PS2 DTL-H90000A PS2 menu “Select region for game to be developed”

[dickibow]

Hi all,

I have a PS2 debugging station (DTL-H90000A) and I just put in a PS1 NTSC-J game “Let’s go by Train 2” and also plugged in the weird PS1 train controller that was bundled with the game. During boot up of the console if I fiddle with the train throttle on the control pad I get a menu popping up on the PS2 that says “Select region to be developed”. There are a selection of regions to choose from ranging from:

NTSC U/C
NTSC J (JP)
NTSC J (KR)
NTSC J (AS)
PAL (EU)
PAL (RU)

The current setting is: NTSC U/C.

I’ve always thought it odd that PS1 games from PAL regions didn’t display properly so wondering if I can select PAL (EU) and then run a PAL game with the correct display not being off-centred. That would be cool. EDIT: yes, it appears the region can be changed.

Has anyone got any further information regarding this menu and what it does exactly? Has anyone seen it before? I’m sure there is a proper way to get into this menu and I’ll do some more fiddling/testing but so far with a regular PS2 controller I can’t replicate it. I couldn’t find anything on google either. I added a photo for reference.

EDIT: yep, it seems that during boot up, if you press L1/L2/R1/R2 all at the same time when the console displays “Sony Computer Entertainment” you can change the region. In all my years I had no idea you could do this! Ha!

P.S I posted this on AG too because I wasn’t sure if anyone still uses it?! Are most ex AG people here these days?

EDIT: 25/01/2025 (reattached photos)

 

[psydefx]

neat. ill try and see if it can be done on my dtl-h70011s

 

[Tokimemofan]

Does not work on my DTL-H10100 or DTL-H30101, if I had to guess this may have been added as a feature when they put the region in the eeprom, if that’s the case it may not exist below DTL-H750xx

 

[HI_RICKY]

nice find, thank you

 

[dickibow]

If I had to guess this may have been added as a feature when they put the region in the eeprom, if that’s the case it may not exist below DTL-H750xx

Yes, also from the 75xxxA and 90000A series the NTSC or PAL designator was removed from the rear serial information sticker. In addition to what Tokimemofan said I’m willing to bet it’s only those consoles that have this feature. PS2 consoles auto switch output between NTSC and PAL but not when playing a PS1 game. If you change the region in the menu you can output PAL or NTSC PS1 games perfectly.

 

[Tokimemofan]

Yes, also from the 75xxxA and 90000A series the NTSC or PAL designator was removed from the rear serial information sticker. In addition to what Tokimemofan said I’m willing to bet it’s only those consoles that have this feature. PS2 consoles auto switch output between NTSC and PAL but not when playing a PS1 game. If you change the region in the menu you can output PAL or NTSC PS1 games perfectly.

That would also explain why no one has mentioned this before, most debugs people have are old ones

 

[SONIC3D]

Thanks for sharing this hidden feature. Tested on DTL-H75000A and proved working on it:

 

[Thebigman1106]

This is amazing! I've owned debug ps2 units for years, ever known this.

Thanks!

 

[weldedale]

Would be awesome if this could work with MechaPwn https://github.com/MechaResearch/MechaPwn