The Video Game Console Library - NEC PC Engine CD-ROM2 \ TurboGrafx-CD

	NEC PC Engine CD-ROM² \ TurboGrafx-CD
	DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
	Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
NEC	NEC	Nov-88	Japan. North America	$399 USD	CDR-30	Approx. 435	N\A
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

PC Engine CD-ROM2 console (picture credits unknown)

Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality)	N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile)	N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use)	N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation)	N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects)	N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability)	N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging)	N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library)	N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides)	N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?)	N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?)	N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games)	N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system)	N\A

Reviews

Nice picture showing the briefcase unit and RAU-30 device. Picture credits unknown.

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

On October 30, 1987 the first 16-Bit home videogame console was released in Japan by NEC. The PC Engine was clearly a "next generation" system with its amazing specs and wallet sized card games called "HuCards".

The PC Engine was immensely popular in Japan, outselling the Famicom by a significant margin. Two years after its Japanese introduction, NEC announced plans to bring the PC Engine overseas. NEC dubbed the US release TurboGrafx-16 and prepared to dominate both Nintendo and Sega as they did in Japan.

In 1988, NEC took gaming to the next level. They were the first to use the immense storage capability of Compact Disc. NEC's CD-ROM add-on device was called TurboGrafx CD or TG-CD (PC Engine CD-ROM² in Japan). The add-on would be immensely popular in its native country of Japan, releasing over 400 games. The console did not fare as well in the North American market.

PC Engine CD-ROM2 briefcase

Even with its amazing potential, the TurboGrafx-CD was marketed poorly. Not only was this item priced at a ridiculous $399, but only two games were even released for it during its first six months of existence. Neither TG-CD game, Fighting Street nor Monster Lair, came anywhere close to taking advantage of the system's capabilities.

HANDS ON REVIEW

Coming soon...

Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

The PC Engine CD-ROM² connects directly with the PC Engine, CoreGrafx and CoreGrafx II. Connection with the NEC SuperGrafx requires a special adaptor (RAU-30 - see below). The CD-ROM² was sold with the included interface unit (IFU-30), which is commonly referred to as the briefcase. The unit shipped with System Card 1.0.

The RAU-30 device is required to connect the NEC SuperGrafx system to the PC Engine CD-ROM². No adapter for the SuperGrafx is necessary with the second model, the Super CD-ROM², since it can interface directly with the unit. More information on the Super CD-ROM² is located in the Models section below. Picture credits unknown.

Some advertisements for the PC Engine CD-ROM² and TurboGrafx-CD

TurboGrafx-CD print ad showing off the system and some games. This was after the huge price drop.

Nice article covering the various
NEC systems including the CD-ROM2

Advertisement for the TurboGrafx-CD Super System
Card, which you can see was quite expensive

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
See PC Engine	See PC Engine	See PC Engine	See PC Engine
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
256 x 224 to 565 x 242	512 colors (9-bit), 482 on screen	See PC Engine	See PC Engine
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
CD-ROM (1x speed)	640 MB	Approx. 435	CD-ROM², Super CD-ROM², Arcade CD-ROM²
Internal Storage	External\Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
64 KB DRAM	None	See PC Engine	See PC Engine
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
See PC Engine	None	None	See PC Engine
Power Supply	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Varied (model dependant)	None	System Cards provided the BIOS for booting the CD as well as provided software instructions for accessing data
Manuals
Not available. Can you help us out? You will receive full credit in addition to keeping the history of video gaming alive for all! Please contact me.

Games & Emulation

Games screen shots\media released for this system.

It is important to have the correct system card in order to play PC Engine CD-ROM² or TurboGrafx-CD games. These cards plug directly into the respective system to provide compatibility with the various NEC CD formats.

The CD type is designated by logo as well as indicated on the front cover and spine of the respective title. The following table summarizes the three types along with the required System Card.

System Card 1.0 - 2.1 (Jap) System Card 2.0 (USA)	Super System Card 3.0 (Jap) Super System Card 3.0 (USA)	Arcade Card Pro (Jap) Arcade Card DUO (Jap)
NOTES o The CD-ROM² comes with the System Card 1.0 HuCard o The Super CD-ROM comes with Super System Card 3.0 built directly into the unit. o The TurboGrafx-CD comes with the System Card 2.0 HuCard o The Arcade Card DUO is used with the DUO line of NEC consoles in lieu of the Arcade Card Pro. o System Cards released in Japan will work with the TurboGrafx 16 with a HuCard converter.
This table is provided as a quick snapshot of requirements for the the various types of games. For more information, please refer to the NEC Compatibility Guide presented by PCEngineFX.

Sample pictures of System Card for the PC Engine

Super CD-ROM2 System Card and Case

PC Engine Sytem Card case

Screen shots that are displayed when first firing up your system with the respective System Card.

Pictures of a couple of System Cards.

CD-ROM2 System Card TurboGrafx CD System Card

TurboGrafx CD System Card 2.0 Screenshot

PC Engine Super System Card 3.0 Screenshot

Game Screenshots

Advanced VG

Advanced VG Screenshot

Cho Aniki

Cho Aniki Screenshot

Dracula X

Dracula X Screenshot

Dynastic Hero

Dynastic Hero Screenshot

Emerald Dragon

Fighting Street

Fighting Street Screenshot

Forgotten Worlds

Forgotten Worlds Screenshot

Galaxy Fraulein Yuna

Galaxy Fraulein Yuna Screenshot

Gate of Thunder

Gate of Thunder Screenshot

Gradius II

Gradius II Screenshot

Excellent cover art is a trademark of many games.

PC Engine CD-ROM2 Cover - Y's 1 & 2

Hellfire S

Hellfire S Screenshot

Hot Blooded High School Soccer

Hot Blooded High School Soccer Screenshot

John Madden CD Football

John Madden CD Football Screenshot

Kaze Kiri: Ninja Action

Kaze Kiri: Ninja Action Screenshot

Kick Boxing

Kick Boxing Screenshot

Lords of Thunder

Lords of Thunder Screenshot

Monster Lair

Monster Lair Screenshot

Red Alert

Red Alert Screenshot

Riot Zone

Riot Zone Screenshot

Startling Odyssey II

Startling Odyssey II Screenshot

Super Air Zonk

Super Air Zonk Screenshot

Valis III

Valis III Screenshot

Y's 1 & 2

Y's 1 & 2 Screenshot

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
MagicEngine	http://www.magicengine.com	Excellent program for PC Engine and SuperGrafx emulation. Available for DOS, Windows and Mac OSX.

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

The Super CD-ROM2 released in Japan (picture credits unknown)

The TurboGrafx-CD released in North America

Picture from an eBay auction that I lost out on. Please contact me so that I may give you picture credits.

Nice picture of the TurboGrafx 16, TurboGrafx-CD and various peripherals. Picture credits unknown.

TurboGrafx 16, Turbografx CD anad many peripherals

TG-CD with the TG-16. Picture credits unknown.

PC Engine CD-ROM² technology was also incorporated into various other officially licensed systems including the
NEC Duo line (Duo, Duo-R, Duo-RX and the Turbo Duo), the Pioneer LaserActive (PAC Module).

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones). Click pictures to enlarge.

No clones of the CD-ROM² system are known to exist.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
PCEngineFX.com	http://www.pcenginefx.com	The best place on the net for everything NEC.
PC Engine Catalog Project	http://pcecp.com	Excellent site detailing PC Engine \ TG-126 games

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Page last updated 11-Dec-2011

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