The summary describes the evolution of the PlayStation 2's (PS2) copy protection mechanism and the methods used to bypass it. The PS2's security was an improvement over the original PlayStation, with a more complex boot process and encryption. However, modders still found ways to defeat the system.
Initially, modchips were used to authenticate backup copies of games. The Neo Key and Messiah modchips were among the first to be developed. Later, the Swap Magic method was introduced, which used a special disc to bypass the PS2's eject sensor and allow the swapping of discs.
The most popular method of running PS2 backups today is the Open PS2 Loader (OPL), which allows unmodified disc images to boot and run from external USB drives, hard drives, and network shares. The FreeMCBoot exploit, which uses a memory card to trick the system into loading homebrew code, is another popular method.
The summary highlights the cat-and-mouse game between Sony and modders, with each side trying to outsmart the other. Despite Sony's efforts to tighten up security, the PS2's huge fanbase and expert security researchers ultimately led to the defeat of the system's security.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Sony PlayStation 2 is the world's largest-selling console with over 150 million units sold.
2. The PlayStation 2 improved upon the technology of the original PlayStation 1.
3. Sony developed a more elaborate copy protection scheme to prevent piracy and modding on the PlayStation 2.
4. The PlayStation 1 had a simple copy protection method using a watermark pressed onto the discs.
5. The watermark contained the region code of the game.
6. Consumer-grade CD burners cannot write the watermark onto discs.
7. The PlayStation 2 has a more complex boot process and security system than the PlayStation 1.
8. The PlayStation 2 logo is encrypted in the first 16 sectors of the disc.
9. The key to decrypt the logo is in the watermark data.
10. The decryption key is also encrypted using the product code of the disc.
11. The PlayStation 2 has a media flag setting of DVD-ROM on original DVDs.
12. Making a simple copy of a game DVD would not boot because the book type or media flag would be set to DVD+R.
13. Mod-chipping a PlayStation 2 was complicated and required soldering 20 wires onto the motherboard.
14. The Neo Key was one of the earliest modchips for the PlayStation 2.
15. The Swap Magic trick allowed users to swap in a backup copy of a game after the watermark of the original disc was read and authenticated.
16. FreeMCBoot is a custom menu that can be loaded onto a PlayStation 2 using a memory card.
17. FreeMCBoot allows users to run homebrew, browse files, manipulate save games, and boot backups.
18. The PlayStation 2 was designed to be upgradable using a memory card.
19. Sony released one update disc in Japan, but the method was quickly scrapped due to security concerns.
20. FreeMCBoot works on almost all PlayStation 2 hardware, including the original Phat models and all Slim models up to the 9000x model.
21. The Open PS2 Loader (OPL) allows unmodified disc images or ISOs to boot and run from external USB, hard drives, and network shares.
22. OPL is the most popular method of running PS2 backups today.
23. The Sony PlayStation 2 still remains a popular system despite its security being defeated by various methods.