Xenosaga IS working on a French PAL PS2 with Magic2
Hi,
I just bought the US version of Xenosaga for my French PAL PS2 Magic2 Modchip and the game was not loading... I tried normal boot method and PS1 boot method but nothing worked.
I was really upset so I did some google search and discover this fantastic thread from Charlie (THANX MAN !) on this site.
This thread is just to let you know fellow europeans that Xenosaga IS working with my Magic2. It's just that you have to use normal boot method and keep resetting when going on red screen, and from my experience it's more a 1/10 chance than a 1/5.
Anyway Thanks again Charlie !
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DVD9 & NO-SWAP MOD-CHIPS (Updated 30-Oct-02)
I would like to make what I hope is a definitive statement on DVD9.
DVD9 CHARACTERISTICS
DVD9, being dual layer, has low reflectivity as compared with DVD abd DVD-R. According to my information it scrapes through at around 40 to 45% whereas DVD is in the range 65% to 85% and DVD-R in the range 45% to 65%. This low relectivity is necessary to allow light at a different frequency through to the second layer.
So DVD9 operates at one end of laser capability, stretching it to read especially in older units.
DVD9 MOVIES
Many movies are dual layer and play across the PS2 range. There are no complex protection checks associated with DVD9 movies and, if your laser is in reasonable condition, they play without too much difficulty.
DVD9 GAMES
I specially bought Xenosaga so that I could research this for you demanding people.
DVD9 games conform to Sony's special protection check which is a complex algorithm based on a sequence stored in a data wobble deliberately pressed into the groove at the start of the disk.
This deliberate aberration has to be focussed and read in via the laser and this is where, I believe, the PS2 laser has difficulty at such low reflectivity.
We recently chipped a couple of PAL V5s with genuine Magic 2s. They booted Xenosaga first time every time.
When we chipped a US v7 (with any of genuine Magic 2, Magic 2 clone, Apple), Xenosaga would load 1/5 or worse times from the RESET button (usually going to the browser or red screening in the browser).
However we had 100% success booting Xenosaga behind AR2/GS2 v2 without codes. This worked because the groove wobble has been passed OK on the AR2/GS2 disk and when Xenosaga loads, it is handed over to the PS2 at the next stage in booting.
When we chipped the SAME US v7 with a Messiah 2, Xenosaga loaded perfectly first time every time.
So I have revised my conclusion and now believe that there are timing issues (not the case with Messiah 2) that do occur with other non-swap mods in some PS2 models.
__________________
Charlie
My advice is offered at your risk!
Messiah 2 Stockist - charlie_ps2@hotmail.com
NTSC-J 39006 v8 GH-022 Messiah 2 v1.30
PAL 39003 v7 GH-019 Messiah 2
NTSC U/C 39001 v7 GH-019 Messiah 2
JAP 15000 Messiah 2
Pioneer A03 (fw 1.90)
Yamaha 2100S (Running OPC)
