Convertors!

[liquidmetal]

i made my nes convertor...so easy..so cheap

[Vroomfunkel]

RIght. Megadrive converters ...

I have a fat bunch of these. And *NONE* of them will play my Yu Yu Hakushu game! I will give precise details when I've dug them all out and got the details.

I have a "Mega Key" and a "Mega Key 2", both without dip switches. I guess there must be different types of these since I am sure I have seen ones with switches as well.

If you have the right codes, you can use the Galoob Game Genie as an import converter - this is what i do with Yu Yu Hakushu at the moment.

I used to have a Nitro 2 Game Adapter, which did play Yu Yu Hakushu ... but foolishly I sold it with a bunch of stuff before I realised quite how irritatingly difficult it is to find any other converter that will play this game!!

I had a Datel Pro CDX cart for playing import Mega CD games - but it did not work with my Multimega. I believe that there was a different version released to be compatible with the Mega CD2 BIOS, it comes in a red box rather than the original greyish one. I haven't had a chance to try one of these yet. Both can go for anything between $40 - $80.

I currently have a "CD Plus" converter, which I am waiting to try out (should be getting Ninja Warriors in the post this week, which I will use to give it a test run).

There is also a program called "SCD_CONV" which you can use to change the region of an ISO of a Mega CD game. Since the Mega CD has no copy protection then you can just burn your altered ISO onto a CD and go. However the program is not 100% successful - I have tried it a few times. t worked on Dennin Aleste, but failed on Masked Rider Zo. I will also try it on Ninja Warriors when I get a chance.

There are no converters for the 32X as far as I am aware. Which sucks. I want to play some of those luvverly US 32X games that we didn't get. hmph!

Vroomfunkel

[hu6800]

TG16

KISADO : The best tg16 converter, works with all games and add on cards like Arcade Cards. Getting hard to find, expect to pay $$ for one..

TZD/Telegames Converters : Havent used one myself but have been informed they dont work with Arcade Cards ...

What about the pcengine ground mod?
The conversion to use a cdrom with a shuttle grafx ?
the converter to hook the supergrafx up to a pcengine cdrom drive?

and these fine pieces here...

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...&.dnm=PARS.jpg

Pro action replays for snes and genesis.. 3 different models..

or..

I did this myself so i could have control over the 4 meg boost.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...reysaturn3.jpg

letsee ,, what the hell else did i do....
oh yeah , my neo cart system had a switch on it to play import version from same cart.. i sold that unit though..

Omars saturn has a region switch hardwired to the board.

Dont know if this is a converter or not,, but it hooks up to the psx..
(i never used it though)

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...dnm=Drive2.jpg

This could be considered a converter.. for back up

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...oosterplus.jpg

And the Tenokoe bank maybe...

the tv tuner is a add on that upgrades a turboexpress
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...press+side.jpg

This gameaxe uses a converter to play american NES carts...
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...nm=gameaxe.jpg


but i loved this converter the most.. i owned two of these but
i sold them a while back ....

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6...nm=vDr64hu.jpg

[hu6800]

and these pieces right here

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hu6800/detail?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album&.dnm=cards.jpg

[pango]

NES:http://nesworld.parodius.com/unines2.htm
This lets you play US games on a PAL system

[GameSlaveGaz]

For some reason, I always thought Dreamcast was region-free. Of course, I never tried the copy of Biohazard: Code Veronica I had in the 2 years I owned it (being a game collector and being verry busy don't mix. I think I've played about an 1/8th of my collection). So I finally did try it last night after reading about the DC converters mentioned here and naturally it didn't work. Perhaps I was thrown off by its abilities to play burned CDs as I have a copy of Capcom vs SNK 2 on a burned disc that runs perfectly. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Oh well. It just means yet another converter I need to get.

Does anyone know which Game Genies, Action Replays and GameSharks truly work as converters, either by personal experience or reviews on the 'net? The fewer converters I need to buy to start enjoying import games, the better.

[Family Computer]

Does anyone have a picture of the best adaptor to play American NES games on a Japanese FAMICOM?

[thegamezmaster]

First.....topic....so.....difficult!

Ok...as you all may know, there are a ton of different convertors for your importing needs for most systems! This thread can be to discuss the merits of the different convertors and their costs, dowsides, etc! For starters, I'll list the few I have, and what they do and such:

Genesis/Mega Drive:

Mega Key (black w/yellow label) - The Mega Key is a wonderful all-in-one convertor for the Mega Drive. It unlocks PAL as well as NTSC Jp games for any Genesis, including the Sega CDX! Very nice convertor, passthrough with dip switches. Downside - They're kinda hard to find and kinda spendy. Price - $50-60 average, but can be had as low as $20-30 if you're lucky

Skeleton Convertor - The skeleton convertor for the Mega Drive is a straight passthough convertor that allows you to play Jp Mega Drive games on a US system. No goodies, no perks, just Jp games. It's got no case, so it's not pretty, but it works! Downside - No PAL support. Price - $20-30 usually, sometimes more, sometimes less


NES:

Honeybee convertor - The most common convertor I've ever seen....has a 60-72 pin convertor in it, stragiht passthrough, so you just pop a Famicom cart on, pop it in your NES, and you're good to go! These are VERY common, as well as there being a bunch of knockoff ones, so easy to come by. They have a ribbon to allow you to pull the convertor and game out so that it doesn't get stuck inside your NES (unless you have a top loader, then no worries). Downside - Really isn't one! Price - $5-10, don't overpay for these!


Saturn:

ST-Key - The ST-Key is one of the easier convertors to get. It pops in the memory card slot of your Saturn. Then when you turn the Saturn on, it goes to a boot screen for the ST-Key, you select Start Application from the main Saturn menu, and you're playing imports! Easy to use, easy to find. Downside - With the straight ST-Key, you can't play imports that require the RAM expansion, and you can only save to internal memory, which isn't so useful if your battery is dead! Price - $10-15, also very inexpensive!


TG16/Duo:

TV Game Computer Cartridge Convertor - This is one of the less well known Duo/TG16 convertors. It comes in black and white. The black is smaller and only fits TG16 systems, while the white is taller and fits the Duo slot if you remove the huCard lid. Basically, pop this into the TG16/Duo port and put a Jp huCard into it and it'll play it! The TV GCCC convertors are a funny shape, but not nearly as irritatingly long as the "diving board" convertors also available for the TG16/Duo. Downside - Good luck finding one...they're rare as hell, and sometimes huCards take a couple tries to seat properly in it. Price - $60-75 average, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but don't expect to find one under $50!

That's all I've got for now, but as I get more, or more info, I'll list more of em! Feel free to add more convertors to the list, along with your thoughts on em!

Where do you find honey bee 60 to 72 pin convertors for $5 to $10? A link would help'thanks! If anyone has one at that price I'd love to get one. PM me PLEASE!

[celerystalker]

That post was from 2003, so the market is not the same.

[thegamezmaster]

That post was from 2003, so the market is not the same.

Sorry didn't see the date. Still want one if anyone if anyone has one reasonnally priced. Please PM me.!

[josekortez]

Also, the Cheats 'N Codes Volume 1 Gameshark disc kicks ass for import games on the Dreamcast. Plus, it's cheap. Mine booted my PAL copy of Rez when the Gameshark Lite wouldn't...

[dreamcaster]

Today I just got (well, I think it is), a Datel Pro CDX. Basically it's a black cartridge with "Pro CD X" written on a narrow label.

However, I put it in my Sega Mega Drive II (which is connected to my Mega CD II), and nothing happens.

I have cleaned the connector thoroughly but I still get a blank display.

I read earlier in the thread that there were two versions of these and my question is: how can I tell which I've got?

[Vroomfunkel]

There are indeed two. One has a black / blue box and label, and is for the Mega CD 1, and the other (harder to find) has a red/ black box and label and is for the Mega CD 2.

I am still looking for one, to see if it will work with my Multimega. Have tried the black/blue CDX, to no avail, and also tried a "CD Plus" cart, which also told me "not compatible with this BIOS" or something

Vroomfunkel

[maxlords]

As far as I know, none of the Datel carts are compatible with the CDX.

[flywheels]

I've read the posts that state some of the Mega Drive convertors won't play games w/ lock-out chips. I recently bought a complete boxed Golden Axe 3 for super cheap ($5), but my Genesis (model 3) won't play it b/c of a lock-out chip. This is the first Mega Drive game that I have bought that won't work without an adapter on the Genesis 3.

I was told the Nitro 2 convertor is the one to search for. Does anyone else know of a different convertor that will play games w/ lock-out chips?

[Vroomfunkel]

I am pretty sure that a Mega Key 3 will do the trick also. But the Nitro 2 is the only one I know for sure will do it. I just got a brand new one for $20

I keep meaning to pick up a couple more GA3s .. then I could try it with the other converters I have kicking around here and give some feedback ..

Vroomfunkel

[drwily008]

Sega Saturn- Maybe newbies dont know this, but if you own a game shark and hold down A,C, and X then hit start, it will load up your JP saturn games. About $5 is an exceptional start to import gaming.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

On the subject of the Datel Sega/Mega CD convertors, neither of the versions will work on a Wondermega (if anyone cares ). Also, in regards to the scd-conv utility that changes the region code of a Japanese Mega CD to play on a Sega CD...has anyone tried the OPPOSITE way? Can you change the region code on a Sega CD to play on a Mega CD (specifically my Wondermega)? If so, has anyone done it with luck? I'm looking for a way to play my own legit copy of Snatcher on my Wondermega but cant unless someone can burn my copy and delete the region coding..

[Keir]

Of all the different converters that will let you play Japanese Hucards on a US system, does anyone know which is best for a Laseractive with the NEC module? Some of them look like they wouldn't even fit, the diving board kind looks like it would work but I'm afraid it's not going to be sturdy.

I didn't even care until I found out about Battle Lode Runner. Four-player Lode Runner? I’m all over that!

[Robin F.]

I've got a NES converter made by a Belgian company named Horeleg (how about that for a stupid name), it's the GameKey mentioned before in this thread. I've got the Game Genie shaped version, which doesn't require a local cartridge. Very cheap plastic, and even cheaper electronics. It's got two ICs in it, both of which had their part numbers sanded off

Now it doesn't work perfectly for me. Nearly all games have some graphic glitches, sometimes even making the game unplayable (Rad Racer). But the most annoying part is that the adapter seems to introduce a high-pitched noise into the sound system. This happens with any cart I plug in, even local games. I resoldered all solder points in the converter (like I said, very cheap electronics) but the problem remains.

Does anyone have similar problems with NES converters, or suggestions for a solution? I was thinking RFI issues, could extra shielding or maybe capacitors across power supply lines help? Any electronics experts here?