Japanese Dreamcast questions

[Hobie-wan]

Interesting in that a PAL game won't play on a JP/US N64 (even w/tabs removed from cart bay).

Right, but that is because of lockout bullcrap (and occasionally 50/60 timing). As I mentioned in one of the recent SMS threads, at least some of the carts are no different between the NTSC and PAL lands. I have European and Australian games and play them in my US SMS just fine because there was no region trickery. The Euro game is exactly the same as the US one I have (due to different cover collection purposes), down to the chips. I also have a European NES game that plays fine in clones since those don't care about the lockout shenanigans either.

[sbk]

There realy should be an,article done on the whole power converters and lock outchip stuff. It would realy be good info people need.

[Jamisonia]

Yeah that would be a good idea, as lockout trickery varies from system to system and even within a system so games require different standards of authentication. Actually it might be better to do an article that lists standards of authentication, such as basic lockout chip handshake, 50/60hz check, lockout removal check, special symbol check (in the case of some disc based games), then list the consoles that have games that fall into each category.

[CD AGES]

This thread made check my JPN DC, and mine only says "100V" (as oppose to "100v~120v) should I need to worry?

[Hobie-wan]

This thread made check my JPN DC, and mine only says "100V" (as oppose to "100v~120v) should I need to worry?

It's possible that launch J ones had a different power board. If you leave your DC hooked up plugged in all the time and are worried, a stepdown transformer certainly can't hurt. But as long as it gets plenty of ventilation when in use and isn't in a hot cabinet choking on its own fumes I personally wouldn't be too terribly worried if you only have it hooked up when playing and don't have 12 hour marathons regularly.

Things do have tolerances and the higher things get, the more so. A console without a fan expecting 10 volts from a power brick but getting 11 volts will be unhappier than one expecting 100 and getting 110-115 that does have a fan. But that's just my opinion.

[yuenadan]

FWIW I've used my USA-region Wii (along with several other electronic devices) in both Japan as well as here in Taiwan with no problems. The only problem I've had is that in Japan/Taiwan they don't use grounding plugs.

Likewise, Japanese friends have had no problems using their electronics in Canada. Granted many things like laptops are multi-voltage these days, but even cameras and other things seem to be OK.

[CD AGES]

Thanks so much for the input everyone. I'm feeling a lot better! I'm not sure if its an early JPN launch DC (I was given the system when working for a game publisher during my QA days) I always disconnect it when I finish playing and use it the least out of all my DC's (I have 9).

It's so weird! In the myst of all this I decided to try out one of my newly purchased Dreamcast only to find that it wasn't working!!!! (Lens would not move at all) so. I wen t ahead and opened her up. It took me quite some tinkering around with driver and YIPPIE!!!! I'm playing Fast Striker and Power Stone 2 again I'm so happy!

[D.D.D.]

FWIW I've used my USA-region Wii (along with several other electronic devices) in both Japan as well as here in Taiwan with no problems. The only problem I've had is that in Japan/Taiwan they don't use grounding plugs.

Likewise, Japanese friends have had no problems using their electronics in Canada. Granted many things like laptops are multi-voltage these days, but even cameras and other things seem to be OK.

Yeah but you're going backwards; 120v to 100v (at least in Japan, dunno about Taiwan). I do the same with my US PS2.
From what I've heard, if the required wattage is low, using a 120V product in a 100v country should be fine *crosses fingers*.
For my US Wii I have, I just use the JP Wii power brick that I have and that's 100% no problem.

[D.D.D.]

The DC will not be directly compatible with our power grid. Yes you may be able to find a power plug that will fit, but the internal transformer is expecting to get 100VAC not 120VAC.

Unless there are other revisions, a step down transformer will not be needed. I doubt they would tool up to make separate 100V power supplies as that would cost more than simply making all of the NTSC ones 100-120 compatible.

From the back of my J-DC:

Wow~ I gotta check my DC now~

[Jamisonia]

If your device isn't rated for your country's power grid you might want to consider a step up/down transformer, like the one I linked to. It seems like plenty of people get away without them though, so it may not be necessary.