Playing PAL games overseas?

[Darwock]

Can it be done? My only multi-region consoles are my PAL ones.. I've never tried a PAL game in an NTSC PS2 for example. But I have tried a PAL DVD on a US PS2 (set to region 2 using DVD region X) and it won't play.. says that the TV system doesn't match. Does the same apply for games?

I guess the solution would be to take a PAL console, but I have a feeling that TVs in the USA/Japan most likely aren't designed to accept PAL signals in the same way ours accept NTSC... would that be right? (assuming they could even run on the lower voltage)

[Mayhem]

Pretty much correct on the PAL to TV front... you'd most likely need to invest in a PAL to NTSC convertor.

[gossi the dog]

You'd need a TV that can accept a PAL signal. However if your TV has either RGB or component inputs your games should work provided the TV can accept a 50Hz signal (which is unlikely). Games which have PAL 60 modes will work if hooked up via RGB or component and finally PS2 games with NTSC modes will work regardless of the method the console is hooked up to the TV.

[Darwock]

Just to clarify, PAL games with 60hz compatibility will display correctly on a non-PAL TV (via a multi-region NTSC console) once set to 60hz mode? So if I keep a note of where the menu option is, it'll be fine? Just I don't fancy starting all over again on VF4 or Way of the Samurai!

[sj33]

Yep. I don't think any PAL games actually run in PAL60, the 60Hz modes in these games are proper NTSC.

[vertigo]

Yep. I don't think any PAL games actually run in PAL60, the 60Hz modes in these games are proper NTSC.

Thought that only applied to PS2s because Sony are crap. Dreamcast and Gamecube games that run in PAL60 are 60Hz in PAL colour.

[Mayhem]

Yep. PS2 games in 60Hz are NTSC, whereas Xbox and Cube are PAL60 instead.

Having said that, via component output, I found I could play any PAL game on an NTSC Cube in the US with Freeloader as long as the game had a 60Hz mode.

[sj33]

Thought that only applied to PS2s because Sony are crap. Dreamcast and Gamecube games that run in PAL60 are 60Hz in PAL colour.

Sony say isn't because PAL60 isn't an official standard. Most of us would prefer NTSC to PAL60 anyway.

The PS2 is technically capable of PAL60, I can force PAL60 or NTSC with my modchip.

[Darwock]

In this circumstance PAL-60 wouldn't be worth a toss anyway so I for one am glad Sony are 'crap'.

[mid]

Incidentally, even if you hook it up to a PAL TV, at least early NTSC PS2s had DVD playback software that couldn't cope with a PAL disc if memory serves.

[sj33]

Incidentally, even if you hook it up to a PAL TV, at least early NTSC PS2s had DVD playback software that couldn't cope with a PAL disc if memory serves.

Didn't have a large enough framebuffer for PAL movies, and that goes for all models of PS2.

[mid]

Thanks - I figured it was probably still the case, but they might have fixed it since I last looked, so I was being cautious.

[Darwock]

But the same is not true for the game discs right?