how to play n64 imports on pal consoles?

[jabitox]

I have some USA n64 carts and want to use them on a pal console.
I've think in three alternatives:

1- Open and mod the console (there should be some lockout chip arround here)
2- Open the carts and mod them
3- Build an import adapter. If someone have one, he can open it and draw some schematics....I don't plan to buy one of these if they are very spensive.

Any ideas?

[Vertigo]

I have some USA n64 carts and want to use them on a pal console.
I've think in three alternatives:

1- Open and mod the console (there should be some lockout chip arround here)
2- Open the carts and mod them
3- Build an import adapter. If someone have one, he can open it and draw some schematics....I don't plan to buy one of these if they are very spensive.

Any ideas?

1) Not really possible unless you have an NTSC console to pull the chip out of, in which case you'd... already have an NTSC console.
2) Yes, you can do this but it's a lot of work and there are about 7 different lockout (CIC) chips for NTSC and PAL. So you would need to collect ones from the right carts in order to boot the right games, and make up a socketed cart that would enable you to change the CIC chip to the right one each time.
3) The easiest option, but still not exactly easy. You need all the pins to go through to the machine except the ones that control booting, open up a cart and trace from the CIC chip to the pins to see which ones, or find a cart pin-out somewhere and you'll see. Open up any Universal adaptor for details. You may also need to play about with resistors, because sometimes PAL carts contain them where NTSC ones don't, and vice versa.

Sorry I can't be much help, but it was very much back in the N64 day that we learnt this. Shout to the Dextrose massive

[ido8bit]

Some of the early N64 import adapters were just like SNES adapters.  The had a socket in the back for a game that matched the region of your N64 and a socket on the top for game you wanted to play.  I bought one of these, but they only work for early N64 games and even then not very well.  

Using one to run US NTSC games on a  PAL EURO N64 you got a black and white picture.  

The methods that you describe would work like on of these early import adapters.  I tried modding a couple of my carts before I bought the adapter and got the same results.  The game would play, but in black and white.

In the end I just bought an NTSC N64, and then later I found a passport universal adapter/cheat cart.  If you look around you may find them cheap.

I'd suggest you check out you local pawn shops/secondhand shops.  I got my NTSC N64 for AU$5 because it was 100V and they didn't have any NTSC games.  I got the passport adapter for AU$15 with an NTSC game at another shop.  

 

[Vertigo]

The reason these passports only worked for early games was because the majority of early games used the 6102 (or 6502, can't remember, number 2 anyway) CIC chip, and as the chips were changed around, they became more non-compatible. It's also to do with some games needing to detect a SRAM or FLASH-ROM chip to save on, and not booting if they detected EEPROM or nothing.
It's a big project, you might as well just buy a NTSC N64 for 20 quid and save yourself a world of hassle.

[ido8bit]

The one that I have labelled "Universal Games Adapter V4" works with all the games that I have tried on it so far.  

Obviously an NTSC N64 would be 100% compatible, but it's easier to use the adapter than to have 2 N64s setup.  

[CZroe]

The 610X and 710X CICs were compatible. With the exception of 7101=6102 (Standard, "Mario boot") and 6101=7102 (Only used for Starfox/Lylat Wars), just make sure the "X" values match

Also, you could use a backup unit and run PALaddin on the ROM...

See mine?

[Shadow_Zero]

The 610X and 710X CICs were compatible. With the exception of 7101=6102 (Standard, "Mario boot") and 6101=7102 (Only used for Starfox/Lylat Wars), just make sure the "X" values match

Also, you could use a backup unit and run PALaddin on the ROM...

See mine?
http://webpages.charter.net/ichinisan/images/game_setup.jpg

Does the CIC also matter what boot cartridge you must use with a Passport? Like, later PAL versions of games need a later NTSC game to boot on a NTSC machine.
I can't boot my ISS 2000 (one of the later N64 games) with a Japanse Mario 64 for example.

[CZroe]

The 610X and 710X CICs were compatible. With the exception of 7101=6102 (Standard, "Mario boot") and 6101=7102 (Only used for Starfox/Lylat Wars), just make sure the "X" values match

Also, you could use a backup unit and run PALaddin on the ROM...

See mine?
http://webpages.charter.net/ichinisan/images/game_setup.jpg

Does the CIC also matter what boot cartridge you must use with a Passport? Like, later PAL versions of games need a later NTSC game to boot on a NTSC machine.
I can't boot my ISS 2000 (one of the later N64 games) with a Japanse Mario 64 for example.

I believe that should work because ISS2K is 7101 which normally works with Mario's NTSC 6102. It must be something else.