Back when I worked on PS2 software at Sony we used the iLink port to allow the PS2 to be plugged into a Mac so audio engineers could audition their sounds on the PS2 directly to hear how it would sound when playing on the device.
@YOURFAVORITEDOOMGUY2 ай бұрын
As a independent developer that is dope I know you still get a good pension off that beast of a console
@user-nj7lg4sy4d2 ай бұрын
Can we go back in time and trade lives? I promise mine isn't worth it :)
@AOAYUNARIA19 күн бұрын
Fascinating!! ^^
@AbruptAvalanche3 ай бұрын
Okay, so I think we all have an i-link cable, two first gen ps2’s, two crt tv’s, two copies of Time Crisis 3, two lightgun controllers, and two dance mats laying around…but where do I find a friend?
@NottJoeyOfficial3 ай бұрын
I actually realized I have everything except the light guns and the link cable already, since my PS2s are all modded to play digital games lol. There's no way I can get anyone to do this with me, but I can physically do it!
@twincherries66983 ай бұрын
Friends arent allowed anymore
@catholiccontriversy3 ай бұрын
I have the CRTs, PS2s, dance mats, and a friend, but only 1 copy of time crisis, no light guns, and no i-link cable.
@ryanfowlow80343 ай бұрын
Hi friend!
@theultimateninja3 ай бұрын
You csn also play Gran Turismo with 2 tvs
@kaleklol3 ай бұрын
The Ilink port was used for some very sick homebrew in the early 2010s as well. Using a piece of software called KERMIT, using the Ilink port to link to a Windows PC with a firewire port, you got access to a debugger/memory editor/cheat engine. You could alter your PS2 game's memory in real time, as well as rip uncompressed textures/2D images out of memory. A little esoteric for most but it was a blast for a few weeks for me. I've never used the Ilink port for anything else haha. I actually didn't know it had any use for actual games.
@callmexxjacobxx3 ай бұрын
I knew a few games like time crisis used it, never knew home brew did thats cool
@ross3695_basedhax3 ай бұрын
Reminds me of handmade device people made for the Wii that would plug in the GC memory card port and connects to the PC over USB and you can inject code and read everything in the RAM MrBean streams his debugging when he makes Mario Kart mods it's awesome
@debashisraykarmakar8363 ай бұрын
Nice to know that
@3rdalbum3 ай бұрын
That's one of the issues with FireWire - it allows access to RAM. It would never be allowed these days, for good reason.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Learning something new today. Am going off to find more history on that, appreciate the finer points.
@LangeManGlenn3 ай бұрын
The moment you said "any second controller port input" I knew it was gonna be a dance mat. You're not fooling me with your steering wheels!
@RohanSpartin3 ай бұрын
Firewire 400 is also faster than the USB 1.1 that all PS2s came with, and it's not even close. Firewire 400 caps at around 400Mbps while USB 1.1 caps out at around 12Mbps. This is insane since using USB drives and external Hard Drives on a softmodded PS2 to play games is sluggish and has compatibility issues. Support for the i-Link port has been worked on for a little while, and will offer much better compatibility and performance.
@madmax20693 ай бұрын
The only PS2s limited to using USB for playing games is the slim PS2, the Phat PS2 owners would more than likely just use an IDE HDD (or SATA HDD/SSD with the network adapter Sata conversion, or the cheap SATA only "network" adapter) which is a lot faster than USB, the IDE in the network adapter is around 66MB/s which is a lot faster than USB but still nowhere near the speed that FireWire works at, BUT since the HDD speeds are faster than even the DVD speeds in the PS2 there really isn't a reason to use anything faster.
@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy3 ай бұрын
People usually use the network port rather then the USB, in general there is no sense in using USB next to that and all PS2 have a network port. The old ones have the HDD adapter so you don't really even need it on those.
@RohanSpartin3 ай бұрын
@@madmax2069 It's all about options in my opinion. What if you have a launch PS2 but the disc drive is dead, or reliable IDE to SATA adapters are in short supply? the iLink port offers a 3rd viable option to play your library. Plus, it's just neat.
@madmax20693 ай бұрын
@@RohanSpartin I know it's about options, and I do have a 30001 PS2 mind you (that still reads discs fortunately). The original network adaptors isn't in short supply, you can snag them all day long for $15 - $20 (a little more if you combined the price of the IDE to SATA conversion), and even cheaper still if you get the aftermarket SATA only adapter (that lacks networking). The network adapter gives you two ways to load (by HDD or by network). The only time when I have seen an unreliable network adapter is due to either the connector on the console being physically messed up, or is dirty.
@DruidVorse3 ай бұрын
@@madmax2069 you can actually mod the ps2 slim to still accept HDDs but only works on SCPH-70000 models
@TheMamaluigi3003 ай бұрын
Namco really should’ve gave us a Time Crisis collection on like the Wii or Wii U, or even the PlayStation Move. Now, it feels like it’s mostly too late for that (despite the Switch joycons giving a similar experience, it’s not as accurate without some kind of positional tracker or pointer sensor)
@BenPaz3 ай бұрын
I think the PS Move did get a time crisis game or two
@user-on4cy3lp6u3 ай бұрын
Indeed, tc4 and pirate storm. Plus hotd games @@BenPaz
@GHAMVs3 ай бұрын
Ps3 did indeed! Time Crisis Razing Storm, which came with Deadstorm Pirates and Time Crisis 4.
@user-vi4xy1jw7e3 ай бұрын
I don't get how it's too late. New lightguns are being made for PC. If they wanted, Namco could easily release something similar with a sensor bar.
@leeartlee9153 ай бұрын
Yeah… I felt like the Wii should have been the home to every amazing light gun game ever made because the Wii is the only not-pain-in-the-ass way to play light gun games on a modern TV. Total missed opportunity
@Arcade_Jon3 ай бұрын
We've had Time Crisis 3 setup with 2 PS2s and 2 28" CRT tvs in the arcade for nearly a year now. Always a favourite with everyone.
@jordanhoughton19483 ай бұрын
I love when developers took the time to put complicated setups in games that make the experience so much better even if very few people actually got to use it. I always wanted to try this with Gran Turismo 3. Also, obligatory shout out to the Zelda: 4 swords adventure setup with 5 tvs.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Thanks for that heads up. Never heard of that and now have to follow up.
@makeitthrough_8 күн бұрын
Wait what? I knew about playing Four Swords on the Gamecube with multiple GBAs and link cables but I didn't know you could set it up with multiple tvs
@jordanhoughton19487 күн бұрын
@@makeitthrough_ yeah, it's pretty crazy. Instead of connecting GBAs, you connect 4 gamecubes with GBA players attached to each one. Then you have the main gamecube or wii run the zelda disc
@eisenwill3 ай бұрын
Notably, with Aromred Cors four player split screen battles were possible with i-link. I have so many fond memories of playing 2v2 mech battles back in the day.
@MrCantStopTheRobotАй бұрын
I wish me and my friends knew about this back in 2003-2005, we would have used it so much...
@AOAYUNARIA19 күн бұрын
Wow!! o.O
@complexacious3 ай бұрын
Ah, Firewire - the amazing port that did everything that was shamefully struck down in favour of the lacklustre USB2. FW400 was 400mbit and USB2 was 480mbit, right? Not exactly. USB2 quoted the raw speed including protocol overhead, theoretical throughput was about 20% lower and not only that as it was a polled CPU driven interface actually achieving the theoretical speed was essentially impossible. FW on the other hand had a real controller with DMA and as such could operate independently of the CPU, reading and writing directly to blocks of RAM and never getting bottlenecked by a clunky windows kernel pre-empting it. Essential when you were transferring video from DV tape, couldn't very well ask the player to pause and rewind a bit to get that block you missed, can you? Or with your digital audio workstation where you needed audio to arrive thousands of times per second in precisely timed packets. But wait, I hear you wonder, if it could read and write RAM directly without the CPU wasn't that a security problem? YES! Tremendously so! A bad device could hook into your FW port and dump the contents of RAM, passwords and security keys and all, at 400mbit/s and there was not a whole lot the OS could do to stop it. Security was retrofitted into it but for a while those innocuous little ports that few had devices to plug into were an exposed security hole waiting to be exploited. Good times.
@SianaGearz2 ай бұрын
OK now i have 恋のセキュリティホール〜HACK SONG〜 playing in my head, thank you. Happens every time someone mentions SECURITY HOLE.
@knghtbrd3 ай бұрын
The iLink port could have done so much more… People think camera and hard drive, but it was a 400Mbit universal interface that kind of replaced SCSI. If you knew what SCSI could do on computers at its peak, you've got some idea where it could go. Video displays, scanners, drives, network devices, audio equipment, MIDI, that was all done back in the day. Since the PS2's USB was v1.1, the USB ports were never going to be even as fast as the PS2 memory card, but iLink was already faster than USB2 speeds. (I know USB 2.0 has a 480Mb speed vs 400, but USB has a lot higher overhead.) I wish this was used more in games-or in homebrew!
@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy3 ай бұрын
It did a lot. For many in Japan and Europe PS2 was out 1st PC (and was cheap considering) with homebrew and tons of other stuff it was a ultimate mutimedia center running anything you can think of. A modded PS2 from day one and having Linux so as homebrew on it was my 1st PC which later landed me a job in the army too. PS2 did everything I ever wanted and more for a long time.
@SmugMatty3 ай бұрын
8:03 It's okay, if they call the cops, the cops can play Time Crisis with you instead of the random person on the street.
@mofomanx103 ай бұрын
Timesplitters 2 crew checking in. I even had an iLink hub. Was able to do 12 player virus back in 2003. Was absolutely nutty.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
I'm looking to do the same here. I'm curious - how were the frame rates from your recollection and how many players did it support per splitscreen when iLink or ethernet LAN system-linked?
@jetkirby263 ай бұрын
I personally have done this setup with 2 24 inch CRTs on top of Milk crates to get that shoulder height, loaded them on the back of my van, and even had the 2 player setup at someone else's house. Another thing I did for immersion is dump quarters in the milk crate every time we wanted a continue. An extremely satisfying endeavor, I'll have to look into the dance mat for PS2, sounds like a super enhancement
@lillywho3 ай бұрын
0:30 FireWire was basically intended as what USB turned out to be. Only USB overtook it and it became redundant.
@CptJistuce3 ай бұрын
Well, the "high-speed" USB 2 was only created because Apple tried to shake everyone down for royalties on IEEE 1394. They backed down when everyone else involved in the standard demanded royalties from Apple, but everyone was scared off of implementing 1394 so there was a gaping void where the new high-speed interface belonged. (The original vision was for USB to handle low-speed devices and 1394 could deal with faster things.) So it is all Steve Jobs's fault.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
@@CptJistuce, Appears Sony even tried to step into that space of rebranding for monetization by slathering "iLink" onto that electrical engineer standard instead of simply going with anything generic for the average consumer such as "4-pin Firewire", etc.
@CptJistuce3 ай бұрын
@@That_Handle Well, Sony couldn't USE FireWire, because that's an Apple trademark name for IEEE 1394. In all fairness, I do believe Sony ALSO had a trademark on the name i.Link, though they are much better about sharing than Apple is. (I believe there's one more company with their own name for 1394, but do not recall it at this point.) And also in fairness... the 4-pin mini-connector that Sony was using wasn't ACTUALLY part of the 1394 spec at the time Sony started using it. The exact connector and whether the robust power delivery should be a part of it had been a subject of fierce debate during spec development, and I do not at this point recall if the mini-connector was part of the draft spec when Sony started making devices using it and removed before 1.0, or if they just went "we're using the GOOD connector and you can't stop us!". Whichever way it was, the mini-1394 connector was put back in the spec later.
@wstd74172 ай бұрын
Also, FireWire is serial direct connection, unlike USB that has host to device which has speed and latency issues
@autizm0x3 ай бұрын
if you look back at old PS2 trailers there's so much they were meant to do that either didn't or barely happened.. like, printer support, i can't remember off the top of ny head anything that used it. mobile phone support was very underutilized as well iirc. but this firewire thing is so awesome. never heard of this before, I love finding out about new things
@_SereneMango3 ай бұрын
I think Gran Turismo 4 had printer support...? And that game was from 2004/2005.
@autizm0x3 ай бұрын
@@_SereneMangothat's neat. GT has always been pretty good tech showcases, especially the PS3 ones... they can load replays from certain real life GPS systems, iirc (I can't drive myself due to disability so I highly doubt I'll ever get to explore it) PS2 GT games were rather high resolution, if I'm remembering everything right
@Ramaxx953 ай бұрын
Yeah, I remember that you could print the photos you made in that Photo Mode or just save them in your memory card
@alphaascii3 ай бұрын
@@Ramaxx95 Not only memory cards, but also usb devices! You could send a 1080i image to your phone to make a great wallpaper, AND it also works on Tourist Trophy
@jsr7343 ай бұрын
@@alphaascii not 1080i, but 1280x960 24bit color jpeg picture.
@EvilApple5673 ай бұрын
This is part of the reason the 5th/6th gens were so interesting and exciting, it seemed like there was just endless potential waiting to be unlocked and the hardware was designed to take advantage of whatever waited in the wings.
@Chocoburger3 ай бұрын
In 2017 I started getting back into classic gaming, and what reinvigorated my interested were light gun games, in particular, TIME CRISIS! I've owned and enjoyed every game that was ported to home consoles. So when I found out that Time Crisis 2 and 3 supported 2 screens at once, I picked up a second CRT TV (and now I have 5 all of them at 32 inches), and I bought heavy duty chrome shelves and placed the CRT TVs at arcade height (3 feet, or 1 meter), I have two PS2s linked with the firewire cable, and I get to play the Time Crisis arcade experience at home! But I actually took things a step further, because I bought two Time Crisis 4 arcade pedals, and opened them up, placed a PS1 controller inside it and now I have the literal arcade pedal at home usable with all Time Crisis games on PS1, PS2, and PS3! Yes, it works for Time Crisis 1, Project Titan, Time Crisis 2, Crisis Zone, Time Crisis 3, and yes even Time Crisis 4 (single player only, not in CO-OP mode strangely enough), however only on the stand alone disc version of TC 4, not on the Time Crisis Razin' Storm disc, Namco removed the support for it. So stupid! There is one downside, however, which is the i.link ports on PS2 seems really flaky, often times the game would just cancel because it lost its connection between the two consoles, which is terrible. The game developers didn't program an option to reconnect, nope, just boot you right back to the title screen the moment a tiny blip in the connection occurs. Very sloppy coding unfortunately. Its happened to me a lot, and its quite frustrating Its also possible to convert the Time Crisis arcade guns to function on PS2, but its a lot of work, and its above my knowledge and skill level. But if I could figure it out, then it would be the fully complete arcade experience at home!
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
That's a good call on that pedal. I'm in the process of rewiring some industrial switched pedals here with the face button of cheap, secondhand D-pad only digital PS1 controllers to serve for reload and, IIRC from testing some years ago, grenade throwing in the likes of Area 51. A couple years prior to you, here in North america I had also discovered the light gun series and snatched them up over the subsequent few years in tandem with all the multiple copies of iLink titles (prior to hearing about OPL support of iLink system linking) back when most were just a few dollars each - none more than $10-$15 each for the PS1 into the PS2 era which was when I learned about that firewire systemlink for PS2 via Time Crisis 2 and 3. Have to say that the manufacturing quality and wear and tear of used firewire cables and whether or not they were stressed at the strain relief seem to play a part in retaining iLink connectivity; but, yeah, I do recall there being more inconsistencies with one of the Time Crisis titles keeping firewire connection maybe due to some expectations in their respective cadence of checking in with the other console which might also be a factor of how slow the laser is holding up to reading the blue / purple CD based Time Crisis 2 game Before the consoles, effectively, time out at which point they both go back to main menu? Additionally, for those few owners who used it, the firewire port in the PS2 had been stressed because they can hold onto plugs quite firmly while also requiring Square alignment before insertion which may have become a struggle for prior owners that subsequently placed stress on that port. That's a nice setup you have and for all the right threshold rationale - it's worth it if only for Time Crisis 2 and 3. Here, in addition to the PS2 system link, I have ps1's system linked on the CRTs as well. Unfortunately, had to give up and donate a 32 inch and a 34 inch Trinitron and WEGA Sony TVs because I didn't have room for dedicating their size to a couple Time Crisis experiences nor could I move them by myself and, so, had to make an executive decision to get more use out of each screen via the 27-inch units. Yet, I miss those splendid large CRTs even with the half dozen or so 27 inch Sony WEGA CRTs I have here handling the iLink, LAN and online PS2 job done; but, none of 27 inchers have the built-in subwoofer like the larger CRTs did which had the audio capabilities of sounding like the arcade.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Just as it makes no sense to as to why the PAL release of Unreal Tournament didn't support iLink nor that splitscreen UT play didn't carry over to splitscreen support over NTSC's iLink - - effectively capping multiplayer at 4 players before enrolling bots to infill - with all the bells and whistles of UT's intuitive tandem controls on PS2 (USB Mouse with a DualShock's left thumbstick and shoulder buttons), I'd say it was just as much of a loss if not greater to the light gun genre that Gunfighter - The Legend of Jesse James was released for PS1 in North America - the land from which the person hails - only to have the sequel for the PS2 not released for North America and, yet, to the PAL gamers not only receiving the sequel but enjoying it with light gun support. Apparently the decision to not release it in North America had to do with our lawmakers possibly putting pressure on the industry. It's unfortunate since it's an experience that is out of reach for gamers in North America as there's really no good way to connect up let alone import a 50Hz CRT TV and have it operate off our mains without, most likely, extensive, inordinately expensive power supply adaptations to the CRT. That first Gunfighter on PS1 is a bit of an underappreciated, hidden gem as to its presentation and mini games.
@Chocoburger3 ай бұрын
@@That_Handle There's a feature in OPL to play PAL games on NTSC TVs. I've done it for Police 9/11 the Konami light gun game, that also supports a webcam for real life ducking and dodging tracking. The conversion process is not perfect and in fact every few minutes they game image goes down one scanline, so yeah its not something all that reliable and requires saving and re-starting the console in order to reset the scanline positioning, but it does work with light guns. I haven't played Legend of Jesse James 2 yet on PS2, but you've reminded me to do so. Side note that there is also a converter program to make PAL games playable on NSTC PS1 consoles. Once again its not perfect, but I did briefly play the low budget EU-exclusive Ghostbusters light gun game that way.
@rikrok70982 ай бұрын
I love seeing such dedication to light guns games. Along with the multiple CRTs and PS2s I've done the arcade pedal conversion and I'm half way through converting a TC arcade gun to work with PS1, PS2, Saturn, Dreamcast and Xbox (with recoil, using a microcontroller to keep track of your ammo to not recoil when you're out). Sometimes I think I've bitten off more than I can chew but I'm getting there! Your issue the games losing connection may not be with the iLink itself. The games seem very sensitive to timing discrepancies, so if one PS2 loads faster than another they will disconnect. I now have a flawless connection setup by using OPL on both PS2s, both with the same make and model SSD in them and "Accurate Reads" in the game loading options turned on.
@That_Handle2 ай бұрын
@@rikrok7098, "Thank you!" for the [mass storage] and "Accurate Reads" tips.👍 Yeah, can see how the inevitable variations among how tired/aged LASERs & optical drives - especially when reading purple, CD based titles - is a layering of failure modalities. Thank you for the corroboration - it brings a positive outlook for custom firmware plans and actions and unforeseen/ not often thought of perspectives regarding its benefits.
@dtape3 ай бұрын
That is a flippin cool time crisis setup. I'll keep an eye out for Jon waving a gun con at me.
@SuperPaperPokemon3 ай бұрын
Now I'm thinking of a random British fan of the channel walking up to Jon's house, ringing the doorbell and asking him "Wanna play some Time Crisis?"
@_glych3 ай бұрын
Legit me in half an hour when I've finished work
@NeoTechni3 ай бұрын
RedOctane made a metal foot pedal for Time Crisis EMS made a lightgun for PS2 that works on HDTVs using LED sensor bars, and it came out before Wii did
@Vaskomyr3 ай бұрын
That is definitely something that should have been setup in shops to show off. Never knew what the port was good for, very interesting.
@GlitchSystem-xf7jb3 ай бұрын
Man I miss the days of going over to a friends house and playing games like 007 Golden Eye. Then when the Original XBOX came out playing Halo CE and Halo 2 and many other multiplayer games when we hooked our consoles together. 😢
@mountainmgtow54213 ай бұрын
Sir, I am not joking when I say you need to go to your local radio station and get a job there. There are people in the world that WISH they had your voice.
@Wesmoen3 ай бұрын
He also does Voice Acting gigs.
@idukry3 ай бұрын
To me it is a voice you can fall asleep to.
@unosturgis2 ай бұрын
Like a british Shadoe Stevens.
@laura9x643 ай бұрын
literally bought a CRT this month to play the Time Crisis series again 😊 picked up vampire night, ninja assault and ghoul panic too, having a blast!!
@mikeyboombox3 ай бұрын
I bought a crt off someone a few years ago for this very reason, to play light gun games. The genre holds a special place in my heart especially time crisis. So happy to see this covered by the channel. I had no idea about this feature on the ps2, a little unfeasible for me at this time but maybe one day I’ll be able to do this with the limited space I have
@Robbie062619953 ай бұрын
Can confirm, my PS2 fat black does not have one. However my DVDr does.
@StarmenRock3 ай бұрын
Some fat ps2s do have the port but the blue plastic sticker is covering it. Dont remove yours tho.
@5mf1nc3 ай бұрын
5000x or newer lack this port, but has built in IR receiver
@julianmunoz78363 ай бұрын
@@StarmenRock true or false?
@StarmenRock3 ай бұрын
@@julianmunoz7836 True, but doing research on it is always best.
@kingneptune-z4q3 ай бұрын
I remember when I was a kid nobody seemed to care how big the crt tv was, it was just a blessing just to have one in your room as a kid and it didnt really matter how big it was. Of course the biggest one had to be in the living room but it wasnt 70 inches…
@MoonOvIceАй бұрын
I do remember being at people's homes that had TVs that were bigger than 20'' and being wowed, like 29 and 32 inch TVs were HUGE for me. Also remember going into stores and seeing the few Sony and Philips widescreen CRTs that were miles better than early LCDs, also had HDMI.
@filanfyretrackerАй бұрын
@@MoonOvIce FD Trinitrons looked amazing, they were not wide screen but they were flat fronted. Of course flat fronted CRT of 30" inches meant thick glass and the weight that comes with it. Most did not care because even when LCDs came out they were bad, And plasma was just super expensive. I do have a Panasonic plasma and honestly I think it looks better than some of the LCDs on the market today at least in 1080P content.
@zavegaming2303 ай бұрын
my dad really likes time crisis, he actually has one of the original cabinets in his basement
@Larry3 ай бұрын
The I-link port was also used for pre eyetoy webcam games.
@King_K_Rool_3 ай бұрын
Hello you! 😮
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
What titles in particular used imaging when from a Firewire camera?
@NymphieJP3 ай бұрын
Consider asking Bringus Studios to use some of his footage of the mess of setting up the mario kart thing lol it's incredible!
@MultiLegocrazy3 ай бұрын
TimeSplitters 2 made the best use of the iLink connector, up to 8 players
@MultiLegocrazy3 ай бұрын
@@That_Handle hey dumb dumb... two consoles, 4 player splitscreen on both... TS2 is the only TS game that supports iLink... but there was a rumored 16 player iLink setup but the game was not known
@Soonjai3 ай бұрын
I think you misunderstood that different camera angle thing in Gran Turismo. At least GT 3 and probably GT Concept allow for a triple screen Setup by using 3 Screens (duh), 3 PS 2 Consoles, 3 Copies of the game, a Firewire Hub and 3 Firewire cables you can play the game expanded across 3 screens like you can with many PC Racing games. Even Replays will make use of this. Not sure if you can play the entire game like that though. Photos and Videos of this in Action are rare, but they do exist.
@gamagama693 ай бұрын
wow thats crazy
@tranquilitybase8100Ай бұрын
GT3 supports up to 6 screens in a 3x2 set up which is wild to see.
@watainiac3 ай бұрын
Man, I can't express how awesome it is to see someone enthusiastically talking about Time Crisis in 2024. Those games were SO FUN! A must play during any trip to the arcade, movie theater, pizza hut for some reason, etc.
@imperiallarch76103 ай бұрын
Oh my god Vampire Night, that's a hell of a deep cut. Sadly I never got to experience I-Link mode... I might need to acquire 2 CRTs, an extra PS2, etc. and rope my roommate into playing with me!
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Have seen conflicting citations about Vampire Night - whether it actually supported iLink - while never reading nor seeing anyone verify/ prove that it did, by way of demonstration or a detailed write-up regarding any such support. Various sources in old forum posts also would discuss Vampire Night's ~inaccessible/"missing" iLink support up to including a citation from someone who'd shared a link conveying insight to its development history strongly inferring that the software was never released with iLink and, presumably, was a short-lived projection from marketing in advance of its release. The forgotten link (IIRC, via a Fandom?) was of key takeaways from an interview that, at one point, mentioned devs were ~exploring the idea of iLink support but which never made it to production. Alternatively, I'd like someone to show me proof otherwise toward Vampire Night did, otherwise, support iLink as I already have had my iLink setup for some years now and with an eye upon Vampire Night. Furthermore, I have never seen any ~cheat code or [achievement]/ stat performance cited that would, at least with a little work, unlock an iLink option for Vampire Night.... In a similar vein, I've ran into a similar holding pattern of a quandry regarding the first Ghost Recon release for PS2 that, though it displays the [iLink] icon on the rear of the NTSC-U/C case, the game shows no menu navigation into said system link experience and, for that particular instance, have been leaning toward the case art's features list as either having been a typo, was a feature never planned for the PS2 devs who might have been handed the "system link" support claim for the original Xbox instead from which came the advertising for the PS2 was derived or, lastly, plausibly a last minute ditch of the feature on the PS2 after some time in development where they failed to remove the feature listing from the case art.
@jesd3193 ай бұрын
the OG Playstation had a link cable too. me and my room mate had ps1's linked through the wall and played C&C red alert for hours on end good times :)
@Htbaa3 ай бұрын
Yeah I was just thinking about this! Have tried this with a friend as well back in the day. I might still have that link cable somewhere :-).
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Another relatively short list compared to the vast library, unfortunately and similar to the iLink's (and ethernet LAN's) short list; and, yet nevertheless, PS1 Serial I/O as with PS2 iLink is definitely worth the Serial I/O Port experience - some of which also supports up to four players on twin two-player splitscreens. 👍
@Dragonrider12273 ай бұрын
This is a great video. I didn’t know about that port and I gotta say, you have a cool voice!
@bushywushy60613 ай бұрын
I really appreciate these videos that explain things I would stare at as a kid before we had internet
@simonriley61983 ай бұрын
My brother and cousin used to use this I think on GT they'd both be on opposite sides of the room on sim rigs, they also set my mums surround sound HiFi up and my parents TV setup, back in those days everything was so cool thry had a JVC stacked HiFi with huge 6 stack speakers and then some cool big Sony TV & VHS/MiniVHC combo system too and eveything was linkedup too, they did it on both the PS1 & PS2 I had such a cool childhood and experienced some dope things I was really lucky.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
It's fun watching younger generation gamers today enjoy as well as sit back and blink hard with a smile of reappraisal what the value proposition in the old equipment and software was as well as by those who were old enough but didn't know due to the lack of marketing of the features. Share in the GT3 iLink even if GT4 had a more seamless 3-screen wrap around than GT3 and without the tedium of getting the side screens setup for the iLink races of GT3. Something about GT3 physics - drift versus grip - and steering feel that I appreciate. Also appreciate both of their support for USB force feedback wheels adding quite a bit of insight as to how one reads the terrain, when one tire comes down first before the others all a part of informing how to get the laps faster. Now, with the GT4 Online-beta for ntsc region having its online resurrected, it's quite a peek into what might (unknowingly) have been back on PS2. I'll say also there are plenty of PAL region players driving NTSC-U's GT4 online-beta - i.e., Rik Katt. The same system link joys and reappraisal hold true for Serial IO system link on PS1. Within the same genre of racing, ToCA2: Touring Car Challenge (ntsc) has a pretty good system link mode for a couple PS1 consoles as well as support up to four players via twin two-player splitscreens (much like latter Wipeout titles).... I remember people comparing and contrasting the claims of Gran Turismo and ToCA as to which was actually a simulator (turning a blind eye to and not accounting damage simulation) especially regarding their steering feel/ responsiveness in combination with the change of handling characteristics from vehicle weight shifting and traction change physics simulation along with sprinkles of handbrake. In reflection, can see how it might have been system link for ToCA back on PS1 that plausibly could have gotten Sony thinking about doing that on the up-and-coming PS2 for the Concept releases and GT3. Good fun yet to be had on underappreciated hardware and software in addition to the lightgun and/or other iLink, LAN and resurrected online gaming. 👍
@BlueKnight853 ай бұрын
Having a slim PS2, I didn't know about the I-port, but you got my attention showing Time Crisis 2 and 3! More people should play them, those games were some of my favorites I frequented in arcades!
@caviar_dreamz3 ай бұрын
Worth noting that if your PS2 is missing the iLink port you can install mechapwn which makes up for the missing system link feature. Mecha Pwn removes region lock and you can boot burned PS1 games without needing to use pop station.
@IllusiveDev3 ай бұрын
*Cries in mechacon crash*
@dr.pavelheer4963 ай бұрын
@@IllusiveDev Mechacon crash is not related to mechapwn
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
How does Mechapwn make up for a missing ilink Port as it pertains to its use for system linking?
@IllusiveDev3 ай бұрын
@@That_Handle it doesn’t but very few games use I link for multiplayer so I think people are just willing to take the L.
@tonymogielski18033 ай бұрын
I don't recommend waving a guncon to strangers in America.
@busterscrugs3 ай бұрын
I love that little portable Panasonic set!
@Sapphyrre_3 ай бұрын
I have two UK PS2s and neither of them have the port! I never knew about this feature
@IllusiveDev3 ай бұрын
It’s because those ps2s are 50000 models which removed the I link port and was the last model of the fat ps2.
@bananabike2793 ай бұрын
John how are you able to pump out so many extremely niche yet extremely interesting videos ON A WEEKLY BASIS NO LESS
@robbyrobot33033 ай бұрын
It's on the namco system 246 too, just checked mine. I bet that is why it was originally included. They likely built in the functionality for the arcade version of the PS2 first, and decided to keep it in for the first run of home systems. Cool video, never knew what that was for.
@robbyrobot33033 ай бұрын
Also on the following system 256, but hidden behind a small metal plate
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
That is an interesting coincidence pointing toward plausible if not probable hardware design history. Thanks for sharing. Am looking for more on the subject as I deep dive. Only other mention of hardware I'd read was that of another person here in the comments claiming to have been working for Sony during PS2 designing when Mac computers hooked up through the port for ~sound design checking/verification. (The other reference was via an interview with an Armored Core 2 dev:) FROM Software or Agetec had demanded no less than two PS2 units for testing/verifying iLinking since the issues with the first release of AC on PS1 required an unplanned reissue for those who'd experienced the missing/non-functioning radar in Serial IO system linked player 2's HUD..... As a noob to the subject: Though I wouldn't see an advantage or interesting curiosity at first glance, would the early PS2s effectively connect to those arcade boards for any play or further informative affect towards insight to the respective hardware/ ~firmware?
@wawztzta82963 ай бұрын
as an audio engineer i always just considered firewire as like proto thunderbolt
@kei_nishimaru3 ай бұрын
Early console LAN multiplayer is a fascinating subject, especially with Sony and Sega. It’s a shame it’s not a well-discussed topic, as it influenced the way we currently play multiplayer.
@MegaManNeo3 ай бұрын
The 6th console gen when we still had crazy features going for all consoles. Can't wait for your GC-Ethernet-Adapter thingy video, I know about the new one already but your videos are always so well made, it's just fun to watch :)
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
That GC ethernet adapter would be nice especially if at a lower price than currently asking for original equipment.👍
@lordeilluminati3 ай бұрын
5:29 actually you found the best way to achieve the pedal thing. Most racing wheels dont use controller ports (official racing wheels on PS2 are USB and the PS2 only accepts USB accessories if the game is programmed to use it), the pedals tend to connect to the steering wheel through a RJ45 port and not to the console or PC.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
I'll add that stomping on those steering wheel controller pedals from a standing position will wear them out and most likely break them - the lesson I learned when I broke the brake pedal surface leaving a pedal that's roughly half the size and now left with an exposed sharp edge - on a perfectly good Mad Catz steering wheel controller that, otherwise, works really well for so many PS1 and, were USB Wheels were not supported, PS2 driving games while giving some semblance of feedback through vibration motor if choosing to use on one's lap instead of applied to tabletop using the suction cups. Not only are dance mats easier to come by but the generic third party ones are even cheaper than the Konami, name brand Etc ones. Admittedly, for quick storage and deployment, I'm using industrial foot switches that are going to be wired into a face button on a PS1 digital controller whose PlayStation cable will be plugged into the other controller port of respective PS2/ PS1 consoles.
@tdswartz963 ай бұрын
ATV Offroad Fury 2 is so good he put it on the list twice 😄
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
For NTSC-U, ATV Offroad Fury 2 also has resurrected online MP. It might work for PAL players who are a modded to play NTSC to also get online.
@cliftonchurch60393 ай бұрын
In the day, my friend and I not only had the hardware, but we also each had an authentic looking foot pedal instead of a dance pad. Those were actually used for DDR. And ITG.
@TheSnackNetwork3 ай бұрын
Holy shit this is so cool. I had no idea. I played the shit out of that game. I’d never knew what that part was. This is so cool.
@TheSnackNetwork3 ай бұрын
And the DDR pad omg!
@producerevan883 ай бұрын
I used to play Time Crisis with my sister's dance mats and the guncons
@Bahraini_Carguy3 ай бұрын
I knew that Gran Turismo 3 & Concept utilised this port but otherwise, i never knew the other uses for it. Thanks for the video
@dlang64873 ай бұрын
Ive been doing this for years and everyone who comes over absolutely loves it!
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
👍 Same! 😄🍻
@podracer353 ай бұрын
A CRT TV is the one thing I kinda miss. They're super heavy, but the ability to play Duck Hunt on my NES is important
@holzwurm_hd70292 ай бұрын
6:52 If you own the Slim model, Lan is as simple as as the I Link cable.
@samueljwilliamsmusic3 ай бұрын
My brother and I played time crisis 2 nearly every time we went to the arcade. Good memories.
@jonathanaust86883 ай бұрын
I did this back in the day with time crisis. A friend had a ps2 with time crisis and I already had 2 TVs in my room. I used to watch tv and play games at the same time lol
@xero1103 ай бұрын
7:03 A Brit saying 'router' over 'ruter'? No, it can't be that. The ground still feels warm.
@BenMelluish3 ай бұрын
We're all going to eventually adopt American English, sadly.
@DiscordTheFallen3 ай бұрын
This video appeared just in time! I just found Time Crisis II in the thrift store complete in box with the guncon for $30! Now all I need is another guncon and I can play with my brother! I already have 4 CRTs and a few modded PS2s!
@jamesg18273 ай бұрын
YYYYYYYESSS!!! I love time crisis!!! Such a shame most of them can’t be played on modern consoles
@ryanfowlow80343 ай бұрын
Okay... This is so cool! Now i just need the space to put another CRT... And the other CRT.
@HiJakOG3 ай бұрын
i lost it at Dance Crisis 3
@dgreatllАй бұрын
PS2 was ahead of it's time. Had an HDD bay, played DVDs without the need for any add-ons, etc.
@user-rp8ov5zy4c3 ай бұрын
P Diddy: Hears you say Diddly Squat... P Diddy: Diddler squats.
@spawnofapathy22 күн бұрын
Never used an iLink, but did use racing peddles to duck. Loved hooking my PS2 up to the 42” CRT in the living room. Sometimes got my sister to play split screen Time Crisis. Sometimes we just took turns. Great fun.
@Carstuff111Ай бұрын
Over 20 years later, there is a reason why the PS2 is the only game console I ever owned brand new. I never got the chance to use the iLink port, but I enjoyed the console none the less. Hours spent gaming and watching movies all in one machine.
@KimboRice933 ай бұрын
I'm in the process of doing a duel setup with two CRTs for Time Crisis 2 and 3. Can't wait. Great video! I may do a dual setup mod in two Arcade1ups in the future.
@thetrashpanda908514 күн бұрын
Don't mind me. I'll just be walking back and forth outside with my PS2 and Guncon in my backpack waiting for the invite in to come in and play Time Crisis...
@Cool-Mint3 ай бұрын
Great video, when I saw the FireWire back in the day I wondered it’s use (hook up your Sony camcorder?) until now forgot they had it. The dance mat was genius! I actually lol’d.
@DarthG33k3 ай бұрын
I've done the Time Crisis linked mode. Hands down, the best way to play TC 2&3...
@hyoenmadan2 ай бұрын
There is another nice feature not even USB2 has, but Firewire does: It can do DMA to host memory or to device memory, as basically every Firewire chip, on devices and hosts, is a complete HBA (host bus adapter). Most probably that's the configuration is being used in the game of this video.
@dorian60213 ай бұрын
Not to be confused with the commonly used PS/2 port.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
I see what you did there.... as opposed to USB polled devices.
@kurtsimon75303 ай бұрын
I literally shouted, Yes! When the one franchise spoken about was my favorite Time Crisis. 😊
@1701Wren2 ай бұрын
There are some HD CRTs out there, just as the Plasmas then LEDs were starting to take off
@rosscomt52953 ай бұрын
The firewire port was available on the launch PS2, but after that it was removed. I never used the port as at the time, nobody actually knew back in 2001 what its sole purpose was except maybe digital camera support.
@SharifSourour3 ай бұрын
It may please you to learn I watched this episode on a CRT TV. That’s what I watch most things on lately. Been having a lot of fun! One thing to consider if we ever reach a point where they cannot be gotten ahold of, even older tech, the projector is also great, albeit more complex in terms of types and options, nowadays it is much more within reach for HQ projection. Hopefully CRT TVs will have a manufacturing resurgence before we run out! 2 of my previous CRT TVs already died lately and old ones are getting a bit less easy to find which is why I’m concerned.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Yeah, come to find out ~15 years ago when addressing a WEGA's needs that our long-time local TV repair stopped carrying parts and within a handful of years after closed shop with no heirs interested in taking it over, -solf- sold their inventory, tools, manuals, etc. to another business that will have nothing to do with CRTs unless they're medical equipment related - this was that many years ago already. So, now, online only parts of NOS are jewels requiring teaching oneself safe high-voltage electrical handling, board refurbishment and ~[beam/geometry] tuning as the techs with knowledge and tune-up literature/tools can't be found or who wouldn't the work even for a fee (these things are heavy) or who are no longer with us.
@SharifSourour3 ай бұрын
@@That_Handle for sure! I found the same thing. Many don’t realize CRT TVs are still superior to flatscreens in certain regards and shouldn’t be completely phased out. Whether it be retro gaming, real-time monitoring and flattering lower resolutions, it really has a lot of benefits that still apply today. Like I said at least projectors didn’t get phased out and have only become better and cheaper, without having the issue of making lower resolution or analog media look bad, because it doesn’t produce the picture like flatscreens making for a better composite image. I still hope there will at be at least some better upkeep of CRT TVs if not a full manufacturing resurgence, for things like retro light gun games and so on.
@filanfyretrackerАй бұрын
I dunno if there is even any more lines making the tubes themselves. I would worry that any attempt to make new tubes would make crap tubes as well, Cassette tapes for example any new player has the same poor quality mechanism. So you can still find tape decks but none have the quality of the classic units. Vinyl seems to be the only "retro" format to see consistent production with high quality parts across an array of price ranges. For a CRT resurgence there would need to be something to drive it, Which I do not see happening. Heck I ditched a 27" Samsung flat CRT years ago but that was before I ever heard about things like retro gaming, so it was just a massive weight sitting in a closet. Oddly I do still have a 17" Sony FD Trinitron computer monitor.
@SharifSourourАй бұрын
@@filanfyretracker I think it requires more people to see the benefits, which is more likely now than ever, similar to what happened with the resurgence of vinyl it happened after the climax of the digital takeover, people found something different in the older format making it new again. The same thing needs to happen with CRT TVs.
@EyetraumaАй бұрын
Always feel a bit sad seeing stuff like this, feels like we missed out on something cool you know? Used to love when PortsCenter did analysis of weird peripherals like this, glad to see you and SSFF carrying the torch.
@adam.maqavoy3 ай бұрын
Sort of knew bout it growing up. only issue I never found anyone that could explain this (Hidden...) Feature about the Console. We didn't have many *Retro & Repair* shops for these, unfortunately.. Back than.
@8KilgoreTrout43 ай бұрын
Ok so now when I'm walking in the neighborhood I'm looking in everyone's windows just to make sure I don't miss anything
@theshiftkey3 ай бұрын
ha awesome! great work!
@lxs0773 ай бұрын
i bought 2 phat ps2 and went out looking for some crts after i bought a bunch of light guns. all i need now is 2 dance dance revolution mats so i can use as the duck pedal
@23caterpie3 ай бұрын
CRTs are great for retro ganing. Amazing response times, the format that art was designed for during that era, etc
@solitonmedic3 ай бұрын
Jon making that face, waving at me while holding a Guncom just seems more hilarious then creepy lol
@l0os1762 ай бұрын
1:35 Unreal Tournament represent! Epic may be killing our beloved franchise but there are still many of us that love the series!
@cubeflinger3 ай бұрын
Pcsx2 needs this for time crisis 😢
@mikevogler54553 ай бұрын
Great video. Have owned a PS2, off and on, since release day, all the way back on October 26, 2000, and have always wondered what the h**l that port was for. Never searched for an answer, partly because I didn't have access to the internet back then, I then didn't think about it once I did, and the other part being that I didnt know what to really search for (I'm very stupid). Am happy that this randomly crossed my feed, though. Brought an end to an, almost, 24 year old wonder I've had, everytime I would look at a PS2. No one else I've ever known, thoughout all these years, have known, either. Thank you! I can pass on now, with a little less wonder about things! 🙂👍 Also, with your voice, you should really be an announcer, and/or someone that does voiceover work, 100%. 🙂👍👍
@fluffycritter2 ай бұрын
HD CRTs actually exist! They weren’t super common but I had a 27” Samsung 1080i CRT around 20 years ago. Also I have used iLink/firewire a bunch but only in actual video production, and I always wondered what it was meant to be used for on the PS2. I always figured Sony’s plan was to eventually bring video editing stuff to the PS2 back when it was being touted as more powerful than a PC.
@JohnGarciaOHMSS3 ай бұрын
Now I need another PS2 and two Timesplitters 2 disks
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Yes! 👍 ...and adding just a couple multitaps, more controllers, Yes, you do! 🍻 (...and don't forget Map Maker incentives for anyone to bring what they've made to the [LAN] party) Heard that iLink if not also LAN were removed for many of PAL's Armored Cores on PS2 (if there's interest in AC); yet, if one's modded to play NTSC-U/C, PAL should still have access to AC over iLink. Starting with AC3, it's the only other series I know of beyond TimeSplitters to support of splitscreen over Firewire and, when it was added in later titles, ethernet LAN play. Have no idea if splitscreen LAN-tunneling is achieveable. Also, a ~[+1] console beginning with, IIRC, AC3 through later PS2 AC titles will act as a broadcasting spectator screen of the battles, FWIW.
@SuperPaperPokemon3 ай бұрын
And I thought the full Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles/ Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures experience required a lot of hardware setup...
@GeboraАй бұрын
me and my brother used to play tenchuZ like this, but technology of the 360 supported console to console Lan cable connections, no hub needed. and let me tell you system link was the purest form of multiplayer and i imagine still is, no noticable delay between the 2 players from either prospective.
@disturbed983353 ай бұрын
I think at that time i didn't even know what the usb ports were either lol. I honestly didn't even know online gaming existed before the ps3/xbox 360 era
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
Plenty iLink, LAN, LAN-tunneling and even more retro online-resurrected PS2 multiplayer being had, yet. 👍
@VessarrАй бұрын
If some random guy was waving a light gun and calling people to join him, I would definitely go in
@georgefrankly3 ай бұрын
The unassuming title of this video really buries the lede for how wacky it ultimately goes. What a journey
@chfgn3 ай бұрын
They each have the GunPros and GunCons.
@hatsunemarku073 ай бұрын
It seems like someone is very enthusiastic about Time Crisis.
@That_Handle3 ай бұрын
✋️
@mbgmadbull11412 ай бұрын
Armored core mentioned, I must tell you how much I love the franchise because that's what all armored core fans do. we can't get enough of our beloved mech game lol.
@genesis17847 күн бұрын
I did this back in 99 with ps1 and armored core and the link cable. Good stuff.