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Mame Working on the PSP

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sat Jun 11, 2005 09:10 AM
from the oh-glorious-day dept.
Classic Games (Games) Emulation (Games) Entertainment Games
An anonymous reader writes "The PSP Wiki site has posted a release of Mame the arcade emulator for the Sony PSP, heres an english site with Screenshots of the Emulator in action." I guess I won't need to go to such great lengths to play Pac-Man next time.
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  • Wow! (Score:5, Funny)

    by gstoddart (321705) on Saturday June 11 2005, @09:12AM (#12788743) Homepage
    People have started maming their PSPs.

    What a cruel world we live in. :-P

  • Great... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Now if only I had an original japanese PSP...

    Any news on a way into the new PSPs?

    • Re:Great... (Score:3, Interesting)

      by m4g02 (541882)
      Seems like 1.5.x will soon run homebrew applications, the warez group Dynarox did dump UMD games and released promising a loader soon... Wouldn't like if piracy hit the PSP market but homebrew is way cool, can't wait until someone makes a Linux diestrum that runs from the memory stick :)

      More info: http://www.psphacker.com/2005/05/loader-in-near-fu ture.html [psphacker.com]
      • Oh please... that article that you link two is one part wild speculation and two parts hacker grandstanding. Until someone actually releases this loader, I'll believe it when I see it... I can see no way they'll be able to get code to load from the memory stick without rewriting the firmware, which would require desoldering the chip, reprogramming it, and resoldering it... not something you average gamer will be willing to do.

  • Uninspiring (Score:4, Funny)

    by Icephreak1 (267199) on Saturday June 11 2005, @09:27AM (#12788804) Journal
    What is emulation without games to emulate?

    Let us know when this thing can run more than one game.

    - IP

      • Re:Uninspiring (Score:5, Informative)

        by runlvl0 (198575) on Saturday June 11 2005, @09:54AM (#12788899) Homepage

        I'm pretty sure it can run any mame game.
        Per the Fine Article:

        "Only works with Omega Fighter at this time. Left and Right on Dpad is OK :)
        ...
        [NOTES]
        There is no sound. Any games with a bit-depth not equal to 8 will not work. This emulator has the drivers for: omegaf, darius, nova2001, and vanguard."

        So, it looks like CmdrTaco still needs "to go to such great lengths to play Pac-Man next time." (Or he can just put regulara MAME on his notebook.)

      • no, it can only run omega fighter.
        Most likely because they only ported one of the many many emulation kernels of the "real" mame.

  • Useless waste of time (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Considering the PSP has less CPU power than PS2 and PS2 can barely play Pac Man in MAME. What's the point of this, really?

    To play Mortal Kombat 2 in MAME you need about a 1.2 GHz processor. To play Cruisn USA you need a top-of-the-line CPU and still won't get perfect framerate. Heck, even to play Neo-Geo full-speed takes a 2-ALU CPU about 600 MHz, and PSP is nowhere near that!
    • Considering the PSP has less CPU power than PS2 and PS2 can barely play Pac Man in MAME. What's the point of this, really?

      To play Mortal Kombat 2 in MAME you need about a 1.2 GHz processor. To play Cruisn USA you need a top-of-the-line CPU and still won't get perfect framerate. Heck, even to play Neo-Geo full-speed takes a 2-ALU CPU about 600 MHz, and PSP is nowhere near that!

      Well, my Zodiac does a decent job with xarcade ( a pre-mame emulator) playing various games, so I doubt processor speed is the li
      • I was playing Mortal Kombat 2 the other day rather well on my 400mhzs g3 with Mame .The reason the ps2 can barely play pacman is simply because the ps2 mame is not refined enough , it ran perfectly on the dreamcast which by all accounts had lesser procesing power .
        I would say the psp shoudl be able to handle most mame games rather admirably if its programed to the hardware , it does have alot of power beneth the hood(it can do alot more in hardware than the ps2 iirc , not that that would effect 2d games that much though)

  • Nice photos! (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Were they taken at high speed with a telescopic lens?
  • Lemme send these photos over to Chloe at CTU to be decrypted, and then we'll see what we have.

  • What the hell is wrong with Sony (Score:5, Interesting)

    by delicious (879639) on Saturday June 11 2005, @09:58AM (#12788915) Homepage
    The DS has a huge advantage over the PSP. Namely, there are thousands of Game Boy games compatible with the system at launch. The PSP has a dreadfully small amount of games for it, and if they opened up the firm ware, they could have the entire cataloge of MAME games available just like that. DS's advantage completely wiped out. Sony is killing their own system, IM not so HO.
    • Just like how all those emulators on the Dreamcast saved it too, right?
    • The PSP has a dreadfully small amount of games for it

      You can't be serious. It had one of the best launch lineups I've seen since the Dreamcast, and there's plenty coming this fall. Obviously there are several reasons why Sony has the firmware locked down. The DS wasn't wide open either.

      I can't name anyone who still has, much less plays, the vast of the Gameboy's library. Having the ability to play old titles looks ok on paper, but I for one buy my systems to play new games.
    • Yea that's what Sony wants. Everyone to play "illegal" downloaded roms on their PSP instead of buying licensed games and media which profit Sony.

      I also don't think the DS and the PSP are in the same league long term. The DS just doesn't have the horsepower. If it were not for its wireless feature it would be IMHO a washout.

      • Re:What the hell is wrong with Sony (Score:5, Interesting)

        by TomHandy (578620) <tomhandy AT gmail DOT com> on Saturday June 11 2005, @11:09AM (#12789143)
        I'm not sure the horsepower is such a big deal though. Remember that the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color were both dramatically underpowered compared to some of the competition they faced throughout the years (Lynx, GameGear, TurboGrafix Express, Nomad, NeoGeo Pocket, etc.).

        It's pretty clear that horsepower can certainly garner some attention, but what it comes down to is the games, and the GBA and DS still have a huge and amazing library (I think the point the parent poster was making was that even though the DS's software library isn't quite that impressive yet, it still benefits from being able to play all the great GBA games).

        As far as the DS is concerned, it seems to be doing ok so far (which is pretty impressive when you do think how lackluster most of the lineup of DS games is), and seems to be in good shape for some of the DS titles coming out later (Animal Crossing DS, Mario Kart DS, Advance Wars DS, that surgery game, that attorney sim game, Trace Memory, Lost in Blue, Nintendogs, etc.)

        The PSP almost seems to have the opposite problem. And first, just to clarify, I bought a PSP on launch day, and have also bought a number of games for it (Lumines, Wipeout Pure, Twisted Metal Head On, NBA Street Showdown, MVP Baseball, Untold Legends and Hot Shots Golf). It had a really excellent launch lineup with a lot of variety, and it seemed to really drive a dagger into the DS, which looked absolutely pathetic in comparison.

        But it seems like the PSP's subsequent lineup has been pretty thin. Hot Shots Golf and MVP Baseball are the only two games I've bought recently (and Hot Shots is excellent), and there honestly isn't a ton of stuff on the horizon. The GTA game is looking pretty good (although I still wonder about battery life while playing it), and the Coded Arms and Ghost in the Shell games look pretty good for handheld FPS's. And GT4 looks good if it ever comes out. But really, beyond that, there isn't a whole lot that is getting me excited about the PSP's future.

        In comparison, even though I own only one DS game (Super Mario 64 DS), along with a lot of GBA games, I'm actually much more interested in some of the stuff coming out for the DS. Are they all groundbreaking games? Do they have better graphics than the PSP? No, not really....... in some cases the games look not that different from GBA games (i.e. Advance Wars) or n64 games (Animal Crossing DS)........ but frankly, those were awesome games before, and I'm looking forward to the idea of being able to play them online against other people. And I'm looking forward to some of the non-games like Nintendogs and Elektroplankton and Band Brothers.

        So anyway, "horsepower" seems like the less relevant issue. I'm impressed by the PSP's horsepower, and it's made for some beautiful and amazing games. But horsepower only gets you so far......... if the PSP is only going to have a handful of compelling games, it is irrelevant how much horsepower it has. The PSP needs to have more interesting games as well.....

        • [i]I bought a PSP on launch day, and have also bought a number of games for it (Lumines, Wipeout Pure, Twisted Metal Head On, NBA Street Showdown, MVP Baseball, Untold Legends and Hot Shots Golf).

          But it seems like the PSP's subsequent lineup has been pretty thin. Hot Shots Golf and MVP Baseball are the only two games I've bought recently (and Hot Shots is excellent), and there honestly isn't a ton of stuff on the horizon. The GTA game is looking pretty good (although I still wonder about battery life whi
          • I think you might be reading too much into what I said. First, I didn't "go through" those games that quickly. I still play them regularly and enjoy them a lot.

            I realize you have to have patience, and I don't expect a top tier title every week. But I'm looking at what we've seen as being in the works for the upcoming year. I am sure there are some great titles that are currently in development that we just don't know about.

            I didn't mean to make it sound like I didn't think there was anything in the

      • Cousin' Brucie says the oldie games are the best!

      • I'd have to disagree. Portable games machines are not defined by horsepower, else the Gameboy wouldn't have sold 60 million units, and everyone would be playing games on PDAs. Price, game accessibility, convenience are more important. Also, Nintendo just added another: single-pak wireless multiplayer. The delight at first discovery and utilisation of this feature is fantastic.
    • I think "thousands" is a bit of a stretch. DS only plays DS and Gameboy Advance titles unless you run an emu off of a GBA flash cart (which you can). It's more like hundreds, but that's still a distinct advantage. Another advantage is that there is the ability to play two different platforms, Nintendo has stated the GBA is alive and well and just introduced the Micro (which will be out this fall) for super portable gaming with the GBA.

      The PSP just isn't "rugged" enough. It looks and feels too precious

    • Jesus Christ how many times do we have repeat this here?! Console makers make money by SELLING GAMES. Allowing everyone to do whatever the hell they want to do with their systems goes against the VERY NATURE of their business model.

      If you're unhappy about the PSP being closed and all, go get a PDA instead. What? You don't want to buy one because they're more expensive, and not even one third as powerful? Tough luck. Open platforms come at a price, and handheld hardware isn't cheap.
        • Game software on the PSP is *not* region locked.

          Movies and music may very well be region locked, as Sony stated more than likely they will region lock that stuff, but games so far have not been region locked, per Sony's stated intention.
        • the US software wouldn't work anyway... Sony love region-locking their stuff.

          This is false. I use American games on my Japanese PSP all the time. It's the movies that are locked. If I try to play an American movie in my Japanese PSP I get an unpleasant message.

  • All well and good but... (Score:5, Informative)

    by Rirath.com (807148) on Saturday June 11 2005, @10:19AM (#12789000)
    These anonymous readers somehow always fail to mention it still ain't going to run on 1.5 - 1.5.2 yet.
  • From what I read here about firmware (it's about the height of my knowledge on how PSP works) I'm guessing Sony is already trying to make it fairly difficult to run unlicensed software on the PSP. Personally I reckon that if there wasn't so much software availabe for x-box it wouldn't have sold nearly as well as it has (though I could well be wrong).

    Do you think a console manufacturer is ever going to embrace homwbrew software, or will they always do their best to stop it?
    • In all honesty, the number of people that actually go out and buy the hardware simply to run homebrew, even XBMC, software is extremely small. The problem for the manufacturer is two-fold:

      1) If you buy the hardware only to run homebrew games then you're not putting the money into the 'system' the way that you're supposed to. Even now that MS is breaking even or making a little profit on each XBOX sold, the amount is nothing compared to the licensing fees on EVERY game that's sold or the profit on first p
    • It's true, Sony released firmware update 1.5 in Japan to disable homebrew software. Article here [wired.com]. Forget about open console platforms. The last one was the PalmOS Tapwave Zodiac, an uncrippled PDA with a good game controller. All it needed was better 3D. Unfortunately it never caught on.
      • This is false, and I defy you to provide links to the contrary. Only Sega and Microsoft ever deliberately priced systems in this manner. Sony are cutting their profits to the bare minimum with the PSP, but still not making a loss per unit.

        You're half right in that every manufacturer intends to make the most money via software sales.

  • On this rate... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ID000001 (753578) on Saturday June 11 2005, @10:26AM (#12789016)
    I foresee the value of PSP with Japanese Firmware actually go UP.
    • unfortunatly at this time , most shipping units have been upgraded to the 1.5+ firmware . I have a japanese unit from a couple of months ago and it was snet out with 1.5 already installed
  • If they do a good job I'll be in line to get one. So sad they could never get one for the Xbox.
  • All PSPs are sold with 1.5 / 1.5.1 firmware witch does NOT support unauthrized programs like MAME.
    You can say technically you may run it on PSP only if that psp was made in 2004 with old firmware.

    So this story is correct if you talk about 0.01% of PSPs out there.
  • keep getting raised by these stories, yet they're meaningless for most psp owners
  • Developments like this truly show the versatility of hand-held computers, whether they be PDAs or microgaming systems. Indeed, these systems are just as capable as the most powerful desktop systems of even just four or five years ago. It's amazing that so much progress has been made in so little time.

  • Forget Alpha PSP Mame, PalmMAME works now (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 11 2005, @12:39PM (#12789611)
    If you want a portable MAME machine, grab a Palm (Treo 650 cell phone is what I use) and get PalmMAME:

    http://www.pocketdimension.com/PalmMAME.html [pocketdimension.com]

    Works with most games that will fit the small screen and fits into memory. The classics pretty much all work as well as some smaller Neo-Geo games.

    --Striker

  • Don't get all excited (Score:3, Interesting)

    by M3wThr33 (310489) on Saturday June 11 2005, @04:47PM (#12790923) Homepage
    Unless you want a dedicated Mame machine, don't get too excited.
    These only work on LAUNCH PSPs from Japan, Sony started requiring hardware signing after that. It's not going to be "cracked" for 1.5.x anytime soon.
    On top of that, most games released now won't play unless you update your firmware, meaning you're stuck with a 20 game library of japanese games (5 of which are Mah-jongg), plus old emulated titles.
    • I agree; just like linux was only written for PC's, and so only runs on them, and didn't have support for almost anything at v1.0, so too I will assume that the somtware devolpers on this project have suddenly decided that they have better things to do than continue developing the program, and we will never see a version that's useful.

      Kudo's on the insightful, not to mention original, post. If more people thought like you, people still wouldn't use wheels, because v1.0 kept rolling away.
    • reason #21 why i hate myself for upgrading my Jap PSPs firmware :(

      ditto.

      Is there any way to roll back the firmware? Or has anyone managed to rip the 1.0 firmware into an updater? That'd be badass.

      I mean, with everyone having code running on the thing, surely someone's figured out a way to read the firmware.

    • Re:ugh (Score:5, Funny)

      by blixel (158224) on Saturday June 11 2005, @09:50AM (#12788881) Homepage
      reason #21 why i hate myself for upgrading my Jap PSPs firmware :(

      Just out of curiosity, what where the other 20 reasons?

      • Re:ugh (Score:2, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Just out of curiosity, what where the other 20 reasons?

        That was it. He's counting in base 0.45.

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