Oh boy... where to start ?
1. Macrovision: It is a copyprotection on the DVD ! Not all DVDs have it, but most, that is the flickering you see (dark, bright and so on)
2. Green Playback: This is a protection from SONY build in into the PS2 to make it unable for you to record a DVD on the VCR fia rgb cable... unfortunaly it will give you a green picture on TV aswell !
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solutions:
There are Macrovision-Off Chips on the market. Just ask your lokal dealer (or look at
http://www.playstationmods.com) ! With this one installed, you can record your DVD on tape...
For the green screen, there are several ways to go around...
1. As mentioned above the DVD Region X from Datel (Datel will quit production on that one, so get it now if you will, they´re planing on a newer version with AR 2.2, but it´s still a rumor)
2. Ask you dealer (should be a good Gameshop) to do the rgb Fix for you. Two points in the PS2 have to be linked to give you the best picture (rgb) !!! (5-10$)
3. You buy a S-VHS cable... it´s not the BEST quality, but a lot better than the standart cable...
I would go for the Region X, as there are no warranty problems, but the BEST solution is a rgb Fix plus Macrovision-Off and Regioncode-Free Chip !