Import & Region Compatibility Guide

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Import & Region Compatibility Guide
Topic Started: Jan 26 2009, 05:31 PM (183 Views)
alxbly	Jan 26 2009, 05:31 PM Post #1
Alxblymus Primus Posts: 8,722 Group: Admin Member #168 Joined: October 18, 2008	Import and Region Compatibility Guide NTSC and PAL Explanation NTSC and PAL are different ways of displaying images on a TV, and are generally incompatible. Games consoles from the US, Canada and Japan display their games in NTSC. Games consoles from the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand display in PAL. For more info on NTSC and PAL, click the links below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTSC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL As well as having different ways of displaying an image, some consoles are also unable to play games from a different countries due to regional lockouts. Luckily, it is quite easy to get a NTSC Nintendo 64 to play games from any of the NTSC regions, and with the right device, you can also play most NTSC or PAL games on a NTSC or PAL console. Japanese and US Nintendo 64's Japanese and US Nintendo 64 consoles are very easy to adapt so that they can play games from both regions. However, you don't actually need to modify your Nintendo 64 to play games from different regions. If you want to play Japanese (JPN) games on a US console (or US games on a JPN console) without having to modify your console, you can do this in one of three ways; 1) By using a Gameshark 2) By swapping the back of the cartridge for one from your own region 3) By using a Region Converter If you if you intend to import more than a few games then you should seriously consider the modification shown further on in this guide purely because it's so simple and takes so little time. But if you don't want to modify your console, consider using one of the methods below. Gameshark Using a Gameshark to overcome the a US/JPN region lockout is pretty easy. Insert the Gameshark into the console, insert the game onto the gameshark and select to play the game without any cheat codes. A Gameshark will not allow you to play PAL games on a NTSC console (or vice versa). See below. Swapping cartridge casings Japanese and US N64 games cartridges. As you an see from the photo above, US games have indents on the rear side of the cart, right at the bottom corners. On Japanese carts these indents are slightly further in. These indents mean that only a cart from the correct region will fit inside a N64, as inside the Nintendo 64 console there are corresponding plastic tabs which insert into these indents. You can overcome this by swapping the rear casing of the cartridge with one from your own region, so that it will fit into the N64. To do this you'll need a 3.8mm Gamebit security screw bit and you'll need a spare cartridge with which to swap the rear cover. You can find Gamebits on eBay and also on import sites like www.play-asia.com. Alternatively, you can make your own. Region Converters Using region converters to overcome US/JPN region compatibility works in the same way that a Game Shark does; simply insert the converter into the console, insert the game, switch on the console and then you're ready to play. If you have a European/Australian console, or if you want to play a PAL game, then you'll need a special kind of converter called a Passport Plus (see below), otherwise any kind will do. European and Australian N64's Although the modification described below makes US/JPN games interchangeable, there's no easy fix which enables an N64 to play European games (PAL) and US/JPN games (NTSC) due to differences in the way televisions display the picture. The modification shown below will NOT allow US/JPN games to play on a European console, nor will changing the back cover of the cartridge. The only easy way to play games from both sides of the atlantic is by buying a device called a N64 Passport Plus III, which is pictured below: You will need to enter boot codes to play most games, and you can find most of them in GameFAQs "N64 Passport Plus III FAQ", which is linked to below: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/n64/game/916387.html It's worthwhile reading that guide, as it has very helpful info and explains some of the problems associated with the N64 Passport.
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alxbly	Jan 26 2009, 05:33 PM Post #2
Alxblymus Primus Posts: 8,722 Group: Admin Member #168 Joined: October 18, 2008	The US and Japanese Console Modification This guide shows how to modify a Japanese (JPN) N64 to allow it play US games, but the exact same modification can be done to a US N64 to allow it to play Japanese games. It really is VERY easy to do and requires no electrical knowledge or specialist tools other than a Gamebit screwdriver. There's a few photos here, so sorry to people with slow internet connections. Here are the tools you're going to need to perform the modification: 4.5mm Gamebit screwdriver (you can buy these on ebay, play-asia, etc, or you can make your own) [Philips screwdriver Hacksaw File Jumper pak tool/knife/spoon That's it really, althought there's other items that'll help... more about them later. Firstly remove the powerpak, jumper/expansion pak and any game that happens to be in your N64. Now use the gamebit to unscrew the six secuity screws on the bottom of the N64. As the photo below shows, the front 'feet' also detach. Now that you've done that the top half of the N64's casing can be lifted off. If you want to see a "topless" Nintendo 64 then click here and here. The bit we're interested in though, is on the inside of the upper casing. It's the clear plastic part shown here (although it's color can vary in other N64s): Use the philips screwdriver on both screws attaching this part so that it can be removed. Here it is up close: If you look closely you'll see the plastic tabs which we're going to remove (above the plastic circles on either side of the slot in middle). It's them that prevent my JPN N64 from being able to play US games. In US machines the tabs are more to the side of the cart slot and removing them will allow the console to play JPN games. Now to the slighly messy bit. Grab your hacksaw and cut either side of the tabs. Remember I mentioned other tools that could be useful? Well, wirecutters are one of them. I used wirecutters to slow eat away at the tabs, rather than tring to snap the tabs off. Another method is to use a soldering iron to melt them away. Whichever method you use, you'll eventually end up with something like this: Now it's time to file down any rough edges. I don't have a proper file, so I borrowed Mrs Alxbly's nail-file (it worked fine , but she might not be too pleased...). Click here to see the finished part, or here to see the tools needed to cut out those tabs. Make sure you wipe or blow off any plastic dust after you're finished as you don't want dust getting in your games and ruining them. Now all you need to do is put everything back together, being careful around the cartridge slot doors (make sure the spring action is working before screwing on the modified plastic part). And here's the end result... my Japanese N64 playing a US copy of Ogre Battle 64:
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