Oh, I see now. So may a connector such as this function for my use? Also, with an item such as this one would I still need a Pal - NTSC adapter or? In any event, thank you for your help!

You don't want RCA (composite) as output, you want RGB as output... Such a plug is not a converter, it's just a way to get the composite out from the SCART connector.

SCART carries multiple signals, but you really want the RGB. I don't even know if the composite signal is internally connected in the MSX2...

!!!! This just keeps getting better! But seriously, you say that such a adapter will not work, yet what if I utilize a pal-NTSC adapter as well as such a scart - RCA? I would like RGB but it really seems like such a RGB adapter is expensive, and I still do not know if I will need a pal - NTSC adapter for it to run on my NTSC tv, regardless of RCA / RGB adapter used! If you have any ideas please relay them to me, I appreciate all of this. But now it just seems like my little MSX2 (that was purchased for such a great price) is turning out to be not so much of a steal as I once thought, what with all of the outside gear necessary for use. Oh well, thanks for all the help, and please if anyone has any advice on the earlier problems please feel free to let me know, I truly thank you all for all of your help! Thanks.

SCART has two video signals inside: composite, and RGB. For conversion cables, you have to be careful which signal they pick up (e.g. for the Playstation 2 the standard cable you get only passes along the composite signal, so the image quality is suboptimal).

I don’t know much about NTSC TVs, but I do know that on European (PAL) TVs, the composite signal usually doesn’t work (actually on my old widescreen tv it did work, but that was an exception ;p). However, when you connect it through RGB, they usually do not have a problem processing a 60Hz.

So I don’t know if you have a TV that has an RGB input, but I think that is your best bet. S-Video has as far as I know the same issues as composite, so you can’t use that. VGA has an RGB input, but the horizontal frequency is double that of RGB as used by TVs, so you can’t use that either (although I heard sometimes beamers are able to handle it, and maybe LCD-TVs as well).

There is no cheap way to ‘convert’ a PAL signal to NTSC. Those converters are very expensive.

By the way, while testing you should probably make sure to set the MSX to 60Hz mode after booting. Type "VDP(10)=0" and press enter. Maybe that’ll help a bit. To switch back to 50Hz, type "VDP(10)=2" or just reset it.

~Grauw

I see, yes my tv does contain RGB input but the problem, if I were to go the RGB route, is now actually finding a Scart - RGB adapter, I am really not sure where I would get one. All I know is that the system appears to be workable yet due to my output connection and cables, or lack thereof, I am unable to produce anything, not even a grainy, line-filled MSX "Welcome!" screen. Oh well, you know if anyone has an Japan MSX2 or MSX2+ that they just feel like selling then please let me know. I haven't given up hope yet on this one but, ultimately, I just would like a good system...that works for me.

Just to be clear, the proper connection from the scart input on the back of the MSX is a scart - RGB adapter connected to an RGB cable that then plugs into an RGB input on my tv and does not require any other items for display? If possible, a scart - RCA adapter may work, but is not a given? Ah well, all I wanted to do was to play MG 2:Solid Snake, in all of its authentic glory; ironic thing is I already own the game, picked it up today! but alas all I can do now is stare at the title...

Thanks again for your continued support. These boards are excellent, and the community is very welcoming. Thank you.

On a little unrelated note: I was only wondering if anyone knew if Japanese games play 100% on european systems? Only asking because I just heard somewhere else on the site that Metal Gear (Japan) does not play on european type MSX2's? Since I will mainly be using the MSX2 for play of japanese titles then I could have made a serious mistake somewhere back...
Thanks for your info

What kind of NTSC TV do you have that has RGB input? what kind of connector does it use?

Hi there, my tv has standard Red, green, blue input for RGB cables (component) plus the white and Red input for audio. I also have RCA (composite) yellow for video input as well. I don't think my tv is the problem; its in the connection to one of these slots that I am lost, mainly with the scart to RGB or to RCA (coming from a PAL to an NTSC TV). Thanks.

Component is not RGB, it's YPbPr. Cheapest working RGB to component encoder is about 100$, and some people complain that output is a bit fuzzy anyway. Plus you'll most likely need to solder a custom cable.

Quote:

On a little unrelated note: I was only wondering if anyone knew if Japanese games play 100% on european systems?

One of the best features of the MSX standard is total compatibilty.
So no, you can play any Japanese MSX (2) game on any MSX (2).

However, related to what Grauw pointed out, Japanese developers expected a 60 Hz interrupt frequency (like NTSC) rather than 50 Hz (like PAL).
As far as I know, European MSX machines boot in 50 Hz mode; Japanese ones in 60 Hz.

Playing a game which was designed for 60 Hz in 50 Hz mode will result in music & sfx playing too slow.
It should also have effect on the frames / second displayed, and especially on old monitors you'll easily notice the difference.

Luckily, the game you intend to play (Solid Snake) is one of the (later) releases (amongst demos) which automatically set it to 60.


In case you'd want to try other games using a European MSX to play (Japanese) 60 Hz games stored on disk images (including cracked .ROMs),
and which do not adjust the interrupt by themselves you can evade the issue as follows:


* Boot your machine without any disk set. You'll get in BASIC mode

* Insert the disk (image)

* Type:

VDP(10)=0 [ENTER]

POKE &HF346,1 [ENTER]

CALL SYSTEM [ENTER] ---------- (or RUN / include it in the loader (usually .LDR or .BAS) file of the game)


Example given: the very first Metal Gear chapter ever to see the light of day:

Metal Gear, Konami 1987


Regards,

John

aha. It's (insane but) true, the set of red/green/blue connectors on newer NTSC TVs are not actually for red/green/blue video signals. So, aside from getting a real RGB 15KHz monitor, the other option would be an RGB to composite/component converter such as JROK or Neobitz

All this is leading me to pack my suitcase and move to a cold, desolate piece of land in the middle of Europe {albeit with an electrical outlet} and settle down for a while, honestly I never expected that playing this PAL MSX2 on an NTSC tv would be so difficult, or so heavy on the wallet. I am looking at a few japanese systems and these may be just what I need. I really want to play it on this MSX2, as it has 128 ram + a double-disk drive, but I honestly am not willing to spend $100.00 on an extra cable, or cables, or cables within cables (not too practiced with a soldering iron) when I can buy a fully working system for that price, or hopefully cheaper. In any event, thanks for all of your info; I have been enlightened because of it all.

To: DemonSeed
I see now, this is what I thought but in any event I might be purchasing a japanese system so no worries on that front!
NOTE: another unrelated side-question = I was wondering, as it seems like the MSX2 (Japan) is only 64 RAM, is that enough to run the Metal Gear titles (min. is 64) smoothly or will noticeable problems occur, such as slowdown ,etc.? I honestly have no idea, as these are run through cartridges yet are still computers, but you can never be too sure. Thanks for your detailed help on my earlier question!

Snake Pliskin, won't an emulator do the job for ye?
Yeah, I know, it can't beat the *real* thing

to: ro
so you found out the truth behind my name, eh?
Honestly, and you already said it yourself, but that is just the problem. I have always felt that if I really wanted to play a title, when it comes to classic gaming, such as Metal Gear 1 & 2 in this particular case, then I would owe it to myself to experience such a thing in all of its glory, and therefore to run something such as that on an emulator is something I could do, but I will not do because something is lost in the process, for me it is the satisfaction that is also related to my enjoyment of the title. However, it's not like I just jump in and say 'Hey, I fell (sp.)? (asleep) like spending a whole lot of money on this nice item, and that one over there, and you in the corner!". No, when it comes down to something like this, because Metal Gear 2 was not exactly cheap XD, I take it all in carefully. So far everything has been good, but I could not see the problem that I had gotten myself into when I picked up a PAL system. Oh well, no problem, Ill find a way, it may just take a little longer than I originally planned.
Now all I have to do is teach myself how to speak Japanese, I am not missing a word on that intro , and Ill be good to go!