Turbografix 16 ...the beginning :: essays research papers

In Japan, shortly after the introduction of Nintendos Famicom (Japans version of the NES), the electronics giant NEC entered into the videogame commercialize with the introduction of their "next generation" system, known as the PC Engine (PCE). The PCE flourished a 16-bit graphics chip capable of displaying up to 256 colors on hiding at once, at a number of resolutions. Although its CPU wasnt much more powerful that of the NES, its spectacular graphics chip and six-channel sound bettered the Famicom in every way. It utilised a sleek new card format (PCE games are either HuCards or Turbochips) to hold its software, rather than bulky cartridges. It was also the first console to boast a CD-ROM drive, for full orchestral soundtracks and even (gasp) full motion video. The PC Engine was immensely popular in Japan, outselling the Famicom by a solid margin.In 1989, two years after its Japanese introduction, NEC announced plans to bring the PC Engine overseas, to the booming vide ogame market of the U.S. With a huge program library of Japanese software, it reckoned to many as though the system couldnt possibly fail.At the time, the NES was the 1 system in the US. Games were no longer being made for Ataris 7800, and disrespect the popularity of the Sega Master System in Europe, it failed to capture the hearts of the U.S. gaming public. Arcade and computer games began to set new standards in visual and aural excellence, making the NES seem primitive in comparison. Although MMC (memory mapper) chips allowed the NES to do some pretty spectacular things, the game-buying public was hungry for a new system.Shortly after NEC stated its innovation to bring the PC Engine to the U.S., Sega announced that its Mega Drive system (released in Japan a year after the PC Engine) would also be glide path to the U.S. as the Sega Genesis. The Mega Drive was slow to catch on in Japan, as the installed user base of PC Engine was so large. In fact, the Mega Drive was spectacul arly unpopular with our Japanese friends. Although the Mega Drive boasted superior graphics and sound, the absence of a CD-ROM drive was a definite minus in most gamers minds. erstwhile youve played a CD-ROM game, cartridge games just dont seem as good. At the time, the Genesis didnt seem like much of a threat to the sure success of the TurboGrafx-16 (NECs American name for the PC Engine).