
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+               
||                                                                          ||
||          HOW TO DEFEAT THE PLAYSTATION GEOGRAPHICAL PROTECTION           ||
||               Mini FAQ --- Version 1.25 --- February 1996                ||
||                    Written & Maintained by JOHN MUIR                     ||
||                Send corrections to: john.muir@almac.co.uk                ||
||                                                                          ||
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Q:   Why does this MFAQ exist?
A:   Sony, in it's infinite wisdom, has decided that you should only be able
     to play officially released games for your area.  European games in
     Europe, Japanese games in Japan and so on.  This MFAQ is for people who
     wish to play "foreign" games.

Q:   What?  You mean I can't run Dragon Ball Z in my American machine!?
A:   I'm afraid not.  Try booting ANY Japanese CD in your US machine and it
     won't work.  You will get a message stating this is not a suitable CD
     for your machine.  Needless to say, this also applies to all other
     possible combination of machines and software.

Q:   Is the situation hopeless?  Will I never be able to play "imports"?
A:   Not at all.  Datel UK hope to have a commercial adaptor ready soon
     which will plug into the I/O slot at the back of your machine, this
     will remove the regional boot-up protection and allow you to use ANY
     title on ANY machine without reverting to any form of trick or kludge.

Q:   Where can I get this adaptor?  It sounds cool!
A:   You can't.  It isn't released yet.  There is NO firm release date.  

Q:   But I want to play imports NOW!
A:   OK, since you asked here is how you can possibly play most foreign 
     CDs on your machine.  

Q:   Uh, hold on, what do you mean "possibly"?    
A:   Sorry, not all PlayStations are the same, see below to determine if
     this MFAQ will be of any value to you.
  
  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IMPORTANT +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  Unfortunately the current US (S/N 595xxxxx onwards), PAL (where the demo 
  CD is NOT in a cardboard sleeve) and Japanese models do NOT work with 
  any of the methods in this MFAQ, Sony has updated the ROM to 2.1 making 
  the "swap tricks" obsolete.  A hardware mod is "rumoured" in Hong Kong.  

  Check the table below to see if your machine is swap-capable:

  Model Number                  Country of Origin             Swap Trick?
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  SCPH-1000 [Initial batch]           JAPAN                   Yes, all
  SCPH-1000 [Second batch]            JAPAN                   Yes, black
  SCPH-3000 [Initial batch]           JAPAN                   Yes, black
  SCPH-3000 [Second batch]            JAPAN                   No
  SCPH-1001 [Initial batch]           USA                     Yes, all
  SCPH-1001 [S/N 595xxx or higher]    USA                     No
  SCPH-1002 [Initial batch]           PAL                     Yes, all
  SCPH-1002 [Second batch]            PAL                     No
  SCPH-2000 [Development machine]     N/A                     N/A

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Solution:  Wait and pray for the Datel adaptor (NB: Current status of 
  this device is unknown, it has possibly even been shelved.)

  You could also consider selling your current machine and buying a used
  older model as many people are unaware of the differences.

  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


			  -----------------------------
			  SWAP TRICKS: Fact and Fiction
			  -----------------------------

  There are four methods which allow you to use almost ANY PlayStation CD 
  in ANY PlayStation, regardless of origin (see below for exceptions.)  
  

  The "best" method would be to open your PlayStation and hard-wire a 
  switch which would allow you to toggle the lid sensor open and closed
  plus another switch to allow you to stop and start the CD motor when 
  required.  Needless to say this would invalidate your warranty and I do 
  not have the necessary details anyway so this is not covered in the
  MFAQ.
 
  The three remaining methods are detailed below (one safe and two dodgy.)

  METHOD ONE:  The Audio Menu [Safe and very easy] 
  ------------------------------------------------
   
  Works on :  Very early Japanese, European and American machines.
  Success  :  80%  Music is often corrupted.  The TOC (Table of Contents)
	      from the boot CD is always used.

   
  o  Power up your PlayStation WITHOUT a game or demo CD in it.
   
  o  Select the CD Audio menu.
   
  o  Get a local CD that matches the country of the machine you 
     have.  (ie a Japanese game for a Japanese PlayStation etc.)
   
  o  Find some tape, Blu-Tak or something similar.  Several people I know
     have found the corner from a cornflake packet works well <shrug>.
   
  o  Open the lid and look at the top right of the bottom section,
     near where the hinge is.  See the small circle in the groove?  
     Good.  This is the lid sensor.
   
  o  Insert your local CD.
   
  o  Put the tape, Blu-Tak or whatever over the sensor and *gently*
     push it down.  The CD will now spin for a few seconds.
   
  o  When the CD has finished spinning take it out and replace it 
     with the foreign game you wish to play.
   
  o  Now shut the lid and exit the CD Audio menu.  The game should
     now work fine (see above for exceptions.)

  o  When you have finished playing, open the lid and remove the
     tape, Blu-Tak etc from the sensor.  This will stop the CD. 


  Notes:

  i    Try and get a local CD with as many tracks on it as you can.
       The local CD must have at least as many tracks as the foreign CD 
       or you won't get all the music.  Depending on the boot CD the 
       foreign game may give poor results or even crash.
	
       Unfortunately the number of music tracks is NOT the only deciding 
       factor (the length of the data track is another) and you may find 
       that you are unable to get your foreign game to work satisfactorily 
       with the choice of boot CDs you have.  See the other two methods, 
       they may give better results.

  ii   Owners of Japanese SCPH-1000 (later batch), SCPH-3000 machines and 
       later European/US models will find that this method does NOT 
       work.  Sony has removed this particular loophole. 

  iii  You can ONLY run PAL games on NTSC machines if you have an RGB
       cable (not s-video, composite or ANYTHING else.)  This also
       applies to NTSC games on a PAL machine.  In Europe this problem
       is easily solved by investing in an import spec RGB/SCART cable
       as sold for use with Japanese/US PlayStations.  In North America,
       Australia etc you will need to look into the options available to
       you (an old or expensive monitor, probably.)


  METHOD TWO:  The Black Method [Fairly safe and easy]
  ----------------------------------------------------

  Works on :  All early machines, see above for meaning of "early".
  Success  :  95%  Most games will work albeit sometimes with music 
	      glitches or unexpected crashes.


  o  Follow the Audio method with a local CD in your machine.  The lid
     should be up and the lid sensor held down.

  o  When the black PlayStation appears (after the white Sony one) QUICKLY 
     lift the original game out and replace with the foreign one.  You have 
     a few seconds to do this and it soon becomes second nature. 
     
  o  If you must have the music working 100% or have a really stubborn
     foreign game then try the White method detailed below.


  METHOD THREE:  The White Method(s) [Fairly safe but tricky]
  -----------------------------------------------------------

  Works on :  The same very early models that can do the Audio method.
  Success  :  100%  Works with every title I've seen, provided your machine
	      is capable.  

  o  Switch on your machine and count  1..2..3..4 and THEN swap discs.  You
     need to do this *JUST* before the white Sony screen appears.  The 
     timing is tough, you want the PS to read the country code but NOT the
     TOC so don't expect to get it right every time.  

  o  Another variation is to use a hybrid Audio Menu swap trick:  remove the
     boot CD and replace it with the "foreign" game just after the original 
     country code is read and before the TOC.  Some people find this method 
     easier then the original White method.


+============================================================================+
||                                                                          ||
||                               C R E D I T S                              ||
||                                                                          ||
||  Marty Chinn ....................... (for the SCPH-1000 and other info)  ||
||  Joe @ Tronix ...................... (for the White method)              ||
||  Tony in Hong Kong ................. (for the Audio and Black methods)   ||  
||                                                                          ||
+============================================================================+

 * 1st 2.00 ~ Mac error message: "Like, dude, something went wrong."

