Quick question about Amiga CD32

[Graham Mitchell]

Hi guys! I just bought an Amiga CD32 console. I'm looking forward to trying some Amiga games that I missed out over the years, but it looks like a lot of the games available on Ebay are from European sellers. My console is coming from Canada, so I'm pretty sure it's an NTSC unit. My question is: Will AmigaCD32 games released for the PAL unit work on an NTSC unit?

Thanks in advance!
Graham

[ooXxXoo]

Some PAL Amiga games will play, but unfortunately most won't...From what I have noticed, its because since they run at 50/Hz, there is a conflict trying running them at 60Hz on NTSC machines...You'll experience graphic glitches, etc...

I did a modification to my NTSC Amiga CD32 system, which involves pulling a pin/leg from a chip up or down (meaning connecting it to Vcc or Ground, I can't quite remember which one of the two at the moment , sorry its been a while :? )...

After that, PAL games worked ok, or at least the few that I have...

[Graham Mitchell]

Some PAL Amiga games will play, but unfortunately most won't...From what I have noticed, its because since they run at 50/Hz, there is a conflict trying running them at 60Hz on NTSC machines...You'll experience graphic glitches, etc...

I did a modification to my NTSC Amiga CD32 system, which involves pulling a pin/leg from a chip up or down (meaning connecting it to Vcc or Ground, I can't quite remember which one of the two at the moment , sorry its been a while :? )...

After that, PAL games worked ok, or at least the few that I have...

Yipes, sounds complex. Too bad I already bid on a UK Heimdal 2! Well, if it doesn't end up working I may be PM-ing you for assistance... ;)

I have read that by plugging an Amiga mouse into the controller port and pushing both buttons as you start up the machine you can access a debug menu (apparently the same one from an Amiga 1200 or something). From this mode you can apparently select 50Hz or 60Hz mode. The caveat is, however, that this won't help you if you're trying to run an NTSC game on a PAL machine because the PAL machine is only designed to put out video at 50Hz no matter what. But the article didn't specify if the converse works for an NTSC machine trying to run in PAL mode. I doubt it'll work because I'll be trying to display on an NTSC TV, but has anybody had any success with this?

[Bojay1997]

Yipes, sounds complex. Too bad I already bid on a UK Heimdal 2! Well, if it doesn't end up working I may be PM-ing you for assistance... ;)

I have read that by plugging an Amiga mouse into the controller port and pushing both buttons as you start up the machine you can access a debug menu (apparently the same one from an Amiga 1200 or something). From this mode you can apparently select 50Hz or 60Hz mode. The caveat is, however, that this won't help you if you're trying to run an NTSC game on a PAL machine because the PAL machine is only designed to put out video at 50Hz no matter what. But the article didn't specify if the converse works for an NTSC machine trying to run in PAL mode. I doubt it'll work because I'll be trying to display on an NTSC TV, but has anybody had any success with this?

I've had an NTSC CD32 since just after launch in the US (yes, contrary to many reports, it was actually released and available at least in several Amiga dealer stores in Southern California) and the mouse method works for a significant percentage of games, but you will need an appropriate monitor like a Commodore 1084 for it to work. I have a near complete CD32 collection and I would say maybe 25% or so of the games work fine in NTSC, another 50% work ok with occasional graphic glitches and speed issues in the PAL mode and another 25% don't really work at all on an NTSC system regardless of mode. At some point, I recall seeing and maybe even contributing to a master list of CD32 games which would and wouldn't work, so maybe do some searches around for that. It's an odd but very neat system, so enjoy it.

[ooXxXoo]

I may be PM-ing you for assistance...


Yep, you betcha :D ...

I've heard about the mouse method, it seems to work at some extent...The other way, the NTSC/PAL input pin can change the setting while being pulled up or down accordingly, a switch can be installed to access one or the other at any time....

While at it, does anyone has a spare Amiga CD32 controller for sale?... ;)

[Graham Mitchell]

While at it, does anyone has a spare Amiga CD32 controller for sale?... ;)

Don't Genesis controllers work?

[Graham Mitchell]

I've had an NTSC CD32 since just after launch in the US (yes, contrary to many reports, it was actually released and available at least in several Amiga dealer stores in Southern California) and the mouse method works for a significant percentage of games, but you will need an appropriate monitor like a Commodore 1084 for it to work. I have a near complete CD32 collection and I would say maybe 25% or so of the games work fine in NTSC, another 50% work ok with occasional graphic glitches and speed issues in the PAL mode and another 25% don't really work at all on an NTSC system regardless of mode. At some point, I recall seeing and maybe even contributing to a master list of CD32 games which would and wouldn't work, so maybe do some searches around for that. It's an odd but very neat system, so enjoy it.

So I'm also reading that you need an Amiga Keyboard to switch from NTSC to PAL mode using the debug menu. Is that true?

Thanks!

[Bojay1997]

So I'm also reading that you need an Amiga Keyboard to switch from NTSC to PAL mode using the debug menu. Is that true?

Thanks!

Nope. It's been a few years since I last played my CD32, but my recollection is that you can select the mode with either the controller or the mouse. I have a SX32 expansion box, but I have never used a keyboard with my CD32.

[kedawa]

All you need to change video mode is a standard Amiga mouse plugged into port 2.
Hold both buttons when powering up or resetting.

If you use the multi-game discs, you may need to access the menu after picking a game as well, because WHDload sometimes resets the video mode when launching the game.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Don't Genesis controllers work?

Oh that would make it too easy. They may work for some titles but the button layout is different compared tot he default CD32 controller, one of the consoles big downfalls, the stock controller is crap and alternatives like the competition Pro or honeybee are rare and pricey.

[PapaStu]

Sooner or later Ze_ro will see this, and then Ze_ro will post in here, and questions/comments/concerns will be answered.