hector031

I've been thinking about getting some Super Famicom games lately when I came across the Super Magic Game Converter for the SNES. It seems to let you play imported games on your SNES. I was wondering if anyone here has used or actually has one. I'd don't really want to have to buy a Super Famicom mainly because I don't have a place to put it. The converter would be great.

Thanks for your help...

PixyJunket

You don't need a converter!!

Get some pliers or a screwdriver and a hammer..

Open the flap of the SNES where you put a game in, you'll see a plastic tab on each side.. if you look at an SNES game you see the cartridge had slots that fit right in. Break those tabs off.

Viola.. you can now play Super Fami games.

hector031

Now I'm all for destroying stuff, but I'm not sure I'm ready to venture into modifiying my SNES

All that was different from a Super Famicom game and a SNES game was the cartridge shape? I didn't realize that. What about the PAL/NTSC issue (or doesn't that apply with the SNES)?

PixyJunket

Yes, that is all that is different. Once you remove those tabs you can play US and Japanese games. PAL is for Euorpean televisions, don't worry about it.

hector031

Thanks, you saved me from buying a converter that I don't need

PixyJunket

I also know how you can play Fami games on your NES.. it involves opening up a Gyromite cartridge.

ben12

Also, if you dunk the SNES in water for 2 hours, it will spit out magical golden eggs.

sararekuforever

It works, when I had a SNES I had one similar to it, even though I knew you could just break the SNES [the guy at the import shop told me] I would rather just use the cartridge..

There is one for Sega Genesis that does the same..they are good and cheap these days.

PixyJunket

That wouldn't have been Planet Anime by any chance?

sararekuforever

Yes, that stores been around for so long. A long time ago though, I was around 11-12 and was trying to get Sailor Moon games and FFV.

warcp

I remember the Sega Genesis could do that. I didn't fix the Genesis since the Japanese cart shapes were much different. I just opened the game cart and inserted the chip directly into the slot.

Michael Corvin

Welcome to 1991....?

Fanboy

I have the Super Magic Game Converter (or whatever my knockoff is called) and, like mentioned above, it really only extends the existing cartridge slot outwards so that SF* games will fit.

Meh, if you can do it without buying the extender, then by all means go for it. This is actually the first I've heard of the little tabs you break off.

I had no probs, however, grinding down the edges of my Genesis cart slot with my friends file (after testing the process on his Genny).

* Super Famicom, not Street Fighter

PixyJunket

..and the games are still better than today!

PixyJunket

Heh, yeah I figured as much since you're from Houston. I remember they showed me how to do it back in 95 or 96 when I got Dragon Ball Z 2 (aiyee.. I'm ashamed!). I'm surprised they didn't charge me to take the tabs out, they were real pricks back then (probably still are).

DLogic

If you feel like destroying part of a console to play a Super Famicom game by all means you can do it. Or you can simply do what I did and destroy the tabs on a Game Genie and play imports that way. I could care less that it takes me longer to start up a game. But it works for me.

sararekuforever

Actually, they're not so bad anymore...last time I went about a month ago [after not going for a long time]

They have a lot more items than before, and they seem to be lowering their prices...and they won an award from the Chronicle or the Press or something

PixyJunket

Well of course they're better now. You can buy anime EVERYWHERE even the flippin' grocery store. I'm sure they realized they no longer offer a premium service and had to clean up their act to keep people in the store. When I lived in Houston (up until 98 or so) they were total ass rockets. But we went anyway because there was nowhere else to go (until Panarama open, if you remember them).

khai

Is this really destroying the console though? It's just extra pieces of plastic hehe.

I mean.. even I did it myself back then and I was just some kid in middle school.

PixyJunket

No.

sararekuforever

I do.

There was also "Japan Toys" in the Galleria, and "Animagic" in first colony mall.

Both good stores.

Outlaw

Yeah you just pull out the tabs (more like break them off). Its really easy and probably the safest mod out there, you don't even have to open the system, and you'll have a hassle free system that plays both US and Japanese games. If you need more detailed info ask away.

I remember doing it for FFV back in the day. Ahhh memories .

You could also use this trick for the N64 to play japanese games to play games like Sin & Punishment.

slop101

Is there a way you can keep the cartridge in the SNES from moving while it's inserted?

For example, I'll be in the middle of a game, and then all of a sudden, the game freezes and dies because the cartridge moved in it's slot - it's doesn't even take a major jolt, either. It only has to move about half a milimeter to do this. Even if you just blow on it, or even look at it funny it'll disconnect. It'll sometimes disconnect without any movement at all.

Is there a way to fix this?

PixyJunket

Oi? I've never heard of this and I've been SNES gaming since 1991.. The circuit board would keep the game in place as far as I know.. might need a new machine if it's doing that. I have probably the most beat-up looking SNES you'll ever see (doing some internal experiments) and I've been playing marathon sessions of Tales of Phantasia, while my girlfriend has been playing marathon sessions of Earthworm Jim 2 without any problems.

slop101

Yeah, I've had an SNES since it came out also. At first I had one of the older machines and had no problems. I (regrettably) sold it in '96 and in '98 I bought the smaller, newer version and it's not at all beat and is in brand-spanking condition, but the cartridge slot just does not hold on to the cartridge very well - it's sort of loose, and if I stick the game in all the way it does not work - I have to insert the game about half way in for it to work - but that's what makes it a loose fit.