panasonic MSX2+ when I moved... and then there's PC-8001 that I used for my MicroMouse project...

yea I miss those 80s pasocom scene... it was a lot more fun imho... and no pesky M$ in sight... yet :p

[akamichi]

I've been using my briefcase system since '88.  I thought it looked so cool (and expensive!) when I first saw it in the local toy store.  Lately, I've been using a cheap and beat up Duo-R.  It's starting to exhibit some of the typical Duo issues.  Right now the briefcase is packed up somewhere.  Probably haven't turned it on in 2 or 3 years now.

Just to add my 2 cents to the retro PC sub-topic here...
Amiga rules! ;)

[PCEngineHell]

I use both my systems,a briefcase combo with white Pc-Engine,and a Super Cd-rom 2 drive with CoreGrafx.I use the Arcade Card Pro on both units.

[D-Lite]

I use both my systems,a briefcase combo with white Pc-Engine,and a Super Cd-rom 2 drive with CoreGrafx.I use the Arcade Card Pro on both units.

Just curious as to why you use both actively since they have the same capability. ?

[esteban]

I use both my systems,a briefcase combo with white Pc-Engine,and a Super Cd-rom 2 drive with CoreGrafx.I use the Arcade Card Pro on both units.

Just curious as to why you use both actively since they have the same capability. ?

Well, personally, I know that I would love to have one system for the office and one for the living room... so I don't see a big mystery there

[PCEngineHell]

I use both in my bedroom set-up.Its a Apex 24 inch monitor,and a dual stereo audio set up using both a :
Sony CMT-HP7 and Altec Lansing 100 watt stereo speaker set-up with floor firing subwoofer.I keep both systems in the closet in 2 different rubbermaid containers wrapped in bubblewrap,and varry the use on them by using one or the other here and there.I use the bank card to transfer the game saves.Basically I swap back and forth because I dont want to just play one of my decks untill the cd-drive dies and then only have just one left lets say 4 years down the road.I dont dare leave either deck out when Im not using it.Im very strict about dust and temp control on my electronics and my games.I guess I just picked up this habit over the past few years while collecting laserdisc.
I am actually wanting to get one or 2 more of the TurboGrafx CD-drives,or the white cd-drives as back ups.Not the full deck,just the drives.I know I will most likly have to buy full decks and piece out the rest of the deck parts on ebay.Right now both my cd decks are near mint,the briefcase cd-drive and the Super Cd-rom 2 drive,and Im trying very hard to keep it that way,as is my CoreGrafx.My white Pc-Engine I had to undo the stereo av-mod that was done to it,re-install/redo the rf out,as it was un-soldered,and bleach the plastic to restore it to very good condition cosmeticly.Its been over 3 years sence I have owned a US TurboGrafx cd system of any kind,as I have always felt the system was huge/black/and way ugly.On the The TG-16 cd system complete looks from above like a huge black letter T.Tell me they didnt do that for marketing reasons?My friend in Conway owns 2 Tg-16 cd systems complete,and a system 3.0 card.He envys me because he doesnt want to do a system mod,but wants to use the Arcade Card Pro,and have some of the hu-cards like Gradius and Salmander.He ha sbeen thinking of getting some kind of Supergrafx with cd-drive set-up.He doesnt believe in modding vintage systems,and the jap hu-card adapters cost as much as a good pc-engine.I agree with him on system mods,I dont care for them either on nice old systems like that.I always hate to see NeoGeo decks modded.Espically MVS 1 and 2 slots turned into home system like decks.

[D-Lite]

He doesnt believe in modding vintage systems,and the jap hu-card adapters cost as much as a good pc-engine.I agree with him on system mods,I dont care for them either on nice old systems like that.I always hate to see NeoGeo decks modded.Espically MVS 1 and 2 slots turned into home system like decks.

Yeah, there are some people that feel that way and most modders, myself included, will seldom touch a near mint or better system.  Why would you?  But there are more than enough average condition decks out there that are hardly collector quality that are great targets.  You will find that the majority of people that want modded decks are gamers first and collectors second.  Or, they have a minty boxed system in addition to a modded one.  Either way, my take on modded systems is that I'd rather have one system to do everything than 2.  And I'd rather have one that I'm not paranoid about the cosmetics of so I won't be wrapping it in a diaper between uses.  But believe me, I have a closet of systems in their nice virgin state, which makes me a sick freak to many.

[PCEngineHell]

I do have one question D-lite?The cooling fan mod you have done on Duo systems.
Are you using the small cooling fans found on older VGA graphics cards like Voodoo 4 4500 and Voodoo 5 5500 cards?
Also,how are you powering them,where in other words are you drawing the power source from?From the deck itself?I was always wondering about this,so I figured Id ask now sence we are on the mod subject,because Id like to know how to install one of those into something like a Genesis 1 deck I have been thinking of overclocking.The deck is pretty much play deck condition,many heavy scratches over all,so I have been thinking its time for it to go under the knife.I have a near mint Genesis 2 deck with a stereo av cable,and I keep that one put up and use the Genesis one deck mostly for playing.

[D-Lite]

I do have one question D-lite?The cooling fan mod you have done on Duo systems.
Are you using the small cooling fans found on older VGA graphics cards like Voodoo 4 4500 and Voodoo 5 5500 cards?
Also,how are you powering them,where in other words are you drawing the power source from?From the deck itself?I was always wondering about this,so I figured Id ask now sence we are on the mod subject,because Id like to know how to install one of those into something like a Genesis 1 deck I have been thinking of overclocking.The deck is pretty much play deck condition,many heavy scratches over all,so I have been thinking its time for it to go under the knife.I have a near mint Genesis 2 deck with a stereo av cable,and I keep that one put up and use the Genesis one deck mostly for playing.

I get the fans from digikey and they are all new, not from other systems or other components, but yeah, they are very similar to laptop fans.  I believe they are all about 1" square and I have both whisper quite ones and a bit louder ones.  Obviously the louder ones move more volume.  These are almost always powered on +5V which any console has internally since nearly all IC's use +5V.  And these fans draw very very little current, so it won't effect system performance.

[CrackTiger]

Speaking of durability, what's the longest your save games have lasted? I believe the CD unit uses a capacitor for the saves, and while the manual says something like you should turn the unit on every 2 (or was it 4?) weeks to charge it, I had my Turbo-CD in storage for over seven years and when I plugged it in my old Ys saves were still there .

Wow.  I've never had it last more than a few weeks at best.  I remember when I found out the hard way by not playing my TG16 for a while.  I lost several saves.  I still need to buy a Tennoke bank, just in case.

It would appear that memory is indeed backed up by RAM that's charged with a capacitor.  It was probably the least expensive method at the time, but certainly the least reliable.

If I were you, I'd still fire up the Tennokoe Bank every so often too if you're dealing with valuable save files.

[CrackTiger]

He doesnt believe in modding vintage systems,and the jap hu-card adapters cost as much as a good pc-engine.I agree with him on system mods,I dont care for them either on nice old systems like that.I always hate to see NeoGeo decks modded.Espically MVS 1 and 2 slots turned into home system like decks.

Yeah, there are some people that feel that way and most modders, myself included, will seldom touch a near mint or better system.  Why would you?  But there are more than enough average condition decks out there that are hardly collector quality that are great targets.  You will find that the majority of people that want modded decks are gamers first and collectors second.  Or, they have a minty boxed system in addition to a modded one.  Either way, my take on modded systems is that I'd rather have one system to do everything than 2.  And I'd rather have one that I'm not paranoid about the cosmetics of so I won't be wrapping it in a diaper between uses.  But believe me, I have a closet of systems in their nice virgin state, which makes me a sick freak to many.

I'm the same way with games(and other collectibles).

I'd rather have a copy that is worn enough that I don't have to worry about fingerprints, let alone anything else, but still looks nice instead of  a mint item that demands a premium price.

Especially since 9 times out of ten I buy a game to actually play it.

[twor2005]

Hey D-Lite,

Have you ever modded a Turbo Express? I could never really see a reason to own one since I already have a TGCD and PCE Duo, but if I could play SF II JP and Neutopia US on the same handheld piece of awesomeness without a diving board that would be bliss!

[vtnwesley]

Honestly, I use a computer with Magic Engine. I did not own a Turbo system back in the day, and they usually cost too much for me to bother now. Magic Engine has always run like a dream, and offered all the features I could ask for. It's particularly nice, because you can run CD games right off a PC CD drive, and it basically acts like the real thing (akin to using Gens for Sega CD games). This makes collecting the games SO worth it.

I'm not a collector, so the small fortune it costs to own a peice of hardware I can't usually find games for and may break (without a good chance to find another easily) just isn't doing it for me. I do wish that I could at least use a real Duo just once. I only ever got a chance to use my old friend's Turbo Grafx with his incredibly beat up gamepad that barely worked. He also only owned Pac-land... Wish I'd have bought a Duo back in the day when I had the chance.

[D-Lite]

Hey D-Lite,

Have you ever modded a Turbo Express? I could never really see a reason to own one since I already have a TGCD and PCE Duo, but if I could play SF II JP and Neutopia US on the same handheld piece of awesomeness without a diving board that would be bliss!

Not yet, but I'd like to.  I need to get smaller switches to do so though and fitting it will be tough to say the least.

[TurboHuC6280]

Hey D-Lite,

Have you ever modded a Turbo Express? I could never really see a reason to own one since I already have a TGCD and PCE Duo, but if I could play SF II JP and Neutopia US on the same handheld piece of awesomeness without a diving board that would be bliss!

Not yet, but I'd like to.  I need to get smaller switches to do so though and fitting it will be tough to say the least.

Yeah.  Everything is really crammed inside the Turbo Express.  There are a few locations for switches, but it's not an easy mod to do.  I've seen some cases where people pull an existing port or jack out to make room for the new stuff.

[TR0N]

Duo R and a CoreGrafix.

I kind of miss having the TG16&CD player.

Still i don't feel like tracking down a used one again.

So my... current set up is good enough for me.

[OldRover]

I will soon have a TG16+CD+ACD, which will be my NEC system.

[Ninja Spirit]

PC Engine Duo-R.

D-Lite hooked me up with the thing in the first place.

(First post from my newly acquired Compaq Presario 2200U laptop.)

[lord_cack]

Finally, my set up.....Turbo Duo....

[Keranu]

Hopefully I will have a PCE+CD set up soon.