Playing NTSC SNES games on a Super Famicom

[Ducky]

Hey guys,
Sorry to bother you all with a potentially tired subject but I'm looking to play NTSC SNES games on either a Super Famicom or a PAL SNES. The reason is because they look so much better than the ugly NTSC SNES's but I want to play some English games that never showed up on this side.

If I was to play games on an Super Famicom, would the slot need any modification? Also, because I live in a 240v country, is it possible to get a cable from here that will plug in to my power socket and take my voltage or will that fry the console?

And if I was to go the PAL SNES route, will a conveter cartridge output in 50hz if I don't mod and 60hz if I do? And is there a way to mod the cartridge slot to make the SNES naturally fit and support NTSC and JPN games?

Perhaps it would just be easier to buy an NTSC SNES and a s
Super Famicom and have them swap cases?

Thanks in advance, Google was insufficient since it was mostly fishing up how to play Super Famicom games on a NTSC SNES.
Cheers!

[PGchris]

You can do this by using you game genie but you gotta hack up the game genie quite a bit. Heres a how to vid...

[fastbilly1]

You either have to mod a gamegenie, the console (making it ugly), or find/build a passthrough. I havent seen any passthroughs for sale recently.

I looked into this heavily about 8 months ago since I had a chance to buy 10 Super Famicoms for $100. I didnt do it because the only passthroughs I could find were $30+ a pop...

[Ducky]

Hey again,

I suppose modifying the cartridge slot isn't a nessesity if it's going t be tricky and messy, but I'd like to make my SNES as international as possible. I read those Game Genies won't run Super FX games and the like, so I'm really lokng for a passthrough that is compatible with all games. Will passthrough carts fit into a SNES from any region or not, and are their top slots designed for a spesific region or will they fit any?

In the end, would it be easier to get an SNES, with my voltage but must be modified for 60hz, or a Super Famicom, with 60hz in-built but will need a stepdown converter?
Cheers!

[emwearz]

The best thing you can do is this.

. 50/60HZ mod your SNES
. Region Free
. Cut the cartridge slot to fit NTSC carts or buy an adapter to use as a passthrough.

Learn how to do these mods here.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/

If you dont have skills soldering, practice with old wires and do some tuts. Its simple and easy.

The above will close to every game working on your system. Some games like Super Mario RPG you might have to mod the cart itself, depending on the version you pick up.

Games with the SuperFX chip (such as Starwing/Star Fox) are programmed to run at there regions speeds, if you change it the game itself becomes buggy. In the case of Starwing @ 60HZ polygons are missing, etc. I dont know if its all games but I know for sure it happens in Starwing, this is because the SFX chip is coded for 50HZ output.

[Ducky]

The best thing you can do is this.

. 50/60HZ mod your SNES
. Region Free
. Cut the cartridge slot to fit NTSC carts or buy an adapter to use as a passthrough.

Learn how to do these mods here.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/

If you dont have skills soldering, practice with old wires and do some tuts. Its simple and easy.

The above will close to every game working on your system. Some games like Super Mario RPG you might have to mod the cart itself, depending on the version you pick up.

Games with the SuperFX chip (such as Starwing/Star Fox) are programmed to run at there regions speeds, if you change it the game itself becomes buggy. In the case of Starwing @ 60HZ polygons are missing, etc. I dont know if its all games but I know for sure it happens in Starwing, this is because the SFX chip is coded for 50HZ output.

Yeah, I'm prepared to do a 50/60hz switch mod after getting some experience in soldering, but what can you tell me about that second bulletpoint, making it region free? The closest link I could find on the site mmmonkey was this one, on that Super Mario RPG cart mod page, but it comes to a dead end: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/ninte ... region.htm I emailed mmmonkey about the broken link.

As for Starwing, I'll just end up buying the NTSC version anyway. If I was to use Starwing, I could always set the switch to 50, anyway.

And, less importantly, what kind of tool would be good for cutting the cartridge slot bigger, preferably keeping it clean? Perhaps it would be better to use a Super Famicom, since the slot is already the right size and I won't need to put in a switch. But will NTSC games fit into a Super Famicom ok? And then there's the "where do I find one" factor, so maybe a PAL SNES is better.

Cheers!

[emwearz]

You can play NTSC-U games just by filling away at the slot on you Super Famicom.

On the PAL SNES, you need to do the above mods the 50/60HZ mod will allow your SNES to output at 60HZ (The 'real' speed of the SNES) and in fullscreen (No more squished graphics and boarders). The SNES also has a lockout chip which only allows carts signed for that region to boot, putting a switch on it lets you turn it on and off at will (Some games only boot when its detected). As it also has the same case as the Super Famicom, you will also need to file away (Or you a jig saw, then sand paper it to make it smooth) at the cart slot to let it fit NTSC-U games or use a converter as a passthrough. The advantage of the converter is that your SNES wont be cosmetically flawed.

If you do mod the Cart slot (Jig Saw or File) I personally think it looks better with the dust guards removed, though your cart reader can now get dusty.

Even though the PAL machine is more work, you would want to do it to it anyway. 50HZ sucks.

[Ducky]

Sorry I think I am mistaken for some reason I thought you have a Super Nintendo (PAL) not a Super Famicom (I gather you have NTSC-J) you can play NTSC-U games just by filling away at the slot I am pretty sure.

The mods I linked you to are for getting PAL SNES's to run at 60HZ and region free.

Sorry for my laziness.

Well, right now I don't have either! I'm mulling over my options here before I put down my purchase. I'm being stubborn and refusing to get a NTSC SNES because I think they look ugly when compared to the PAL version or the Super Famicom, even though most, if not all, the games I'll be playing will be in fact NTSC. I just wanted to know what would be the most convenient with what I intend to do. I also want to use a Japanese RGB cable with an XRGB-3 (once I get one of those too, haha!) if that helps. Is a Japanese RGB cable compatible with a PAL SNES?

Thanks for helping, I just need some more answers!
Cheers!

[emwearz]

Re-Read my earlier post, I edited it.

As for the cable I have no clue, but I would imagine so.

[Ducky]

You can play NTSC-U games just by filling away at the slot on you Super Famicom.

On the PAL SNES, you need to do the above mods the 50/60HZ mod will allow your SNES to output at 60HZ (The 'real' speed of the SNES) and in fullscreen (No more squished graphics and boarders). The SNES also has a lockout chip which only allows carts signed for that region to boot, putting a switch on it lets you turn it on and off at will (Some games only boot when its detected). As it also has the same case as the Super Famicom, you will also need to file away (Or you a jig saw, then sand paper it to make it smooth) at the cart slot to let it fit NTSC-U games or use a converter as a passthrough. The advantage of the converter is that your SNES wont be cosmetically flawed.

If you do mod the Cart slot (Jig Saw or File) I personally think it looks better with the dust guards removed, though your cart reader can now get dusty.

Even though the PAL machine is more work, you would want to do it to it anyway. 50HZ sucks.

Ah, I see. Thanks very much! Finding a PAL SNES would be much easier than finding a Super Famicom, anyway. So a 50/60hz switch will solve my region lockout problem at the same time as giving me fullspeed? So, I wouldn't need to worry about modding Super Mario RPG, in paticular, if I flick it over to 60hz?

The reason I'd prefer to file the slot is because it's hard to find converter cards that are totally compatible, let alone finding one at all. It may be cosmetically blemished, like you said, but I think it would look better than a couple of stacked carts anyway.

Also, why do you recommend taking out the dust guard? Does the top look odd once you've filed the slot?
Cheers!