PS2 Memory Card question

[Flake]

What type of memory format is a typical (read: Licensed) PS2 Memory card? Do they use batteries? Or is it some kind of flash memory. I've tried to look this kind of info up on the internets but either it isn't about or I don't know how to find it.

While any kind question answerer is at it, I've the same question about the PS1 card as well.

[CRTGAMER]

Flash Memory, no batteries, 8mb.
For PS2, Sony Made Red, Blue and Black ones.



Nyco made these. which are also sanctioned by Sony



The key is to look for the word Magic Gate.

[Flake]

Hmmm...I've one fail before, quite unexpectedly. Any idea what could cause that? Or how likely it is to happen to any given card?

[Niode]

Flash memory only works for so many writes. It could be that you maxed the amount of possible writes out (very unlikely), the flash memory suffered from bit-rot and required formatting (unlikely), the contacts were corroded (reasonably possible), you had a cheap quality knock off (likely) or it was a crappy 3rd party memory card (very likely).

[CRTGAMER]

Sony Memory pretty reliable actually, never had one fail. It could error if you do anything during a save such as power off too soon. Maybe reformat?

[Flake]

The one I had fail was a black Sony model with the Magic Gate on it. This was awhile back. I doubt I'd written to it too many times and physically it seemed fine. Odds are I just had bad luck.

Cool, thanks for the quick answers. Probably saved me $15 bucks on an non-required back up.

[Niode]

Just try and reformat it and see if it works.

Do you only have 1? Crikey, I have 3 and I was still running out of room for all my PS2 games (granted I have over 160 mind) and I was only using them for games that required saving (not bothering with game configs etc on arcade style games). I'm just glad I can have as many virtual memory cards as I want on the PS3.

[J T]

Nyco is good for a 3rd party brand, as far as I gather. I have purchased one of their memory cards that has four 8mb slots that you cycle through with a little button. It's an ugly red thing, but it works far better than the MAX cards. Those things crap out in a few weeks.

[Hobie-wan]

If your card got wet or a bad static charge it might have killed it too. I know people hate old Mad Catz stuff but I've had one of these since early 2001 and never had a problem as well as an official black Sony one I got later.