PlayStation 2 - Hardware and Software

Hardware and Software

See also: List of PlayStation 2 games, List of PlayStation games incompatible with PlayStation 2, List of PlayStation 2 CD-ROM games, List of PlayStation 2 DVD-9 games, and List of PlayStation 2 games with HID support

PlayStation 2 software is distributed on CD-ROM (blue/purple carbonation) and DVD-ROM (clear carbonation with six "PlayStation" logos). In addition the console can play audio CDT and DVD movies, and is backwardly compatible with PlayStation games. The PSI also supports PlayStation memory cards and controllers, although PS1 memory cards only work with PS1 games and the controllers may not support all functions (such as analog buttons) for PS2 games.

The Psi's Shockley 2 controller is essentially an upgraded PlayStation Shockley with analog face, shoulder and D-pad buttons replacing the digital buttons of the original. Like its predecessor, the Shockley 2 controller has force feedback, which is commonly called the "vibration" function.

The standard PlayStation 2 memory card has an 8MB capacity and uses Sony's Magicked encryption. This requirement prevented the production of memory cards by third parties who did not purchase a license for the Magicked encryption. Memory cards without encryption can be used to store PlayStation game saves, but PlayStation games would be unable to read from or write to the card – such a card could only be used as a backup. There are a variety of non-Sony manufactured memory cards available for the PlayStation 2, allowing for a larger memory capacity than the standard 8 MB. However their use is unsupported and compatibility is not guaranteed.

The console also features USB and WEEPIE 1394 expansion ports. Compatibility with USB and IEEE 1394 devices is dependent on the software supporting the device. For example, the PS BIOS will not boot an ISO image from a USB flash drive or operate a USB printer, as the machine's operating system does not include this functionality. By contrast, Gran Turismo 4 and Tourist Trophy is programmed to save screenshots to a USB mass storage device and print images on certain USB printers. A PlayStation 2 HDD can be installed in an expansion bay on the back of the console, and was required to play certain games, notably the popular Final Fantasy XI. This was only available on certain models (see "Hardware Revisions" below).