Super NES Pal question.....I need help [Archive]

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06-25-2003, 08:44 AM

Does anyone know what I need to do
to play a Pal version of a game on a US super nes system?

I am hoping for an adaptor or a fix that is not too difficult

dreamcaster

06-25-2003, 09:13 AM

Universal converters for SNES are plentiful, but make sure it's a converter (actually converts signal), not just a cartridge adapter.

Have you considered buying a PAL SNES? They would run perfectly on a US NES power supply (same voltage, amp, current) - not a US SNES one though.

Then all you'd need is a PAL compatible TV.

hydr0x

06-25-2003, 01:58 PM

i have a spare pal snes in good shape complete with controllers and cable if u want it just make me an offer (+shipping from germany though)

digitpress Jim

06-25-2003, 03:27 PM

Dobie

06-25-2003, 07:41 PM

Also you can clip the inside of your USA Super Nintendo and it will let you play Japanese games,im not sure though if it will let you play other countries games,Im pretty sure it does.If you would like to know how to clip your USA snes so it can play japanese games just let me know,its a piece of cake. :D :D :D :D

Umm... that doesn't do much to convert the PAL signal to an NTSC signal, for use with US televisions, but it is a handy thing to know. :roll:

badinsults

06-25-2003, 09:12 PM

I heard that a pal snes will have no problems with an NTSC tv, as long as you use the stereo cables... however you need a power adapter, as the power standard in Europe is different. I still haven't been able to aquire a power adapter to try it out myself...

Ed Oscuro

06-25-2003, 10:18 PM

Umm... that doesn't do much to convert the PAL signal to an NTSC signal, for use with US televisions, but it is a handy thing to know. :roll:

I see I'm not the only one who has noticed that VGMaster's name is...highly misleading. A farce, perhaps.

@ Evan: Er, what about the difference in signals? PAL runs about 50 frames per second and NTSC runs 60 -- standard TVs aren't equipped to recognize and get the signals in sync. Last time I checked, anyways.

digitpress Jim

06-26-2003, 01:35 AM

I call myself "The Video Game Master" for my love and respect for video games,not for knowing what I know.Plus nobody on this earth knows everything there is to know about video games.Also I said it might play pal games,I never tried it.I did not say it would for sure.Like I said nobody knows everything about video games.Hell,if I knew everything about video games I would be rich,so dont get smart about my name.

hydr0x

06-26-2003, 08:12 AM

i would still recommend u to get a pal snes (i have one :p ) and use a US-NES ac-adapter with it, should work great

as for the 50Hz/60Hz issue, i really don't know it, all european tv's are able to recognize both, but it could be that some ignorant american companies don't add this feature to their tv's

Mayhem

06-26-2003, 08:50 AM

The reason, for once, that we in Europe don't get the shaft TV wise for once is that all TVs when made start off as essentially NTSC/60Hz. They just then have the PAL and 50Hz functionality added to them, quite often not removing the previous configuration :D

Hence nearly all modern (or large) TVs here can handle NTSC and 60Hz signals without a problem. One reason also why many NTSC 2600 carts for example, work okay on PAL consoles. All there is to consider is the colour frequency...

06-26-2003, 10:51 AM

Thank to everyone for the help

It sounds like my only choice is to buy a PAL SNES

I don't want to do this just to play one game that interest me

I guess I am S.O.L.

grayejectbutton

06-26-2003, 08:50 PM

You can play JAP games on a US SNES (though as mentioned by others, you do have to snap off the plastic tabs inside the console).

However, you CANNOT play PAL games from Europe or Australia on a US SNES. SNES cartridges have lockout chips inside them to prevent them from playing in other regions. The US and JAP lockout chips are the same, which is why JAP games will work on a US SNES. Apparently, Nintendo figured the different shaped cartridges would be enough to stop US gamers playing JAP games so they didn't bother developing a different lockout chip for the US.

If you use a convertor, let's say for playing US games on a UK SNES, the whole reason you have to plug a UK cartridge into the back of the convertor (as well as inserting the US game you want to play) is because the convertor tricks the console into believing it is playing a UK game. The convertor bypasses the lockout chip of the US cartridge and instead uses the lockout chip of the UK cartridge. Therefore, the console "thinks" it is running a UK game because it is using the lockout chip of the UK cartridge inserted into the back of the convertor.

I have lived in both the UK and the US and have owned both PAL and NTSC consoles, so I am pretty sure all this info is correct (I used to have a convertor in the UK for playing US and JAP games). Someone please, please, please correct me if this is wrong...but I'm pretty sure it's right. :)

NvrMore

06-27-2003, 07:42 AM

It really depends upon which game you're hoping to play on the US system and what you're willing to do in order to play it.

A lot of PAL games will chugg along at 60Hz without any problems whatsoever, however you will still have the internal regional lockout chip to contend with, in which case a minor modification of your deck is required, the extent of which varies from very simple to mildy inconvienient depending on your needs and gaming intentions for the system thereafter.

But it's all dependant on which game(s) you intend to play, due to the fact that some SNES titles contained additional regional protection which would require some further modification of your deck in order to run successfully.

anagrama

06-27-2003, 08:23 AM

However, you CANNOT play PAL games from Europe or Australia on a US SNES...........Someone please, please, please correct me if this is wrong...but I'm pretty sure it's right. :)

You are wrong :)
I have no problems playing 95% of PAL games on my US SNES. It requires a fairly straightforward mod, but once done it means everything runs beautifully at full speed [except for certain games that were re-programmed, all PAL games run 17% slow and with borders on a PAL machine]
It only has trouble with a handful of late ('96-ish) games that include a separate region check, but they all run fine on the US machine with an Action Replay 2.

grayejectbutton

06-27-2003, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the all the info everyone. However, the fact that you have to mod your console (presumably with a little soldering here and there) in order to play UK games on a US console does help support my argument. Unless all you have to do is snap off the plastic tabs inside the cartridge port on the US console and then a UK game will work, just like a JAP one? In which case, I stand corrected.

BUT! I am still positive that, even if you were able to insert a US game into a UK SNES (would require some pretty drastic plastic snapping), the US game would NOT work because of the lockout chip. As far as I'm aware, almost every game contained a regional lockout chip but some were more advanced than others (as has been hinted earlier in the thread). Otherwise, why would you need to insert a UK game into the back of a convertor when playing non-UK games on a UK/PAL SNES? The UK game tricks the console into believing it is running a UK/European game.

Interesting thread...it's certainly stirring up some old memories of playing the US version of Super Street Fighter II on my UK SNES by using an Action Replay and a UK copy of Super R-Type plugged into the back of it! Then I loaned my console to a friend for a few days when I went on vacation and the interior fuse blew. It didn't stop me from playing import games though!

Speaking of which, and I know this is a little off topic, since moving to the US and starting up my SNES collection once again, I am gutted to find out that Pop 'N' Twinbee was never released in the US! It was even released in the UK! One of the best shooters ever, especially in 2-player co-op mode. I am still mourning my loss. :(

Getting BACK to the topic very quickly -- were any convertors released in the US? I mean, you just had to snap off the tabs inside the console to play JAP games so maybe companies didn't bother manufacturing them here? There are some UK games I'd like to get hold of (like the aforementioned Pop 'N' Twinbee) and I really don't want to start snapping off bits of my console. I'd much rather use a convertor even to play JAP games. I know I don't need one because the JAP and US lockout chips are the same, but I want one so I don't have to take a pair of pliers to the inside of my SNES. I looked on ebay but couldn't find any convertors - anybody know of one?

digitalpress

06-27-2003, 03:47 PM

Listen, I'm no expert on this subject, but doesn't the Datel Pro Action Replay allow free use between NTSC and PAL? I actually own one of these but I'm not home to check the box. I could have sworn this was a selling point.

grayejectbutton

06-27-2003, 04:59 PM

Yes, the Action Replay can be used a convertor as well. At least, it could in the UK. I don't know whether the US Action Replay can be used as a convertor - anyone know? As I mentioned earlier, I used to have an Action Replay in the UK and I used it to play US and Jap games on my PAL console. If I remember correctly, it came with a toggle switch on the side. I can't remember why... maybe to switch between regions (i.e. JAP/US)...or maybe to switch between using the Action Replay as a convertor and a cheat cartridge. Does anyone else remember this and what was the switch used for?

NvrMore

06-28-2003, 08:17 AM

..why must everything turn into an argument.

Thanks for the all the info everyone. However, the fact that you have to mod your console (presumably with a little soldering here and there) in order to play UK games on a US console does help support my argument. Unless all you have to do is snap off the plastic tabs inside the cartridge port on the US console and then a UK game will work, just like a JAP one? In which case, I stand corrected.

What argument?, the guy asked if it was possible to play a PAL SNES game on a US Deck, via either an adapter or simple fix, in which case the answer is yes.

As I stated before, it depends on the game, but in many cases a PAL game can be played on a US SNES with a slight tweak to the SNES deck, which, at it's simplest (depending on your needs) can be nothing more than opening the case and clipping a pin.

But it depends on the game, as certain titles (not neccessarily the late releases) require additional effort in order to play, but in most cases a snip is all it takes for the simplest fix.

BUT! I am still positive that, even if you were able to insert a US game into a UK SNES (would require some pretty drastic plastic snapping), the US game would NOT work because of the lockout chip. As far as I'm aware, almost every game contained a regional lockout chip but some were more advanced than others (as has been hinted earlier in the thread). Otherwise, why would you need to insert a UK game into the back of a convertor when playing non-UK games on a UK/PAL SNES? The UK game tricks the console into believing it is running a UK/European game.

Where'd this come from? the guy was asking about PAL on NTSC, not NTSC on PAL which is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Basically running NTSC games on PAL is simple and with the exception of a few titles (due to their additional regional protection checks) can be achieved with little more than a chip bypass (as done by most converters).

Running PAL on NTSC is unfortunately not so simple due to tech restraints.

As for the AR, I don't know if it works because I've never had the opportunity to check one for PAL on NTSC. Theoretically it should be able to bypass the security chip, but like all cart adapters there are some titles even that won't be adequate for.

grayejectbutton

06-28-2003, 12:35 PM

What argument?, the guy asked if it was possible to play a PAL SNES game on a US Deck, via either an adapter or simple fix, in which case the answer is yes..

Erm, it's called EXPANDING a discussion. That means the discussion now includes other relevent points, pertaining to the original topic but exploring similiar sub-topics. Is there a problem with me expanding this topic?

Yes, I am also aware that the guy asked about playing PAL games on a NTSC console. Once again, it is called expanding the discussion.

NvrMore

06-29-2003, 07:32 AM

davidbrit2

06-29-2003, 04:03 PM

Yeah.. "expanding"

When the original poster's point still remains unresolved it's really more akin to hijacking.

Relevancy.. pffft, what's a real question matter anyway when you can "expand" on the topic.

So hey, go wild.. like the waistband of a fat man in McDonalds, expand away.

The irony of those statements is absolutely hilarious. ;-)

Regarding running PAL games on NTSC hardware, I can say that playing PAL games on an original model PSX (1001) is an absolute no-go without patching the game. The PAL PSX systems apparently can handle NTSC games, but with possible speed issues. So it wouldn't surprise me if, just like the PAL televisions and Playstations, the PAL support is added to the SNES on top of the original NTSC functionality.

And by the way, what pieces of the cartridge slot need to be removed, anyway? That sounds like a good job for a Dremel tool, which I just happen to have for such procedures.

grayejectbutton

06-29-2003, 05:51 PM

Yeah.. "expanding"

When the original poster's point still remains unresolved it's really more akin to hijacking.

Relevancy.. pffft, what's a real question matter anyway when you can "expand" on the topic.

So hey, go wild.. like the waistband of a fat man in McDonalds, expand away.

The irony of those statements is absolutely hilarious. ;-)

Yeah really, David. Someone needs to lighten up a little.

At the risk of us both being chastised for daring to stray from the topic and "hijack" this thread, I'll repond to your PSX comment. I've never owned a PSX, either in Europe or the US, so I don't know much about running NTSC games on a PAL system and vice versa. I agree that there may be a speed issue, like the infamous SNES one (PAL games were approximately 17% slower than NTSC ones). Maybe someone has an PSX and has tried running discs from other regions?

Anyway, with regards to which bits need to be snapped off the US SNES to play PAL games, it's the two tabs inside the cartridge slot. I've never attempted before, though, but I've heard it's not particularly difficult. However, as others have mentioned earlier in the thread, to play some games (especially later SNES releases) you may need to make a small modification inside the console too. I don't know what this mod is - anyone know?

NvrMore

07-01-2003, 02:52 PM

. I don't know what this mod is - anyone know?

LOL :roll:

Sod it.. wouldn't even worth my time.

"expansion": for all those who know bugger all about the topic but desperately need to talk anyway.

grayejectbutton

07-01-2003, 03:38 PM

. I don't know what this mod is - anyone know?

LOL :roll:

Sod it.. wouldn't even worth my time.

I thought it wasn't worth your time? Why did you bother posting then?

Also, what's even funnier is that the guy asked his question in September 2002. That being the case, why do you have a problem with expanding the topic of the thread? It's not like the guy who asked the question is in immediate need of an answer! rofl

Ah, NvrMore, you make me laugh. You can claim that I don't know what I'm talking about if you like, but it doesn't hold much weight because I already admitted that I don't know what the US SNES mod is. To take cheap shots at someone who is holding their hands up and saying they don't know what the answer is, that's really really low.

NvrMore

07-01-2003, 06:16 PM

grayejectbutton

07-01-2003, 08:28 PM

I thought it wasn't worth your time? Why did you bother posting then?

>.<

Explaining the mod to you isn't worth my time, hence the direct quote of your asking what the mod was.

Also, what's even funnier is that the guy asked his question in September 2002. That being the case, why do you have a problem with expanding the topic of the thread? It's not like the guy who asked the question is in immediate need of an answer! rofl

*ahem*

Does anyone know what I need to do
to play a Pal version of a game on a US super nes system?

:roll: :smash:

..

Trying to help people here just isn't worth it (sorry T, I tried)

..and with that cue BZ and inevitable chorus of dissapproval.. woo

The original thread was started in September 2002, which you well know. Then the question was asked about running PAL games on a US SNES. Since you claim to know the answer, why aren't you willing to help T? Answering his question may not be "worth your time" but, apparently, taking cheap shots at me is.

Let's just drop the whole thing. It is getting rather tiresome. I apologize for inadvertedly antaganizing you by "hijacking" the thread topic. I hope you can apologize to me too.