Hi, I have a slim PS2. There is a game I would like to play on it, Para Para Paradise, but when I try to load it with SwapMagic 3.8 it just goes to a blank screen. It does not tell me my disc isn't a playstation disc or anything like that. The disc keeps spinning and it just goes to a black screen. I've also tried to load the game with USB Advance with the same results. No other game does this!
I tried the game on a friends fat PS2 and it loaded just fine. How could this happen? Could it be a DNAS thing? Any help getting this game to work on my slim PS2 would be greatly appreciated!
Is it on a DVD+R disc or DVD-R? And what media brand is it? Usually Memorex and TDKs are known to be quite bad; however, if you're lucky enough like me and some others, some TDKs come out as RICOHJPNs instead of CMC MAGs. By the way, when you are trying to play the game on your slim, do you hear any noises at all or completely blank? Does the disc even spin after you loaded up Para Para Paradise with the SM 3.8 coder and when you hit the blank black screen? Media could be a likely problem from what I've experienced.
I'm using RiData DVD-R discs, but I really do not think that media is the problem here. As I mentioned, I have found no other PS2 games that do not work, furthermore I have tried this game via swapping to a disc and through use of a usb HD. In both cases the game has not worked (and more importantly...not worked in the same way). It will go to a black screen and the disc will continue to spin (or the hard drive will continue to be accessed).
Any other suggestions? I would really like to play this game!
How big is the TOC? If it's quite large, could try downsampling some stuff instead of resizing the dummy file that might have came with it. If it's too small, try adding a dummy file to increase readability. I had a similar problem when trying to play a game on my old fat PS2 in contrast to my slim PS2. Don't forget! Some games may not work on the slim because the laser and compatibility for games isn't as great as the old PS2. (I believe some people may agree with me here) Unless someone was lucky enough, I had problems with such old PSX games like loading Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo and Thousand Arms freezing here and there randomly on my silver slim v15 PS2 yet they play absolutely fine on my fat PS2, whose CD diode is nearly shot. I remember someone having a similar problem as you except his problem was trying to play these Jpn exclusive import games. Oh, by any chance, could you show the LBA with file sizes too?
EDIT: How many times have you tried to burn this game btw?
Thank you for your reply! Sadly, I can't say I understood most of what you wrote. I don't know how to check the TOC size, let alone resize it! Nor am I familiar with the process of adding dummy files. I've looked for tutorials on these subjects, but haven't been able to find anything. :( Could you possibly explain some of this stuff or point me in the direction of some good tutorials i might use?
Well, by dummy data, I meant adding miscellaneous data to simply fill up space on the disc to improve readability and such like when you're trying to convert a CD PS2 game onto a DVD and getting the PS2's laser to read it better instead of being plagued with stuttering and freezes because the PS2's laser can't reach far enough to read the data on the disc. Think of adding dummy data like how you add an additional file to your data disc to fill up room on the rest of the disc instead of wasting 500 megs out of 4.4 gigs.
By TOC, I meant Table of Contents or basically the total size of the disc. Like you know how you usually try to do a TOC refresh with Swap Magic, you're trying to play a certain game so you insert a bigger game with a bigger TOC like GTA3 so the size limit or whatever it is (I don't have much experience with TOC refreshs) refreshes. Omrisama got his KH2FM game to work better with a TOC refresh. Maybe you can look up how to do a TOC refresh or ask for a better explanation because my idea and understanding of it is quite limited.
And so far, from what I can see from the game's contents, there's no dummy data unless it's disguised as SD.Dat or DATA.Dat which I highly doubt. Have you considered switching media to see if you can get different results?
From what I've noticed, the biggiest indication is the DVD-R. Slim PS2s are horrible at reading them even with them booktyped to DVD-ROMs in my case. Generally, you should be using DVD+Rs for slims and DVD-Rs for fat PS2s since it's way better for your wallet, the fat PS2's specific type of laser and such. Try using some 8x DVD+Rs -- notable brands of course like Ritek, Verbatim, or Taiyo Yudens -- and see if you can play Para Para Paradise from a DVD+R burn of it. Based on your testing, I doubt it has anything to do with video modes because the NTSC-J and NTSC screen sizes 60:1 (or whatever it is) is basically the same and the only time you would ever need to switch or worry about video modes is when you're trying to play a PAL game on an NTSC console and vice versa in most scenarios.
Edit: Well, if it isn't your DVD-Rs, then it could be that there may be a dummy file that you may need tinker with, but it might not be as obvious. That's just me guessing although I still find it a bit hard how I got Star Ocean 3 to work. And as for what I use to play PSX backups, I use my old gameshark but I seldom use it. Anyway, as a solution, you should ask your friend or get a test pack of good DVD+Rs and see how it goes. Could possibly try to reburn the game too once on your DVD-R Ridata, but it'll be at your expense.
I've actually just found out that there are more known problems with slim playstations version SCPH-75001. Here is a list of American titles that are incompatible. As you can see Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo is also on this list. :(
So I'm guessing Para Para Paradise is probably an affected Japanese title. I guess there is nothing I can do?
Sorry I couldn't be of much further help. And about that list, I deeply believe the list of games that have had trouble on the SCPH-75001 is far longer than what that list says it is. I was hoping, when I bought the slim PS2, to play a bunch of my PSX games but so far have been disappointed with the lack of compatibility. I'm just going to replace my laser on my v5/v6 PS2 at teammodders or something when I get enough money because this issue is irrelevant on the older models. The slim PS2 also apparently still suffers from the overheating issues that have plagued the earlier slim versions although I'll give them credit to this. My v15 silver slim PS2's laser is highly accurate and precise when it comes to reading messed up games. I have horrid conditions of PSX FF7 and the PS2 Dragon Quest 8 which refuse to play on my old PS2 yet it plays pretty darn fine on my slim. Oh the irony? I don't know.
