Author Topic: I want MAME on my Sony PSP (Read 13602 times)

Scanner · « **on:** March 28, 2005, 09:05:22 pm »

Guys,

I just picked up the new PSP and the thing is awesome! I can't believe the clarity of the screen and the resolution of the games. I haven't been this excited since I finished my cab.

So naturally I pose the question can MAME be ported to the PSP? I know it won't be as easy as the XBOX or maybe a Palm version but it would be great.

The PSP supports the Sony's memory stick duo format that can get up to 2 gigs or more. You can put MP3's, pics, video's, etc, on it and you can launch games in that format as well.

The UMD Universal Media Disk (like a mini DVD) has promise as a medium but it has copy protection written all over it. There is like 4 or 5 hurdles you would have to over come, burn media, casing, copy protection, hardware protection etc.

Oh well, Hopefully someone will get inspired and look into the possibilities.

Here's to Hoping

Scanner

Santoro · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2005, 09:44:14 pm »

Sonys stuff isn't usually very hackable. But even if it is possible, I would guess that it would take 6 months to a year for the hacker community to get any meaningful 'additions' out there.

RayB · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2005, 10:21:09 pm »

There's already a hack that lets you browse the web...

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2005, 11:04:32 pm »

Wait... you mean to tell me it might be possible to play MAME on a PS1 right now?

I never thought of that.

GGKoul · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2005, 11:08:26 pm »

Quote from: RayB on March 28, 2005, 10:21:09 pm

There's already a hack that lets you browse the web...

Seriously?? Where can I found that??

lcddream · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2005, 11:16:38 pm »

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jterlesk/psp/

ften · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2005, 12:44:12 am »

Now if one of you PSP owners could try this.

Set it up to browse the web and then make your gateway to a nescafe, javaboy or CottAGE page.
http://www.davieboy.net/nescafe/
http://www.millstone.demon.co.uk/download/javaboy/
http://cottage.consolemul.com/

Now that would be pimp. Although it looks like it probably wouldn't work... one can dream.

-FTen

elvis · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2005, 01:49:04 am »

My understanding is that the PSP uses PSone hardware. If that's the case you won't be emulating crap on that.

As I understand it, R Belmont was talking about performance on PlayStation hardware, and mentioned that with current technology, even PacMan needs frameskip to work properly. If that's the case, there's nt a chance in hell of anything else being playable.

PlayStation tech is very limited, and quite dedicated to simple tasks. Something as broad as MAME would be nigh impossible for it to do at all, let alone at decent speed.

If you want portable MAME, get a GP32 from import. That's your only hope.

[EDIT]

Correction: The Sony PlayStation and PSone where MIPS R3000 CPUs running at 33MHz.

The PSP is an R4000 running at 100MHz(

)

According to this:
http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-macppc/2005/03/12/0000.html

During something like a GCC compilation, the R4000 is 10 times SLOWER than a G3 PPC 350MHz CPU.

In other words: that old Pentium 166MMX you've got stashed in the cupboard will more than likely be a faster MAME box than a PSP, as far as general-purpose computing goes.

SOAPboy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2005, 04:09:39 am »

Quote from: Santoro on March 28, 2005, 09:44:14 pm

Sonys stuff isn't usually very hackable.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2005, 07:03:07 am »

the PSP is more akin to the PS2 in power

Lilwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2005, 07:22:36 am »

ps2 wasn't able to emulate any games at full speed (even classics). So don't hold your breath.

You would probably do better to see if someone could port Hive or Vintage or one of the other fast emulators out there.

Or start with a .36 mame base (like mamed does).

But anyway... The word at the official mame forum is that its just way to slow. Very unhackable. And in the end not worth the price for portable emulation.

rchadd · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2005, 07:55:43 am »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on March 30, 2005, 07:03:07 am

the PSP is more akin to the PS2 in power

PS1.75

RayB · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2005, 12:13:06 pm »

What I want to know is, if you want a portable MAME, then why not buy a Pocket PC???

Stingray · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2005, 12:38:28 pm »

Quote from: RayB on March 30, 2005, 12:13:06 pm

What I want to know is, if you want a portable MAME, then why not buy a Pocket PC???

Because a PSP is infinitely cooler than a pocketpc, at least from a gaming standpoint.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2005, 01:04:31 pm »

Except that it can't do what you want. That's not cool.

MrTroy · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2005, 04:14:45 pm »

Also the PSP has more buttons than a pocket PC. I say less than 6 months for someone to get something running on PSP. Didn't it take a few weeks(like 5-7) before someone made something that ran on the DS? I could be wrong though.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2005, 04:22:55 pm »

they have simple code running on teh DS with a passthrough card adn gba rom cart.

not close to anything user friendly yet

MrTroy · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2005, 04:41:17 pm »

What about the dude who made Tetris and Nibller?

rchadd · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2005, 05:57:53 pm »

i'm sure you will need to fit a modchip to get unsigned code to run on a PSP

don't like the idea of soldering a modchip into a PSP - far too small!

unless it is possible to softmod

skid_68 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2005, 07:25:15 pm »

Quote from: SOAPboy on March 30, 2005, 04:09:39 am

Quote from: Santoro on March 28, 2005, 09:44:14 pm
Sonys stuff isn't usually very hackable.

elvis · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2005, 11:42:44 pm »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on March 30, 2005, 07:03:07 am

the PSP is more akin to the PS2 in power

From what I've read, the PSP is a 64-bit R4000 CPU running at 100MHz.

Whereas the PS2 is a 128-bit "emotion" chip clocked at 300MHz, with a second 150Mhz graphics co-processor.

I'd say that puts the PSP smack bang in between the PSone and PS2 in terms of raw grunt (comparing apples to oranges a little here, obviously). And as mentioned, the PS2 wasn't the friendliest thing to get working for emulation and/or general purpose computing. I'm not holding my breath for PSP ports of MAME.

Once again: if mobile/handheld emulation is your thing, buy a GP32
http://www.gp32x.com/

ften · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2005, 05:25:53 am »

Tech specs;
http://www.us.playstation.com/consoles.aspx?id=4

CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1 - 333MHz)

Discussion on their (Sony/PS) board about what speed it's really doing;

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=pspgames&message.id=1417&query.id=3030#M1417

Also if you wander around in their boards a little bit you can see talk of an upcoming internet browser, so who knows maybe they will fully implement java in it. You can read more about that too by googling "leaked PSP update".

-FTen

ChadTower · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2005, 07:52:27 am »

If that is all it's running, the JVM would kill it.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2005, 09:52:06 am »

the fact that the psp has upgradable firmware, means that this may be easier than it was on the PS2

Stingray · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2005, 01:05:00 pm »

Seems at least possible that a product similar to HD Advance will become available to allow the user to run software from a memory stick.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2005, 01:14:55 pm »

Not useful for MAME if the processor isn't fast enough to handle it.

patrickl · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2005, 01:22:45 pm »

Another option might be the Tapwave Zodiac and PalmMAME or XCade.

Or build your own pocket sized cab and put your PocketPC in it for the ultimate in portable classics

The MAME emultaor on my PocketPC was too slow though so I used the NES emulator.

stellarola · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2005, 10:09:07 pm »

While the PSP has a 333MHz processor. Currently the system is being underclocked. Meaning you aren't seeing the "real" power of the PSP. One of the reasoning behind underclocking is of course to save battery life. We all know the psp doesn't have such great battery life now, and it would be at least cut in half if it was running at its true speed of 333MHz. Which is equal to the PS2. I also read another article saying one of the develops said that the PSP technically can produce more polygons than a PS2. This is just to inform some of you saying the PSP is equal to a PS1. Right now...being underclocked its more equivalent to the power which is Dreamcast, and then some. Once you all check out the videos and pictures of Gran Turismo4. You will see the true power of the PSP. Have a nice day.

Stingray · « **Reply #28 on:** April 01, 2005, 01:43:28 pm »

If it's 333 Mhz it should run all of the classics in MAME without a hiccup. My cab has only got a 233 Mhz G3 in it and it runs MAME fine.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #29 on:** April 01, 2005, 01:49:47 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on April 01, 2005, 01:43:28 pm

If it's 333 Mhz it should run all of the classics in MAME without a hiccup. My cab has only got a 233 Mhz G3 in it and it runs MAME fine.

You can't compare the processor speed in a specialized piece of hardware with that of a PC. It's like comparing a Toyota to a banana. You don't know what type of overhead the PSP's base OS requires.

Stingray · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2005, 02:04:03 pm »

I also know nothing about programming, but it seemed worth mentioning. I'm not saying that it definitely can run MAME, but it's way too early to say that it definitely cannot run MAME either.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2005, 02:37:13 pm »

You're right, there are always ways to go in and hard optimize code for a certain processor, or toggle some compiler settings, or pare down the app itself so that it fits in the resources provided... I'm sure it's possible, just not likely in the form in which it currently exists.

caffinefiend · « **Reply #32 on:** April 01, 2005, 04:07:35 pm »

psp = poorly built... at work we had 25 out of 300 come back, which is a high percentage...broken square button, air bubbles in screen, 5 pixels in a row stuck on yellow...

not to mention the overall design is sucky

what a shame
everyone will buy it though because it's sony...

Stingray · « **Reply #33 on:** April 01, 2005, 04:09:06 pm »

Quote from: caffinefiend on April 01, 2005, 04:07:35 pm

everyone will buy it though because it's sony...

Not me, I'll buy one because that's what the voices in my head tell me to do.

-S

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #34 on:** April 01, 2005, 04:12:56 pm »

you too?

you too?

you too?

you too?

rchadd · « **Reply #35 on:** April 01, 2005, 07:15:49 pm »

i'm waiting for a later model when they have hopefully managed to improve the battery life

oldsage · « **Reply #36 on:** April 06, 2005, 05:35:17 pm »

I don't know if anybody here watched episode 904 of south park, but i just downloaded and played it on my PSP! It's so weird seeing that on the actual PSP...
(if you're wandering, episode 904 is the one about the PSP... Definitely check that one out...)

BTW, anybody know of a good source for downloadable content for PSP? I tried Sony connect, but they only have videos... I'm more hoping for playable game demos or something like that...

gearguy · « **Reply #37 on:** April 07, 2005, 05:21:45 am »

Quote from: Lilwolf on March 30, 2005, 07:22:36 am

ps2 wasn't able to emulate any games at full speed (even classics).

GGKoul · « **Reply #38 on:** April 07, 2005, 10:49:57 am »

Quote from: rchadd on April 01, 2005, 07:15:49 pm

i'm waiting for a later model when they have hopefully managed to improve the battery life

I'm with you on that one... Sega Nomad had a nice looking screen too, but the nice screen requires alot of juice to run... therefore limits the battery life.

oldsage · « **Reply #39 on:** April 07, 2005, 12:39:47 pm »

Quote from: gearguy on April 07, 2005, 05:21:45 am

Quote from: Lilwolf on March 30, 2005, 07:22:36 am
ps2 wasn't able to emulate any games at full speed (even classics).


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