Best way to play import games?

[austin532]

So I've been thinking about importing some PS1 and PS2 games and would like to know the best way to play them. They are mostly Japan exclusive but for the ones that were also released in Europe, I'd prefer to get those since they are in english but I hear it's a bit complicated to get them working right on a NTSC system due to the differences in Hz and resolution. I know mod chipped PS2's are probably the easiest way to play Japanese games but not sure about PAL. Any thoughts?

[Fudoh]

PS1's and PS2's output refresh rates are determind by the game, not the system. If you get a PAL game running on a NTSC system (by any method), it will output in 50Hz.

[FinalBaton]

For playing japanese PS1/PS2 games, I got myself a japanese PS2. That was the easiest/most convenient route for me.

It really doesn't take much space since it can be stored vertically : I can put it next to my NA PS2 (also stored vertically) in the same cubicle in my Ikea furniture, and that way it doesn't need a whole extra cubicle for itself. (or if you have 2 fat models, you can put them on top of each other. But I prefer having them vertical next to each other. It still looks clean and neat that way whereas stacked; not so much)

This doesn't solve your European discs dilemma though

[kamiboy]

You can hack the PS2 using a software mod installed on a memory card. Then the PS2 boots into a shell from where you can launch any retail disc in the drive. That is what I use. Can't remember any of the details though, so try googling it.

[austin532]

Anyone know where I can find a list of optimized PAL PS1 and PS2 games? Or does anyone know off the top of their head which games will not work on an NTSC system without being patched or forced?

[Fudoh]

Every PAL game, optimized or not, will run in 50Hz on a NTSC Playstation system. As stated above, the games determine the output, not the system. (well, except for PAL games with a 60Hz option, but that's not what you asked).

[austin532]

Every PAL game, optimized or not, will run in 50Hz on a NTSC Playstation system. As stated above, the games determine the output, not the system. (well, except for PAL games with a 60Hz option, but that's not what you asked).

Alright this is what I understand about PAL games but if I am missing something let me know.

In order to even get PAL games to run in the US you need either a PAL system with a stepdown converter or a modchipped NTSC system.
In order for them to display correctly you need a display that supports 50Hz otherwise you will get a rolling image.
Optimized PAL games still run at 50Hz but closely match the speed of NTSC 60hz version.
Some PAL games support a 60Hz mode while others do not and need to be patched or forced.

Is this correct?

[jdawg131]

I use my NA PS2 to play PS2 imports by using a HDD and the network adapter. I create ISO files from my games and then load them onto the IDE HDD using WinHiip. I then have a memory card(s) with Free McBoot loaded and use OPL v9.2 to play the games. It gets around PS2 region coding and saves wear and tear on the laser. It also means that I don't have to switch discs to change games or have space for 40+ cases on the shelf.

Unfortunately, it doesn't solve the PS1 import game issue. I'm personally thinking of just buying a cheap 7000/9000 series model on eBay for $40-50. I don't need any cables (it uses a generic power adapter and I have a PS1/2 RGB cable) or controllers. I haven't looked myself, but I can't imagine a JPN PS2 costing much more than that though. As stated by other posters, that'd probably be the easiest and cheapest way to knock out both.

[neorichieb1971]

Every PAL game, optimized or not, will run in 50Hz on a NTSC Playstation system. As stated above, the games determine the output, not the system. (well, except for PAL games with a 60Hz option, but that's not what you asked).

Alright this is what I understand about PAL games but if I am missing something let me know.

In order to even get PAL games to run in the US you need either a PAL system with a stepdown converter or a modchipped NTSC system.
In order for them to display correctly you need a display that supports 50Hz otherwise you will get a rolling image.
Optimized PAL games still run at 50Hz but closely match the speed of NTSC 60hz version.
Some PAL games support a 60Hz mode while others do not and need to be patched or forced.

Is this correct?

All of that could be argued.
There isn't a global rule for all consoles, all consoles are different from each other.

Of the Sony brand, PS2 slims, PS3's and PS4's all have multi voltage transformers built in. Which means you can plug them in anywhere in the world with a local cable.
Sony PS1's and Fat PS2's are rated for the voltage their territory is designed for. Europe is 220v, Japan and US is 110v. You will need a STEP UP converter to run a 220v console in the USA.
As explained its the game that dictates the speed and resolution of the game, not the hardware. Which means to run PAL games you need an RGB monitor that accepts 50hz/PAL through SCART etc.

Nintendo, the voltage is territorial.. So Europe 220v etc, USA 110v. But the N64 and Gamecube have external PSU's. So you can just get a local one and plug it in.
European examples output PAL 50hz and this is dictated by the hardware. Which means a PAL optimized game will run faster than usual and probably display outside the borders of your TV if your in the USA. (I think).

Sega is cool. Voltage is territorial 220v Europe/110v US/JP
Output is dictated by the hardware and most Sega systems are quite easy to get foriegn games running no matter where they are from (boot discs/region unlock cart etc)

Xbox, voltage territorial
I believe its not that hard to get most games running, but I've never owned one.

[ZellSF]

Have you thought this through? Because I can't think of a single console game worth getting the PAL version over other versions. Not saying they don't exist, but you might be wasting a lot of effort trying to solve a problem you might never run into.

[Sumez]

Not to mention a problem that might not even exist in the first place. If you are able to break the region protection on your US PS2 and play Japanese titles, European ones should play just as easily.

Don't bother getting a European console, just get your system modded with a chip, and it will play all regions free of hassle. I originally got a US PS2 when I wanted to play import games, but once I started getting Japanese titles as well I figured a chip was obviously a much smarter solution than three separate consoles.

I don't even know how often an American TV would have an issue displaying 50hz signals? European TV sets have been able to handle 60hz just fine for at least 25 years, so I'd guess it would be similar the other way around?

[Fudoh]

so I'd guess it would be similar the other way around?

hardly - seriously.

[Sumez]

Well, probably not back from the early 90s but I would imagine any modern flat panels being fine with it? Providing that's what he's playing on. And of course high-end CRT monitors like PVMs, I can't imagine they really differ between regions, and are famous for eating anything you feed to them.

[kamiboy]

No chip is necessary, as I said, you can hack your PS2 and run games from any region using just a regular memory card loaded with some special software.

[Sumez]

Thinking of Free McBoot? Never tried using it for imports, but I do have one.

[dunpeal2064]

Its been a while since I messed around with it, but I recall FreeMcboot not being able to play imports. I had to rip and region patch my games to get them to work. Maybe there is another program you can run inside FMB to get imports to boot that I wasn't aware of.

[jdawg131]

Its been a while since I messed around with it, but I recall FreeMcboot not being able to play imports. I had to rip and region patch my games to get them to work. Maybe there is another program you can run inside FMB to get imports to boot that I wasn't aware of.

I've never had to region patch any of my PS2 JPN imports.

[neorichieb1971]

The only safe consoles for playing PAL are Sega ones. Almost all Dreamcast games play at 60hz. Saturn games will play ok most of the time. Genesis and Megadrive are cross compatible.

I wouldn't bother with Nintendo in the PAL region and I wouldn't bother with Sony in the PAL region.


Never owned an Xbox, but in all circumstances play on a 60hz console.

[Sumez]

There are plenty of Nintendo games that play fine on an NTSC console. Ie. better than on the PAL consoles they were released for

[neorichieb1971]

There are plenty of Nintendo games that play fine on an NTSC console. Ie. better than on the PAL consoles they were released for

Yes but its not a matter of picking up a region free cart or boot disc and off you go.

[Sumez]

Well, in the case of the NES, it's way easier than that. That said, I can't think of any PAL NES games that make any sense to import if you don't live here. It's mostly a "games that are ok to just get in PAL, instead of importing NTSC copies" thing.
For SNES there's Terranigma, but that's about it.

[austin532]

The only good PAL PS1 exclusives I am thinking about getting are:

Earthworm Jim 2 (which is still inferior to the Saturn version)
Mickey's Wild Adventure (AKA Mickey Mania)
Crisis Beat
Terracon
Jinx

All of the rest are either crap or sports related. As for games that were released in both EU and JP, I'd rather get the EU version due to the language barrier but seeing how PAL games are just a big clusterfuck, I might just say screw it.

I did find a list of PAL PS2 games that support 60Hz but no luck on PS1. http://www.benoitren.be/60hz-palps2.html

[Sumez]

I never knew PS1 Mickey Mania was exclusive to pal! It's such a cheap game too I thought it was shovelware for years after buying it in a big lot of of similar bargain bin ps1 titles. I didn't realise it was a port of Mickey Mania until I eventually tried popping it in. Definitely the best version of this game imo.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

I did find a list of PAL PS2 games that support 60Hz but no luck on PS1. http://www.benoitren.be/60hz-palps2.html

Here's a list of PAL PS1 games that support 60Hz:

[Sumez]

Looks correct to me.

More interestingly though, I wonder when console developers started making games that would have their timing tied to the internal clock rather than the framerate, making the 50/60hz difference much less important. I can imagine it starting around the PS1 area, with the advent of 3D games and their floating point vectors and whatnot?

[ZellSF]

On display compatibility, don't you have a XRGB-mini? You shouldn't worry about that.

On running the games I would get a modchip. Mickey's Wild Adventure uses CDDA which as I understand it complicates disc swapping methods.

Free McBoot does not boot imports. It can assist in launching software to do the traditional disc swap tricks or it can launch patched PS2 (not PSX) images. It will not directly boot import discs.

[neorichieb1971]

There are 1000's of British/European people importing the NTSC versions of games because they are better.

The only game that is worthy of mention of getting from the PAL territory is Shenmue 2 on the Dreamcast if you want to play it on the original hardware, with disc swapping and want it in English.

You could buy it on Xbox and other places though and since Shenmue 3 isn't coming out on Dreamcast you won't be able to play the whole trilogy on it anyway.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

The only game that is worthy of mention of getting from the PAL territory is Shenmue 2 on the Dreamcast

Well that's just a personal view. There are quite a few PAL exclusives to try out just for fun.

[Sumez]

Actually the Dreamcast version of Shenmue 2 is in Japanese with English subtitles, which is exactly the reason to go for this version. The Xbox version has an English dub that's every bit as terrible as the one in Shenmue 1. Avoid.

Also, here are a few PAL only releases worth getting that are much better than Shenmue 2 (in my opinion, obviously)
Terranigma
Ninja Gaiden for Master System
New Ghostbusters II

There are probably a few more, but there really aren't a lot.

[bobrocks95]

Tons of PAL-only Master System titles that are worth looking into. Considering their cost though (lots only released in Brazil), I'd go with a flashcart instead of truly importing them.