UK Nintendo in MN - updated/selling

[Cornelius]

I just picked up an NES in almost new condition, complete with box hookups, etc. The thing looks unused. Only problem, it turns out it is the UK NES. So, I quickly have learned that I can't hook it up because of differences in AC adapters. It takes the same power requirements, but the plug size is different. And if I did get an AC that would fit, would the unit output a signal that would work on my TV? Also, the several games I got with it only do the blinky thing in my nintendo, which I guess makes sense as they are 'UKV' versions. Would a game genie let them work?

Any reason for me to try and hang on to this thing? I mean, the box is nice and it has all the paperwork, but I'm not especially into those aspects. Any advice?

[Poofta!]

wont work on yoru tv. neither will the games. do what you want with it. id gut it and put a usa nes parts inside, if the box is as nice as you say it is. or just sell it to someone on ukebay, im sure youll get a lot for amint nes. especially with the exchange rates.

[Push Upstairs]

If you are deserate you could find yourself a multiscan TV that does both NTSC and PAL...but that doesn't fix your power supply issue.

Honestly, I'd use it as trade bait.

[sadat]

how much do you want for it? i'm in the UK, I don't expect it'll cost _that_ much to ship it over will it?

[dbiersdorf]

MN as in Minnesota? Where the hell did you find something like that around here?

[Nebagram]

how much do you want for it? i'm in the UK, I don't expect it'll cost _that_ much to ship it over will it?

being a UKer who's shipped consoles abroad... well, once... I'd have to say yes. For a boxed NES £20 isn't unreasonable.

If it's near-mint, though, it could be well worth it, definitely as a collector's item.

[Blitzwing256]

depending on what box verison it is, and what pal games you got with it i'd be interested in buying or even trading it for a us nes, pm me if you're interested.

[Nebagram]

...And that was very nearly the sound of me passing up an opportunity there- if you're willing to split the games away from the console, could you pm me the games and prices too, please?

[Cornelius]

Sorry folks, I ended up returning it. It was a craigslist deal and the people were really nice about it... they had lived in the UK and used it there, but thought they had bought it in the states and that it would work fine. The box was definitely UK though, and it was the version w/ system & SMB pack-in. The condition was definitely excellent, but not mint. 1 corner was minorly dinged and there were a couple other small imperfections. The other games were Double Dragon III, Hunt for Red Oct, SMB, and 2 or 3 others that I don't recall, all boxed, near mint, and complete w/ reg cards and styrofoam. Writing this up is making me think I was dumb for returning it.

So what would that have been worth to someone? I'd consider emailing them again and asking if they still have it if it would be worth it to someone. It wasn't a steal, so I was afraid having to ship would make it cost to much for me to get rid of, and I won't keep something that won't/can't be used.

[dojosky]

i would've kept it and try finding a PAL tv or try using a x-rgb device or something like that ./.. and be able to play sweet pal games that never came out in usa !!! DANG !

[Push Upstairs]

I have a TV that will play both NTSC and PAL but I have no way to use it to its full potential.

One day perhaps.

[smork]

Most, if not all, LCDs are multi-system, from what I understand.

Nice thing about where I live -- ALL TVs are multisystem. It's a mixed PAL/NTSC world out here.

Personally, I wouldn't have gotten rid of it, you can snag cheapo PAL-NTSC converters for under $10, if you know where to look.....

[Blitzwing256]

Sorry folks, I ended up returning it. It was a craigslist deal and the people were really nice about it... they had lived in the UK and used it there, but thought they had bought it in the states and that it would work fine. The box was definitely UK though, and it was the version w/ system & SMB pack-in. The condition was definitely excellent, but not mint. 1 corner was minorly dinged and there were a couple other small imperfections. The other games were Double Dragon III, Hunt for Red Oct, SMB, and 2 or 3 others that I don't recall, all boxed, near mint, and complete w/ reg cards and styrofoam. Writing this up is making me think I was dumb for returning it.

So what would that have been worth to someone? I'd consider emailing them again and asking if they still have it if it would be worth it to someone. It wasn't a steal, so I was afraid having to ship would make it cost to much for me to get rid of, and I won't keep something that won't/can't be used.

Returning it wasn't the bestest move, if you can get it back i'd probably suggest doing so, i'd personaly give 10$+ each for the boxed games (i like collecting foriegn games for some wierd reason), and again an offer for buying/trading it from you is still on the table :-)

[Cornelius]

i would've kept it and try finding a PAL tv or try using a x-rgb device or something like that ./.. and be able to play sweet pal games that never came out in usa !!! DANG !

Like what games for example... ?

I remembered another game in the set: the common Flintstones.

[Cornelius]

Okay, so a couple of you convinced me to see if I could 're-buy' this, so I tried, and I did! I think the folks that had it were thinking they'd never be able to sell it cause who would want a PAL NES over here? (Same as I thought before you all enlightened me *_* ).

The games with it are SMB, Bart vs Space Mutants, Red October, Flintstones Rescue, and Double Dragon III. I haven't decided what I'll do with this yet, probably sell or use as trade bait, but I'm going to look into getting it to work for myself first. There is also some appeal to sending it 'home' to a collector in the UK.

Can anyone point me to a plug adapter that would let me power this up? I'm guessing radio shack has it, but might there be a better source? I think my TV might work as it is a Sony LCD projection, but I haven't been able to find out for sure on that (anyone know a good database for such info?).

[Push Upstairs]

What does the power plug on the back of the NES look like?

[Cornelius]

What does the power plug on the back of the NES look like?
On the back of the NES is a socket that you might not distinguish from a US NES, except that it is blue (as is the plug that goes into it). If you try to plug in a US AC adapter, you'll find the 'pin' that the plug goes onto is slightly larger for the UK NES, so it won't fit. At the other end, the UK AC adapter has a plug that is simply two strait, round prongs, spaced a bit farther apart than US two-prong. I'll post pictures when I have a chance.

[Push Upstairs]

They make adaptors to convert UK plus to US (I have one on my multiscan TV) but that doesn't fix the actual voltage issue.

Do you have a SNES? See if perhaps a plug from one of those would fit it (and provide the correct power).

[MarioMania]

If you want to play games on the US NES just open up the NES & snip off Pin 4..I might do that..I'm getting a PAL Game soon

[Push Upstairs]

He still has to test the system.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Cornelius]

They make adaptors to convert UK plus to US (I have one on my multiscan TV) but that doesn't fix the actual voltage issue.

Do you have a SNES? See if perhaps a plug from one of those would fit it (and provide the correct power).
The NES has the same voltage req. as a US one, and that is what the AC adapter supplies, I just have to make sure the AC adapter can work off of 110. Most can nowadays, but I don't know about then. The SNES option might be worth a try since I don't have a UK/US plug adapter handy. I'll hopefully have time to get into it more tomorrow.

[Cornelius]

I'm interested in everything if you'd trade/sell. The system box especially I guess. But loose games, the console, even the power adapter. Why the hell NOT have this crap :D By not a steal what did you mean, how much did it put you out?
Well, not sure what it does to my bargaining position ;), but I paid $50 for it all. I'm with you on it being cool to have it regardless of usability, but I also try to keep myself on a budget because it would be very easy for this hobby to get out of control.

[Cornelius]

No go finding a way to power it up yet. The SNES connector is quite different. I have an adapter that fits, but puts out 9V AC, not DC. I'm thinking of splicing something together that I'm pretty sure will work. I've seen voltage converters for $17 that would do the job, but don't have one myself.

Second pic compares the UK and US plugs.

http://home.comcast.net/~evanwink/images/games/plugs.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~evanwink/images/games/plug_comp.jpg

[Push Upstairs]

The NES has the same voltage req. as a US one, and that is what the AC adapter supplies, I just have to make sure the AC adapter can work off of 110.

Thats what I meant when I was talking about the voltage.

Sucks the SNES plug didn't work, I can't think of another to try.

Genesis is the same size as the NES one and I've never owned a TG-16...and even then I'm not sure if the plug will provide the proper polarity or power for an NES.

The TV I have uses the same two round prong plug like your NES, except I have a converter plug....and the TV converts the voltage internally.

[Blitzwing256]

Thats what I meant when I was talking about the voltage.

Sucks the SNES plug didn't work, I can't think of another to try.

Genesis is the same size as the NES one and I've never owned a TG-16...and even then I'm not sure if the plug will provide the proper polarity or power for an NES.

The TV I have uses the same two round prong plug like your NES, except I have a converter plug....and the TV converts the voltage internally.

the tg16 one is identical to the genesis one.

[mb7241]

I have an extra transformer around here that would allow you to use that plug. The AC adapter would plug into the transformer, and the transformer would plug into a standard 110 V wall outlet.

And btw...I am quite interested in this :) .

[Cornelius]

And btw...I am quite interested in this :) .
Noted. Give me a couple days and I'll figure out what I'm going to do with it.

[Cornelius]

Just to let anyone interested know, I've put this up in the Buying and Selling section here (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99908). Linked to pictures from there.

Thanks for all the replies!