PlayStation 2 System - Frequently Asked Questions (Page 03)
Below are the cheat codes, hints and help for PlayStation 2 System - Frequently Asked Questions (Page 03).
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 or 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 - PSP Information - PS3 Information/Forums - Sony Computer Entertainment America - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - ------------------------ 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
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