Playstation PAL NTSC Conversion Guide

[aerisdead]

RE: Global Defense Force, -48 is totally fine, nothing is cut off at top or bottom at all!

As for Runabout, I find -48 is the best for it too. This cuts off some of the bottom, but all you lose is total time + score. You can still see your speed and most importantly the top of the screen you can see your time remaining and the map fully.

SO, as for BCV:

This is complex to explain so I'm not actually going to do a full tutorial, but I *DID* manage to get it to work properly! It requires a LOT of faffing about though and a spare memory card.

Basically, what you have to do is find a way to install "FreeMcBoot" on the memory card (as I have a chipped PS2, I copied the files of Free McBoot to a USB, then burned a uLaunchELF ISO which would allow me to access the install files on the USB from the PS2, ran the disc, found the usb, ran the FreeMcBoot ELF). There is a "noobie pack" which has all the FreeMcBoot stuff you need if you google.

With FreeMcBoot your PS2 will launch into a new browser direct from the memory card(!) I have no idea how it does it, but it works. You now (or you can do this at the same time) need to install a thing called "Graphics Synthesiser Mode Selector" (usually just called GS Mode I think) on the memory card too. This is a thing you run which allows you to select any video mode for games!

To run BCV now*, what I do is make sure the FreeMcBoot memory card is in, then put my original BCV disc in the machine (tray open). the machine boots into FreeMcBoot, I launch uLaunchELF from that, then launch GS Mode from that, select NTSC and my y+x fix requirements, close the disc and exit GS Mode into the browser.

The game loads and is fixed to my needs!

*I actually have it set up with some configuration files (also found on the web) which means I just put BCV in the drive, and when I turn the PS2 on I hold L1 and it boots right into GS Mode selector. I *still* need to select NTSC and y+x fixes every time, but it's a lot faster.

Using this method you can run ANY PAL PS2 games on an NTSC machine from the original discs with a bit of fiddling each time you run it, but it's a one-stop solution.

Final note:

I think GS Mode selector actually naurally y-fixes for PAL on NTSC, so I don't have to set it. However for whatever reason I am required to x-fix BCV and Snowboard Racers 2 to -48 to center it on screen. Weird I know.

Oh and if you don't already have a chipped PS2, you need to use some other method to get FreeMcBoot on your memory card, but it's possible with a variety of methods, really whatever you use to boot your PAL games as it is.

[theclaw]

Yeah a multi-format TV is essential for certain segments of PS2 users.
Makes life easier for them, not worrying as much about video fixes.

[CRTGAMER]

Global Defense Force -48 is totally fine, nothing is cut off at top or bottom at all!

As for Runabout, I find -48 is the best for it too. This cuts off some of the bottom, but all you lose is total time + score. You can still see your speed and most importantly the top of the screen you can see your time remaining and the map fully.

SO, as for BCV: What I do is make sure the FreeMcBoot memory card is in, then put my original BCV disc in the machine (tray open). the machine boots into FreeMcBoot, I launch uLaunchELF from that, then launch GS Mode from that, select NTSC and my y+x fix requirements, close the disc and exit GS Mode into the browser.

The game loads and is fixed to my needs! Using this method you can run ANY PAL PS2 games on an NTSC machine from the original discs with a bit of fiddling each time you run it, but it's a one-stop solution.

Thanks for the update, I left the 48 Y Fixes you posted earlier in the OP.

For Battle Construction Vehicles, I use PS2 Swap Magic along with a Flip Top, which gives similar results as GS Mode program, although it has no adjustment for the Y Fix. The GS Mode looks better and also has an option to run HDLoader which can run an installed BSV game. I'm not sure if the PAL game will be converted to NTSC since HDLoader is run after GS Mode prompts are set. Can you give this a try and see if BCV runs NTSC after installed to the Hard Drive?

If it works, this would give BCV hard drive convenience, but after loading all the programs to get to the game with the NTSC conversion. I would still like to find a way to convert BCV to avoid the extra loads, I'll post if I find a way to crack that compressed Elf file.

@ Claw - A good idea on the duel mode PAL/NTSC TV option, but it would mean another screen taking up shelf space for just a few additional games. For me not feasible since I am happy with my NTSC only WEGA HD CRT.

[aerisdead]

I don't have a hard drive, so I can't test that. I'm using a slim. I could try and run it off a USB stick but honestly the USB is only 1.1 so I don't trust it would run well, seems like a waste of time.

[CRTGAMER]

I don't have a hard drive, so I can't test that. I'm using a slim. I could try and run it off a USB stick but honestly the USB is only 1.1 so I don't trust it would run well, seems like a waste of time.

Even an external 2.0 USB hard drive would be slower then internal on a Fat PS2. Something to look at if you have a lot of PS2 games, the hard drive has so much faster loads and also menu driven convenient.

Can you try the install of BCV on the USB Memory Stick and try out GS Mode? A curiosity if the PAL to NTSC conversion does work for installed games, notably this compressed Elf.

[CRTGAMER]

I updated the OP with a first time use of a different PS2 PAL to NTSC conversion tool.

PS2 PAL to NTSC Lemmings ADR Patcher no Y Fix
I had difficulties getting this game converted to NTSC with the Y Fix program. ADR Patcher worked but does not compensate for screen position. Fortunately the game itself allows for manually adjusting the screen position.

This game has a long history dating back to earlier PCs and the Amiga computer. I really wanted to play this game again thru the PS2 on the big screen. It even has EyeToy levels if one wants to try a different approach. The game works best with a Mouse, weird that there is no USB Mouse option. No problem, a SmartJog Frag allows use of a Mouse or Trakball! I love playing all the Levels again, not huddled to a computer screen, but now on a HD CRT!


PS2 PAL to NTSC Silent Hill 2 - 56 Y Position
I confirmed that there is no 60hz mode available from the settings screen of the game. An easy Y Fix conversion which has already been posted by another member. I saw no need to convert mine since I already have the US Greatest Hits version which is identical to the PAL release with the extra levels.


PS2 PAL to NTSC Silent Hill Making Of DVD - DVD Decryptor
At first I extracted the files with DVD Decryptor to the hard drive, I then used Media Coder to convert the PAL VOB files to NTSC MPEG files. The MPEGs all played fine thru Windows Media Player, but how to get the Disc menu to work properly again? There are also multiple chapters that would have to be set correctly again.

My plan was to burn a new DVD with PVR Plus along with the original IFO and BUP files to get a proper Menu and Track matched disc. This really proved to be a nightmare to work so I went a more direct route figuring the PAL video would stay as such.

I again used out DVD Decryptor, this time just creating an ISO. I knew it would get rid of the Region Code, but not convert the PAL to NTSC video itself. I then burned a copy from the Decrpyted ISO and surprised that it worked! A full dedicated PAL conversion, the screen displays properly in NTSC! It is strange the original disc is Region encoded 2 even though the video on the disc supports both PAL and NTSC formats.

The PAL Silent Hill is worth getting just to get this bonus Making Of DVD. It has an Art Gallery, Biographies of the key people involved, a really great insider video of the Japanese developers talking about the game. It is British narrated which confirms the footage was made for the PAL package, the Japan developers in the documentary speak in their native Japanese with English subtitles.

There are also Trailors and Game Show footage of various games by Konami. One of the Konami trailors is the Microsoft game PS2 Age Of Empires 2 which does not have a US release. Maybe a trade for Microsoft obtaining Konami's Metal Gear Solid on the PC? Also a couple of hidden boxes in the Menu, which include a French Spoof of Silent Hill Blair Witch style and Castlevania Chronicles Director's Interview.

The Silent Hill DVD disc includes a sub folder called DVD@ccess. The program is by Apple and allows an "iTunes" style of search to web links for DVD Movies. Looks like an interesting tool but did not bother with this. I hate the slow down affect experienced before on iTunes when it searches online for Album Covers.

[dc_coder_84]

Hi,

I want to play Final Fantasy X International (NTSC/J) on my PAL PS2 and I am using Swap Magic. It works well except for one thing. The screen is shifted up 48 pixels. So I tried to use ps2_ntsc2pal_yfix but without success. The conversion to PAL is working because I have big black borders on top and bottom of the screen. But the Y fix is not working. This is bad because I don't need PAL conversion only the Y fix. I also tried ps2_pal2ntsc_yfix and then the Y fix is working but in the wrong direction of course.

I found a modified version of ps2_pal2ntsc_yfix on the web which is doing only a Y fix and no conversion. Maybe sombody is interested in this: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/732415. This modified version is not suitable for me because the Y fix is again in the wrong direction (it shifts the screen up).

Maybe I should try the Graphic Synthesizer Mode Selector now or has somebody a good idea of what to do?

Thanks,
dc_coder_84

[dc_coder_84]

Okay, I tested now the GS Selector Mode. The picture is almost perfect now only some little borders at the top and the bottom. I have also taken a screenshot of it.

P1040558.JPG (110.7 KiB) Viewed 3622 times

Are these small borders unavoidable? Or can they be fixed too?

Thanks,
dc_coder_84

[CRTGAMER]

I found a modified version of ps2_pal2ntsc_yfix on the web which is doing only a Y fix and no conversion. Maybe sombody is interested in this:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/732415

This modified version is not suitable for me because the Y fix is again in the wrong direction (it shifts the screen up).

I want to play Final Fantasy X International (NTSC/J) on my PAL PS2.

Maybe I should try the Graphic Synthesizer Mode Selector now or has somebody a good idea of what to do? I tested now the GS Selector Mode. The picture is almost perfect now only some little borders at the top and the bottom.

Are these small borders unavoidable? Or can they be fixed too?

Thanks for the link to the non conversion Y Fix program.

PAL - 625 line resolution, and a refresh rate of 50 Hz
NTSC - 525 line resolution and refresh rate of 60Hz

NTSC is shorter image compared to the the PAL screen, I think you are stuck with those borders. I can't remember, does the game itself have a "stretch setting" in its own setup menu? Very nice job on the NTSC to PAL conversion going the Graphic Syntesizer route. Can you post what GSM setting is used to get the picture centered with just tiny borders? I'll post the information back in the OP.

[dc_coder_84]

I can't remember, does the game itself have a "stretch setting" in its own setup menu?

I don't think so.

Can you post what GSM setting is used to get the picture centered with just tiny borders?

Here is my config:

PS2: PAL
Final Fantasy X International: NTSC/J
GSM: Video Mode: NTSC, X-Axis: -36, Y-Axis: +12, Exit type: PS2 browser
Swap Magic: Video Mode: normal, Boot type: normal
TV: supports 60 Hz