VGCollect Forum

General and Gaming => Hardware and Tech => Topic started by: soera on February 29, 2012, 08:48:05 am

Title: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on February 29, 2012, 08:48:05 am

Ive been looking for a few games for my sms for years. Golden Axe Warrior and Ultima IV. I almost never see them for sale and then, when I finally find one, its PAL version. Problem is I cant ever find a PAL sms for sale. :| What would be involved in making mine play the games?

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: jobocan on February 29, 2012, 10:04:10 am

SMS games are region-free.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: foxhack on February 29, 2012, 01:07:36 pm

Not exactly.

They may work. But if the game relies on PAL timings then it might just not work. Check online before buying the game.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: darko on February 29, 2012, 01:21:31 pm

@soera

I have the SMS/Genesis adapter. Get one of the games and we can test it out on the adapter next weekend.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on February 29, 2012, 01:59:26 pm

I can try that. If nothing else, I know I can resell the game if it doesnt work ... or eventually catch a PAL sms on ebay.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: forte on February 29, 2012, 02:05:15 pm

Edit: NM this is for SMS not MD

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: foxhack on March 04, 2012, 06:49:51 pm

If you buy a PAL SMS, then you have to deal with different voltages, and it won't work on most NTSC TVs without a converter... it's not worth all that hassle.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on March 05, 2012, 07:56:38 am

Ugh, seriously? I wish I had known this earlier. I already found one and bought it and its on its way here. What a huge pain in the ass.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: darko on March 05, 2012, 05:34:28 pm

If it works on my converter then you can just get one of those.

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on March 05, 2012, 06:49:26 pm

Ill let you know when it finally arrives. :)

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: amauriel on March 07, 2012, 05:38:52 pm

Guys, would something like this work? If I'm reading it right, it would convert PAL or NTFS to VGA, so could be hooked up on newer TVs and computer monitors.

http://hyperkin.com/retro-gaming/vga-multi-input-av-box.html

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on March 11, 2012, 09:40:49 am

Well, if I had done some more research before I bought it, I wouldnt have had to even ask. Looked at the game on Amazon and in big print it mentions "Will play on NTSC systems regardless". Game arrived and is really nice. :D

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: pceslayer on May 23, 2012, 03:46:21 pm

Very few SMS use PAL timings so you should be good with almost anything you buy.

Here is the list of games with known compatibility issues on a NTSC SMS.

Addams Family
Alien³
Back to the Future II
Back to the Future III
Bart vs. the Space Mutants
Codemasters Games - All of them
Desert Strike
James Bond 007: The Duel
Jungle Book
Home Alone
Newzealand Story
Operation Wolf
Pit Fighter
Predator
Prince of Persia
Robocop 3
Taito Chase HQ
Tectoy Games - All of them
Xenon 2

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: soera on May 23, 2012, 03:58:45 pm

Im actually still looking for another game. Golden Axe Warrior. I figure Ill probably buy the PAL version of it too.

None of the games you listed I have any interest in. :P

Title: Re: Is it possible to use a PAL game on an NTSC Sega Master system? If not, what would it take?
Post by: pceslayer on May 25, 2012, 09:45:33 am

Might as well save a ton of $ since there is no difference between the PAL version and the US version of Golden Axe Warrior. The US version just has a sticker barcode on the back... Same with Sonic, Spiderman and Strider.