Swapping discs for Playstations...Technique or just mod?

[zakthedodo]

Hello again.
I recently posted about a Playstation 1 swap disc to play import games as I was given a couple as gifts the last week.

After seeing videos on you tube and reading some on line comments, Is it more likely to damage a spindle and ruin a console itself?

The swaps look to have a needed precision, and I know practice makes perfect, but if I were to forgo swapping discs, where and how could I send a PS1 console to be modded to play Japanese NTSC discs without having the timing of a ninjaand know I'll get my system back and the right job done.

Hey. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

[Ed Oscuro]

Japanese PlayStations aren't that expensive anymore. Also, aren't modding chips illegal now thanks to our craven legislature? I realize your intention isn't bootlegging but unfortunately I think this got rolled into the DMCA.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

A Japanese PlayStation can be had for a song at this point. If you would like to indulge yourself, consider purchasing a Net Yaroze, which plays all regions.

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/98/243424379_53aa388133_o.jpg

[Daria]

I don't know what the current value is for one of these, but I got to say that I love my debugging station. Plays imports and burns unmodded. Another option if you have the money/can find one.

http://www.ngfusa.com/everything_else/psxdebugstation.htm

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

Will a Japanese playstation play US games? What about Korean games. Also, what is swap magic

[Edmond Dantes]

Swap Magic is basically a boot disc with a couple tools, I think.

Personally, if you can I think you should look at our own Buy and Sell section. I got my modded PS1 from here for $20 and its worked like a champ ever since.

[theclaw]

Will a Japanese playstation play US games? What about Korean games. Also, what is swap magic

Nope. They won't play PAL either. Importing a Japanese playstation means two consoles that take up more space than one modded unit, and still run fewer games.

I'm not sure if the the original Playstation was officially released in Korea. PS2 for sure did though!

[Ed Oscuro]

Nope. They won't play PAL either. Importing a Japanese playstation means two consoles that take up more space than one modded unit, and still run fewer games.
And therefore you can nearly double the lifespan of either (if you play half on one system or the other).

Import PS2 is actually another option (aside from the few games they won't play) - those are getting cheaper too.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

I don't know what the current value is for one of these, but I got to say that I love my debugging station. Plays imports and burns unmodded. Another option if you have the money/can find one.

http://www.ngfusa.com/everything_else/psxdebugstation.htm

Heh. The ORIGINAL debugging kit shown there is not the original model. The original model had an S-video port:

http://i.imgur.com/EZzOk.jpg

The debuggers come in all varieties of ability to play multiple regions. Some of them can play anything you throw at them, and some of them will only play one region, or cd-r's with that region code.

They are also first-gen PS1's, usually with a lot of miles on them. Doesn't stop me from wanting one more than just about any gaming item these days.

[theclaw]

And therefore you can nearly double the lifespan of either (if you play half on one system or the other).

Import PS2 is actually another option (aside from the few games they won't play) - those are getting cheaper too.

I guess the whole "can't have everything" situation applies. Longer life vs larger game library. After all I'm comparing separate PS1s that will only play US or JP, to one region mod PS1 that plays US + JP + PAL.

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

So the swap magic isn't the cure all solution for playing all ps2 games?

[BlastProcessing402]

What model PlayStation do you have? If it's one from before they removed the parallel port, you can try and find what's called a "game enhancer". Basically, it's a knockoff GameShark (from before the switch to disc based GameSharks) and a spring (to keep the lid sensor depressed) that lets you safely swap load games from other regions as well as backups. But I dunno how hard one would be to find these days.

[Greg2600]

So the swap magic isn't the cure all solution for playing all ps2 games?

They're discussing PS1. Personally I have no use for swapping, just too much of a pain. If I had an import, I'd just use an emulator and hope it can run it.

[LimitedEditionMuseum]

Oh, sorry, didn't realize you guys were talking ps1

[davidbrit2]

Get one of those PS1 Action Replay cartridges that are pretty much made for this (some of them say Goldfinger or something like that on the label). They usually include a spring to hold down the lid switch, and they make it super easy to do a disc swap to run imports. I use one of these on my PS1.

[zakthedodo]

A Japanese PlayStation can be had for a song at this point. If you would like to indulge yourself, consider purchasing a Net Yaroze, which plays all regions.

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/98/243424379_53aa388133_o.jpg



Talk about perfect, but the price on this model @_@

[zakthedodo]

Hmmm.
I really appreciate all the feedback.
I just don't want to spend a fair amount of money and realize I somehow goofed.

I think I will just opt for a Japanese PS1, Maybe a PS2 but right now the PS1's don't seem too expensive.
There are a few stores online I've had good experience with, especially on Ebay.
This is probably the easiest solution.

Were the Slim PS1's ever released in Japan?
I can't seem to find them.
Would I need to swap the AC adapter?
I've been researching this and Japanese and U.S. seem pretty close voltage-wise.
Would I even need a converter for the outlet?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Hello again.
I recently posted about a Playstation 1 swap disc to play import games as I was given a couple as gifts the last week.

After seeing videos on you tube and reading some on line comments, Is it more likely to damage a spindle and ruin a console itself?

The swaps look to have a needed precision, and I know practice makes perfect, but if I were to forgo swapping discs, where and how could I send a PS1 console to be modded to play Japanese NTSC discs without having the timing of a ninjaand know I'll get my system back and the right job done.

Hey. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Um, I think you're very confused.

You're confusing the "swap-disc technique" with a "PSX boot loader disc-swap".

The boot loader disc you posted about will not cause any damage to the CD drive or spindle if used correctly.

You rig the Playstation door button to think that the drive door is in the closed position, the boot disc loads and stops the disc/motor so you can safely remove the boot loader disc like you would any playstation game that asks you to change discs.

The "swap disc" technique involves the user ilterally grabbing a spinning disc and pulling it off the spindle during a boot up session. That will damage the drive motor and spindle if done often or at all and I don't recommend it.

But, again, you don't have to do that at all with the PSX Boot Loader disc.

[Az]

Don't forget that several versions of disc-based cheat programs like the Gameshark, Codebreaker, or Action Replay stop the motor and allow a swap, that will work on both PS1's and PS2's with a flip top lid.

The first-run PS1 machines allowed you to swap without the need for a disc, if you own that version of the console.

[zakthedodo]

You rig the Playstation door button to think that the drive door is in the closed position, the boot disc loads and stops the disc/motor so you can safely remove the boot loader disc like you would any playstation game that asks you to change discs.


But, again, you don't have to do that at all with the PSX Boot Loader disc.

Oh...that changes things for me quite a bit then.
I actually did find a site that explained how it worked a bit better.

"- Switch off you PS Console and insert the PS-X-Change CD. - Switch on your PS console and wait for the screen on the left load. - Remove the PS-X-Change CD - Insert the back-up or import you wish to play. (you can either close the lid or leave it open) - The game will now run.

These are the models have shown some symptoms of not working: SCPH-1000,1001,1002. Japanese PlayStations. The model number can usually be found on the bottom of the unit. And it works on all the rest of the model".
http://www.superufo.com/review_html/PS_X_Change_V2_review_by_Clayton.html

Think I may go with my original idea and get the boot disc as I have a slim and older PS1 5501 and this comes equipped to handle both door mechanisms.
Thanks for clarifying this. :)

[Gameguy]

Is it really hard to find modded PS1 systems now? I must have 3 modded systems now that I picked up for under $10 each, and a modded PS2 for about $20 which plays PS1 games too. For $20 it's easy to find modded PS1s just about anywhere, these turn up on craigslist every few weeks.

[theclaw]

Modded PS2s are expensive in the US. PS1 I've got no idea...

[Oldskool]

Just search for a code breaker cheat / boot disc. I got mine from a loose 20 PS1 game lot from a garage sale for $10. I just taped the lid switch down and then boot with the Code Breaker CD. From within that CD I use the cd player to stop the disc. Open the lid (which it thinks is closed because the lid switch is taped down) and insert the burned game. Then from within the Code Breaker CD menu you just select your cheats (or none) and select start game. Because the Boot Disc already got past the licensing it will load with no issues. There are a few games though that will double check usually at the title menu when you try to select something. For those games you need a chip. The chips are super cheap (not sure anymore though) - and are extremely simple to install.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

I'm certain $30 would grab a very nice modded ps1 off of any number of B/S/T boards.

[Tokimemofan]

Don't bother with the swap trick, the moment you try doing it on a multi-disc game that lacks a disc change save point you will be pulling your hair out. Also a small minority of games require a modified swap, Tokimeki Memorial 2 for example requires a third round of swapping to avoid that "Your Console Has Been Modified" screen. I'd get a PS2 Debugging station with a model of DTL-Hx010x or DTL-H5000x, these have proper magicgate support for PS2 software.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Don't bother with the swap trick, the moment you try doing it on a multi-disc game that lacks a disc change save point you will be pulling your hair out. Also a small minority of games require a modified swap, Tokimeki Memorial 2 for example requires a third round of swapping to avoid that "Your Console Has Been Modified" screen. I'd get a PS2 Debugging station with a model of DTL-Hx010x or DTL-H5000x, these have proper magicgate support for PS2 software.

Yeah, the boot disc has some decent limitations for multi-disc games, if you get one know that it's most functional for single disc games.

[wiggyx]

Modded PS2s are expensive in the US. PS1 I've got no idea...

I can tell you why, it's not a fun system to mod. Pretty decent margin for error. I've done 5 or 6, and I swear it off every time I do one. Inevitably a close friend asks me to do one, and I reluctantly do the mod. I don't know if the memory card mod works with PS1 games, but if it does, then that's literally a free, WAY easy mod.

PS1s aren't nearly as much of a PITA to mod.

[BlastProcessing402]

Hmmm.
I really appreciate all the feedback.
I just don't want to spend a fair amount of money and realize I somehow goofed.

I think I will just opt for a Japanese PS1, Maybe a PS2 but right now the PS1's don't seem too expensive.
There are a few stores online I've had good experience with, especially on Ebay.
This is probably the easiest solution.

Were the Slim PS1's ever released in Japan?
I can't seem to find them.
Would I need to swap the AC adapter?
I've been researching this and Japanese and U.S. seem pretty close voltage-wise.
Would I even need a converter for the outlet?

You generally don't need any sort of converter between US and Japan with regard to power supplies. Europe and other regions, that's another story.