PS2 Launch Event [10/1 to 1/1]

**Playstation 2 Launch Event **
```Celebrating PS2 and 10 Years of RetroAchievements!```
In what will be our last big console launch for the foreseeable future, as well as our biggest launch ever (75+ games when the previous high was 30). The Events Team is having a simple contest to jump into the library. Never tried an event? Let this be your first.

What do we do? Master 15 PS2 sets between the launch on **October 1st and January 1st 2nd 2023 (00:00)**
We have tiered badges for this event
Earn 5 PS2 Masteries = Earn a Bronze Badge
Earn 10 PS2 Masteries = Earn a Silver Badge
Earn 15 PS2 Masteries = Earn a Gold Badge

What do I get?
An Event Badge made by Nydaxn! (Note: event badges do NOT effect completion %)

How do I join?
Just master PS2 sets and we will do all the work

What doesn't count?
Generally; Demo Sets, Visual Novels, Sliding Puzzle, Jigsaw Puzzle, Sudoku and Picross sets will NOT count

Current games that are NOT eligible for credit:

Final Fantasy XII: Playable Demo Version (PlayStation 2) Demo

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PlayStation 2) Demo

Jeopardy! (PlayStation 2)

Thomas & Friends: A Day at the Races (PlayStation 2)

What if a game gets an update?
Unless an update comes removing masteries when revisions happen you are safe, if that does happen you will need to get back to work

Will there be a PS2 discussion channel?
Players are encouraged to take their hype to this thread or the Discord in the #ps2-launch channel

When will updates be posted?
Progress updates will be posted within the first week of November and December--winners will be announced in January.

Other things to note:
1. Subsets count
2. Games released after Rollout count too as long as they are PS2 sets


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Bounty Board

Games on the Bounty Board will be worth more than a normal mastery! These games were chosen based on various factors such as Retro Ratio, total masteries, and expected length. Bounties will remain on the board for the entire event and masteries earned before the announcements will still count for the increased value. We plan to add more games each weekend through the course of November. So, stay tuned!

Bounty List:

3 Points

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PlayStation 2)

Final Fantasy XII: International Zodiac Job System (PlayStation 2)

Gran Turismo 4 (PlayStation 2)

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life - Special Edition (PlayStation 2)

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (PlayStation 2)

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PlayStation 2)

PopCap Hits! Vol. 1 (PlayStation 2)

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army (PlayStation 2)

2 Points

Amplitude (PlayStation 2)

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (PlayStation 2)

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (PlayStation 2)

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PlayStation 2)

Culdcept (PlayStation 2)

Dark Cloud (PlayStation 2)

Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening - Special Edition (PlayStation 2)

DreamMix TV World Fighters (PlayStation 2)

Eternal Ring (PlayStation 2)

Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (PlayStation 2)

God of War (PlayStation 2)

Grandia II (PlayStation 2)

Grandia III (PlayStation 2)

Hot Shots Golf 3 (PlayStation 2)

The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match (PlayStation 2)

Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix (PlayStation 2)

Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PlayStation 2)

Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (PlayStation 2)

Mega Man X Collection (PlayStation 2)

Need for Speed: Underground 2 (PlayStation 2)

Ōkami (PlayStation 2)

Pac-Man World 2 (PlayStation 2)

The Punisher (PlayStation 2)

Resident Evil 4 (PlayStation 2)

Shadow of the Colossus (PlayStation 2)

Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2)

Silent Hill 3 (PlayStation 2)

Silent Hill 4: The Room (PlayStation 2)

Global Defence Force (PlayStation 2)

Sonic Heroes (PlayStation 2)

Soulcalibur III (PlayStation 2)

SSX Tricky (PlayStation 2)

Taz: Wanted (PlayStation 2)

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge (PlayStation 2)

Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (PlayStation 2)

Twisted Metal: Black (PlayStation 2)

Viewtiful Joe (PlayStation 2)

We Love Katamari (PlayStation 2)

Wild Arms 4 (PlayStation 2)

WRC Rally Evolved (PlayStation 2)

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good luck everyone

Awesome

I want to try this event for sure but I doubt I'll be able to get the badge, 15 masteries in 3 months seems huge

15! that's a lot, especially for PS2, now my heart will be divided between the games I love but are too long and the games I don't care but could be easier to master

First post updated, we have updated our selections after user Fridge made suggestions

How do I link this emulator to my RetroAchievements account? I've only used RetroArch for achievements so far.

Master 15 sets? That's quite a bit, but should be fun.

Awesome! Do we need to master the games in Hardcore mode?

Nightly version of PCSX2 is required for the achievements feature.

The achievement system is only enabled in the Nightly version V1.7.3348 released today of PCSX2.

I'm a bit newer and I apologize if this if a bit off base, but is 15 masteries in 3 months a bit steep, or on par with the typical challenges? That's 5 games a month, more than one a week. I'm not sure if there are easier or shorter games, but the ones I'm most excited to play are 40-60 hours or more (in some cases, significantly more), and that's not accounting for actually getting the achievements, accidentally missing one 30 hours in and already having saved, requiring potentially another entire playthrough to get to that point, and playing other games besides just PS2 launch ones or ones that have achievements available. With an average of 50 hours per game, 15 masteries would equate to about 8 or 9 hours *per day* of just playing PS2 games.

Again, I might just be unknowledgeable about the time and dedications required for the highest level reward for the challenges, but doing the math I was just curious.

Not speaking exclusively for the PS2, but yes, different games have different lengths, scopes, and challenges, and the amount of achievements they get depends on what that particular game has, whether it can be turned into an achievement-able goal, and even if it that achievement can be programmed in. The skills of the developer and how much devotion to the game they're working on may also come into play; the PSX version of Tales of Phantasia, for example, runs into the 300s, while the Genesis/Mega Drive version of Virtua Racing only has 6. Different devs have their own idea of what a balanced achievement set looks like, and the debate rages on here whether or not they should be made tougher or easier. It's a somewhat-amorphous process.

...BUUUUT.... I did stray entirely from the point of the original question. 15 PS2 masters in 3 months? Hmm...

...Reluctantly, I'd say that makes sense. Achievements, by design, are usually meant to add more challenge to any particular game, and a LOT of folks around here are lion-fighting gladiators when taking on these tasks.

These particular events are designed for the master of the masters. It's all 10th-degree black-belt stuff...But I'm probably overselling it. =p

I'm a bit newer and I apologize if this if a bit off base, but is 15 masteries in 3 months a bit steep, or on par with the typical challenges?

15 can definitely be a lot depending on the size of game you typically play--but, fortunately you can still earn a badge with even 5 masteries! There are a number of games that would take 10 or less hours if someone really wants to game the event, but I'd recommend to play what you're interested in. Keep in mind that we're going to also be seeing more PS2 games with sets as the next few months unfold, so there may be more shorter games that catch your eye later if you want to squeeze in a few masteries for the next event badge tier.

A question of someone who plays but has no technical knowledge. Will this PS2 emulator ever come to mobile like the others? On AetherSX2 for example?