What's the best way to play import games?

[Shinigami]

I just bought Another Century's Episode 2 ( www.ace-game.jp ). It's the first import game I've bought and I don't how I'm going to be able to play it. I'm weighing my options and I'm thinking buying a Japanese PS2 might be the best idea. If I get a mod-chip I won't be able to install it and I don't know anyone can. I'm also nervous about getting a "Slide Card/Magic Swap" because it sounds risky and if I go with one I'd have to use that trick every single time I want to play the game. The only problem I have with getting a Japanese PS2 is that it's a lot more expensive than those other options.

Since you guys are more about import gaming maybe you can give me some advise.

[michiyoyoshiku]

I buy all my imports from 3 places

resort 1
www.Play-asia.com
They usually have everything

Resort 2
www.lik-sang.com/
not as good a game selection but the Accessories are supurb

Resort 3
ncsx.com/
If you have issues buying from Hong Kong these guys are good but they don't Always have everything.

last resort 1
www.japanvideogames.com
Never bought from them before though

Absolute final nobody has it I guess they will but I should keep looking everywhere still even ebay resort
toysnjoys.com/
Bought from them twice both times I had to harass them MANY times JUST to get my games to ship. I even had to get a refund from them once. When I finally got one of the games it was opened. Only buy from them as a Last Resort


as forplaying htem

Boot discs

[YourAverageJoe]

Wait, is your PS2 a slim-line?

[Shinigami]

No, it's a regular one, the kind where the multi-tap still works.

[Scylla]

I went with a Japanese PS2, and it still seems like the best, safest option to me. It was rather expensive, but it was worth it to play whatever Japanese PS2 games I wanted as well as my entire Japanese PS1 collection.

[natabuu]

I recently got a Japanese PS2 after trying some other options. First I got a Magic Slide card with Swap Magic discs because it was the cheapest option. My friend and I were trying to get it to work on his PS2 while at Otakon last month. We had a lot of trouble figuring out how exactly to use the card even with illustrated instructions. We ended up breaking his PS2 by getting the disc tray off its runners simply by accidentally hitting the eject button while the tray had been pulled into the out position by the card. In addition, when the PS2 tried to read the Swap Magic disc when the tray was misaligned, it was badly scratched.

When I got home, I ordered a flip top case mod which is another method that uses the Swap Magic discs. When it arrived from UPS, the cheap plastic case was cracked and the flip top disc tray wouldn't close properly. I then went online and found out that neither of the Swap Magic methods are designed to work with PS1 games or R2 DVDs. I gave up, returned the case to eStarland and ordered a Japanese slim PS2 from Play-Asia, which I've now had for 2 weeks. It's just so much easier to deal with and it can play everything I want it to.

[shido]

Nahh, I think modded PS2 is the best way.
Don't install it by yourself of course, ask the poeple in the store to install it for you

[kyouki]

At one point I had a Japanese PS2. This is the best way to play imports of course.

Now I have a fliptop/Swapmagic set. This works very well, though certain games do not work with the boot disc (or so I've heard). The fliptop was easy to install (I installed one on a slim PS2 and one on a regular PS2... the slim was much easier to install). SwapMagic comes in a DVD/CD set which will let you play PS2 imports. To play PS1 imports you'll need to buy the Breaker Pro boot disc which works fine with the fliptop case. The only game that I can't get to work is the JPN Legend of Mana because it is protected.

I haven't tried any mod chips because the fliptop works very well.

[recap]

A Japanese system, always. And the Japanese PS2 has just gotten a new official price: 16,000 yen.

[Scylla]

Well, I wouldn't say a Japanese system is the best option for all import gaming. I mean, getting a Super Famicom or Japanese N64 is a waste because the systems are so easy to modify.

My general rule is that if it's a cartridge system, go with a modification, and if it's a CD system, just get the Japanese system. And with handhelds, you don't have to worry about anything, of course. :)

[klausien]

For PS2 the Japanese system is the safest, but most expensive choice. I went with a solderless modchip personally. Had to do the Romeo mod (one wire), but the hardest part of the entire process was the disassembly/reassembly of the system. There are horror stories out there about solderless chips, but I had zero problem with it. Just requires patience. Definitely cheaper than the Japanese system and MUCH better than any of that Swap Magic crap.

[YourAverageJoe]

If you've got a slim-line there's a fool-proof way with three little rubber things called a Slim-Kit and a swap disc. Those things are easy to place (just need some duct tape for two of them) and I haven't seen them slide back out yet.

[ahnslaught]

I went the japanese console route for PS2. N64/SNES was only a simple mod, so kept the US versions of those only.

BTW, a few posts up, someone said toysnjoys.com was a place of last resort - I disagree wholeheartedly. THE BIGGEST PIECE OF CRAP STORE EVER! I tried buying one game from them - they proceeded to mess up my credit card info, then when I retold them the info, they did nothing. Even after I told them to cancel the order, I never even heard from them. The absolute worst company I've ever dealt with.