What is UP with the PS2 Memory Cards?!?
 

This may be old news, but what gives with the total lack of supply of PS2 Memory Cards? I bought my system a couple weeks ago and have now checked SEVENTEEN stores in 3 cities, and no one has any memory cards in stock! Is there a chip shortage going on somewhere? Is this a nationwide thing, or just centralized around me in the midwest?

It kinda sucks, because I have four games already, but don't want to play them really, cuz I will have to re-do all my work (for instance, I finished 27% of Jak and Daxter the other night and then had to shut it off at the end of the night. Argh!)

More importantly, does anyone have a PS2 memory card they are looking to sell (reasonably)? I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks.

I've seen them in the Midwest (Twin Cities, MN). Where are you at?

Central Illinois (Peoria)

It does seem to be a problem.

A friend of mine got a PS2 a few weeks ago and couldn't find a memory card in town, so he ordered one off of Sony's website.

-Jason

Oh, no! I need one! Hope it's a local shortage (sorry) and not a national one.

I really don't understand why Sony doesn't just package them with their PS2 systems. Oh, wait, yes I do... to keep PS2-related costs hidden (extra controller, memory card, S-video/component cables, etc). :) Not that I mind that much.

Hmmm...that is weird. Not available at Amazon.

I got my PS2 right before Xmas at Funcoland and bought a memory card at the same time. No problems, and that was at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Haven't really kept an eye on it since, but I would try online stores.

There everywhere in Tampa.

I have only seen them in one store
 

here in the phoenix area. You can find the other brands everywhere, like the interact. I bought one just because I hadn't found the sony yet. I need to go buy a sony though because loading drivers for the interact sucks.

edit: Looks like circuitcity.com has them.

Circuit City

pretty annoying, isn't it?
 

I live in Champaign, IL and I couldn't find one for a week. Checked all the stores around here. Then I checked online. It seems all the major online retailers are out of stock too. Amazon, Buy.com, ebgames.com. I remember last week, unopened new Sony 8MB cards were going for up to $50 on ebay.

Try ordering from the lesser-known online retailers. They seem to have some. I ordered mine recently from www.therage.com. You can also try www.ncsx.com.

I've got an extra one that is still sealed. It's a Sony 8 MB that looks just like this except the store price tag is on it. Email me if you'd like to trade for it. I'm [+7] on the GTL.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

traded- that was quick.

I'm buying a PS2 soon, upgrading from a PS. Can I use my old memory card to transfer any saved games to a PS2 card or am I pretty much shafted on any games I haven't completed by then?

Actually you have to use an old PS card to save PS games to. A PS2 card will not load or save PS games.

Just keep your old memory cards. You can store your PS1 saves (deleting them for space if you need it for more PS1 games) on a PS2 card, but you can't save/load them from a PS2 card.

So the backwards-compatibility extends to the memory cards as well? I can just plug in my old card and save/load PS1 games to it, but not PS2 games, right?

Yup.

I noticed this shortage here as well... They're in very low supply.

How good are Nyko mem cards? I just found these here with licensed magicgate technology from sony. A little spendy but hey, can't find the other ones so....

http://www.funco.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801211

If you can't get the Sony brand, I would suggest either the Nyko or MadCatz brand (because of the magicgate technology).

Be forewarned that they have these SAME memory cards at Circuit City.com for $29.99

I was hoping to avoic buying online, cuz I figure the minute I do, I will start seeing them everywhere at B&Ms. Plus, I was really hoping for Sony Brand.

It also extends to the PS 1 controllers. I already had 2 Dual Shocks from my PS so when I got my PS2 I was up to 3 controllers. I went ahead and bought the ps2 multitap and only needed to get one more controller(I went with a Dual Shock 2). I'm digging the backwards compatibility from games and especially hardware.

I have one of these and haven't had a problem yet. I got it on sale at TRU a few months back for $20 (the main reason i bought it). 38+shipping is quite a bit though, that and it is really ugly.

I always try to stick with namebrand when it comes to memory cards. When I had a PSX I tried some of the "Super"Memory cards and had some problems saving and loading some games. I never had a problem with any Sony cards.

I have a Nyko memory card and it's great. IMO Sony doesn't always make quality products so I had no problem trying out a 3rd party memory card.

A bit OT, but what is "GTL?" BTW, here in NYC I see Sony PS2 Memory Cards at every store I go into. If you still need one, e-mail me, and I'll pick one up and only charge you what I pay for it. Hope this helps.

GTL?!!!
 

I think it is the Game Traders List. As for circuit city.com I went there last night and when you try to check out with either of those items they are not in stock.

actually it means Good Trader List.

here's a link from the video game exchange forum:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=176838

Chalk up a shortage in Alabama as well. I recently re-bought a PS2 due to the flood of great games coming out (after selling my first one). I couldn't find a memory card in any store in my town, and I finally found one in Birmingham... or so I thought. The guy failed to tell me on the phone it was one of the ugly Nyko cards. I bought it though, and it's working fine.

At my store (fye) today, we received an email from our games buyer stating that Sony is currently out of memory cards, Dual Shock 2s, and DVD remotes, and they don't expect to have more available until sometime in March. So if you can't find them, you probably won't for a few more weeks.

YEAH no wonder, I went to several stores before finding an extra PS2 controller in san diego. I was about to give up and buy the pS1 controller, but i like to have the controllers match.

Thanks wheredebo, I appreciate the answer and link.

I went to my local Circuit City and found PS 2 games and hardware everywhere. And this with all PS 2 stuffs sold out everywhere else in the area. Not sure why, but people tend not to visit CC for these purchases, I guess....

At the risk of sounding completely dense, the PS1 Dual Shock controllers are also completely compatible with PS2? If so, that's great, considering I have 3 from my PS1 and my wife surprised me with a new PS2 last night. WOOHOO!

If this is correct, are any capabilities lost when using a PS1 Dual Shock? Obviously, I'd use the Dual Shock 2 primarily, but if the original controller works for 2-player games and as a backup, I'm good.

The only capabilities lost are the games that have pressure sensitive elements in it (like Grand Theft Auto 3, Madden 2002, etc.). Only the Dual Shock 2 has pressure sensitive buttons (i.e. the less you press the less speed you have, the harder you press the more speed).

update on ps2 memory cards
 

I went to the EB in Superstition Springs Mall out in Mesa AZ and they have the Sony brand for $35. The salesman was an xbox fanboy though so expect to hear about the evil that is sony and the wonder that is xbox.

ok this is what i heard about the ps2 memory cards. apparently wal*mart bought all memory cards first party, 3rd party whoever on some sort of 3 month contract. so no other stores will be getting shipments of memory cards for the next 3 months. I heard this yesterday from a pal mine in HQ at CompUSA. im not sure how accurate that is. trying to find some proof of some sort now, but as rumors go its a pretty good one

interesting, but.....
 

if this were true wouldn't you think Walmart would attempt to sell them? I have checked three Walmarts here in Mesa and they have nothing.

So can somebody rank the quality of the different brands? Capabilities, reliability, etc.? I need to get one and if a third party product is cheaper and every bit as good, that's obviously what I'll go for.

Some of the games will not vibrate with the old Dual Shock. I am not sure if it was SSX or Madden 2001 but one I tried did not rumble. :(