The Official Turbografx 16 Thread!

[Andromeda Stardust]

I just scored my first import game, Super Street Fighter II PCe. Strange but I noticed this HuCard comes in a dual sided jewel case. Was there like a bonus disc or something???

 

 

I'm aware I can't play this yet on my TG-16 as I don't have a pin adapter (but I do plan to get one), or a 6-button controller for that matter, but the Retro Freak takes HuCards so why not?

 

Unrelated, but do 6-button Turbo controllers exist with the large style 8-pin DIN connector? Thanks...

[NeoTurboManiac]

I just scored my first import game, Super Street Fighter II PCe. Strange but I noticed this HuCard comes in a dual sided jewel case. Was there like a bonus disc or something???

 

 

I'm aware I can't play this yet on my TG-16 as I don't have a pin adapter (but I do plan to get one), or a 6-button controller for that matter, but the Retro Freak takes HuCards so why not?

 

Unrelated, but do 6-button Turbo controllers exist with the large style 8-pin DIN connector? Thanks...

It didn't come with any bonus discs. Games that had thick manuals or came with extra materials would come in double sided jewel cases.

[NeoTurboManiac]

 

Say Neo,

 

Would be interested on doing Fighting Street for the CD unit? That had a great soundtrack and the port from Street Fighter was just as good!

 

Anthony...

I did Fighting Street a while ago.

[fdurso224]

I did Fighting Street a while ago.

Awesome, I'll go on your channel to check it out. Thanks again!

 

Anthony...

[Black_Tiger]

I just scored my first import game, Super Street Fighter II PCe. Strange but I noticed this HuCard comes in a dual sided jewel case. Was there like a bonus disc or something???

 

 

I'm aware I can't play this yet on my TG-16 as I don't have a pin adapter (but I do plan to get one), or a 6-button controller for that matter, but the Retro Freak takes HuCards so why not?

 

Unrelated, but do 6-button Turbo controllers exist with the large style 8-pin DIN connector? Thanks...

 

It was rumored to be a HuCard/CD hybrid, which would have come with a CD that the game would use for the music. There is a trick to turn off the bgm and if you put a CD with SFII music in the CD-ROM drive, hitting the play button will make the CD music play alongside the in-game sfx.

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

It was rumored to be a HuCard/CD hybrid, which would have come with a CD that the game would use for the music. There is a trick to turn off the bgm and if you put a CD with SFII music in the CD-ROM drive, hitting the play button will make the CD music play alongside the in-game sfx.

Do you have evidence to support this?

[CatPix]

I just scored my first import game, Super Street Fighter II PCe. Strange but I noticed this HuCard comes in a dual sided jewel case. Was there like a bonus disc or something???

 

 

I'm aware I can't play this yet on my TG-16 as I don't have a pin adapter (but I do plan to get one), or a 6-button controller for that matter, but the Retro Freak takes HuCards so why not?

 

Unrelated, but do 6-button Turbo controllers exist with the large style 8-pin DIN connector? Thanks...

The double case version is because the manual is a bit thick, and plus, to accomodate the larger ROM chip, the Hucard is thicker as well, making totally impossible to fit this pack into a standard jewel case. Also those editions, or maybe just some came with other extra bits of paper, registration cards and stuff that took even more room.

[NE146]

Speaking of Street Fighter.. you guys are probably the ones who would know. Is there any way I can use this controller on a Turbografx? It was probably answered before on another post (when I took the pic) but I forgot the answer

 

The story is I bought it in Japan in the early 90's along with Street Fighter. And I was so disappointed when I got back home and realized the input didn't work in the Turbografx.. which pretty much made me play PCE SF2... never. So it remains pretty much untouched NIB, but I would still like to use it sometime. Is there an easily found adapter maybe?

[Starscream]

I think it has the same pinout as an American Duo system and will work, but the TG 16 has a different pinout and it won't work. Been a while, I may be wrong.

[Andromeda Stardust]

^^you need an adapter. I forget if the commonly available adapters let you use a turbo controller on a duo or a duo controller on a turbo. I could wire a homemade adapter but I'd rather not. The six button controllers are very expensive anyway it seems. I wanted to know if they ever made a six button controller that works natively with the big plug on a US Turbografx.

[Eltigro]

Here's an example of an adapter that should let you use your PC Engine controller on a TurboGrafx.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Duo-Core-Grafx-1-2-Supergrafx-PC-Engine-To-Turbografx-16-Pad-Controller-adapter-/252231490332

[Starscream]

Hey I have those adapters! But I think mine are the official ones?

 

I should visit this thread more often. TG 16 is my favorite system ever. I was lucky and smart enough that I bought every single released US game new when they were released. Still have my TG 16 system with cd add on, turbo express and tuner, all kinds of taps and controller extensions and of course the DUO and accessories. I have all the Turboplay mags too...even got my name in one for winning a contest. Still have the prizes which were a foam can cover, Devils Crush t shirt and some stickers.

 

I remember when TZD went in business. You could get the Kisado adapters there and all kinds of stuff. I had ordered an buttload of hucard sleeves just in case.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Starscream

[Andromeda Stardust]

I saw a thread somewhere on digitpress that said you could swap the Avenue 6 cable with a normal TG-16 cable, kinda like the SNES pad can swap cords with an ASCII ware. Are the cables detachable from the controller PCB???

[Gentlegamer]

 

It was rumored to be a HuCard/CD hybrid, which would have come with a CD that the game would use for the music. There is a trick to turn off the bgm and if you put a CD with SFII music in the CD-ROM drive, hitting the play button will make the CD music play alongside the in-game sfx.

 

[7800fan]

Not all cables are swapable. Some controllers have different pinout inside the pad. Before swapping, look up the pinout for both mini-8 DIN and standard 8 DIN, then using a multimeter in OHMs setting check for wiring arraingement. If both the original cable in your 6 button matches the TG-16 controller, it can be swapped.

 

It may be easier to make adapter if you have suitable parts. Do take note there are 2 different versions of DIN 8 plug. One has pins in "U" shape and one has pins in "C" shape. That is the 2 topmost pins can either be closer to outter shield (U) or away from shield ©. Those plugs are not really interchangeable as you will damage the pins or the socket by forcing incorrect plug.

 

AFAIK there are official NEC controller adapter that lets one use TG16 controllers on a Duo but I don't think they made one other way around.

[+GoldenWheels]

^^you need an adapter. I forget if the commonly available adapters let you use a turbo controller on a duo or a duo controller on a turbo. I could wire a homemade adapter but I'd rather not. The six button controllers are very expensive anyway it seems. I wanted to know if they ever made a six button controller that works natively with the big plug on a US Turbografx.

 

I believe the only game that you really need it for is SFII anyway? I actually figured I'd pass on that game completely in my Turbo collecting, because I'd rather just buy more games with that money instead of a controller for one game. The Avenue 6 pads don't seem to be highly rated anyway (though that Hori Commander does seem to get high marks) and they are very expensive IMO. (The nice looking Hori Multi sticks for the PC Engine are even worse....)

 

I do know some PC Engine shooters use select for real in game stuff though, and for those a 6 button or even the Avenue 3 might be nice, as I guess the third button replicates select. That's what I read anyway, i don't own a 3 or 6 button pad but do own at least one Japanese game where select does something important and it's a real pain to get to.

 

I'm surprised you'd go the pin adapter route btw stardust....you solder stuff real good like (lol), is there no TG region mod? I could not justify spending 100+ for a barney or a kisado converter when that's 1/3 of the way to buying a region free PC Engine DUO anyway (which is what I ended up with).

Edited January 27, 2016 by GoldenWheels

[Black_Tiger]

PC Engine consoles are super cheap (cheaper than HuCard converters) and there are potential issues with controller adapters, so you're better off with a PC Engine setup, even if you're getting mods done.

 

Many games make use of the 6-button controllers and there are several fighting games. Here is an incomplete list:

 

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=764.0

Edited January 27, 2016 by Black_Tiger

[+GoldenWheels]

Ah, good list to have Tiger! Just wish it listed more of the three button games, I have some pc engine shooter that uses it but it ain't on there. EDIT: found one. That site is a great reference.

 

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=9188.0

 

 

I see I am going to HAVE to get a 6 button I guess...I bought Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and World Heroes 2 recently, but don't have an Arcade Card yet, so didn't know they needed a 6 button. I'm a fighting game/Neo geo noob but I guess i should have assumed!

Edited January 27, 2016 by GoldenWheels

[Black_Tiger]

I do know some PC Engine shooters use select for real in game stuff though, and for those a 6 button or even the Avenue 3 might be nice, as I guess the third button replicates select. That's what I read anyway, i don't own a 3 or 6 button pad but do own at least one Japanese game where select does something important and it's a real pain to get to.

The Ave Pad 3 just gives you a second Select button called button "III". The Ave Pad 6 only has two modes: 6 button and 2 button. Under both, only Select acts as Select.

 

So if you think you'd like to play some games with Select as button III, then you'll have to get an Ave Pad 3 or Blaster controller.

 

 

 

Is that supposed to be a "this cool, check it out" pic or a "I find this hard to believe, but can't be bothered to fact check it myself" pic?

 

 

 

Do you have evidence to support this?

Do you mean scans of EGM and misc mags from bitd? It was pretty common knowledge at the time and it was only after years of later internet discussion that people began to suspect that it might not be true.

 

But you can try it your self:

 

 

i love reviving this thread

 

Rumor (legend?) has it that Street Fighter 2 was originally supposed to load music off of an included CD, which may explain why the hucard comes in a double case. The double case could have just been used to make the game look more impressive, since it was a whopping 9800 YEN at release (ouch!). Either way, the CD was apparently scrapped to help keep the cost down.

 

Well anyway, the programmers left in the code to turn off the chiptune BGM, so that you may enjoy CD Music with the standard SFII sound effects peppered in. This procedure requires either a cd-rom2 briefcase setup or TG-CD. Sorry, no fancy duo units allowed [-(

 

1. Startup the game like normal, but let the demo play out

2. Insert a controller into port 3 of the tap and press RUN. This will pause the demo, letting you know it worked correctly.

3. Insert any CD of your preference.

4. Press RUN on controller 1 or 2 to start the game like normal.

5. Press the PLAY button on the CD unit for the music to start, skip buttons to select track.

 

maybe this is well known, but I had trouble tracking it down online. Thankfully the turbolist archives are still online.

 

Edited January 27, 2016 by Black_Tiger

[+GoldenWheels]

The Ave Pad 3 just gives you a second Select button called button "III". The Ave Pad 6 only has two modes: 6 button and 2 button. Under both, only Select acts as Select.

 

So if you think you'd like to play some games with Select as button III, then you'll have to get an Ave Pad 3 or Blaster controller.

 

Gah! What a ridiculous way to design the 6. Thanks for letting me know Tiger. I had just, you guessed it, assumed, that based on the little I had read it would work!

 

Oddly between this and the last post I saw a avenue 6 for 30$ on feepay (ebay on your phone is dangerous) and I pulled the trigger. I mean, I still would have bought it, but now I want a 3 TOO!

[CatPix]

 

Gah! What a ridiculous way to design the 6. Thanks for letting me know Tiger. I had just, you guessed it, assumed, that based on the little I had read it would work!

 

 

The thing is, even if the pad input on the PC-engine is freaking versatile (there is a "memory card" that plugs on it!!!!) it's not expandable either.

 

Like most other consoles of this time, the signals from the added buttons are sent on the same wires than the I and II buttons, but in a different encoding.

The problem is that while games like SFII containt code that can understand those added signals, other games doesn't understand the signal as being added buttons. So if you use and Avenue 6 pad on a game designed for a 2 buttons games, it will behave as if the Select and actions buttons were stuck pressed in Turbo mode.

Hence why you have a 2 buttons mod on the Avenue 6; so you can use it on every games you have. Except maybe 3 buttons games?

[7800fan]

I do know some PC Engine shooters use select for real in game stuff though, and for those a 6 button or even the Avenue 3 might be nice, as I guess the third button replicates select. That's what I read anyway, i don't own a 3 or 6 button pad but do own at least one Japanese game where select does something important and it's a real pain to get to.

 

I have Avenue 3 and there's 2 switches for the third button. One remaps Button III to select, start, or disable. Other sets single fire, rapid fire, and hands free rapid fire.

 

For many games that do not use 3rd button naively, I set it to hands free rapid and it becomes ghetto slo-mo feature. A few games like Neutopia can have button III set for easier access to subscreen.

 

And Av3 is a little wider than standard PCE/TG16/Duo controller so it is slightly more comfortable for me to use.

 

There's another 3 button controllers, with curved bottom a little like Genesis controller. It to has switch for changing mode but I didn't like it, it is very small for my hand.

[CatPix]

I got an Avenue 3 on eBay but it have yet to arrive, so I didn't know what feature it had. Thanks for explaining it ^^

[Andromeda Stardust]

Not all cables are swapable. Some controllers have different pinout inside the pad. Before swapping, look up the pinout for both mini-8 DIN and standard 8 DIN, then using a multimeter in OHMs setting check for wiring arraingement. If both the original cable in your 6 button matches the TG-16 controller, it can be swapped.

 

It may be easier to make adapter if you have suitable parts. Do take note there are 2 different versions of DIN 8 plug. One has pins in "U" shape and one has pins in "C" shape. That is the 2 topmost pins can either be closer to outter shield (U) or away from shield ©. Those plugs are not really interchangeable as you will damage the pins or the socket by forcing incorrect plug.

 

AFAIK there are official NEC controller adapter that lets one use TG16 controllers on a Duo but I don't think they made one other way around.

I bought a 6-pack of Din-8 plugs a while back on eBay. Depending on how rare these controllers are, it may not be wise to rewire them.

 

PC Engine consoles are super cheap (cheaper than HuCard converters) and there are potential issues with controller adapters, so you're better off with a PC Engine setup, even if you're getting mods done.

 

Many games make use of the 6-button controllers and there are several fighting games. Here is an incomplete list:

 

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=764.0

 

I believe the only game that you really need it for is SFII anyway?

 

Yep, figures... I took another look and there appear to be exactly two Hucard only releases that use the 6-button controller. Strip fighter, LOL! I tried playing this title on my Everdrive; didn't do so hot, likely because I only had the old 2-button controller.

PCEngineFX.com

 

Hucards

---------

6 Street Fighter 2 CE

6 Strip Fighter

My Cthulhu arcade stick support PC-Engine 2- and 6-button modes, so I'll probably just use that when I finally get the harness wired up for retro systems. Currently it's USB/MAME only.

 

 

... I actually figured I'd pass on that game completely in my Turbo collecting, because I'd rather just buy more games with that money instead of a controller for one game. The Avenue 6 pads don't seem to be highly rated anyway (though that Hori Commander does seem to get high marks) and they are very expensive IMO. (The nice looking Hori Multi sticks for the PC Engine are even worse....)

 

I do know some PC Engine shooters use select for real in game stuff though, and for those a 6 button or even the Avenue 3 might be nice, as I guess the third button replicates select. That's what I read anyway, i don't own a 3 or 6 button pad but do own at least one Japanese game where select does something important and it's a real pain to get to.

 

I'm surprised you'd go the pin adapter route btw stardust....you solder stuff real good like (lol), is there no TG region mod? I could not justify spending 100+ for a barney or a kisado converter when that's 1/3 of the way to buying a region free PC Engine DUO anyway (which is what I ended up with).

I'm not sure what I'll do yet. CDROM is out of my league regarding price. Reason I don't want to region mod my Turbografx is because it may cause incompatibility issues with my v1.2 Everdrive. I may yet get the CoreGrafx PCe or a card adapter.

 

EDIT: Just checked eBay. There's a beat-to-hell loose Coregrafx for $45, a couple more loose for $75, and all the complete ones (with accessories) are over $100, so I just got the PC-Henshin adapter instead. 48£ shipped to USA isn't too bad.

 

 

For many games that do not use 3rd button naively, I set it to hands free rapid and it becomes ghetto slo-mo feature. A few games like Neutopia can have button III set for easier access to subscreen.

Ghetto slo-mo. LOL Nice!

[Gentlegamer]

Is that supposed to be a "this cool, check it out" pic or a "I find this hard to believe, but can't be bothered to fact check it myself" pic?

 

Wait a sec, are you tryin' to trick me again?