Multimega/CDX Region mod thread

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

Oh. Well I'll ask around and find out who I should consult about mod services. A CDX is no cheapy to replace if ruined. Anything done needs to be exactly right!

I think the best setup is all modes available and switchable in-game? So if morbid curiosity makes me want to see bizarre stuff like Japanese mode at 50hz, or PAL titles that only work in NTSC after the initial boot check, it'd work.

There is not japanese mode 50hz. No such game ever made. Asian games are made PAL/50hz but game language is japanese, or taiwanese or some other weard country language.

Also read my red note from under the SMLMOD picture until you arrange someone to do this mod.

[lumclaw]

That's why I mentioned doing it for curiosity. The hardware is capable, despite no games were intended to. Video mode and language are separate settings for ordinary Genesis/MD cartridges.

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

That's why I mentioned doing it for curiosity. The hardware is capable, despite no games were intended to. Video mode and language are separate settings for ordinary Genesis/MD cartridges.

What you mean? There is no actual language setting for games at all. There is region setting and hertz setting. You switch region signal or hz signal to produce different region and different hz output. The language on cardridge may be what programmers wanted in such cases like asian pal megadrive cardridges which has asian language on the game. Most people tend to speak wrongly refering to the "language"-switch. Actually it is "Region" switch which changes from orginal JAPAN region to GLOBAL Region. The other switch changes picture signaling hz givin faster playback on PAL tv with 60hz. Also some pal games wont start in US console without HZ mod to console.

How ever PAL and US uses same GLOBAL region, only HZ signal differs. So SMOD do not differ from HZMOD. Only thing is that it gives you one more setup, that is also JAPAN region 60hz to play japanese carts.

IF I remmeber fro speks, the asic dont undersdand GND-GND? I believ that asic only switches to US or JP or EU mode. The console were not ever capabling to handle more thatn 3 regions. If it would have been, then why the heck those asian carts were made PAL-50hz? Why not use JP-50HZ? It's because asic dont support this I believe. It needs always +5 rail from one of the 107 or 56 pins

[lumclaw]

So it's not possible to play games in 50hz with Japanese text? I figured setting the region to JAPAN and the HZ to 50, what I meant would occur.

Well I'm learning here. Good to ask questions.

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

So it's not possible to play games in 50hz with Japanese text? I figured setting the region to JAPAN and the HZ to 50, what I meant would occur.

Well I'm learning here. Good to ask questions.

Well, in theory if you have the region switch separate from hz switch, you could try using some games in japanese region and hz signal 50hz. Since asian (not japanese) games uses PAL region and 50hz you are actually playing the game with japan text and 50hz. You dont need separate japan region switch to play 50hz games. All 50hz games are made with PAL region so you need only 3 modes to your console. And also I dont see reason why would you play in 50hz anything, since all games are made for 60hz only some european pal cardridges are coded to 50hz and then made some hacks to run in 60mode also. 50hz gives you ugly top and bottom bars that you do not want to see.

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

Adding Sega 32X Support (optional)

The pink wire to the AV-Port is optional, only necassary for 32X support

You will have to cut the red marked circuit and solder a pink wire to Pin 6 of the AV Port

We will disable the Mono-Audio for this function. This will not be a problem, because STEREO-Audio is still working. (Who needs mono ?)

Does this cable alone add 32x 50hz nd 60hz mod? So no need to change hz inside the 32x?

[electrochip]

Does this cable alone add 32x 50hz nd 60hz mod? So no need to change hz inside the 32x?

Correct, the 32X runs at whatever the Genesis runs at as far as HZ, but the region does not so you have to modify for region only on the 32X.

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

Correct, the 32X runs at whatever the Genesis runs at as far as HZ, but the region does not so you have to modify for region only on the 32X.

When I first got a working 32x, I found it interesting that my PAL model has a motherboard with NTSC stamped on it! Seems it's quite normal. Anyway, from what I remember reading on the web, the 32x doesn't check what language the Mega Drive is running in, it just checks the video signal to see if it's 50 or 60Hz, and the 32x can be configured to run in either mode allowing you to play all 32x games on your switched Mega Drive.

Also here: http://www.segakore.fr/articles/switch_32x.html

Hmm I have read that 32x dont mind region at all. I uses only 50 or 60hz switch. So with that cable, I can modify my pal 32x run on same hz signal as the console is? So I dot need to mod the 32 at all?

[electrochip]

Also here: http://www.segakore.fr/articles/switch_32x.html

Hmm I have read that 32x dont mind region at all. I uses only 50 or 60hz switch. So with that cable, I can modify my pal 32x run on same hz signal as the console is? So I dot need to mod the 32 at all?

I don't know any US/JPN 32X games that have region protection but I know PAL ones do.

[MEGADRIVE Jeroi]

I don't know any US/JPN 32X games that have region protection but I know PAL ones do.

So does Pal games work then if MD is PAL50hz and then changed to 60HZ US mode with your purple cable then USA/jp games work because 60hz is given thrue a/v port?

I believe I have still do the 50/60hz switch to 32X.

[electrochip]

So does Pal games work then if MD is PAL50hz and then changed to 60HZ US mode with your purple cable then USA/jp games work because 60hz is given thrue a/v port?

I believe I have still do the 50/60hz switch to 32X.

If you start in PAL 50hz and then switch to 60hz while the game is running, it works fine. If you start in PAL 60hz it does not run some games, though I only tested a couple of PAL games so I don't really know if all PAL games have region protection against 50hz/60hz.

[TmEE]

Regarding region settings, its all up to the game to decide what to do (except in case of MCD games). Japan+50Hz is a valid setting, and I know several games being affected in this setting. The EU version of Metal Head will show a different cooler Sega logo in JP+50Hz, Sonic2 will have Tails named Miles and so on.

[lumclaw]

Regarding region settings, its all up to the game to decide what to do (except in case of MCD games). Japan+50Hz is a valid setting, and I know several games being affected in this setting. The EU version of Metal Head will show a different cooler Sega logo in JP+50Hz, Sonic2 will have Tails named Miles and so on.

It'd be funny if that odd setting combo makes US Streets of Rage start up as Bare Knuckle at PAL speed.

[TmEE]

It does :P

[lumclaw]

Yeah you have to remember I'm among lucky ones. I've never once witnessed on original hardware (rather than emulators) the slowness bad conversions causes.

For that matter I don't know of any US console ever with video settings, that had PAL color or 50hz as official user-selectable. Not even PS2 with its allowing RGB over component be chosen.

Who's a good person to consult about Sega CDX region mod service anyway? It's sure one difficult project being cramped in there.