So as not to "pollute" other threads with the discussion, I think I'd open this thread to gather all technical discussion on how the SYS2x6 dongle is implemented, how it all works and possible improvements/alternatives.
To start the discussion, I asked what are the differences between the MagicGate dongles from Namco and regular PS2 MagicGate memory cards. According to @DCrosby :
Researching older threads, I found this (very) interesting discussion on how PCSX2 was on the verge of emulating MagicGate completely but decided against it due to legal reasons: https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/namco-system-246-emulation-on-pcsx2.16482/
Apparently, even all the keys necessary have been dumped through other means (it's on ps2devwiki and archive.org), and there is an "arcade key". Is this the same as the one used for Namco System 246/256 dongles?
To start the discussion, I asked what are the differences between the MagicGate dongles from Namco and regular PS2 MagicGate memory cards. According to @DCrosby :
The Encryption key is different on PS2 Memory Cards, vs Namco ones, it has a different hardware profile, you can take the Memory supposedly and move it from a Genuine Namco Key/Dongle and move it to a PS2 card, re-program it, and then move it back to the original cart... but that's a slot of surface mount soldering, and software / know how that I don't have a firm grasp of... if you're interested I suggest you start a new thread that talks more about the nitty gritty of how to do it. But from what I understand you need an original even for the Multi-Cart... you just give it a way to write to the Flash memory via a USB interface chip.
Researching older threads, I found this (very) interesting discussion on how PCSX2 was on the verge of emulating MagicGate completely but decided against it due to legal reasons: https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/namco-system-246-emulation-on-pcsx2.16482/
Apparently, even all the keys necessary have been dumped through other means (it's on ps2devwiki and archive.org), and there is an "arcade key". Is this the same as the one used for Namco System 246/256 dongles?