Cool, a TG-16 kiosk. Never seen one of those. Looks kinda flimsy, especially by today's standards of kiosks, which still get the crap kicked out of them after two weeks.

Any way, that is the NEC TurboGrafx-16. It was highly popular in Japan (under the moniker of PC Engine) and came out the same year as the Sega Genesis. The TG-16 was an 8-BIT system with a 16-BIT graphics processor, kind of between a NES and a Genesis. If I recall correctly, it had better displaying capabilities than the Genesis, but ran kinda slow. This was the first console to have a "hard drive" and a CD-ROM drive. One could purchase a TurboBooster Plus, which allowed for RCA output and had the ability to store game saves. There was also a TurboBooster, which was lacking the memory save device. The TurboGrafx-CD peripheral was a monster. The only thing larger than the $400 price tag was the box it came in. This box was at leat 2' high and 18" wide. This included a plastic carrying case for the system, but could also have fit a small child. The CD-ROM drive came in two pieces, the CD-ROM drive and the interface device, which basically acted the like the aforementioned TurboBooster Plus. The CD-ROM drive could play CDs, the never supported CD+G format, and TuboCDs. Later on, various carts (called TuboChips) could be insterted into the TG-16 to increase the RAM memory for more "complex" games. The life history of the Tubo systems is a complex one, and even more so in Japan. In the U.S., the TG-16 evolved into the sleak TurboDuo, which included all of the crap above into one nice device. By then, NEC had left most of the work to Hudson Soft, a second party, and TurboTechnologies Inc., was born. It quickly died, as the TG-16's lifespan lasted until around 1993, around four years. It was the perpetual number 3 system and never got support from the big names, like EA. Some may think that was bad, but this allowed for lots of cool, weird things to be produced. This is where Working Designs (the Lunar guys) started. As mentioned above, their biggest franchise was probably Bonk, with three games and a spin-off. Street Fighter I was one of the first CD games and was called Fighting Street. It was really bad. SFII' (Champion Edition) made it to the system in Japan as a 20-MB cart, the biggest of it's kind. So large, in fact, that it bulges. Dracula X is probably the most sought after import title. A personal favorite of mine was the sequel to Alien Crush, Devil's Crush, quite possibly the best video pinball game ever. One ingenious device, the TurboExpress, a portable TG-16, used existing TurboChips. It cost about $300, but it was way ahead of the Game Boy, GameGear, and Lynx, although the Lynx had more processing power. It's quite large, about the dimensions of a VHS tape, only thicker. It was basically the Saturn / Dreamcast of the 16-BIT age. Some really great games, but no support from either developers or consumers. This was my first system. My brothers owned the Intellivision and Colecovision. I basically missed the 8-BIT age (my parents would never get me an NES). My constant nagging finally got me a TG-16 for Christmas, and I've never looked back.

(Some of these facts may be a little off, as they're from the mush between my ears.)

I just bought a TG-16 last week for $20 w/controller and Keith Courage In Alpha Zones. I always wanted one when I was younger(for Splatterhouse and Bonk), but never got one. Now that I'm older and have more money to throw around, I've been buying all the games I never had(I also bought a Saturn and a lot of games a few weeks ago). I'm giving up my DVD habit for this, I get more enjoyment from my games.....

Wow, you guys are forgetting about one of the best games for the system....Military Madness. If anyone has played either Nectaris for PS1, or Advanced Wars for GBA, it's basically the same thing, but the first of its kind. Actually Nectaris was a sequel to it. One of the best games of all time in my mind.

You guys need to check into MAME. I had the ROM for splatterhouse on my computer a little while back. Ah, the memories

While Military Madness was highly touted as one of the best games for the system, I never got it or the sequel. I was never too big on the thinking games. However, a few years back I picked up the port that made it to the PlayStation for ten beans. Didn't do anything for me.

Some of my favorite games for the TG-16 were: Devil's Crush, Bonk's Adventure, The Legendary Ax, Ninja Spirit, Splatterhouse, Ys Book I & II, Exile, BravoMan, Valis III, Davis Cup Tennis, and Andre Panza Kickboxing.

Man, when you said old school I thought you were going to bust out a picture of a Coleco vision or Intellivision. I didn't know the TurboGrafx was that old.

It actually really was only an 8-bit processor that had a 16-bit graphics chip. Genesis was truly the first 16-bit system. I begged my mom to get me the Turbografx CD so I could play Y's and Fighting Street (aka Street Fighter) but there was now way I could convince her it was worth the $300+ price tag.

My favorite game for that was Ninja Spirit. I was so stoked to buy it when it got a 10 from Sushi X in EGM. I worked hard to save up that $59 I spent on it at Toys R Us.

Oh Yeah! My favorite shooter! My favorite level was the bubbles level where the boss was that skull.

Ah.. back in the day when video games didn't SUCK.

Some TG16 gems:

Pac-Land
Galaga 90
Neutopia 1 & 2 (Zelda rip-offs)
PARASOL STARS
Devil's Crush
Cadash
Dobule Dungeons

Never had the CD adapter tho..

I have a TG-16. The '16' is just a marketing ploy since it's really a dual 8-bit system. The games were good though. Devil's Crush and Bonk were especially good.
It had the first CD system though (Turbo CD and the Turbo Duo) and the handheld kicked ass. I still want one of those.

It was buried under the Genesis and SuperNintendo though.. too bad.

D

You have to understand that we have some young'ins on the forum.

mmmm.....pac-land....

I used to plunk a ton of quarters into this atthe arcade....it was much easier to make it across some of the pools of water when smacking the joystick with two hands..

I would love to get a hold of a Turbografx Express. The first (and only?) portable system that used the same software as the console. It also had a $100 TV Tuner accessory. I have an urge to rummage through my stuff now to see if I can find my TG-16 games.

They used to have one just like the picture in my local Toys R Us. I seem to remember playing Military Madness on it, and thinking it would be fun to own one.

They also had a Neo Geo set up that you could play too.

The Sega Nomad played Genesis games.

I have a TurboExpress that still works sitting on my desk. Best portable system ever, bar none.

I remember this system. When it came out, it was supposed to be the death knell of Nintendo. It was so far ahead of the NES, and it had quite a jump on the offerings from Sega and Nintendo (in fact the SNES was so late to the party, many wondered if they could catch Sega at all).

If you want to find something obscure, try finding a vectrex gaming system -- the only home game system to use vector graphics instead of raster.

still got mine in the attic w/box, good ole sis worked for NEC briefly and picked up one for $24 as they were trying to clear out all inventories of them.

Bought one of these used back in 1990 for SplatterHouse and Ys 1&2,not that bad of a console even though it didnt catch on,I will say its better then the 3DO and Jaguar.

Video Game Depot usually has them in stock for $150.