The Sony brand 40GB hard drive sold in the US with the FFXI bundle has specific firmware that the PS2 will recognise. How would I go about using a 3rd party IDE drive? I was under the impression there was only the 1st party hard drive available though. I do have one of the old style bulky PS2s, so that hard drive method seems like it may be the best way to go with this. You have to make sure thhat any PAL games you import will work on your NTSC televisionĪ program like HDLoader is usually the easiest way to play an import game (no swap methods or additionaal hardware required other than the Network Adaptor and the hard drive, and almost any IDE drive will do), and it's legal as well. You have to own an older model PS2, a Network Adapter, and a spare IDE hard drive

You have to make sure the game is compatible (nothing like forgetting to check and then realising the game you just spent $40 to import won't work) The biggest issues with using a program like HDLoader is Since you can use freeware tools to install a game to your PS2 hard disc drive from a PC that will bypass region restrictions, you can install an import game from your PC and then launch it from your PS2 without issue. HDLoader does a region check on the disc when it installs, but not when you launch an already installed game. It's how I play all of the Sega Ages releases and stuff like the JPN PS2 version of the Sonic Gems Collection (which was a GameCube exclusive in the US). I've played a few European games on my system, but they might have already had 60 Hz support so I can't be sure if it'll work.

P.S., I'm not sure if Global Defense Force (PAL) has a 60 Hz mode, but I think Swap Magic has a method to force it into 60 Hz as does other homebrew. I'll cover the shipping cost back if you decide to go that route. If you're interested, I'd be willing to install the exploit on a spare memory card of yours if you ship it out here. Then it's just a matter of either getting the proper homebrew for your USB stick and using the memory card exploit or paying the $30 or so dollars for the Swap Magic disc. I may be wrong but I think for playing any kind of import you're going to be required to have a way to successfully perform the swap method (without installing a modchip, of course). From there you can use homebrew swap launchers (kinda like Swap Magic but released for free) and the proper swap method for your system (involves tape/tissue for the slim PS2, not that clear on the older models). I've been recently installing a memory card exploit for my friends that allows people to launch homebrew from a USB stick connected to their PS2.

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