Hardware Setup for submitting Mega Drive runs to SDA

2014-07-06 02:24:46 pm

Hello there

I've been taken in by the speedrunning hype thats running wild and I've been doing some routing/running of a couple games such as Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers for the Mega Drive. I'm getting ready to start streaming runs and have an Ez-Cap device en route however, I realise I will be running Pal versions of the game and a lot of the time be put into my own categories with the other PAL runs which seem quite few and far between. I've been doing some reading on the SDA wiki and saw that system modifications to allow other region games or at least extra hardware to bypass such limitations are allowed and was wondering if I would be able to use an Everdrive to run NTSC versions of PAL games that I own on a modded MD MK1 (Which I have read are the easiest to mod)? This is mostly because items over £20 in value have a wonderful 35% Import tax on them and I'm honestly not sure how many NTSC games I could import without breaking the bank.

I have no problems with running PAL games as it is what I know and am used to but I would also like the option to compete against NTSC times too and be able to submit them and one day have one of those glorious world records of my own!

Many thanks for reading this
DZM

Thread title:

Hello there

I've been taken in by the speedrunning hype thats running wild and I've been doing some routing/running of a couple games such as Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers for the Mega Drive. I'm getting ready to start streaming runs and have an Ez-Cap device en route however, I realise I will be running Pal versions of the game and a lot of the time be put into my own categories with the other PAL runs which seem quite few and far between. I've been doing some reading on the SDA wiki and saw that system modifications to allow other region games or at least extra hardware to bypass such limitations are allowed and was wondering if I would be able to use an Everdrive to run NTSC versions of PAL games that I own on a modded MD MK1 (Which I have read are the easiest to mod)? This is mostly because items over £20 in value have a wonderful 35% Import tax on them and I'm honestly not sure how many NTSC games I could import without breaking the bank.

I have no problems with running PAL games as it is what I know and am used to but I would also like the option to compete against NTSC times too and be able to submit them and one day have one of those glorious world records of my own!

Many thanks for reading this
DZM

honorableJay

2014-07-06 03:12:43 pm

The Dork Knight himself.

Modding your system to be able to play NTSC games at the proper 60hz and still being able to play PAL games at the proper 50hz is perfectly fine. However the games must be played on the real thing. If you want to use an Everdrive to practice with, go right ahead. Anything submitted though will have to be done on the real cartridge.

For games that were not changed for the PAL release (i.e. the same game as NTSC but just playing at 50hz) someone with more authority on the subject will have to weigh in. I'm pretty sure those games still need to be played on the NTSC release to be accepted, but there could be exceptions.

Warepire

Edit history:

Warepire: 2014-07-06 03:33:56 pm

2014-07-06 03:33:18 pm

Heavy Metal Powered

Sweden also has one of them nasty import taxes, but most sellers are fine with putting a lower value on stuff if you ask them. Unless it's being shipped with insurance.
You shouldn't face many problems importing the games, and if you ask in the Trading post, you might be able to track down a Genesis in Europe.

DZM

2014-07-06 03:45:39 pm

That's fair enough, I'll have to keep my imports to only the games I really have my heart into. I could use an Everdrive to practice whilst I wait for orders but I think I'd be patient enough to wait.

It's real bogus. I was going to buy a AT2020 USB from UK amazon but they wanted the best part of £175 (At the time, I think its more like £125 - £150 now) . I was able to get one ordered to my American friend from the US store for 90 USD, pay for his courier to London at 30 USD and pay the import fees and I still managed to save the best part of £50 after currency conversion. I was pretty shocked.

That's also a pretty great idea. I totally didn't realise there was a Trading Post and that is a pretty awesome thing to have! I think I'll still do the mod because I feel pretty confident with the ol' Soldering Iron and Dremel and if I mess it up I've luckily got a spare MK1 (and 2) or I could find a Genesis as stated. I guess I better get practicing whilst I wait for this Ez-Cap.

Cheers for the Advice guys! I look forward to getting my stream on.

That's fair enough, I'll have to keep my imports to only the games I really have my heart into. I could use an Everdrive to practice whilst I wait for orders but I think I'd be patient enough to wait.

It's real bogus. I was going to buy a AT2020 USB from UK amazon but they wanted the best part of £175 (At the time, I think its more like £125 - £150 now) . I was able to get one ordered to my American friend from the US store for 90 USD, pay for his courier to London at 30 USD and pay the import fees and I still managed to save the best part of £50 after currency conversion. I was pretty shocked.

That's also a pretty great idea. I totally didn't realise there was a Trading Post and that is a pretty awesome thing to have! I think I'll still do the mod because I feel pretty confident with the ol' Soldering Iron and Dremel and if I mess it up I've luckily got a spare MK1 (and 2)  or I could find a Genesis as stated.  I guess I better get practicing whilst I wait for this Ez-Cap.

Cheers for the Advice guys! I look forward to getting my stream on.

blizzz

2014-07-06 03:56:08 pm

Keep in mind that most mods that allow NTSC games on PAL consoles will have a slightly different output frequency. It's not much, but it will add up to a couple of seconds difference over a run compared to an original NTSC console. A modded PAL SNES (with the common switchless mod) is approximately 0.9% slower than the original NTSC console.

The Everdrive on the other hand should have no influence on the game.

DZM

2014-07-06 04:02:59 pm

I did not know this either!

I guess I know what to do now. I realise its not much but you've gotta save those frames right?

GiraffeeDreams

2014-07-06 06:31:59 pm

Transatlantic Gamer

Playing NTSC games on a PAL system will typically make the game run 17% slower, though that's actually due to EU standards in the 90s using 50hz signals rather than 60hz like the rest of the world.
As for the Everdrive, there are multiple versions, the original I imagine would be acceptable though I imagine you'd have to show a full power off as the cart can utilise Game Genie codes and ROM hacks, newer versions of the Everdrive also support save states so I'm not sure how that would play into it.

honorableJay

2014-07-07 03:31:12 pm

The Dork Knight himself.

Giraffee: Generally devices like the Everdrive are not suitable for submitting runs because the memory mappers are emulated, which can cause games to not behave the same as they would on an official cartridge.

GiraffeeDreams

2014-07-07 05:15:44 pm

Transatlantic Gamer

Fair enough, I wasn't 100% sure on that hence the wording, but I appreciate the correction, good to know for future reference.