In other words... I got a PS2 memory card with a copy of Free McBoot, an aftermarket hard drive reader (The doohickey that fits into the back of an original fat PS2 that lets you use a physical hard drive in your machine and was only really used for that old Final Fantasy MMO and running Linux), and a cheap RCA to HDMI converter with assorted cables. All this so I can play with my PS2 without having to solder stuff and risk major damage to it. = )

So far, the bulk of it works like it should!

The RCA to HDMI converter gives a completely serviceable image. It's a little on the soft side but this was expected, really. It was the one piece that was needed to even make this whole mess work at all. Everything could work perfectly but it's hard to see it if I can't physically connect the PS2 to the TV it's going to be attached to later.

As for the actual "Mods" part... Free McBoot loads up and I could - in theory - rip games and stuff or load things from the SSD I popped into it. Where I seem to be stuck is loading things up To the SSD from outside of the PS2. I Should be able to connect it up to my PC and put stuff on it no problem. Emphasis on "Should"...

Where I'm at right now is trying to reformat the drive I bought for this very purpose and getting it to be seen outside of the PS2. My plan is to add some films I have ripped from my DVD and Blu-Ray collection and add them to the SSD. This machine really is being tasked with being a DVD player that also sometimes plays games. Free McBoot and the hard drive let's me go the next step and make it a media player that also sometimes plays games. If I can't get the SSD to be seen by anything other than my PS2, it'll make things Exceptionally slow going as the PS2 has the earliest of USB ports and a Firewire port. Not exactly blazing speeds.

Anyhoo! I gotta' get back to that. Afterward, I can get back to the pencils on the next strip. Now that all this stuff is in, I think I can focus on the comic again. This week has been... odd. I wasn't distracted but I sure wasn't hitting my usual stride getting things done.

I also need to find a good list for Drawlloween but that's a hunt for a different day. = )

Remember: Stay Safe. Wear a Mask. Get vaccinated if you can. Get a booster if you're already good on all that (I just did!). And remember to keep your head up.

'Till next time! = )