NEC took a lot of chances with the launch of their TurboGrafx-16 in North America. For one, it was their first (and only) console outside of Japan. The PC-Engine, as the TurboGrafx-16 is known in Japan, was co-developed with Hudson. More like NEC slapped their name on Hudson’s designs but that is another story. This was the first console for both companies. The PC Engine came to life out of Hudson trying to sell better graphics chips to Nintendo. We all thought Sony was the first company Nintendo screwed over in the hardware category.

Built on previous technology

The TurboChips, HuCards in Japan, were the culmination/continuation of similar technology Hudson had going for the MSX computer (some MSX games were featured in issue #2 of RGM). For all intents and purposes this could have been called the Hudson Console or Hudson TurboGrafx-16, NEC was there for the finished product, and probably to avoid problems with Nintendo’s quite extensive third party contracts (at least in North America).

Attachments meant expansion to bigger gaming worlds

Another chance that NEC took was the release of the CD-ROM attachment. They released the CD-ROM on August 1st, 1990- almost a full year later. This was the first CD-ROM attachment released for a console in North America, predating the Sega CD by over two years. NEC were also forward thinking in how they handled this attachment, they left out any region locking technology (something Sega was quick to add to their attachment). This allowed gamers to pull from the more bountiful gaming culture of Japan where Nintendo didn’t have nearly the power over third parties as they did in the United States.

TurboGrafx-16 also had a portable version

Eventually NEC released the first portable to play home console games on the go with the Turbo Express (1990). The NEC Turbo Express portable was revolutionary. Some screens had dead pixels in the LCD. The Turbo Duo console was the first to feature a CD-ROM built in. The Turbo Duo even came with five games for free (six in early editions if you knew the code).

First is not always best

Particularly with technology, being first is exactly the best position to take. NEC/TTI found this out repeatedly over the years and it was a hard lesson to learn. Eventually, Konami ended up owning the rights to the NEC/TTI library of games. This includes Hudson games such as Adventure Island and Bomberman.

Independent homebrew developers keeping the candle lit

Indie developers have refused to let the Turbo go. Companies such as Aetherbyte have supported both the TurboChip console and the CD-ROM attachment with new games in recent years.

Launch titles included:

• Alien Crush
• China Warrior
• Dungeon Explorer
• Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
• Power Golf
• R-Type
• The Legendary Axe
• Victory Run
• Vigilante

We here at RGM want to take this day and say thank you to the TurboGrafx-16. Celebrate all of the great games it did see released over the years, some covered here.

Want to grab a TurboGrafx-16 for yourself before the TurboGrafx-16 mini hits? Check eBay or Amazon for a deal.

Carl Williams

It is time gaming journalism takes its rightful place as proper sources and not fanboys giving free advertising. If you wish to support writers like Carl please use the links below. https://www.paypal.me/WCW https://www.patreon.com/CarlWilliams