TurboGrafx-CD

From WE Computers Museum
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TurboGrafx-CD logo.png
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TurboGrafx-CD
Designer Hudson Soft
Manufacturer NEC
CPU Relies on TurboGrafx-16
Graphics Relies on TurboGrafx-16
Memory TG-CD/CD-ROM²: 64kB Buffer RAM
Super CD-ROM²: 256kB Buffer RAM
Arcade Card Duo: 2048kB RAM
Arcade Card Pro: 2240kB RAM
Media CD-ROM
Released TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²
JP: December 4, 1988
NA: November 1989
Super CD-ROM²
PC Engine Duo: September 21, 1991
Turbo Duo: October 10, 1992
Super System Card: October 26, 1992
Arcade Card Duo/Pro
JP: March 12, 1994
Added to Museum Not yet

The TurboGrafx-CD, known as the PC Engine CD-ROM² in Japan, was a CD-ROM addon for the TurboGrafx-16, or PC Engine in Japan.

It was the first CD-ROM unit for a video game console, as it was released in Japan on December 4, 1988 and in North America in November 1989.

Super CD-ROM²

The first updated version was known as the Super CD-ROM², which updated the BIOS to Version 3.0 and increased the buffer RAM from 64kB to 256kB.

This was first released as a unit that combined both the PC Engine and the CD-ROM in one unit. This unit was released in Japan on September 21, 1991 as the PC-Engine Duo and on October 10, 1992 in North America as the Turbo Duo.

In Japan, a Super System Card was released on October 26, 1992. It replaced the system card that came with a CD-ROM² unit, upgrading it to a Super CD-ROM².

Games that were made for the Super CD-ROM² format could not be played in a TurboGrafx-CD or CD-ROM² unit.

Games released in Japan were labeled "Super CD-ROM²" to distinguish them from CD-ROM² games.

As a replacement system card was not sold for the TurboGrafx-CD, games in North America that were created in this format were labeled "Duo".

Arcade Card

The second updated version was named the Arcade Card This was released on March 12, 1994 in two versions, only in Japan.

The Arcade Card Duo was designed for Super CD-ROM² systems. This card upgraded the RAM available to 2048 kB.

The Arcade Card Pro was designed for CD-ROM² systems. This card upgraded the RAM available to 2240 kB.

The Arcade Card CD-ROM games were designated as Arcade CD-ROM² games.

Digital TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Notes
Spirit Warriors Spriggan Compile 1991
Super Darius Taito 1990
Ys I & II Taito 1990

Digital TurboDuo/Super CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Notes
Bomberman: Panic Bomber Hudson Soft 1994
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Konami 1993
Cho Aniki Masaya 1992
Far East of Eden II: Manjimaru Red Entertainment 1992
Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition Konami 1992
Lords of Thunder Red Company 1993
Snatcher Konami 1992
Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project Compile 1992
Star Parodier Kaneko 1992
Tokimeki Memorial Konami 1994

Digital Arcade CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Notes
Galaxy Police Legend Sapphire CAProduction 1995