When you install a mod-chip into a console, you're modifying the console in a good way. Here are reasons why you should and shouldn't modify your PS2.

Good

• It allows you to play imported games on your console.

• It allows you to play back up games on your console.

• It saves you a lot of money. (SEE BELOW)

• Some chips allow you to play Multi-region DVD's on your console.

Bad

• You can accidentally wreck your PS2 while installing a mod-chip.

• Sony's warranty on the PS2 is void after you install the mod-chip.

Final Score: Good 4, Bad 2

An illegal, but good way to save money

You can save thousands of dollars a year with a mod-chip. 

Here's how:

Copyright laws in foreign countries, Indonesia for example, are not usually enforced. So backups of PS2 games sell for about RP 8000. Equaling to less than a dollar. These backups look so much like the original, bringing them back to the US is very easy. The downside to this is that you don't know what you're going to get in these back ups. It may be just a demo of the game, or there maybe nothing in the game at all. About 75% of the backups are the real thing. Don't forget that you need a plane ticket.

Total Price of the Game: $1

Reliability: 75%

Downside: $800 Plane Ticket

Here's a harder way to save money. Go to your neighborhood Blockbuster and rent a game. Use a DVD burner to back the game up. Price for the game: $6, plus the price of the DVD-R. But this plan doesn't always work. Anti-copy discs are being used more and more frequently now, so there may be an error with the disc you copied.

Total Price of the Game: $7

Reliability: 10%

Downside: Those stupid discs!

I'm only telling you this. ;)