The Genesis Revolution

[MST3Kakalina]

Nintendo just announced that they will be releasing Sega Genesis and TurboGrafix games for the Revolution.

The GameSpot article in question:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146528.html


This is totally exciting. My Genesis just broke and I am a saaaad panda. sad  

[MST3Kakalina]

The TurboGrafx-16:

Quote:

In October 1987, computer manufacturer NEC entered the video game business when it released a gaming console in Japan called the PC Engine. Though it was powered by a standard 8-bit microprocessor, the PC Engine featured a 16-bit graphics chip. It was capable of displaying up to 256 different colors on-screen (compared to 52 for the NES) and enhancing typical 8-bit resolution. The PC Engine was immediately successful in Japan. By April 1989, NEC had sold 1.5 million units. Sega had difficulty releasing its full 16-bit Mega Drive (known in the U.S. as the Genesis) system because the PC Engine had made such a major impact in Japan. Another unique aspect to the PC Engine was its size. It was smaller than the other consoles but provided more graphics power. Software for the PC Engine was programmed onto a sleekly designed new format called the HuCARD. In 1989, NEC made computer console history when they became the first gaming company to release a CD-ROM drive. NEC unveiled a CD player add-on for the PC Engine in Japan. A CD-ROM could hold many times more data than a standard silicon cartridge. The quality of CD games was superior to cartridges because of the huge storage capacity they allowed. In May 1989, NEC announced that they would be releasing the American version of the PC Engine called TurboGrafx-16 for $189.95 in the fall. Software between the Japanese and American systems would not be compatible. NEC also announced the release of the optional CD-ROM drive in America for $400. The high price for the CD drive proved to be a major factor in the downfall of the TurboGrafx-16 console in the US. In August 1989, the first TurboGrafx-16 consoles were released in New York and Los Angeles. The pack-in game was Keith Courage in Alpha Zones and a joypad controller was included. Surprisingly, the Turbo Grafx console contained only a single joystick controller port. NEC eventually released an adapter called the TurboTap (later called the DuoTap) that expanded the number of controller ports. When it was plugged in, up to five people could compete against each other at one time. The TurboPad controller included with the system was similar in design to the NES joypad. One unique feature that NEC included on it was two Turbo Switches that allowed continuous firing capability. The TurboPad controller cord was unusually short in length, consequently players had to position themselves extremely close to the console during games. NEC did later release a cable which extended the length of the cord by a much needed seven feet. The Turbo Booster add-on plugged into expansion port in the rear of the TurboGrafx-16 console. It allowed the unit to be patched into a home audio system to display the system's stereo sound feature. This was an important plus for owners of the CD-ROM player who would be able to enjoy CD quality sound effects and music during gameplay. The reason the TurboGrafx-16 system did not last long in America was that NEC's emphasis on the software was more on graphics and look than gameplay. After its introduction, NEC had let a number of inferior Japanese games slip through to American translated versions. Also, Sega actively recruited third party developers for the Genesis system having learned hard lessons battling Nintendo with the Super Master System. With third party game developers contractually tied up with either Nintendo or Sega, there was very little outside support left for NEC. The TurboGrafx-16 system initially sold well in America. In 1990 NEC reported sales of 400,000 units. When Sega released the first true 16-bit console, the Genesis, several months later in 1989, TurboGrafx was quickly overtaken. Less than one million total TurboGrafx systems were sold in America.