PC-Engine

The, known one under the name TurboGrafx-16 with the the United States, is a video Game console 8 bits manufactured by NEC Corporation and appeared in 1987 with the Japan. Apart from Japan and of the United States, the console knew a relatively confidential existence while little or not being distributed.

In advance over its time, the PC-Engine has a main frame 8-bit and a graphics processor 16-bit able to post 482 colors simultaneously. It is also the first console of the history to be had, as of December 1988, a reader CD-ROM in option. It with the characteristic to be declined in many models and to propose 4 formats of different plays: HuCard, CD-ROM ², Super CD-ROM ² and Arcade CD-ROM ².

The PC-Engine was distributed in France as from 1990 by SODIPENG, through the model CoreGrafX, which was supplied of an engineering change and a case called " AudioVideoPlus" to allow him to provide a signal RGB absent from Japanese models.

History

Result of collaboration between the editor Hudson Software and manufacturing it of electronic material NEC, the PC-Engine appears in 1987 with the Japan, then a few years after with the the United States re-elected in TurboGrafx-16 - in reference to its Graphics processor 16-bit.

Competitor of the BORN of Nintendo and of the Master System of Sega which it preceded technically and even sometimes in term of sale to the Japan, the PC-Engine, however simple console 8-bits, was more often compared with the 16-bits Super Nintendo and Sega Megadrive so much the quality of its plays was large. But finally she was her success mainly in Japan because for lack of good distribution its career in the rest of the world remained confidential.

It was declined in step less than twelve versions (of the relookages) until in 1994 of which celebrates it, and now collector's item, PC-Engine WP, first portable console with enlightened retro color screen.

Versions

CoregrafX, CoreGrafX II and Shuttle

SuperGrafX

PC-engine WP

In December 1990, the portable console PC-Engine WP appears in Japan. Equipped with a screen of 2,6" for a resolution of 512x256 pixels, it has the appearance of a " Rolls Royce of the consoles portables". It can moreover receive one optional tuner to become a portable TV!

PC-engine Duet

PC-engine LT

In December 1991, NEC markets the portable version of the PC-Engine, the PC-Engine LT. Equipped with a screen LCD of 4" folding and of a Tuner TV integrated in a gray hull. But impossibility of connecting it to a Super-CD-ROMANIAN ² or some other peripheral (Memory bases 128, AV Booster rocket…), as well as a price record for the time of 99.800 ¥ (675 €), make that it will not make that a success of regard.

PC-engine Duet-R and Duet-X-ray

Vis-a-vis the imminent arrival of the generation 32 bits, NEC tries to start again the interest of its console star with a new model: the Duet-R which is not simply a white variation (with light a relookage) of the Duet without the exit helmet (but equipped with a more durable optical system). The pad with 6 buttons of Duet-X-ray left one year later, will be the only innovation of this ultimate version.

The United States will see arriving in 1992, under the mark TTi (Turbo Technologies Inc.), the variations adapted for the US market: the TurboDuo and the TurboGT incompatible with the Japanese versions except for CD.

Extensions, charts system and accessories

Extensions

CD-ROM ² (1.0 and 2.0)

The CD-ROM ² System was launched the December 4th 1988 with the Japan. The extension includes/understands a reader CD-ROM who reads the plays with format CD-ROM ², the Audio CD and CD+G, but it also extends technical capabilities of the PC-Engine (new BIOS, 64ko of video memory). The American name of the peripheral is TurboGrafx-CD. Reader CD-ROM is connected to the console via an adapter, the Interface Links (a horizontal base).

Super CD-ROM ² (3.0)

The Super CD-ROM ² System was launched in December 1991 with the Japan. The extension, which takes again all specificities of version 2.0, includes/understands a reader CD-ROM (faster) and still extends the capacities of machine (new BIOS, 256 KB of video memory): the system allows in fine to transform the PC-Engine into PC-Engine Duet (left two months earlier), i.e. at the same time able to read the CD-ROMs ² and the Super CD-ROM ². The owners of the first generation of reader (CD-ROM ²) are not forgotten and they can play plays Super CD-ROM ² in upgradant their material with Super Card System 3.0.

Arcade CD-ROM ²

In 1994, the ultimate evolution of the system takes here only the form of an update (not of peripheral) thanks to the chart sytème Arcade Pro or Arcade Duet (according to model). With this evolution, the mask CD is extended to 2 Mo. A score of titles only will be born with the format Arcade CD-ROM ², mainly of the adaptations of plays of arcade like Strider , Fatal Fury 2 , Fatal Fury Special or Art off Fighting .

The charts systems

PC-Engine System Card v.1.0, v.2.0 and v.2.1
PC-Engine Super System Card v.3.0
Arcade Card Pro and Duo

Others

TurboTap : an adapter which makes it possible to connect 5 levers.

Technical capabilities

CPU: Hu6280 (derivative of a MOS 6502 c) to 7.6 MHz

RAM: 8 KB

GPU: HuC6260 16-bit and HuC6270A 16-bit

video RAM: 64 KB
Color S: 256 colors out of 512 (except sprites)
Resolution: 256x212, 320x256 and 512x256 (nonofficial) Pixel S
no. of Sprite S: 64 sprites of 16x16 displayable pixels simultaneously on the same line of sweeping
the sprites have their own pallets of 256 colors out of 512

Its: 6 programmable ways PSG stereophony

or 3 ways FM (2 operators PSG for 1 way FM)

Support: HuCard with the format credit card and reader CD-ROM (CD-ROM ² or Super CD-ROM ²) in option

Its game library

See too

Internal bond

List of plays to the launching of video game consoles

External bonds

Nec + ultra! , around the plays HuCards
Planet PC-Engine, tests of plays
Video Den Range, tests of plays
PC Engine FX, guide of compatibility
Necstasy, database
pcecp, database
Mondemul, emulation

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