The PS2 Port No One Used is Incredible 

I actually realized I have everything except the light guns and the link cable already, since my PS2s are all modded to play digital games lol. There's no way I can get anyone to do this with me, but I can physically do it!

Friends arent allowed anymore

I have the CRTs, PS2s, dance mats, and a friend, but only 1 copy of time crisis, no light guns, and no i-link cable.

Hi friend!

You csn also play Gran Turismo with 2 tvs

Thanks for that heads up. Never heard of that and now have to follow up.

I knew a few games like time crisis used it, never knew home brew did thats cool

Reminds me of handmade device people made for the Wii that would plug in the GC memory card port and connects to the PC over USB and you can inject code and read everything in the RAM MrBean streams his debugging when he makes Mario Kart mods it's awesome

Nice to know that

That's one of the issues with FireWire - it allows access to RAM. It would never be allowed these days, for good reason.

Learn something everyday. I'm going off to find more history on that appreciate the finer points.

The only PS2s limited to using USB for playing games is the slim PS2, the Phat PS2 owners would more than likely just use an IDE HDD (or SATA HDD/SSD with the network adapter Sata conversion, or the cheap SATA only "network" adapter) which is a lot faster than USB, the IDE in the network adapter is around 66MB/s which is a lot faster than USB but still nowhere near the speed that FireWire works at, BUT since the HDD speeds are faster than even the DVD speeds in the PS2 there really isn't a reason to use anything faster.

People usually use the network port rather then the USB, in general there is no sense in using USB next to that and all PS2 have a network port. The old ones have the HDD adapter so you don't really even need it on those.

@@madmax2069 It's all about options in my opinion. What if you have a launch PS2 but the disc drive is dead, or reliable IDE to SATA adapters are in short supply? the iLink port offers a 3rd viable option to play your library. Plus, it's just neat.

@@RohanSpartin I know it's about options, and I do have a 30001 PS2 mind you (that still reads discs fortunately). The original network adaptors isn't in short supply, you can snag them all day long for $15 - $20 (a little more if you combined the price of the IDE to SATA conversion), and even cheaper still if you get the aftermarket SATA only adapter (that lacks networking). The network adapter gives you two ways to load (by HDD or by network). The only time when I have seen an unreliable network adapter is due to either the connector on the console being physically messed up, or is dirty.

@@madmax2069 you can actually mod the ps2 slim to still accept HDDs but only works on SCPH-70000 models

I think the PS Move did get a time crisis game or two

​​Indeed, tc4 and pirate storm. Plus hotd games ​@@BenPaz

Ps3 did indeed! Time Crisis Razing Storm, which came with Deadstorm Pirates and Time Crisis 4.

I don't get how it's too late. New lightguns are being made for PC. If they wanted, Namco could easily release something similar with a sensor bar.

Yeah… I felt like the Wii should have been the home to every amazing light gun game ever made because the Wii is the only not-pain-in-the-ass way to play light gun games on a modern TV. Total missed opportunity

Legit me in half an hour when I've finished work

Well, the "high-speed" USB 2 was only created because Apple tried to shake everyone down for royalties on IEEE 1394. They backed down when everyone else involved in the standard demanded royalties from Apple, but everyone was scared off of implementing 1394 so there was a gaping void where the new high-speed interface belonged. (The original vision was for USB to handle low-speed devices and 1394 could deal with faster things.) So it is all Steve Jobs's fault.

​@@CptJistuce, Appears Sony even tried to step into that space of rebranding for monetization by slathering "iLink" onto that electrical engineer standard instead of simply going with anything generic for the average consumer such as "4-pin Firewire", etc.

@@That_Handle Well, Sony couldn't USE FireWire, because that's an Apple trademark name for IEEE 1394. In all fairness, I do believe Sony ALSO had a trademark on the name i.Link, though they are much better about sharing than Apple is. (I believe there's one more company with their own name for 1394, but do not recall it at this point.) And also in fairness... the 4-pin mini-connector that Sony was using wasn't ACTUALLY part of the 1394 spec at the time Sony started using it. The exact connector and whether the robust power delivery should be a part of it had been a subject of fierce debate during spec development, and I do not at this point recall if the mini-connector was part of the draft spec when Sony started making devices using it and removed before 1.0, or if they just went "we're using the GOOD connector and you can't stop us!". Whichever way it was, the mini-1394 connector was put back in the spec later.

It did a lot. For many in Japan and Europe PS2 was out 1st PC (and was cheap considering) with homebrew and tons of other stuff it was a ultimate mutimedia center running anything you can think of. A modded PS2 from day one and having Linux so as homebrew on it was my 1st PC which later landed me a job in the army too. PS2 did everything I ever wanted and more for a long time.

That's a good call on that pedal. I'm in the process of rewiring some industrial switched pedals here with the face button of cheap, secondhand D-pad only digital PS1 controllers to serve for reload and, IIRC from testing some years ago, grenade throwing in the likes of Area 51. A couple years prior to you, here in North america I had also discovered the light gun series and snatched them up over the subsequent few years in tandem with all the multiple copies of iLink titles (prior to hearing about OPL support of iLink system linking) back when most were just a few dollars each - none more than $10-$15 each for the PS1 into the PS2 era which was when I learned about that firewire systemlink for PS2 via Time Crisis 2 and 3. Have to say that the manufacturing quality and wear and tear of used firewire cables and whether or not they were stressed at the strain relief seem to play a part in retaining iLink connectivity; but, yeah, I do recall there being more inconsistencies with one of the Time Crisis titles keeping firewire connection maybe due to some expectations in their respective cadence of checking in with the other console which might also be a factor of how slow the laser is holding up to reading the blue / purple CD based Time Crisis 2 game Before the consoles, effectively, time out at which point they both go back to main menu? Additionally, for those few owners who used it, the firewire port in the PS2 had been stressed because they can hold onto plugs quite firmly while also requiring Square alignment before insertion which may have become a struggle for prior owners that subsequently placed stress on that port. That's a nice setup you have and for all the right threshold rationale - it's worth it if only for Time Crisis 2 and 3. Here, in addition to the PS2 system link, I have ps1's system linked on the CRTs as well. Unfortunately, had to give up and donate a 32 inch and a 34 inch Trinitron and WEGA Sony TVs because I didn't have room for dedicating their size to a couple Time Crisis experiences nor could I move them by myself and, so, had to make an executive decision to get more use out of each screen via the 27-inch units. Yet, I miss those splendid large CRTs even with the half dozen or so 27 inch Sony WEGA CRTs I have here handling the iLink, LAN and online PS2 job done; but, none of 27 inchers have the built-in subwoofer like the larger CRTs did which had the audio capabilities of sounding like the arcade.

Just as it makes no sense to as to why the PAL release of Unreal Tournament didn't support iLink nor that splitscreen UT play didn't carry over to splitscreen support over NTSC's iLink - - effectively capping multiplayer at 4 players before enrolling bots to infill - with all the bells and whistles of UT's intuitive tandem controls on PS2 (USB Mouse with a DualShock's left thumbstick and shoulder buttons), I'd say it was just as much of a loss if not greater to the light gun genre that Gunfighter - The Legend of Jesse James was released for PS1 in North America - the land from which the person hails - only to have the sequel for the PS2 not released for North America and, yet, to the PAL gamers not only receiving the sequel but enjoying it with light gun support. Apparently the decision to not release it in North America had to do with our lawmakers possibly putting pressure on the industry. It's unfortunate since it's an experience that is out of reach for gamers in North America as there's really no good way to connect up let alone import a 50Hz CRT TV and have it operate off our mains without, most likely, extensive, inordinately expensive power supply adaptations to the CRT. That first Gunfighter on PS1 is a bit of an underappreciated, hidden gem as to its presentation and mini games.

@@That_Handle There's a feature in OPL to play PAL games on NTSC TVs. I've done it for Police 9/11 the Konami light gun game, that also supports a webcam for real life ducking and dodging tracking. The conversion process is not perfect and in fact every few minutes they game image goes down one scanline, so yeah its not something all that reliable and requires saving and re-starting the console in order to reset the scanline positioning, but it does work with light guns. I haven't played Legend of Jesse James 2 yet on PS2, but you've reminded me to do so. Side note that there is also a converter program to make PAL games playable on NSTC PS1 consoles. Once again its not perfect, but I did briefly play the low budget EU-exclusive Ghostbusters light gun game that way.

I'm looking to do the same here. I'm curious - how were the frame rates from your recollection and how many players did it support per splitscreen when iLink or ethernet LAN system-linked?

He also does Voice Acting gigs.

To me it is a voice you can fall asleep to.

I think Gran Turismo 4 had printer support...? And that game was from 2004/2005.

​@@_SereneMangothat's neat. GT has always been pretty good tech showcases, especially the PS3 ones... they can load replays from certain real life GPS systems, iirc (I can't drive myself due to disability so I highly doubt I'll ever get to explore it) PS2 GT games were rather high resolution, if I'm remembering everything right

Yeah, I remember that you could print the photos you made in that Photo Mode or just save them in your memory card

@@Ramaxx95 Not only memory cards, but also usb devices! You could send a 1080i image to your phone to make a great wallpaper, AND it also works on Tourist Trophy

@@alphaascii not 1080i, but 1280x960 24bit color jpeg picture.

Some fat ps2s do have the port but the blue plastic sticker is covering it. Dont remove yours tho.

5000x or newer lack this port, but has built in IR receiver

​@@StarmenRock true or false?

@@julianmunoz7836 True, but doing research on it is always best.

wow thats crazy

Yeah I was just thinking about this! Have tried this with a friend as well back in the day. I might still have that link cable somewhere :-).

Another relatively short list compared to the vast library, unfortunately and similar to the iLink's (and ethernet LAN's) short list; and, yet nevertheless, PS1 Serial I/O as with PS2 iLink is definitely worth the Serial I/O Port experience - some of which also supports up to four players on twin two-player splitscreens. 👍

Is that the player cap stated in your literature? ....I do have yet here to get as many PS2s setup with mass internal storage and OPL+FreeMCboot to test player capacity/ configuration for TimeSplitters 2 (& Future Perfect), specifically; but, my copy of TS2 states "16 players" on the rear case art and have no reason to think that MP player-cap has anything to do with region specificity to NTSC-U/C (....which is why Unreal Tournament for PS2 lacking iLink, altogether, for the PAL release requires some explaining, IMO). ....Unless the short mention of TS2's 16 players on the case was a marketing error or possibly over generalization, my references imply, alongside support for four-player via multi-tap, that 16 players *_should_* be achievable with as few as four PS2 consoles, 4 multitaps, 4 firewire cables, a firewire hub dedicated for operation and with at least 4 ports not to forget 16 controllers as it pertains to hardware. Note: on page 8 of my region's game manual, it states that, additionally, "iLink or LAN" are supported (ethernet, presumably, in the latter and that they were not over generalizing both as being the same). Could it be that more split screen players are supported over ethernet LAN than there are splitscreen supported over iLink? That would fly in the face of the fact that the IDE speed for the PS2 was quite a bit slower than firewire. Regardless, if players are given both systemlink options and If involved PS2s already have a LAN address and settings made to their respective Netfile saves while the same respective memory cards also have room for each player's TimeSplitters 2 (& Future Perfect) saves, parties can simply go with ethernet LAN (adding an ethernet switch and easier to come by ethernet cables instead of Firewire's hub and cables) and, especially, if not all PS2s involved are early enough models to be equipped with firewire. Also, I appreciate Armored Core 3 onwards (for NTSC-U) supporting 2-player splitscreen over iLink (and, later, adding support over LAN).... Splitscreen over network would have been great for PS2's Unreal Tournament - to go beyond its 4 player cap over full-screen iLink (NTSC-U/C) requiring as many PS2s if players wanted so many more maps and game modes available in iLink compared to splitscreen trade-offs. With a little better optimization to retain frame rate and, maybe in exchange for having fewer bots, UT possibly could have brought more/all of those multiplayer maps from iLink play, otherwise, while maybe improving 2-P splitscreen frame rate all while UT for PS2 really shining with its addition of intuitive control via USB mouse in tandem with a DualShock's left thumbstick and shoulder buttons for each of two players from split screen and single player. I digress.... Back to TimeSplitters: Don't forget about the custom map creator/editors for TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect - those custom maps can be played in PS2's system link/LAN.👍 🤔 Subsequently, there is pursuant, plausible rationale to wonder whether splitscreen TimeSplitters2/Future Perfect LAN play can be LAN-tunneled online using Xlink Kai....

@@That_Handle hey dumb dumb... two consoles, 4 player splitscreen on both... TS2 is the only TS game that supports iLink... but there was a rumored 16 player iLink setup but the game was not known

It's fun watching younger generation gamers today enjoy as well as sit back and blink hard with a smile of reappraisal what the value proposition in the old equipment and software was as well as by those who were old enough but didn't know due to the lack of marketing of the features. Share in the GT3 iLink even if GT4 had a more seamless 3-screen wrap around than GT3 and without the tedium of getting the side screens setup for the iLink races of GT3. Something about GT3 physics - drift versus grip - and steering feel that I appreciate. Also appreciate both of their support for USB force feedback wheels adding quite a bit of insight as to how one reads the terrain, when one tire comes down first before the others all a part of informing how to get the laps faster. Now, with the GT4 Online-beta for ntsc region having its online resurrected, it's quite a peek into what might (unknowingly) have been back on PS2. I'll say also there are plenty of PAL region players driving NTSC-U's GT4 online-beta - i.e., Rik Katt. The same system link joys and reappraisal hold true for Serial IO system link on PS1. Within the same genre of racing, ToCA2: Touring Car Challenge (ntsc) has a pretty good system link mode for a couple PS1 consoles as well as support up to four players via twin two-player splitscreens (much like latter Wipeout titles).... I remember people comparing and contrasting the claims of Gran Turismo and ToCA as to which was actually a simulator (turning a blind eye to and not accounting damage simulation) especially regarding their steering feel/ responsiveness in combination with the change of handling characteristics from vehicle weight shifting and traction change physics simulation along with sprinkles of handbrake. In reflection, can see how it might have been system link for ToCA back on PS1 that plausibly could have gotten Sony thinking about doing that on the up-and-coming PS2 for the Concept releases and GT3. Good fun yet to be had on underappreciated hardware and software in addition to the lightgun and/or other iLink, LAN and resurrected online gaming. 👍

I'll add that stomping on those steering wheel controller pedals from a standing position will wear them out and most likely break them - the lesson I learned when I broke the brake pedal surface leaving a pedal that's roughly half the size and now left with an exposed sharp edge - on a perfectly good Mad Catz steering wheel controller that, otherwise, works really well for so many PS1 and, were USB Wheels were not supported, PS2 driving games while giving some semblance of feedback through vibration motor if choosing to use on one's lap instead of applied to tabletop using the suction cups. Not only are dance mats easier to come by but the generic third party ones are even cheaper than the Konami, name brand Etc ones. Admittedly, for quick storage and deployment, I'm using industrial foot switches that are going to be wired into a face button on a PS1 digital controller whose PlayStation cable will be plugged into the other controller port of respective PS2/ PS1 consoles.

Also on the following system 256, but hidden behind a small metal plate

That is an interesting coincidence pointing toward plausible if not probable hardware design history. Thanks for sharing. Am looking for more on the subject as I deep dive. Only other mention of hardware I'd read was that of another person here in the comments claiming to have been working for Sony during PS2 designing when Mac computers hooked up through the port for ~sound design checking/verification. (The other reference was via an interview with an Armored Core 2 dev:) FROM Software or Agetec had demanded no less than two PS2 units for testing/verifying iLinking since the issues with the first release of AC on PS1 required an unplanned reissue for those who'd experienced the missing/non-functioning radar in Serial IO system linked player 2's HUD..... As a noob to the subject: Though I wouldn't see an advantage or interesting curiosity at first glance, would the early PS2s effectively connect to those arcade boards for any play or further informative affect towards insight to the respective hardware/ ~firmware?

Have seen conflicting citations about Vampire Night - whether it actually supported iLink - while never reading nor seeing anyone verify/ prove that it did, by way of demonstration or a detailed write-up regarding any such support. Various sources in old forum posts also would discuss Vampire Night's ~inaccessible/"missing" iLink support up to including a citation from someone who'd shared a link conveying insight to its development history strongly inferring that the software was never released with iLink and, presumably, was a short-lived projection from marketing in advance of its release. The forgotten link (IIRC, via a Fandom?) was of key takeaways from an interview that, at one point, mentioned devs were ~exploring the idea of iLink support but which never made it to production. Alternatively, I'd like someone to show me proof otherwise toward Vampire Night did, otherwise, support iLink as I already have had my iLink setup for some years now and with an eye upon Vampire Night. Furthermore, I have never seen any ~cheat code or [achievement]/ stat performance cited that would, at least with a little work, unlock an iLink option for Vampire Night.... In a similar vein, I've ran into a similar holding pattern of a quandry regarding the first Ghost Recon release for PS2 that, though it displays the [iLink] icon on the rear of the NTSC-U/C case, the game shows no menu navigation into said system link experience and, for that particular instance, have been leaning toward the case art's features list as either having been a typo, was a feature never planned for the PS2 devs who might have been handed the "system link" support claim for the original Xbox instead from which came the advertising for the PS2 was derived or, lastly, plausibly a last minute ditch of the feature on the PS2 after some time in development where they failed to remove the feature listing from the case art.

*Cries in mechacon crash*

@@IllusiveDev Mechacon crash is not related to mechapwn

How does Mechapwn make up for a missing ilink Port as it pertains to its use for system linking?

@@That_Handle it doesn’t but very few games use I link for multiplayer so I think people are just willing to take the L.

It’s because those ps2s are 50000 models which removed the I link port and was the last model of the fat ps2.

That GC ethernet adapter would be nice especially if at a lower price than currently asking for original equipment.👍

And the DDR pad omg!

I see what you did there.... as opposed to USB polled devices.

We're all going to eventually adopt American English, sadly.

For NTSC-U, ATV Offroad Fury 2 also has resurrected online MP. It might work for PAL players who are a modded to play NTSC to also get online.

Plenty iLink, LAN, LAN-tunneling and even more retro online-resurrected PS2 multiplayer being had, yet. 👍

👍 Same! 😄🍻

Hello you! 😮

What titles in particular used imaging when from a Firewire camera?

Same sentiments especially regarding Initial D.

Yeah, come to find out ~15 years ago when addressing a WEGA's needs that our long-time local TV repair stopped carrying parts and within a handful of years after closed shop with no heirs interested in taking it over, -solf- sold their inventory, tools, manuals, etc. to another business that will have nothing to do with CRTs unless they're medical equipment related - this was that many years ago already. So, now, online only parts of NOS are jewels requiring teaching oneself safe high-voltage electrical handling, board refurbishment and ~[beam/geometry] tuning as the techs with knowledge and tune-up literature/tools can't be found or who wouldn't the work even for a fee (these things are heavy) or who are no longer with us.

@@That_Handle for sure! I found the same thing. Many don’t realize CRT TVs are still superior to flatscreens in certain regards and shouldn’t be completely phased out. Whether it be retro gaming, real-time monitoring and flattering lower resolutions, it really has a lot of benefits that still apply today. Like I said at least projectors didn’t get phased out and have only become better and cheaper, without having the issue of making lower resolution or analog media look bad, because it doesn’t produce the picture like flatscreens making for a better composite image. I still hope there will at be at least some better upkeep of CRT TVs if not a full manufacturing resurgence, for things like retro light gun games and so on.

Also, curious.

I would agree that AC players are a different breed. A lot of metrics and depth to considerations as well as, eventually, quantity of the parts selection and options for the mech building. Anyone who recalls knows the forums could get toxic in that generation. As for linking, Armored Core ilink on PS2 also makes sense as it's had systemlink stretching back through all of its titles to the first release of the series on PS1. Something to consider during the PS2 era for Armored Core, just as with TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect, eventually, AC on PS2 came to support splitscreen over iLink before, later, ethernet LAN was added (speaking for the NTSC-U perspective regarding support), eventually AC afforded more players on less hardware via splitscreen (2 players max per console) at AC3 and later iLinking titles for a satisfyingly Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and, and later titles of AC - a mode that I liked to play - a TDM with a twist whereas there is a marked player on the opposing team that was to be targeted. That changes not only the dynamics of defensive/cover, feigning/drawing an enemy away versus offensive/attack play tactics which could very well include how parties built their Mech, respectively, for their role in the battles. Admittedly, all the metrics for heat dissipation, power generation, booster strength, number of simultaneous lock-ons and size of the window Wendell within which to lock onto enemies all the way down to Turning speed among other metrics are quite a steep entry point if not a barrier for some but I'd have to say, until part way through the PS2 era, the most off-putting aspect was probably the fact that looking up and down was on the shoulder buttons instead of vertical movement of a thumbstick and remapping that wasn't available until more recently through emulation which, unfortunately, has yet to (if ever) emulate iLink system link. For the latter AC titles of the PS2 era that also came with ethernet LAN, I came across during the pandemic players who had time on their hands and uploaded a video to RU-vid of a PS2 Armored Core LAN party that was fully emulated on laptops/PCs, remapping buttons for looking up/down while connecting, IIRC, via ethernet ports or, possibly, hub adapters unless I missed somewhere in there that they were getting that done over Wi-Fi reliably. Yeah.... you got me there. Armored Core players may very well be hardcore and more evidence to that are all the spreadsheet equations that were created and shared over the years for either balancing mech loadouts for a purpose or maximizing certain attributes.

Older lightguns are incredibly accurate but they only work on CRT screens

No sensors are required around the television screen for older light guns. The older light gun technology prior to PS3 for reference actually registered accuracy to the scanlines in the image as opposed to targeting approximations by using those infrared receivers that were used in the PS3 era

If not choosing the emulation route, seek a phat PS2 for sale cheap locally and/or without its optical drive in the best of shape and see if it at least boots into PS2's browser and you can then pay/offer a cheaper price..... to add OPL+FreeMCboot along with [mass internal storage] and be on your way towards, possibly, a second PS2 to do the same. 👍