mod querry

[cleslie]

The whole modchip area is quite new to me.

Problem: return from USA with NTSC PS2 Ver4 and ofcourse need to get it to play PAL games. Heard this was a hardcoded machine and PAL games need to be patched first.

Not too worried about backups or dvds just want to be able to play NTSC and PAL games.
From what I have heard the Messaih is the best chip to get.
Q.1) Will this let you play PAL games without having to patch them first?
Q.2) Do any of the plugin chips play import originals i.e. not patched?
Q.3) How does the new V3 Pal/NTSC mod chip (gamegizmo.com) compare to the Messiah - seems to be a bit cheeper, easier to install and just has same features.
Q.4) How are patches added to games, I assume you need a special writing program that lets you put them on your copies?

Thanks to anyone who can help. I'm sure this is prettey basic stuff to most of you.

[charlie_ps2]

Originally posted by cleslie
The whole modchip area is quite new to me.

Problem: return from USA with NTSC PS2 Ver4 and ofcourse need to get it to play PAL games. Heard this was a hardcoded machine and PAL games need to be patched first.

Not too worried about backups or dvds just want to be able to play NTSC and PAL games.
From what I have heard the Messaih is the best chip to get.
Q.1) Will this let you play PAL games without having to patch them first?
ANSWER: Yes. Copied CD games would need to have been copied by CloneCD on a compatible reader/burner to avoid patching (a copy protection issue). Copied DVD games (onto DVD-R) are no problem - they are copied with PrimoDVD or Nero.

Q.2) Do any of the plugin chips play import originals i.e. not patched?
ANSWER: Absolutely not. The plugin chips are useless - they don't play DVD-Rs either.

Q.3) How does the new V3 Pal/NTSC mod chip (gamegizmo.com) compare to the Messiah - seems to be a bit cheeper, easier to install and just has same features.
ANSWER: I didn't find a V3 Pal/NTSC modchip on Gamegizmo. But the no solder mods are extremely limited in what they can do. Nothing else can do what Messia does - which is no swap booting of everything.

Q.4) How are patches added to games, I assume you need a special writing program that lets you put them on your copies?
ANSWER: Few people need to patch these days especially in the PAL zone. Patches are used either to get round copy protection (but CloneCD makes 1:1 copies so you don't need to patch for that) or to converte from NTS/PAL or vice versa. Your NTSC PS2 will play PAL games (when chipped) and will work in a PAL TV. Your NTSC games will play on the PAL TV if the AV slot is NTSC compatible. Other than that, you'd copy games onmto hard disk with CDRWin and patch with PPF-O-Matic drawing patches from places like www.megagames.com.

Thanks to anyone who can help. I'm sure this is prettey basic stuff to most of you.

[cleslie]

Thanks for that info,

As it happens I have a V4 Ps2 with a date code of 1C which I heard was unable to run the messiah chip. Is this true?

If so would the Origa be a good choice? If this was to be installed properally would I then be set to play PAL original games(i.e. bought from retailer) and NTSC or would these(pal games) need to be copied/patched or altered in some way?

Does a Game Shark2 need to be used with origa?

PS: My tv is NTSC compatible and I have been playing US gamesdown here in NZ with use of a step-down transformer. So really its just a matter of being able to run PAL games now.