Switchless Mod: Why not for PCE/TG16

[Biritix]

Hello All,

I was wondering, switchless mods seem to be becoming prevalent on the SNES and with the Megadrive Plus Plus the option is now available for the Genesis.

However, for the TG16 and PCE the only options available are for region mods with switches. I was wondering why that is the case? Is it simply that the community is comfortable with the mods that exist - or is the prevalence of the TED made physically modding consoles largely irrelevant?

[NecroPhile]

People do switchless mods on Turbo Expresses wired to the Select button.  The way I understand it is that it can't be done on consoles because there's no direct connection to the Select (or any other) button; I don't know if it can't handle the cord length of a controller, if it's a function of how the controller port works, or if it's because it'd mess with a tap.

[Eddiesamma]

In theory it could be done with say a pic micro controller, or atmel chip like an at tiny or the like. Not an expert programmer or anything but you highjack reset button pins, and wire those to the i.o. of the micro controller as well as your high and low for the existing region mod of your choice. Holding reset would cycle the state as well as reset the console. You would defiantly have to get the timing right so it doesn't reset then toggle but could be doable.

[Eddiesamma]

Sorry, that is how they are achieved on snes/genesis. I meant to include that presumably it could be done with an address change from the controller port. Need a higher level tech mind to speak on this.

[OldMan]

Not an expert programmer or anything but you highjack reset button pins...

What reset button? It's all done in software on the pce.

...presumably it could be done with an address change from the controller port.

Except you would have to read the controller. How would you do that if the code is for the wrong region?

Not saying it can't be done, just that it isn't going to be as easy as you think.

[thesteve]

the issue is there is no reset button, and without a system boot the controller isnt paged

[mario_pic]

Hello All,

I was wondering, switchless mods seem to be becoming prevalent on the SNES and with the Megadrive Plus Plus the option is now available for the Genesis.

However, for the TG16 and PCE the only options available are for region mods with switches. I was wondering why that is the case? Is it simply that the community is comfortable with the mods that exist - or is the prevalence of the TED made physically modding consoles largely irrelevant?

um last i checked snes had no region only tge top shell of the console stops u from useing diffrent region games

[esteban]

Hello All,

I was wondering, switchless mods seem to be becoming prevalent on the SNES and with the Megadrive Plus Plus the option is now available for the Genesis.

However, for the TG16 and PCE the only options available are for region mods with switches. I was wondering why that is the case? Is it simply that the community is comfortable with the mods that exist - or is the prevalence of the TED made physically modding consoles largely irrelevant?

um last i checked snes had no region only tge top shell of the console stops u from useing diffrent region games

To switch regions on SNES: Push and hold the shoulder buttons whilst pressing DOWN on dpad and  insert the cartridge.

To remove cart, hold shoulder buttons whilst pressing UP and remove cart.

[ClodBusted]

um last i checked snes had no region only tge top shell of the console stops u from useing diffrent region games

Dued, u bettre chekc agian. Aslo, tinkh of PAL sytsems.

[thesteve]

snes region lock is based on a code lock (much like the nes)
there are ways to bypass it but some games double check it

[SignOfZeta]

PAL gamers...what a sad bunch of bastards they must be.

[wildfruit]

PAL gamers...what a sad bunch of bastards they must be.

Imagine growing up playing sonic at 50hz and not knowing the difference until you're in your 20s. ;(

[esteban]

PAL gamers...what a sad bunch of bastards they must be.

Imagine growing up playing sonic at 50hz and not knowing the difference until you're in your 20s. ;(

That is crazy. Plus, the music. The music is different, correct? If only so slightly.... what a crazy situation.

[wildfruit]

PAL gamers...what a sad bunch of bastards they must be.

Imagine growing up playing sonic at 50hz and not knowing the difference until you're in your 20s. ;(

That is crazy. Plus, the music. The music is different, correct? If only so slightly.... what a crazy situation.

Well it's slower if that's what you mean. Or are you thinking of the different music in sonic CD?

[esteban]

PAL gamers...what a sad bunch of bastards they must be.

Imagine growing up playing sonic at 50hz and not knowing the difference until you're in your 20s. ;(

That is crazy. Plus, the music. The music is different, correct? If only so slightly.... what a crazy situation.

Well it's slower if that's what you mean. Or are you thinking of the different music in sonic CD?

I was thinking of chiptunes/PSG/whatever being slower.

I was just thinking how I would feel learning that all the songs actually were intended to sound different.

See, I am way more flexible in one way (adjusting and adapting to a game running slower/faster)... but, for some reason, I consider the music more "sacrosanct" and would be torn...the music I grew up with would be nostalgic and bonafide and genuine.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but music is such an integral part of the experience (with many games, not all of them...)

[wildfruit]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but music is such an integral part of the experience (with many games, not all of them...)

For a lot of stuff it's bearable. But not sonic.

[deubeul]

Growing up in PAL land was hell. That's surely one of the many reasons I so much loved the PC Engine, the semi-official french distribution being Japanese RGB modded consoles. It was unbearable for me to play PAL MD and Super Nintendo, and imported systems were really expensive.

[SignOfZeta]

I would have just stayed in the arcades until all that shit blew over...PS1 era, or whenever that was. Gameboy will do.

[esteban]

I just watched that video of Sonic...I think there are probably some songs (for some games, maybe not iconic games like Sonic) I would have preferred slow-PAL, whilst others are best left at original tempo.

It would be fun to see if a some songs actually improve.

Of course, I can only say this from the vantage point (privilege) of having experienced games at 60gigawatts...it's a novelty for me...I would be more bitter if slow-PAL was all I had.

I would have just stayed in the arcades until all that shit blew over...PS1 era, or whenever that was. Gameboy will do.

You are crazy.

Home consoles = absolutely essential.

I would have absolutely indulged in slow-PAL.

[SignOfZeta]

I don't know. Even at 60hz most arcade ports are garbage. I suppose I could have played Dragon Warrior just fine but if the NES version of Ikari Warriors is even more fucked up in Europe then I don't think it would've been playable for me.

[esteban]

I don't know. Even at 60hz most arcade ports are garbage. I suppose I could have played Dragon Warrior just fine but if the NES version of Ikari Warriors is even more fucked up in Europe then I don't think it would've been playable for me.

I played the heck out of NES Ikari Warriors and Athena...both games were pretty brutal and I don't know if they would be any worse at 50gigawatts  ;)

[NichlasEk]

Hey! If we your disscusing Sega/Snes. There where some pal adoptations. And they ran at full speed at 50Hz. Although whe had black borders. The resolution was actully higher and the quality more consistant from set to set. As PAL was a more defined standard.

Also by moding SNES/Megadrive today, we get PAL 60Hz wich is optimal, regarding resolution and speed. (If the tv acceps it)

[CrackTiger]

Growing up in PAL land was hell. That's surely one of the many reasons I so much loved the PC Engine, the semi-official french distribution being Japanese RGB modded consoles. It was unbearable for me to play PAL MD and Super Nintendo, and imported systems were really expensive.

So your TVs supprted 60Hz as well?

[NichlasEk]

Sure. I think a lot of PAL TVs do. I do like NTSC better now. But back in the day i would say PAL had its sharme. And PAL 60 is cool offcorse.

[wildfruit]

Growing up in PAL land was hell. That's surely one of the many reasons I so much loved the PC Engine, the semi-official french distribution being Japanese RGB modded consoles. It was unbearable for me to play PAL MD and Super Nintendo, and imported systems were really expensive.

So your TVs supprted 60Hz as well?

Certainly from mid/late 90s onwards. I had a crt that I had from about the age of 14 til it broke last year and it did 60hz. As does the replacement Panasonic crt that my aunt gave me that she had for a good while. Television is still broadcast in 50hz. Electricity is still 50hz.

[nopepper]

I just watched that video of Sonic...I think there are probably some songs (for some games, maybe not iconic games like Sonic) I would have preferred slow-PAL, whilst others are best left at original tempo.

It would be fun to see if a some songs actually improve.

Of course, I can only say this from the vantage point (privilege) of having experienced games at 60gigawatts...it's a novelty for me...I would be more bitter if slow-PAL was all I had.

Having spent years reading about how PAL butchered games but never actually seen or heard the difference until that video, I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how cool it was to hear Sonic at that slower tempo. I will not say it was better (it was still really good!), but it was definitely something that has piqued my interest to hear other games in slower tempos (as long as it's not anything by TechnoSoft, as that shit is perfect as it is).

But yes, I would have been screaming injustice if I would've grown up without the 60Hz choice, as I would've known it was the speed intended by the designers.

[thesteve]

well this thread sure ran off topic

[esteban]

well this thread sure ran off topic

At what point did we get distracted?