USA gamers, what do you do to play your Pal consoles?.

Update: I've checked a schematic of the CD32 and it seems that changing the frequency (via menu or hardware mod) will not change the color encoding. There are parts on the PCB that differ between the PAL G/I and PAL M/N versions, so you will only get B/W.

 

Doesn't it have a Sony CXDxxxx RGB-composite encoder like a lot of other consoles? You can change their colour encoding by lifting a pin, if I'm not mistaken (or maybe you need to provide a separate clock source, that wouldn't be as easy)

 

It uses a CXA1145, the missing parts (needed for PAL M/N) are a capacitor, a resistor and a crystal.

 

Ok guys, now it is as if you were speaking to me in japanese, with that tech-talk :icon_bigg.

 

I'm a huge fan of the CD32, so hopefully I can shed some light on that side of things...

Unfortunately, the selection screen is a full-on mouse-driven GUI, so even if you could get into it by faking the mouse buttons, you still need an actual mouse to click on things. I think this GUI lets you switch into PAL with a keyboard (Has to be an Amiga keyboard), but that's even worse than keeping a mouse around.

In fact, I recommend getting a mouse for the CD32 anyways, as a lot of games will actually use it... most of them are ports from the Amiga computers anyways, so most developers left the mouse support in. It really helps in games like Liberation and Beneath a Steel Sky.

I have about 75% of the entire CD32 library, and so far I've only found one game that I couldn't get working on my NTSC system... and that is F17 Challenge. Strangely enough, the game actually gives you the option for NTSC or PAL mode, but it doesn't seem to make any difference as the game locks up no matter what you do... works fine on my PAL system though.

However, I would say around 20-25% of the games require you to switch into PAL mode on an NTSC system. If you don't switch into PAL mode, the game will usually lock up right before the actual gameplay starts (it'll tease you with working menus and title screens beforehand though), or it'll have severe graphical glitches (Disposable Hero and Super Skidmarks come to mind), or you'll lose an inch of the bottom of the screen which may make the game unplayable. There are also a bunch of games that will silently force the CD32 into PAL mode... I usually can't tell the difference myself (I have terrible eyesight), so I won't try to guess how many games do this. I believe Seek & Destroy is one of them though.

If you're hardcore into CD32 stuff, I would recommend getting a Commodore 1084S monitor for it. The system's hardware was designed with this monitor in mind. Unfortunately, with a PAL system, you'd still be stuck with a black and white picture if you hook up through composite or S-Video... however, if you modify the system for RGB output, you will get proper color (You'll also get the best possible picture quality from the system). I haven't done this mod myself, but it looks relatively straight forward, as all the appropriate signals are available on the expansion port. A more expensive option would be to buy an SX-1 or SX32 expander, both of which have an Amiga style 23-pin RGB port on them.

Also, NTSC CD32's are easy to find on eBay lately, as a lot of them were recently found in the far east (rumor has it they found Commodore's warehouse or something like that). I know a lot of people have reservations about buying things from Hong Kong and having them shipped across the Pacific, but I know a bunch of people who have bought them this way (including myself), and it's always worked out.

Of course, buying a new monitor, system, or expansion module is probably completely excessive if you're just a casual CD32 player.

Heh, I assume you're talking about something like this? If so, then forget it. They're HORRIBLE.

My first CD32 was a PAL system. At the time, I was told that it would work fine on a 1084S (which I already had) as long as I used S-Video... of course, it didn't and all I got was black and white. Instead of forking over the money for an NTSC system, I decided to get one of these cheap converters. Of course, these don't actually do 50-to-60Hz conversion, that's why they're so cheap... they just change the color signal. That's fine though, as that's all I needed (1084S does 50Hz just fine). When I finally got it, I was incredibly disappointed with the picture quality. Everything was so blurry that I decided to just play in black and white instead. At least the picture was nice and sharp that way. Plus, the stupid thing needs it's own power outlet... I have dozens of systems hooked up, and power is at a premium. I eventually gave up and bought an NTSC CD32 and never looked back.

Sounds like the original poster had a similar experience.

If someone manages to change the color encoding with a simple mod, I'd love to hear about it! It would make my PAL system much more useful.

--Zero

 

If you want to do multi-standard gaming look into getting a HDTV (LCD, DLP or Plasma) or getting an AV input card on your computer.

Options are aplenty. The only thing you really want to avoid if you're in the US and trying to display PAL are tube TVs. Chances are good, they're only going to display NTSC.

-hl718

 

does anyone know where I can find a commercial tv in the us that has a scart input?

 

2 ways

projector, or one of my TVs, which does support PAL.

 

I have an 7" Axion LCD monitor, that works with PAL. It has composite and coxial inputs. I haven't tested it using the coxial input. Radio shack sales the monitors.