forums.ps2dev.org

ant0n · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 4

Hi everyone!

I'm absolutely new to ps2 homebrew development, right now I'm working myself through the tutorials and am trying to get the toolchain working.

Do I understand it right that there are only two approaches for loading a self-written program into the ps2? I understand that you either a) have to have a modchip or b) do it by the knife method. Is that true?

But what I would love to do is code a funny, tiny game (like space invaders or something), burn it on a CD and give it to my friends (who have no modchip and won't use the knife method). So that they can start it up like any other,"original" ps2 game. Is that possible? If not, why?

Greetings,
Anton

Corwin · Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 3

Seems like the situation is even worse - on new PS2s the Demo Disk is a DVD-ROM - so even the knife method doesn't work.

Am I wrong?

Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

No, it is not possible to burn a cd and have it boot like a normal game.

There is however, a third way of booting homebrew code that might interest you.

You've mentioned the modchip, and the knife swap, but there is also the ps2-independence exploit.

The ps2-independence exploit is used by putting a specially crafted save file onto your memory card, and then when you put in a ps1 game that is listed in the save file the exploit will load and run a homebrew program from the memory card instead of the ps1 game running.

You do need some way of getting the files to the memory card to start with, such as a modchip, knife swap, or commercial device such as an xport.

I've been using the exploit to boot ps2link for all my testing needs, it works quite nicely :)

mrbrown's site is having dns problems and I can't think of the mirror, so the best I can do for a link is http://www.ps2savetools.com which should at least have the files needed for the exploit.

p.s. If my post seems confusing, or hard to read at all, it's because I just woke up.
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Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

ant0n · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 4

pixel · Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 791

Guest · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 4:19 am Post subject:

ooPo · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 5:30 am Post subject:

I believe it requires pressing a disc rather than burning it.

But regardless, this topic is probably drifting a bit too close to piracy. If you want to know more you should talk to ps2newz or ps2ownz, I forget which. We tend to focus more on creating new code on the PS2 and not so much on the ways of getting around protections.

That said, I'm sure someone here could help you out with installing the exploit onto a memory card if you mail it to them, then you could share that with your friends easily enough.

ant0n · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 4

Drakonite · Site Admin Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 989

ooPo · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 8:02 am Post subject:

I think the exploit will boot any program you can fit on the memorycard. All you'd have to do is put it on the memorycard for your friends and tell them to boot it with a psx game.

It doesn't really get any easier than that at the moment. Sorry. :)

ant0n · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 4

pixel · Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 791

You just can't fake copy protection at all. The "protection" lies inside the inner sectors of the CD/DVD, where you just can't write to using any CD/DVD burner around. Only "Sony" can, or anybody which has an hold of big CD/DVD pressing machines, and know how to actually press the protection.

So, your next question would be: how official developpers do? As far as I know, they don't. Well, I've heard of a special "debug" PS2 which would actually not take care of the copy protection. But that's only a rumor I heard.

So, the official way of developping a game or whatever never (or really not often at all) imply CD or DVD burning. That's only when you'll press the final release of the game/software, and publish it, that you'll also press the copy protection. But you just can't using any standard CD/DVD burner.

What you don't seem to understand is that the protection has no link at all with the actual code which is run. Even if it's your code, and that you worked hard for it, it still has to get pressed with these special headers on. No way to turn around that.

Furthermore: if you want to officially develop for the PS2, you should get a developper license from Sony. Then you'll get whatever you want in order to be able to produce your own CDs. The "copy protection" is also here to disallow "foreign, non authorized code" to run.
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