How easy is it to play imports on PS2?

[noiseredux]

maybe a stupid question -- but doesn't Action Replay etc allow you to play imports?

[Ziggy]

I think so, as well as out of region DVD movies too. But I've read that the PS2 AR can corrupt memory cards often.

[AppleQueso]

if the Ps2 AR could play imports there'd be no need for swap magic.

[Ziggy]

The PS2 AR can't play imports with a slide tool?

[AppleQueso]

last I heard it could only play imported DVDs?

[Ziggy]

Well I definitely remember that much, so maybe I just assumed that meant it could play import games as well.

[D.D.D.]

What I mean is, if you're gonna pay for something, I would go with HD Advance over Swap Magic.

I'd rather just play from the actual disc than load onto a harddrive.

I bought a chipped PS2 slim. Works on everything PS1 and PS2 regardless of JP or US region (probably PAL too but I don't have any). Worth every cent. In the end, I hated using Swap Magic. If HD Advance is accurate to playing off a disc, I'd consider that over a chipped PS2.

[Ziggy]

HD Loader/Advance is great. Games load so much faster. Other than that, there is no difference from using the retail disc.

But noise, if you don't wanna go this route, personally I would go with a chip as my second option before I went with swap magic. Maybe you don't mind swapping discs every time you wanna play a game, but I find it annoying. But I guess if you don't mind swapping, then that's probably the easiest option for you.

Here's all the Swap Magic, HD Advance, flip tops and slide cards that ModChip.ca carries:
http://www.modchip.ca/store/home.php?cat=269

[CRTGAMER]

What I mean is, if you're gonna pay for something, I would go with HD Advance over Swap Magic.

I'd rather just play from the actual disc than load onto a harddrive.

Once you try the menu driven HDAdvance/HDLoader internal hard drive, you'll love the convenience and speed!

I bought HDAdvance. Well worth having the convenience of on the fly install everytime I get a new game. Sure a little slow to install by direct method, but beats having to deal with dragging the PS2 over to the PC for network or internal drive changes. The time saved not having to make temporary ISOs in the PC. HDLoader is one of the "game" selections for tricky Dual Layer games such as God of War.

Get a fat and throw in a flip top, HDAdvance/HDLoader and an internal IDE/PATA drive. Install all the imports as well as Pal games that have a 60hz mode. PAL ICO comes to mind. There are a few games that won't work, but most run with a lot faster load. The Slim doesn't work well with a USB driven external Hard Drive, too slow.

I wrote a guide here that might help:
PS2 HARD DRIVE HDAdvance/HDLoader Guide

[Ziggy]

Sure a little slow to install by direct method, but beats having to deal with dragging the PS2 over to the PC for network or internal drive changes.

My PS2 is permanently attached to the second NIC on my PC via a crossover cable. There are so many options though.