Best way to play imports on a PS2?

[FrankSerpico]

Is there something similar to the Utopia disc for Dreamcast, or should I just go ahead and get it chipped?

[buzz_n64]

There is a swap method with Swap Magic.

[wiggyx]

I'd just pick up a Japanese unit and save yourself the headache. They aren't at all hard to come by, even from US sellers

Unless you're talking about playing "imports", not imports.

[Parodius Duh!]

Japanese ps2 or internal mod chip, they are both cheap now. Otherwise you have to do all these bullshit case mods and crap.

[CRTGAMER]

Go the Hard drive route with a Flip Top, no Mod Chip needed. Enjoy the convenience and speed of installed Fat PS2 games.

HDAvance Guide: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&p=322333#p322333

[Parodius Duh!]

There is a swap method with Swap Magic.

AND modifying the case completely to make that swap magic shit work correctly. Ugliest fucking shit on earth. Just get the Japanese system, a fatboy is like $40 now slims a bit more expensive. basically for the price of all this swap magic case mod stupid shit you can just get the real deal or have someone install an internal modchip if u cant urself.

[Damaramu]

I concur with buying a Japanese PS2. They're cheap now.

[Rickstilwell1]

I'm a fan of the modchip myself. Try before you buy anything, if you only like to collect good games you like rather than just jumping on it all. I know some people go after everything, even the bad ones.

[Razo00]

Stay away from swap flip top thing. Get someone to mod your system or just buy a jp ps2.

[Hwj_Chim]

I used the Swap Magic for a bit. But i ended up buying a Japanese PS2 anyway. Way more convenient than swapping disks@_@

[theclaw]

Modern modchip. One that'll autorun real or burned PS1, PS2, and movies alike.

Of course you still need a multi-format TV to fully use its potential. Not all PAL games like being forced NTSC.

[Greg2600]

Not sure about the original PS2, but I think for the Slim you can download something onto a PS2 memory card, which allows you to use an external hard drive via the USB ports?

[LordDarkrai]

I personally think buying one would be better to deal with.

[wiggyx]

God, I'd totally forgotten that the PS2 even had USB ports. I had to look across the room at the damned thing after reading your post. I was like "wha? The PS2 doesn't have a USB port!" :P

[Greg2600]

God, I'd totally forgotten that the PS2 even had USB ports. I had to look across the room at the damned thing after reading your post. I was like "wha? The PS2 doesn't have a USB port!" :P

This is essentially what I'm talking about, PS2 soft modded with Free McBoot and USBAdvance....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL2TJ3vwnrw

There was someone on here or Atari Age who was modding memory cards very cheap. Obviously an external HDD means you have to download games, which is problematic, but I'm not sure if there is a soft-mod option for import discs without having to swap discs. I personally refuse to go the swap route or the mod chip route or the modding of the tray route.

[wiggyx]

This is essentially what I'm talking about, PS2 soft modded with Free McBoot and USBAdvance....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL2TJ3vwnrw

There was someone on here or Atari Age who was modding memory cards very cheap. Obviously an external HDD means you have to download games, which is problematic, but I'm not sure if there is a soft-mod option for import discs without having to swap discs. I personally refuse to go the swap route or the mod chip route or the modding of the tray route.

You could just rip your games. No need to DL all of them. Unless that's what you mean.

I have a mod chip in one of my PS2s. I think it's a DUO2 (old as dirt). It works about 99% of the time with imports and about 80% of the time with backups.


Just to clarify, I'm not talking bootlegs, but rather backups of some of the rarer games that I own. Super OCD. I'd rather not handle them too often.

[theclaw]

Well I think you need a mod chip to transfer burned games direct to HDD from the PS2 without swapping anything. It only normally works for originals, since PS2 runs a disc check.

But that's getting into clear piracy territory...

[wiggyx]

I think you missed the part about the softmod. You don't need a chip if one was to go that route.

[Greg2600]

You could just rip your games. No need to DL all of them. Unless that's what you mean.

I have a mod chip in one of my PS2s. I think it's a DUO2 (old as dirt). It works about 99% of the time with imports and about 80% of the time with backups.


Just to clarify, I'm not talking bootlegs, but rather backups of some of the rarer games that I own. Super OCD. I'd rather not handle them too often.

Yes, they would have to be ripped. Although gets me wondering if a USB-DVD drive would work? Ha ha, getting a little far fetched. As I said, it's a good route (memory card + usb HDD), safe for the system, and not expensive.

[CRTGAMER]

FAT PS2 with an internal Hard Drive is the best way for quick loads of installed games directly from the PS2. The Flip Top is only opened on the install of the original Import disc, after that put the disc away. See my last Reply for the Guide Link.

[Aussie2B]

I'd just go legit, especially if they're cheap now. I imported a brand new PS2 back in 2003 for around $300, I think, and I don't regret it one bit (bought it years before I got a US model, in fact). It's been wonderful to pop in any Japanese PS1, PS2, or DVD that I want and be all set.

[theclaw]

I think you missed the part about the softmod. You don't need a chip if one was to go that route.

You mean the softmod gets around PS2's disc check, letting imports and burned games be transferred to HDD straight from the PS2 drive without a PC, flip top, or modchip?

[The 1 2 P]

I'd just go legit, especially if they're cheap now. I imported a brand new PS2 back in 2003 for around $300, I think, and I don't regret it one bit (bought it years before I got a US model, in fact). It's been wonderful to pop in any Japanese PS1, PS2, or DVD that I want and be all set.

This would be my advice as well. I just got my Japanese PS2 slim off of ebay a month ago and it's much more convient to be able to play any import PS1 and PS2 games that way. Of course, playing PS1 imports was always easy using an import converter but they took that away with the PS2 design. And I've never been one for modchips or bootlegs so getting a legit Japanese PS2 was the way to go for me. Some of them are still a bit pricey ($100-$300) but if you watch a few you'll be able to get one on the cheap, like the $80 one I got with two games.

[Pikkon]

I would get a PS2 with a modchip just for the convenience of playing all regions using legit games.

The softmods are ok but you can't even run legit imports on it.

[wiggyx]

You mean the softmod gets around PS2's disc check, letting imports and burned games be transferred to HDD straight from the PS2 drive without a PC, flip top, or modchip?

Soft mod = hard mod - addition hardware/expense.

Did you watch the video and read the description?

[theclaw]

If you say so. I had thought that particular check was part of the disc drive, softmods not able to affect it.

In general I view convenience a main selling point for modchips. Nice having as many discs as possible boot automated.
Paying too much more for a Japanese PS2, than a modchip install would be, after a certain point becomes less cost effective for the purpose of playing imports. That won't enable PAL games or movies the modchip will.

[Tokimemofan]

Debug stations are the best option, they are $80-200 depending on the time of day.

[Retrocade Fantasia]

I go the sawp route myself. Only way I can play the translated Namco X Capcom