Update on Running NTSC Genesis games on PAL Megadrive

[sciprio1]

¿Can you play PAL megadrive games on a sega genesis? Because I want to purchase superstar soccer deluxe and the most common version i've found is the PAL megadrive one.

[markvergeer]

@sciprio1 The Genesis slot and the PAL Megadrive slots are pretty much identical.

[markvergeer]

@markvergeer My PAL Megadrive takes both PAL Megadrive and NTSC Genesis games. Some later games have a region lockout in the code preventing them to run. There's sites that have lists of the games that are affected but PAL Megadrive - NTSC Genesis games are pretty much interchangeable.

[tonmasboy]

One question...Unlock a genesis means putting it like first japanese model and it would be able to play locked japanese game like thunder force 4 that has the most advanced lock chip?

[markvergeer]

@tonmasboy The genesis/ megadrive have a region setting that can be modified on the motherboard. The region locked out games merely teat for that setting.

There is also a setting for PAL and NTSC but for you that is not needed as both US and Jap machines are NTSC. damomonster and Thomas3021 have great videos up on how to do a mod.

[darrenwalshsock]

Heres a few genesis games that i know have regional lockout - Super street fighter 2,Sub terrania and Airbuster.I havent had any issues with japanese games on PAL consoles as of yet and i wonder if this is because of the Hong Kong market using 50 htz PAL and yet still receiving japanese cartridges.

[markvergeer]

@darrenwalshsock Interesting, it could indeed be very well the case. There's quite a few PAL Megadrive Asian countries that were actually provided with Japanese carts. It's the 'Megadrive' setting. Although I did encounter some Asian games that wouldn't run on EU or US machines though. I need to look up which ones those were though.

[lawnboyspost1975]

Interesting video, I'm currently waiting for my Jap Megadrive to arrive, had one back in the day and what I noticed was the Japanese Megadrive had an arm on the left of the slot that would come out when powered up. It however didn't stop me from playing UK games or Genesis games so I guess if you live in North Ametrica and want an NTSC system that will play games from all regions go for a Jap Model 1.

[markvergeer]

@lawnboyspost1975 The Jap carts have an indentation that allows to arm to 'lock' the cart in place. It is indicated by 'cartridge lock' on the Jap system itself. European and US cartridges don't have the indentation and the cartridge-lock arm will prevent the unit from turning on. So one does need to remove at least part of that lever/arm for EU/US carts to function on a Japanese system.

[markvergeer]

@lawnboyspost1975 European Megadrives and American Genesii are virtually identical when it comes to cartridge slots etc, only region and TV freq is different. But their cartridge slots are too narrow to fit Jap cartridges. Widening the slot of a Genesis or European Megadrive is the only way to be able to run those carts.

You're absolutely right that the Jap Megadrive with the wide cartridge slot is the best of the lot. The cartridge port takes all carts, the lever/arm can easily be shortened

[andymetaldeth]

All PAL games will fit in NTSC consoles and NTSC games will fit in pal consoles, megadrive games just come in all different shapes and sizes but both regions of the console are exactly the same shape, its just the japanese carts are a silly shape/size, but im pretty sure they dont have a lockout code either, if you were to remove the plastic case they would work...

only games to be careful with are games like Vectorman 2 from 1996 which has lockout codes, im still trying to figure that one out

[FritoFredrik]

I see so u think EA carts are genesis carts

but that's not the case the pal mega drive have the same cart design as the genesis

the carts with the yellow EA logo is Elecronic arts games :)

[markvergeer]

Thanks, I've noticed. I'm uploading a two videos on PAL and NTSC megadrives right now.

[TameFan]

I think some of the later releases dont work on the md but the older games do.

That if you have the HDG one, iam not certain so someone might know better

[LaidbackRetroGamer]

Should be ok playting NTSC carts on the Model 1 Genesis that are made before 1993. The lockout rarely ever effects those.

[ScrewAttackEurope]

What i hated on the PAL Mega Drive, was them changing the font on the "16 Bit" sign. The Japanese design looks awesome, but the Euro one has zero creativity whatsoever.

[markvergeer]

I see what you mean. I will compare the two systems more extensively when I get it.

[ScrewAttackEurope]

NTSC copies of Earthworm Jim wont' work on a PAL unit. :(

[MaximumRD]

IF ONLY the whole world had adopted the PAL standard that would of avoided so many issues!

[markvergeer]

LOL - we'd all have slow games with a great clear picture quality. PAL does have 20% more scanlines than NTSC so the picture quality on a PAL system could potentially be more crisp and clearer - especially with these 100Hz TV's DVDs on one of these CRT widescreen TVs looks absolutely stunning (like the TV snestastic got).

You would think that with HD TV PAL/NTSC would go away but alas it still hunts us....

[newcoleco]

Based on my humble videogame programming experience, there is more time available per "refresh" at 50Hz than 60Hz, and a game based on PAL systems tend to use this extra time, making it not possible to run properly or to not run at all on NTSC systems. However, a PAL system has more chance of being able to play NTSC games, but the display should be adjusted and of course the game will play a little bit slower.

So, I'm always programming my homebrew games based on NTSC systems.

[markvergeer]

Yes this exact same thing caused a lot of problems with PAL vs NTSC C64 and Vic20 games.

Especially in C64 demos and cracked software this would not always run properly on NTSC systems.

You can 'emulate' this experience using the Versatile Commodore Emulator VICE which is available on just about any operating system or CPU powered device available.

[gutterguy720]

Yay! Great news for the PAL owners.  Finally! (see comments in last video)

[markvergeer]

Yes the world is a bit better because of that ;)

[Tigervampuk]

I am not 100% certain but I believe your Japanese megadrive, when it arrives, will run off the same power cable you use with your Megadrive.

Please don't take that as fact though as it could be dangerous if I am wrong. I say this because my own Japanese (PAL) console runs fine with the regular Megadrive power cable.

I have a few Japanese MD games I am interested in selling. You can see the ones I own in my Japanese Megadrive Collection videos part 1 and 2.

[markvergeer]

Yes, the seller told me that the connector of the power brick on the Megadrive/Genesis is actually the same one so the systems do have the same power input requirements so it is just a matter of using the european power supply with the Jap console - sweet huh!

I will definitely check out your videos on the Japanese Megadrive!

[Tigervampuk]

Yeah, it's pretty cool, glad I bought my voltage converter though as I needed it for the US SNES I bought! =oD

Is it only Dutch PAL Megadrive games you buy? I have a bunch of UK PAL Megadrive games for sale too. I have a Megadrive Collection video!

[markvergeer]

I buy PAL systems - speak English, Dutch, German, French so it really doesn't matter to me. German language games often are dead cheap. Dutch language games do not really exist we often just get the English language versions.

I must put up a list of the titles I own/ will own and check if we can help each other out with the odd game here and there. :)

[XFile2708]

Great video matey - I noticed that with my Jap PAL MegaDrive... It takes Jap, Genesis and PAL Megadrive games without problems...

Like you though Im going to get a Jap 60Hz MegaDrive so I can enjoy the games fully as they're meant to be played... im not a big fan of butchering systems with mods... lol

[markvergeer]

Yeah I'm not for modding systems either - unless it's a very battered extra one that you need to take apart anyway.

60Hz Sonic is something that you really need to get used to by the way ;)

[BackForwardPunch]

That's pretty cool! I didn't know you could do that. I wonder if my Genesis can run Japanese Mega Drive games...

[markvergeer]

I think LukeMorse1 has a video up about it. I'm not sure. I just discovered this stuff about the Megadrive.

It would be awesome if your US Genesis could run JAP Megadrive games - excellent way to expand your library.

I'm not sure if the JAP/US NTSC cartridges are the same. I'll probably find out soon when I get my JAP Megadrive.