From: din@gradient.cis.upenn.edu (Clarence Din)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: TG16 vs. SNES unfair (was Re: Turbo CD upgrade)
Date: 23 Nov 92 22:32:40 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <1992Nov23.123356.12258@bsu-ucs> 00mjstum@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu (Matthew J. Stum) writes:
>Don't forget... SNES is a true 16-bit system... TG16 is really only 8...
>So if you're going to compare the TG16, you need to drop down and compare
>it to the NES...
>
>And this isn't directed at the poster, but I hate it when people trash the
>TG16 after comparing it to the SNES or SEGA's 16-bit system... when they're
>comparing apples and oranges.  I then challenge them to compare it to any
>other 8-bit system and the conversation quickly dies... :)

I kind of agree.  You're right.  The TG-16 is really an 8-bit system,
but the mere fact that the quality of certain games on it can match or
even beat games on the Genesis or SNES tells me something:
1) there must be some damn good programmers writing for the TG-16.
2) the other machines' potentials haven't been fully realized.
3) there's something about the hardware and software of the TG-16
   which has made its Japanese equivalent (PC-E) the number one selling 
   video game system in Japan.

Let's look at the TG-16 hardware.  Okay, the 16-bit graphics chip,
which allows NEC and TTI to tout the TG-16 as a 16-bit system.  There
is very little doubt that the graphics chip can dish out some pretty
spectacular graphics and animation.  Considering the TG-16 was around
a couple of years before the Genesis or SNES, you can admit that the TG-16
is doing pretty well holding up against the so-called "newer and
better" technology.  In fact, NEC made a good decision in choosing
such a graphics chip.  With more added memory, the chip is capable
of displaying more high-quality graphics screens.  Anyone who has
seen some of the images in Y's 1&2 or the new Super CDs know what I
mean.  TG enthusiasts will boast more colors on the TG versus the
Gen.  This is true.  Gen owners will boast parallax scrolling.  TG
gamers know that there ARE TG games with parallax scrolling (*GOOD*
parallax scrolling).  Gen owners will boast 3D capability in some
games.  My friends, if you've ever taken a computer graphics course,
you will know that 3D effects are not that hard to achieve.  Most 3D effects
can be faked.  It doesn't take a very fast processor to be able to
dish out 3D, so the 3D argument is moot.  Look at Space Harrier for
the TG.  It's 3D!!!  So long as you've got sprite manipulating
capability, picture flipping capability (drawing in offscreen graphics
ports), and a good color palette, you've got the tools to write most
ANY arcade game.  Cool hardware helps, of course, but is not totally
necessary.  I don't care if the CPU in the TG-16 was 8-bit or 16-bit
or something simple like 4-bit.  The 16-bit graphics chip nicely
complements the 8-bit HuC6820, thank you.  Hey, if NEC or TTI felt
that the TG-16 with its 8-bit CPU really couldn't compete with the
Gen or SNES, they would've taken it off the market long time ago, so
the TG-16 (and the new Duo) will have many more years ahead of it
before it finally dies!

Let's look at the audio capabilities.  The SNES wins with its 9
channels of stereo sampled sound.  The Genesis has 10 channels,
but it's stereo FM (circa Yamaha DX-7 1977 stuff).  The TG-16 only has
6 channels of stereo PCM sound coming out of a mono source on a
standard TG-16 unit.  Whether FM is better than PCM is largely
debated by rec.music.synth people and doesn't concern us videogamers.
There are cartridge games with voice, superb musical effects, etc
on both the Gen and the TG.  The SNES is clearly the best here, but
if I were to compare the Gen vs the TG, I'd give my vote to the Gen in this
category, BUT the Genesis is a newer system, so its hardware
should be more improved over previous commercial-sold systems.
Now, every Gen owner knows that there are games on their system
with horrible sound effects and music, so what's the use of 10
channels if you can't get effects/music that is better than
a system with only 6 channels?!

How about expandability and technological innovation?  The TG-16
was the first game system to introduce the concept of a CD game.
Sega people were still scratching their heads and *sses at the thought of 
CDs when the TG-CD arrived in the stores.  The SNES CD won't be
coming out just yet in favor of better hardware "in the cartridge."
The folks at NEC (3 years ago) made some very smart decisions when
they came up with a CD system that was operating system
expandable.  When a new OS comes out, all gamers have to do is
buy the new OS release on a card (just like *real* OS upgrades
in *real* computers!).  I'm hoping that they come out 
with something even better than the Super System Card 3.0 that
you could slip into the Duo or even the older TG-CD.  Something
with more even memory and maybe another graphics chip.

Finally, let's look at games.  If you look at the Gen library,
there are all too many shooters which are basically the same.
Many people who own an NES feel the same way about their systems,
too many Mario-clones.  Except for a couple of shooters, nothing
on the TG can really be classified as a clone of another TG game.
If you're looking for variety, TG's got it, from shooters to RPGs
to puzzles to interactive stories.  Many people like Japanese Anime.  The
TG is great for that.  No other system even comes close.  Many
people are concerned with how large a game library is.  Mail
order is great for that.  If you don't know Japanese, you might
have a tough time with certain games.  If you want to play the
latest and greatest Japanese games, you'll have to learn
Japanese.  It's as simple as that.  The TG-16, with its Japanese
game library, is larger than the Gen or SNES library.  It's a
fact.  The TG-16 in Japan is the #1 game system.  The Japanese
*know* their video games.  Millions of Japanese teenagers
can't be wrong!  Ack... now I see a flame war starting.  Don't
take this advice to heart.  Ask someone who has owned a TG-16
with a CD unit.  Most likely, they'll say it's great fun.

For an 8-bit system that's "not as sophisticated hardware-wise as
a Gen or SNES," the TG-16 has done QUITE WELL.  The TG-16 still
has my vote as my favorite game system.  I've played and owned
all three.  Like many of you, I have spent mucho bucks on games,
so I believe my opinion is just as good as yours.  It is, after all,
*my* opinion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clarence K. Din
Information Systems Specialist III, Dept of Chemistry, Univ of Pennsylvania
din@gradient.cis.upenn.edu
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I have my toys (D-50+M-EX, SR-16, TurboDuo, SNES, HP48SX) and you don't!  Nyah!