Dumb Supergrafx questions...

[Kitsunexus]

OK,I am seriously thinking about picking up a Supergrafx (I bet you can never guess the first game I want! ) but I have 2 dumb questions, that you guys may think is a no-brainer, but me only having experience with American hardware would need answers to:

1. Can I play the SuperGrafx on my normal TV without any picture distortion? I know Japan uses NTSC like we do, but I read somewhere that there were some differences, and I was wondering if I'd have to get a whole new TV.

2. Would I have to get some sort of funky power adapter converter?


Thank you! ^.^

[Turbo D]

There is no distortion of any kind with the supergrafx. Also, no funky power adapter is needed. I've been using jdm psus for years with no problems.

[guyjin]

There will be weirdness if you attempt to use an RF switch, since the channels are arranged differently, but I think the SGX outputs AV out-of-the-box.

[Kitsunexus]

There is no distortion of any kind with the supergrafx. Also, no funky power adapter is needed. I've been using jdm psus for years with no problems.

Sweet, thanks for the info! What's a JDM power adapter, though? 

There will be weirdness if you attempt to use an RF switch, since the channels are arranged differently, but I think the SGX outputs AV out-of-the-box.

I have an AV/S-Video selector box that takes any AV or S-Video signal and sends it to my TV via S-Video.

[Turbo D]

jdm=japanese domestic market. Basically the psu you get in Japan with the console. They work well here in the US.

[Kitsunexus]

jdm=japanese domestic market. Basically the psu you get in Japan with the console. They work well here in the US.

Sweet. ^_^

[nat]

A few notes.

Everything that has been said so far is true, but I want to add a little info.

If you pick up a SuperGrafx make sure you find one that comes with an AV cable. It uses a proprietary connector on the SuperGrafx end instead of the stand red/white/yellow composite connectors. You want one that comes with an AV cable because third-party/aftermarket ones suck and don't fit quite right. Finding [a good] one after buying the unit is probably going to be difficult. I can't remember offhand but the connector might be the same as the one on the Genesis. Someone else can probably clarify that. Although you probably don't want to use one of those model-1 Genesis cables anyway because they aren't stereo. And you know you want to be playing Battle Ace in stereo.

Also, Japanese AC adapters. They all work fine in the US. In fact, it seems Nintendo has decided to cut costs by no longer producing US-localized AC adapters for the DS lite because the voltages used in the two countries are so close. They all seem to be coming with Japanese 100v-rated ACs, complete with Japanese text on the label and all.

I have an AV/S-Video selector box that takes any AV or S-Video signal and sends it to my TV via S-Video.

Unless you have a really high-quality switcher, any AV input into the switchbox that gets output to the TV in SVIDEO is going to be significantly downgraded. I found this out the hard way recently when I had my TurboDuo hooked up to a switcher via composite AV then output in SVIDEO to the TV. Joe explained it to me, I think the gist of it is that the luminance doesn't get separated from the composite video signal properly by the cheap switchbox. Whatever the technical reason, the result is a dark, fuzzy picture. It is much more noticable on lower-res consoles like the SuperGrafx as opposed to higher-res stuff like the GameCube or PS2. I don't know why this is, but I had a GameCube hooked up through the same switcher with composite and it didn't look quite as bad (but was still dark).

You have two ways around this. Buy a really high-end switcher, or buy a second really cheap switcher and use it only for your consoles with composite AV. Use the original only for SVIDEO consoles.

I only mention all this because I want you to get the best possible experience from your SuperGrafx.

BTW, keep us posted on your search for a SuperGrafx-- prices, etc. Don't buy the first listing you see on eBay, you will undoubtedly get ripped off.

[nat]

OK, I did a bit of legwork for you.

The best SuperGrafx deal on eBay by far right now is from our friend at Dream Stars Japan. He's got a loose console (with AC and one controller) for $118 which is a good price for the system unless you happen to actually live in Japan. You get killed on shipping though which is $54 to the US. That works out to $172 shipped. The one problem with this setup is it doesn't come with the original NEC AV cable I mentioned earlier, it comes with one of the crappy aftermarket ones.

My local video game shop here in Seattle has a SuperGrafx for sale, actually a complete-in-box set (not new though) for $139.99. I'm not sure if the AV cable is original or not but I think it is, I'd have to check it out in-store. If I were to buy this for you and ship it to you myself I'd have to pay sales tax on it, which would be about $12, and then shipping maybe another $10. So we'd probably make out for about $162 which is still $10 cheaper over Dream Star's deal.

My local store here also has Battle Ace complete with cardboard slipcover for $34.99 but that's not such a good deal, you could score it on eBay cheaper.

If you'd be interested in me checking out that one locally at the store just PM me or something.

EDIT: If you choose to wait a while, a better deal will come along some day. But you might be waiting a long time-- it's up to you. Check out some of the other SuperGrafx listings on eBay, they go pretty high (as high as $599.99) which is more typical of what you will find there price-wise. I got my SuperGrafx for $65. It was a loose console with just the AC adapter and original AV cable. But don't expect to ever see a deal like that unless you actually know someone in Japan who can shop for you.

[SignOfZeta]

Just so that you understand, the Supergrafx really kind of sucks. It costs as much as a Duo R and can't play CDs. Its rather pointless.

Its fine if you want one, you just need to understand that its pointless. I myself would like one someday, even though I don't actually give a shit about any of the Supergrafx games themselves.

[Necromancer]

I myself would like one someday, even though I don't actually give a shit about any of the Supergrafx games themselves.

Same here, except I give a tiny turd about 1941.

[GUTS]

I always kinda wanted one just for the hell of it, but for the money I'd buy another PCFX instead, I regret selling mine.

[nat]

Yeah the PC-FX is awesome.

No to derail the thread, but I've been getting back into mine again lately. I finally finished Last Imperial Prince after playing it off and on for like a year. I think you said you couldn't get into that one because of the battle system. I was able to stick it out, but some of the battles near the end were just ridiculous. Imagine an armada of like 30 enemies (literally) that just keep coming and coming. But you never know how many there really are because they only attack one at a time.

Some of the 32-bit visuals, especially the desert and ice areas later in the game are really, really nice though.

[Michael Helgeson]

Just so that you understand, the Supergrafx really kind of sucks. It costs as much as a Duo R and can't play CDs. Its rather pointless.

Its fine if you want one, you just need to understand that its pointless. I myself would like one someday, even though I don't actually give a shit about any of the Supergrafx games themselves.

Someone who's never owned one saying it sucks,priceless. If you said you actually owned one,Id say your opinion has merit,but since it doesn't,Kits should ignore you. He shopuld only be taking the opinions of people who owned one (good or bad) seriously. Kits,I say buy one,you can get a Super Cd-Rom 2 drive for it later when your ready to do so. You will be able to enjoy the few Supergrafx titles which are great,along with the Pc-engine hu-card library. Its a win win situation,and doesn't cost a arm and  a leg.

[td741]

My modded SuperGrafx + SuperCD is my current system.  I have all of the SGX games + the Darius cross-platform game.  I've only really played it using a SVideo connection.  My original power adapter died so I'm just using another equally rated adapter.

I was a little underwhelmed by the SGX games at first...  The thing that stuck out were that the games seemed fast (especially Aldynes and 1941.) Aldynes is my favorite game out of the bunch.

[nat]

Yeah I think Aldynes is definitely the best system-exclusive game it's got. Great game, that. Real tough.