modded US PS2: Japanese language setting

Is there any kind of hack that will trick a US PS2 into running games in JPN mode? I've heard it affects several things: Sonic Gems Collection, Shadow the Hedgehog, Rez...

Patched ISOs might not be as convenient if they need a different one for each language. Besides I'm not specifically aware of such patches being out there.

 

I was never even aware such features existed on the PS2. :/ Those games aren't not multi region are they? Do they have content locked on the disc?

 

Yes. Since the US PS2 bios does not have Japanese as an option, content enabled with it becomes inaccessible.

You might recall hearing how English version DSi/3DS similarly lack JPN as well. Locking content from DS games.

The basic idea goes WAY back. Even Master System and Game Gear had language setting differences in a few games.

 

I don't think so unless there is some kind of mod for it.

Thought I could've sworn on my Launch model PS2 Japanese was a language option. But that broke almost 10 years ago, and the replacement I've had since does not have that option.

 

That leaves the question of how PS2 games determine what language is set. In general there isn't much interest in these kinds of things. Playing with text one doesn't understand, has little appeal to the masses.

 

Maybe there are codes in Action Replay to unlock a hidden language? I have not heard of any Action Replay unlocks, but there might be somewhere. Most of the language patched ISOs I read about were translations, someone took the time to add the English text to a game.

 

Much like PSP games, I doubt PS2 games used text from the BIOS like the 'cube does. A few games had Japanese as a language option (but don't ask me which, I was a kid). I'll take a look at my BIOS and see if there is a choice for Japanese just to clarify that for you.

 

It's likely. Of course I'd have no idea how to generate relevant codes.

In these cases I'm talking about, JPN mode is on disc. With no legitimate way to access from any model PS2 console where the system menu option to enable it was removed.

 

I know my Japanese PS2 can be switched to English. That probably doesn't help, though.

 

If it comes to that. I'd hope not with the cost of getting a modchipped one, to better mine in functionality.

Either way it'd still be nice to know technical details of what system calls PS2 games use to identify the mode they're set to.

 

To answer your original post: no. You will have to hack the game only if a language option (one can be coded, but the devs "hide" it for unknown reasons), button cheat, or some other undocumented method to access said mode and/or content is not available. You also need to make sure said content and/or language(s) is stored on the disc, or you'll be wasting your time searching.

To answer your above post: games* use the language set in the System Configuration of the BIOS, or the sceScfGetLanguage function if you disassemble the ELF (SCUS, SCES, SLPS, etc).

* this may not be true for all games based on how the developer coded the game.

 

This is pretty interesting. Yeah it's definitely better to first check the disc first. Asking somewhere PS2 users gather, might net me a more extensive list of what games use these BIOS settings.

 

You can begin your list with Final Fantasy VII -Dirge of Cerberus- International. I found out about this relatively unknown feature last year and posted my findings on a different forum: http://www.bordersdown.net/showthre...etwork-(PSN)?p=1877791&viewfull=1#post1877791

Also made thread here: http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?39259

 

Man... What did I get myself into? That sounds like Japanese PS2 will have the opposite problem with other yet-unclear games.