Charlie - The Man!

[JonusBaka]

Charlie,

I am very interested in buying a mod chip / AR2 combo, but I have a few questions to ask. I don't mean to come across as a newbie, but these are questions I haven't had answered in the FAQs I've read on www.megagames.com nor on the various message boards out there.

Most of these questions pertain to my situation, which is that I am now living in Europe, and I will be moving back to the US in 5 years, but I plan on playing a (modded) PS2 before then. ;)

As well, many sites offer great information, but they are very ambigous about the term "Import games" - does that mean that an import game is from anywhere, or specifically just Japanese NTSC games?

Of the following questions, assume that when I refer to a "modded PS2" I am refering to a PAL PS2 version 4 with the Neo 2.5 DVD and an Action Replay 2. Also, the television we use does accept NTSC signals (as I am running a US N64 on it perfectly) - BUT we intend on buying a new TV soon, which may not have NTSC support.

My questions are:

-Will a PAL PS2 that has been modded be able to play NTSC games in Color, if at all? Will I need to buy that rather pricey NTSC -> PAL converter you mentioned in another message to play on normal PAL TVs?

-More specifically, will a modded PAL PS2 be able to play back ups of US / NTSC PSX and PS2 games?

-Will I be able to ever remove my Mod chip from a system that it is installed in, so that I can take it with me back to the US?

-Will any site be selling the Messiah or any other "Non Swap" mod chips when they are available? If so, let me know.

-Do any of the available mod chips allow a play station to play normal video DVDs from any region?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond to my message,

-Jonus-

[Charlie]

......As well, many sites offer great information, but they are very ambigous about the term "Import games" - does that mean that an import game is from anywhere, or specifically just Japanese NTSC games?
ANSWER: It unambigously means games from anywhere other than the region of the PS2. So to a PAL PS2, an import original is an original JAP or US game.

Of the following questions, assume that when I refer to a "modded PS2" I am refering to a PAL PS2 version 4 with the Neo 2.5 DVD and an Action Replay 2. Also, the television we use does accept NTSC signals (as I am running a US N64 on it perfectly) - BUT we intend on buying a new TV soon, which may not have NTSC support.
ANSWER: New widescreen TVs in the UK other than those in Tesco support NTSC. Check before you buy.

My questions are:

-Will a PAL PS2 that has been modded be able to play NTSC games in Color, if at all? Will I need to buy that rather pricey NTSC -> PAL converter you mentioned in another message to play on normal PAL TVs?
ANSWER: A non-NTSC compatible PAL TV will play NTSC games in colour if you have a fully loaded Scart lead and set the PS2 to RGB colour treatment in the System COnfiguration.

-More specifically, will a modded PAL PS2 be able to play back ups of US / NTSC PSX and PS2 games?
ANSWER: Yes

-Will I be able to ever remove my Mod chip from a system that it is installed in, so that I can take it with me back to the US?
ANSWER: Yes - but don't beother removing it. Why would you want to?

-Will any site be selling the Messiah or any other "Non Swap" mod chips when they are available? If so, let me know.
ANSWER: I do expect them to come into the UK by the thousand soon - for PAL. ####://www.ps2ownz.com are reporting on the NTSC version of a Messiah clone they have received.

-Do any of the available mod chips allow a play station to play normal video DVDs from any region?
ANSWER: You can do this using DVD Region X without a mod chip