TurboChips

No Emulation.

It may have taken 18 months for them to arrive, but the new Adapters for the Analogue Pocket have been well worth the wait!

Having an extensive library of Atari Lynx, PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 and Neo Geo Pocket Colour game carts, it is always with trepidation when playing these on their corresponding original hardware, which may result in the systems breaking down in some way or shape (Ed: Oi capacitors, we are looking at you!). To solve this problem, we obtained a couple of Analogue Pockets and the three pack adapters to be able to play our library of Lynx, NGPC and PC-Engine carts safely, in conjunction with playing our Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and GBA carts too. The Anlogue Pocket is a versatile little beast! It also helps that the Pocket has an absolutely amazing screen!

Based on openFPGA, we can report that playing these game carts on the new adapters is like playing them on their original systems, but better! The better part being that the Pocket is an ergonomically perfect system, with a great D-pad, fire buttons and of course, the stunningly sharp 3.5″ backlit 1600×1440 resolution LTPS LCD display. Having put the carts through their paces, we are quite chuffed at the versatility that the Pocket affords us.

We can finally put the original systems to rest!

They are finally here!

The Atari Lynx II can now be retired!

Of course the first Lynx game was going to be California Games

As Good As James – if you know, you know 😉

Now to plugin the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 adapter to try out a few HuCards…

Playing these PC-Engine games on the Pocket are darn awesome! Our PC-Engine GT can be spared abuse.

We are still of the opinion that NEC’s PC-Engine could’ve easily competed with Sega and Nintendo on the world video game stage! The little beast was actually quite popular in the late 80s in its homeland of Japan, but beyond that, NEC made an absolute mess of the western release, including the renamed and hulking piece of plastic, the North American TurboGrafx-16.

If you were anything like us, you would have drooled at NEC’s console and its cute game cards called HuCards back in the late 1980s. With a heap of coverage in all the major gaming magazines at the time, we seriously considered buying a grey import, but once we factored in the foreign exchange, fees and the ridiculous shipping costs, it became nothing but a dream console to own one day.

With the resurgence of classic gaming a decade and half ago, we managed to finally procure not one, but several PC-Engine console variants, including the original (white system), CoreGrafx I and II, the Duo (CD-ROM based console) and the spectacular PC-Engine GT (aka: TurboExpress) handheld. The number of HuCards we bought from Japan along the way made up for the lost time we had in the late 80s and early 90s with NEC’s gaming console.

As per usual, the PC-Engine’s HuCards came in CD-type cases with amazing art, which still bring a smile to our faces. Thanks to Bitmap Books, their new box art collection tome, PC-Engine: The Box Art Collection immortalises these amazing games and their artworks!

Journey back to the late 1980s, when Japan gave birth to a bold new aesthetic that would soon sweep across the globe. The PC Engine stood at the forefront of this artistic revolution, showcasing a diverse range of styles and approaches that celebrated the country’s games, movies, music, design, and fashion. And at the heart of this revolution was the remarkable box art that adorned the PC Engine’s extraordinary library.

The PC Engine: The Box Art Collection book is a tribute to the vibrant, sophisticated, and personality-packed covers that graced the best and most intriguing Japanese releases for NEC’s undersized powerhouse. Within the pages of this meticulously curated collection, you’ll discover masterpieces like Adventure Island, Darius Plus, Bomberman ’93, YS I & II, Soldier Blade, PC Denjin (Air Zonk), Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (Castlevania: Rondo of Blood), Devil Crash, and Street Fighter II: Champion Edition.

Overflowing with creativity and passion, PC Engine: The Box Art Collection spans an impressive 372 pages. Immerse yourself in more than 300 professionally shot pieces of box art, accompanied by carefully reproduced screenshots. Every page has been crafted with the same design-led approach that made the PC Engine’s game covers so exhilarating, ensuring an experience that is both thoughtful and exciting. To enhance your journey even further, each featured game is accompanied by an insightful review and expert summary.

The standard edition of PC Engine: The Box Art Collection boasts a show-stopping metallic red foil logo on its hardback cover, reflecting the console’s bold and daring spirit. As with all Bitmap’s publications, the collection is printed lithographically on high-quality paper, allowing the gorgeous visuals to shine as they deserve. With thread sewn binding, this book is built to last, ensuring you can lay it open flat and fully immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of the PC Engine.

So, unleash your inner gamer and embark on a visually stunning adventure. PC Engine: The Box Art Collection invites you to witness the magic that unfolded when video games collided with art, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Get ready to be inspired, mesmerized, and transported to a world where creativity knows no bounds. We can’t recommend this tome highly enough!

Specifications

Title: PC Engine: The Box Art Collection
Publisher: Bitmap Books
Available From: PixelCrib
Price: AU$69.99
Pages & Weight: 372 pages. 250mm × 250mm; 2.5kg
Cover: Hardcover with textured cover with metallic red foil blocked logo and text
Print: Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print
Binding: Sewn binding for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing