Is there a faq for getting this to run on a US PS2?

[fkusumot]

It seems like there are key discs and then sequels that use the same start-up disk from an earlier edition. Is it possible to play beatmania on a US machine? Are there any FAQS on the process? I'm going to Japan in a few months so I guess I could pick up a JP PS2 but that's not the kind of thing I want to lug come. Oh well, any help, links, etc., appreciated. :-)

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by fkusumot

It seems like there are key discs and then sequels that use the same start-up disk from an earlier edition. Is it possible to play beatmania on a US machine? Are there any FAQS on the process? I'm going to Japan in a few months so I guess I could pick up a JP PS2 but that's not the kind of thing I want to lug come. Oh well, any help, links, etc., appreciated. :-)

Try this one:

Comprehensive IIDX FAQ + Controller Tutorials

[Jeff Paine]

Originally Posted by fkusumot

It seems like there are key discs and then sequels that use the same start-up disk from an earlier edition. Is it possible to play beatmania on a US machine? Are there any FAQS on the process? I'm going to Japan in a few months so I guess I could pick up a JP PS2 but that's not the kind of thing I want to lug come. Oh well, any help, links, etc., appreciated. :-)

5key uses key/append discs, IIDX does not.

The only 5key PSX mix I own is the European one, so I'm not entirely sure how the process works, but if you have a flip top mod (or something similar) you should be able to just use that to swap to an append disc.

How it works is, you start up the game with the key disc, find the option to swap discs, then put in the append disc.

[PooIs]

You know you could just buy the JP PS2 and save yourself the time. You could also..., actually, that's the only way to play them reliably without a mod chip, and even then, depending on the chip, it's really hit or miss. So yeah, just buy the PS2, either while you're there or online, and then you won't have to worry about it. Oh, and again, this stuff only applies to the 5key PSX releases, IIDX doesn't have this whole key disk and append disk problem. Plus, you can probably pick up a used PSTwo (aka Slim PS2) for cheap, and it's not really that large.

[BemaniAK]

Originally Posted by PooIs

depending on the chip, it's really hit or miss.

Are you talking about the PSX games?

Because 98% of PS2 games including those in other regions all work on the Matrix Infinity (not too sure about the knock-off clones) the 2% are most likely games with extreme copy protection and mod-chip detection, and/or games too crap to make a fix for.

[Go Beyond!!]

Originally Posted by BemaniAK

Because 98% of PS2 games including those in other regions all work on the Matrix Infinity (not too sure about the knock-off clones) the 2% are most likely games with extreme copy protection and mod-chip detection, and/or games too crap to make a fix for.

I could never get DDR games to work properly on PS2 or PlayStation.

[Jeff Paine]

Originally Posted by Go Beyond!!

I could never get DDR games to work properly on PS2 or PlayStation.

PS2 DDRs work fine for me with a flip top

PSX DDRs are more trouble due to the modchip detection. If you look you can find codes to disable the modchip detection, but it doesn't always work great (i.e. in 5th Mix you can hardly do anything or it'll freeze)