JP PS2- Is it worth it?

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:50 am

Okay, I'm doing it it. I'm buying a JP PS2 from Play-Asia.

Please tell me why I shouldn't do this.

If my wife ever found out she would kill me.

ktownhero · Post by **ktownhero** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:58 am

Because you can get a swap disc set for 20-30 bucks?

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:07 am

ktownhero wrote:Because you can get a swap disc set for 20-30 bucks?

Okay fine. I have a non-slim Ps2 so please point me into the easiest and cheapest direction. With a direct link to the item I need/should use.

Seriously, this swap disk shit is so confusing.
Thanks

ktownhero · Post by **ktownhero** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:41 am

malcolm wrote:
ktownhero wrote:Because you can get a swap disc set for 20-30 bucks?
Okay fine. I have a non-slim Ps2 so please point me into the easiest and cheapest direction. With a direct link to the item I need/should use.

Seriously, this swap disk shit is so confusing.
Thanks

http://www.allmodchip.com/PS2_Swap_Magi ... 16181.html

I just got that myself. It comes with the tools needed for either a slim or old-style ps2. The old style just has a slide tool to open the CD tray, not a mod at all. As long as you don't mind the little bit of extra effort prior to playing, it works perfectly. I'm happy with it.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:44 am

After playing Wanderer's modded PS2, not a day goes by I'm glad I don't have to fuck w/ that shit. Buy a Japanese PS2. No compatibility issues... at all.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:12 am

Japanese PS2 all the way. I had a modded PS2 for awhile and I hated that piece of crap. I love my JP PS2, just pop a game in and you're done.

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:03 am

I find a exploit-memcard and a non-slim PS2 are all I need.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:06 am

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Get the J-PS2

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:14 am

Thanks gang, I just ordered it.

icycalm · Post by **icycalm** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:35 am

You won't regret it.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:02 am

GaijinPunch wrote:After playing Wanderer's modded PS2, not a day goes by I'm glad I don't have to fuck w/ that shit. Buy a Japanese PS2. No compatibility issues... at all.

I've got a modded Aussie PS2 and I have no dramas with it at all. What mod chip is he using?

The only reason I went the route I did was because I got an Aussie "chubby" PS2, modchip and installation for under US$100. If it wasn't that cheap, I would have gotten myself a genuine Japanese PS2 instead.

Franz the Stampede · Post by **Franz the Stampede** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:55 pm

Excuse the absolute ignorance but what's so good with the NTSC-J PS2?

It doesn't have regional lockout?

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:16 pm

Yes it does. And since I'm in PAL territory I got a mod chip for mine instead; that way I can play PAL games and NTSC games both from Japan AND the US. I've got a DMS mod chip with a flash-able bios (which means the mod chip can be upgraded), very easy and hassle-free to use. The perfect solution in my opinion because you can also play backups and keep your original discs scratch-free.

There is only one downside: The installation is not easy, and a beginner who has never soldered before won't be able to do it.

antron · Post by **antron** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:32 pm

If anyone wants hdloader put on their memory card (for free) let me know.

Franz the Stampede · Post by **Franz the Stampede** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:47 pm

Ceph wrote:Yes it does. A

Gawd, I'm confused...

Does NTSC-J PS2 have regional lockout?

yes= it's got it

no= it's region free

tassian · Post by **tassian** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:08 pm

Yes, the NTSC-J has a regional lockout. In other words: on my NTSC-J PS2 I can't run PAL PS2 games.

futurebiblehero · Post by **futurebiblehero** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:07 pm

I often read of compatability issues with Swap Magic discs and the like. Are there any shmups that are known to have problems with them?

Post by **system11** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:03 pm

Another vote for a real JP one. I got the Sakura limited edition. Pink.

elvis · Post by **elvis** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:27 pm

Franz the Stampede wrote:Excuse the absolute ignorance but what's so good with the NTSC-J PS2?

It plays NTSC-J games. If you're into newer Japanese shooters, most of them have only ever been released on NTSC-J format. A PAL PS2 is useless to you if they are the sorts of titles you want to play.

Franz the Stampede wrote:It doesn't have regional lockout?

*ALL* PS2s have regional lockout. Hence why the original poster wants a NTSC-J PS2 so that he can play NTSC-J only games. The PS2 does have quite a nice selection of shooters, all of which are available in NTSC-J. Only a very small subsection made it to PAL territories, which sucks if you are a shooter fan hailing from that region of the world.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:01 pm

You'd pay 5 times the money and risk the wrath of your wife just to save 20 seconds every time you want to play an import? Er...

Anyway, the only shooter that has problems is Chouaniki, which will require another swap for more TOC. Everything else (dunno about Star Soldier though) works without a hitch using Swap Magic v3.x.

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:16 pm

Ganelon wrote:You'd pay 5 times the money and risk the wrath of your wife just to save 20 seconds every time you want to play an import? Er...

Anyway, the only shooter that has problems is Chouaniki, which will require another swap for more TOC. Everything else (dunno about Star Soldier though) works without a hitch using Swap Magic v3.x.

Does DOJ Death Label properly work without extra swapping?

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:22 pm

antron wrote:If anyone wants hdloader put on their memory card (for free) let me know.

Same here. Just pay the shipping for the memory card, both ways. Just so no one has to open their PS2s, and to save laser wear and tear. He's in the east, I'm in the west. We got the country covered. Woot.

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:09 am

I'm the original poster.

I just wanted an EASY way to play Japanese shooters. I appreciate all of the input but what's done is done, I have a JP PS2 on the way.

Now please tell me the top 3 titles I must have.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:44 am

Dodonpachi Daioujou is number one.

stuntman · Post by **stuntman** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:04 am

Espgaluda must be number two then.

tassian · Post by **tassian** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:29 am

Mushihime-sama is three, especially since it got a Taito's Best release and can be grabbed for around 20 EUR / 25 USD.

Acid King · Post by **Acid King** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:58 am

Get Homura instead of Mushi. 3 Cave games is a bit overkill.

tassian · Post by **tassian** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:45 pm

Homura is a very good choice as well. And it's available as Taito's Best release as well.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:03 pm

Ganelon wrote:You'd pay 5 times the money and risk the wrath of your wife just to save 20 seconds every time you want to play an import? Er...

Maybe Wanderer has a bad install (it was done by Matt, who does quality work) or mabye it's a bad chip. I've seen him reset 5 or 6 times to get a game going.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:00 pm

Sounds like a typical crappy mod chip. Some versions of the PS2 also seem to be averse to certain stuff, even Swap Magic.

My Swap Magic works 100% of the time with no issues (although there exist a few problem games like Chouaniki and The Rumble Fish that work 0% of the time with just Swap Magic, and 100% of the time combined with CDLoader). However, I've seen a friend who needs to shake his system out and reset a few times just to get it to work sometimes.