Famicom World

Misc. => Other Gaming => Topic started by: Rob64 on February 16, 2009, 10:18:22 am

Title: Import question
Post by: Rob64 on February 16, 2009, 10:18:22 am
This question applies to the Super Famicom and the Japanese N64.

Now I know that it is possible to mod an american system to play the japanese games without losing any content. So I was wondering: what happens when you play a version of a game released in america on a japanese system?

For example: what happens if I play the American release of Super Mario 64 on the japanese system? Do I loose content? Can it ruin the game? Does it still read in English since I am playing the american release?

Any information is apprecciated
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 16, 2009, 10:24:51 am
It works exactly the same. Nothing changes, the game still runs in English just as a Japanese game would still run in Japanese on a US system.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nensondubois on February 17, 2009, 11:42:11 am
Unless a CIC regional lockout chip was on the game and console.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 17, 2009, 11:45:38 am
Japanese and US CICs have been the same since the SNES days.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 01:36:54 pm
I heard on Rising Stuff that some SFC games like Super Mario RPG and Kirby won't work on a modded SNES because of their lockout chips...
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on February 17, 2009, 02:16:15 pm
I thought that applies to Pal Snes's only.
Unless of course when you say modded Snes your referring to a Pal Snes.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 02:18:25 pm
There's no reason why it wouldn't apply to both, and RS never defined which one.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on February 17, 2009, 05:41:21 pm
Ah yes your right,after more reading it does say it wont work for a US Snes and a Pal Snes.Good thing as I have been thinking about importing Kirby,thanks for the info nintendodork..

And here is more info for the matter.
http://www.raregame.ru/file/c1/SNES_Games_with_Chips.doc
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 05:44:17 pm
So none of the games on that list work??  Holy hell! :o
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 17, 2009, 05:51:36 pm
I don't see how the games on that list won't work on a standard US NTSC SNES. It doesn't mention anything like that.

Once you break the region tabs, Japanese SFC games will work perfectly on your US SNES.
The problems occur with the European SNES, which is PAL and contains a different CIC chip than US/JP machines.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 05:55:10 pm
 :-\

I'm pretty sure a few games (Kirby, SMRPG) won't work at least..
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 17, 2009, 06:03:06 pm
I'm pretty sure they do.

US SNES and JP SFC consoles are electronically the same.
The problem arises with European consoles.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 06:11:28 pm
Ok, well I'll take your word for it, seeing as you are 133MHz :P
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: son_ov_hades on February 17, 2009, 06:24:49 pm
QuoteThe chip lockout system worked by having hardware in the console act as a lock and the chip inside the cartridge act as the key. Disconnecting pin 4 of the console's lockout chip caused a situation where there were two keys and no locks. This meant that the lockout chips would not operate and could not halt the console. Games towards the end of the console's lifecycle, such as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars could detect this deadlock situation and refuse to run, so it later became common to install a switch that disconnected and connected the lockout chip as required


http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System (http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System)
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on February 17, 2009, 06:29:12 pm
Read here.
http://www.risingstuff.com/index.php?p=600


Also does anyone have these super fami games they can try on a US Snes?
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 06:31:23 pm
So I was right?  For a few games anyway?
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 17, 2009, 06:47:04 pm
Quote from: son_ov_hades on February 17, 2009, 06:24:49 pm
QuoteThe chip lockout system worked by having hardware in the console act as a lock and the chip inside the cartridge act as the key. Disconnecting pin 4 of the console's lockout chip caused a situation where there were two keys and no locks. This meant that the lockout chips would not operate and could not halt the console. Games towards the end of the console's lifecycle, such as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars could detect this deadlock situation and refuse to run, so it later became common to install a switch that disconnected and connected the lockout chip as required


http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System (http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System)


You don't need to disable the CIC to play SFC games on your SNES, so that condition isn't going to occur. But on PAL consoles this will certainly happen.

Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on February 17, 2009, 06:48:53 pm
Quote from: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 06:31:23 pm
So I was right?  For a few games anyway?


From the info yes but I still would like some concrete proof.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: nintendodork on February 17, 2009, 06:53:56 pm
Yeah, I'm not going to import SFC games anytime soon, but I already modded my SNES.  I have two so if for whatever reason something happens, it won't matter :)
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on February 17, 2009, 07:05:08 pm
I wasn't saying for you to get the games,but there has to be someone on this board who has the japanese versions and a US Snes.


But yea I have two Snes's as well,ones a mini.Man I never use the mini snes anymore lol.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Rob64 on February 18, 2009, 03:36:43 am
But what about my original question, will all american games work on a japanese SFC or N64?
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: 133MHz on February 18, 2009, 07:54:37 am
Quote from: Rob64 on February 16, 2009, 10:18:22 am
This question applies to the Super Famicom and the Japanese N64.

Now I know that it is possible to mod an american system to play the japanese games without losing any content. So I was wondering: what happens when you play a version of a game released in america on a japanese system?

For example: what happens if I play the American release of Super Mario 64 on the japanese system? Do I loose content? Can it ruin the game? Does it still read in English since I am playing the american release?

Any information is apprecciated


Quote from: 133MHz on February 16, 2009, 10:24:51 am
It works exactly the same. Nothing changes, the game still runs in English just as a Japanese game would still run in Japanese on a US system.
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: mobiusclimber on February 20, 2009, 12:21:20 pm
One of the graphics chips has region lockout, so any game that uses that special graphics chip WILL NOT WORK on an SNES that is only modded by breaking the tabs. I didn't realize the list of games was as extensive as it is when I wrote the article for Risingstuff.com, thank you to whomever it was that uploaded that list (keep in mind that on the list it's only one section, if you scroll down to where it lists Kirby's and SMRPG, you can see that it clearly states there's a region lockout embedded in the graphics chip and that the games on that list won't work.)
Title: Re: Import question
Post by: Pikkon on June 11, 2009, 11:24:06 am
Sorry to bump this old thread.

Well I bought Super Mario RPG(super famicom version)and it works fine on my Snes and my Snes mini.