Off Shelf PS2 - Will It Boot These Games

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Tue May 10, 2005 2:21 pm

Yes, noobie question, but probably one that is being searched for a lot here. I couldn't find the answer, so thought I should ask.

Myself and a programmer want to build a small piece of software (not a game) that will load on standard off the shelf PS2.

So we want to be able to distribute it via CD-ROM for sale over the internet.

Basically, is this possible to create this software and have it load on a standard PS2 without paying 1000's for a PS2 Dev Kit and Tool?

Thanks!

Update: Move this to the General Forum please.

rinco · Post by **rinco** » Tue May 10, 2005 3:13 pm

Basically, is this possible to create this software and have it load on a standard PS2 without paying 1000's for a PS2 Dev Kit and Tool?

yes

ps2toolchain.sh will help you create software.
ps2link.elf and ps2client.exe will allow you to load software on a ps2.
the independence exploit will let you run code on a standard ps2.

good luck

Post by **Oobles** » Tue May 10, 2005 3:21 pm

Rinco should have included a major but there. The independence exploit will allow people to run programs on a standard PS2 who have installed the exploit. Installing the exploit is not a simple task. It also does not work on the recent slimline PS2s.

I would severly doubt that you could make any money selling a ps2 program that is based around the independence exploit.

The rest of what he said is true. You have plenty on this web site to create and compile and test software on a standard PS2.

The other avenues you can take is build the software using code here and then use the same company people like Action Replay use to create the distributable CD. You can also create you code then search for a real PS2 publisher to help commercialise the software; assuming it is something that Sony wouldn't mind being published.

Hope that helps,
Oobles.

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:43 pm

Oobles wrote: The other avenues you can take is build the software using code here and then use the same company people like Action Replay use to create the distributable CD.
Hope that helps,
Oobles.

Which company is it that Action Replay use to create their distribuatable CD's? Where can I find more info on this?

Thanks for the info so far.

Post by **pixel** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:06 pm

Datel press their own cds...

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:14 pm

No one knows of a company who would press PS2 bootable CD's apart from doing it correctly through Sony?

rinco · Post by **rinco** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:48 pm

Can exploit installation be sold?

Would that be exploiting the exploit?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 10, 2005 5:59 pm

bronco92 wrote:No one knows of a company who would press PS2 bootable CD's apart from doing it correctly through Sony?

Few companies are capable of this. And if they do it, they would only do it in a huge bulk affair, say thousands of pressings.

If Datel was interested in what you have, they could publish it.

However, you may be putting the cart before the horse. Have something worth publishing first. Then approach a publisher. At that point, it will be clear to you whether it is worth going through a Sony licensed publisher. Certainly you would do well to pitch it to them, and only fall back to a non-Sony licensed publisher if you are so motivated AND can convince the latter to do it.

It sounds to me that you are far away from that, so I suggest you concentrate on having something marketable first.

Post by **Drakonite** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:09 pm

There are only a couple places that are able to do it, and at least one of them is not very well liked around here...

I don't have any exact prices anymore but it is an expensive proposition. You have to pay up front, and you have to sell a lot of copies to even break even.

It's definitely not something to try to worry about until you have a product you are confident will easily sell thousands of copies and and you have thousands of your own cash to have the cds pressed.

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Wed May 11, 2005 12:14 am

Thanks for the advice guys.

We do have a budget in place, and a place to market our product (a website with millions of monthly visitors). We are very confident it would sell. This would not be something we would want to go to Sony with, it is not illegal, but more along the lines of the type of software Datel release.

I would not mind have 1000+ pressed initially.

If someone could post here the names of the companies that can offer PS2 CD creation I would appreciate. A PM would also be fine.

Thank you!

Post by **pixel** » Wed May 11, 2005 12:22 am

Then, HK Success most probably....

apache37 · Post by **apache37** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:08 am

So you want to make acheat device? Good luck getting pressed since the companies who can press outside of Sony already sell that type of software.

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Wed May 11, 2005 11:58 am

No, not a cheat code device.

Yes, it might be tough to get pressed. Anyone else know of other companies that can press PS2 CD's?

HK Success got mentioned... has anyone dealt with them before?

Thanks.

Post by **Drakonite** » Wed May 11, 2005 12:47 pm

Like I said, a lot of people around here don't like them. I'd go as far as to use the word 'hate' for some people.

And no, there aren't really any other places.

bronco92 · Post by **bronco92** » Fri May 13, 2005 11:49 am

Does anyone have a contact at Success-HK? Having trouble getting a reply. Thanks!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:31 pm

bronco92 wrote:Does anyone have a contact at Success-HK? Having trouble getting a reply. Thanks!

I would venture to say that probably no one here at all has ever talked with them. Or if anyone has, they intend to keep it a deep dark secret.

Of course, even they may not think you have anything worth responding to, if you have not been successful in properly explaining the worth of your business proposition to them.

Publishers are a notoriously picky lot, even renegades.

Edit:

One more thing, there is a saying in the book publishing business that certainly applies here: never pay someone to publish for you. If it is worth selling (i.e. has a chance to make a profit or otherwise satisfy some business goal) they will publish it for a cut, and they will market it for you to the big stores that can sell it.

If you are only seeking a "vanity" publishing deal funded solely by you, its going to be tough all around.