PS2 or JPS2.

[Tain]

Okay, I want a PS2. Mainly, I want VF4, the upcoming VO Marz, Frequency, ICO, Vice City (unless a PC port is soon announced), and so on.

But I also want an import or two. I might want to import Marz, and I know that I want to purchase some form of Beatmania.

So, what's the modding situation with the PS2? Or would I be better off with a JPS2?

[MechDeus]

Modding is a pain and a half. I was going to but trying to track down a reliable dealer and figure how I was going to mod it (no way I was going to solder that much myself with my inexperience), I gave in and bought a J-PS2. It's just easier that way.

[SearchManX]

Eh... get a US PS2 to enjoy the good amount of games out right now, and buy the Japanese PS2 games that you'll want to play eventually (especially the rare ones that will be a pain in the ass to find). Then maybe when the next price drop hits, you can pick up a JPS2 cheap... (or someone figures out a cheap way to mod your console). It depends on how badly you want to play which game first...

[flux=rad]

I'm probably in the opposite position as most of the other people on this board. I bought a Jap PS2 quite awhile ago and still haven't saved up enough money for a US one, and I'm definitely not messing around with modding it myself. I'm pretty happy with having just the Jap PS2. I never really have the problem of wanting to play a game but can't since it's all in Japanese (mainly since I don't play many rpgs). The main problem is that it's a bit expensive. It's hard to find cheap used Jap games, and new games are generally more expensive to import. But I've got a lot of games that haven't been/won't be released here like Ape Escape 2, Shikigami no Shiro, Psyvariar. And also I can usually get the games before they're released here (although I'm still waiting for the Jap release of Shinobi). So if you're not going to mess with the modding, I say go for the Jap PS2 over the US one, I'm happy with my decision.

[SearchManX]

Damn Sony for not bringing over Ape Escape 2 here!

[Click_Stick]

Here's my deal: I want a JPN PS2 for dai-ou-jou, Beatmania, Shikigami no Shiro, Psyvariar, quite possibly that drum game [I forget the title], and probably a few other JPN-exclusives I'm simply forgetting. The domestic games I'm kinda interested in are readily available as imports: Shin Contra, Gungrave, etc. It doesn't make a difference if I own the domestic of import version.

It sounds like you really want some BM action [I'm going through the same thing as you, currently.... looking up prices for controllers and whatnot].... And VO:M, VF4, Frequency [I think?] are all import-friendly with no real language barrier. Vice City? Oh well. You don't need it that bad.

Better yet, the prices on JPN PS2s are going to drop within the next month or so. PS2 modding appears to be a rather shady doing and it's not worth the $100+ it goes for, I think..

I say: JPN! By far.

[SearchManX]

I'm probably in the opposite position as most of the other people on this board.

Apparently I'm the only one with this position... but that's only because I hate navigating through Japanese menus and import games are always gonna cost me a little more...

[Adrian]

I've PMed you some details Tain. Hope it helps.

[gameoverDude]

Go with the J-PS2. I thought about modding my US system but said the hell with it given Sony's actions against the PSOne modchips and got the J-PS2. I don't want to go through the "Console may have been modified" screen again and have to wait for some workaround like the PSOne GameShark codes. I've ran the J-PS2 for over a year sans stepdown and it's been fine.

I want Dodonpachi Dai-ou-jou... real BAD. Space Raiders is coming next month. I'm almost betting that XII Stag will make it to J-PS2. I had bought Battle Gear 2 and Gitadora (GF4/DM3) before buying the import system, since I didn't know if they'd be easy to get later on.

[Click_Stick]

Originally posted by gameoverDude


I want Dodonpachi Dai-ou-jou... real BAD. Space Raiders is coming next month. I'm almost betting that XII Stag will make it to J-PS2. I had bought Battle Gear 2 and Gitadora (GF4/DM3) before buying the import system, since I didn't know if they'd be easy to get later on.

Space Raiders is coming to the PS2 in addtion to the GC? Nice. Yet another plus.