Do You Chip Or Import?

[PH]

I'm usually an early adopter who switches to chipped PAL machines later on for various reasons. Later models are easier to make region-free (PS2), better RGB output (PAL Xbox over the early US NTSC ones) and i really hate step-downs all over the place.

Currently i've got (this gen only):

UK PS2 - Chipped with Messiah
JPN PS2 -
UK XBox - Chipped with Xecutor 2
US GC - With US/JPN switch.
US DC -
JPN DC -
UK DC -

[PeteJ]

US PS2 Chipped
US Xbox Chipped
Japanese Cube Chipped
PAL Dreamcast Boot disk

The main flaw in my plan is the Cube, which won't run PAL games (most of the time even with Freeloader). I like to just wander into a shop and pick up random games, but can't do that with the Cube

[nips]

I like Mods. They offer greater features usually, so I usually go with that.

It also means that if I'm waiting for a mod I don't just buy the console straight away and I save myself money in the long run.

[VoyagerFX]

Pal Xbox - Chipped.
Pal GC - Freeloader. (After a chipped one aswell)
Pal PS2 - Was using the really crappy slide card to play some imports but I think it has ruined the PS2. (After a chipped PS2 now aswell)
DC - Boot disk.
PS1 - Chipped.

[Zanzaki]

I'm all for importing the consoles, with the price of chipping in Sweden it's about as cheap to import the consoles instead.

[TheShend]

I only have a US cube atm.

but will continue to buy the console from the other regions to PAL.

[TheOnimusha]

I have a UK PAL Xbox, PS2, PS
also Jap PS2

The Jap PS2 (2nd hand incl step down) was the same cost as a modchip (incl fitting/shipping etc), so I saw no reason to mess with my original PS2 still under warranty

Problem is I cant get hold of a US Xbox, but chipping the Xbox seems to be risky these days for Xbox Live...

[Ginza]

Chipped Green Xbox
Normal Crystal Xbox
Modded Panasonic Q
Modded Platinum GameCube
Jap Famicom SP



So a plentiful mix of chipped and modded. I am more of a modded person me as it means i can have a console which is able to play more than one region and for the GameCube i think it is essential.

The next generation consoles i get wont be on launch as i will wait for them to be modded. No point getting a jap GC2 or XB2 personally.

[Friction]

US XBOX - Chipped
US PS2
JAP PS2
US Cube (I have Freeloader though)
UK SP - All region though so that one doesn't matter

As a rule I always go for US machines - I go for US as I cannot understand Japanese. I don't want to blindly play my way through a game (especially with RPGs etc).

Games tend to hit the US way before UK though still after Japan, and there is the guarenteed 60hz full speed issue too

It's almost like a nice middle ground! You get games earlier than the UK and you can understand them!

Before anyone asks my Jap PS2 is almost pretty much just for Initial D (I do have GT4 Prologue though). I would love to be able to understand it, but I had to make an exception for that game

[112]

bloody hell seeming as everyones show boating..........

Jap Panasonic Q Modded
Jap purple GC Modded
Jap DC Modded
Pal DC
Jap PS2 neo 2.2 modded (ooow........)
Pal Xbox
Pal PS1
Jap Saturn
Jap/Asian N64 Cartridge thingy removed to allow US games
Pal N64

I wont bother going any further back..........

I basically like the whole idea of owning the japanese equivillent because it whole package sems to have been designed and have a kind of finesse or quality to it. Like someone actuallytook some care and attention. Unlike the western counterparts which are always second rate, bulkier, cheaper and takier!

Also the fact i dont understand half the ****im playing in jap makes it more appealing and desirable because i subconsciously fillin the gaps........hmmmm........

112

[Fuddle]

ps2 is the only pal console i currently have.
normally import a japanese version and leave it at that...xbox being the exception, which is american.
somewhere down the line i may pick up a pal console when they are suitably cheap and there are loads of old games to choose from, but its happened not that often.

[Salsa Party Animal]

My hardware are

Jungle Green Nintendo 64 (USA)
Plain XBOX (USA)
Spice Gamecube (Japanese chipped)
Silver PS2 (PAL Chipped)
Crystal Clear XBOX (PAL Chipped)
Pearl Pink GBA SP (Japanese)

So basically I can play all region games in apart from European Gamecube games.

[Kubrick]

Stepdowns galore for me. My consoles are all Japanese and unmodified. I rely on freeloader for the handful of USA games I have.

[Naiera]

I'm all for doing it it cheapest way, but I'm not fond of boot discs. This means I don't have three of all consoles (JAP, US, EU), but I chip or just mod. I do have two Dreamcasts of different region, but that's about it. The biggest problem was the PS2, but I got a great deal on a Messiah clone, and running all games on all my other consoles didn't really pose a problem.

[Magnakai]

*hangs head in shame*
All three of my consoles are PAL.
Naturally, I have a Freeloader, and I will get my XBox chipped. Eventually. Unfortunately, my PS2's too old to chip, and I can't really justify a new one right now.
I have a japanese SP though! Go me!