Modding a PAL N.E.S. (HELP!!)

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Hi guys!

Have a PAL Nintendo Entertainment System (N.E.S.) and I would like to mod it in order to get an RGB or componet (whatever).

Anyone could reccommend me a good tutorial?

Wich one is easier to mod?

Thanks in advance,

- Arturo

[Fudoh]

That's not possible yet. Wait for the UniversalPPU to be released and check again.

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Thanks Tobias,

And how would you connect a NES to a BVM?

Do you when it will be released?

[Fudoh]

I have a RGB-modded NTSC NES system.

For a composite video PAL system you need a composite decoder board for your BVM, that's capable of PAL.

The new RGB solutions should be out later this year.

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Ok, so it would be easy to get a modded USA one isn't it? Or wait for this PPU...

Would the modded one run the PAL games?

What would be a fair price?

Thanks!

[Fudoh]

Ok, so it would be easy to get a modded USA one isn't it? Or wait for this PPU...

doesn't really matter. On a NTSC US you're locked to 60Hz which means the games will run faster than you might remember. 99% of the PAL games run just fine on a NTSC unit (on the frontloader units the security chip has to be disabled).

What would be a fair price?

$400 seem to be a valid price for a RGB modded NES. AV Famicom possibly slightly more expensive. The UniversalPPU project will likely safe you about $100-150.

[rmwing]

Sorry to bump this but what pal games of note will not work on an NTSC system? I know SMB1 would be extremely fast because i was PAL optimized and I've heard that SMB2/3 have had their music sped up in PAL carts but not the game play. Are there any other games like this?

[Fudoh]

I know SMB1 would be extremely fast because i was PAL optimized

really ? never knew that. I wouldn't have expected any 1987 release to be PAL optimized...

The Mario Bros Return conversion (IMO one of the greatest NES games) is PAL optimized as well, so it runs 17% faster on NTSC machines (compared to standard Mario Bros), which makes it really hard. Unfortunately there was - unlike SMB1 and others - no NTSC release of it. It's actually the ONLY game for which I keep a PAL NES machine around.

[rmwing]

I know SMB1 would be extremely fast because i was PAL optimized

really ? never knew that. I wouldn't have expected any 1987 release to be PAL optimized...

The Mario Bros Return conversion (IMO one of the greatest NES games) is PAL optimized as well, so it runs 17% faster on NTSC machines (compared to standard Mario Bros), which makes it really hard. Unfortunately there was - unlike SMB1 and others - no NTSC release of it. It's actually the ONLY game for which I keep a PAL NES machine around.

Maybe SMB1 is the only one, and they did a crap job of it as well, accidentally sped the music up twice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbW0qBmveqI

Been thinking about importing an NTSC NES but just don't want a lot of games I buy to not run properly, doesn't seem like I'll need to worry!

[Fudoh]

Been thinking about importing an NTSC NES but just don't want a lot of games I buy to not run properly, doesn't seem like I'll need to worry!

well, define properly. If you played on a PAL NES so far, all of your games would be running considerably faster on a NTSC machine. It's just a matter of perspective what you consider to be the right speed.

[hermit crab]

I like to play almost everything at NTSC speed.

The notable exceptions are PAL-only titles (self-explanatory) and some titles by European developers. RARE as an example; the space-skidoo part in Battletoads isn't "too fast", people are just playing it at the wrong speed.

But sometimes other games also make me wonder what speed they are supposed to be played at. Some Capcom titles for example have parts with very annoying slowdown when played at NTSC speed. On PAL machines there's slightly more time to draw the frame, and as the speed was slower to begin with the slowdown doesn't feel as annoying. Makes me wonder if they might have developed and tested the games in PAL.

Not aware of games that have been optimized for different speeds. I tried out SMB3 and can verify that they have indeed done so for the music. Would be cool to see a list or some sort if there are other games but couldn't find anything with google.

[rmwing]

Been thinking about importing an NTSC NES but just don't want a lot of games I buy to not run properly, doesn't seem like I'll need to worry!

well, define properly. If you played on a PAL NES so far, all of your games would be running considerably faster on a NTSC machine. It's just a matter of perspective what you consider to be the right speed.

Yeah I just mean they won't be running too fast, but by the sounds of it no games were PAL optimized besides SMB1

[Fudoh]

As said, Mario Bros (Return) was. I know for sure, since it's my favorite NES game and it's light years ahead of the original Mario Bros version.

[rmwing]

As said, Mario Bros (Return) was. I know for sure, since it's my favorite NES game and it's light years ahead of the original Mario Bros version.

Is that the arcade game?

[Fudoh]

yes. The european 90s re-issue. On a PAL machine it runs in the same speed as the original 83 version on a NTSC machine. Also got some gameplay tweaks (controls etc). It's a shame that it never got a US-NTSC release. Would have been a late NES hit for Nintendo.

[Ed Oscuro]

Is that this game? http://www.mariowiki.com/Kaette_Kita_Mario_Bros.

[Fudoh]

that's the origin, but the european version removed all the story and text, leaving a bare-bones - but perfect - arcade conversion.

I cannot stress enough how good the newer version is. The rom is titled "Mario Bros. Classic (Europe).nes". The ability to change directions mid-jump make this a whole new experience. And the new cut scenes introducing new emenies prior to the stages are just neat. Everybody should try it. It will blow you away, especially if you give the original version a spin beforehand.

[hermit crab]

Another one to the list!

Batman: Return of The Joker has been PAL-optimized. I was playing the USA version on my NTSC console and was like "hmm that's the speed I remember it playing at" (in PAL). Tried the Euro version then on the NTSC console and the game is really fast. The music is not only fast but plays wrong (notes off key or even completely missing).

Wonder if that's the case with other Sunsoft titles too. Or later ones at least.

[hermit crab]

It's HDMI instead of RGB/Component but I wonder if this would be any good:

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/HDCP-Dec ... 05487.html

Only a bit over $50 shipped but still claims to have Faroudja DCDI technology, I wonder if true. That should improve the image too and not just upscale... If it could remove the interference I get from my NTSC NES that would be awesome. But I'm kinda skeptical. And the fact no adjustments seem to be available for the filtering (even on/off) is worrying. And of course the lag issue. Still, not a huge loss even if it sucks I suppose.

RGB modding is so expensive and involves destroying a PlayChoice mobo so I'd rather not do it.

[Fudoh]

worst of the worst.

[hermit crab]

Heh, thanks for the heads up, you just saved me fifty bucks.

I guess I should just bite the bullet and get an RGB modded NES. The more expensive video processors cost too much, especially since I'm not sure if they'll even help and I don't have any other needs for one either. Or maybe I could try my luck and get another NTSC NES and hope it doesn't have as much interference in the picture. I realize that composite is composhit but the picture from my PAL NES and NTSC PCE is fine over a composite signal so I know for sure that it can be ok too.