TG-16 Cubee Craft…

DIRECTIONS: Print, cut and assemble the papercraft models below (printing on thicker paper/card stock will yield better results, but score seams prior to folding). What's that? Oh, you don't do crafts? Crafts are beneath you? Get over yourself. When you tire of wrestling grizzly bears, it would be silly to deny yourself the satisfaction of printing, cutting and assembling the projects below. Still unconvinced? Perhaps a family portrait of all the TG-16/PCE papercrafts will inspire you.

USES: TG-16 Cubees make excellent cat toys (when they have been stuffed with catnip and/or halibut). You are also encouraged to decorate your home during the holidays with these TG-16 Cubees. Arbor Day, Halloween, Palm Sunday, Valentine's Day, etc. are greatly enhanced with TG-16 paper toys. If you are particulary clueless, you will bore your children/ nephews/ nieces/ grandchildren with stories about ancient video games whilst they assemble characters they don't give a damn about. Oh, they may politely humor you and your old-timey video games, but they don't give a damn about Zonk & Company.

▼ DOWNLOAD TG-16 CONSOLE CUBEE TEMPLATE (1490x1177 .jpg)

TurboGrafx-16 Console Cubee. The North American version of Japan's PC-Engine (PCE). Keen eyes will note the the HuCARD is appropriately entitled "CUBEE CRAFT"—of course! ARTIST: Unknown.

harlancoreXcubeecraft: 16bitlegacy  ▲

At the end of 2008, Jason "harlancore" Harlan took a break from his own BoxPunx and created a series of CUBEES that should delight most TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine enthusiasts.

▼ DOWNLOAD BONK CUBEE TEMPLATE (1477x1172 .png)

Bonk Cubee. TG-16's mascot. Known as PC Genjin in Japan and PC Kid in Europe, Bonk appeared in four TG-16 games… Bonk's Adventure (HuCARD), Bonk's Revenge (HuCARD) and finally Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure (HuCARD, SCD). ARTIST: Jason Harlan.

▼ DOWNLOAD AIR ZONK CUBEE TEMPLATE (1477x1172 .png)

Air Zonk Cubee. TurboDUO's mascot. Known as PC Denjin in Japan, Air Zonk appeared in two TG-16 games… Air Zonk (HuCARD) and Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly Paradise (SCD). ARTIST: Jason Harlan.

▼ DOWNLOAD BOMBERMAN CUBEE TEMPLATE (1477x1172 .png)

Bomberman Cubee. The ubiquitous Bomberman. Known as Dynablaster in Japan, Bomberman appeared in two TG-16 games… Bomberman (HuCARD) and Bomberman '93 (HuCARD). TTi closed its doors in North America at this point, but Bomberman '94 (HuCARD) and Panic Bomber (SCD) were released in Japan. All of the Bomberman games on TG-16/PCE support 5-player matches, including Panic Bomber, a puzzle game that may appeal to fans of Puyo Puyo/Magical Drop. ARTIST: Jason Harlan.

▼ DOWNLOAD "GRAY BOMBER" CUBEE TEMPLATE (1477x1172 .png)

Bomberman Cubee (Gray Bomber). A simple palette swap of the main Bomberman sprite, "Gray Bomber" is available in 2-5 player matches on TG-16/PCE. ARTIST: Jason Harlan.

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Harlan was a TG-16 fan…  ▲

Jason Harlan chose characters from the TG-16 universe because they were dear to his heart. In a 2009 interview he explains his interest in video games, stating…

August 12th, 2009

"I was playing games in the Atari 2600 and Intellivison era, but it was the era of computer games that made me a gamer, things like Ultima and Space Quest."

"I enjoyed those games, but when I got the TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM system and played through Ys I & II, I knew I would be a gamer for life...My next system after the TurboGrafx-16 was a Sega Genesis. I played the heck out of some Sonic…Fantasy Zone was great—before RPGs, I liked Shooters. I loved the visual style of the Fantasy Zone games."

SOURCE: Jason Harlon interview @giantkillersquid.com

Adol from Ys, Bonk, Zonk, Bomberman…these were staple elements of the TG-16/PCE universe that Harlan drew from because he himself was playing Sega Master System, TG-16, Sega Genesis, etc. in the 1980's-90's. Adol, Bonk and Bomberman appeared on several consoles/platforms…so it would be disingenuous to claim that TG-16 was Harlan's sole inspiration, but it was a significant one.

In fact, in an earlier blog post for BoxPunx Series 6 ("myvirtualmemory") Harlan leaves no doubt that Ys–Book I & II ignited a passion for video games in general and the under-appreciated TG-CD in particular…

NOTE: The following blog post accompanied the template for Adol (#4 out of 24 in the "myvirtualmemory" series).

Eeeeessss

March 7th, 2009

"I first saw Ys I & II for the TurboGrafx-16 the same night I was introduced to the movie Akira. Immediately, I was blown away by the style of both. I became aware of the fact that, "Oh…these games are not American, they are Japanese!" I saved up and bought a TurboGrafx-16 and the CD-ROM attachment and fell in love for the first time. Sorry ex-girlfriends, but I figure enough time has past, so I should not be afraid of the truth. You probably don't even remember me anyway."

SOURCE: harlancore.com blog @archive.org

Given Harlan's fondness for Ys–Book I & II, I am surprised he did not create a BoxPunx for Adol sooner. I am further surprised that he did not create BoxPunx for other memorable characters from Ys, such Goban, Feena, the Goddesses, etc.

Clearly, Harlan was passionate about TG-16/TG-CD and its unique library of games.

The BoxPunx/harlancore/Cubee legacy…  ▲

Whatever happened to Jason Harlan's BoxPunx (www.harlancore.com)? Did he move to Alaska, perhaps? (Lots of grizzly bears up there, I reckon.)

FAMILY PORTRAIT: The extended family of TG-16/PCE papercrafts is pictured above. Adol (from Ys), whose template remains elusive, is in the lower left-hand corner. Note that a grown man (necromancer) assembled these items, his less-than-nimble fingers struggling not to crush each toy as his poor eyesight failed him. His accomplishments, proudly displayed above, give hope to feeble men worldwide. Also note the appearance of characters from other PCE games: Doraemon, Gillian Seed and Mk. II (Snatcher).

Even more distrubing, why has no one else created additional TG-16/PCE-themed BoxPunx and/or CUBEES?

We may never find the answers to these questions, but we are certainly grateful for Jason's contributions to the TG-16/PCE cosmos.

Being the selfish bastard that I am, I wish Harlan had created a few more TG-16 papercrafts… Alas, it will be the responsibility of other artists to create new TG-16 paper projects. Personally, I would love to see TG-16 characters exclusive to the console, such as J.J., immortalized as a paper toy.

Oh, and Jeff, too.

This page is a WORK IN PROGRESS…  ▲

For the most up-to-date information, please consult the TG-16 Crafts thread at pcenginefx.com. Thank you for visiting!