Playing Imports
 

No, im not talking about downloading the games. Im talking about buying the legit import copy.. mainly Tales of the Abyss

I have the slimline version

Will this work? Magic Switch Pro (V3)


I know i need the swapmagic discs too. I saw the demo video, looks so easy to install.

anyone try this?

I have an older PS2 and the Swap Magic system. It works fine, but it is a pain in the ass switching discs.

I don't know how it works for the slimlines, but I would recommend a modchip. If your PS2 isn't under warranty then a modchip is ideal. If it is, you can safely still use the Swap Magic system without voiding your warranty whatsoever.

I've been planning for years to get my PS2 modded, but it hasn't happened. Instead, I took the cover off my PS2's drawer(the part where the PS2 logo is, where you can turn it sideways) and tried out the Swap Magic. The discs are for DVD and CD, because some PS2 games are printed on a CD-R, and not a DVD-R, and vise versa.

If you're going to own alot of imports, foreign material etc, a modchip is best(or a japanese/asian PS2, if you're solely going to focus on imports) otherwise the Swap Magic seems fine.

Well, the installation video looked easy..

the little things that pop into place, and you can leave them installed.. plus you can close the lid when playing a game

Then its just, load with swap, insert import and off you go.

Its only 25$ for the kit

Well, it depends. Is your PS2 still under warranty? It's a matter of whether or not you're going to 1) want to swap discs, every time or 2) want to lose your warranty, have the freedom of playing universal PS1/PS2 games.

Might I add, these discs do NOT allow you to play PS1 games. So all those foreign/burned PS1 games are going to be useless unless you buy a modchip.

I dont play PS1 games much ;p and you dont even have to open the console for this mod. No, its not on warranty anymore.

I would post the URL, but i know you cant.. when it comes down to this stuff.

Its just 3 pins, you open the lid.. place the pins where they go.. and your done.

Sounds to good to be true though. The swapping discs, wont bother me.

anyone with a slimline, can help?

Sure, it works just fine. Depending on which model of slimline you have, you might need to unscrew the case though. Playstation 2 models run from v1 to v14, with everything from 11 upwards being slimline models IIRC. The very latest ones require a part of the Magic Switch to be installed inside the case. This will void your warranty

Elixir is talking about using a slide card with the old v1-v10 model PS2, which is a pain in the butt. Magic Switch on the slimlines makes life a lot easier. Once you install the bits, you just boot with Swap Magic, and then swap to your import.

The argument he's making about PS1 games is also a fallacy. It's true that you can't play them with Swap Magic, but the Magic Switch also allows the use of Breaker Pro which is a bootdisk for PS1 games. I use it all the time.

In addition to all of this, modchips for the PSTwo (the slimline) have never been terribly stable, with a certain tendancy to burn out your laser. This is in stark contrast to the PS2 (chunky) which had any number of quality modchips that would last for years. The difference? Sony are using cheapass drive assemblies now. Cheapass everything, if you ask me.

It's not a very big deal, but those Swap Magic discs don't work on dual layered DVDs. They only one on single layered ones. It doesn't really matter very much. There aren't many dual layered games.

Apparently the new Magic switch PRO, says you dont have to open the case. Its three pins that go into various places inside the lid. The video demo was like a minute, looks very easy to install

Oh, does playing backup/imports put more stress on the laser/lens?

is there any chance of tales of abyss and Tales of rebirth being released in the US?

Who cares, this thread isn't to talk about import games, but for people to discuss methods of playing them seeing as how standard PS2s can't play them by default.

Is it really that easy? I always thought it would fuck up your laser... Also, is it true that you don't have to mod your PS2 if you use this Swap Magic thing?

Well yeah. That's the whole reason people buy them. Because there is no permanent modification involved, and the total expense is only around 25 bucks, if you shop wisely. I play more backups/imports now than I do domestics.

The best way to play imports on an unmodded (classic) PS2 is to use HDLoader (requires the network adaptor and a harddrive, obviously). It's a little tricky to get it installed by using the memory card exploit, but once you have it up and running, it works like a charm. Plus, it almost eliminates loading times and works for 99% of all games, including backups and imports. I know I wouldn't want to miss it.

Be sure to not pay any money for this, because the free HDLoader is superior to the "retail" versions (HDAdvance).

I'll be looking into this soon, since you're the second person to recommend it. The tutorials online seem extremely obtuse, and I need to buy both a network adapter AND a hard drive before I can try it, but it seems worthwhile.

I've come close to buying the Swap Magic kit. Because I know dick about modding consoles, and going ahead with something like that at this stage in the Playstation2's life would feel like a waste.

There's a couple of import games I'd like to try. The Digital Devil Saga(s), and the Special Edition of Devil May Cry3. Neither look like they're coming to PAL territory. Saying that, I don't know if they're even compatable with Swap Magic. Must research this more.

In the end it's probably the best option for me.

There are very few games that Swap Magic will not work with. It's worked with every game I threw at it since I got it. Your odds are good, if you are prepared to chance it.

guess ill find out soon - if it works, i just ordered the magic switch PRO V3 and swapmagic 3.6 discs for 24dollars.

hope to get it soon

Does anyone know what size of screw I need for the power/eject button and the flip top?

http://www.modking.com/images/secure...ct_harness.jpg

Just to let everyone here know you can actually install any type of softmod without actually voiding your warranty. A quick tip is to take a HOT blowdryer to the sticker for about 2-3 minutes, then very slowly peel it off WHILE YOU'RE STILL APPLYING THE BLOWDRYER!! You should be good to go. :)

If that works, that is the most hardcore thing I've heard all day. :)

I use swap magic to play my one and only original import game and it works great. Althought sometimes I have issues with the disc clicking and not starting at all but it works after I reset it. I don't know why it happens but as long as it starts working its all good I guess. I just hope it doesn't damage my lens too much.

Well of course, somtimes it just doesn't work and then I have to reset as well. But that's not very often, like in 1 out of 20 cases maybe.

About that "lens damage" rumor, well, of course it's not terribly good for your lens, but all those who're like "omg swapp magic will DEESTORY your lens" are freakin retards. I mean, if you do it carefully, you won't damage anything inside your PS2.

I mean how does that lens damage actually happen. Can it actually get ruined over time from over working it? Last time I checked you would actually have to touch the lens itself in order to damage it which was the case I had for my original psone and GC.
My ps2 still works as well as the day I got it, I just stay away from the lens.

You can damage your lens if you don't close the drive with the Swap Magic instrument after you inserted the DVD; that's really the only possible way to "damage" your lense, unless you're extremely clumsy of course, I mean, there are people who use their Swap Magic tool like a jackhammer

I'm having some trouble. I installed the flip top and started to play Final Fantasy X: International. About 10 minutes into it, it starts making a grinding noise and the voices stop. The characters move around like it's still working, but I don't get voices. Any idea what's wrong?

Is it a back-up or original.

It's original. I tried an English version of FFX and Xenosaga I. They both do it. Xenosaga I won't even load. There's a grinding noise and then everything stops. I checked all the discs. It's not bothering them. I never messed with the laser either when I was putting the top on. I didn't damage it.

did you make sure to exchange the white piece that holds the disc in place. Its either that or maybe something is pressing against the cover or squeezing it out.
I also found that some games work better when in vertical stand, but thats for copies. Worth a shot o_0

I got it to work. It looks like I just had the screws too tight. I loosened them a little and it's working now.

Xenosaga I is on a dual layer disc, and as such if you're using a swapmagic method it won't work. I had this issue too, it made me sad. IThe game now resides on my shelf until i can sort something out so i can play the damn game.

Does the motor even stop spinning if you use the swap magic disc.

When a Swap Magic is used with ANY method, games that exceed 4.37 gigs WILL need to be rebuilt--SW: Battlefront 2 and GT4 for examples. There is a rebuilding file that I found on the internet that worked for me.

Yeah, the laser tries extra hard to read the disc, and since it can't it's just struggling. I'ev done that a couple of times myself on accident, but you don't need to reset, just slide to the left and you're set.

Does anyone know why the PS2 can read Swap Magic discs in the first place? Since it can, I don't know why they don't just create discs using the same method for homebrew apps, instead of all this memory card rubbish I keep hearing about.

Are there any methods for the opposite? I currently own a J-PS2, and would love to play some domestic games without shelling out a lot of cash.

Because it's like a boot device

Umm because that would be much more expensive (just imagine you'd have to buy a special DVD for that each time you want to burn a PS2 game), not to forget that whoever would produce those DVDs would umm violate the law?!

I'm sure violating the law doesn't concern a large portion of PS2 owners.

I'm also pretty sure that Sony don't condone the Swap Magic or the team behind this, either. Even if it doesn't void your warranty, it's still taking off the cover of your disc tray and manually dragging the tray backwards and forwards.

I'm going to end up downloading another Swap Magic disc, because the one I have now I haven't really taken much care of. Switching is just so annoying. I do take good care of my games, but unfortunately I can't say that for the boot discs. Oh well, since my PS2 isn't under warranty and hasn't been for awhile now, this would be a great opportunity to modchip it. Then it'll probably die.

To be more technical, I believe the Swap Magic have the Crazy Taxi image mounted onto them, along with boot devices and files obviously.

Excuse me?

That.... doesn't make any sense. Crazy Taxi, to download, is 129 MB. You can download the Swap Magic disc for 41 MB. If it had the image of Crazy Taxi, it would be over 150 MB in total. And, well, since Swap Magic discs aren't 150 MB, I don't know how you can come to that conclusion.

Why would anyone want to download the fucking Swap Magic Disc? You cannot use a burnt boot CD/DVD...

Actually you can backup the Swap Magic discs, but it will not be a direct boot, making it an even longer process. You can always go about doing a TOC refresh to boot the Swap Magic discs, which also works.

It's still a bunch of hassle though.

Where can I find swap magic and the flip lid for 25 bucks like you guys are saying? I keep looking around and all I can find it for is around 30-35 bucks.

Alright, I realize this thread's a little old, but I thought it might be better to use it than to make a completely new one. For the record, I have read through the whole thread, and it's answered my questions for the most part. However, if possible, I'd like to get some of your opinions. If this would serve better as a stand alone topic, by all means split this post, or whatever needs to be done.

I currently have an old "fat" PS2, and have had this one for a number of years now. It's always run fine, with the exception of a few games. That is, ICO and Growlanser Generations. Both games run fine, but they make a "clicking" noise. However, the old scotch tape method solved that. There's been no trouble since. I think it's also worth noting that I do not have a Harddrive for the PS2.

In prepartion for Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria, I've finally gotten the motivation to get my PS2 to play import games. I have PSX-change 2.0 for my PSX, a disc changer in the same vein as BreakerPro, and that's always worked fine. I'm well aware of the different methods available for the Slimline and Old PS2 models.

My question is whether or not I should invest in a Slimline PS2, and the Magic Switch PRO/Swap Discs set, or if I should go with the Slider/Old PS2 combo.

I know, it sounds like a no brainer, since I already have the old PS2, but I've heard bad things about the the Slider method. I can't remember the specific grievences, but I seem to recall it ruins the motors or something. I've also considered picking up a Slim PS2 in the past, so I wouldn't have to deal with the clicking noises and so forth. But they're still around $130, and after dropping the cash for the Artifact Box, I don't really care to spend an awful lot more. But, the convenience of the Magic Switch sounds nice, in that it's easy to install, allows for PS2 imports, and would allow me to use my PS1 boot disc as well.

So, what do you guys think?

Y halo thar, Breaker Pro?

That works for PS1 much like Swap Magic does for PS2.

Eventually it might do, but I've been sliding my slide card for a year now. The PS2 is 3 years old. It's running like a dream. On the other hand, I've heard bad things about the Slimline, for example, that it doesn't stand up to extended playing sessions too well. Having said that, can you even a buy PS2 that isn't slimline anymore? Choice made.

Right. I've heard bad things about Slimlines as well, which is why I'm asking.

About the slide card method, does that also allow you to use PSX boot discs on the PS2? I'm aware the Magic Switch method works that way, but say you pop in your PSX boot disc, does that work like normal and you follow up with opening the tray, or is that a no go?

I think the best thing to do is get a exploit on the memory card with a program called CogSwap...

Basically what this is, is a Swap Disc loaded on your memory card. You load up the program, use a PS2 disc (a large PS2 data PS2 Disc like GTA for example) then you put your copy and VWALA...works like a charm.

Me myself use HDLOADER with a HDD i modded for many things like the Cogswap method since some games do not work on the HDD...Also...flip top is the best way to go...I hear the slide tool will fuck your PS2 up if you do it to many times.

If anyone needs to learn how to exploit I don't mind teaching...or even doing it for somebody...as long as they supply the memory card..lol

The PSX boot disk (Breaker Pro in my case) works in the exact same way as the PS2 bood disk. There's no real difference in use. I use the slide card method. It works perfectly, although I do get a black border on my import games. I don't get that with PS2 games.

Now this might be an uninformed question (but I researched everywhere and couldn't find otherwise), but why would you even need a Flip Top mod for a slimline PS2? It's just a matter of inserting the swap magic disc, opening the top, and then making the swap? The Swap Magic Disc stops spinning by itself, so would there really be any harm?

I'm asking, because my "big" PS2 just broke down, and all I've got left is my slimline.