Q&A- NTSC / PAL / MPAL

QA1 How do I develop games for PAL?
QA2 The PAL version of nosPakMenu doesn't run well...
QA3 What's the difference between MPAL and PAL?
QA4 How do I develop MPAL applications?
QA5 How do I determine on the software side whether the Control Deck is the Japan version or the North America version?
QA6 Reconfiguration of Emulator Board for PAL. (199909)
QA7 How to obtain the library for changing domestic specifications to overseas specifications. (199912)


Q1 How do I develop games for PAL?

A1 Refer to PAL Development Methods.

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Q2 The PAL version of noPakMenu doesn't run well...

A2 There is a place in this sample where the video mode is switched to NTSC mode by osViSetMode. Try it again after correcting this.

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Q3 What is the difference between the PAL version and M_PAL version?

A3 PAL is the television reception format for Europe, Australia, and some of Southeast Asia, and has 625 scan lines and a 50Hz scanning frequency. NTSC scans 525 lines at 60Hz. M-PAL is the television reception format for Brazil, and is the PAL format with 525 scan lines scanned at 60Hz. The differences between PAL and NTSC are differences in the way color data are placed in the signal, making them incompatible.

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Q4 How do I develop MPAL applications?

A4 See MPAL Development Methods.

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Q5 Is there a method for identifying from the software whether the N64 Control Deck which is currently operating is a Japan version or a North American version?

A5 There is no way of telling from the software whether the Control Deck is a Japanese or North American version. The only difference between the two is the shape of the Game Pak housing.

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Q6 I switched the crystal resonator and resistor on the emulator board as shown in the "N64 All Manuals", but the program that (I thought) I had made PAL compatible displayed in black and white on the screen when I ran it. What do you suppose could be the cause? Naturally, the osTvType was set to OS_TV_PAL and the VI was set to FPAL using the osViSetMode function.

A6 It sounds as if you are using a multi-format television. There are individual differences in the output of the emulator boards and it is possible that the PAL color signals are not getting output properly.

If you have INDY, then set the video settings panel to "PAL" and check it using the INDY video input. If it operates properly this way, then there will be no problems with a PAL unit.

Apparently, this board was originally configured for NTSC, and when reconfigured for PAL there can be compatibility problems with multi-format televisions. If you are having problems with your board or you have any questions, please contact us at, "support@noa.com".

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Q7 I am localizing software for use abroad that was developed in Japan. Where can I get the libraries for that? I had an e-mail from a US manufacturer that said I could get the libraries from Kyoto.

A7 The N64OS libraries (libultra.a, libgultra.a, libultra_rom.a) are the same all over the world, so there are no localized libraries. (However, when using the libraries in the Controller Pak menu in demos/nospak, you will need to change the nospak_jpn.a to nospak.a.)

The overseas edition of the development kit (the CD set containing the libraries and manuals, the overseas edition ROM submission procedure, etc.), as mentioned in other questions, can be obtained through licensees who have contracts with the local Nintendo subsidiary.

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