Playing Pal sega master system games in the u.s.

AKRATEN · Post by **AKRATEN** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:59 pm

Hello,
Ok so my question is I want to play some Pal sega master system games,
is it possible to play them on a u.s. sega master system or do I need some sort of converter?
*I want to play Power Strike 2*

stuminator · Post by **stuminator** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:36 pm

IIRC, the master system is region-free.

t0yrobo · Post by **t0yrobo** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:09 am

I think there's a few games with region locks. But for the most part all you need to do is file out the cartridge slot enough for the mega-drive games to fit. Although I'm pretty certain there are adapters out there that

benstylus · Post by **benstylus** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:23 am

us and pal games share the same pinout, and the games are mostly compatible between the two systems (there may be a couple games that have graphical glitches).

Japanese games, however, have a different pin layout, and so they physically do not fit in US master systems. It's not just an outer shell difference like with the mega drive/genesis, but the board itself.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:29 am

Power Strike 2 was optimized for PAL, so it will run 17% faster on a US console.

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:02 am

AKRATEN you good with soldering?

Like Specineff already mentioned, Power Strike 2 will run too fast on a 60Hz system but it's relatively easy to build a 50/60Hz switch on a SMS.

t0yrobo · Post by **t0yrobo** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:05 am

benstylus wrote: Japanese games, however, have a different pin layout, and so they physically do not fit in US master systems. It's not just an outer shell difference like with the mega drive/genesis, but the board itself.

The only Jp game I've played on my genesis is outrun, but it works perfectly. I've never read about it in the modding guides I've read either, maybe it's only a problem with a few games.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:08 am

How about Ninja Gaiden in the US?

benstylus · Post by **benstylus** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:29 am

t0yrobo wrote:
benstylus wrote: Japanese games, however, have a different pin layout, and so they physically do not fit in US master systems. It's not just an outer shell difference like with the mega drive/genesis, but the board itself.
The only Jp game I've played on my genesis is outrun, but it works perfectly. I've never read about it in the modding guides I've read either, maybe it's only a problem with a few games.

i was saying the genesis/megadrive just has a different outer shell, but the inside guts are the same.

the master system / mark III have completely different pinouts (the master system carts are kinda horizontally oriented and the mark 3 carts are kinda vertically oriented, if that makes sense)

AKRATEN · Post by **AKRATEN** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:17 pm

ZOM wrote:AKRATEN you good with soldering?

Like Specineff already mentioned, Power Strike 2 will run too fast on a 60Hz system but it's relatively easy to build a 50/60Hz switch on a SMS.

cool
yah I bought Power Strike 2 and would like to play it at the right speed,
do you have a link to the mod ?

or can give me some advice on how to do this,
also can i mod my power base converter or only the mastersystem unit?

t0yrobo · Post by **t0yrobo** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:57 am

benstylus wrote:
t0yrobo wrote:
benstylus wrote: Japanese games, however, have a different pin layout, and so they physically do not fit in US master systems. It's not just an outer shell difference like with the mega drive/genesis, but the board itself.
The only Jp game I've played on my genesis is outrun, but it works perfectly. I've never read about it in the modding guides I've read either, maybe it's only a problem with a few games.
i was saying the genesis/megadrive just has a different outer shell, but the inside guts are the same.

the master system / mark III have completely different pinouts (the master system carts are kinda horizontally oriented and the mark 3 carts are kinda vertically oriented, if that makes sense)

Oh, I'm sorry. I was just being retarded for a minute there and was getting all the master system, megadrive/genesis confused.

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:42 am

AKRATEN wrote: cool
yah I bought Power Strike 2 and would like to play it at the right speed,
do you have a link to the mod ?

or can give me some advice on how to do this,
also can i mod my power base converter or only the mastersystem unit?

For the master system 2 there's a very good guide here: http://mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/sms2-5060.htm

If you have a master system 1, you could check out this one here: http://home.freeuk.net/markk/Consoles/S ... Switch.txt
no pictures though

I've been told the SMS 1 is easier to mod since the jumper pad is conveniently labeled with PAL/NTSC...

As for the power base converter, doesn't it only switch pins?
I'm not sure about this but theoretically you have to mod your genesis with a 50/60hz switch & it should work... ?

AKRATEN · Post by **AKRATEN** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:15 am

thanks Zom
I will have to mod a master system then

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:46 am

You're welcome.
Have fun modding