Confusion about NTSC and PAL versions

[plazma]

I collect 8-bit machines (NES, Vectrex, CPC464, C64 so far) and just bought 600XL and 800XL.

I found some large collection of games but they don't say anything about region.

 

Are there different version (NTSC and PAL) of games?

If there is how can the version be identified?

 

I got the packages from ftp.pigwa.net and also downloaded some games from atarimania. Atarimania does mension the country but is it the origin of the game studio or PAL/NTSC region?

 

I'm building the SIO2SD unit for playing disk images. What is a good DIY device for cartridge images? (I can make my own PCB boards and solder SMD even BGA)

[Rybags]

I have the suspicion I saw almost this exact post 2 or 3 days ago and replied to it in another forum section.

 

For the most part, no specific Pal or NTSC version. Bounty Bob Strikes Back is a rare example of region encoding and it was only done as a measure against cheap importing.

 

Some problems do exist, particularly with modern games/demos in that NTSC might have problems due to less CPU per frame available but these problems are usually well publicised.

 

Atarimax flashcarts are one way to cheaply do cartrdiges although they only do 8K ones entirely from the flashrom. There's also other alternatives.

Most old cart images are available with the self-destruct protection removed so can run based in RAM, so in effect any media type also.

Having actual cartridge is mostly handy for things you use a lot, e.g. languages and those few favourite games.

SIO2SD in turbo modes or even standard speed is probably as fast or faster than hunting around and swapping cartridges.

[Bryan]

For the most part, the difference is the speed of the games since they're generally tied to the refresh rate (50 or 60Hz). PAL users are used to games running a little slower than NTSC users. Games that use artifact coloring just appear as monochrome with vertical bands on PAL machines. Occasionally, PAL games will have playability issues on NTSC machines (jumping screen, freezing, or just too fast) but rarely do NTSC-oriented games fail to run on PAL machines. Basically, you have to look at where the game was written/released to figure out what type of machine is best to play it on.

[russg]

For the most part, the difference is the speed of the games since they're generally tied to the refresh rate (50 or 60Hz). PAL users are used to games running a little slower than NTSC users. Games that use artifact coloring just appear as monochrome with vertical bands on PAL machines. Occasionally, PAL games will have playability issues on NTSC machines (jumping screen, freezing, or just too fast) but rarely do NTSC-oriented games fail to run on PAL machines. Basically, you have to look at where the game was written/released to figure out what type of machine is best to play it on.

Yoomp! is a Polish game that is PAL and doesn't run well on NTSC (I don't remember the problem, maybe too fast?) Then someone made an NTSC version. Fantastic game. Dozens of classic A8 games were made on NTSC.

I haven't heard of a NTSC game that doesn't work on a PAL machine, all probably a bit slower tho.

[plazma]

Did the developers ever make both NTSC and PAL versions?

[plazma]

Looks like atarimania got many versions of games. Did not notice it before. For example Bruce Lee is available from many different publishers and countries.

[russg]

Did the developers ever make both NTSC and PAL versions?

Uhm. You talking to me? Make both of which game? I only know of Yoomp! specifically made for NTSC, an afterthought when it didn't work so well in NTSC land.