JP sega master system question

[Soviet Conscript]

if i bought a japanese SMS (the redesigned one that looks like the US version) does it play PAL region and US region games or if not can it be modded to? also if i played a US game in it (if one can) would it take advantage of the extra sound abilities or would you have to use a JP cart to take advantage of the FM sound chip? for example phantasy star.

also are the internals basicly the same. for instance i would eventually like to get it S-video modded which i know can be done on a US version. would doing the same a/v to the JP version be any harder for someone?

[ssjlance]

Don't the US and Jap consoles use different cartridges?

[DefaultGen]

.....

[ooXxXoo]

I have a Japanese Mark III system like the one you are talking about(last Mark III design)It looks just like a SMS but different cartridges port...It is region free with exceptions of a few PAL titles...American & PAL cartridges can be played on it if you have the cartridge converter like I do....It can definately be modded to s-video and A/V jacks,I have done this as well...And Yes,American games do take the advantage of the Yamaha chip boost...American games like Shinobi,Rastan among others,sound totally different while played on the Mark III system....I have modded mine with dual Audio jacks to create a wall of sound,since it is Mono....If you are a SMS fan,the Last Mark III revision is the best upgrade to go with,having a converter that is!...Also,It has the Rapid Fire and 3D glasses adapter built in to the console,thats a +

[Soviet Conscript]

I have a Japanese Mark III system like the one you are talking about(last Mark III design)It looks just like a SMS but different cartridges port...It is region free with exceptions of a few PAL titles...American & PAL cartridges can be played on it if you have the cartridge converter like I do....It can definately be modded to s-video and A/V jacks,I have done this as well...And Yes,American games do take the advantage of the Yamaha chip boost...American games like Shinobi,Rastan among others,sound totally different while played on the Mark III system....I have modded mine with dual Audio jacks to create a wall of sound,since it is Mono....If you are a SMS fan,the Last Mark III revision is the best upgrade to go with,having a converter that is!...Also,It has the Rapid Fire and 3D glasses adapter built in to the console,thats a +

thanks! thats exactlly what i wanted to know.

[ApolloBoy]

It can definately be modded to s-video and A/V jacks,I have done this as well...

I have a Japanese SMS as well and I was wondering how you go about doing that. Does the Japanese SMS have the same video encoder as the American system?

[ooXxXoo]

I'm not for sure if the older models of the Mark III(white consoles)have the same encoders....But my Mark III revision did have the CXA1145 encoder...They can be found in all of the First revisions of the Genesis systems(w/the extension port in the back),and late revisions of the Master System too....Some American SMS earlier models have a different chip!...they seem to have a brighter composite video quality.

[Soviet Conscript]

for the few PAL games that you say don't work. do you know if a 60/50 htz switch will fix that?

[ooXxXoo]

Most likely!....I didn't looked for traces for a 50/60Hz switch the last time I was working on my Mark III,but they have to be there somewhere...I only have 1 PAL title and it plays fine....I wonder if I could fine some traces for a language switch like the one for the American SMS...Is funny to see the games that we're used to see in english turn into Japanese!

[Soviet Conscript]

hey ooXxXoo what kind of cartrage converter do you use? and does anyone know what would be a fair price for a jp SMS? the few on ebay seem to be floating around the 100 + the outragous shipping mark. i know japangamestock used to have them but not anymore and i forget what price they were selling them for.

[ApolloBoy]

hey ooXxXoo what kind of cartrage converter do you use? and does anyone know what would be a fair price for a jp SMS? the few on ebay seem to be floating around the 100 + the outragous shipping mark. i know japangamestock used to have them but not anymore and i forget what price they were selling them for.

I use a ToToTEK converter, which runs about $15 before shipping. They seem to be the only converters around now, unfortunately. Japanese SMSes aren't exactly easy to find, so expect to find them around the $100-$200 range. I think I got mine for about $140 CIB on eBay.