PlayStation emulation coming to iPhone via psx4iphone

Those of you who have already loaded up like 1,000 NES ROMs on your iPhone will be excited to learn that an even more powerful emulator is on the horizon, this one for the original PlayStation. Called psx4iphone, and currently in pre-beta, the software is being developed by ZodTTD, the same programmer responsible for the gpSPhone GameBoy Advance emulator for the iPhone and iPod touch. According to ZodTTD, if enough people donate, the program could be out within days, complete with sound implementation and memory card support, along with compatibility for a claimed 75% of titles. Still, we've played with the DualShock a time or two before, and considering how difficult FPSEce playback is on Windows Mobile devices with full QWERTY keyboards, we're not sure how well all those buttons, triggers, D-pads, and analog sticks will translate to the touchscreen experience.

[Via pspsps]

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 12th 2007 10:36AM]

What is FPSCE?

[UKNigel @ Dec 12th 2007 11:46AM]

It's actual FPSEce, and it's a PlayStation emulator for Pocket PCs.

[JohnTitor @ Dec 12th 2007 3:28PM]

and it only works good if you got a GPU and good CPU
mine's a X50v with a 16MB intel 2700G
unfortunately some of my favorite games don't run full speed
I doubt the iPhone will do anywhere as fast though

[hamster3000 @ Dec 12th 2007 12:22PM]

Isn't the PSX a Japan only Playstation with DVD capabilities. http://interactive.usc.edu/archives/Sony-PSX.jpg

[Miranda Kali @ Dec 12th 2007 10:46AM]

I think someone on Gizmodo mentioned this...I know I've been dreaming of such a thing since they unveiled the iPhone..What someone needs to make, is a Bluetooth controller for games on the iPhone/Touch. ...(and do games as well, of course)

[dj-kenpo @ Dec 12th 2007 1:57PM]

the touch doesn't have bt.

what someone needs to do is use the SERIAL line on the dock connector to make a controller. probably just bastardizing one of those inline remotes

[matthew @ Dec 12th 2007 10:48AM]

ps games on a touch screen sounds like a nightmare

and good luck with a bluetooth controller working on the touch (unless there's a hack i missed somewhere)

[Miranda Kali @ Dec 12th 2007 10:58AM]

"and good luck with a bluetooth controller working on the touch (unless there's a hack i missed somewhere)"

True enough. The "hack" would have to be a BT receiver to plug into the 30 pin connector. A clever manufacturer would make such a thing that works with the Classic, Nano, and Touch...

[John W. @ Dec 12th 2007 10:54AM]

Would it be possible to mod a PSX controller (or a NES controller for the NES emulator) to connect to the iPhone/iPod Touch through the connector on the bottom?

That would make it so much easier to play.

[superfresh @ Dec 12th 2007 10:53AM]

"we're not sure how well all those buttons, triggers, D-pads, and analog sticks will translate to the touchscreen experience."

It won't.

If Sony can't get it done with the PSP (two shoulder buttons...one analog stick?) What makes you think an emulator for iPhone will pull it off?

[Robobagins @ Dec 12th 2007 12:03PM]

But it does get it done. The psp software that runs ps1 titles allows you to configure the controls with a variety of settings to make up for two missing buttons.

I think most folks forget that a good majority of PS1 games were made before the dualshock 1 hit the streets, and even then it was awhile before they were packaged with the ps1 unit themselves.

[superfresh @ Dec 12th 2007 12:53PM]

Well, for iPhone, it's going to have to make up for all the missing buttons, isn't it?

[brad @ Dec 12th 2007 11:02AM]

wow, its hard enough to play the NES games and thats about as simple as it gets, cool non the less

[Khris @ Dec 12th 2007 11:05AM]

Cool? Perhaps. Useful? Definitely not. I put the NES Emulator on my iPhone to try and it made game play horrendous! I can't begin to imagine how frustrated someone will get trying to use a touchscreen in place of several buttons without any tactile feedback.

Utter waste of time.

[Allan @ Dec 12th 2007 11:03AM]

So people will be able to play Playstation games on an iPhone... but the PS3 still doesn't have full backwards compatibility?

Wow.

[MatthewJ @ Dec 12th 2007 11:11AM]

Actually the PS3 has full backwards compatibility with PSOne games, but those easily led by headlines and hype without actually reading for themselves (a lot of Apple buyers for instance) might believe otherwise.

[Allan @ Dec 12th 2007 12:34PM]

PSOne games maybe... but I'm pretty sure it's not PS2 games as well. Yes, many work, but not all, I'm fairly sure. Just seems ridiculous is all.

[superfresh @ Dec 12th 2007 12:59PM]

How sad is it that the latest news about Sony gaming is all the different ways you can play PlayStation 1 games?

[MatthewJ @ Dec 12th 2007 3:07PM]

Its not ridiculous when you look into the technology and find out WHY the PS2 backwards compatibility isn't there.

Mind you, PS3 is probably still the most backwards compatible console of all time, excluding the Gameboy Advance

[Leo @ Dec 12th 2007 11:13AM]

9.81 frames per second. Awesome!!! Totally playable...

[Magallanes @ Dec 12th 2007 12:14PM]

And just for a 2d menu screen!.

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Dec 12th 2007 12:16PM]

Terrible, i cannot imagine this being anymore than something enjoyed by literally tens of people.
at at that fps? please.

[Jakob H @ Dec 12th 2007 1:16PM]

If you read the link, you would know the framerate isn't real.

Actually the GBA emulator's controls works very good. Hate comments like: 'ohh that is silly, play a PSOne game through a touch screen', '9,83FPS LOL' etc. I think it's awesome the developer is using his time to make a nice application. You don't know if it's bad or fantastic to use?

Anyway it's free of charge, you can't lose anything?

[Leo @ Dec 12th 2007 1:22PM]

Jurassic Park quote: "People were so caught up in whether or not they could, that they forgot to stop and think whether or not they should."

[matt @ Dec 12th 2007 11:45AM]

I wonder how feasible it would be to mod a Wii Classic Controller to add a dock connector?

[CapnVan @ Dec 12th 2007 12:57PM]

When the hell did the term "pre-beta" become even vaguely acceptable? The very first build isn't "pre-" anything. That would be "alpha."

And what do donations have to do with release time? The codemonkey indicated that "if the demand is there," he'll release a beta within the next few days. I have no idea what that's intended to reflect. One would assume that the beta would be posted when it's ready, regardless of interest, if you're working on it anyway, but hey, it's his, so whatever.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 12th 2007 2:25PM]

I'm curious. Why would you want to play games on your iPhone when you have a tv (I'd imagine it's larger than a 3 inch screen) and one or more consoles?

[Lt. Ladle @ Dec 12th 2007 9:34PM]

portability. try bring ur tv and psx to school with ya :D

[something @ Dec 12th 2007 3:53PM]

Now if I only had 4 thumbs on each hand I could actually play it

[Kyle @ Dec 13th 2007 6:02AM]

well the fact of the matter is, the iPhone is more powerful than the psp, and the psp can play playstation games with a good framerate.