Optimised/Unoptimised games PAL

[clockwise]

So, first off take in mind that I'm completely new to the Saturn genre of games in general. I've only been on this site for a day or two and I try to read up on as much as possible, but while doing so I might confuse things or forget things I read since I read so much at once, so please...have patience.

Anyway, I look to buy a PAL console, mainly because it's a lot easier and cheaper for me to do so as I reside in Sweden. I plan on modding it with an 50/60hz switch and make it region free. However, I would still like to get my games as PAL where applicable. So if a game is optimised for PAL then I will most likely aim to buy the PAL version. So what I'm wondering is what exactly happens when a game is released PAL but is NOT optimised? It sounds really weird to me to release a game that is not at all in sync, which is one side effect of an unoptimised game as I understand it. I have read the FAQ, but I would like to hear your opinions and knowledge on the matter.

If I aim to go PAL but the game in PAL is not optimised, should I definitely go for the NTSC version of the game instead?

Are there any games where the optimisation does not matter at all? 

I intend to look at the games listing on this site and pick out the games in PAL that I want which are optimised, and the ones that I want that are not optimised I will simply get in NTSC or JAP, thoughts on this?

To clarify: I aim to go for a PAL collection, but if a game is not optimised I'd rather have an NTSC version of that game unless the unoptimisation does not affect the game noticeably. The reason for PAL collection is simply because it will be cheaper and easier for me to obtain that release. 

Grateful for replies or links to other documentations/threads, and thanks for an awesome forum thus far

// ClockWise

[buckoa51]

If you want the best version you should basically (with a few exceptions) go for NTSC versions all the time if possible. PAL optimised doesn't mean "as good as the NTSC version", it just means "not as bad as it could have been"

[clockwise]

Ah, okay. Unfortunately it significantly lowers my ability to obtain games locally, but I hear you. But how much do they really differ? I mean, the games must be enjoyable and playable on PAL if they are optimised. Will I be like "this game sucks, I should've gotten the NTSC version) or will I simply not even notice it unless I compare it to the NTSC version


Edit: Turns out that out of the 20 games that exists in PAL that I want, only 8 are optimised, so might just go for all NTSC anyway. I still want to know your take on the questions above

[buckoa51]

It really varies per game. Optimisations can be anything from simply pitching up the music so that it doesn't sound terrible to completely re-coding parts of the game to take up more of the PAL viewing area, fix speed differences etc. There's even a small number of games that run smoother due to the slightly lower framerate.

You can collect PAL and simply modchip your way into the NTSC catalogue, nobody will judge you, it's 2015 now

[clockwise]

Haha great, well I guess I'll do research on each PAL game before I buy it and will get NTSC for the games that are not optimised. I plan on making my PAL console region free with 50/60hz switch anyway Thanks for your input, you completely answered my questions, thanks again!

[clockwise]

Oh, actually I have another question: Games that are NOT optimised for PAL, are they just like the NTSC version with the difference that they run on PAL devices instead of NTSC? In other words, would a switch modded and region modded PAL Saturn set on 60hz run an unoptimized PAL game just as if it was an NTSC release?

[buckoa51]

Usually yes.

Also I should say I'm the picky kind of person who hates to play anything but the very best version of a game, other people on here are less bothered about the differences between PAL and NTSC, depends how fussy you are.

[clockwise]

Okay, sweet. Thanks!

[clockwise]

So I decided that I will go for the PAL versions of all the games that are NOT optimised for PAL. That way I will be very close to the NTSC version, and since I will mod my Saturn to run in 60hz I should be fine. And the optimised PAL I will go for NTSC instead. Sounds reasonable? (since I don't want to go for all NTSC)

[slicer1000]

If the PAL game is unoptimised then you can force it into 60hz with out a problem and it will play the same as the NTSC version. Been a Saturn player since the begining and these days I avoid the optimised PAL games. As while they where improved they still generally run slower than the NTSC version, most PAL optimised won't work correctly in 60hz either.

Did a Saturn PAL hz list some years back keep meaning to update it, will do at some point as I plan on adding videos for all the games now, to show how they look at 50 & 60hz.
www.segasaturnarchive.net63.net/titles.html

[NeoGeoNinja]

Mar 11, 2015 14:44:37 GMT slicer1000 said:

Did a Saturn PAL hz list some years back keep meaning to update it, will do at some point as I plan on adding videos for all the games now, to show how they look at 50 & 60hz.
www.segasaturnarchive.net63.net/titles.html

Pretty amazing.

Will bookmark this.

[clockwise]

Mar 11, 2015 14:44:37 GMT slicer1000 said:

If the PAL game is unoptimised then you can force it into 60hz with out a problem and it will play the same as the NTSC version. Been a Saturn player since the begining and these days I avoid the optimised PAL games. As while they where improved they still generally run slower than the NTSC version, most PAL optimised won't work correctly in 60hz either.

Did a Saturn PAL hz list some years back keep meaning to update it, will do at some point as I plan on adding videos for all the games now, to show how they look at 50 & 60hz.
www.segasaturnarchive.net63.net/titles.html

That's exactly the kind of list I was aiming for here. And as you do, I try to stay away from the optimised titles among the PAL. But the cases are so damn sexy!

Thanks for the list, will bookmark for sure. I love you.

Edit #1: I have House of the Dead PAL, which also is optimised PAL, and I've experienced some slow downs. Not sure if it was my lightgun, but at certain points I had trouble reloading and shooting. Not sure if this is an issue with it being optimised or if it might be better in 60hz. Will try when I get my console back...

Edit #2: There are "?" on some of the titles, in the 50hz column. Is this information if it's normal or if it's a pal optimised? You've already seen this probably, but can't hurt to link www.segasaturn.co.uk/games/sega_saturn_pal.html. There is a complete list of which games are optimised and not. If that is what the 50hz column is for, i.e. 

[MIK]

At a glance there is one exception...

Daytona USA (1995). Those that actually bothered to play the PAL version once in 60hz would of seen the end sequence from getting 1st place, (being the one that shows the devs picture ect). That end sequence ends before the CD music does when run in 60hz. The music gets cut off before it's had a chance to finish with the game retuning back to the main menu as soon as the sequence finishes...

So yeah while it does everything you expect when run in 60hz as in bigger picture and speed up, it's been tweaked to suit 50hz machines. The power of CD music tells no lies and can't be tampered with unlike the code lol.

[slicer1000]

Mar 12, 2015 20:32:36 GMT clockwise said:

Edit #1: I have House of the Dead PAL, which also is optimised PAL, and I've experienced some slow downs. Not sure if it was my lightgun, but at certain points I had trouble reloading and shooting. Not sure if this is an issue with it being optimised or if it might be better in 60hz. Will try when I get my console back...

Edit #2: There are "?" on some of the titles, in the 50hz column. Is this information if it's normal or if it's a pal optimised? You've already seen this probably, but can't hurt to link www.segasaturn.co.uk/games/sega_saturn_pal.html. There is a complete list of which games are optimised and not. If that is what the 50hz column is for, i.e. 

Sounds like you just need to turn up the brightness on your TV for HOTD, it runs fine for me at 50hz never had any gun issues. Just a shame it's such a bad port of the arcade game.

I believe that list you link to is based off my one, I created my list back in 2001, currently it is very out of date. Just a quick look at my list and I know I need to update it with at least 29 games that I have now played, there is a few PAL optimised not included on both at the moment, I need to recheck the whole thing as well. Atlantis: The Lost Tales is PAL optimised as the movies don't display correctly at 60hz.

[clockwise]

Ah okay, that might be it. Should try the brightness thingy when I get the time And awesome, thanks for the list!