MechaPwn by MechaResearch

PS2 MechaPwn by MechaResearch 2.00

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Hi, so if you have a PAL 50000 model, what exactly can you do related to PS2 games for other regions? I don't think I quite get it.
 
I was wondering how did you guys manage to make the ps2 logo appear on screen while mine wont autoboot it goes red screen instead even i load the game at fmcb logo startup
 
I have a SCPH-90004 and some original games but of NTSC region, so i'm glad i found this software, i converted to DTL-90001 . I also instaled FunTuna ( based on FMCB ) . Is this the best setup i could get for this model ? Also, one strage thing i noticed , i had an old backup from my Gran Turismo 4 - NTSC/U ..from pre-FMCB years . This backup can boot after lanching FunTuna then going to Launch disc , although it is not patched in any way. Other old discs didn't boot .
 
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Dual layer games needs to be patched from PTP to OTP (by Toxic Dual Layer Patcher) if You don't want use it via ESR and is not patched to be fake DVD-Video (ESR patched).

If Your slim have ROMVER=0230* (some have 0220* on which FMCB of course works) then yes, FunTuna + MechaPwn it is the best what currently You can have.

Other old discs didn't boot
Click to expand...
Maybe they are dead. ;] Only CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and DVD+M are longevity (from those which can be used on PS2; in other words: only original games, pirated and unlicensed but pressed, and M-Discs).
 
Yeah, we noticed some interesting effects with Funtuna and MechaPwn! It's on the list of things to be investigated and maybe made usable in a broader sense! ;)
 
The games i tested succesfully were Gran Turismo 4 , Tourist Trophy, Final Fantasy 12, God of War , Tekken 5 and Soul Calibur 3. These games must have a structure different from others .
 
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A full list of games were the dump/ISO is over 4GB would be interesting as well. I suppose that could be scraped from redump?!
 
cisADMIN said:
I may have locked myself out of a Homebrew Entry Point

I have a Slim 90001(USA), last time I tried running backups was in the old Swap magic days, I dont have Swap Magic anymore though.

1. Used FreeDVDBoot to get to uLaunchElf and Launched latest Mechapwn.elf from official github as of this writing
2. Successfuly changed SCPH 90001 to DTL-H90001 without Force Unlock, FreeDVDBoot still works
3. I thought Force Unlock sounded pretty cool, so I reran mechapwn and selected DTL-H90001 with Force Unlock ( Was I supposed to restore my nvm.bin first?)
4. Now FreeDVDBoot wont boot, I get the Red Screen insert Original ps2 disc screen, I tried making a uLaunchELF master Disc from some bootable ISOs but none work with DiscPatcher3 I get the same Red screen insert original
5. I said oh, well, atleast lets try out PS2 Backups, NTSC and EU with and without master disc patch none work. I wasted like 15 Verbatim DVD-Rs at this point lol.

So I might have to order a PS2 Memory Card with Fortuna installed? Unfortunately I dont know anyone with a PS2. Does Fortuna work on DTL-H90001 PS2s?
Click to expand...

Something like this happens to me, only that when I start the mechapwn with FreeDVDBoot and change the region when I restart my console, it does not change to the region that I mark. I tried with the Keep patch and Force Unlock and my ps2 does not change the region.
 
Hi, I just discovered this and, after trying, it works great for me, but I have three questions:

1 - I now know how to change region and how to restore the backup and go bact to stock, and I also know what force unlock mean, but what does "restore factory defaults" do?

2 - Why choosing europe DEX changes output to 480i? is it a bug or normal behaviour? In case is normal and it always output NTSC, can I play PAL/NTSC PS1 games without further modifications?

3 - Not that I'm interested, but, apart from changinf regions and CEX/DEX, can't I change to a different model?

Using version 3 RC3 on a SCPH-77004 PAL.

Thanks!
 
1. It should be for removing the modification and restoring original operation.

2. I'm not sure that this changes any video mode behavior in games. I don't think it does.

3. It is NOT recommended to select a different model. You could possibly have negative results by doing so. There certainly wouldn't be any positive results.

The purpose of Mechapwn is so your console can read PS1 Imports and CD-Rs as well as PS2 Imports, CD-Rs and DVD-Rs that have been patched to "Master Disc". Using force unlock is a less than ideal way to run PS2 DVD-Rs. It's better to patch the discs to Master.

You can do that with this tool here:
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/playstation-2-master-disc-patcher-for-mechapwn.36547/
 
MottZilla said:
1. It should be for removing the modification and restoring original operation.

2. I'm not sure that this changes any video mode behavior in games. I don't think it does.

3. It is NOT recommended to select a different model. You could possibly have negative results by doing so. There certainly wouldn't be any positive results.

The purpose of Mechapwn is so your console can read PS1 Imports and CD-Rs as well as PS2 Imports, CD-Rs and DVD-Rs that have been patched to "Master Disc". Using force unlock is a less than ideal way to run PS2 DVD-Rs. It's better to patch the discs to Master.

You can do that with this tool here:
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/playstation-2-master-disc-patcher-for-mechapwn.36547/
Click to expand...
1 - Isn't the restore backup option on the main menu for that? Or are they the same option?

2 - Maybe it doesn't affect games but definetely changes the console output.

3 - Yes, I've read it's generally a bad idea, but I haven't even seen the option.

Do I need to select a specific region patch to run that region's game? I mean for PS2 as well as for PS1.

Thanks in advance!
 
1. I would imagine they are not the same option but I can't say off hand what the difference is. It's been awhile since I've used the installer.

2. I could see it changing the video mode in the OSD if you change from between a NTSC and PAL region. But the game itself controls the video mode rather than the console.

3. I think it would require selecting the wrong model when installing.

With mechapwn you should be able to run any region game. No need to do region patching. For PS2 CD-R and DVD-R you will want to patch the ISO with the Master Disc flag before burning so the system can read the disc. I have not looked in awhile but back when Mechapwn was first released you had to launch Master Discs outside of the OSD. For example using "Launch Disc" or holding a button for Fast Boot.
 
1 - Never mind then xD

2 - From normal PAL to patched DEX PAL, video changes from 576i to 480i.

3 - I don't remember selecting anything on the first patch eighter.

I didn't mean backups, but original discs. I guess I don't have to patch those and directly play any region, for PS2 and PS1, right?
 
OK, thanks for all the answers!

Now that I think of it, is there a benefit of patching a PS2 game image to make it a masterdisc and play it with MechaPwn patch comparing it to the ESR method? I mean, apart from the fact that ESR method needs the ESR elf.
 
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SelenitaDelSur said:
Now that I think of it, is there a benefit of patching a PS2 game image to make it a masterdisc and play it with MechaPwn patch comparing it to the ESR method? I mean, apart from the fact that ESR method needs the ESR elf.
Click to expand...

The compatibility of ESR is not perfect. Also ESR cannot play CD-ROM based games. I don't have any examples ready right now but there are games that do not work with ESR that you can play just fine with Mechapwn and patching it to be a Master Disc.

When games are patched to Master Disc it's basically just like checking a box which the Mechacon will see and enable reading from the disc if the Mechacon is set to allow reading Master Discs which Mechapwn lets you set that. ESR is different in that it changes the Disc to appear like a DVD-Video disc so that the disc can be read. The ESR program has to handle reading from this patched disc format, sort of like how OpenLoader or HDLoader take over reading the disc to read from a hard drive or usb. As you've probably seen when these loader programs have to redirect/modify the reading of the disc by the game to do something different there can be compatibility problems. There are lots of compatibility lists out there for HDLoader, OpenLoader, and ESR.

Getting back to Mechapwn and Master Discs, the game reads the disc just like a normal disc. No special loader has to patch any disc reading functions. So you shouldn't have any compatibility issues. The downside to Mechapwn is primarily that you can't use it on consoles before the SCPH-500XX model series. Other than that there is no downside. Patch your discs before burning them and you're on your way. Oh and ESR won't help you with PS1 games either.
 
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