Questions about Swap Magic discs for NTSC-J PS2

[pierrot]

Not sure if this should be in Hacks and Mods, but--.
At the moment, I have an SCPH-77000 model NTSC-J PS2 and a number of US games that have been sitting around for a couple years now without a way for me to play them. Not being able to play R-type Final and such has been getting to me, though.
So I've been looking around for Swap Magic discs, but there seems to be some conflicting info. The Swap Magic website's FAQ doesn't really mention a need to get a different copy for different region systems, but the main page shows three different version for the different regions.

So first off, I'm wondering if there really is a need for me to get the "Japan Version."

I've been looking around for where to get the Japan Version, and I've found this site:
http://www.mod-chip.com/ps2/modchips/sw ... -p-77.html

But is it just me, or is there nowhere on that page to actually purchase the item?

I also found two Japanese distributors in the Swap Magic page's list, but I'm betting they won't ship to the US.

If anyone has any insight into this, I would greatly appreciate it.
When I saw it on mod-chip.com, I thought I would just buy the Japan Version from them, but without any apparent method of ordering it on the website, I'm not sure I want to trust them with my credit card information regardless.

[CRTGAMER]

I have an SCPH-77000 model NTSC-J PS2 and a number of US games that have been sitting around for a couple years now without a way for me to play them. Not being able to play R-type Final and such has been getting to me, though.

I also found two Japanese distributors in the Swap Magic page's list, but I'm betting they won't ship to the US.

Why not just get a spare PS2 NTSC U.S. console? Used PS2s are inexpensive and this will save the headaches of a boot disc every time you want to play a U.S. game.

According to the site, different discs for different regions. You will also need a new Flip Top or the Slide Tool. The replacement Flip Top is the best method if you really want to deal with a boot disc.

http://www.swapmagic3.com/



Swap Magic 3.6 Japan - Swap Magic 3.6 PAL - Swap Magic 3.6 NTSC US

http://www.swapmagic3.com/superufopro8/ ... .asp?id=10
Different region of PS2 needs different version of Swap Magic 3.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Just use Free MCBoot!

[pierrot]

Why not just get a spare PS2 NTSC U.S. console? Used PS2s are inexpensive and this will save the headaches of a boot disc every time you want to play a U.S. game.

According to the site, different discs for different regions. You will also need a new Flip Top or the Slide Tool. The replacement Flip Top is the best method if you really want to deal with a boot disc.

Well, I don't really want to get another NTSC-U PS2 mostly because I'd rather save the space. I was also hoping to kill two birds with one stone by using the swap magic to install FMCB, as it seems I'm not able to install it with my third party MC adapter in Linux.

Also, I was planning on using the tissue/tape mod instead of buying the flip top.
I'm really weirded out by the mod-chip.com website. I don't want to push anyone into going there, but I wonder if some brave soul could confirm or deny the existence of a purchase button on that page. I'm not sure if maybe something in my browser settings is just blocking it.
It looks like I might be able to get one from Amazon Japan (as long as it's classified as a cd/dvd and not a game) but it would be a little bit more expensive.

Just use Free MCBoot!

Right, but then I have to burn all of my games that aren't compatible with the USB loader. Also, my options for installing it are pretty much limited to Swap Magic, or the official MC adapter.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

What about the game swap trick? If you have any of these games in JP format, you should be able to do it for the cost of a DVD-R. Then you can use an import player homebrew program.

http://freemcboot.info/swap.html

[pierrot]

Yeah, unfortunately I don't own any of the games on that list.
I guess I could just pick up a copy of Agent Under Fire to do that with, but I seem to recall that method requiring Windows programs that I'm not sure I would be able to use in WINE. (I don't have Windows.) I use IMGBurn in WINE, but I'm not sure about the others.

"Import player homebrew," you say? This intrigues me. I was under the impression that FMCB is only able to play other region games from backups.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I can't find the homebrew program...where' it go? I'll keep looking.

Another alternative is to burn a Swap Magic disk and run that once FMCBoot is installed. That's pretty cumbersome, though.

Also, if you can't run Apache 1.1 on WINE I can do it for you.

[pierrot]

Thanks for the help.

Another alternative is to burn a Swap Magic disk and run that once FMCBoot is installed. That's pretty cumbersome, though.

Any more cumbersome than using the actual Swap Magic discs?
I'm not sure it would be much easier to find the image files for the Swap Magic Japan Version discs, though.

[jinn]

I'm a chip installer if that's something you might want to have done to your PS2.
I can also install FMCB at no charge, just pay return shipping.

[pierrot]

I'm a chip installer if that's something you might want to have done to your PS2.
I can also install FMCB at no charge, just pay return shipping.

That sounds like an idea.

EDIT: I'm still not entirely convinced that the Swap Magic discs are really console region specific. Some of the documentation seems to contradict that. Is there anyone who might have experience with using Swap Magic on a NTSC-J system?