US Chulip on PAL PS2 losses lower 3rd of screen?!

[Sketcz]

I'm running the NTSC-U version of Chulip on my PAL PS2 Slim, and everytime it loads, the Natsume logo is squashed, and there is an awful, thick black bar which takes up the lower 3rd of my TV screen.

Is this because I'm running it on PAL hardware?

[speedlolita]

This happens when you try force a 60hz game to run at 50hz.

Is it chipped, or a boot disc?

[fallenangle]

Is your PAL PS2 chipped or are you using Swap-Magic?

I had to look up Chulip - I'd heard of it but no idea what it was all about. Sounds like my idea of gaming hell but each to their own I guess. Maybe your PS2 isn't a fan either

[Sketcz]

This happens when you try force a 60hz game to run at 50hz.

Is it chipped, or a boot disc?

Swap Magic 3. I tried force loading it in NTSC mode, but the same occurred - a big black border at the bottom. I've got a chunky chipped PS2 in the cupboard. I might resort to using that, though the laser drive is getting dodgy.

I only really tracked it down now because the guy behind Little King's Story worked on it, so thought I'd take a look.

[Jei]

IIRC this normally happens with some blue based games (ie CD based ps2 games) and its something to do with the Swap Magic CD.

The Swap Magic DVD though boots everything as it should.

I'm guessing that Chulip is CD based?

[fallenangle]

IIRC this normally happens with some blue based games (ie CD based ps2 games) and its something to do with the Swap Magic CD.

The Swap Magic DVD though boots everything as it should.

I'm guessing that Chulip is CD based?

In my researches yesterday I found one reference which stated it was a CD based game but I think it referred to the original Jap version. That came out in 2002 according to GameFAQS but the US one is shown as a much later release, 2007. Whether that is CD too I couldn't discover.

But if it is I also found confirmation as jeimuzu_uk says that some Swap Magic versions have trouble with certain CD based games (Scarface is mentioned). Apparently you still need Swap Magic but you can get them to work if you use another boot disc called Zone Loader.

Where and even if this is still available I don't know.

[Sketcz]

Thanks for the advice guys - looks like I'll be digging out my chunky PS2.

[Riggles]

Thanks for the advice guys - looks like I'll be digging out my chunky PS2.

This one game sets the Hz flag incorrectly and actively defaults to whatever your PS2 BIOS region is. Meaning GSM and Modbo's video forcing doesn't work.

However...

The game can be patched with a NTSC/PAL selector patcher that came out in 2003 by Jayteemaster.
The selector patcher gives you perfectly centered 60Hz, no squashed image.

Works both burned on disc (CD game) and with other methods of game loading like OPL.