PS2 import/game suggestion help

[classicb]

Well I recently sold my Space Harrier Arcade machine so I wanted to put the money back torwards more video games. I really want to get into the more modern shmups. I have most of the standard US released DC and PS2 shmups but people have been telling me if I really want to get into it I need to import jpn PS2 games.

So I need some help I've never imported anything in my 20+ years of gaming.

First off is the PS2 the right choice?

Second is it better to buy a jpn PS2 or mod a US one?
-will I need jpn memory cards?

Third which games should I get first?
-(i searched the forums and found some good recomendations but I could always use more)-

Forth I hear allot of people talk about Play-Asia is this where I should look for games or is Ebay better or some place else.

Thanks

[Shalashaska]

Well I wont be much help for your 1st or 3rd question (regarding shmups anyway, the only one I've imported is Gradius Gaiden) but I can help with the 2nd and 4th questions.

If you have the money it is (in my opinion anyway) much better to import a Japanese PS2. The main reason would be that this takes the possibility of screwing up your original PS2 out of the equation and then you don't have to do research on what mod-chip you want etc. However mod-chips can afford you somewhat more flexibility by allowing you to play import and domestic games (along with a myriad of other media depending on what you get) on one machine. Also you do not need Japanese memory cards or controllers, your originals work just fine, all you need is the system.

Play-Asia is an excellent site/resource. I have done all of my importing (games and consoles) through them and they are fantastic as well as fast, both in shipping and in replying to e-mailed questions. That being said they can be a little pricey depending on what you're looking for. Another great site is Lik-Sang.com.

Hope that helps a little.

[SAM]

First off is the PS2 the right choice?

Well, PS2 got the most shump within the three current console, i.e. GameCube, X-Box, and PS2. To me, it just missing Ikaruga to be perfact. Moreover if you does not own a PSOne, PS2 is the obvious choice, since you can play PSOne games on it.

Second is it better to buy a jpn PS2 or mod a US one?

I don't recommended modding. A Moded PS2 does is not functioning that good as expact.

From my Experance :
(1) It would got problem in booting CD-Rom and PSOne game. ( Cannot boot them every, you might need to retry a few times ).
(2) The "Graphic Smooth" and "fast Load", when playing PSOne game can not be activated.
(3) Modding branchs the warranty. Sony USA might willing to repair a imported Japanese console, but never a modded US one.

-will I need jpn memory cards?

You can use share the same memory cards when play US or Japanese game.

Third which games should I get first?
-(i searched the forums and found some good recomendations but I could always use more)-

( I answer you this question some time later, as I have to leave now)

Forth I hear allot of people talk about Play-Asia is this where I should look for games or is Ebay better or some place else.

Well, besides those HK online stores. You can always have your friends whom living in Asia to do you a favour. Don't forget to look at the Trading Station of this board.


For the prices, take MushiHimeSama as example.

The local retail store is selling at $49.
Adding in PayPal fee it becomes $52.
Adding eBay fee it becomes $57.

Most online store are selling at $60.

So if you can found a friend to bought it from at retail. You can have a 13% off ($53 vs $60).

[Pete]

Yeah, getting a JAP PS2 is your best bet, and if the Sega Saturn didn't have a few exclusive killer apps the PS2 would inarguably be the best sytem ever for shmups (when you include the PSOne library).

Anyway, grab Dodonpachi(PS1) and that's all you'll need for a long time.

[visuatrox]

Q: First off is the PS2 the right choice?
A: Yup!, excellent system for shooters

Q: Second is it better to buy a jpn PS2 or mod a US one?
A: Unless you also want to play US and EU games it is better to buy a JPN PS2.

Q: Will I need jpn memory cards?
A: No they are "region free".

Q: Third which games should I get first?
A: ESPGaluda
]

[hizzle]

Just to be safe, I wouldn't share memory cards between the JP and US systems.

I shared a single card back when I first started importing PS2 stuff and sometimes my files would go corrupt (Gunbird 1 & 2 would ALWAYS go corrupt on me!). I remember reading somewhere that sometimes the mixing of Japanese and US save files will corrupt save files on your card. So since I bought a seperate card and seperated the saves between JP and US this hasn't happend since, and I am still using the older one that had gotten corrupted a few times for my US PS2. You don't need a memory card FROM Japan though.

[Ghegs]

Just to be safe, I wouldn't share memory cards between the JP and US systems.

I shared a single card back when I first started importing PS2 stuff and sometimes my files would go corrupt (Gunbird 1 & 2 would ALWAYS go corrupt on me!). I remember reading somewhere that sometimes the mixing of Japanese and US save files will corrupt save files on your card. So since I bought a seperate card and seperated the saves between JP and US this hasn't happend since, and I am still using the older one that had gotten corrupted a few times for my US PS2. You don't need a memory card FROM Japan though.

Hm, I've never had such a problem. My PSX and PS2 memory cards have been housing saves from US, JPN and PAL games for years.

That means I have a modded PS2, yes. I've never had any problems with it either. But I suppose if you can get by with JPN releases alone, getting such a system might even be cheaper than buying a domestic one and modding it.

[K-J N.]

Second is it better to buy a jpn PS2 or mod a US one?

Mod it so you can play games from all regions. At least here you can get it modded and get a one or two year warranty on the chipping job.

will I need jpn memory cards?

No, never had problems mixing save files from EU, US, JP games.

Third which games should I get first?

Cave is a good place to start, ie Mushihimesama, Espgaluda or Dodonpachi Dai-ou-jou.

[SAM]

Two more point forget to mension:

(1) You would need a PSOne memory card for your PSOne game. Yes, PSOne memory card can be plug into a PS2 Console, and you would need it to save your PSOne game. PSOne save files can be copied to a PS2 memory card, but you you have to copy them back to the PSOne memory card to load the save files in the game.

The point is the PS2 memory got 8M while a PSOne memory got only 200k, I think. That means if you swop PSOne save files between a PSOne memory card and a PS2 one. You could save a lots of money in buying extra PSOne memory card.

(2) The slim version PS2, which is in production is not suitable for modding. Modded slim PS2 console overheat very easily. If you cannot find a thick case PS2 console for modding, I suggest that you use freeloader disc or somthing like that.

BTW, you can do it in the reverse way, buy a Japanese PS2 and use freeloader to play US games. Silly? That is what this silly cat is doing, as I cannot found a US PS2 on this island.

[TalkingOctopus]

I play all of my import games off hdloader. This is a soft mod. You need a hard drive and hdloader disc. You may want to consider this because it might be cheaper than a jpn ps2. It also gives your ps2 additional funcitonality. You don't have to swap discs and there are improved load times.

However, there are some drawbacks. Getting the games on the hard drive can be a pain. I have to take the hard drive out of the ps2, put it in my pc, the image off of the dvd and finally transfer it to the ps2 hard drive. It takes about 10 minutes to do all that. Fortunately, you don't have to transfer import games much. Also, there are some incompatibility issues with hdloader. It works with every game I've imported so far. Also, it will NOT any play ps1 imports.

I have espgaluda, dodopachi doj, mushi, and XII stag. The Cave games are great and I've spent lots of time with them. XII stag stinks. I played it for a week and then never went back. It also kind of destroyed my joystick. All of that wiggling messed up the spring and now it squaks and squeeks! (yeah I know it can probably be fixed...)

[classicb]

Thanks guys very helpfull

I guess I should have mentioned I have a US PS2 (the thick one) already so I was just looking at the mod option as maybe being cheaper. I think I'll just import a Japanese PS2 though. Does it matter if I get the slim one or the thick since I won't be modding it? I'd do the hdloader thing but I know about as much about putting games on a hardrive as i do about importing.

So at this point it looks like I'll get a JPN PS2 with Espgaluda and Dodonpachi Dai-ou-jou.

Thanks again

[nZero]

(1) It would got problem in booting CD-Rom and PSOne game. ( Cannot boot them every, you might need to retry a few times ).

Never had this. Maybe laser-related, or a flaky install?

(2) The "Graphic Smooth" and "fast Load", when playing PSOne game can not be activated.

Just tested with my Matrix Infinity flashed to v1.5, both work fine. Not that I find either one terribly useful.

(3) Modding branchs the warranty. Sony USA might willing to repair a imported Japanese console, but never a modded US one.

Therein lies the rub. A modchip is more of an issue of convenience than of cost. No swapping involved, only one console to keep around for all region games, but not cheap... especially if something goes wrong! If worried about the reliability of a system when playing imports, definitely go foreign or go with something that doesn't semi-permanently modify the system (swap disc, HD loader, et al).