• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

PS2: Mod Vs Swap

P

polg

Member
I've just got a slim PS2 (yes VERY late to the party) and I want to play imports. Mostly japanese fighting games and ... um... US releases like katamari (never released in Aussie/NZ where I live).
What are the pros/cons of the options? I'm leaning towards a boot/swap disc (like I do with my gamecube + freeloader) but maybe there's some hidden benefit by modding it. I'm not keen on sending my console away and having some random person molesting it.
 
I say swap disc.

I got it to play the JPN version of DMC3, and after that I started importing other games like a little bitch at a pre-school.

But to truth be told, you should have just bought a slim-JPN PS2 for 100 dollars off ebay or something. Obviously since that's too late, my suggestion is the swap disc.

EDIT: The cons to a swap disc is that it's easier. Flip top is cool. Con's is that it takes a few seconds longer to boot up an import as opposed to a modchip. Also, updates are released for the Swap Magic. I think they are on what..3.2 right now?

Yet, when a modchip becomes obsolete, you just have to take that shit out right? So I guess that's a reasonable con wouldn't you say?
 
I have an older PS2, how effective are PlugMods? I've been interested in playing a few imports I've picked up, like a Chinese version of Time Crisis 3 I picked up from Play-Asia, and some UK games. (I know those'll have problems on my TV, but not on my capture card.)
 
polg said:
I've just got a slim PS2 (yes VERY late to the party) and I want to play imports. Mostly japanese fighting games and ... um... US releases like katamari (never released in Aussie/NZ where I live).
What are the pros/cons of the options? I'm leaning towards a boot/swap disc (like I do with my gamecube + freeloader) but maybe there's some hidden benefit by modding it. I'm not keen on sending my console away and having some random person molesting it.
Click to expand...

At least with the swap trick you still keep your 1 year warranty. Its more fiddly but it works.
 
Woah, what? There's ways to play imports without hardware mods? Why didn't I know about this? :( :(. I really want to play Raiden III and was thinking about getting a Japanese PS2.

So, Swap Magic is what I should be looking for?
 
Is there any way to play import Playstation titles on the Playstation 2? Do any of these methods work?
 
I cannot access to the auctions website I use (blocked by proxy) but... just google Swap Magic. I'm quite sure that's what many people use around here.
 
I dont like swap I think it kinda ruined my ps2. If you do use it make sure your carefull and go really slow and you should have no problems.
 
I use the hd loader. I take my original imports, make an iso image, and transfer it to the ps2 hdd by plugging it to my pc. You have to do this with imports since the hd loader will detect that it's a foreign disc and it will prevent you from transfering it to your hd
 
Modding is the way to go. No swap disc crap over a new release not working (had this happen with The Rumblefish most recently), needing to use the CD swap disc instead of the DVD one, etc. It's annoying, and it sucks when it doesn't work. I have a Japanese PS2 as well, so that was my back-up system.

But I figured why have two systems when I can just buy a modded slim PS2 instead? I took my U.S. slim PS2 and sold it for $100, then bought a premodded system for about $220. Works great.
 
I'm trying to decide what to do, too. I've got a US PS2 manufactured I think Sept or Oct 2001, and it's in pretty good condition, seems to be working rather well. I keep my consoles in reasonably good shape. It's standing on the vertical stand too. So I was wondering whether or not I should:

-Get that system modded (I don't care about playing bootlegged games or region free DVDs)
-Buy the swap magic disk (this is the cheapest and the most economical solution - but I've heard that it can wear down your drive really fast, plus my system is pretty old)
-Buy an import slimline PS2 from somewhere like Play Asia or NCSX.
-Buy a premodded one (extremely expensive)

I have 2 PSX imports, and so far one whole PS2 import - ESPGaluda. I'm planning on getting Mushihime-sama too for my birthday.
 
I was so pissed when a modder I went to... who are least was being honest.... said I shouldn't get my particular PS2 modded. I have the 5000 series I guess (that's what he says) and that there was a small chance, but a chance nonetheless, that it could fry the system. But I got pissed when he said that if I had a 3000 series I would be golden... cuz I did but another mod shop did such a piss-poor job that it ruined my system...

... if you live in NYC, don't go to J&L in Chinatown. Those fuckers are a rip-off. Anyhow...

I then said that how about I just get a brand new slim PS2, and the guy said that was cool, so long as a took a 10 minute break every 2 hours of play. Less than re-assuring.

I still don't know what to do. :(
 
Sai said:
Is there any way to play import Playstation titles on the Playstation 2? Do any of these methods work?
Click to expand...

Action Replay let's you do that, as does all mod chips.

As for the swap vs mod question, I'm a swap user, and it really does get so annoying that I'll often play something else just so I don't have to swap. If you can afford a modchip, get it. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle.

10 minute break every 2 hours? Sounds like absolute bollocks to me. I've never heard of anyone with a modchip treat their PS2 any differently than if it was unmodded. Also, there are modchips for every PS2 version, certainly the 5000 series too. That shop sounds super dodgy.
 
If you have a non-slim PS2 then I would recommend going the Hard Drive route for playing imports.

The added benefit of the HD is the reduced load times. Most games work with HD Loader.

All you need is a HD, Network Adaptor, Memory Card and PSOne game to use to Boot HD Loader.
 
I think there is a solderless DMS chip. That should be by far the best thing. Not sure if its slim compatible.
 
Gek54 said:
I think there is a solderless DMS chip. That should be by far the best thing. Not sure if its slim compatible.
Click to expand...

How does it work? Does it plug in the memory card port? I'd really like to know.
 
FortNinety said:
How does it work? Does it plug in the memory card port? I'd really like to know.
Click to expand...

I was reading something about this... you still need to open the console up and snap it onto the motherboard, and connect wires. Looked rather complicated, as someone who doesn't know anything about electrical engineering. I'm considering going the Japanese console route.
 
If anyone wants to buy a modded PS2, I'm selling my old fatty version PS2 with a DMS3 modchip for $120... Plus I'll throw in all my games.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PS2 Soft Modding Scene: Paging Local Modding Experts
16
166
polybius80 replied
What’s your favorite PS2 game?
2 3
106
458
L'Empereur Hadrien replied
Is PS5 the second coming of PS2?
2 3 4 5
215
618
onQ123 replied
DF: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Switch 2 Demo vs PlayStation 4 vs PlayStation 5 vs Xbox!
Analysis  2
66
735
Go_Ly_Dow replied
Nanite vs LODs
2
181
Radical_3d replied
Top Bottom