DMS3 REVIEW IN v8 PS2

[charlie_ps2]

Here is the game test result for the DMS3 v1.1 tested on NTSC-J v8 model: SCPH-39006 BIOS 090 GH-022.

Please note that the update disk had to be created using specially padded files supplied by Divineo (who were very helpful). I used CDRWin to burn special cue/bin files and the upgrade worked. The upgrade cured Region Free problems.

The DMS3 v1.1 performs broadly like Magic 3.1 on PS2 games. It does not perform to the standards of Messiah 2. No DVD-R would boot and nor would some rips that wouldn't boot on Magic 3.x but did on Messiah 2. DVD9 and DVD9 backup were fine. Region Free worked fine. This unit also plays PAL movies OK (because HK is a PAL region). MM16 support was fine.

The Controller modes appeared to work. Sleep mode also worked. I held EJECT till the blue light came on and after inserting a CD-R game (and later a DVD Import) and pressing EJECT again, it Red Screened as expected.

The Controller Modes needed the respective buttons to be pressed for 4 or 5 seconds from pressing RESET.

Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Direct Boot------------------------100%
Xenosaga DVD9 NTSC-J Booted behind AR2/GS2--------------100%
Gran Turismo Concept DVD9 "Silver" NTSC-J Direct Boot---100%

FF X NTSC-U DVD original---------------------OK
GTA3 PAL DVD original------------------------OK
DOA2 NTSC-J DVD Original---------------------OK

GTA3 PAL DVD-R (Princo)----------------------RSOD
Tony Hawks 3 PAL DVD-R-----------------------RSOD
Headhunter PAL DVD-R-------------------------RSOD

EA NBA Street NTSC-U CD-R--------------------OK
Twisted MB Kalisto Rip CD-R------------------OK
GT3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R--------------------------RSOD
FIFA 2002 Rip NTSC-U CD-R------------------OK
Tony Hawks 3 Rip NTSC-U CD-R----------------RSOD
Woody Woodpecker NTSC-U CD-R-----------------RSOD

FF IX NTSC-J PS1 Original--------------------OK
FF IX NTSC-U PS1 CD-R------------------------OK
Syphonfilter 3 NTSC-U PS1 CD-R---------------OK
Spyro NTSC-U PS1 Original (Anti-Mod)---------NO - needs Jap Original in Sleep mode
Spyro NTSC-U PS1CD-R (Anti-Mod)--------------NO

AR2/GS2 GTA3 Orig. With Codes----------------OK
AR2/GS2 GTA3 DVD-R With Codes----------------NO - DVD-R

Toystory NTSC-U Movie------------------------OK
PAL Movie------------------------------------OK

MM16 Save/Load (GTA3 PAL Orig)----OK
Boot on EJECT--------------------------------OK
Always Boot on Reset----------------------OK
Switch off Mode------------------------------OK

My overall impression of DMS3 v1.1 on the v8 PS2 was one of disappointment principally for two reasons:

1. DVD-R did not work on v8 although the DMS3 site implies support (as at 21-Feb-03)
2. Some DVD rips on CD did not work; these work on Messiah 2 on the same PS2