Need schematics for the SNES ultimate region mod...

[elmagicochrisg]

There's a region mod that also allows one to play Star Ocean, Super Mario RPG and a few other games that are difficult to boot on an import machine. I remember you have to attach a wire to one of the pins on the cart connector on the SNES's motherboard. Can't seem to find that particular mod. Anyone know where to look?...

[elmagicochrisg]

Someone makes mention of it in the last post on this page here:

http://www.bordersdown.net/archive/inde ... 76577.html

[Ziggy]

Are you talking about modding the console or the game carts?

Star Ocean and Mario RPG have the S-DD1 and SA-1 chips, respectively. Both of those enhancement chips have a lockout chip built into them. There's a single pin on each chip that controls whether it is set to NTSC or PAL (it's either connect to ground or 5v). All you have to do is lift that pin and connect it to ground or 5v, depending on what region console you wanna play it on (I'm guessing PAL in your case).

SA-1: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/mariorpg.htm

I don't have a link handy for the S-DD1, but I know I've seen it a few places. You should be able to find it easily if you search.

If you're talking about modding the console, and not the cart, then I guess the Super CIC would probably be your best bet. If there's another way to boot SA-1 or S-DD1 carts (without modifying the cart as well as the console) then that's news to me.

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/cic/cic.htm

[elmagicochrisg]

I'm talking about the console...

I'm not looking for the switchless mod. I like switches... ^^

Yup, there's another way. It's exactly as described in that last post on bordersdown...

There is a new mod for the PAL SNES', which basically lets ANY game play, its the ultimate region free mod, actually its been out for a year, but someone brought it to my attention via PM on these very forums. It involves some extra wiring and a different switch, and believe it or not Super Mario RPG, Star Ocean and all the others, any game, plays perfectly.

One of those extra wires goes to pin 'insert number here' on the console motherboard's pin connector.

That's all I remember...

[Ziggy]

That's very vague. Also, a "switch" doesn't have to be a physical toggle switch. He could be referring to the Super CIC.

But wouldn't it just be easier to change the region of the two carts rather then to modify the console?

[elmagicochrisg]

That's very vague. Also, a "switch" doesn't have to be a physical toggle switch. He could be referring to the Super CIC.

But wouldn't it just be easier to change the region of the two carts rather then to modify the console?

Got it...

http://www.ffviman.fr/switch-snes/switc ... -pg-i.html

Good thing I speak French...

[Ziggy]

I didn't bother translating the page, I just looked at the pics. It's seems like this "ultimate" mod is exactly the same as the traditional mod (as I linked from Mmmonkey's site). With one exception though. I see that instead of simply disconnecting the CIC with a switch, it's connected to a pin on some other small IC. Interesting.

If you perform this mod, definitely post back with your results. I'm interested to hear if it actually works with S-DD1 and SA-1 carts.

[elmagicochrisg]

I didn't bother translating the page, I just looked at the pics. It's seems like this "ultimate" mod is exactly the same as the traditional mod (as I linked from Mmmonkey's site). With one exception though. I see that instead of simply disconnecting the CIC with a switch, it's connected to a pin on some other small IC. Interesting.

And one wire going to pin 56...

AFAIK that's the pin you have to tape* to play SO or SM RPG.

So I guess it somehow disables pin 56, making the cartridge mod unnecessary...

* Cheaper way to make the cartridge compatible. And much easier to undo also...

If you perform this mod, definitely post back with your results. I'm interested to hear if it actually works with S-DD1 and SA-1 carts.

Will do...

[Ziggy]

So I guess it somehow disables pin 56, making the cartridge mod unnecessary...

That's what doesn't make too much sense to me. As far as I know, the S-DD1 and SA-1 chip has to like what it sees when it talks to the lock out chip in the console. If it doesn't, or if the CIC is disabled, then it wont allow the game to boot. This is why you can't simply disconnect the CIC and boot Star Ocean or Mario RPG (without taping that pin on the cart at least). So the way this "ultimate" mod works, I have no idea how it allows such games to boot. If you're connecting a wire to the cart slot, then I suppose that is what's doing the trick. But what is it? Must be some sort of luck that some one found a signal within a stock SNES that can do that trick. At least, I'm assuming that's what's going on.

But it's been a while since I've done or read about such things. I'm not even going to pretend like I'm a genius when it comes to this. I just have a basic understanding of how it works from everything I've read. Anyways, I'm definitely interested in hearing your confirmation if it works. I love the Super CIC, but I think I might agree with you, I like having switches.