Could never afford import gaming, now can, please advise....

[Anthony1]

Back in the old 16 Bit days, and even during the 32/64 bit era, I could never really afford import games. You had to get the adapter, or mod your system, which would cost a pretty good chunk of change, and then the import games would have truly outrageous prices.

But now that I'm a retro gamer, and I'm going back to the 16 Bit era, and also the early 32/64 bit era, I can now take a good look at import gaming.

I was hoping that somebody could kinda give me the lowdown, or point me out a website to go to, to get the lowdown on import gaming for these old systems:

1. TurboGrafx-16
2. Sega Genesis
3. Super Nintendo
4. Sega CD
5. Sega Saturn
6. Sony Playstation.


What I'm trying to find out, is what device or mod do I need to play imports on these different machines, and where can I find it for dirt cheap. The other thing I'm trying to find out, are what are the absolute must have import games for these systems. By the way, I have very little interest in fighting games, turn based role playing games (I prefer Zelda types), and just weird Japanese games. I would be most interested in platformers, action/adventure games, shooters, racing games, action/RPGs, sports, stuff like that.


I know that this is a pretty big request to ask, for somebody to break down all this info, but I'm pretty much clueless on the import situation.

I'm sending my TurboGrafx-16 to a guy who is going to mod it for RGB output and he's also putting a switch on the back that will allow me to play PC Engine games. So that is the first of the 6 systems that I will have ready to play imports. I also know that with the Saturn, I need to get one of those cartridges, for the cartridge slot. Other than that, I'm pretty much clueless.

Any advice or a link to a website would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

- Anthony

[Dire 51]

Allow me to refer you to my site The OPCFG for listings of several reputable (and sometimes non reputable) online import stores - complete with comments from shoppers, as well as a decent amount of reviews for games (all import only - none of these were released in the US, unless they were for a different system than the one that's being reviewed) for just about all of the platforms you mentioned. The address is:

http://www.geocities.com/opcfg

You may also want to check out these sites as well for more reviews and info:

Enemy Zero Online - http://www.enemyzero.com/
Japanese Gaming - http://www.classicgaming.com/japangaming/
Anime Super Famicom - http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~uw7g-bwr/sfc/index.htm
Japanese Gaming 16-Bit - http://uk.geocities.com/wolfteam_renovation/
Anime Games - http://www.kojima.freeserve.co.uk/

[maxlords]

Back in the old 16 Bit days, and even during the 32/64 bit era, I could never really afford import games. You had to get the adapter, or mod your system, which would cost a pretty good chunk of change, and then the import games would have truly outrageous prices.

But now that I'm a retro gamer, and I'm going back to the 16 Bit era, and also the early 32/64 bit era, I can now take a good look at import gaming.

I was hoping that somebody could kinda give me the lowdown, or point me out a website to go to, to get the lowdown on import gaming for these old systems:

1. TurboGrafx-16
No mod for CD games, need a convertor or a hard switch mod for import huCards. Convertors run $50-100

2. Sega Genesis
Need either a Game Genie (cheap), Mega Key (spendy), or a hardware mod to play imports, unless it's a genesis 3 which plays them fine apparently (haven't tried that though)

3. Super Nintendo
For Jp games, cut the tabs out of the inside of the cartridge slot or buy a convertor (farily cheap). For Euro games, a hardware mod.

4. Sega CD
No sure, but there is a convertor to play them....really rare and spendy though!

5. Sega Saturn
An ST-Key or a Pro Action Replay will let you play imports, but you can't use the 4 Meg expansion to play games like D&D: Shadows Over Mystaria or Metal Slug if you use them. A hardware mod requires a mod chip for this system

6. Sony Playstation.
Need a hardware mod with a mod chip, or you can do the swap trick with a CDR boot disc.


I'll recommend some titles a bit later!

[GaijinPunch]

Hey -- someone knows about my site. :)
I've got a lot of scans there, and a lot of the writeups were done by geelw, and some others that pop up here from time to time.

The forums are a bit dead, but slowly starting to come back, so if you have specific questions, ask there. there's a few people that pop in that have extensive 16-bit/32-bit knowledge. Azazel is one of them... he's played damn near all the shooters and probably half the RPGs.

Also PC-Engine/Turbo Duo is THE system to buy for now, as the market has bottomed-out and you can get stuff for 1/3 of the price of its peak.

[Anthony1]

Thanks for all the info.

I need to keep my eye out for a Genesis game genie. I'm getting my Turbo modded with the switch, so that should take care of that. I'll also keep my eye out for a Pro Action Replay for the Saturn.

Regarding the Playstation, I happen to have the little PSone, which I heard didn't work with Mod Chips, but then I heard recently that there is now a mod chip for that too.

Anyways, thanks for all the tips.

[Oobgarm]

Regarding the Playstation, I happen to have the little PSone, which I heard didn't work with Mod Chips, but then I heard recently that there is now a mod chip for that too.

It does. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to play the beloved Vib Ribbon. :)

[EnemyZero]

My personal import system is sega saturn, and you can buy a converter...it connects into the top port behind the cd door. it will let you play any import, no need to modify the system at all....you can find them seperate but its not very common, so look around alot, or if you want to spend the money go to www.mcvans.com and you can buy the system with the converter and 4 import games for 140 bucks, and these are new systems.

[bargora]

I can also confirm that the PSone model can be chipped. Mine is. :)

As far as playing imports on the Saturn, the ST Key and Pro Action Replay (or "4-in-1") have been mentioned. You can buy them at ncsx.com or videogamedepot.com, both of which are reputable online import shops.

OPFCG is a good place to look, and for shooters, check out fhttp://www.classicgaming.com/shmups/ They cover shooters across a number of platforms.

@maxlords--I thought that the Saturn mod chip lets you play CDRs, but I don't know if it defeats regional lockouts. I guess I should install my mod chip and see what it does! Also, apparently there is a switch mod that can be done to make your (round button) Saturn switchable between regions; this mod does not require a chip, only wire and a switch.

[AB Positive]

the mod chip for the saturn -does not- allow import play. You NEED a 4-in-1 to play them period.

-AG

[bargora]

WiseSalesman installed a regional switch in his Saturn. I'll have to have lure him over for beers one weekend and then thrust a soldering iron in his hand...

Yo, Tetsu! First of all, your avatar rocks!

Second, I reccomend the following site:
http://www.gamesx.com/importmod/saturncon.htm

Gamesx is a video game technical website. Using this guide, I was able to mod my saturn without a chip, and it works perfectly (I just put a slider switch in the top of the case). If you decide to use this method, go ahead and PM me or reply here if you need any help. I just did it a couple months ago, so it's all still pretty fresh in my mind.

[maxlords]

My personal import system is sega saturn, and you can buy a converter...it connects into the top port behind the cd door. it will let you play any import, no need to modify the system at all....you can find them seperate but its not very common, so look around alot, or if you want to spend the money go to www.mcvans.com and you can buy the system with the converter and 4 import games for 140 bucks, and these are new systems.

Not true. You can't play any of the games that require the 4 Meg RAM expansion unless you get a convertor with a RAM expansion built into it, which not all of them have.

[Anthony1]

My personal import system is sega saturn, and you can buy a converter...it connects into the top port behind the cd door. it will let you play any import, no need to modify the system at all....you can find them seperate but its not very common, so look around alot, or if you want to spend the money go to www.mcvans.com and you can buy the system with the converter and 4 import games for 140 bucks, and these are new systems.

Not true. You can't play any of the games that require the 4 Meg RAM expansion unless you get a convertor with a RAM expansion built into it, which not all of them have.

Is there a list somewhere of all the games that require the 4 Meg Ram expansion?

If I get the Pro Action replay, am I set?

[GaijinPunch]

There's a 6-in-1 that will serve as the backup RAM and an import converter.