LoginFYI: What is this PAL? (and other questions....)
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Prelude
16 years, 2 months ago at Mar 11 14:54 - It's been asked a few times in other threads, so I decided to make a FYI thread to explain what PAL, EU and UK mean in certain game titles.
What is PAL?: This is most common question, and to keep it as simple as possible, in North American and Japan, analog TV signals are broadcast in NTSC format (30fps). In Europe and Australia, their are broadcast in PAL format (25fps). The two signals are NOT compatible with each other. So any game for TV-based consoles are either sold in NTSC or PAL format (look at any console game box and you will see it clearly labelled as such).
But why is there two formats, NTSC & PAL?: Actually there's also SECAM format (used in Russia and few other places) and several different versions of PAL and NTSC, but for gaming, there mainly is just two, NTSC & PAL. For detailed explanation, see wikipedia, but to sum it up, it has to do with the different electrical grid that North America and Europe use, and the fps (frames per second) had to be different to give flicker-free vieweing (60Hz in America is ideal for 30fps viewing, and 50Hz in Europe is ideal for 25fps viewing). In future (next 10 to 15 years), all analog signals will cease to be broadcast and all new TV will be only digital, so there should be just be no more NTSC/PAL versions to worry about, only different digital resolutions.
What about EU,UK,DE,FR,JP and other such words in titles?: PAL is only correct when referring to console games that hook up to TVs. For PC games and handheld games, there typically is North American version of the game (linked to amazon.com) and European/UK versions (linked to amazon.co.uk). To help sort out what is a genuine different version or just a duplicate entry, some of us have began renaming titles and adding PAL, EU or UK to game titles.
Why make them separate on Listal?: According to Tom, Listal will be re-designed to better handle and organize different versions of games, like NTSC/PAL or European titles. Until that time comes, its quite a mess to know which item is the one in your collection if you get 10 results with identical names when searching Listal's database. So by seeing PAL, EU, UK, JP Import, or even 'Gold Edition', 'Game of the Year Edition' or 'Collector's Edition', you can properly catalog and rate correct item. Hopefully, ALL versions of games will be linked to one entry per game in near future, and inside that entry, there will be a way to see and check off any version of game you own or want.
Anything Else I should know?: why yes, thanks for asking. ;)
There is also editions such as 'Sierra re-issue' or 'SoldOut re-issue' or 'Ubisoft re-issue', or for consoles, 'Platinum', 'Greatest Hits', 'Player's Choice', 'Xbox Classics' --- these are usual re-prints of the original games. For rating and recommendation purposes, as well as posting reviews, its probably best to stick to main game titles, original or even PAL or EU version. But just so everyone knows, just because its a re-issue of a game doesnt automatically make it a duplicate - some 'platinum' re-issues of PS2 games have extra content and levels added, and some of the PC game re-issues has new features like XP compatibility, or now come on DVD rather than 6 CDs, or have new content or bundles added to them, and of course have different box covers.
Duplicates... what gives?: Despite ALL the different versions, there is still tons of true duplicates out in Listal's database. Because it relies on amazon.com's shoddy database, any duplicate game entry in amazon might make its way to Listal. Also, several times people have added their own custom entry without checking if someone else already made an entry (or if amazon.com already had a true entry) for the title in question. If I come across any like this (and I have many times already), I typically add words (duplicate) in title and try to add HTTP link to correct entry in item description. So dont panic if you see some items in your list now labelled as duplicates. Simply remove them and re-add correct item - that's your best bet. Besides, chances are the correct item has lots more rating, reviews, images, and even videos than the duplicate item you have in your collection, so its in your best interest to tag and rate the most popular item.
What is PAL?: This is most common question, and to keep it as simple as possible, in North American and Japan, analog TV signals are broadcast in NTSC format (30fps). In Europe and Australia, their are broadcast in PAL format (25fps). The two signals are NOT compatible with each other. So any game for TV-based consoles are either sold in NTSC or PAL format (look at any console game box and you will see it clearly labelled as such).
But why is there two formats, NTSC & PAL?: Actually there's also SECAM format (used in Russia and few other places) and several different versions of PAL and NTSC, but for gaming, there mainly is just two, NTSC & PAL. For detailed explanation, see wikipedia, but to sum it up, it has to do with the different electrical grid that North America and Europe use, and the fps (frames per second) had to be different to give flicker-free vieweing (60Hz in America is ideal for 30fps viewing, and 50Hz in Europe is ideal for 25fps viewing). In future (next 10 to 15 years), all analog signals will cease to be broadcast and all new TV will be only digital, so there should be just be no more NTSC/PAL versions to worry about, only different digital resolutions.
What about EU,UK,DE,FR,JP and other such words in titles?: PAL is only correct when referring to console games that hook up to TVs. For PC games and handheld games, there typically is North American version of the game (linked to amazon.com) and European/UK versions (linked to amazon.co.uk). To help sort out what is a genuine different version or just a duplicate entry, some of us have began renaming titles and adding PAL, EU or UK to game titles.
Why make them separate on Listal?: According to Tom, Listal will be re-designed to better handle and organize different versions of games, like NTSC/PAL or European titles. Until that time comes, its quite a mess to know which item is the one in your collection if you get 10 results with identical names when searching Listal's database. So by seeing PAL, EU, UK, JP Import, or even 'Gold Edition', 'Game of the Year Edition' or 'Collector's Edition', you can properly catalog and rate correct item. Hopefully, ALL versions of games will be linked to one entry per game in near future, and inside that entry, there will be a way to see and check off any version of game you own or want.
Anything Else I should know?: why yes, thanks for asking. ;)
There is also editions such as 'Sierra re-issue' or 'SoldOut re-issue' or 'Ubisoft re-issue', or for consoles, 'Platinum', 'Greatest Hits', 'Player's Choice', 'Xbox Classics' --- these are usual re-prints of the original games. For rating and recommendation purposes, as well as posting reviews, its probably best to stick to main game titles, original or even PAL or EU version. But just so everyone knows, just because its a re-issue of a game doesnt automatically make it a duplicate - some 'platinum' re-issues of PS2 games have extra content and levels added, and some of the PC game re-issues has new features like XP compatibility, or now come on DVD rather than 6 CDs, or have new content or bundles added to them, and of course have different box covers.
Duplicates... what gives?: Despite ALL the different versions, there is still tons of true duplicates out in Listal's database. Because it relies on amazon.com's shoddy database, any duplicate game entry in amazon might make its way to Listal. Also, several times people have added their own custom entry without checking if someone else already made an entry (or if amazon.com already had a true entry) for the title in question. If I come across any like this (and I have many times already), I typically add words (duplicate) in title and try to add HTTP link to correct entry in item description. So dont panic if you see some items in your list now labelled as duplicates. Simply remove them and re-add correct item - that's your best bet. Besides, chances are the correct item has lots more rating, reviews, images, and even videos than the duplicate item you have in your collection, so its in your best interest to tag and rate the most popular item.