Color $0D games

On an NES, the palette color $0D causes the signal to drop below the normal black level. This low voltage signal is sometimes mistaken by televisions for blanking signals, which can cause an unstable picture, or total picture loss on some devices. Other devices seem to process with signal without problem.

Games

Game	Notes
Bee 52
Cybernoid	$0D is used as the background color.
The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy
Game Genie	The code entry screen uses it for its background.
The Immortal	Many screens in this game use it as the background colour.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Taito)	Used as the background color in the motorcycle level.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Ubisoft)
Maniac Mansion (US)
Micro Machines
Quattro Sports
Quattro Adventures
Skate or Die 2
The Super Shinobi	Unlicensed clone of Shinobi III.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Uses it for black outlines on sprites, the lack of large areas of this color mitigates the problem.
The Three Stooges	Uses $xD colors that get turned to $0D during fades

Effects

Because the signal created by $0D is outside the specifications for the video signal, there is a lot of variation in how display devices handle it. Here are some possible effects that may be seen when using $0D:

• $0D appears the same black as the other black colors (e.g. $0F).
• $0D appears slightly darker than other blacks.
• The device renormalizes the range when $0D appears, slightly brightening all other colours while it is onscreen.
• Wobbly or distorted image from loss of horizontal blanking stability.
• Total loss of picture.

Tests

• Palette test ROM - Displays NES palette, and can toggle $0D display.
• NESPix - Native graphics editor that allows use of $0D, and can test it in various visual arrangements.
• 240p test suite - TV testing program. Test cards with $0D include PLUGE, SMPTE color bars, Solid color screen, and IRE. PLUGE also includes emphasized $0D.

See also

• NTSC video
• PPU palettes
• Colour-emphasis games