To Mod or not to Mod

[Lendorien]

Here's a question for the Forum-goers here. 

How much or a purist are you? Assuming you collect vintage consoles, what do you think of modding? Are you a purist who prefers to play your games with an RF connection on a CRT to preserve the experience, or do you like the idea of playing those vintage systems with crisp lines on a modern flat panel tv.

If you do mod, do you have a unmodded backup of the game console for collection purposes?

[bombatomba]

If I find it beneficial or necessary I will mod the console, but I certainly can't be considered a purist.  I'm also a bit of an abberation here at RFG.  For example, unless I don't have to I will not play games on a CRT (even my MAME cabinet has an LCD).  My enjoyment of classic games (or games in general) does not rely on replicating it from my memory.

However, I also do not subscribe to the filtering and graphics effects (such as Eagle) found on emulators.  That is just taking it too far, in my opinion.

[Hungrymoose]

...(even my MAME cabinet has an LCD). 

Mine too!  I think they look so much nicer on the LCD.  Do you use a WS aspect LCD in there or a 4:3 ratio?  I have a 4:3 at the moment but it seems they are becoming harder to find so at some point I may be forced to go with a WS once.  I'm curious how they work/scale with some of the older games in the MAME cab.

[ApolloBoy]

Almost every system I have is modded in some way or another, and I also do mods on the side for others. The mods I do though improve functionality, like adding composite video to an NES top loader or adding region switches on a Genesis. I've never been good with art so I don't really do cosmetic mods however.

For example, unless I don't have to I will not play games on a CRT

Shame, you're really missing out. Personally I find that an LCD is no match for a good CRT, most older systems look like crap on LCD TVs and you also have input lag to contend with. No light guns either.

[FireStar]

Modding not only gives older consoles better video output, etc.,, but also more fun in certain cases. (Over/Underclocking and Prosounding gameboys comes to mind for mainf chiptunes) The one thing that I'm paranoid about modding, especially with gameboys, is that eventually so many will be modded that it will be hard to find a "original condition" console. This is only due to the fact I've seen about a bazillion Custom painted and Prosounded gameboys posted on chiptune sites.

On that note, how do you guys feel about case mod/replacements? I had to do this with my original DS since it's hinge broke, but my dad back in the late 90's my dad ordered a translucent blue case for our PS1 since he modded it to play burned discs. (And it looks GORGEOUS under a blacklight)

[mumboking]

The one thing that I'm paranoid about modding, especially with gameboys, is that eventually so many will be modded that it will be hard to find a "original condition" console.
On that note, how do you guys feel about case mod/replacements?

Yeah, I think that could happen, seeing as they are discontinued.
Case replacements are fine, as long as the original isn't in good condition. I replaced a GBC shell because the original was missing the battery cover and has worn smooth around the buttons. I have kept the original shell though.

[bombatomba]

@Hungrymoose: I used a 4:3 originally, but I eventually went over to a widescreen (16:9, I think).  Those work very well if you are really into vertically oriented games, especially if you have a game with gameart or a bezel.  As for the scaling, remember you can always change the resolution for individual games to preserve the original aspect ratio for the game.

@ApolloBoy: I do actually have CRTs (two actually, one with VHF/UHF screws and a more modern one), but I choose not to play unless I'm playing UFO! (Odyssey2), Blueprint (VCS), or a NES zapper game.  I figure that I played games on CRT TVs since 1981 (I started early), and since I'm more of an audiophile I figure I deserve a cleaner, crisper picture.  Anyways, I still remember what staring at a CRT while playing Silent Hill 2 for four hours without blinking did to my eyes.  Not pleasant.

@Firestar: I've never never tried case modding on a console before, though I might in the near future mod my 360 to add an additional fan.  I should look into that...

[ApolloBoy]

I figure that I played games on CRT TVs since 1981 (I started early), and since I'm more of an audiophile I figure I deserve a cleaner, crisper picture.

CRTs can still provide a clean picture as long as you have a good one, and they're way more compatible with the old stuff than LCDs. I'm still surprised you didn't bring up input lag, which I find frustrating on an LCD and is something you don't get with a CRT. I use a nice CRT monitor with my stuff and I would take it any day over the latest HDTV, hands down. From my experience, newer TVs just can't do the old stuff proper justice.

[FireStar]

Yeah, when you plug a genesis into a CRT, doing an Svideo mod seems pointless.

[ApolloBoy]

Yeah, when you plug a genesis into a CRT, doing an Svideo mod seems pointless.

An S-video mod can still help as composite is pretty lousy on the Genesis, but using RGB on a CRT is even better.

[bombatomba]

CRTs can still provide a clean picture as long as you have a good one, and they're way more compatible with the old stuff than LCDs. I'm still surprised you didn't bring up input lag, which I find frustrating on an LCD and is something you don't get with a CRT.

For the most part I completely agree with you.  I guess you could say my disagreement has more to do with circumstance than beliefs.  See, I do have an excellent CRT, but it is a 40", and resides permanently in the basement (for obvious reasons).  These days I tend to play almost exclusively on the main floor of my house, so playing on this TV is never an option.  I do have a smaller CRT (about a 20"), but it is very old and only really acceptable for pre-NES games.  As for the big CRT, putting a pre-Dreamcast game on a 40" display just makes the game look ugly.  Trust me, my NES games look much better on my 20" HP LCD monitor than the 40" Zenith.  Zelda looks just as beautiful to me as the first day I played it.

[ApolloBoy]

For the most part I completely agree with you.  I guess you could say my disagreement has more to do with circumstance than beliefs.  See, I do have an excellent CRT, but it is a 40", and resides permanently in the basement (for obvious reasons).  These days I tend to play almost exclusively on the main floor of my house, so playing on this TV is never an option.  I do have a smaller CRT (about a 20"), but it is very old and only really acceptable for pre-NES games.  As for the big CRT, putting a pre-Dreamcast game on a 40" display just makes the game look ugly.  Trust me, my NES games look much better on my 20" HP LCD monitor than the 40" Zenith.  Zelda looks just as beautiful to me as the first day I played it.

From what I've heard, many of those really big CRTs sucked, hence why I mentioned good CRTs. Smaller CRTs tend to be much better and anywhere between 14" and 27" is where you'll find many good CRTs. My Sony PVM is only 14" but it still offers an incredible picture despite its age and small size.

[Duke.Togo]

Very interesting topic. I typically shy away from any mods that alter the physical appearance of a console. For example, I would love to have ApolloBoy do the FM sound mod on my SMS when I can afford it, but I would request that there be no switch on the outside if possible so it would remain cosmetically stock. I do use CRTs for classic gaming, and a high quality CRT can make even composite look really good. When it comes to tubes, I prefer the high end Sony sets.

Here is an interesting mod question. Why don't more modders look into replacing the video encoders with higher quality versions? Adding S-video and what not is fine, but some older consoles just used cheap, lousy encoders. I would think the combination of the two would result in the best video output.

I'm also an audiophile, so sound is usually much more important to me than video, and I run everything through my surround setup with 7 channel stereo or mono.

[Lendorien]

I modded my Atari 7800 with the late lamented Longhorn mod. It really looks nice on my LCD.  I have all the systems that can do SVideo hooked up to my LCD. the older systems that use RF or composite are hooked up to my CRT. I'm not really into modding. I suck at it and frankly I don't care that much. I like a nice picture, but mods are money and time neither of which I want to spend. I'll get more games instead.

I did mod my genesis for stereo sound though. Completely asinine to have the thing be able to do it through a headphone jack, but not the connector port in the back. Stupid. Just stupid.

[blcklblskt]

I personally have never modded a console, but it doesn't bother me when people mod their consoles.  I probably wouldn't buy a modded console (sorry Apolloboy!) because I do like to keep my things in original condition.  I have changed the case on a DS once because the original was so destroyed that the top screen was attached only by two wires.

That being said, I'm also not a fan of aftermarket cases or painting console cases.  Again, it's probably my penchant for keeping things original.