PS2 still being sold

[k.vlaros]

I'm one of those people that bought a new PS2 Slim in 2011. A launch-window Fat died last summer and I still have copies of Xenosaga and FF XII [and more] to beat. I agree that the price is a little dear, all things considered. $75 seems more fair considering what the Wii offers at $150 and the Xbox sinking below $200.

[noiseredux]

Keep in mind that newer PS2 will not support FreeMcBoot. The vulnerability was fixed in hardware starting with Q3 2008 models. A modchip or Swapmagic is your only option.

really? Never heard that. What model #'s would this be? I think mine is a 90001 if I recall. Works well with FMB.

[Ziggy]

AH, now that you said that, I kinda recall reading about it. Is there any hope for the community to get FMB working on the newest Slim model? Or is it impossible?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The PS2 is the most versatile console ever built... except for the backwards compatible PS3.

If I ever had to chose just one console to live with for the rest of my life, it'd probably be the PS2.

[Ziggy]

I just wish the emulation scene for the PS2 was more active. What we have right now, as far as I can tell, is pretty limited. It seems like it could be a lot better, but not a lot of people are working on it.

[gtmtnbiker]

AH, now that you said that, I kinda recall reading about it. Is there any hope for the community to get FMB working on the newest Slim model? Or is it impossible?

Impossible unless you find a new memory card exploit.

PS2 Exploits

PlayStation 2
Early versions of the PlayStation 2 have a buffer overflow bug in the part of the BIOS that handles PS1 game compatibility; hackers found a way to turn this into a loophole called the PS2 Independence Exploit, allowing the use of homebrew software. Another option for homebrew development is the use of a modchip. Also, it is possible for developers to utilize a PS2 hard drive and HD Loader.
As of May 2008, there is a superior exploit called Free McBoot, which is applicable to all PS2s including Slimlines except for SCPH-9000x models with BIOS 2.30 and up, where the exploit was patched by Sony. Manufacturing of such homebrew-proof models started in the third quarter of 2008, which is denoted as date code 8C on the console, although some consoles of this line still have the old unpatched 2.20 BIOS.
Unlike the Independence Exploit, which requires a trigger disk, it only needs a Memory Card, which allows it to be used on systems with broken disk drives. The installation is keyed to the Memory Card and will only be usable on the same version consoles that it was originally installed on, unless a Multi-Install is performed. Also, the installation is locked to the region of the original console. The drawback of this exploit is that it needs to be installed/compiled on each individual memory card. Simply copying the exploit is not possible; this means that an already modded or exploited system is required to install FMCB on a Memory Card. However using a homebrew application called UlaunchELF and a swap magic disc, one is able to simply copy the install files to the memory card by running the homebrew using swap magic and a thumbdrive.

[RCBH928]

You can't save ps1 games on ps2 memory cards right?
Of course ps1 memory cards in good condition are probably very rare

[ninjainspandex]

I love my ps2 slim, its my travel console because its so damn small i can fit it into my carry-on easily with a binder of ps1/2 games. I bring it on all my buisness trips makes hotel stays enjoyable. I just hate hotel tvs that have no imputs, where the hell do hotels get these inputless tvs? Do they do it just to be assholes and force u to buy their overpriced payperview? /end rant

[Ziggy]

You can't save ps1 games on ps2 memory cards right?
Of course ps1 memory cards in good condition are probably very rare

No, you can't use PS2 memory cards for PS1 games. What you can do is transfer saves from a PS1 card to a PS2 card and hold them there, and transfer them back to a PS1 card. But a PS1 game can't save to or read from a PS2 card.

PS1 cards aren't rare. At least, not around here they're not.

[noiseredux]

in the past year or so I need two PS1 memory cards. I put up a thread here and one on NA saying "WTB PS1 memory card" -- they're so not rare that on both sites people offered to just send me them for free.