Gameboy Color Compatibility in Japanese Pokémon Yellow

[grandta13]

Previously, my only exposure to the Japanese version of Pokémon Yellow (or Pocket Monsters Pikachu, if you wish) was through emulation. I had noticed that the Japanese versions, unlike the International versions, lacked Gameboy Color support, and would only load with the Super Gameboy or 4-greys palette, with both BGB and Visual Boy Advance. It seems that I am not the only one who has come to this conclusion, based on this entry on the 'The Cutting Room Floor' wiki: https://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Yellow#Re ... ifferences

However I now own a physical Japanese copy and, as can be seen in the photos below, it loads with a Gameboy Color palette when played on my Gameboy Color or Gameboy Advance.

I apologise for the poor image quality, all I had available was an old Mobile Phone camera. I have provided the Gameboy Color photographs juxtaposed with the BGB Super Gameboy screenshots for comparison (it does look the same when played on a Real SGB as it does on BGB). (In my most recent test, I tried the Original, Rev A, and Rev B ROMs from Emuparadise. All played in 4-greys mode when set to Gameboy Color).

I would like to ask if anyone here knows anything about this.

The designation on the cart is 'DMG-APSJ-JPN' and the one on the PCB is 'DMG-LFDN-01'. If you would like any more information, please ask.

Comparison: (Photos scaled down)

Original Resolution Photos:

Surfing: http://s11.postimg.org/42t5vpu2r/Surf.jpg
Baloons: http://s11.postimg.org/b4r3hwxoj/Balloon.jpg
Title: http://s10.postimg.org/4k03lflnd/Title.jpg

Archive.org permalink of wiki page:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140902001415/http://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Yellow#Red.2C_Green.2C_and_Blue_Leftovers

[theclaw]

The Japanese version doesn't have GBC support enabled in its ROM header. Check with a hex editor.
http://gbdev.gg8.se/wiki/articles/The_Cartridge_Header

Instead, this game is included in the system's list of preset palettes.

https://tcrf.net/CGB_Bootstrap_ROM#Assigned_Palette_Configurations

[grandta13]

The Japanese version doesn't have GBC support enabled in its ROM header. Check with a hex editor.
http://gbdev.gg8.se/wiki/articles/The_Cartridge_Header

Instead, this game is included in the system's list of preset palettes.

https://tcrf.net/CGB_Bootstrap_ROM#Assigned_Palette_Configurations

Thanks, that explains it. Although I seem to remember that my copy of Pokémon Red would change colours when I went to different areas on my GBC. Can the GBC use SGB palettes, and if it can, then why does it have a palette assignment in the bootstrap ROM?

[theclaw]

No, SGB uses colors from the SNES palette. GBC isn't a SNES.

[Tanooki]

You would be surprised by some of the presets and how far they take things on some of them. One I found most helpful was the bland overly detailed areas of Metroid were a bit challenging at times but on the GBC the presets on that really make the game and Samus pop. Some games with the SGB out at the same time too did triple duty as well. Kirby's Dream Land 2 was black&white, GBC pre-coded, but also on SGB it has yet another better color set along with some added digital sound effects like wind on the map and of course the border.