N64 - Region Free or Not? The answer.

There have been a few recent posts about whether or not N64 games can be played on U.S. systems, so I looked into it and this is what I found.

Nintendo relied on a physical lock out device rather than a chip-based protection, just as they did with the SNES. This means that you can modify either the carts from Japan or your US N64 fairly easily in order to play Japanese carts on your American N64. You can also use pass-through devices that are less cart-savy (like gamesharks etc...).

Pictured below is a modified cart next to a typical US cart. This method is easier to implement and leaves your N64 unmolested (modifying your N64 removes the dust cover slots), but for a collector is less desirable (because you would be hacking up carts).

Niether of these methods are unlawful as you are manipulating property that you own in both cases (you are buying the intellectual property rights in either case).

Oh yeah, and I found all this out when I noticed that all the recent import carts I had picked up had been modifed as pictured above.

Frankly I'd rather mod the console than each and every import cart.  It's probably easier to just pick up another console on the cheap and play Frankenstien with it rather than your original console.  Anywho... nice investigation work aspro.

... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?gameguy6700

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console.  As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES.  If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console. As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES. If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?aspro73

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console. As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES. If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

sweet, I never knew it could do that. I always figured that the GS or console wouldnt recognize the code, never had any idea it was merely a physical lockout. I guess I'm going to have to go import some japanese N64 games now :D

Frankly I'd rather mod the console than each and every import cart. inkwolf

ditto.

You say that carts like a gameshark bypass the physical lockout, so does that mean that instead of hacking up the console/cartridge, I could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?gameguy6700

action replay does, Game Genie does SOME but not all... haven't figured out why...

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?aspro73

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console.  As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES.  If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

Thats cool. I just happened to run accross a N64 Gameshark for $1 a few months back and picked it up for the heck of it, without much inclination to ever use it (I haven't used a cheat devise since the Game Genie for the SNES, not that Im opposed to them per se). Ive wanted to try out Sin and Punishment since it seems to be pretty well received even though never released in the US, however I think it goes for a pretty penny and may still not be worth it.

I'd rather modify the console than every imported game. Maybe my opinion would differ if I knew what "dust cover slots" are.LordAndrew

I definitely agree to that. I'd really rather import a console to play its games though. 

 [QUOTE="LordAndrew"]I'd rather modify the console than every imported game. Maybe my opinion would differ if I knew what "dust cover slots" are.waflerevolution

I definitely agree to that. I'd really rather import a console to play its games though. 

But even still, like waffle, I'd rather the import console.

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?aspro73

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console. As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES. If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

That's cool. Do you think that would work with European games? If not, what should be used? 

[QUOTE="aspro73"]

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]... could just use my gameshark to play import games no problem? And would that go for the SNES as well with a game genie?Superlegtesta

Sticking just to the n64 for now, yes, the gameshark would allow you to play japanese games without modifying the cartridge or your console. As you can see from this image the gameshark has no encumbrances that would prevent use of an import N64 cart.

I don't know about SNES. If someone wants to elucidate on that, go ahead.

That's cool. Do you think that would work with European games? If not, what should be used?

That is a whole different kettle of fish as far as I know.  Sorry.  If you find out, post here. 

God, i have been googling my eyes out for days now, Can the Euro PAL Nintendo 64 play UK/AUS/(USA) Nintendo 64 games or not?

This is my last hope, reply here (and/or send me a PM)

God, i have been googling my eyes out for days now, Can the Euro PAL Nintendo 64 play UK/AUS/(USA) Nintendo 64 games or not?

This is my last hope, reply here (and/or send me a PM)

majormartin

Euro PAL would be able to play UK and AUS, presumably. I mean why wouldn't they? They are all PAL-compliant regions. As for if you can play an NTSC US cart on the PAL side... I would not think so. I'll look around for more definitive answers, and maybe some of our members from the UK can chime in.

Thanks for your time. UK NES did NOT work on EU PAL, but SNES worked fine. According to a few eBay sellers the AUS-versions works on UK & rest the rest of EU (n64). (but still nothing confirmed)majormartin

Going way back to the NES times, the UK and Italy (PAL-A) had a different region lock to the rest of Europe (PAL-B) due to the differences in distributors (Mattel vs. Nintendo of Europe). US games did not work on either UK or EU consoles and vice versa. I'm not sure about AUS releases, I've had no personal experience with those. Of course, a simple modification to the console will allow all regions (except *** of course) to be played on any console provided your TV can cope with the PAL/NTSC difference (most modern sets can).

SNES was a bit more tricky due to the different shaped carts, you'd either have to completely modify your console and cut extra bits out of the cartridge slot or use an adaptor like an Action Replay. They don't play every game though, as I have found out several times. UK/EU games are interchangeable this time though since the lock out is purely physical and not a lockout chip as with the NES.

N64 is similar, although the cart differences are more subtle than with the SNES. I guess an adaptor would be the way to go with these if you wanted to play *** or PAL games on a US console. I wouldn't know how to go about modding an N64. N64 is not really an area of expertise for me, although I can say that UK/EU/AUS games are all interchangeable. I've got both French and Australian N64 games in my collection and they work fine on my UK console.

I've been working on a feature on and off that actually makes mention of the NES confusion in Europe amongst other things. I'll get it up eventually...