Update on Running NTSC Genesis games on PAL Megadrive

It turns out that PAL Megadrive systems have wide slots that take the smaller - more narrow - JAP/US NTSC carts without any problems. If there is no region lockout - only some games seem to have that - you can easily play those on the PAL Megadrive albeit with 50Hz making the games just as slow as their PAL counterparts.
This does pose some nice possibilities for expanding the PAL collection with those wonderfull Japanese Shmups.

I contemplated on modifying my Megadrive to 60Hz but decided against it. Instead I got two Jap NTSC consoles (multinorm with wide cartridge slots) coming my way. One mint - with all the goodies and the other used, console only. Of course I will need to use my PAL power adapter as the JAP power supply won't run on 220/230Volts.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• genesis
• megadrive
• region lockout
• PAL
• NTSC
• markvergeer

[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.

[gutterguy720]

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

[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]

@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

[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.

[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.