Gamecube compatability questions

[Lozza]

I have a US DOL-101 (Limited Metroid Prime Bundle)... I use the GC Freeloader to play PAL games as I'm in the UK, but because of the Mhz differences of American and English TVs all the PAL games play in black and white. That is the main reason I haven't bought many titles. I was wondering if I take my GC back to America, will I have the same problems? Should I buy a UK GC? will a UK GC play in colour in the US? Or would my problems be solved by installing a mod chip?

I have all these questions and no real answers. Can anyone help me out? I can EASILY buy a cheap used UK GC in mint cond. will it work IN COLOUR in the US?

:puppydogeyes: help me.

[Lozza]

The NTSC games actually display in colour on a PAL TV it's just the PAL games that don't. Seriously... Someone must know how to solve this. I've been trying to for 8 months.

[Mayhem]

As I've got the same setup (using an NTSC Cube in the UK) then I'm readily available to offer some advice :)

First of all, you'll need the most update version of Freeloader. That's probably 1.06B (that's a capital B not a little b) or 1.08. You can find out which version you have by looking at the interior clear ring on the disc. I've found the most compatibility playing PAL games on my NTSC Cube using at least this version. Both my PAL Donkey Konga games work fine with 1.06B but do not with 1.06b for example. I also had to manually select the region for them instead of using the auto detect. If in doubt, ALWAYS use the manual region select as it offers the best compatibility.

I believe the auto select vastly improved in version 1.08 and the manual select vanished completely. Certainly there's no sign of it in QoF's version of the program.

Secondly, and you'll have to look on the back of the Cube, does it have a digital out port still, not just the analog port? If so, I recommend getting a modified RGB cable. But NTSC Cubes don't output RGB I hear you cry. Well this cable is the result of some enterprising bods figuring out how to do it using the component cable. Just you'll need that digital port on the back of the Cube to plug it into!

RGB does not know what PAL or NTSC is, so all you have to worry about is your TV supported 60Hz which is sounds like it does. If you want one of these cables, then I might be able to help you get one.

As for taking the machine back to the US to use, it will be pretty much the same principle as above. Except US TVs only work in 60Hz, so the only games you'll be able to play probably will be ones that offer 60Hz modes. Anything that work solely in 50Hz will roll like crazy (which I've seen as I've tried playing some of my PAL games on QoF's Cube in the US and some were fine, some were not).

[Lozza]

As I've got the same setup (using an NTSC Cube in the UK) then I'm readily available to offer some advice :)

First of all, you'll need the most update version of Freeloader. That's probably 1.06B (that's a capital B not a little b) or 1.08. You can find out which version you have by looking at the interior clear ring on the disc. I've found the most compatibility playing PAL games on my NTSC Cube using at least this version. Both my PAL Donkey Konga games work fine with 1.06B but do not with 1.06b for example. I also had to manually select the region for them instead of using the auto detect. If in doubt, ALWAYS use the manual region select as it offers the best compatibility.

I believe the auto select vastly improved in version 1.08 and the manual select vanished completely. Certainly there's no sign of it in QoF's version of the program.

Secondly, and you'll have to look on the back of the Cube, does it have a digital out port still, not just the analog port? If so, I recommend getting a modified RGB cable. But NTSC Cubes don't output RGB I hear you cry. Well this cable is the result of some enterprising bods figuring out how to do it using the component cable. Just you'll need that digital port on the back of the Cube to plug it into!

RGB does not know what PAL or NTSC is, so all you have to worry about is your TV supported 60Hz which is sounds like it does. If you want one of these cables, then I might be able to help you get one.

As for taking the machine back to the US to use, it will be pretty much the same principle as above. Except US TVs only work in 60Hz, so the only games you'll be able to play probably will be ones that offer 60Hz modes. Anything that work solely in 50Hz will roll like crazy (which I've seen as I've tried playing some of my PAL games on QoF's Cube in the US and some were fine, some were not).

So... basicly impossible to get a 100% solution.

I've seen NTSC to PAL signal converters, do they have PAL to NTSC signal converters? A PAL game will NOT play in the US then? So chipping is obsolete? ...I don't get it. The game itself musn't output signal as you can play DVDs in any region, possibly the Freeloader forces the Gamecube to unaturally play the games causing this to happen(?). If I chip the GC maybe it will solve the problem. Viper or other modchips? Anyone who buys import games must have a way of playing them...

[Mayhem]

A PAL game will play in the US on an NTSC Cube as long as it has a 60Hz mode, as US TVs do not have 50Hz capability.

I've played Donkey Konga PAL in the US on an NTSC Cube fine because of this fact. But a couple of other games rolled because they were 50Hz only. I can't say for sure whether it will work for all video connection types, but I was doing this through component.

I think the issue with Freeloader is generally about it trying to force the console is question to output a signal that the TV it is connected to will like. Which is a moot point here in Europe for as long as you can get an RGB signal out, then PAL/NTSC differences are out the window.

Personally I've been importing for 14 years now, and I hardly ever buy PAL stuff anymore.

Generally the only reasons are:

- PAL version is different to US/Japanese (such as Donkey Konga)

- European version out way before the US (eg. Another Code)

- Packaging and/or special features (eg. Shadow of the Colossus)

[Lozza]

A PAL game will play in the US on an NTSC Cube as long as it has a 60Hz mode, as US TVs do not have 50Hz capability.

I've played Donkey Konga PAL in the US on an NTSC Cube fine because of this fact. But a couple of other games rolled because they were 50Hz only. I can't say for sure whether it will work for all video connection types, but I was doing this through component.

I think the issue with Freeloader is generally about it trying to force the console is question to output a signal that the TV it is connected to will like. Which is a moot point here in Europe for as long as you can get an RGB signal out, then PAL/NTSC differences are out the window.

Personally I've been importing for 14 years now, and I hardly ever buy PAL stuff anymore.

Generally the only reasons are:

- PAL version is different to US/Japanese (such as Donkey Konga)

- European version out way before the US (eg. Another Code)

- Packaging and/or special features (eg. Shadow of the Colossus)

The US games work fine on a pal tv just the pal games don't. Slightly strange...

I don't see the point in region coding, I actually despise it. The company who makes region free hardware & software will surely reign supreme.

[Lozza]

AKA Gameboy.

[Mayhem]

The US games work fine on a pal tv just the pal games don't. Slightly strange...

Because European TVs in the last ten years will support NTSC naturally just fine (they are built like any from elsewhere in the world, and then have the PAL bits added but the NTSC bits are not removed, lucky us!)

The issue is the fact about Freeloader trying to force an NTSC console to output PAL, which isn't a nice thing to do to it, but it will try to do so for you. The output to the TV is decided by the console, not the game. An NTSC console will always try to output NTSC, so when you get a PAL game, the coding in the game is designed to output a PAL signal instead. Conflict. And hence the b&w picture. Unless Freeloader dictates otherwise, or you use an RGB cable.

[Lozza]

The US games work fine on a pal tv just the pal games don't. Slightly strange...

Because European TVs in the last ten years will support NTSC naturally just fine (they are built like any from elsewhere in the world, and then have the PAL bits added but the NTSC bits are not removed, lucky us!)

The issue is the fact about Freeloader trying to force an NTSC console to output PAL, which isn't a nice thing to do to it, but it will try to do so for you. The output to the TV is decided by the console, not the game. An NTSC console will always try to output NTSC, so when you get a PAL game, the coding in the game is designed to output a PAL signal instead. Conflict. And hence the b&w picture. Unless Freeloader dictates otherwise, or you use an RGB cable.

Hm. So I wouldn't need a signal converter, just an RGB cable? Can I buy this in Dixons, Cash Converters or any other shops?

Will I get the same problem if I go to the states? or will the RGB actually be my solution?

[Mayhem]

Whilst you are still in the UK, getting a Freeloader version of at least 1.06B and the modified RGB cable is the best thing for you to do. Check your version of Freeloader and see if it's recent enough. If not, you'll probably have to go and get another one.

As for the RGB cable, you'll need to source out a few people to make one for you, you can't buy it in the shops because an NTSC Cube doesn't support RGB, but this cable forces the output into that. If you sign up for the forums at http://www.ntsc-uk.com and post a thread in the WANTED forum, I'm sure someone will be able to help you out.

When you go back to the US, it'll be very hard to find a TV supporting RGB over there. Best to go down the component route for your Cube connection. The Freeloader version still stands, you'll need a recent one. The only consideration is that you'll only be able to play PAL games that have a 60Hz mode properly. Anything that only supports 50Hz will be right out.

[Lozza]

Whilst you are still in the UK, getting a Freeloader version of at least 1.06B and the modified RGB cable is the best thing for you to do. Check your version of Freeloader and see if it's recent enough. If not, you'll probably have to go and get another one.

As for the RGB cable, you'll need to source out a few people to make one for you, you can't buy it in the shops because an NTSC Cube doesn't support RGB, but this cable forces the output into that. If you sign up for the forums at http://www.ntsc-uk.com and post a thread in the WANTED forum, I'm sure someone will be able to help you out.

When you go back to the US, it'll be very hard to find a TV supporting RGB over there. Best to go down the component route for your Cube connection. The Freeloader version still stands, you'll need a recent one. The only consideration is that you'll only be able to play PAL games that have a 60Hz mode properly. Anything that only supports 50Hz will be right out.

I have version 1.06B. My GC is DOL-101, which means I have analouge output only... That might leave me with less options. I appreciate the help from everyone. If I had a PAL GC would there be a way to run it in the states with all my (PAL) games? Or would simply buying a VGA Box that works with GCs work? I'm leaving on Sunday so buying that cable would be a waste of money. A mate of mine said he'd sell me his PAL GC with a few games two pads and a mem card for 30 golden nuggets. What do you reckon?

THIS IS TERRIBLY ANNOYING.

[Lozza]

If you run a gamecube through a VGA box on a pc monitor solve the B&W issue?

[Mayhem]

Not sure, but I can go ask.

[Lozza]

Could you please? lol :P

[Mayhem]

What I'd overlooked here, and I could have answered this before even going off to ask, is that in general VGA monitors cannot handle interlace resolutions, they can only support progressive scan.

And as no PAL Cube game supports progressive scan, then that option is right out.

Adding a mod chip such as the Qoob might force the PAL games to output in NTSC but it's a trial and error process.

My best advice now? When you get back to the US, order a component cable for the Cube (from PlayAsia or LikSang or Nintendo.com direct if they have any) and go from there. Any PAL game that supports 60Hz should work okay with component and the version of Freeloader you have.

[Lozza]

What I'd overlooked here, and I could have answered this before even going off to ask, is that in general VGA monitors cannot handle interlace resolutions, they can only support progressive scan.

And as no PAL Cube game supports progressive scan, then that option is right out.

Adding a mod chip such as the Qoob might force the PAL games to output in NTSC but it's a trial and error process.

My best advice now? When you get back to the US, order a component cable for the Cube (from PlayAsia or LikSang or Nintendo.com direct if they have any) and go from there. Any PAL game that supports 60Hz should work okay with component and the version of Freeloader you have.

I've just traded my PAL GC games for a GBA with a bunch of games, I'm just going to stick with NTSC from now on. That Freeloader seems to be mainly designed for English Cubes running Japanese or American games. makes sense. I will be chipping my GC though, then I'll just pirate my own games.