Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Presents ................................................................ ***************** ********** ***************** * * * * * * ***************** * ***************** * * * * * * * ********** ***************** TM ---------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************* *****Sony PlayStation 2 FAQ v1.83**** ***Written and Produced by TimiAzN*** ****Last Update: February 5, 2004**** ************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------- WARNING: This file was designed to display properly through a Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Other programs may not display the diagrams properly. NOTE: From now on, I will make weekly or biweekly updates only, depending on how much information I have over e-mails and IMs. Contents -------- --->Contact Information<--- ---->Revision History<---- Section 1. About this Guide 1-A. What is the PlayStation 2? 1-B. What do I get when I buy a PlayStation 2? 1-C. How do I hook up my PlayStation 2 to my TV? Section 2. The History of the PlayStation Section 3. The Specifications 3-A. 128-bit Emotion Engine 3-B. 150MHz Graphics Synthesizer 3-C. PlayStation CPU 3-D. Sound 3-E. Miscellaneous Section 4. The Features 4-A. Backwards Compatibility 4-A-1. Games 4-A-2. Peripherals 4-A-3. Compatibility 4-B. Peripherals 4-B-1. Memory Card(8MB) 4-B-2. Dual Shock 2 4-B-3. Vertical/Horizontal Stand 4-B-4. Network Adaptor 4-B-5. Hard Drive(HDD Unit) 4-B-6. DVD Remote 4-B-7. Multitap 4-B-8. Sony USB Headset 4-C. PlayStation 2 Features 4-C-1. Different Ways to Hook up your system. 4-C-2. DVD Movies 4-C-3. Expansion Bay 4-C-4. USB ports Section 5. The Games 5-A. PS1 games with PS2 enhancements 5-B. PS1 games that don't work at all on the PS2. 5-C. Must Have Games 5-C-1. Games of 2000 5-C-2. Games of 2001 5-C-3. Games of 2002 5-C-4. Games of 2003 5-C-5. Best Series on PlayStation 2 5-D. Sony Computer Entertainment-only developed games Section 6. The Future 6-A. The Sony PSP 6-B. The Sony PlayStation 3 6-C. The Sony PSX 6-D. Upcoming Games in 2004 Section 7. Comparison to Nintendo Gamecube and Microsoft Xbox 7-A. Compared to Nintendo Gamecube 7-A-1. The Game Library 7-A-2. The Hardware 7-B. Compared to Microsoft Xbox 7-B-1. The Game Library 7-B-2. The Hardware Section 8. PlayStation 2 Common Issues 8-A. Disc Read Errors 8-A-1. How to Fix Disc Read Errors 8-B. Other Issues 8-B-1. Controller 8-B-2. Memory Cards 8-C. Problems from Message Boards Section 9. Frequently Asked Questions 9-A. Frequently Asked Questions 9-B. E-mails Section 10. Miscellaneous Info**Under Construction** 10-A. PlayStation 2/Other Links 10-B. Secrets/Cool Stuff 10-C. Rumors 10-D. My Review Section 11. Credits 11-A. Credits 11-B. Thank you E-mails *********************************************************************************** --------------------------------->CONTACT INFORMATION<----------------------------- *********************************************************************************** Real Name: Ask me by IM, ICQ, or find me in the forums. Or e-mail me. CodeName: AzNTimi B-Day: March 25, 1985 ICQ: 78129469(I'm barely on ICQ..) AOL/AIM: AzNxxGrL4u, KimmyC1089 E-mail: AzNxxGrL4u@aol.com, KimmyC1089@aol.com MSN Hotmail: None Yahoo ID: None Where you can find me: GameFAQs Forums(Username: TimiAzN). *********************************************************************************** -------------------------------->REVISION HISTORY<--------------------------------- *********************************************************************************** 1.83 - More Pressure Sensitive games added thanks to Kevin Simard. Fixed other various information.(February 5, 2004)(81k) 1.81 - Fixed some mistakes, updated Section 9. 9-B. E-mails. Also updated Frequently Asked Questions in Section 9-A. More information contributed by Ben Matthews on PS2 enhancements for PS1 games and color boxes info. Updated other various info. Added a new section in the credits, titled Thank you e-mails.(January 29, 2004)(81k) 1.71 - More on Section 5. PS1 games on PS2, submitted from e-mail by Joseph Manfredi, fixed some mistakes, and included a 'What I need list' under the Revision History, other various updates, and updated Section 8. 8-C. Problems from Message Boards. Also added a part in Section 1. 1-C about the main menu of the PlayStation 2 system.(January 23, 2004)(76k) 1.59 - A new part in Section 8. 8-C. Problems from Message Boards., and other information on Memory Card Troubleshooting. Reorganized diagrams and contents. Updated Must-Have list, thanks to Josh!(January 20, 2004)(71k) 1.33 - Added a new Part in Section 5. Updated Section 5. PS1 games(from Ben Matthews) on PS2 and 10. Frequently Asked Questions, and other minor updates. (January 8, 2004)(67k) 1.26 - Fixed Some Mistakes, More Information in Section 11. Miscellaneous Info, and added developer information to the Games 2000-2004 lists. Also updated Section 7 with the specifications of the other next-gen consoles, and various info! Updated Section 8. PlayStation 2 Common Issues.(January 4, 2004)(65k) 1.19 - Added links in Section 11, included more information in the Contact Information. Set up a E-mails List in Section 10.(January 3, 2004)(58k) 1.16 - Created Section 11: Miscellaneous with Some Info, Updated Various Other Info, and fixed some errors. Changed Credits to Section 12. Included Review... (January 2, 2004)(54k) 1.1 - Updated Section 4-C-2(DVD Movies) with Dual Shock controls, Updated Frequently Asked Questions in Section 10, rearranged the games List from 2000-2004 in alphabetical order.(December 31-January 1, 2004), and various other info.(47k) 1.05 - More Information Added(December 31, 2003)(44k) 1.04 - Some Launch Information Added and Other Various Info. Guide first posted in GameFAQs.(December 29, 2003)(42k) 1.03 - More information added(December 6, 2003)(32k) 1.02 - Added more info... on the future release by Sony.(December 5, 2003)(28k) 1.01 - Started FAQ, completed Sections 1-3.(December, 4, 2003)(18k) ___________________________________________________________________________________ ***Future Updates*** If you can help me, I'll be extremely grateful! - PlayStation 2 European Launch Games Information! - Future Peripherals/Accessories for PS2! - Any possible suggestions and questions! *What I need! Please help about this as well! - Any information on the HDD unit! *********************************************************************************** --------------------------->SECTION 1. ABOUT THIS GUIDE<--------------------------- *********************************************************************************** This guide is for everything you need to know about the Sony PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System. If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail me at AzNxxGrL4u@aol.com. Please do not copy this guide without my permission. Doing so will cause you to commit plagiarism. Note that in mind. This guide is found posted at the following sites: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ http://www.ign.com/ http://www.cheatcc.com/ Thank you for taking the time to read this guide and hopefully the updates will occur every week or two, depending on how much information I receive during that time. ------------------------------- 1-A. What is the PlayStation 2? ------------------------------- The PlayStation 2 is one of the three next-gen consoles. it's in the market to compete with the Nintendo Gamecube and the Microsoft Xbox. Sony promised us a system capable of producing movie-like graphics when the developers are finished using the maximum capabilities of the system. ---------------------------------------------- 1-B. What do I get when I buy a PlayStation 2? ---------------------------------------------- Purchasing a PlayStation 2 system through retail stores will most likely give you the full package inside. The package includes... PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System 1 Dual Shock 2 Analog Controller(Black) 1 Composite A/V Cable(Red, White, and Yellow Plugs) 1 AV Power Cord 1 Printed Set(Instruction Manual, etc..) ------------------------------------------------ 1-C. How do I hook up my PlayStation 2 to my TV? ------------------------------------------------ The System(Front End) ______________________ | |<-----(Reset and Eject buttons) | | | | | | | |<-----(Disc Tray) | | | PS2 | | PlayStation 2 | | | | | (FRONT END) | | | | | | | | | | | |<-----(Memory Card Slots x2, Top) | |<-----(Controller Ports x2, Middle) | |<-----(USB Ports x2 and S400 i-Link, Bottom) |---------------------| The System(Rear End) ______________________ | | | |<---(Power Switch, Multi A/V Connector, | | and AC IN Connector) | |<--(Optical Digital Output) | | | | | PS2 | | PlayStation 2 | | | | | (REAR END) | | | | | | | | | |<-----\ | |<----- ) The Expansion Bay(and PC Card slot) | |<-----/ | | |---------------------| Step 1. Don't worry about the Expansion Bay for now. Instead take out the AV Power Cord and plug it in the back of the PlayStation 2 where there are two pins sticking out from inside(AC IN Connector), and then plug the other end to a working electrical outlet. Warning: There are voltage issues. 1. If you are using a NTSC/UC machine, then the voltage is 120V. 2. If you are using a NTSC/J machine, then the voltage is 100V. 3. If you are using a PAL machine, then the voltage is 220V. 4. If you live in USA/Japan, then a NTSC/UC and NTSC/J machine is compatible with your outlet. 5. If you live anywhere outside the USA, then you need a Power Converter which is available in any hardware store. Step 2. Now it depends on your TV now. If you see white and yellow inputs somewhere on your TV, then you're in luck because the Composite A/V cable that was included in the package supports it. You will not see the red input if your TV is monaural. See Section 4-C for more information on the other possible way to connect your PS2 to a TV. Step 3. Plug in the Dual Shock 2 controller in the front of the console. It might be hard to see where the port is. Step 4. Once you are done completing Steps 1-3, turn on the Power Switch on. You will see the "Sony Computer Entertainment" logo plus a nice blue background. Then, it will take you to the Browser and System Configuration menu. NOTE: Please see Section 4-C-1 for more information on possible connections. --------- Main Menu --------- This is where you see the Browser and System Configuration options. Pressing Triangle on this screen will take you to the Driver Menu. Console - SCPH-xxxxx Browser - x.xx CD Player - x.xx PlayStation Driver - x.xx DVD Player - x.xx *Pressing Tiangle while hi-lighting 'Console' will take you to the Diagnosis feature, which I will no idea on what it does. But Sony claims that turning this on will give you the best possible disc playback. *Pressing Triangle while hi-lighting 'PlayStation Driver' will take you to the enhancements that you can turn on for better PlayStation game playback. Some games work, some don't. See Section 6. The Games for more information. In this menu you can turn on the following options.. Disc Speed - Toggle between Standard/Fast Loading Texture Mapping - Toggle between Standard/Smooth ------- Browser ------- This is where you manage your save files from your memory cards or start a disc that's already inside the PlayStation 2, if it's compatible. -------------------- System Configuration -------------------- This is where you change your system settings. If you have a memory card, then you'll need 5KB of space to save the System Settings. The following in the System Configuration options can be initially changed regardless of your hookup. - Time, Date, and Daylight Savings(This is where you change your time settings.) - Language(NTSC/J version will only have English and Japanese, NTSC/UC and PAL version don't have Japanese language.) - Digital Optical Output: On/Off(If you have a speaker system hooked up at the back, you can turn this on, and sound will come out of the Optical Digital Output. - Screen Size(Set your screen size to either a 4:3, 16:9, or Full Screen ratio) - Component Video Out: Either "RGB" or "Y Cb/Pb Cr/Pr", depending on which hookup you are using. Consult your manual for more information. *********************************************************************************** ------------------------>SECTION 2. HISTORY OF PLAYSTATION<------------------------ *********************************************************************************** The PlayStation actually has a history behind it. Back then, when Sega released the Sega CD(the one that attaches to the Megadrive/Genesis), Nintendo wanted to create a CD-ROM peripheral for the Super Famicom(Super Nintendo). They hired Sony Corporation to develop the console for them. Suddenly, at some time, Nintendo somehow rejected Sony while they were in the final stages of development. Sony was stuck with a working model and the SNES-CD was never released. So what did Sony do? Instead of trashing the hard work they did, they enhanced it, designed new controllers, and renamed it to the PlayStation. It made its debut in Japan on December 4, 1994. Sony then created three main markets to cover the PlayStation sales in each region...(Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, and Sony Computer Entertainment America). Sony PlayStation Release Dates: Japan: December 3, 1994 USA/Canada: Early September 1995 Europe: Q4 1995 Sony PlayStation One(PSOne) Release Dates Japan: Summer 2000 USA/Canada: Fall 2000 Europe: Fall 2000 The Sony PlayStation 2 was its sequel system. Release dates are listed below.. Sony PlayStation 2 Release Dates Japan: March 4, 2000 USA/Canada: October 26, 2000 Europe: November 24, 2000 PlayStation 2 Launch Titles(Japan) ---------------------------------- Artdink: A-Train 6 Ascii: Kakinoki Shoogi Ask: Kanekyuu Billiard Master Q Astrol: American Pinball(Miscellaneous) From SofEternal Ring Idea Factory: Sky Surfer Jaleco: Stepping Stage Koei: Kessen Koei: Mahjong Taikai Konami: Jikkyoo World Soccer 2000 Konami: Drum Mania Namco: Ridge Racer V(Racing) SCEI: Fantavision(Puzzle) Square: Driving Emotion Type-S(Driving) SunSoft: Street Mahjong Trance T&E Software: Golf Paradise(Sports) CAPCOM: Street Fighter EX 3(3-D Fighting) PlayStation 2 Launch Titles(USA/Canada) --------------------------------------- From IGN... 1. Madden NFL 2001 (EA, Sports) 2. SSX (EA, Sports) 3. NHL 2001 (EA, Sports) 4. FIFA 2001 MLS (EA, Sports) 5. Kessen (EA, Adventure) 6. X Squad (EA, Action) 7. Swing Away (Paradise Golf in Japan) (EA, Sports) 8. Sim Theme Park (to be renamed as Theme Park World) (EA, sim) 9. Street Fighter EX3 (Capcom, Fighting) 10. Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco, fighting) 11. Ridge Racer V (Namco, Racing) 12. Summoner (THQ, RPG) 13. Ready to Rumble (Midway, Boxing) 14. Star Wars: Starfighter (LucasArts, Action-Shooter) 15. Unreal Tournament (Infogrames, First-Person Shooter) 16. Evergrace (Agetec, RPG) 17. Armored Core 2 (Agetec, Action) 18. Eternal Ring (Agetec, RPG) 19. Timesplitters (Eidos, First-Person Shooter) 20. Fusion GT (Hresvelgr in Japan) (Crave, Racing) 21. Smuggler's Run (Rockstar, Racing-Adventure) 22. Midnight Club (Rockstar, Racing) 23. Silent Scope (Konami, Action) PlayStation 2 Launch Titles(Europe) ----------------------------------- (This part is currently under construction) PlayStation 2 Supported Developers(USA) --------------------------------------- From GameZone UK.. 989 Studios 7 Studios Acclaim Entertainment Inc Activision Inc Agetec Inc American Softworks Corp AndNow (Virtual Ocean, Nooks and Crannies) Atlus USA Inc Bungie Software Capcom Entertainment Cerny Games Cube Crave Entertainment Digital Anvil Dreamworks Interactive LLC Eidos Interactive Electronic Arts Enix Corp Flesh & Wire (Running With Scissors) Fox Interactive GT Interactive Oddworld Inhabitants (Hand of Odd, Munch's Oddysee) Hasbro Interactive Humongous Entertainment Incredible technologies Infogrames Entertainment Insomniac Games Interplay Entertainment Konami of America LucasArts Entertainment Midway Home Entertainment (Spy Hunter) Mindscape Namco Hometek Naughty Dog Neversoft Psygnosis Red Storm Entertainment Rage Software Shiny Entertainment Sierra Online (Professional Bullrider) Square Electronic Arts Stormfront Studios Sunsoft Surreal Take-Two Interactive/Rockstar TerraGlyph Interactive The 3DO Company THQ Titus Ubi Soft Universal Interactive Working Designs PlayStation 2 Supported Developers(European) -------------------------------------------- 3DO Europe Ltd Acclaim Entertainment (Europe) Activision UK Ltd Argonaut Software Criterion (Trickstyle 2) Codemasters Software Core Design Disney Interactive Eden Studios Eidos Plc Electronic Arts Ltd Eurocom Developments Ltd GTI Software Europe Hasbro Interactive Ltd Infrogrames Entertainment Kalisto Entertainment Konami of Europe Lego Media International Lionhead Studios Rage Software (Untitled Game) Reflections Revolution Square Europe Ltd Take-2 Interactive Software Europe Ltd THQ International Travelers’ Takes UK Ubi Soft Entertainment Virgin Interactive Entertainment Europe *********************************************************************************** ----------------------------->SECTION 3. THE SPECIFICATIONS<----------------------- *********************************************************************************** (Taken from nz.playstation.com/) ---------------------------------------------- 3-A. The 128-Bit Emotion Engine Multimedia CPU ---------------------------------------------- Clock Speed: 294.913 MHz Cache Memory: 16KB Instruction, Data 8KB + 16KB Main Memory: 32MB Direct Rambus(RDRAM) running at 800Mhz, dual channel Memory Bus Bandwidth: 3.2GB per second Co-Processor: Two Parallel Vector Operational Units Floating Point Performance: 6.2GFLOPS Polygon Rate: 75 Million Polygons per second(no texture layer), 38 Million polygons per second(one texture layer), and 20 Million polygons per second(two texture layers) Compressed Image Decoder: MPEG-2 ------------------------------------ 3-B. The 150MHz Graphics Synthesizer ------------------------------------ Clock Speed: ~150Mhz(147.456MHz) On chip memory(VRAM): 4MB DRAM Frame Buffer Bandwidth: 38.4Gigabytes per second Pixel Write Speed: 2.4Gigapixels DRAM Bus Bandwidth: 48GB per second DRAM Bus width: 2560 bits -------------------------------------- 3-C. Integrated 32-bit PlayStation CPU -------------------------------------- Clock Speed: 33.8MHz Regular, 37.5Mhz with Fast Loading enabled IOP Memory: 2MB -------------- 3-D. The Sound -------------- Number of Voices: 48 channels, with 3D surround sound Sound Memory: 2MB Output Frequency: 48Khz max(DAT quality) Supports: Dolby Digital, AC-3, and DTS(Digital Theatre System) ------------------ 3-E. Miscellaneous ------------------ Format: Can run PlayStation games(Black Bottom), Audio CDs(Original or CD-R/CD-RW), PlayStation 2 CDs(Blue/Purplish Bottom), PlayStation 2 DVDs(Single Layer Silver or Dual Layer Gold Bottom), and DVD Movies Speed: DVD-ROM - 4X speed, CD-ROM - 24X speed Expandibility: Controller Ports(x2), Memory Card slot(x2), USB(Universal Serial Bus) ports(x2), Optical Digital Output, Expansion Bay, a S400 iLink port(this was removed in the later models), and a Type III PCMCIA slot above expansion bay(open the cover first) Dimensions: 301mm(W) x 182mm(D) x 78mm(H), or 12" x 7.25" x 3.125" Weight: 2.2kg(4 pounds and 14 ounces) Disc Capacity ------------- 1. PlayStation CD(650MB) 2. Audio CDs(74/80min or 650/700MB) 3. PlayStation 2 CDs(650MB) 4. PlayStation 2 DVDs(One layer - 4.7GB, Dual Layered - 8.5GB) 5. DVD Movies(One Layer/Single Side - 4.7GB, Dual Layered/Single Side - 8.5GB) (One Layer/Double Side - 9.4GB, Dual Layered/Double Side - 17GB) *********************************************************************************** -------------------------------->SECTION 4. THE FEATURES<-------------------------- *********************************************************************************** **************************** 4-A. BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY **************************** One good thing about the PlayStation 2 is that it can play back all your old PlayStation games! Not only that, but you can also plug in your old PlayStation-compatible peripherals, such as memory cards, controllers, and multitaps. However, there are a few rules to this matter. ------------ 4-A-1. Games ------------ There are some PlayStation games that don't seem to work at all on the PlayStation 2. They either crash, freeze, or cause graphical glitches when you turn Fast Loading or Texture Mapping on in the PlayStation Driver menu. Please see Section 6. The Games for more information on which games are compatible and non-compatible with the PS1 options turned on. ------------------ 4-A-2. Peripherals ------------------ Another thing about the backwards compatibility of PlayStation 2 is that it can detect all your old equipment. All official PlayStation products will work with PlayStation 2. Conditions: 1. You must have a PS1 memory card present in order to save PlayStation games. 2. You must have a PS1 multitap to play multitap-enabled PS1 games. 3. You must have a PS2 memory card to save PS2 games. 4. You must have a PS2 multitap to play multitap-enabled PS2 games. 5. You can copy your PS1 saves to the PS2 memory card for "storage" only. A PS1 saved games will take up 8kb per block. If you want to use your saves, you must copy them back onto the PS1 memory card for it to work. -------------------- 4-A-3. Compatibility -------------------- At the back of every game case in the bottom, there should be some wide rectangular boxes that tell you which hardware is compatible with the game and how much space is required on the memory card to save. I will list what they mean one by one, in no particular order... a. White Box - Shows how many players can play the game at once. b. Light Blue Box(Memory Card(for PS2) - xxxkb) - The amount of space *minimum* required to save a game on the memory card. c. Pink Box(Analog Control) - Analog Control means you need to be using a controller with two analog sticks. Dual Shock and Dual Shock 2 are prime examples. d. Yellow Box(Vibration Function) - Only a Dual Shock type controller can have Vibration Function. e. Red Box(Pressure Sensitive) - A number of games does use this feature. A Dual Shock 2 is required to play this game. f. Purple Box(Multitap) - The multitap(sold separately) is supported. g. Green Box(Digital Control) - Any Controller will work fine, as long as they are compatible with PlayStation. h. Blue Box(Network Adaptor) - Either requires or supports the Network Adaptor(sold separately). i. ??? Box(Progressive Scan) - Progressive Scan features are only in the SCPH-50000 or later models. j. Red Box(iLink) - ???? **************** 4-B. PERIPHERALS **************** From here I will only list the official peripherals they have for PlayStation 2 at this time being. This means no third-party stuff. I will also state the cost of each peripheral at this point. I will only listed the cost in US currency. All other currencies are different. ----------------------------------------- 4-B-1. Memory Card for PlayStation 2(8MB) ----------------------------------------- Cost: $24.99 for one, $39.99 for two pack Model: SCPH-10020 U The original PlayStation's memory cards were saved by blocks. This time, games are saved by bytes(like PC's). It's up to the developers how much space they want to use on the memory card. Most games take between 16KB-450KB at most. Role-Playing Games has those "save per file" systems where you can save as many files as long as there is space on the memory card. There is a two-pack available from Sony. Saves you ten dollars. ------------------------------------- 4-B-2. Dual Shock 2 Analog Controller ------------------------------------- Cost: $24.99 each Model: SCPH-10010 U Yes, we all remember the original Dual Shock Analog Controllers. The only thing Analog back then was the twin Analog Sticks. This time, everything button you see is analog except for Start and Select. The d-pad this time makes is easier to do rotations in 2-D and 3-D fighting games. ------------------------------------ 4-B-3. Vertical and Horizontal Stand ------------------------------------ Cost: $14.99 each Model: Vertical: SCPH-10040 U, Horizontal: SCPH-10110 U One good thing about the PlayStation 2 is that you can stand it vertical and still play games in that position. There is also a horizontal stand available if you want to add color to your PlayStation 2 system. ---------------------- 4-B-4. Network Adaptor ---------------------- Cost: $39.99 each Model: SCPH-????? U Sony release the ability to go online back in August 2002. They released their game SOCOM: US Navy Seals to go along with it. (For more information on how to set up your Network Adaptor, please read Brutal Es Online Gaming FAQ) --------------------------- 4-B-5. Hard Drive(HDD Unit) --------------------------- Cost: $99.99 (according to Square-Enix USA website) Model: SCPH-????? Requirements: Network Adaptor for full functionality. In early 2004, Sony will release this handy hardware along with Final Fantasy XI pre-installed and the disc set for a suggested retail price of $99.99. The amount of space in the unit it 40GB, but Sony may release some more later with more capacity. The HDD requires the Network Adaptor to power it. Information on the HDD can be found at http://www.sscorpio.com/~bungiefan/ -------------------------------------------- 4-B-6. DVD Remote Control + IR Receiver Unit -------------------------------------------- Cost: $14.99 each Model: SCPH-10171 For those of you who actually watch DVD Movies on your PS2, this may come in handy. The good thing is that you have more features to play around with. The bad thing is that the IR Receiver Unit will take up one controller port. In later models, Sony implemented the IR Receiver on the PS2 itself. ----------------------------- 4-B-7. Multitap(for 4-Player) ----------------------------- Cost: $34.99 each Model: SCPH-10090 U Yes, we remember the original Multitap for the PlayStation. Sony has made us a brand new black one. Read Section 4-A-2 for information on compatibility. ----------------------- 4-B-8. Sony USB Headset ----------------------- Cost: $29.99 each Model: SCPH-????? U Yes, this is the headset that Sony released so you can talk to your buddies during online play. *************************** 4-C. PLAYSTATION 2 FEATURES *************************** ---------------------------------------------- 4-C-1. Different Ways to Hook up Your System.. ---------------------------------------------- This part of the section is about the possible ways to connect your PS2 to your TV. I will only list the official accessories only. Cost may vary and may not be accurate. RFU Adaptor ----------- Cost: $14.99 Model: SCPH-10071 This means by far the worst way to hook up your system. This adaptor supports most old TVs back in the 90's. Picture quality is dim, have a lot of fuzziness, and gives the PS2 the worst picture it can output. If you are paying so much for this machine, why reduce the picture quality of your games you love?? Composite A/V ------------- Cost: $14.99 Model: SCPH-10030 U This is the one that actually comes with your system. It's a set of red, white, and yellow plugs that connects to the Audio/Video inputs on your TV. Compared to RF Adaptor, the picture quality is brighter, removes most of the fuzziness, and gives a decent picture. Most TVs these day should support this cable. S-Video(Super Video) -------------------- Cost: $29.99 Model: SCPH-10060 U This is one of the higher quality connections you can make. Picture quality is sharper and clearer compared to Composite. It make a HUGE difference, so paying for this cable is a no-brainer. Component RGB ------------- Cost: $29.99 Model: SCPH-10100 U This is the highest connection you can make. This is the clearest output the PS2 can provide. I'm not sure which TVs support these, but you'll definitely need a high-end TV. ----------------- 4-C-2. DVD Movies ----------------- One good thing about your PlayStation 2 is that it's able to play your DVD Movies! However, there are specific regions that you can play. NTSC/J machines can play Region 2 DVDs, NTSC/UC plays Region 1 DVDs, and PAL I am not sure of. However, all PS2 systems can play DVDs that have "Region ALL" printed on the back of the case. ****The Controls for the DVD player with a Dual Shock/Dual Shock 2 controller**** L2 - Rewind R2 - Fast Forward L1 - Previous Chapter R1 - Next Chapter D-pad - Cursor Control Start - Pause/Play Select - Display the Control Panel L3 - Subtitle Options R3 - Audio Options X - Enter Triangle - DVD Menu Circle - Cancel/Stop Square - Title Menu **Note: The Japanese PS2's (NTSC/J) will have Circle and X reversed. (More Information will be Added soon) -------------------- 4-C-3. Expansion Bay -------------------- You might be wondering that the Expansion Bay is for. It's the HDD unit Sony is planning to incorporate into. ---------------- 4-C-4. USB Ports ---------------- You might be also wondering why Sony isn't supporting the USB ports for so long! Well, in Japan, they have quite a lot of devices that plugs in the USB ports. As in America and Europe, we get the EyeToy, which is a motion tracking device that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe developed for over two years. Pretty soon there would be more from Sony. We'll just have to wait.. *********************************************************************************** --------------------------------->SECTION 5. THE GAMES<---------------------------- *********************************************************************************** ***READ ON FOR HELP ON ENABLING THE PS1 ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS*** To turn on the PS1 enhancement options from your PS2, start up your PS2 until it goes to the Browser/System Configuration screen. Then simply hit Triangle and it will bring you to a screen giving you a list of version numbers. Go select the PlayStation Driver and hit Triangle, and from there you can turn on the options to makes your games load faster and/or smoothen out visuals. ***END HELP*** Keep in mind that in this section, this is game from *my* experience. Feel free to e-mail me if you have more to contribute. Key: 1. FL = Fast Loading 2. TS = Texture Smoothing * = From Ben Matthews(ben_matthews3@hotmail.com) ** = From Joseph Manfredi(jmanfredi@monmouth.net) ************************************ 5-A. PS1 games with PS2 enhancements ************************************ Alien Resurrection - FL decreases load times by 40%. TS gives smoothness to backgrounds and objects. Capcom vs SNK Pro - The manual clearly states that you should turn the options off. **DDR: Konamix - TS gives very minimal improvement upon graphics. *Dragon Warrior VII - TS smoothes out any 2D images (characters, trees, enemies, etc.). All 3D remains the same. **Final Fantasy Tactics - TS is slightly noticable on things like magic and summons, maybe backgrounds, but other things tend to look a little etchy sometimes. **Final Fantasy VII - FL causes the game to crash sometimes. **Final Fantasy VIII - This game was definitely made for the enhancements, FL slightly decreases load time when moving from place to place in a city. TS makes everything smoother, especially that pixelated ground, it looks a lot more realistic with TS. *Grandia - TS smoothes out most of the jaggies in the game. *Grand Theft Auto 2 - FL reduces the wait at the game's first loading screen. **Gundam Battle Assault - TS smooths mobile suits, main menu looks etchy. **Gundam Battle Assault 2 - TS smooths out all the viewable pixels and jaggies on the mobile suits making them look totally revamped, great stuff. **Lunar: The Silver Star Story - TS makes no difference, FL makes loading a bit faster when exploring from place to place. *Megaman - TS seems to just slightly smooth out everything. **Metal Gear Solid - TS improves graphics, especially that pixelated blood in the "Ninja hall" *Rainbow Six - TS smoothes out any 2D images. All 3D remains the same. **Soul Blade - FL loads battles up faster, TS improves models and backgrounds slightly. Fifty percent of the time it makes no difference. **Star Ocean 2 - TS gives cleaner sprites on characters and battle backgrounds. FL freezes the game when you hit New Game or Continue. Street Fighter Alpha 3 - FL causes the game to crash. TS gives slightly better picture. *Strider 2 - TS smoothes out everything. **Tekken 3 - FL significantly decreases load time at the VS screen, without FL it averages 5-7 seconds, with FL, 2-4, big difference. TS also improves graphics on those blocky character models. **The Legend of Dragoon - TS smoothes out blocks and jaggies. *Tommorow Never Dies - FL makes the music and sounds in the game play way too fast. *Torneko: The Last Hope - FL shortens all load times by roughly 50%. *Total Eclipse Turbo - TS smoothes out everything. **Xenogears - TS improves graphics. ************************************************ 5-B. PS1 games that don't work at all on the PS2 ************************************************ (Submitted by Xjoopx75) March Madness 2000 Gradius Deluxe Pack Toua Plan Shooting Battle Wing Commander III Gallop Racer the Japanese Monster Rancher Dragonbeat Formula One 99 Namco Museum Encore-any version of it Note: Every other game not listed here makes no difference whether you turn on the options or not. ******************** 5-C. Must-Have Games ******************** In this section, it's just my opinion and what I've seen most of the fans suggested. Some other people may have better opinions than me. Keep in mind that this section is only for PlayStation 2, hence the PS2 FAQ :P. * = From Josh Michalski.. ------------------------------ 5-C-1. Must-Have Games of 2000 ------------------------------ Year 2000 wasn't a good year for the PlayStation 2. Some of the launch titles were okay, but it was mostly the backwards compatibility feature that saved it from going down in sales. Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore(3-D Fighting, Tecmo) Dynasty Warriors 2(Action/Strategy, Koei/Omega Force) *Red Faction(Action, THQ) Silent Scope(Action, Konami) Street Fighter EX3(3-D Fighting, Arika/Capcom) ------------------------------ 5-C-2. Must-Have Games of 2001 ------------------------------ Now we're talking. 2001 was probably the best year for PlayStation 2 as it had so many amazing titles. Devil May Cry(Action/Thriller, Capcom) Dynasty Warriors 3(Action/Strategy, Koei/Omega Force) Final Fantasy X(RPG, Turn-based, Squaresoft) Grand Theft Auto 3(Action/Driving, Rockstar) Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec(Racing, Polyphony Digital) Ico(Action/Fantasy, SCE) Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy(Action/Platformer, Naughty Dog/SCEA) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty(Action/Adventure, Konami) Onimusha: Warlords(Action, Capcom) Resident Evil: Code Veronica X(Action/Horror, Capcom) Silent Hill 2(Survival Horror, Konami) Twisted Metal: Black(Action/Racing, SCE/Incog Inc.) Zone of the Enders(Mech-type Anime Combat Action, Konami) ------------------------------ 5-C-3. Must-Have Games of 2002 ------------------------------ 2002 was a pretty cool year.. Dynasty Tactics(Strategy, Koei) Fatal Frame(Horror, Tecmo) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City(Action/Driving, Rockstar) *Kingdom Hearts(RPG, Square-Enix) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(Action/Fantasy, Surreal Software) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(Action/Fantasy, EA Games/Stormfront Studios) *Medal of Honor: Frontline(Action/War, EA Games) NBA Street Vol. 2(Sports, EA) Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny(Action, Capcom) Ratchet and Clank(Action/Platformer, Insomniac/SCE) *Red Faction 2(Action, THQ) Silent Hill 2: Greatest Hits!(if you don't have Silent Hill 2 yet, Konami) SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals(Action/Shooter, SCE/Zipper Interactive) Suikoden III(RPG, Konami) The Mark of Kri(Beat 'Em Up Action, SCE) ------------------------------ 5-C-4. Must-Have Games of 2003 ------------------------------ However, 2003 has more titles than 2001 did.. as developers are getting better... Castlevania: Lament of Innocence(Action, Konami) Chaos Legion(Action/RPG, Capcom) Dynasty Warriors 3: XTreme Legends(Action/Strategy, Koei/Omega Force) Dynasty Warriors 4(Action/Strategy, Koei) Dynasty Warriors 4: XTreme Legends(Action/Strategy, Koei) EyeToy: Play(Miscellaneous, SCEE) Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly(Horror, Tecmo) Final Fantasy X-2(RPG, Square-Enix) Grand Theft Auto Double Pack(if you haven't got the games already, Rockstar) Jak II(Action/Platformer, Naughty Dog/SCEA) King of Fighters 2000/2001 pack(2-D Fighting, SNK Playmore) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(Action/Fantasy, EA Games) Manhunt(Action, Rockstar) *Medal of Honor: Rising Sun(Action/War, EA Games) Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance(if you don't have Sons of Liberty yet, Konami) NBA Jam(Sports - Basketball, Acclaim) Need for Speed: Underground(Racing, EA) Primal(Action/Adventure, SCEE) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time(Action, Ubi Soft) Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando(Action/Platformer, Insomniac/SCEA) Silent Hill 3(Survival Horror, Konami) SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals(Action/Shooter, SCE/Zipper Interactive) *Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell(Action/Stealth, Ubi Soft) Tokyo Extreme Racer 3(Racing, Crave/Genki) Tony Hawk's UnderGround(Extreme Sports, Activision/Neversoft Entertainment) WWE Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain(Wrestling, THQ/Yuke's) Xenosaga Episode 1(RPG, Turn based, Namco/Monolith Soft) Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner(Mech-type Anime Combat Action, Konami) ----------------------------------- 5-C-5. Best Series on PlayStation 2 ----------------------------------- Final Fantasy(RPG, Square-Enix) *Madden NFL Football(Sports-Football, EA Games) -------------------------------------------------------- 5-D. Games only developed by Sony Computer Entertainment -------------------------------------------------------- This part of the section only lists the games developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. Some games are released worldwide, and some games are released to their respective regions. SCEA ---- Dark Cloud(RPG) I.Q. Remix+: Intelligent Qube(Music) Ico(Action/Fantasy) Kinetica(Mech Racing) NBA Shootout 2003(Sports-Basketball) NFL Gameday 2001(Sports-Football) Popolocrois III Rise to Honor(Action/Martial Arts) Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain(Action/Shooter) The Mark of Kri(Action) TVDJ SCEE ---- Dropship: United Peace Force EyeToy: Play/Groove(Miscellaneous) Formula One 2001 Formula One 2002 Formula One 2003 GhostHunter(Horror) Hardware Primal(Action) This is Football 2002(Sports) Wipeout Fusion World Tour Soccer 2002(Sports) World Tour Soccer 2003(Sports) SCEI ---- Ally of Justice Ape Escape 2(Action) Ape Escape 2001(Action) Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits(RPG) Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 Fantavision(Puzzle) Forbidden Siren(Suspense) Hungry Ghosts Mojib Ribbon Operator's Side Otosaz Phase Paradox Poinie's Poin Sky Gunner Sky Odyssey Space Fishermen Surveillance *********************************************************************************** -------------------------------->SECTION 6. The FUTURE<---------------------------- *********************************************************************************** Stay in touch for the: ***************** ************* ***************** * * * * * * ***************** * ***************** * * * * * * * ************ * *********************************** 6-A. Sony PSP(PlayStation Portable) *********************************** Cost: Competitive Price with the Nintendo Gameboy Advance(rumored around $100-200 US Dollars). The Sony PSP is a handheld developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. to compete with the Nintendo Gameboy Advanced and all other handhelds in the handheld market. It's recent specifications are posted at: http://www.playstationportable.info/ Release Date of the Sony PSP is unconfirmed. But it's going for a Q3-Q4 2004 release. Stay tuned for more information. Recently, some developers say they were ready for PSP development. Also, fans mentioned PS1 games being ported to the PSP in the future. ***************** ************* ****************** * * * * * * ***************** * ****************** * * * * * * * ************ ****************** *********************** 6-B. Sony PlayStation 3 *********************** The Sony PlayStation 3 is currently under development by a joint effort between Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and IBM Corporation(International Business Machines). They recently named it the Cell Technology. The PlayStation 3 will supposedly be 1,000 times faster than the PlayStation 2, but that could have been a rumor. Its specifications are too early to be known at this time. The release date will be sometime in 2005-2006, at an estimate. ***Update: From what I've managed to get out of the PlayStation 2 General Boards, the PS3 will be simply a "Teraflop in a Box", and uses Rambus memory. ***************** ************* * * * * * * * * * * ***************** * * * * * * * * * * * ************ * * ***************** 6-C. The Sony PSX ***************** Excuse me for not putting the X as thin as possible. Many people will confuse this for the original PlayStation. The original PlayStation was abbreviated "PS" by Sony. The "PSX" abbreviation was made up by the fans. This new PSX that Sony is releasing will feature a DVD-Burner, a hard drive, and the ability to play PlayStation 2 games. Here are the current specs for the "PSX" home entertainment system.. (From http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200310/03-1007E/) This just came in from Xavier3156@aol.com: "Sony decided to release the PSX without the DVD burner at the last minute in time for the 2003 holiday season. It looks like the PSX wont reach the states as well.." Please look at dsxgate's topic "PSX FAQ Topic, to help people translate." for more details on the PSX in the PlayStation 2 General - General Boards.. *************************** 6-D. Upcoming Games in 2004 *************************** Year 2004 hasn't come yet, but it will shortly. here are some upcoming must-haves for next year! Once again, some are from my suggestions and some are from other PlayStation 2 fan suggestions. Games of 2004 ------------- Cy Girls(Action/Adventure, Konami) Final Fantasy XI(MMORPG, Square-Enix) Gran Turismo 4(Racing, Polyphony Digital) Grand Theft Auto IV(Action/Driving, Rockstar, unconfirmed) Killzone(Action, SCEE) Maximo vs Army of Zin(Action, Capcom) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater(Action/Stealth, Konami) Metal Slug 3(Side-Scrolling Shooter, SNK Playmore, unconfirmed) NIco(or Ico 2)(Action/Fantasy, SCEA, unconfirmed) Onimusha 3(Action/Hack n' Slash, Capcom) Resident Evil Outbreak(Survival Horror/Online, Capcom) Silent Hill 4: The Room(Survival Horror, Konami) SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos(2-D fighting, SNK Playmore, unconfirmed) Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow(Online/Stealth/Action, Ubi Soft) Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time(RPG, Square-Enix) Suikoden IV(Turn-Based RPG, Konami) *********************************************************************************** ---------->SECTION 7. COMPARISON TO NINTENDO GAMECUBE AND MICROSOFT XBOX<---------- *********************************************************************************** ********************************** 7-A. Compared to Nintendo Gamecube ********************************** Winner: Gamecube in hardware specifications. PlayStation 2 in expandibility. ******************************** Nintendo Gamecube Specifications ******************************** (From http://www.psreporter.com/gamecube_specifications.html) MPU (Microprocessor Unit): 485 MHz custom IBM PowerPC "Gekko" Floating Point Performance: 10.4GFLOPS Graphics Processor: 162 MHz custom ATI/Nintendo "Flipper" Full Scene Anti-Aliasing: Yes Texture-Read Bandwidth: 10.4 GB per second (peak) Main Memory Bandwidth: 2.6 GB per second (peak) Pixel Depth: 24-bit color, 24-bit Z buffer Sound Processor: 81 MHz custom Macronix 16-bit DSP Sound Performance: 64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding Polygon Performance: 6 to 12 million polygons per second (peak) System Memory: 40 MB Main Memory: 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM Disc Drive: 128 ms CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) system Data Transfer Speed: 16 Mbps to 25 Mbps Media: 3-inch, 1.5 GB capacity disc Controller Ports: Four Memory Card Slots: Two Audio-Video Output: Analog and digital Dimensions: 4.3 by 5.9 by 6.3 inches (height by width by depth) ----------------------- 7-A-1. The Game Library ----------------------- The PlayStation 2, no doubt, obviously has the bigger game library because it came out a year earlier. While most of the games are Rated Mature on PlayStation 2 compared to Nintendo Gamecube, it attracts more adults into the system. But that does not mean that Gamecube doesn't have any Mature-rated games. It's got Resident Evil from Capcom Entertainment. ------------------- 7-A-2. The Hardware ------------------- Central Processing Unit ----------------------- The heart of every console. The Gamecube is a lot faster than the PlayStation 2. It can have shorter loading times as well. Disc Capacity, Load Times ------------------------- Nintendo is trying to reduce load times by using mini-discs. The capacity of this mini-disc is 1.5GB. You'll see more multi-disc games on Gamecube than PlayStation 2. The disc capacity for one PS2 DVD is around 4.7GB for one layer and 8.5GB for dual layer. One good thing about the PlayStation 2 is that it is capable of playing DVD Movies as Gamecube lacks that feature. Graphics -------- Without a doubt the Gamecube can produce much better details than the PlayStation 2. But that doesn't mean the PlayStation 2 have bad graphics. We're seeing some great games with great graphics such as Silent Hill 3, Chaos Legion, and Devil May Cry. Expandibility ------------- The PlayStation 2 has two USB ports, one PCMCIA slot, a expansion bay, a network adaptor, and the upcoming hard drive. One of the USB devices for the PlayStation 2 developed officially by Sony is the EyeToy. It's true that PlayStation 2 has more expandibility than other next-gen consoles. ******************************* 7-B. Compared to Microsoft Xbox ******************************* Winner: Xbox in hardware specs. PlayStation 2 in expandibility. **************************** Xbox Hardware Specifications **************************** The Intel-Custom 733MHz Processor --------------------------------- Clock Speed: ~733MHz Main Memory: 64MB Double Data Rate(DDR) SDRAM Memory Bus Bandwidth: 6.4GB per second Floating Point Performance: 3.0GFLOPS Polygon Rate: 125 Million per second Compressed Image Decoder: MPEG-2 The 250MHz Custom-Designed NV2X ------------------------------- Clock Speed: 250Mhz Max Polygon Performance: 125 Million/sec Pixel Fill Rate: 4.8GB/s, No Texture, One Texture, and Two Textures Compressed Textures: Yes(6:1) Maximum Resolution: 1920x1080(HDTV) HDTV Game/Movie: Yes Full-Scene Anti-Aliasing: Yes The Sound --------- Number of Voices: 64 channels, with 3D surround sound Supports: 3D Audio, Midi/DLS2, AC-3 Miscellaneous ------------- Format: Can run Xbox games, DVD Movies, and Audio CDs. Capacity: Xbox game(DVD-9, 8.5GB) Speed: DVD-ROM - 2-5X speed Expandibility: Controller Ports(x4), Memory Card, Broadband-Enabled ----------------------- 7-B-1. The Game Library ----------------------- Okay, both PS2 and Xbox have a uber amount of Teen-Mature games. While the Xbox has more better First-Person Shooters than PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 2 wins in RPGs and Racing games. Certainly, the Japanese developers would support PlayStation 2 more than they support Xbox because it has a much bigger fanbase and they are still trying to *di-sect* the hardware to give their games the best possible solution. There's not many exclusives on the Xbox than PlayStation 2. Some games are not developed for a certain console because of hardware limitations(even at Capcom's site, they tell you that), not just because of the fanbase. ------------------- 7-B-2. The Hardware ------------------- Graphics -------- There's proof that Xbox has much better graphics than PlayStation 2. But who plays for graphics anyway? I think Microsoft went wrong building a system just for the glory of graphics. Gameplay is the key. I don't mean to disrespect Xbox, because I've seen some great games on the system, like Project Gotham Racing and Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams. Central Processing Unit ----------------------- Or the CPU for short. The Xbox has twice the performance than PlayStation 2. I'm sorry, but Xbox websites don't tell you that. They only tell you the comparison of graphics and sound. Let me explain.. first, bits don't matter anymore, and MHz don't matter either. It's the FLOPS. You measure a CPU's performance by FLOPS. The PS2 can perform up to 6.2 GFLOPS while the Xbox can do a little over 3.0 GFLOPS(?). But Nvidia states that the XCPU runs at about 80GFLOPS, so I don't know the true amount yet. Please e-mail me if you know the true amount, although I've heard of these two systems using theoretical specifications. Memory ------ The Xbox has 64MB of DDR SDRAM running at 200MHz. The PlayStation 2 has 32MB of RDRAM running at 800MHz, dual channel. Comparison charts in websites don't tell you that. They just simply state the amount. Even if Xbox had 128MB of memory, Japanese developers would still prefer the PS2's memory system. Why? Beats me, I've just read about this in some article. Expandibility ------------- The Xbox has a built-in hard drive, 4 controller ports, and online-enabled. If you want the same thing for PlayStation 2, you need to dish out over $300 for all the additional hardware. However, for the Xbox, you need to buy a DVD Remote for DVD Movie compatibility. For the PlayStation 2, you don't have to. You can simply use your controller as one, but you'll be missing out on certain features that the official DVD Remote has. PS2 vs NGC vs Xbox - Last Minute Notes -------------------------------------- It all comes down to the developer. A development team such as Hideo Kojima's team at Konami Computer Entertainment Japan can utilize a lot of power with the PS2. The same goes for Square-Enix with Final Fantasy X. Some details are done better on the PS2, and some details are done better on Gamecube/Xbox. A multiplatform game will definitely look better on the Gamecube/Xbox than the PlayStation 2 because the hardware is user-friendly and easier to work with. But a game heavily programmed on the PlayStation 2(FFX, MGS2, R&C) will have to be watered-down to play on the Xbox. The Gamecube can handle it well. Then a game designed heavily on the Xbox(Halo, DoA:XBV, PGR) will have to be toned down for the PlayStation 2 to handle it. But the Gamecube will handle it just fine with some tweaks here and there. Xbox Advantages over PlayStation 2 ---------------------------------- - Best Online Support - Best Sound(More Interactive Music in games) - Comes with a Hard drive and 4 controller ports - High-Resolution support for Gaming and DVD Movies(HDTV required & kit) - PC ports(Easy to port a PC game to the Xbox) - Broadband-Enabled Gamecube Advantages over PlayStation 2 -------------------------------------- - Clearer Sharper Graphics - Faster Loading Times - Four Controller Ports - Easy-to-use hardware PlayStation 2 Advantages over Xbox/Gamecube ------------------------------------------- - Free Online Gaming(except for Everquest and the upcoming Final Fantasy XI) - Best Controller(IMO) - Larger Library of Games - Backward Compatibility - Expandibility(For In-Home Entertainment) - DVD Movie player does not require remote(where Xbox requires it). Xbox/Gamecube Advantages over PlayStation 2 ------------------------------------------- - Not many Disc Read Error problems.(lol)(Read below for Common Issues) *********************************************************************************** -------------------------->SECTION 8. PLAYSTATION 2 COMMON ISSUES<----------------- *********************************************************************************** ********************* 8-A. Disc Read Errors ********************* Ah, the most common of problems with nearly more than half of the PlayStation 2 owners out there is the dreaded Disc Read Errors(or DREs for short). People said that the SCPH-30001 R models of the PlayStation 2 mostly cause the issue. All other seem to work fine. ------------------------------------- 8-A-1. How to Handle Disc Read Errors ------------------------------------- There are a few ways to handle the problem. These are from my experience and may not work effectively with you. You are better off if you read the Disc Read Error FAQs that other contributors have posted in this site. They go into more detail and give more effective ways to solve your problems. However, here are my methods: 1. The Sweat Method ------------------- Cleaning: A Disc with a plethora of minor scratches Effectiveness: Low to Rare(1 out of 5 chances) Tools: Lint-Free Cloth and a Person who sweats a lot This may sound confusing at first glance, but if you work out or go out on a hot sunny day and sweat a lot, you take a lint-free cloth and wipe your sweat with it. Then you wipe that sweaty part of the cloth on the bottom of the disc as gently as possible. Then clean it dry and pop the disc inside the PS2. One out of five chances say it will run the disc. 2. Open your PS2 method ----------------------- Cleaning: The Lens Effectiveness: Medium to High(4 out of 5 chances) Tools: Lint-free cloth or Q-tip, and some rubbing alcohol. Most of you know how this goes. Open up the PS2 and clean the lens with rubbing alcohol. Works wonders after you put it back together. 3. Send it to Sony Method ------------------------- Cleaning: None Effectiveness: High(Guaranteed) Tools: A Box big enough to hold a PlayStation 2 and work order. The most reliable way to solve a DRE problem. The bad news is that you need to wait a week or so to get it back from Sony. Call 1-800-345-7669 and a Sony representative will give you instructions on how to proceed. **Keep in mind that if your PS2 is modded, don't even think about sending it to Sony. They wont touch any modded PS2's.** ***************** 8-B. Other Issues ***************** --------------------- 8-B-1. The Controller --------------------- Very few people have controller problems. However, if you see "Pressure Sensitive" on the back of a PlayStation 2 game case, than a Dual Shock 2 is required. Games such as Silent Hill 2 will prompt you to plug in a Dual Shock 2. For a game like Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, if you plug in a Dual Shock 1, the analog features wont work with it, making some actions unusable. Games that don't tell you "Pressure Sensitive" but strongly recommends Dual Shock 2 for full functionality: Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance The Bouncer Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (If you have anymore to add, please e-mail me.) ---------------------- 8-B-2. The Memory Card ---------------------- Very few have Memory Card problems. A game such as Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty will show you corrupted data for each photo file you snap from the digital camera. However, they can be viewed in the game. 1. Why doesn't my game save to my Memory Card? ---------------------------------------------- Reasons: a. You are trying to save PS1 data onto a PS2 memory card. b. You are trying to save PS2 data onto a PS1 memory card. c. Your memory card is full. d. You probably cancelled the save. e. You are not using a official or licensed memory card. Answers: a. You can't save PS1 data onto a PS2 memory card. You must have a PS1 memory card present to save. b. PlayStation 2 saves by bytes, while PS1 saves by blocks. They are two different protocols and can't be used with each other. c. Make sure you have enough space on your memory card. Some game saves take less than what they printed in the back of the case. The reason is that the developers want to make sure you have enough space to save. So if you don't have enough space, free some before you save. d. It's confusing sometimes because some games produced in Japan use their own control method, such as Circle to Confirm and X to go back. You probably got use to pressing the X button to confirm, but instead you cancelled it. Keep that in mind. e. Official memory cards are the ones produced and manufactured by Sony. Licensed memory cards are manufactured by a third-party but tested by Sony to ensure compatibility. If none of these fall into the memory card you are using, then you need to buy a official or licensed memory card. Third-party memory cards will cost less than the ones from Sony. So it's your decision. 2. The memory card states that there is no data, but the space counter doesn't read 8,192kb(or something like that)?(From PS2 Hardware Board.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reasons: a. You saved unlicensed software into the PS2 memory card. b. You have corrupted data. Answers: a. Action Replay, DVD Region X, or any unlicensed software for the PlayStation 2 will cause that glitch. The only way to solve this issue is to buy a new memory card.(Although some of you may know ways around that, you should help those that don't, for your kindness. >^_^<) b. A section of your memory card is corrupted, which means that part will be useless. You may have to re-format it using Sharkport or something like that. (Again, if you know ways around to fix that, tell it to your online friends that don't know how to solve them, for your kindness. >^_^<) For more on memory cards, read ATadeo's Memory Card FAQ for more information. ********************************* 8-C. Problems from Message Boards ********************************* Why am I doing this? Because for those of you who DO look at this guide, you can probably find your answer here so that you don't ask again. Be sure to tell all your online friends about the solutions as well. So anyway.. From PlayStation 2 Hardware Board.. *Problem #1. From Majin Rosh's topic.."Uh..What the heck..?"(12-25-03) Post: "Okay, I bought a brand new PS2 in june, (my first was broken do to my brother and his friends rough housing. -growls-) And.. Whenever i play dvds, the color fades in and out. i thought maybe it was just my TV, but it doesn't do that with my VHS player or my other DVD player, so it has to be something to do with the PS2 or wiring. any suggestions?" Answer(from omegazeroinfinite): "Some DVDs have a built in code that makes the picture all wonky when the player is run through a VCR. This was supposed to be a way to stop people from recording DVD quality picture and sound on to VHS. Try hooking it up directly to the TV." ___________________________________________________________________________________ *Problem #2. From my Topic.."Post your bad experiences with PlayStation 2 and how you fixed it!"(01-21-2004) Reply #1(from Mystnight(1-22-2004): "one of my old problems is that the PS2 had a problem reading my codebreaker v7, and music CD-r's after a little laser adjusting and some litium grease on the tracs, it worked to an extent, the only downside is that it has to sit vertically, as for the DRE's I just swabbed the lens with a q-tip and alcohol" ___________________________________________________________________________________ *Problem #3. From Van Dongo's topic.."Question about the Japanese PS2 working in USA"(01-25-2004) Post: "I am looking at purchasing a Japanese PS2 in order to play import games without having to potentially ruin my system with flip-tops or slide cards. My questions are: Will I need any sort of power adaptor, or will the J-PS2 work fine in an American outlet? Do USA-PS2 controllers and memory cards work with the J-PS2?" Answer(from TimiAzN): "Japanese PS2 runs fine on a American outlet, and your controllers and memory cards will be compatible with the Japanese PS2." ___________________________________________________________________________________ *Problem #4. From RiotGirl's topic.."Network Adaptor Question!!"(01-27-2004) Post: "does the network adaptor produce any more fees other than your internet connection payments" Answer(from therad00): "Some internet service providers charge you fees, but I'm on Adelphia net and I don't have to pay extras. But if you intend to play Final Fantasy online or Everquest then there are monthly charges." *********************************************************************************** -------------------------->SECTION 9. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS<------------------ *********************************************************************************** ------------------------------- 9-A. Frequently Asked Questions ------------------------------- Q1. Can I help you with this FAQ? A: Sure thing, just try to help me with any additional info I might have missed. Q2. My system is giving me Disc Read Errors, what should I do?! A: There are at least three faqs regarding that matter in the PlayStation 2 Hardware FAQ section. Use them to your advantage. If you are not caring to read them, call 1-800-345-7669 and a Sony representative will help you out. Q3. What is the password for Parental Control?! A: The default password is 7444. Q4. What is this new model I keep hearing about?! A: Sony released a new PlayStation 2 model SCPH-5000x. It has improvements over older models. If you want one, just look for a PS2 box that has a yellow triangle with a plus sign in the bottom right. Here are the new Features.. - Progressive Scan support - DVD-R, DVD-RW movie playback - Removes iLink port - Added Infrared Sensor for future remote - 30% quieter fan and quieter loading - Future Remote includes Power Button Q5. Why do some games take up so much space on my memory card?! A: Very likely, some games such as sports titles require a huge save on your memory card to save a season. Most games produced in Japan will take up less space than the ones produced anywhere else.. For now, with one save, most games should take less than 500KB. Q6. Are you a PS2 fan? A: Yes, I am. Not only PlayStation 2, but also a Nintendo fan. Q7. Have you wrote any other guides in GameFAQs? A: Here is a list of guides I wrote: Terminator: Dawn of Fate Secrets FAQ(Covers both PS2 and Xbox) PlayStation 2 FAQ Aliens vs Predator(for Arcade) Q8. What is this File Protection thing I see when I view one of my game saves?! A: Some games use it. Some don't. For the games that do, it doesn't protect it from being erased or deleted. It actually protects it from being copied to another memory card, or so I've heard. Q9. I'm stuck in a particular game! Can you help me?! A: Although I haven't wrote any guides for the following games, I can be more than happy to help you with the following PS1 and PS2 titles..that is if you're on the lazy side to look for yourself in CheatCC... These are the titles I still have a fresh memory on.. Capcom vs SNK 2 Chaos Legion Devil May Cry Devil May Cry 2 Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Metal Gear Solid Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance Silent Hill Silent Hill 2 Silent Hill 3 Terminator: Dawn of Fate The others I'm still trying to complete and get more knowledge on.. (More Coming Soon) ------------ 9-B. E-mails ------------ The e-mails I get regarding my PlayStation 2 FAQ. This may be of some help to others. From Xavier3156@aol.com(12-31-2003): Q: "hello, i just got a PS2 and, since u had a faq, i was wondering if u could answer a question for me. i noticed that my ps2 doesn't have the "iLink" port and was wondering if u knew why this was and/or when this was phased out. i just find it odd that they do something that dramatic w/o a "generation" revision (a la Sega Saturn or the Genesis 2 & 3)." A:The new Sony PlayStation 2 SCPH-5000x models does not have the iLink port because it's not necessary. Due to online-enabled play of course. Q: "also, i have another favor to ask, i have been looking for some of the older games, specifically gundam, and i was wondering if u knew of a good place online to get new, older games. i already know about ebay and amazon was no help. any secret places u know?" A: I may not know sites that sell old games.. but import stores such as http://www.japanvideogames.com/ or http://www.ncsx.com/ would probably still sell them. ________________________________________________________________________________ From nitemare04@hotmail.com(12-31-2003): Q: "I saw and read that Review guide about the Playstation 2 and other compared system but I was looking towards asking about how to leave the playstation 2 set. I am asking you the switch the playstation 2 that you turn on and after you turn it on and by the reset I see a red light that lights up ok and then I press it and it turns green the game starts up. Now the real is that when you turn it off do you turn it off from the back or ether do you just hold that reset button till it turns red again and leave it like that once ready to turn it off or just turn it off from the back manually?" A: From what I've managed to get out of your message, I can answer that there are two ways to turn off your PS2. One is Standby Mode and the other is off mode. If you know you're not going to play for a long while, turn it off from the back switch. If it's just temporary, hold the reset button for one to two seconds until it goes red. ________________________________________________________________________________ From buttman_1969@yahoo.com(01-02-2004): Q: "dude,can u pls give me a tips on how long can i play my PS2???how many hours??cause i bought my ps2 this past dec 27 then after jan 1 my PS2 cant read any disc.....it looks like i over used it....pls give me a tip on how long can i play it....." A: Most likely a Disc Read Error problem. It's impossible to get a DRE in a week. Your PS2 can last as long as you can handle it fine, two years at the minimum... Call 1-800-345-7669 to have a Sony representative help you regarding that matter. ________________________________________________________________________________ From skins2848@yahoo.com(01-23-2004): Q: "Hey, I have a question for you. My PS2 cd-rom drive gets stuck and I have to keep trying to open it several times before I can get it to open. I was wondering if there was a way to fix that without sending it in. Any help would be appreciated, thanks." A: If you don't want to send it in, then you should open up the PS2 and see if any part of the drive is misaligned or anything. Something might have gotten stuck between, maybe dust or something. Try to clean it out. ________________________________________________________________________________ From the_firestarter_12@yahoo.com(01-26-2004): Q: "hey. My freind told me some rumors about the PS2 having a cd burner. is this true or is my freind full of it?" A: Very unlikely. The only thing close to that is the Sony PSX, which features a DVD burner and only available in Japan at the time being. ________________________________________________________________________________ From Ruff4Eva1@aol.com(01-28-2004): Q: "something weird i discovered on the PS2 happened today. i was trying to watch this dvd, but like this one unedited version of this comedy act wouldnt play, probably due to like limits or something. So i was playing around in the setup menu and there was a section dealing with regions...like i could put it to Japanese etc, but it did nothing. like, why does it let you choose the region but does nothing?" A: Only Sony knows how to get around that because they know the code. I guess they implemented that in there for a reason, which I don't even know what that reason is. *********************************************************************************** ----------------------------->SECTION 10: MISCELLANEOUS INFO<---------------------- *********************************************************************************** ------------------------------- 10-A. PlayStation 2/Other Links ------------------------------- HDD Information - http://www.sscorpio.com/~bungiefan/ PSP Information - http://www.playstationportable.info/ PS3 Information/Forums - http://www.ps3insider.com/ Sony Computer Entertainment America - http://www.scea.com/ Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. - http://www.scei.co.jp/ Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - http://www.scee.co.uk/ ------------------------ 10-B. Secrets/Cool Stuff ------------------------ In this part I will list some of the cool things and secret stuff: 1. In Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a photo saved on the memory card will show up as corrupted data on your memory card when viewed from the Browser. 2. Very recently, Konami has changed their logo to a more Asian style, and renamed their US department 'Konami Digital Entertainment America'. (E-mail me if you find more, with a detailed description!) ------------ 10-C. Rumors ------------ 1. Rumors about a PStwo name registered by Sony. It seems this will be a small portable PS2, just like they did with the PS1. Sorry I don't have a link to support this rumor, but some of you may know already. 2. Rumors about a PlayStation 2 price drop in 2004 from Sony. More details will be revealed soon. 3. Rumored Games that has yet to be announced for PlayStation 2.. - Final Fantasy X-3(From the FF fans comes this rumor. In doubt.) - Devil May Cry 3(We'll find out in E3 2004 in May.) - Resident Evil 4(Only for Gamecube only, PS2 version in doubt.) - Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes(This will never come out unless Konami wants to redo it. For now, it's only for Gamecube.) - Viewtiful Joe(Fans came up with "Capcom announced a PS2 port"..) --------------- 10-D. My Review --------------- Keep in mind that this is the exact review I posted in GameFAQs. No changes are made except for spelling mistakes. Introduction ------------ Back in 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. releases the PlayStation in Japan. It was then released later in North America and Europe in Q4 1995. It was successful. It had many great games. The RPGs is what kept this system alive mostly.. mainly Final Fantasy VII. Then in early 2000, Sony CEI launched Sony PlayStation 2 in Japan. And then it was released later in the year to North America and Europe. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.(who allied with IBM and Toshiba) Released worldwide. Features -------- The PlayStation 2 has a lot of features you can play around with. First of all, it can play back DVD movies and you can use your controller as a remote or buy one separately. Don't treat your PS2 as a standalone DVD player, because its DVD is designed to play DVD-ROM games, and you want to pet it as a gaming machine. The best feature overall about the PlayStation 2, and a major strong point about the PlayStation 2, is that you can play back all your old PlayStation games. Some games wont work, and I'm thinking Sony released a list of games that doesn't work on your PlayStation 2. While you play some games, you can also enhanced the graphics and speed up load times by turning the options on in the Driver menu. I'm glad Sony add this in, because then you won't have to pay the extra cash to buy a PS1. Not only you could play your old PS1 games, but also use your PS1 peripherals such as your controller, memory cards, etc.. The inside of the hardware includes a powerful processed Emotion Engine which runs at about 294.913MHz, 32MB of Rambus technology RAM running at 800MHz, and a 24X/4X CD/DVD drive. The system includes 2 USB ports(for future add-ons), a S400 iLink port(connect one PS2 to another), 2 controller and memory card slots, and the ability to twist the logo outside the disc tray if you stand it vertically. Peripherals/Design ------------------ The controller is so far the best one I've used since I started playing video games. The Dual Shock 2(more advanced than the original Dual Shock) adds the Analog feature to all the buttons except for Start and Select. All the buttons are positioned correctly and it makes life more easier to play games with it. There is a MultiTap 2, which allows up to 4 controllers to be connected so you can play multiplayer games. Also there's a Memory Card, which allows you to save games up to 8MB.(PS2 Memory Cards use Bytes[like computers] rather than Blocks which the PS1 memory card uses.) The remote controller (which sells now for $14.99) lets you control your DVD Movies more than what the controller has to offer. A controller port is required to use the remote controller. Not only you get the remote, but you get a disc where you can update your DVD drivers... Other accessories you can get for your PS2 are a Vertical Stand and an Horizontal Stand. Both stands add color to your PS2, so you don't have to see it in black all the time. The Vertical Stand lets you put your PS2 vertically, while the Horizontal is self-explanatory. The design of the PlayStation 2 looks incredible! Sony always makes their products sleek and futuristic. Games/Graphics/The Future ------------------------- First-generation games(games from launch year 2000) that came out the same time as the system wont look graphically detailed. So Sony decided to makes games so that other top-quality developers can get an idea of how to use to hardware of such a complex machine. One game by Sony is Ico, their most artistic masterpiece. Other games from Sony include Primal, The Mark of Kri, etc.. Other games that use compressed power of the PlayStation 2 would be Gran Turismo 3. By Q4 2001, the PS2's strong point, games tend to look better and better. Konami releases Metal Gear Solid 2 and Silent Hill 2. Square releases Final Fantasy X. As technology gets better, these developers can get to the max performance of the PS2 hardware. Any game, as of up to Q1 2003 can be improved upon, because not one game has yet to use more than 50% of what the system has to offer. The PlayStation 2 can do a lot of physics and neat effects that'll last for 2-3 more years. The future of PS2 is among us. Better games will come out for the system, making this happy for our lives. Future games include Metal Gear Solid 3, Final Fantasy X-2 and XII. Long live PlayStation 2! And to remember, the PS2 is more than just gaming and DVD. It's a Sony product! Sound ----- The PS2 has a Optical output so you can connect Sound hardware to give your PS2 more sound quality. The PS2 can produce up to 48 channels of sound. Anyone who complains about the sound of the PlayStation, then you should have your ear checked out. While the original PlayStation only can produce to about 24 sound channels, this system merely doubles it with exciting new features, such as Dolby Surround support for games like Metal Gear Solid 2. Overall ------- Buy this system. It'll last you for a while before PlayStation 3 comes out. Somes games I recommend are the ones from Sony, Konami, Sega, Capcom and Squaresoft. The others you choose for yourself. The system now costs $179.99 at retail stores now that Sony has made a price drop again. Buy it, you'll love it... but it's definitely your choice. My final rating for this would be 10/10. Yes, a full score. I've had my PS2 for two and a half years and it's working along fine.. *********************************************************************************** ---------------------------------->SECTION 11. CREDITS<---------------------------- *********************************************************************************** ------------- 11-A. Credits ------------- - Thanks to GameFAQs(CJayC) for posting my PlayStation 2 FAQ! - Thanks to GameFAQs for SCE-development information! - Thanks to YOU for buying the system and reading this FAQ! - Thanks to Sony for creating the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System! - Thanks Xjoopx75(Muhamed) and Xavier3156 for contributing! - Thanks to Ruff4Eva1(Toyin Oluwole) for contributing information! - Thanks all other websites(IGN, GameZone UK, PSreporter) for information! - Thanks to ATadeo for Dual Shock 2 and Memory Card Information! - Thanks Brutal E for the Online Gaming FAQ! - Thanks KabutoHunter, LordAtomic, Col_Sandoz/XShady for creating the Disc Read Error FAQs! - Thanks to bungiefan(in the Gamefaqs message board) for providing a link to his HDD guide for the PlayStation 2 Computer Entertainment System. - Thanks to dsxgate for creating the PSX FAQ topic in the PlayStation 2 General Boards! - Thanks to Ben Matthews(ben_matthews3@hotmail.com) for more information on the PS2 enhancements from PS1 games.. - Thanks to Josh Michalski(campkillyourself315@hotmail.com) for updating the must-have list. All games with astericks in front are his recommendations! - Thanks to Joseph Manfredi(jmanfredi@monmouth.net) for more information on the PS2 enhancements from PS1 games.. - Thanks to Kevin Simard(chat_emeraude@hotmail.com) for more information on the Pressure Sensitive games. - Thanks to all others at the message boards for help and helping others with their politeness...! "PlayStation" and "DUALSHOCK" are registered trademarks and "PS2" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Copyright Sony Corporation 1995, 2000. All rights reserved. "PSX" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation, Copyright 2003, 2004. All rights reserved. ----------------------- 11-B. Thank you E-mails ----------------------- __________________________________________________________________________________ From eins_alpha@hotmail.com(Raymond Bernstein)(01-27-2004): Response: "Just wanna drop by and say thanks for the PS2 FAQ you made. Im really amazed with the dedication of your FAQ (its friendly and comprehensive) ;) Keep up the good work and the professionalism!!!" __________________________________________________________________________________ Sony PlayStation 2 FAQ Copyright TimiAzN 2003, 2004