[How To] Get Started with PS2 and Backups (Novice Guide)
This is just a guide to let users know what they can do with the PS2. The Underground Staff does not advocate piracy, and this is just an informational guide. We cannot be held liable for what you do with this information. I am just repeating information that I have across the net and am just going to re-iterate for Underground needs. :p
It is my understanding that some people know about the whole scene related to PS2 modding, and some don’t. Perhaps some are just getting onto the bandwagon, and perhaps some have moved onto other consoles for modding and left their PS2 in the dust.
Whatever the case may be, I am going to explain what PS2 modding is, why you may be interested, and how you can do it. Please note that modding the PS2 is not illegal, it is the intention of what you may do with it is illegal. The DMCA thing is not very clear, nor has it been, but I assume it is all right to make back up copies of games you own. It is illegal to get backed up copies of games that you don’t own. It is just stealing. I will leave it to that. What you do is your own business. :p
All right, so you want to learn more about PS2 modding? What is modding? In essence, it is unlocking the power of your PS2 to run homebrew programs (user created programs), or to make it do things that it wasn’t meant to do like playing backed up games. Now the Underground has tutorials on PS2 modding. To find more about these tutorials, go to the categories section and search for PS2 modding tutorials, or just go to the “Search” bar and search for PS2 table of contents. This has everything you want to know related to modding so far.
Remember that there are two versions of the PS2 - the fat PS2 and the slimmer PS2. I have dealt with both consoles, and I have used Swap Magic on both so I know what needs to be done to make this work.
What is a modchip? It used to be a chip that you bought online and had to open up your PS2 console and solder it to the circuit board (or you can get a non-solder version). Those days are long gone. Now there are new utilities that allow you to run PS2 games off a hard drive connected to the PS2, or there is my favorite - Swap Magic. Swap Magic is a boot disc that allows you to load your backed up PS2 games easily without additional effort.
How does it work? Please see this article for more information: http://versatile1.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/how-to-find-swap-magic-for-ps2/
Ok, so for the fat PS2 with Swap Magic, you need to make a slide card. A slide card is a little card that you use to pull out your DVD tray once Swap Magic is loaded. For a slim PS2, you can’t use a slide card because the system has a flip-top. Instead, you need to block 3 cover sensors in conjunction with Swap Magic to make this work. Search youtube for slim ps2 and swap magic to find all sorts of videos detailing how this works.
PS2 modding is easy, and it may be worth it. Although I am not appraising this scenario, I know there are people who have tons of PS2 games either they downloaded or ripped and they don’t own the original retail disc. The PS2 is on the last of its legs, so it may not be long before the PS2 officially dies. However, as of this writing, new PS2 games are coming, but nothing groundbreaking. Gran Turismo, God of War, GTA, and Devil May Cry already paved the road for greatness already. :0
To find more PS2 tutorials, go to this link: I hope this helps!
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