Advanced Usage
While the basic functionality would normally be enough for anyone to forget about having to use a Memory Card to save their game progress in PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 consoles, the MemCard PRO2 gets really exciting when you start taking advantage of all the advanced features it has to offer.
These features are presented below, along with instructions on how to use them.
The MemCard PRO2 supports various ways of detecting the unique disc identifier of the game you've launched, and the method depends on the console you are using it on, and how you launch your games.
- PlayStation 1: In order to use GameID detection on PlayStation 1 and PsOne consoles, you will need to use either specialised software that can send the ID to the Memory Card, or an Optical Drive Emulator (ODE). ODEs supported are the "XStation", "MODE" and "PSIO". Alternatively, you can use the software "FreePSXBoot", "UniROM" or "TonyHAX". Finally, you can use a modified BIOS chip that will natively send the GameID for whatever game is launched on the Console.
- PlayStation 2: On the PlayStation 2 console, the process is more simple. The MemCard PRO2 supports a method of identifying the launched game by monitoring a system file on the virtual memory card called "history". This means that with no modifications or special software, the MemCard PRO2 can automatically switch to a dedicated virtual memory card when launching a PS1 or PS2 disc, or when launching games through homebrew solutions like OPL. The MemCard PRO2 also supports GameID through the MMCE protocol. If you're using the MemCard PRO2 as a storage device, launching games from OPL will automatically send the GameID to the MemCard PRO2.
Using Automatic Game Detection with GameID means that your MemCard PRO2 will generate a unique set of virtual memory cards for each game you play. This way you can have your saves separate, and you don't need to worry about mounting the correct virtual memory card that contains your saves when launching your favourite games. These virtual memory cards will be identifiable on the microSD card through their unique ID.
If you do not want to use per-game virtual memory cards and prefer to use Generic virtual memory cards that you can manage yourself, this feature can be turned off in the WebUI Settings Page.
Automatic GameID detection on the PlayStation 2 is only available when the MemCard PRO2 is in "PS2" mode. If you launch a game while still in "PS1" mode displayed on the OLED screen, the MemCard PRO2 will not be able to identify the current game.
The MemCard PRO2 is the only Memory Card for the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 that allows you to automatically back up your virtual memory cards to your favourite cloud service provider through its WiFi connectivity.
At the time being, only Google Drive is supported as a cloud service provider. More providers will be added with future updates.
To Setup Cloud backups for the first time, please follow the instructions below.
- Power up your console with the MemCard PRO2 plugged in
- On the MemCard PRO2, press and hold the left button until a message shows up. Release the button. This will bring up the Main Menu.
- By clicking the left button to change the highlighted entry, move the cursor ＞ to the "Cloud" option
- Click the right button on the device to select it and enter the "Cloud Sync" submenu.
- Make sure the cursor points to "Sync VMC now" and click the right button. The cloud sync setup will start
- After a few seconds, you will be greeted with a message with a URL and a uniquely generated code.
- On your phone, tablet or computer, launch your web browser and navigate to https://google.com/device
- Once the page loads, enter the code exactly as it is shown on the MemCard PRO2 OLED display (including dashes if there are any) and click "Continue"
- Google Drive will ask you to log in with your Google account. If you don't have one, you can create one for free by following the instructions on your browser.
- You will be presented with a page to verify that you want the MemCard PRO2 to access your google drive. The MemCard PRO2 will only access files and folders it creates. It does need or request to have access to your entire Google Drive files. The required permissions will be listed on that page. If you see anything suspicious, cancel the request immediately and contact us to let us know.
- If everything is ok, click the "Continue" button.
- The setup is now complete. The MemCard PRO2 will return to the main screen and start uploading your first virtual memory card!
Once you have finished setting up Cloud Backups on Google Drive, you can now enable automatic backups! Automatic backups work by monitoring your virtual memory cards and automatically uploading a new version to the cloud provider whenever new data is saved to them.
The data that is backed-up to the cloud is the whole virtual memory card and not individual saves. However, an automatic upload will happen even when you save a single game in a virtual memory card.
Automatic cloud backup is only compatible with 8MB Virtual Memory Cards on the PS2. Larger sizes will not be automatically uploaded, and you will need to manually upload them through the device Main Menu.
To enable automatic backups, you can either enable the option in the WebUI Settings page, or follow the instructions below:
- Power up your console with the MemCard PRO2 plugged in
- On the MemCard PRO2, press and hold the left button until a message shows up. Release the button. This will bring up the Main Menu.
- By clicking the left button to change the highlighted entry, move the cursor ＞ to the "Cloud" option
- Click the right button on the device to select it and enter the "Cloud Sync" submenu.
- Click the left button to move the cursor to "Auto-sync" and click the right button to confirm
- You will enter a new submenu called "Autosync VMCs?"
- Make sure the cursor is point to the "Enabled" entry and confirm with the right button.
- Automatic backups will now be enabled.
- If you want to disable this feature, follow the same instructions above and instead select the "Disabled" option in the "Autosync VMCs" submenu.
The MemCard PRO2 can run a small FTP server when the WiFi is connected. This feature provides convenience in terms of managing the physical virtual memory card files on your sd card remotely. You can download or upload files directly to the MemCard PRO2 microSD card wirelessly by using this feature.
To setup the FTP Server on your MemCard PRO2, follow the instructions below:
- Power up the MemCard PRO2 and wait for it to be connected to your WiFi network
- Bring up the WebUI on your favourite web browser
- Click "Settings"
- Next to the "FTP Server" setting, enable the toggle
- Two new fields will come up for a username and password. Enter a username and password combination that you will remember
- Save the settings and power cycle the MemCard PRO2
Once this has been set up and you have power cycled the MemCard PRO2, the FTP Server will become available after the MemCard PRO2 has connected to your WiFi network again.
In order to connect to the MemCard PRO2 FTP Server, you need to use an FTP client application. We strongly suggest using the free application FileZilla which should be available for any operating system. Other clients may or may not work with the MemCard PRO2 FTP Server.
Example instructions are provided below to setup the FTP Client "FileZilla" to connect to the MemCard PRO2.
- Launch FileZilla and create a new FTP Connection.
- Under the "General" tab, enter the MemCard PRO2 assigned IP address to the "Host" field. (Look under the "Wireless Features" section on how to find this information).
- In the "Encryption" dropdown, select "Only use plain FTP (insecure)".
- Under "Logon type" select "Normal"
- Enter the username and password you've assigned to the FTP server in the MemCard PRO2 WebUI settings in the "User" and Password" fields
- Click the "Transfer Settings" tab
- Under "Transfer Mode" select "Passive"
- Check the checbox "Limit number of simultaneous connections" and set the number to "1"
- Save your settings and click Connect to connect to the FTP server.
- If the connection is successful, you will be presented with a split view of your local files and the remote files on the MemCard PRO2 microSD card.
The MemCard PRO2 has limited wireless bandwidth and a very simple implementation of an FTP server due to the contstraints of the hardware. It is not possible to use advanced features such as muiltiple connections and / or end to end encryption. Transfer rates may be slow compared to the capacity of your wireless network.
The MemCard PRO2, beyond its normal functionality, has alternative modes it can boot in in order to interface with other systems through its USB port, like a Computer or a PlayStation 3 console. The available boot modes and their functionality are described below.
To enter the selection menu for an alternative boot mode, you need to:
- Connect a USB Micro-B cable to the MemCard PRO2 usb port.
- Press and hold the right button on the MemCard PRO2
- Connect the other end to a computer or a PS3 Console.
- A message will appear. Release the button.
- If you've done the procedure correctly, the "BOOT MODE" menu will appear.
The Mass Storage Mode allows you to use the MemCard PRO2 as a microSD card adapter (mass storage device) on your computer. Once you confirm the mode with the right button, the MemCard PRO2 logo will appear with the words "Mass Storage Mode" under it. The device should be detected on your computer, and you will be able to browse the microSD card files as you would normally do with any microSD card reader.
The PS3 Adapter mode allows you to use your MemCard PRO2 with your PlayStation 3 console, like you would if you used the original PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adapter.
The adapter mode allows you to copy and paste saves between your MemCard PRO2 and your PlayStation 3 console, for use when playing PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 1 games on your PlayStation 3.
Once you have selected the mode from the BOOT MODE menu, the MemCard PRO2 will shortly show the logo with the words "PS3 Adapter Mode" underneath, and then it will proceed with booting up as normal. The device will show up on the PlayStation 3, and you will be able to browse the files on the mounted virtual memory card.
You can use the buttons on the MemCard PRO2, or the WebUI as normal to cycle through virtual memory cards. The MemCard PRO2 will simulate unplugging and plugging in a new memory card, and the PlayStation 3 UI will update to show the contents of the newly inserted virtual memory card.
This boot mode is used for troubleshooting. Selecting it in the BOOT MODE menu will clear the internally saved settings of your MemCard PRO2 and restart the device in a state as when you first bought it.
Factory Resetting will clear all settings, including the associated WiFi, FTP Server settings, Cloud Backup Connection and any custom virtual memory card names. It will NOT delete any physical data from your microSD card, nor will it delete any saves in your virtual memory cards.
Template cards are a great way to always create new virtual memory cards with specific files already embedded in them. Example use cases could be having "FreePSXBoot" in all new cards so you can easily reset the console without turning off and on again, or by having FMCB for the same reason on a PS2.
In order to set up Template Cards, you need to power up your MemCard PRO2 and visit the Settings page in the WebUI. Click the "Use Template Cards?" toggle to enable the feature.
You can have a Template Card for each system and each size you use.
For PS1 Template Cards, copy your favourite .mcd file to the following path on your microSD card and rename it to:
- /PS1/Templates/Template_128k.mcd
For PS2 Template Cards, copy your favourite .mc2 file, and depending on its size, rename it to:
- /PS2/Templates/Template_8mb.mc2
- /PS2/Templates/Template_16mb.mc2
- /PS2/Templates/Template_32mb.mc2
- /PS2/Templates/Template_64mb.mc2
- /PS2/Templates/Template_128mb.mc2
Once you've set it up, the next time the MemCard PRO2 needs to create a new card, it will copy it from the template you have provided instead of creating an empty one.
As any PlayStation 2 Memory Card, the MemCard PRO2 can be used to launch FreeMCBoot (FMCB) and any apps installed on it.
On top of that, the OPL MMCE versions can use the MemCard PRO2 as a data storage device and access its microSD card directly.
There are various ways to set up FMCB and OPL on the MemCard PRO2. The easiest way is to use a ready made vmc image, which you can easily find on the internet.
You can also install FMCB yourself through the FMCB Installer on your PlayStation 2.
Once you have an FMCB image ready, the best way is to set it as your default boot image in the MemCard PRO2 Browser. This will ensure that whenever you turn on your PlayStation 2, FMCB will launch automatically.
In order to use OPL MMCE, you will first need an MMCE compatible build of OPL which you can fine here: https://github.com/ps2-mmce/Open-PS2-Loader/releases
Once you launch OPL with MMCE compatibility, follow the instructions below to enable it:
- Enter the OPL options and scroll down to "MMCE Settings"
- MMCE Start Mode: Set to "Auto"
- MMCE Slot: Setting this to "Auto" will attempt to use Slot 1 first, and then Slot 2. If you have multiple MemCard PRO devices plugged in to both slots, you can select which slot will be used here
- IGR Bootcard: This determines which slot the special IGR command will be sent to. IGR is functionality that allows you to return to the FMCB menu from inside a game with the press of a gamepad combo, usually L1 + R1 + L2 + R2 + Select + Start.
- MMCE Prefix Path: This sets where on your microSD card the OPL folders will be created / read from. If you leave this empty, OPL will create all folders on the root of your microSD card.
- Advanced
- Wait Cycles after /ACK low: We suggest setting this to "0" and only increase if you notice incompatibilities with games. Increasing this number will greatly affect read performance.
- Use timeout alarms: We suggest setting this option to "OFF". Turning on may increase compatibility but will affect read performance.
- Select OK to return to the main menu
- Save your settings
- Press the "O" button to enter the OPL browser.
- The first time you launch OPL with MMCE, if you have no files on your microSD card for OPL, it will create the required directories. From here on, you can copy files to your microSD card and start using OPL as you would use it with any other storage device.
