JP PS2- Is it worth it?

[Geezer]

Matrix Infinity=no troubles

Personally I have an unmodded white JPN slimline, as all the games I'm interested in keeping are JPN.

[EatenByGrues]

I figure this isn't a problem but I'll ask anyway just to be sure. It's ok to use Japanese electronics with a US wall socket right? I remember hearing somewhere that they are similar enough that it shouldn't affect it, but I just wanted to be sure. It would suck to fry something like a PS2 because you forgot to get a converter.

[Ceph]

Japan: 100V
USA: 110V

For a modern devices like PS2 you probably won't need a converter.

[Super Laydock]

You´ll be glad you ordered a NTSC-J PS2! No hassle whatsoever with any Asian PS2 game. No breaking warranty (like I am gonna use that, living in Europe... ) or disk swapping.

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

erm, this is kinda of a strange question on a shmups forum...
Almost all shmups for the PS2 are originating from Japan and thus have a NTSC-J release. Only a limited ammount of these shmups makes it to the west (although Europe seems to get it´s fair share as opposed to the US).
Afaik NONE of the Cave PS2 ports have been released for non NTSC-J PS2 systems, and this alone makes it VERY attractive to get one.

Therefore from a shmuppers point of view a Japanese or Asian PS2 > other PS2.

I got the Sakura limited edition. Pink.

Me too. It´s so much more beautiful than any other PS2!

[Damocles]

You´ll be glad you ordered a NTSC-J PS2! No hassle whatsoever with any Asian PS2 game. No breaking warranty (like I am gonna use that, living in Europe... )

Unless the system gets fried. Swapping disks may be a little pain, but if it goes up in smoke you can still get it replaced. I'll sound like a broken record, but just remember that a buildup of static electricity inside your body can fry your PS2. Even by just turning it on. With your new J-PS2, have something sitting next to the console that you can touch to discharge any built-up electricity. I myself now simply touch the top of the Tekken 5 stick next to the system.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

You´ll be glad you ordered a NTSC-J PS2! No hassle whatsoever with any Asian PS2 game. No breaking warranty (like I am gonna use that, living in Europe... )

Unless the system gets fried. Swapping disks may be a little pain, but if it goes up in smoke you can still get it replaced. I'll sound like a broken record, but just remember that a buildup of static electricity inside your body can fry your PS2. Even by just turning it on. With your new J-PS2, have something sitting next to the console that you can touch to discharge any built-up electricity. I myself now simply touch the top of the Tekken 5 stick next to the system.

By wearing an "anti-static" wriststrap will do the same trick as well -- is invaluable when handling with rare & expensive arcade PCBs..... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Franz the Stampede]

erm, this is kinda of a strange question on a shmups forum...
Almost all shmups for the PS2 are originating from Japan and thus have a NTSC-J release. Only a limited ammount of these shmups makes it to the west (although Europe seems to get it´s fair share as opposed to the US).
Afaik NONE of the Cave PS2 ports have been released for non NTSC-J PS2 systems, and this alone makes it VERY attractive to get one.

Therefore from a shmuppers point of view a Japanese or Asian PS2 > other PS2.

I'm well aware of the fact that shmups are relegated to Japan only in mos cases. Indeed all of my shooting games on Saturna and Dreamcast are Japanese. I just forgot about this and I thought the NTSC-J PS2 might have something else other than Japanes etitles...

[GaijinPunch]

For a modern devices like PS2 you probably won't need a converter.

I can confirm that this is the case. I took the following from Japan, to America for 2+ years, then back to Japan.

-32" Plasma tv
-All sorts of kitchen shit
-Stereo reciever
-About 5 game consoles
-1 PC w/ monitor
-A sybian... oops, uh...

All work fine. Even bought some stuff in the US and brought back here (computer speakers, Aquos flat screen, printer, etc. etc.)

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For a modern devices like PS2 you probably won't need a converter.

I can confirm that this is the case. I took the following from Japan, to America for 2+ years, then back to Japan.

-32" Plasma tv
-All sorts of kitchen shit
-Stereo reciever
-About 5 game consoles
-1 PC w/ monitor
-A sybian... oops, uh...

All work fine. Even bought some stuff in the US and brought back here (computer speakers, Aquos flat screen, printer, etc. etc.)

For Gaijin Punch,

That's reassuring to know that USA 120v A/C electrical devices will work on Japanese 100v A/C... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[stuntman]

I have a white slimline NTSC-J PS2 in my arcade cab (for verts) and a silver slimline NTSC-J PS2 next to my PC (for horis). Money well spent. Well, I'm good at spending it

[neorichieb1971]

I have a US and JP PS2, money well spent.

My JP PS2 is actually a region 3 Asian PS2, the benefit here is PAL support for DVD's. The JP region 2 PS2 doesn't support PAL on DVD.

Well, unless something changed recently.

[Ceph]

I have a US and JP PS2, money well spent.

My JP PS2 is actually a region 3 Asian PS2, the benefit here is PAL support for DVD's. The JP region 2 PS2 doesn't support PAL on DVD.

Well, unless something changed recently.

See, that region-crap is exactly the reason why I didn't think Sony deserved money for more than one PS2 from me. My modded PAL PS2 plays games and DVDs from all regions and the picture doesn't turn green when I watch DVDs via RGB. That's the way it should be in the first place.

Giving Sony money for two Playstations just so you can play the games and watch the movies you legally own seems like sending the wrong signal.

[segasonicfan]

No, it's not. I have a US Slim with a Matrix Infinity Green Dot and it is the greatest way to have your PS2. DVD region free, macrovision free, force PAL 60, VGA support, of course game region free (PSX too), multi disc compatibility, etc etc.........

-Segasonicfan

[rockaroller]

I also have a modded US 50001 3D PS2 with a DMS 3 (firmware 2.4b7) and never had any trouble playing imports or DVDs from any region of the world. So, I'd say that's the way to go. No swapping, no tricks - just pop-in the disc and be happy!
Matrix Infinity is even better, since it has regular firmware updates.

[RotateMe]

Does anyone else with a modded PS2 has occured longer loading times? I wouldn't have noticed because everyone else complained about cave loading times too, but when I watched a superplay (yes it was from the ps2 version) I could clearly notice that the loading times were much shorter. In Ibara for example it takes 5 seconds to load a new level. And this sucks.

No other problems with my modchip though, no need to swap, to push reset, nothing. Though a vote for an original NTSC-J-PS2 because of the loading times.

[barakka]

Does anyone else with a modded PS2 has occured longer loading times?

Modchips have nothing to do with longer loading times, after the chip has faked the authorization it goes to sleeep.

BUT... there are 2 instances where a Modchip will INDIRECTLY influence the loading process:

1) Who has a modchip installed usually uses backups burnt on DVDR, playing those will cause your optical lens unit to wear faster than when used with pressed disks and in the long term games will take longer to load.
Usually a thorough cleaning of the pick-up lens and a tune of the laser power will fix all the problems.

2) Most PS2 units have a design flaw, so it can happen that the laser controller goes mad and that will kill your laser diode and/or your laser controller IC.
To prevent that most (good) modchip installers add some components to the PS2 laser power control.
That *can* slightly lower the capacity of your console to read discs, especially low quality backups or scratched disks. (originals are virtually unaffected by the problem)

NOTE: even un-modded consoles are subject to this problem, having a mod chip (and fix) installed will make your console safer than an un-modded

never had any trouble playing imports or DVDs from any region of the world.

Try playing a PAL disk... An NTSC console (even if it's modded) will not play PAL disks.
Instead, as Ceph wrote, a PAL modded console will play REALLY everything.

My JP PS2 is actually a region 3 Asian PS2, the benefit here is PAL support for DVD's. The JP region 2 PS2 doesn't support PAL on DVD.

It's region 3 so unless it's modded you can only play HK discs.
PAL consoles are region 2 so those can play JPN DVD right out of the box.

See, that region-crap is exactly the reason why I didn't think Sony deserved money for more than one PS2 from me.

Region protection for games has been in the consoles since the NES and all DVD players (except for a few renegade makers ) are region protected.
Is this the usual Sony bashing?

[Ghegs]

Region protection for games has been in the consoles since the NES and all DVD players (except for a few renegade makers ) are region protected.
Is this the usual Sony bashing?

Gamers have short memories and the current fad is to bash Sony, it seems.

[Ceph]

I was in favor of Sony or at least neutral until they pulled that emotion engine chip stunt in Europe. They try to sell us a PS3 that is cheaper to produce and has worse backwards compatibility for a higher price, after letting us wait 4 months longer than the rest of the world. They deserve all the crap that is thrown at them, and then some.

[Renzo]

I just ordered a JP PS2 myself. Hopefully it will arrive early next week while I am off work. To me, I just wanted a system that I could play right away without swapping discs and all that garbage. The price was well worht it...but shipping costs hurt a lot.

[Never_Scurred]

Buying a JPN ps2 is nice if all you play are imports, or if you're scared to man up and pop open your machine. But if all you wanna do is get your nut off to some good Cave shmups and don't need the extra functionality of a mod chip, I can't see why swap discs aren't the way to go. Whats a few seconds of your time when you have saved yourself some money you can spend on games?

And yeah, swapping may wear down your machine faster, but shit, you can find a cheap like new machine for pennies compared to what a new JPN systemcosts-hell you could buy two if you want to....

[Wolf44]

I have a j cermaic white ps2 and I really don't regret the purchase as I love importing.

You do save money by using SM but it can also be a pain, a new ps2 here is roughly 129 cdn I paid 179 + shipping for my j ps2, even with the cost of a mod chip or sm the total would not be all that much higher.

The cons are-

No disc swapping

A japanese console is normaly worth alot more than what us or euro consoles are ( even used ) later on, what I mean is you can find psx and ps2 consoles dirt cheap, but even when ps2 is gone out of stores you will still be able to get some decent coin for a used good shape j ps2. Even j ps1 still goes for ok coin ebay.

Sometimes colors that don't exist here

No SM issues that may arise with certain games FROM THAT REGION

The ac adaptor works in NA wall sockets, only euro would be screwed.

Either way importing japanese games can get costly, even used they can be rather high if in nm shape. For shmups it kicks ass though, and since ps3 still region locks j ps1 and 2 games you might want to pick one up if you plan to get at least 10+ imports.

[VeganZombie]

I can see how the slide method for swapping discs would damage the system in some way, but has anybody had experience with this method?

You just pop open the lid, replace the disc, close the lid and you're all set.

Plus it's pretty cheap - $40 for the cover and the newest SwapMagic.

[Never_Scurred]

sounds like a winner.