Reaper-X » PlayStation

Connecting PS2 to PC Monitor using TV Tuner

Reaper-X — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 04:19:58 +0000

Yay … i’m back again after taking a break for about a week or so if i recall correctly :) .. and this time im going to post about connecting ps2 console to monitor using TV Card / TV Tuner Cards. And if you ask me, why i did not use other method to connect my ps2 console to my monitor using other peripheral such as VGA BOX or something like that ? .. the answer is simple, because the only thing i have is just a low quality tv tuner from PixelView (Prolink) named Prolink PlayTV HD (it is an old tv cards and not many PVR program are support this tv tuner so if you decided to buy it, you might reconsider on choosing other card) but i also use my video card vivo capability

As a side note, i decided to connect my ps2 console into my pc monitor because my pc monitor is larger than my tv size :( .. other than that, my old tv can only support Mono Audio not stereo audio which is a big disadvantage for all music games such as Guitar Hero, Drum Mania, Guitar Freaks, etc. But the downside of this method is, you’ll need to turn on your computer whenever you want to play your ps2 (but it can be easily switched just in case you do not feel like turning on your computer)

Okay .. that’s all for the introduction, and now here’s what you’ll need in order to connect your ps2 output to your monitor :

Hardware :

1. TV Tuner Card (well .. of course this is the most important peripheral before anything else) :P .. and here’s what it looks like if you connect the ps2 video output to your tv tuner input (the yellow cable) :

2. or VGA Card with ViVo (composite video in / video out) capability but in this case the only thing you’re going to use is only the Video In .. here’s what my VGA card vivo input looks like :

3. Soundcard … <= to record audio of course but im 100% sure your computer already has a soundcard even if it’s an onboard soundcard

4. Y-Connector (image below) or similar connector to connect your ps2 audio output to your soundcard (recommended) or tv card

Software :

Im using DScaler 4 and you can get it from here (Open Source / Freeware) .. <= small file size, and recommended
but you can also use other software such as Media Portal (Open Source / Freeware) if your card supported or choose a commercial software
Optional : Divx 6.1 ++ (i’m using Divx 6.4 Codec) that has High Speed Recording mode so you can record your ps2 into a video file

And here’s the step :

Connect your ps2 video output cable (in this example it is using the composite output) or you can also say the Yellow Cable to the Video input of your tv card or your VGA Card
Connect your ps2 audio output cable to Y-Connector and connect the Y-Connector into the Line-in of your soundcard
Run DScaler and configured it to use your capture card and set the video source to composite
And to make thing even easier, configure DScaler to automatically detect your PS2 Video Output (NTSC M/NTSC M JP/PAL BGHI) by checking the Automatic Format Detect on the Deinterlace menu .. in my case because i’m using modchip in my ps2, so the DScaler will automatically adjust between each Region Video Format Type everytime i insert different games (my ps2 console is PAL type)
Configure the rest of DScaler to your liking (to get the best thing possible from your card)
and the results :

Updated Screenshots :

That’s it .. now you can freely record your ps2 games easily =) or make a screen capture from your PS2 games ..

0x87485B96 | Tags : Computer, Guide, How To, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Tutorials, Video Games

Choosing the correct PS2 Cheat Devices

Reaper-X — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:32:42 +0000

Actually i decided to write this because one of the commenter here asked me why he can’t use codes on his Xploder cheat devices. Well .. although i haven’t tried xploder yet, i think that Xploder has a built in code format detection like ARMax, so you can’t just enter any random codes. So by creating this post i just want to give some more information to those who’s interested on buying a new cheat devices for their ps2 console

As a note, if you’re using a modchipped ps2 .. and you’re sure that you’re using a good modchip .. then you don’t have to worry about this stuff. Simply because you can use them all on your console ;) and that’s including playing imported game

Important : I never tried using Swap Magic / Swap Disc method, because .. well .. erm .. i’m using a modchip :P .. lol .. other than that i’ve never tried using Xploder and PAR (although i have them both) and GS2V5 (broadband enabled)

First of all, there are various cheat devices on the market, from Gameshark, Action Replay Max, Codebreaker, XPloder and Pro Action Replay (PAR) .. and the most popular here (in my country) .. is Action Replay Max. And if you asked me why armax is popular here ? the answer to that question is because most ps2 here in Indonesia are PAL version .. but you can also get a NTSC/US or NTSC/J (it’s rare to find this type here) console if you really want it. But

Okay now what you should check first before buying a cheat device for your ps2 console ? The answer to that question is first check your PS2 Type in the back of your console, and you’ll see SCPH-XXXXX and your ps2 type so you’ll not end up buying uncompatible cheat devices for your ps2

And now some features offered by those cheat devices (so you can judge which cheat devices are better than others) :

1. ARMax (Action Replay Max) – Official Site

Advantage

Built in media player, and you can use it to play various media type such as playing mp3 files or watching video files
Built in chat client, well .. you can use it to chat with other people (i haven’t tried this one yet although my ps2 is connected to the net) .. but i think most people don’t really need this feature
Built in memory manager, which is one of the most useful features because you can use it to transfer your savegame files to your computer (and that means saving your memory card space), and can also compress your savegame so it takes less space (but you’ll need to decompress it first in order to use those compressed savegame)
Online codes update, although i’m not using the built in update features (because the update files are saved on your memory card, and it takes quite large space) .. i think it’s quite useful for those who doesnt want to customize their armax because they’re not using modchip on their ps2 console
Has separate version for those who’s not interested on using Modchip .. and that means there are NTSC/US and PAL version

Disadvantage

Dunno if this should be called disadvantage, but if you are not using the automatic update feature, you’ll have to type each code using your ps2 joystick .. and every armax code always have an addition to each code .. here’s an example so you’ll get better idea of what im talking about :

Original Codes (in RAW Format / not encrypted) :

00000000 00000000

ARMax format :

DEAE-JKM4-KRW1A
ZMBK-UWC2-ZDK3D

Slow loading time when loading the codelist .. but i think it’s fine with this :)

Special Note : You can also upload your savegame directly from your ps2 using ARMax, other than that there are two armax type (Armax EVO and Armax only), with the only differences the EVO version already include usb flash disk

2. Gameshark 2 v3/4 – Official Site

Advantage

Has memory manager, but i haven’t tried it yet until now .. so i think it’s almost useless for me :)
Less typing (new code) :P
Fast loading time
Accept RAW codes .. so you can easily use various codes available from 3rd party site (not official site) .. or in the other words .. codes created by some person out there

Disadvantage

No update features, you’ll have to enter each codes individually :(
Can only be used on NTSC/US console (if you’re not using modchip)

Special Note : If you’re using Gameshark 2 v5 (Broadband Enabled), you can update your codelist easily … and it has media player too (i don’t know if this is true or not because i havent tried GS2V5)

3. Codebreaker – Official Site

Advantage

Updating codes online via your PS2 console directly just like Armax
Built in memory manager, and has ability to compress your savegame too. And i always use this save compressing feature to save space, for example use your second memory card to put only compressed savegame instead of storing your savegame to your computer or your flash disk, because you can access it much faster this time ;) .. (basically i’m to lazy to connect my flashdisk) :P
Support RAW codes

Disadvantage

Some people reporting that they can’t use the savegame transfer function on the new slim ps2 (i’m using the old slim ps2, 70002 PAL and it works fine)
Only works on NTSC/US console. And as a note, if you’re using modchip there’s still a high chance codebreaker will not run (codebreaker 7.1+) on your console (unless you’re using a good modchip) .. basically if you bought it and when you use it, you only get a blank screen that means your ps2 console (if you’re using modchip) is not supported

Well that’s all about their features comparison. But there’s another thing you should keep in mind, and that is how long before they released new codes for new games .. and of course this is the most important thing to consider before buying a new cheat device .. so here’s the order :

Codebreaker : this is why they’re the best, because they’re the faster when creating new codes. And most of the time they’re releasing high quality codes (since gameshark time) … and the guy behind this is no other than CMX :)
ARMax : Basically they’re fast too just like CB, unfortunately sometime they’re not creating a useful codes (for example in some games, instead of creating infinite health they’re creating max credits code)
Gameshark : Well .. maybe you should try visiting their site and see it for your self :)

I think that’s already covered some of the most important thing to look when buying cheat devices for ps2. I hope this information can be useful :)

And some last note : Because i havent tried Gameshark 2V5 (Gameshark Broadband Enabled), PAR and Xploder i don’t know what should i write about these 3 cheat devices (the only thing i know about them is Xploder is for PAL only, while Gameshark for NTSC/US only, and PAR .. hm .. i dont know about it .. although it works fine for a modchipped ps2, because my friend has it). So if you know more about those 3, and you’d like to share it here .. feel free to submit those information to me (credit will be given of course)

0x87485B96 | Tags : Guide, Misc. Games, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Tutorials, Video Games

PS3 Being Traded For Nintendo Wii

Reaper-X — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 22:54:28 +0000

Found a really interesting article about some people that want to trade their hard earned Sony Playstation 3 Console with a Nintendo Wii which is a lot cheaper than a new PS3 Console

So, first people camp out in front of Best Buys for days at a time to get the PS3, and then they trade them for Nintendo Wiis. Seriously. Tony Conrad, CEO and Founder of Sphere, pointed this out to us and we had to see it to believe it. There are people out there trying to trade their PS3s for Nintendo Wiis and some of them are offering to take a loss.

Personally i think, well .. maybe those guys that’s trying to trade their ps3 console have completely lost their mind (unless they’re really rich) to be able to make such offer

But that’s just my own opinion, i’m not a fanboy of various product. And what make me say something like that ? um .. that’s because you’re going to trade a $500 – $600 Dollars console + camping outside the game store (for those that is not preorder it) for several days with a $250 Dollars console (if i’m not wrong) minus camping ..

0x87485B96 | Tags : Misc. Games, Opinion, Personal, PlayStation, Video Games

Playstation 3 for one dollar

Reaper-X — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:18:41 +0000

Interested on getting the new next-gen console but you don’t have enough money to buy it or thinking that is just ridiculous to buy a $600 console ? Well … maybe it’s your lucky day (if you’re the choosen one) .. to get a new playstation 3 console for only one dollar !

And if you ask why did he gave his playstation 3 console for such price, here’s his answer :

Now why – you ask – am I doing this? I am a nice guy and I want to make someone’s Christmas a little brighter this year.

Maybe this auction will make history and, in the process, maybe I will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and other television talk shows. I was initially going to list this PS3 for $1 million, with 90 percent going to charity, but found others had already gone that route. I wanted to be unique and, quite possibly, give a PS3 to someone who might not be able to afford it otherwise.

You never know – if you’re watching my auction at just the right time – you could be the lucky bidder who gets one of the year’s hottest gaming systems for $1.

Although at first i think that this was a scam, but after reading it for a while .. you can be sure this person is serious on giving you a $600 Console for as cheap as $1 .. by the way here’s what his offer looks like if you win this auction from ebay :

60 gigabyte PS3 console
Two games

Resistance: Fall of Man
Marvel Ultimate Alliance)

Extra wireless controller

Well .. i guess that’s already explain it all .. interested on getting it ? then you can visit his homepage for more info regarding this

0x87485B96 | Tags : Internet, PlayStation, Video Games, Web Links

Sony Fake Blog … hm ..

Reaper-X — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:31:19 +0000

I just read an interesting news about Sony that created a fake blog just to promote their own playstation portable product which turns out to be their biggest mistake i’ve ever read so far

Quoted from BlogHerald :

You can file this under “Can Sony do anything right these days?” (A video download service? NOW?). As you may or may not have heard, last week Sony and their marketing firm Zapatoni were outed in creating a fake blog to promote their portable gaming device, the PSP at the slickly named site “AllIWantForXmasIsaPsp.com”. With its overly hipster talk and the fact the domain is registered by a Marketing firm, it didn’t take long for the gaming community to find that Sony was behind the blogging deception.

To read the full story, head over to this post

0x87485B96 | Tags : Blogging, General Blogging, Internet, PlayStation, Video Games, Web Links

Palm PS2, XBox 360 Laptop, Snes2GO .. WOW

Reaper-X — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 14:57:29 +0000

Although most people already know about this … but i think i’ll post it anyway simply because i never thought that a single person can modify a gaming console into something even better than the original product made by a company

The first one is XBOX360 Laptop and a single handed XBOX360 Controller created by Benjamin J Heckendorn

And this Palm PS2 and SuperNES2GO created by Brian Gardiner

0x87485B96 | Tags : PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Video Games, Web Links

Playstation 3 User-Agent Came to My Site

Reaper-X — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 06:52:52 +0000

After getting various request from Google Mobile Proxy / Google WAP Proxy or whatever you called it that allow mobile internet users to browse every webpage just like a standard WML. I found another interesting user-agent as well on my site, from the Playstation Portable / PSP Browser which is using Mozilla/4.0 (PSP (PlayStation Portable); 2.00) user-agent, to a brand new gaming console Playstation 3

And i’m a bit surprised because i never thought someone are going to use their gaming console to browse around the web. And as a side note the Playstation 3 Internal Browser user-agent is Mozilla/5.0 (PLAYSTATION 3; 1.00). (i don’t know if it’s a spoofed user-agent or not) .. but one thing for sure is .. Playstation 3 Internal Browser is created by the same company that created the NetFront internet browser for Symbian based Mobile Phone.

And the conclusion is … i get another user-agent collection :D

0x87485B96 | Tags : Browsers, Internet, Journal, Personal, PlayStation, Website

Playstation 3 Launched and the result is ..

Reaper-X — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 05:17:37 +0000

A man was in critical condition after emergency surgery for a stab wound after he and a friend tried to rob two men of consoles they waited 36 hours in line to buy, police said.
Two gunmen tried to rob people lined up for the console, and shot one who refused to surrender his money. Michael Penkala, 21, of Webster, Mass., was wounded in the chest and shoulder. He was in stable condition Friday with injuries not believed to be life threatening, according to Connecticut State Police.
Violence marred the chaotic US launch of Sony’s PlayStation 3, as hardcore game fans and eBay profiteers mobbed stores to grab scarce stocks of the must-have computer console

Whoa .. that’s quite news i got there, it’s just unbelievable, because of popular gaming console being launched someone would try to do useless thing like that. Although i don’t think i’m going to buy PS3 because of it’s ridicolous price … i also read that PS3 Downscales 720p on Incapable TVs. But i dont think that’s important because i’m already used to low quality television thought.

Ah well .. Maybe i’m going to get Playstation 3 after it’s price drop to acceptable price for a gaming console … such as when playstation 3 price already drop into $250 … :P

0x87485B96 | Tags : Internet, Opinion, Personal, PlayStation, Video Games, Web Links

CB2 Crypt the Codebreaker Converter Updated

Reaper-X — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:44:27 +0000

The famous CodeBreaker 7+ decryptor / encryptor tool that can be use to convert Codebreaker 7+ codes into raw format which is created by Misfire has been updated into version 1.2 and 1.21 respectively. Although there’s no big difference between those two version (i read it in the changelog) but i think it’s worth to put those amazing Codebreaker decrypter / encrypter in my host here so you can download it easily :

ePSXe 1.6.0 Complete with Plugins

Reaper-X — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 14:16:24 +0000

Since i’ve been getting email from someone that has trouble getting epsxe to work, i have upload the required epsxe files to my website including the plugins minus the bios files (of course because it’s illegal). Unfortunately the included plugins is an old plugin, but don’t worry about it because it still works fine (because i don’t use ePSXe anymore). Btw the ePSXe version is 1.6.0 and you can download it from here … and yes, you can play Final Fantasy 7 with this ;)

0x87485B96 | Tags : Emulators, Freeware, PlayStation, Software