Just got my first next-gen system (PS2), question on memory cards... (1 Viewer)

[jeff lam]

Picked up the PS2 bundle at Costco last night for $265. Included the PS2, Jak and Daxter, extra controller, and one memory card. Thought it was a good deal. Anyway, I had a question about the PS2 memory cards. Please keep in mind that I haven't had any game consoles since SNES and haven't played much video games in years so please bare with me.

How many PS2 memory cards do I need? I won't need one for every game will I? Also, does it matter which slot I have it in? In other words, will I be able to use both slots at the same time to get 16MB of memory? The instruction guide didn't really explain the memory cards very clearly.

So how many will I need, maybe 1 per every 3-4 games?

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Kleist]

It all depends on what games you're playing. SOme games take up a tiny bit of data, other games like football or RPGs take up a lot. On my PSX I had 10-12 games on there at a time usually. Yes, you can use 2 memory cards at the same time (or 4 if you have the multitap) Keep in mind, you will need a PS1 memory card if you wish to save PS1 games and have the game be able to read them

 

[Peter Rohlfs]

Jeff,
You will probably need just 1. They hold alot of games (how many depends on the game). You might want a 2nd one for backing up files.

Definitely not one per game.

I don't use my ps2 for ps1 games (I still have my ps1 which was modded for all regions) but I think for ps1 games you will need a ps1 memory card.

Enjoy the PS2,
Peter

 

[Peter Rohlfs]

Jeff K and I apparently were posting about the same time.
He confirms the PS1 memory.

Peter

 

[Joseph Young]

Jeff Lam,
On average (and keep in mind I don't generally play sports titles) each memory card holds over 10 game files (this is including games that drop system and saved game files into your memory card).
I own 3 PS2 memory cards, and have about 30 games (ouch, saying that out loud hurt). Works just fine.
Jak & Daxter's a fun game, enjoy!
Joseph

 

[jeff lam]

So would it work/be ideal to have a PS1 memory card in one slot and a PS2 memory card in the other so you won't have to swap them out all the time?

 

[DonRoeber]

Jeff:
Yep, that's exactly what I do.

 

[Joseph Young]

So would it work/be ideal to have a PS1 memory card in one slot and a PS2 memory card in the other so you won't have to swap them out all the time?

With the (common) exception of PSX and PS2 games that refuse to read from the memory card unless it is in slot 1.

Games that 'auto-read' from all available (read: plugged) memory cards are great, but just now becoming more common.

Joseph

 

[Andre F]

I like having two around just in case.
-Andre F

 

[Morgan Jolley]

I only have 1 PS2 memory card and just short of 20 games. It still has a few MB of free data.

I also have 4 PSX memory cards, all full (around 40 PSX games).

Also, if you get two of the 5 slot multi-taps, you can get 10 PS2 memory cards hooked in at once...

 

[Leo]

Well if you get the Linux kit, Sony recommends 1 for booting Linux and a backup in the event of corruption of your primary boot memory card. So that's 2 cards eaten up. But for games a single card will go pretty far depending on the type of games you play.

Leo

 

[jeff lam]

What's a Linux kit?

 

[Morgan Jolley]

Sony made a Linux kit for the PS2 that includes a USB keyboard/mouse, a PS2 compatible version of Linux, a HDD, and a cable for outputting to a monitor. You put the HDD in the expansion slot, put the keyboard/mouse in the USB slots, and then you have to do all kinds of things to get the whole setup to work.

 

[Iain Lambert]

Before failing to get anything useful running, and return to using your Dreamcast for console-hardware Open Software running

 

[Leo]

See this article I wrote for Gaming Age: Link Removed