NTSC and PAL?

Question

What exactly is NTSC and PAL and why is it so important to consider whether to buy a NTSC or PAL formatted DVD game for the Wii?

Answer 1

Although VHS video format is the same throughout the World, the video standard or electronic signal that is recorded on the cassette varies from country to country. The two most common video standards used are NTSC and PAL.



NTSC is the video system or standard used in North America and most of South America. In NTSC, 30 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 525 individual scan lines.



PAL is the predominant video system or standard mostly used overseas. In PAL, 25 frames are transmitted each second. Each frame is made up of 625 individual scan lines.





To determine your video standard refer to the chart below: PAL

Afghanistan

Algeria

Argentina (N)

Austria

Australia

Bangladesh

Belgium

Brazil (M)

China

Denmark

Finland

Germany

Hong Kong

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Jordan

Kenya

Kuwait

Liberia

Malaysia

Netherlands

Nigeria

Norway

New Guinea

Pakistan

Singapore

South Africa

South W. Africa

Sudan

Sweden

Switzerland

Thailand

Turkey

Uganda

United Kingdom

United Arab Emirates

Yugoslavia

Zambia



NTSC

Canada

Chile

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Japan

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Puerto Rico

South Korea

Taiwan

U.S.A.

Answer 2

NTSC and PAL wii's are from different regions of the world, they are not compatible with each other.



So for example you will not be able to play a PAL wii game on an NTSC wii console.

This is the same on Playstation consoles and Xbox consoles.

Although the psp and DS/GBA are region free and will play games from most regions.

Answer 3

NTSC is the analog television system in use in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and some other countries (see map). It is named for the National Television System Committee, the U.S. standardization body that adopted it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTSC



PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is a colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in large parts of the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL