SNES region converter or FC twin?

[Menegrothx]

I live in the PAL region and I recently got a NTSC SNES that apparently broke during the shipping and I'm wondering what should I do. I haven't got a gamebit at the moment so I don't know if it's still possible to get the console working, but for now lets assume it's dead for good.
I want to keep the SNES because of it's looks and I dont feel like going through the hassle of selling off the NTSC SNES games that I bought (I'd loose some off my money that way).
Should I get a region converter cartridge so I can play NTSC games on my PAL SNES or should I buy a FC twin, Retro Duo or some other similiar clone console? Those clone consoles also play NTSC NES games which is a plus, but on the other hand I feel like if I'm not playing the games on an actual SNES, I might as well use an emulator.

What do you guys think? Are clone consoles blasphemy? Do they have a lot of compatibility issues?

[Breetai]

Get a security bit. They aren't expensive at all. In the meantime, melt the end of a plastic pen casing over the screws on the back of the SNES (hopefully it will fit into one of the more shallow screw holes), and form it around the bit. You should be able to get the SNES open this way.

[elmagicochrisg]

Why not just buy another US SNES if you're planning on spending more money anyway?...

Don't go for the region converter. It'll play those US games in 50Hz on your PAL SNES and you don't want that. Unless you mod it with a 50Hz/60Hz switch of course. But even then, I'd opt for a US SNES or SFC. 60Hz on a PAL console makes the image a little unstable, regardless of how good you mod it. I read the same thing goes for US SNESes with a 50Hz switch, just the other way around. Stable 60Hz, unstable 50Hz. I can only confirm that 60Hz on a PAL console indeed makes the image a little unstable...

I have a modded PAL SNES and a SFC. I never use the PAL SNES.

That should tell you something...

[Menegrothx]

Get a security bit. They aren't expensive at all. In the meantime, melt the end of a plastic pen casing over the screws on the back of the SNES (hopefully it will fit into one of the more shallow screw holes), and form it around the bit. You should be able to get the SNES open this way.

I'm buying a gamebit the next so I'm not that desperate

Why not just buy another US SNES if you're planning on spending more money anyway?...

Frustration, loosing money and I dont like having multiples of the same console.

Don't go for the region converter. It'll play those US games in 50Hz on your PAL SNES and you don't want that. Unless you mod it with a 50Hz/60Hz switch of course. But even then, I'd opt for a US SNES or SFC.

How bad will it be? I remember playing Sonic Adventure on both 50hz and 60hz (and some other games that had the option to choose between the two) and couldn't really tell any difference between the two. I do remember the video comparing Sonic 1 in 50hz and 60hz, but will the difference really be that dramatic on slower paced games like RPGs?

[elmagicochrisg]

Frustration, loosing money and I dont like having multiples of the same console.

I feel you. Still, it's better to swallow that bitter pill and move on...

I think a loose US SNES will set you back just as much as one of those clones.

I'm sure there's a few people here that have one for sale for cheap.

You can always sell the faulty one for spare parts if you don't want it anymore.

Even if it sells for cheap, it's better than throwing it away.

Or if the case is in good condition, buy a cheap yellowed one and switch the innards.

Also, can't file a claim for the faulty one?...

How bad will it be? I remember playing Sonic Adventure on both 50hz and 60hz (and some other games that had the option to choose between the two) and couldn't really tell any difference between the two. I do remember the video comparing Sonic 1 in 50hz and 60hz, but will the difference really be that dramatic on slower paced games like RPGs?

It'll still make a difference...

Just to give you one example. In Star Ocean's intro there is a woman on the ship that asks the captain if he wants coffee...

60Hz : "Would you like some coffee captain?"

50Hz : "Would you like some coffee coffee captain?"

Also, games that ask you to choose between 50Hz and 60Hz are 50Hz optimized. As far as SNES goes, this is not the case. Same goes for Mega Drive, NES, Master System, etc...

Basically everything before Dreamcast...

PS1 being the exception. That console plays 60Hz import games just fine on a PAL console. That's because in case of the PS1 it's not the console that is 50Hz or 60Hz, it's the games. So even a PAL console will play imports in 60Hz...

[Menegrothx]

Also, can't file a claim for the faulty one?...

Well, it broke during shipping (or some one at the post office droped the package or something) so there's not really anything I can do about it. Though I can't be 100% sure if it's broken for good before I open up the console.

I Guess I'll need to start looking in advance if there's some one in Europe selling a loose NTSC SNES. That could take a while

[theclaw]

Are you trying to use PAL video cables? NTSC SNES usually needs different ones.

The PAL SNES power supply is not a good idea either. It outputs AC, while an NTSC SNES expects DC.

[elmagicochrisg]

Well, it broke during shipping (or some one at the post office droped the package or something) so there's not really anything I can do about it.

Bullshit.

If it broke during shipping they didn't pack it well enough...

[Thierry Henry]

Well, it broke during shipping (or some one at the post office droped the package or something) so there's not really anything I can do about it.

Bullshit.

If it broke during shipping they didn't pack it well enough...

True dat. Although there are extreme cases.

I had a guy ship me a 3DO console which was like almost literally bullet-proof secure in the way it was packaged.
And were talking here of the sturdy, well built original Panasonic 3DO Model. The thing arrived in two pieces. The top cover was separated from the rest of the unit. From the damage of the box it was packaged in, you could pretty much tell that a bunch of cowboys were used to deliver the item.

[elmagicochrisg]

True dat. Although there are extreme cases.

Agreed...

I doubt this is one of those extreme cases though...