TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

NEC saw the huge success of the NES/Famicom, and decided to enter the Japanese market with a solid business plan: Market the 16-bit PC Engine as a superior product to Nintendo's Famicom. The PC Engine was never actually 16-bit-It had two 8-bit processors that worked together that made the PC Engine's graphics look 16-bit. NEC's marketing strategy worked, and the PC Engine had many quality titles even at launch. The PC Engine proved to be slightly more popular than the NES. By 1988, NEC decided to target the American market, and had Nintendo shaking in it's boots. The PC Engine was released in America in 1989 as the TurboGrafx16. Unfortunately for NEC, many factors prevented the TurboGrafx16 from achieving much popularity in America. For more info, read the description of the TurboGrafx16/PC Engine on the NEC page.

Japanese Name: PC Engine

Worldwide Name: TurboGrafx16

Market Share in Beginning of Lifespan: Unknown

Market Share in Middle of Lifespan: 10%

Market Share in End of Lifespan: Unknown

Best-Selling Game: Bonk's Adventure

A 16-Bit System

Price at Launch: Unknown

Number of Units Sold: 10 million

Slogans:

The graphics are TURBO CHARGED!

The higher energy video game system.

The next generation. NOW.

Released in Japan in: 1987

Released Worldwide in: 1989

Discontinued Worldwide in: 1994

Discontinued in Japan in: 2000

Popularity Compared to Competitors:

In Japan:

1st-Super NES/Super Famicom

2nd-TurboGrafx/PC Engine

3rd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

In America:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

In Europe:

1st-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

2nd-SNES/Super Famicom

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

Graphics Comparison:

1st-Super NES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine