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Ishmael

2790th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 04:42

Recently I've been toying with the idea of getting into the import PS2 scene. Trouble is, I don't know where to begin. Should I simply buy a Japanese PS2? If so, should I order through something like Amazon Japan or should I be looking at some other, smaller, retailer? Should I look into getting a modded PS2 instead? When I have looked into the world of system modification before it always struck me as a dubious enterprise where you needed to know someone who knew someone in order to get the best possible work done. Has PS2 modding become a more simple, inexpensive process as the years have progressed?

Thanks in advance for any help or answers.

Replies:

Maou

1047th Post

Red Carpet Premium Member

"Re(1):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 05:56

Hey Ish, I wonder if you couldn't get a Japanese PS2 cheap enough to make it worth it nowadays...I haven't soldered anything (or actually, made a friend solder anything) since PS1 days. I bet ebay sells them cheap enough when they do appear. Don't count on Amazon Japan, unfortunately. If you aren't currently residing in Japan they won't ship game stuff to you. Most other things yes, but video games no, so you'll be stuck with NCSX or Play Asia or Pink Godzilla (they seem fun for US gamers) or someone, which is too bad. I think Mail Order Japan was good for personally finding you exactly what you order, but of course that comes with a price.

人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．

Digitalboy

415th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(2):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 06:26

MAGIC SWAAAAAAP!!!

I have this on this and a Japanese PS2. If you have the money get it. If you are on a budget and willing to break the warranty on your PS2, mod it.

I don't know how to live
But I've got alot of toys...

Evenor

553th Post

New Red Carpet Member

"Re(1):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 06:44:

quote:
Recently I've been toying with the idea of getting into the import PS2 scene. Trouble is, I don't know where to begin. Should I simply buy a Japanese PS2? If so, should I order through something like Amazon Japan or should I be looking at some other, smaller, retailer? Should I look into getting a modded PS2 instead? When I have looked into the world of system modification before it always struck me as a dubious enterprise where you needed to know someone who knew someone in order to get the best possible work done. Has PS2 modding become a more simple, inexpensive process as the years have progressed?

Thanks in advance for any help or answers.

YOU STOLE MY FUTURE TOPIC/POST.

I share your same concerns! It will be most helpful if more people could share their import experiences.

as for peeping　ティッシュはここに不要です
in the bathroom　エコロジストな僕なら

[this message was edited by Evenor on Fri 13 Apr 06:48]

Pollyanna

2195th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(2):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 07:27

Just get a fliptop lid and Swapmagic. It's easy to find, cheap requires no soldering, is pretty much impossible to mess up, and takes very little time to boot.

Digitalboy

416th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(3):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 07:52

SWAP MAAAAAGIC!!!

That was what I meant. Hey Pollyanna do you have The Rumblefish?

quote:
Just get a fliptop lid and Swapmagic. It's easy to find, cheap requires no soldering, is pretty much impossible to mess up, and takes very little time to boot.

I don't know how to live
But I've got alot of toys...

hikarutilmitt

381th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(4):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 09:27

quote:
SWAP MAAAAAGIC!!! That was what I meant. Hey Pollyanna do you have The Rumblefish? Just get a fliptop lid and Swapmagic. It's easy to find, cheap requires no soldering, is pretty much impossible to mess up, and takes very little time to boot.

I third Swap Magic. There's a lot of fun stuff you can do with it, which includes running imports and installing the memory card exploit to run HDLoader if you have a fat PS2. This makes importing just that much easier.

Yes, IMPORTING.

Pollyanna

2197th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(4):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 09:35

quote:
SWAP MAAAAAGIC!!! That was what I meant. Hey Pollyanna do you have The Rumblefish?

No, but a friend of mine does...or rather, did. Oddly enough it didn't work on his system, but it worked on mine with the same setup. It's the game that doesn't work with SwapMagic, isn't it?

hikarutilmitt

382th Post

Silver Customer

"Re(5):PS2 and imports" , posted Fri 13 Apr 10:43

quote:
SWAP MAAAAAGIC!!! That was what I meant. Hey Pollyanna do you have The Rumblefish?

No, but a friend of mine does...or rather, did. Oddly enough it didn't work on his system, but it worked on mine with the same setup. It's the game that doesn't work with SwapMagic, isn't it?

Not to answer for him, but yes, it is. It simply, for whatever reason, will not run with stock Swap MAgic and requires some goofy crap to run it OR an edited ISO to run it at all. It's the biggest pain in the ass game to get running normally I've ever witnessed.

HAYATO

772th Post

Red Carpet Regular Member+

"Re(6):PS2 and game copiez" , posted Fri 13 Apr 14:48

I bought my PS2 slimline about 6 months ago, and sent it to a PC store nearby for them to install a "Matrix Infinity v1.82" modchip the very same day I got the console. It was about 100 € worth, but it saved me a lot of time , and allowed me to rentabilize my purchase in about 2 weeks. I don't know about the legal status and geografical coverage of modding there in USA, but here in Spain it's the most common of all the available solutions to your "problem".

crazymike

1282th Post

Red Carpet Executive Member

"Re(7):PS2 and game copiez" , posted Fri 13 Apr 23:35

I have a v1 Playstation 2 which blows because there are few modding solutions for it.

Digitalboy

417th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(6):PS2 and imports" , posted Sun 15 Apr 00:27

Pollyanna, not to gloat or anything like that, but did I not try to tell you that a long time ago. And everyone thought I was mad, I showed you all!

quote:
SWAP MAAAAAGIC!!! That was what I meant. Hey Pollyanna do you have The Rumblefish?

No, but a friend of mine does...or rather, did. Oddly enough it didn't work on his system, but it worked on mine with the same setup. It's the game that doesn't work with SwapMagic, isn't it?

Not to answer for him, but yes, it is. It simply, for whatever reason, will not run with stock Swap MAgic and requires some goofy crap to run it OR an edited ISO to run it at all. It's the biggest pain in the ass game to get running normally I've ever witnessed.

I don't know how to live
But I've got alot of toys...

Maou

1050th Post

Red Carpet Premium Member

"Re(7):PS2 and imports" , posted Sun 15 Apr 02:39:

ye have sown in the field of Rumblefish, and now you reap only ruin!!

PS: fish

人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．

[this message was edited by Maou on Sun 15 Apr 02:40]

tweleve
140th Post

Regular Customer

"Re(8):PS2 and game copiez" , posted Sun 15 Apr 05:52

quote:
I have a v1 Playstation 2 which blows because there are few modding solutions for it.

Can you not use HDAdvance, Network Adaptor and Hard Drive?

00100.01001.00101

Ishmael

2792th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(9):PS2 and legit games" , posted Sun 15 Apr 06:37

Hmm, it sounds like Magic Swap, Swap Magic, Magical Swap or whatever it's called might be a non-intrusive way to play imports. While the compatibility issues concern me it would save me from getting a JPN PS2 and having yet another console taking up space in my place. Thanks for the help everyone.

Digitalboy

418th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(10):PS2 and legit games" , posted Sun 15 Apr 12:35

Do you need a website to shop for it or do you have it already?

quote:
Hmm, it sounds like Magic Swap, Swap Magic, Magical Swap or whatever it's called might be a non-intrusive way to play imports. While the compatibility issues concern me it would save me from getting a JPN PS2 and having yet another console taking up space in my place. Thanks for the help everyone.

I don't know how to live
But I've got alot of toys...

Maou

1052th Post

Red Carpet Premium Member

"Re(2):Re(10):PS2 and legit games" , posted Sun 15 Apr 14:35

List 'em anyway! Aside from Play Asia, NCSX, Pink Godzilla, and then Mail Order Japan for special orders, there's not much I know of that's legit.

人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．

Digitalboy

420th Post

Gold Customer

"Re(3):Re(10):PS2 and legit games" , posted Sun 15 Apr 16:26

This is the place where I received mine.

quote:
List 'em anyway! Aside from Play Asia, NCSX, Pink Godzilla, and then Mail Order Japan for special orders, there's not much I know of that's legit.

I don't know how to live
But I've got alot of toys...

Ishmael

2795th Post

Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master

"Re(4):Re(10):PS2 and legit games" , posted Tue 17 Apr 00:23

quote:
This is the place where I received mine.
List 'em anyway! Aside from Play Asia, NCSX, Pink Godzilla, and then Mail Order Japan for special orders, there's not much I know of that's legit.

Thanks for the listings. There are plenty of shops out there but finding the reliable ones isn't always the easiest thing to do.