Many of us have old video games and consoles tucked away from the glory days of the '80s and '90s and — as with vinyl records — the reproduction, restoration and playing of those games is only growing in popularity. But getting the best out of old games and consoles on modern TVs and equipment can be a challenge, and to make matters worse the specific design of Australian and European machines can put them out of step with retro solutions formulated for the US and Japanese markets.
An argument could be made that, in order to preserve the original artistic intention, old games should be played on an era-appropriate CRT TV with original cables or similar, but I suspect most people would prefer to do away with the fiddly tuning and smudgy picture of RF switches. There's a balance you'll need to strike between the issues of ancient TVs (tiny screens, aged wiring, deadly weight) and the compromises of modern ones (over-sharpening, inaccuracies, input delay). A relatively recent CRT TV is often a good compromise, but unless you have a room to spare you'll probably be looking to hook your console to your loungeroom's flat panel.
It’s possible to get a good image from a Nintendo 64 to a HD TV, but not if the 64 happens to be from Australia.Credit:Tim Biggs
Every old console has its own unique quirks and a different set of issues if you're looking for ideal image quality, with some natively outputting a clear RGB signal that modern equipment will love, and others stuck with a less-than-ideal picture unless you invest in pricey hardware modifications.
Yet even in the best case scenarios — such as the Sega Mega Drive which natively outputs relatively good resolution RGB video — Australian hardware has the added complication of having been designed for the old PAL TV standard, which is no longer used. Essentially the image is a different shape and runs at a different speed than modern TVs generally expect, which can make for some ugly artefacts.
And PAL gear was often deficient in other ways too. I've recently been testing the EON Super 64, a simple and ingenious device that allows a Nintendo 64 to output 480p directly into a TV or upscaler. The 64 is one of the most difficult game consoles to use in a modern context, so even though this adapter is expensive at $217, it's the only way I know to get a sharp, good-looking image from a 64 onto a HD TV without internal modifications. Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, it doesn't work on Australian consoles. The video output works differently enough that anything beyond standard (horrible-looking) composite video needs to be specifically wired for PAL.
So if you've got old games or consoles lying around and would like to get them working on your modern TV, where should you start? If we're talking Mega Drive or Super Nintendo there are plenty of clone systems that make things convenient even if they remove the charm of original hardware. The best of the best are the Mega Sg and Super Nt, both from US-based Analogue.
If you're tinkering on the cheap and would prefer to connect your existing consoles to the TV you have, one of the most universal pieces of equipment you'll need (besides isopropyl alcohol and cotton swaps for getting grime off those old cartridge contacts) is a SCART transcoder or adapter. SCART plugs were common in Europe and you don't see them on the back of many Aussie TVs, but they're capable of carrying a diversity of different signals. If you can find a way to get your TV accepting SCART you're only a $10 cable away from having anything from a Sega Master System to a Nintendo GameCube displaying nicely.
You can get SCART transcoders that plug into your TV by component cables or HDMI. As with cables the prices start low and go very high, but expect to pay at least $30–$100 for a reliable transcoder or adapter.
There are even clever people on the internet that will wire up and sell you a SCART cable for your Australian Nintendo 64. Unfortunately, with limited s-video support and no chance of supporting an RGB output, not even the best quality cables will get PAL Mario 64 looking nice on your high definition TV.
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