NTSC Gamecube Region Mod

Myrddin

The US & Japanese versions of the Gamecube are region moddable [is moddable a word??] Because both are NTSC, it's possible to fit a switch that allows the console be be either a US model or a Japanese model. The PAL model is entirely different, & that requires the use of a modchip to be freed of its regional shackles.

A US Gamecube



It's like breaking into Fort Knox to disassemble the Gamecube



The solder pads we need to access are under the heat sink



Heat sink removed, time to locate the solder pads we need to attach the switch to.



They are damned small, we need to attach wires to the R5 jumpers. Connecting them sets the console to Japanese, disconnecting them returns it to US.



There's a recess in the housing which should accommodate the body of the switch I'm using.



Luckily, the recess lines up with the grills for easy switch mounting.





Wires attached to jumper pads



Time to test, the switch in the down position is US, & in the up position is JP





Both regions work with their according discs, so nothing else to do but reassemble & 'continue testing'

retoro

Nice tut, any tips for soldering to such small points?

KeRbDoG

This mod paid for my college rag week back in 2001 Some lad up on Talbot Street in Dublin imported a load of them from Japan and balls'd up a the mod on one of them so I got I think 6~8 of them to do. Good times!

He somehow broke the lid closed switch, luckily there are two switches in one so I just jumper'd the broken one.

Myrddin

retoro wrote: »

Nice tut, any tips for soldering to such small points?

Plenty of practice on old/broken electronics