ps2 swap magic questions

[2dvertical]

Does anyone here know what the latest version of this is and where to buy it cheap? I have the older "big" ps2. Some sites offer a replacement case for 30$ to have a flip top. Do you think this is worth it? I guess there is some slide tool instead, is this a pain in the ass to use? I mainly want to get all the cave shmups I missed out on and hopefully they will all work with swap magic.

[Hibachi]

I had problems with my slim ps2 and swap magic and decided it was a pain in the arse.

I'd go with getting a chipped console instead as it's worth the extra expense to take the headache out in the long run.

I seem to recall that DVDs in dual layer were the issue although I think that the cave stuff is all cd based. (I haven't checked a disc in a while)

I think I was using version 3 but again, it was a long time ago.

[dan76]

I have version 3.6 which I use on a "big" ps2. You don't need the flip top. It works perfectly with all the PS2 cave games. You just have to remove a small part of the front of the PS2 to allow the plastic slide tool to get inside. It's no big deal.

For people in the UK etc - it plays in NTSC and PAL, meaning that if you don't have a tv that can display an NTSC signal you can switch to PAL - the down side of which is that the game is about 17% slower and slightly squashed... I used this for about a year on a massive old teak tv from the early 80's - I felt good about my 1cc's. It was a big shock when I switched to the proper NTSC setting on a newer tv... those bullets seemed mighty fast... duh.

The cave games are all on DVD's

[Pringer]

Slide magic for the fat PS2s is pretty easy to use, but gets a bit tedious if you switch games a lot. It takes a few moments to use the tool to pull open the drawer that holds the DVD, as well as a bit of practice to get a feel for where the drawer lock is that you're trying to move. But that's it, no further irritation required. The flip top is nice, but only if the price is irrelevant, as it won't really save you much in the way of time. Additional wear and tear seems to be a non-issue, as the failure rate on the drawer motor isn't a problem compared to laser based issues.

Using the same software for the slim PS2s actually involves opening the case to cap over one of the tray open sensors, but when you're done its basically the same as the fat PS2 with a flip top case. A bit better for the lazy.

Mushihime and ESPGaluda are worth it by gum.

[bucklemyshoe]

swap magic works fine with a slim ps2 and you don't need to have a flip top for it, just block the sensors with tape and paper and you'll be good to go. thats what i did and it's worked ever since.

[MX7]

I just wodged some bluetac and a toothpick in my slim PS2, and it's been running swap magic and Cave ports fine for years. Not sure what to do with a fat ps2, but i'd prob just advise getting a slim JP console

[kengou]

I'll also vouch for the slide tool. It's really easy to use, and almost no modification of the PS2 is necessary, outside of removing a bit in front of the tray so you can get the slide tool inside. Once you get used to the technique, it's very quick to just slide it in, pull out the tray, swap the disc, push it back in and lock the tray again. Only takes a few seconds. I've been using it now for well over a year with no ill effects to the PS2 or game discs.

Also yes, all Cave games work with Swap Magic.

[A_Civilian]

Obligatory official link.
Will tell you what you need to know about versions, and offers links to buy the thing.

[ZOM]

Why not use ESR & freeMCboot?

[Ex-Cyber]

I just wodged some bluetac and a toothpick in my slim PS2, and it's been running swap magic and Cave ports fine for years. Not sure what to do with a fat ps2, but i'd prob just advise getting a slim JP console

IIRC, newer slim PS2s have 3 door switches, one of which can't be wedged without opening up the console. So for Swap Magic a newer slim PS2 would actually be more trouble than a fat one.

[dmauro]

Why not use ESR & freeMCboot?

qft

[Cthulhu]

I got burned on modding back in the PS1 era and just bought 2 PS2s. One US and one JP. Never fails to work right, don't have to worry about them pulling upgrade tricks on ya, and you don't have to rely on cruddy switching discs. Worth it if you have the money.

[Elixir]

Get a JP PS2 and use a local power supply.

[Danbo]

I use Swapmagic with a slimline ps2 (it's the version with the 3 little bits of metal you have to jam into various sensors) and it works pretty much fine. I then installed Free McBoot and tried to get some of the ESR stuff going, but that didn't really work... but I don't really mind swapping disks.

[ZOM]

...I then installed Free McBoot and tried to get some of the ESR stuff going, but that didn't really work...

You were doing it wrong then

[2dvertical]

Get a JP PS2 and use a local power supply.

The ps2 is old, but its not like they are giving away the jp models. Besides I have a bc ps3 so my ps2 is just collecting dust at the moment. I think i might just get the flip top case instead of using the slide tool, they are offered clear in diff colors so i guess it will make the ps2 kinda look cool as well. Id rather invest money into games than a new ps2.

thanks for all the input guys

[Warp_Rattler]

PS2 fat + Free McBoot + HD Loader on memory card = all my imports on the internal hard drive, no need to ever swap to play the games. Swap Magic is good, but I'd really recommend getting the fliptop mod if you're going with it--my disc drive doesn't work quite the same as before I started swapping discs regularly. Bonus: you don't have to pay big money for that stupid plastic slide tool, as there's a diagram floating around online where you can make your own from an old plastic gift/credit/student body card.

I've never had a chipped machine myself, but every friend who's got theirs chipped has slowly watched the thing become slower and more unreliable over the course of about a year until the thing just flat out won't load any games. Your miles may vary with newer chip revisions, but I always got the impression that the forcing of the hardware to accept games from regions it shouldn't play wasn't nearly as benign as people made it out to be.

[Erik]

I am looking into modding my PS2 next year April when warranty expires. All the swapping and bootdiscs don't look handy to me, although I know there is a potential risk with chipping.

My modded PS1 is giving me problems nowadays with import games (refused to boot after the PS screen), but after more then 10 years of trusty service I can't complain.

Buying a Japanese PS2 does not seem very practical with the load of PAL PS1 games still at home. Also, I better leave some space free to store a different console instead (Saturn springs to mind)... in the future that is.

[2dvertical]

Well got the swap magic. I also ordered the flip top case, and of course it doesnt fit. I missed the note while purchasing that said it only fits on v4-v11 ps2. I have a v1 so I guess ill try to trade someone I know that has one of those versions. For now I cut up a old card for a slide tool and its not that big of deal to use it.

On a side note the first game I got was Dodonpachi d., I gotta say it looks like crap. I went and got some component cables which helped. I am playing on a 37 lcd. (not tate). It looks worse than the mame version of donpachi. Im a bit suprised by this, gradius v and others look decent enough. Also I didnt realize it was going to have unlimited continues, I like to earn advancing to next levels and its so tempting just to play through. Are all cave ps2 port this way?

Overall im happy but visually its such a dissappointment.

[Danbo]

The game looks like junk in yoko on the PS2 regardless of swapmagic. You need to play in tate to make best use of the PS2's minimal available output resolution.

Also : A good way to earn access to the later levels is to attempt to play through the prior levels with 1 credit. If you find it too tempting, you can turn continues off in some config menu.