TurboGrafx-16

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TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine

North American TurboGrafx-16 (top) and the original Japanese PC Engine (bottom)
Manufacturer	NEC Home Electronics
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Fourth
Release date	JP: October 30, 1987 NA: August 29, 1989 FRA: November 22, 1989 UK: 1989 SPA: 1990
Lifespan	1987–1994
Discontinued	FRA: 1993 NA: May 1994 JP: December 16, 1994
Units sold	5.62 million[1] (HuCard only) 2.02 million (CD-ROM2 + Duo)
Media	HuCard
CPU	Hudson Soft HuC6280 @ 7.16 MHz
Memory	8 KB RAM 64 KB VRAM
Display	Composite or RF TV out; 565×242 or 256×239, 512 color palette, 482 colors on-screen
Graphics	HuC6270 VDC, HuC6260 VCE
Sound	Hudson Soft HuC6280, PSG, 5 to 10 bit stereo PCM
Successor	PC Engine SuperGrafx PC-FX

The TurboGrafx-16, known as the PC Engine^[a] outside North America, is a home video game console designed by Hudson Soft and sold by NEC Home Electronics. It was the first console marketed in the fourth generation, commonly known as the 16-bit era, though the console has an 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) coupled with a 16-bit graphics processor. It was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1989. In Europe^[2] the Japanese model was unofficially imported and distributed in the United Kingdom^[3] and France from 1988. In Japan, the system was launched as a competitor to the Famicom, but the delayed United States release meant that it ended up competing with the Sega Genesis and later the Super NES.

The console has an 8-bit CPU and a dual 16-bit graphics processing unit (GPU) chipset consisting of a video display controller (VDC) and video color encoder. The GPUs are capable of displaying 482 colors simultaneously, out of 512. With dimensions of just 14 cm × 14 cm × 3.8 cm (5.5 in × 5.5 in × 1.5 in), the Japanese PC Engine is the smallest major home game console ever made.^[4][5] Games were released on HuCard cartridges and later the CD-ROM optical format with the TurboGrafx-CD add-on. The "16" in its North American name and the marketing of the console as a 16-bit platform despite having an 8-bit CPU was criticized by some as deceptive.^[6]

In Japan, the PC Engine was very successful. It gained strong third-party support and eventually became the Super Famicom's main rival. However, the TurboGrafx-16 failed to break into the North American market and was a commercial failure, which has been blamed on the delayed release and inferior marketing.^[7] In Europe, the Japanese models were grey market imported, modified, and distributed in France and the United Kingdom beginning in 1988,^[3] but an official PAL model (named simply "TurboGrafx" without the "16") planned for 1990 was cancelled following the disappointing North American launch with the already-manufactured stock of systems liquidated via mail-order retailers.^[8]

At least 17 distinct models of the console were made, including portable versions and those that integrated the CD-ROM add-on.^[9] An enhanced model, the PC Engine SuperGrafx, was rushed to market in 1989. It featured many performance enhancements and was intended to supersede the standard PC Engine. It failed to catch on—only six titles were released that took advantage of the added power and it was quickly discontinued. The final model was discontinued in 1994. It was succeeded by the PC-FX, which was released only in Japan and was not successful.

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