There is still a
method by which, without even modifying your
console, one can use a copied
psx game, and it will also let you use a
foreign game (i.e. one made for a playstation in a different
country). Of course, it is
illegal to
copy games, so I'm sure you won't use this with games you don't own, right? Right. So anyway, this works with all playstations that resemble the
original, but may not work with the more recent
redesigned PS1. I have no idea if it will work with the
PS2.
This is known as the "
double swap" method. It is a
combination of two earlier methods: the "white
screen" and "black screen" methods, neither of which work on
newer psx's. It requires several things:
- The copied game that you wish to play.
- A valid playstation game - any that you can play on your playstation should work.
- Something to hold down the door button while the door is open - I recommend a carefully bent paperclip, propped under the edge of the door.
This is rather
difficult, mostly because the
timing has to be almost
exact. Try
booting a game a few times with the door open, until you have a
feel for the
rhythm of the psx. Now, with the playstation off, place the valid game in the playstation with the door open, but the door button held down. Turn on the playstation. After the
cd spins up, it will
slow down briefly. Then it will
speed up again. A
moment later, it will speed up even more. This is when you need to swap in the copied game. The screen should change to a black screen with the Playstation
logo. Congratulations, you've just completed the "white screen" method. If your psx is from a certain
generation, this alone will allow you to play your game. Otherwise, read on.
Leave your copied game in the console but pay close attention. The cd will slow down once more, then a little later it will slow again. This second slowdown will happen after the
sound (
music?) which accompanies the black screen has ended. This is the difficult part. You need to swap the valid cd back in, then almost
immediately swap your copy back in. It takes perhaps half a
second. The best way to tell when you need to put the copy back in is when the screen goes completely black. After this, if you've done
everything right, the copied game's normal
loading
sequence will continue. If you want, you can now
close the door, if necessary removing
whatever you used to hold down the button. But make sure you don't let the button up, or your game will probably
stop loading, and you'll have to
start over.
A few final comments:
This works only with
cd-r's, not with
cd-rw's. The psx can't read them.
The games you're playing aren't made for
free. If you insist on copying games you don't own, please carefully consider whether you would
buy the game if you couldn't copy it. If the answer is yes, go buy the game. It's worth more to you than the
price you'll pay, and you'll be helping to encourage the creation of more good games, for yourself and the rest of us. Thanks.