How *do* you download save games to a PS2 memory card, anyway?

[Edmond Dantes]

I've seen some websites such as Gamefaqs offering saves you can download. Not to mention, apparently there are utility programs that run from a PS2 memory card.

... Okay, so how do I get these from my PC to a memory card? Is there an adapter or something? Do I need this Memor32 thing I've heard so much about?

On that note, is it possible to use a USB drive as a memory card?

Yes I know I ask a lot of PS2 questions lately... I just got one and I'm keen on figuring out what all I can do with it.

Thanks in advance for any information offered.

[kupomogli]

DexDrive or Gameshark. Those are the only things I know of that you can download PSX/PS2 data from online. I've never used any from online myself, though.

[j_factor]

I always assumed they were meant to be downloaded using your PS2. Is that not possible for some reason? I've done that before with Dreamcast.

[buzz_n64]

You can also mod or soft mod your PS2, use a USB drive to transfer it then to the memory card.
I think Free MC Boot allows this.

[Edmond Dantes]

I've heard about Free McBoot. Excuse me if this question is outside of forum rules (they're not very clear on the limits of what can be asked/discussed) but can Free McBoot be used to play imports and/or backups on an unmodded console? I've read that it doesn't support the newest models of PS2, which kind of defeats the point somewhat, but still, it would be useful to know this.

[geezuzkhrist119]

Try using a ps2 to ps3 memory card adaptor. I'm not sure if it will work but its worth.a shot

[Edmond Dantes]

But... I don't have a PS3.

I might get one later this year, but I don't have one currently.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Action Replay allows you to transfer data from the PS2's USB ports (on a thumb drive) to the memory cards.

[snes_collector]

I've heard about Free McBoot. Excuse me if this question is outside of forum rules (they're not very clear on the limits of what can be asked/discussed) but can Free McBoot be used to play imports and/or backups on an unmodded console? I've read that it doesn't support the newest models of PS2, which kind of defeats the point somewhat, but still, it would be useful to know this.

You can use Free McBoot with a "fatty" PS2 but it isn't compatible with slimlines.

[Edmond Dantes]

Darn, just about all the neat PS2 toys require the fat model, don't they?

Sucks to be me, since I like the slim ones more (because I prefer flip-open lids to trays)

[VACRMH]

You can use Free McBoot with a "fatty" PS2 but it isn't compatible with slimlines.

The version I have does. But I think it doesn't work on slimlines made after a certain date, can't remember however.

[Darko]

The version I have does. But I think it doesn't work on slimlines made after a certain date, can't remember however.

It has to have a manufacturing date before March 2008.

[snes_collector]

Gotcha. I read somewhere that it didn't, but they apparently didn't have a newer console to test it on.

[ANDYARKLAY]

I use PS3.
I also have modded ps2 but i don't know how to transfer gs without ps3.
I even can't find a proper gameshark iso for ps2(((

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Just to clarify my initial response, it needs to be an Action Replay Max to transfer files from the USB stick.

Action Replay Max allows you to download PS2 game saves on your PC (as described in the initial question), put them on a USB stick and then from within the Action Replay software on the PS2 transfer those saves over from the USB stick in one of the PS2's USB ports to the memory card(s) in the PS2.

http://us.codejunkies.com/Images/products/medium/104.jpg

I've never done it, but apparently you can use the AR MAX to assist in making a FreeMcBoot.

Those things go for about $20 new and also have a neat Genesis emulator and AVI/DIVX player built-in.

[Darko]

Gotcha. I read somewhere that it didn't, but they apparently didn't have a newer console to test it on.

There could be something new out there that allows you to do it on the newer versions. I haven't messed with McBoot in a pretty long time.

[jordandavid]

This is discussed here, http://www.firstadopter.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=229 .

and DDR oriented, here (#6 is particularly useful) http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89030

and under the subtitle "Legend" they list several of the gameshark type options here: http://www.ddrfreak.com/versions/saves-home.php?version=77

All of these links explain it better than I could, but I've never actually tried it myself. Good luck. And what particularly are you interested in this for?

[Sysop]

Darn, just about all the neat PS2 toys require the fat model, don't they?

Sucks to be me, since I like the slim ones more (because I prefer flip-open lids to trays)

It's a good thing that the original model is cheap to purchase and easy to find.

[ANDYARKLAY]

Sorry for little bit offtopic but why PS2 codebreaker much more expensive than PS2 Action Replay?



PS2 codebreaker
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ps2+codebreaker&_sacat=0&_odkw=biohazard+magazine&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
PS2 Action Replay
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ps2+action+replay&_sacat=0&_odkw=ps2+action+replay&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

[dendawg]

But... I don't have a PS3.

I might get one later this year, but I don't have one currently.

AFAIK, you should need only the proper USB drivers for windows...as for where those might be, my Google-Fu isn't strong enough.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

wait so you're saying my ps2 to ps3 memory card adapter can be used like a dexdrive of sorts? lol cuz really thats what i always wanted, to be able to download gamesaves off gamefaqs directly from my ps3 or pc (but ideally ps3) and store them on a ps2 memory card and play em on my slim ps2 (or ps1 if dealing with ps1 saves)


all i need are the drivers?! :onfire:

[Edmond Dantes]

This is discussed here, http://www.firstadopter.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=229 .

and DDR oriented, here (#6 is particularly useful) http://www.ddrfreak.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=89030

and under the subtitle "Legend" they list several of the gameshark type options here: http://www.ddrfreak.com/versions/saves-home.php?version=77

All of these links explain it better than I could, but I've never actually tried it myself. Good luck. And what particularly are you interested in this for?

I was just wondering how it was done. At the moment there's no actual game saves I want to download, but I might want to mess around with a lot of the exploits and homebrewn tools.


It's a good thing that the original model is cheap to purchase and easy to find.

And more likely to break after a few months, if its not broken already.

I might pick up a fat PS2 sometime, but I don't trust them very much at all.

[RARusk]

Free McBoot will work on all PS2 models except the last PS2 "Slim" model - the SCPH 90000 units (the one with the built-in power supply). This is because Sony took out the BIOS call that allows FMCB to work - they also, apparently, nerfed the USB ports to prevent hacking through them from what I have been told).

Currently you cannot play imports or backups through softmods (including FMCB). However, if you have a PS2 "Fatty" with a Network Adapter or a specially modified early model PS2 "Slim" (the first slim model had both IDE and SATA on the motherboard) you can use hard drives for game installs using either HDLoader or its replacement, the recently released Open PS2 Loader ("Opal").

I have a couple of PS2 Memory Card adapters for the PS3 which allow you to use the memory cards through the USB port. However, I don't believe that anybody has managed to make a driver to make this unit work on a PC/Mac to allow you to transfer games saves to/from a computer.

Such a driver would also make FMCB installs much easier instead of using the various cheat disc methods that are available. The method I've used is the Codebreaker one which I've managed to get the hang of.

[RARusk]

I also forgot to add - if you wish to go hard driving on the PS2 you don't need to worry too much about whether or not the DVD-ROM drive works. You can install games through your PC using the WinHiip program which I find to be very useful.

But you have to have the drive attached to your computer for this to work so you may want to do installs in groups to reduce the amount of instances where you need to pull out the drive from your PS2.

Yes, you can also install games from the PC to the PS2 without removing the drive but it is extremely, mindnumbingly slow so WinHiip is your best bet when you have a dead laser.

On my current PS2 with hard drive I don't even have the power hooked up to the DVD-ROM drive. I do have a PS2 "Slim" as a backup and for those games I can't get to work on a hard drive.

[RARusk]

Oh yeah, go here: http://www.sksapps.com

[Edmond Dantes]

I just watched a Youtube video about the HDLoader/playing games from a hard drive method. It said that the games will run but cutscenes/FMVs will be sluggish. Is this only for some games, all games, only with older software, or is it just complete nonsense and the guy is doing something wrong?

[Oobgarm]

Since you're not streaming off the disc, cutscenes can be choppy.

[megasdkirby]

I just watched a Youtube video about the HDLoader/playing games from a hard drive method. It said that the games will run but cutscenes/FMVs will be sluggish. Is this only for some games, all games, only with older software, or is it just complete nonsense and the guy is doing something wrong?

It depends on the game, I guess.

I personally never experienced this issue, though. I've played a few games with cut scenes and I haven't encountered any issues with playback. Though, YMMV.

[RARusk]

I just watched a Youtube video about the HDLoader/playing games from a hard drive method. It said that the games will run but cutscenes/FMVs will be sluggish. Is this only for some games, all games, only with older software, or is it just complete nonsense and the guy is doing something wrong?

There are compatibility modes in both HDL and OPL that will allow you to tweak various settings. If the cutscene is choppy then it is likely that you may need to slow down the drive access since some games rely on the DVD-ROM drive speed for timing.

On HDL there is one setting for drive speed. On OPL you can adjust the drive access speed in addition to using an alternative read mode and even a setting that can allow you to bypass most FMVs.

As for what you posted, and based on my own experiences with HDL and OPL, it appears that this person is doing something wrong.

At this point I have not had any problems with any cutscenes from any game I have managed to install (and I've installed about 40). The only problems I've had is sound issues with two of the "Hitman" games and I've tweaked the settings to fix them.