Blog Archives
Playing PS2 Games Over SMB with Raspberry Pi 4 is Awesome
Hey everyone,
So I am a big fan of the raspberry pi since the first model, and right now I am an owner of both the raspberry pi zero w and now the raspberry pi 4 (4GB) model.
Did you know that if you are a modded ps2 user using OPL, there is a cool way of loading games over SMB without using a laptop, PC, or a router? Yes, its called using the rasberry pi 4 (which I’ll call RPI4).
Granted, the RPI4 is a bit overkill for just hosting a smb server, but I like to use it for other things such as a media center or on the fly retro gaming machine.
Whatever the case maybe, I made a quick tutorial today and have hosted it on my youtube channel. I’ve also posted the video below.
If you are interested in learning more, check out toolboc’s github at: https://github.com/toolboc/psx-pi-smbshare
PS2 Fortuna Project – Alternative for FMCB for PS2 9K models!
Revisions:
4/22/20: Initial release.
Hey everyone,
With the covid-19 going on and a lot of people staying at home, I thought it was about time to write a quick post related to one of my favorite game consoles of all time, the PS2.
If you have been following me on my youtube channel (Project Phoenix Media), we know that the ps2 homebrew scene is very active.
One project that has gotten some light over the last few months is the Fortuna Project. In short, it is a way to load homebrew programs on your ps2, and the best thing is it is compatible with all PS2 models, even the SCPH-9K series. If you didn’t know, FMCB is not compatible with all SCPH-9K PS2 systems, but the Fortuna Project gets around that.
I speak about it in more detail via my video below.
Also, for those who are looking to purchase a modded memory card either with FMCB and/or Fortuna Project installed, send me a quick email at vstpower at gmail dot com and let’s discuss options.
The difficult part of getting started is you need the tools to begin with to even softmod your memory card. In some cases, it may be cheaper to just get a modded memory card rather than invest in the tools itself.
Anyway, see the video below for an overview of Fortuna Project, and if you got questions, ask them on youtube or come join me on the discord.
Stay safe!
How To Install Cover Art for Fat PS2 Installed Games and OPL 0.9.3
Revisions:
8/19/17: Initial release.
Hey guys,
I just wanted to make this quick block post and link a video that I made on my youtube channel that shows the user how to easily add game cover art to your games that are installed on your internal fat ps2 hard drive.
The process is not that difficult and it breaks it down to the following steps:
- Install games to internal hard drive using WinHIIP
- Using the OPL Manager program, you can have it locate your games on your PC and get the cover art files. These are saved to the ‘ART’ folder.
- Copy the ‘ART’ folder to usb thumb drive or usb hard drive.
- Start PS2, go to ulaunchelf, and then copy the ‘ART’ folder from the usb device to your +OPL partition that is on the internal hard drive of the fat PS2.
- Start OPL, and make sure cover art is enabled. Then it should work!
See video tutorial below for more details.
How To Play PS1 USB Games on Modded PS2 Using Popstarter
Revisions:
3-24-16: Initial release.
Hey guys,
So recently I finally got the time to do a proper popstarter USB video. If you are not familiar with Popstarter, basically what it does is when you have the proper files, you can play your PS1 games via USB on the PS2 that is modded (can be modchip or FMCB) and the game compatibility is very high. See the video tutorial at the end of this post for exact process details. But in a nutshell, the process is as follows:
- Get the all the correct software from Assemblergames: Link
- The software is Cue2Pops v2.0 along with the gui program
- Get the stable and beta version of popstarter.
- Extract Cue2Pops program into its own folder. Extract the GUI program and put that into the Cue2Pops root folder.
- Get the PFS_WRAPS.BIN file from the WIP 05 zip file and extract that to the desktop.
- Get the POPSTARTER.ELF file from the WIP 06 zip file and extract that to the desktop.
- Format a USB thumb drive or external hard drive as FAT 32.
- Create a “POPS” folder without quotes on the root of your FAT 32 usb device. Inside this “POPS” folder, put the PFS_WRAPS.BIN file in there. You also want another file called “POPS.PAK”. Use google to find it, or check out this boring link here.
- Now find a PS1 game that is a .bin and .cue file extension. Run the CUE2Pops gui program, give it the input file of the .cue, and the output path should be your POPS folder on your usb device. Convert it over.
- Now take the POPSTARTER.ELF file from the desktop, and put that into the root of your usb device (or in a folder), and name it like this without quotes “XX.nameofgame.elf”. For example, “XX.Marvel vs Capcom.elf”.
- Now eject the hard drive, plug into the PS2. Turn it on, navigate to Ulaunchelf and then go to your MASS drive and run the .elf file for your game. If all done correctly, the game will load and you will have a good time! Enjoy!
Video Tutorial:
How to Fix PS2 Memory Card Read and Write Issues
Revisions:
1-17-15: Initial release.
So recently I tried to install FMCB to a memory card I got from a friend, and my PS2 would not read it! I almost thought it was broken, until I decided to open up the memory card and clean the contacts with an eraser. Once I did that, all my issues went away!
See video tutorial below for more details:
[How To] Play Watch Dogs (PC) With PC or PS2 USB Controller Tutorial
Revisions:
5-31-14: Initial release.
Watch Dogs for PC was recently released, and since it is strictly a 64 bit game for Windows, you are going to have to do some extra work to get your PC USB game controller or a PS2 type controller to work properly with Watch Dogs. The basic outline of how this works is below. The download links are in the video description of the Youtube Video tutorial.
- Download latest copy of x360ce.
- Download the x64 binaries.
- Extract x360ce into the Watch Dogs main directory. Run it and configure your controller.
- Now exit the program, and copy over the x64 binaries.
- Run the game, and your game controller should be recognized.
Youtube Video: Click here for the main download links.
vstPower Playstation 2 Playlist
Revisions:
10-30-12: Initial release.
Some of you guys know this, but some may not, but I run a Youtube channel called vstPower. I could tell you the sad sob story of how GameDexterity was shut down by youtube after 3 years, 9400+ subs, but I’m not going to.
That is what the first video upload on vstPower channel is all about. Rather, I am here to talk about something else that most people may not even realize, and that is about the PS2 playlist!
In the coming weeks, I will go back to old PS2 articles I have written and update them so that they reference the correct video, but in the meantime, did you know that everything that you need to know about PS2 modding, FMCB, and more is right here under your nose?
All you got to do is check out the PS2 playlist, watch a few videos, and get up to speed! But don’t take my word for it, as they say, seeing is believing.
Click the link below, check out some of the PS2 videos, and if you got questions, either leave a comment on the Youtube video, or leave one here. Thanks!
PS2 Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FB2D7062B84BBBA
The PSX-Scene.com – Legal Playstation News for Enthusiasts
Revisions:
4-5-11: Initial release.
Do you own a Sony game device? Maybe its a PS1, PS2, or a PSP. Did you know that all Sony game products are jail-breakable or moddable? I am a proud owner of several Sony devices, and I have taken great joy in jailbreaking them to do things that the consumer was not able to do in the first place. The greatest feat of it all is being able to make backups of my games so then I can preserve the original copies.
However, we know that the Playstation scene is a constantly moving force. It is can be tough sometimes to find good and legit news that isn’t faked, or maybe you want to know about the latest homebrew programs or hacks for your favorite Sony device. Where do you get started?
Read the rest of this entry
How To Connect Playstation Dual-Shock Controllers to PC
Revisions:
1-15-10: Initial release.
9-13-12: Fixed video link.
Do you have a spare Playstation 1 or Playstation 2 controller? Did you ever wish you could connect it to your PC to play your Emulator or possibly PC games?
How is it done? Easy! You have to go and purchase a Playstation to PC adapter, and these adapters are fairly cheap, especially if you go online. I bought mine from Amazon before X-mas last year, and after shipping the total was under $5 USD!
How it works is you connect the Playstation controllers to the adapter (1 or 2), and then you connect the USB to the PC. No driver download required! The one I got works great on XP and Windows 7.
Watch the video tutorial below and see what you might have been missing.
[How To] Install Programs to FMCB and Show Up Main Menu of FMCB (Fat or Slim PS2)
Revisions:
11-1-10: Initial Release.
9-13-12: Fixed video tutorial link.
Hey guys, a text tutorial will be coming with pictures (maybe), but for now please watch my tutorial video below for the quick way.
Pre-req:
1) Fat or Slim PS2
2) FMCB already installed on the memory card.
3) A USB thumb drive to hold your homebrew programs that you got off the internet. SKSapps.com is a good site to get your homebrew programs.
Now watch the video below and learn the concept of adding programs to the memory card, and how to make them show up on the main menu!
Welcome to the Underground. 