Understanding the new PS2...

[CoreCore]

Okay, i own a new PS2 (SCPH-90001 CB/97706) & new 8MB memcard (MagicGate SCPH-10020 U/97027), and i own various old PS2/PS1 game CD/DVDs, and i own various PCs running WinXP Pro SP3.

What i'd like to know is how do i create new copies of my PS2 game CD/DVDs that i may use in my new PS2? What copy protection do the PS2/PS1 CD/DVDs have, either in software or physical form that may prevent me from using simple copies? Or, may i just use my WinXP ImgBurn software to make copies of my own PS1/PS2 games? Or is there more to it all?

I would also like to know to what practical use i may put the two USB ports on my new PS2 console?

Also, i would like to know to what practical use i may put the (broadband?) network port on my new PS2 console?

I have gamed on PCs since Apple][ days, i'm no stranger to mods, tweaks, emulators, making ISO files, etc. on PCs for my games, i'm just very new to consoles themselves and i chose a PS2 because a new PS3 cannot run PS2 games (or can it?).

It seems that their are a myriad of ways over the last 12 years to do all kinds of PS2 console stuff, i just cannot seem to separate the old from the newest, please help! Tia! =)

[spud42]

there are two ways to mod a new console. this is because the big S changed the bios for the newer models since date code 8c so that FMCB will not boot at powerup.

the two ways are.

1. install a modchip that has dev 1 boot capability. ( expensive)

2. get a copy of SWAPMAGIC 3.6 or 3.8 coder. this is cheaper than a modchip.

once you have either of these methods you can start any homebrew including emulators, file managers, game launchers.
the best one for a new slim would be OPL. this can play games from either USB or better from a network share on your PC.

there are many posts on this topic so do a search and a bit of reading.......

[RandQalan]

Hey spud42 you pirated my Big S

[CoreCore]

there are two ways to mod a new console. this is because the big S changed the bios for the newer models since date code 8c so that FMCB will not boot at powerup.

the two ways are.

1. install a modchip that has dev 1 boot capability. ( expensive)

2. get a copy of SWAPMAGIC 3.6 or 3.8 coder. this is cheaper than a modchip.

once you have either of these methods you can start any homebrew including emulators, file managers, game launchers.
the best one for a new slim would be OPL. this can play games from either USB or better from a network share on your PC.

there are many posts on this topic so do a search and a bit of reading.......

Thank you for your reply, anyone know why the modchips and SwapMagic/Coder products so old, and hard to find online? Why the SwapMagic or Coder disks, does anyone know why we just don't burn our own "Magic" CD/DVD for our PS2 to use? I guess i do not know why PS2 disks are so hard to copy, can any tell me why they are? (i assume they are..., but why?). Tia! =)

[spud42]

Thank you for your reply, anyone know why the modchips and SwapMagic/Coder products so old, and hard to find online? Why the SwapMagic or Coder disks, does anyone know why we just don't burn our own "Magic" CD/DVD for our PS2 to use? I guess i do not know why PS2 disks are so hard to copy, can any tell me why they are? (i assume they are..., but why?). Tia! =)

i suppose that the disks are hard to find because the PS2 is not new and there is no money in producing for a shrinking market.

as for burning your own SWAPMAGIC disk.... disk validty is checked by the MECHACON...... sony's anti copy/piracy method. also PS2 disks are not std PC format.... this is simplified.... do some reading as these type of questions have been asked repeatedly since the PS2 came out !!!!

[CoreCore]

i suppose that the disks are hard to find because the PS2 is not new and there is no money in producing for a shrinking market.

as for burning your own SWAPMAGIC disk.... disk validty is checked by the MECHACON...... sony's anti copy/piracy method. also PS2 disks are not std PC format.... this is simplified.... do some reading as these type of questions have been asked repeatedly since the PS2 came out !!!!

Okay, thanks for that, i checked out the term you used "MechaCon" and found this very useful explanation thread:h tea tea pea colon slash slash assemblergames dot com slash forums slash showthread dot php?t=25064&page=2

But, i do not know what you mean by "PC format", is there such a format? My burner should be able to burn any format software allows, just like an OS might format any filesystem it is built to... has anyone determined if PS2 disks have physical copy protection? Do these "magic" disks also have this?

[spud42]

PS2 disks are not std ISO9660 disks. they can be copied and written EXCEPT for the physical copy protection. if this was the case then there would be no need for mod chips or softmodding....any game could just be copied and away you go... lol

yes swapmagic disks are pressed like bought games they have the correct info to boot..... i believe that they are actually a modified game disk... but its been a while since i bothered with that info... i just used the disk i have and install FMBC for anyone who wants it.... in Australia of course...

[SP193]

Actually, all Playstation 2 optical discs use the ISO9660 (ECMA-119) standard filesystem and are all 100% compliant with that standard.

But you can say that those (physical) discs are not regular optical discs, since they contain specific data in ATIP wobble area.

[spud42]

there you go i learn something new..lol

i thought they had a different sector size though?

[SP193]

there you go i learn something new..lol

No problem. I'm glad to be of some help here.

i thought they had a different sector size though?

Not at all. The sector sizes are all physically 100% compliant with the original CD-ROM and DVD standards.

That is why you can dump and access Playstation 2 optical discs with regular PCs.

The part that won't get copied nor understood, however, is the data written in the ATIP wobble area. That region is usually out of the range of most optical drives, and contains the data that tells the PS2 which region the disc is targeted for.