Expert: Octane - 1/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey,

I have a NES and was looking at some of the accessories it had. What I am wondering is, is there a problem with using NTSC controllers on a PAL system? [This goes for NES & NES2]

I bought a Four Score, and a NES Satellite from America, and am waiting for it to arrive, and I began looking for the NES Max controllers and etc but thought I would check further before buying something that may not work.. I have a bit of a collection and thought why not add them to it so yeah. :)

Do you know of any complications? Will I have trouble with the Fourscore and the NES Satellite?

Also, what is the difference between the controllers and that for the American NES and the Australian or any PAL NES? I tried to google what I could but did not find much apart from them having a different chip inside [original basic NES controller] and that soldering in a PAL chip did not work for the person that tried it. [They were in Germany] So unsure at the moment.

I hope you are able to share some knowledge in this area, as I am quite stumped.

Cheers,
Paul

ANSWER: Gday Paul,

I believe the NES had universal controllers and they should work the same no modification needed.  (Now the Super NES does require modification on the Controller ports.)  The ports of the NES are wired directly back to the main board, unlike the NES which is a separate circuit board)  and I believe are totally the same in both NTSC to PAL.

Of course NTSC games will not work on a PAL system without modifying the game or system.

Hope this helps.

Octane

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well here is just a follow up :)

I tested the Four Score, works perfect so far, no modification needed. I have yet to test the Satellite.

Controllers I will now look at purchasing. :)

I think the only difference is [and thus where the other person had trouble] with the NES Nintendo & Mattel versions.

I think the NTSC NES Nintendo & PAL NES Nintendo systems are identical in terms of controller chips and basic chip set-out, and the Mattel version must differ if that person could not get the NTSC NES Nintendo controller to work on his [even by switching the chips in the controller]. But even so I still find it confusing..

None the less, do you know if it is the same story for the NES 2 Dog Bone controllers?

Thanks for your help once again. :)

Answer
Gday Again Paul,

I think the NES 2 Dog Bone Controllers where just redesigned NES controllers. (to look like its bigger brother the SNES.  Actually the SNES controller can be rewired to work on the NES as it uses the same chip.)  Does not matter if you use the dog bones on a Original NES or the Original controllers on the NES 2 they are exactly the same hardware wise just a redesigned casing which is much easier on the hands.

Octane