RetroReady
Guides
Retro hardware, regions and editions, explained. Every fact is linked to the page that states it.
Which consoles play older games? Backward compatibility, console by console
Which consoles and handhelds play games from older systems, which models dropped it, and how to tell which model you have.
How retro games save: batteries, EEPROM, flash and memory cards
Where each retro console keeps your saves, which cartridges rely on a battery, and what that means for an old save today.
Old PC games and copy protection on modern Windows
Which old PC copy protections, such as SafeDisc and SecuROM, are blocked on Windows 10 and 11, which still work, and where to look for fixes.
PAL vs NTSC: what it means for your retro games
What PAL and NTSC mean for retro games: which regions use them, 50 vs 60 Hz speed, PAL video quirks and what to check before buying an import.
How to read the product code on a retro game (SLES, SLUS, NUS, DMG and more)
What the code on a retro game's label, box or spine tells you: Nintendo's DMG and NUS codes, Sony's SLES and SLUS, Sega's MK and T codes.
Region locking on retro consoles, console by console
Which retro consoles block imports, how each one does it (cartridge shape, lockout chip or start-up check) and what gets around it.
Connecting a retro console to a modern TV
What each retro console outputs in stock form, which models need a mod for RGB, and the PAL cable mix-ups that can damage your equipment.