[XCSSA] Free McBoot and HDLoader

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

I use the CD variant of HD Loader (actually, I think I have HD  
Advance) and it's *awesome*. Grand Turismo 3 was actually bearable to  
play (the load screens otherwise really impacted the game experience).  
Not all games benefit from the increased HD speed (ATV Offroad Fury 3,  
for some reason, doesn't load any faster), but most games do. I don't  
have the card of course, but I definitely think getting a game loader  
is totally worth it. That assumes a PS2 "Fatty" as you say.


On Jan 14, 2009, at 12:54 PM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio  
wrote:

>
> On Jan 14, 2009, at 10:37 AM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio
> wrote:
>
>> Sounds interesting...
>> Is this only for playing games on the PS2 or does it have other
>> applications as well ?
>
> It exploits a loophole in the PS2's boot process that lets you run
> arbitrary code. It can be used to boot homebrew code, burned copies
> of discs, and obviously even Linux. But the "game jukebox" mode
> (similar to a chipped Xbox with a big hard drive) is the most useful
> application for it.
>
> The "HD Loader" program is installed onto the card, which can boot
> games (PS2 only) off of a hard drive. There is a PC installer called
> WinHIIP that can install games on a hard drive even when your PS2's
> optical drive is bad, and it's much faster, too. Also, some games
> require patching, and WinHIIP can apply patch files that you can
> easily find with a google search. Note that while almost any hard
> drive can be used for this, it is not compatible with the "official"
> hard drive formatting, and it does not allow any games that need a
> genuine Sony HD to work with an ordinary HD, nor can you use it as an
> enormous memory card for game saves like the genuine Sony HD.
>
> This can even be done with a USB drive, but the 10Mbit speed of USB
> 1.x is less desirable than a "fat" PS2.
>
>  - Bruce -
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