hi all... will be heading over to the LoS for a really long stretch next month it seems, and am wondering about what i can expect if i decide to purchase a game console over there? i would be looking for a PS2, as i am really just a jRPG player at heart and have lots of titles stacked up i've never had the free time to finish...

while i know it goes w/out saying that there are PS2s available for purchase in Thailand, my question is whether i will be able to play my US games on one if i buy it there? a friend claims that the PS2s in Thailand are all "region free" but i have my doubts about his knowledge on the subject, and i think he might be referring to some kind of hack or modification.

can anyone let me know what to expect when shopping for a PS2 over there? would i be wasting my time to pack 20+ games up to bring over w/ me, will they even run on PS2 purchased in the Thailand marketplace?

alternately, does anyone know if i would be able to just pack up one of my US-model consoles and carry it over as carryon luggage, or pack into my suitcase? would customs give me any sort of grief about a PS2 or Xbox360 being brought in? and if not, will a US console be able to work hooked up to a display over there? are thai televisions NTSC, do some of them sport component inputs and such?

thx in advance for any insight on this subject, i am looking forward to wiling away some late-night Phuket hours engrossed in some old-school jRPG goodness..!

Your friend is probably talking about modded PS2s. If you bring your own consoles, you might have to get a power adapter. My US Wii needs a power converter. The PS2 I bought here runs fine but I think it's a Japanese model.

The main problem you'll find with brining consoles here is the electricty, since Thailand is 220V and the US is 110V. Video systems are usually not a problem, since most modern TVs can accept both NTSC (US) and PAL (Thai). Thai TVs have similar inputs to US TVs, it's just that the video system is different. You probably won't be harassed by customs for bringing a console in, as long as you don't bring in ten. Put it in your suitcase, since it seems that consoles get the notebook treatment now.

Modded PS2's are the norm here, so yes, if you bring your games you can play them here. You don't even need to bring the games, just buy the copied equivalent here and throw them away when you leave.

Bring your own ps2 if you want to be sure of playing your US games. There are so many different models of chips and ps2s here...they don't all work with everything. Once you're here just get a 110->220 voltage converter (400 - 500 baht). I've taken mine in my carry on in/out of thailand a couple of times, never had a problem. I have loads of US games, PM me if you are interested in trading...

Better yet, bring in a PS3, you can still play your PS2 games, plus they are region free and have universal power supplies.

Should be from 220 -> 110 because the US system using 110 Volt's!

Power supply for the PS2 slimline's have a range from 100 - 240 volt, so no worries here, only the old style PS2 have a 110V or a 220 V type power supply. Is your USA ps2 is already modded? if not it can be done in Phuket.

Power supply for the PS2 slimline's have a range from 100 - 240 volt, so no worries here, only the old style PS2 have a 110V or a 220 V type power supply. Is your USA ps2 is already modded? if not it can be done in Phuket.

thx for the many replies friends, i do have a slimline (unmodded) PS2, so perhaps i will just plan on packing that into my luggage for the trip and maybe having it modded there... just so i am clean on options, are consoles cheaper or more expensive in the LoS than here in the states..?

If you want to know the prices for consoles in Thailand, go to www.gcorners.com or www.super-rich.com.