Java homebrew devkit for the PS3 emerges, nobody cares

PSP hacker "FreePlay" has turned his gaze to the PS3, and come up with a method for the first PS3 homebrew outside of Linux and that little "hello world" proof of concept a few months back. The minimal devkit doesn't seem built to take advantage of the PS3's wiles, however, and is instead working with the Java prowess built into the Blu-ray playback end of the PS3. Who knows how much power that'll lend to homebrew developers, but it's Java, so we're not expecting great things either way. Wake us when we can play PS2 games, would you?

[Chad @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:35AM]

What's wrong with JAVA? I can understand your comment if you're talking about javascript, but Java runs some of the most powerful systems in the world. Your bank probably uses Java for your online banking and the Banks take security and performance very seriously.

[jason @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:41AM]

it is probably the limited slow java that they use for the menus though
-__-

[Danakin @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:41AM]

JAVA itself is fine, but coding it is whack...WTF is with the "new" operator, there is NO need for it, BAH!

[initialxy @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:46AM]

agreed, shouldn't diss java. although this thing might not be good enough to develop real games on it yet. and it might be a better idea to just boot up linux and run java from there. but java can allow nerds to write up some games in java just for fun. have you seem jMonkey Engine? pretty neat 3d game engine written by java for java.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:15AM]

lol, he said "whack"

Is it 1997 again?

[phanbouy @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:28AM]

What's so funny about the name "Biggus Dickus"?

[huh @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:04PM]

This is probably another Engadget troll, as they probably know Java is a very popular programming language/runtime, and many games, even high performance ones, use Java. One reason Sony would use it (besides the massive cross platform multivendor support, and the fact it's free) is that it provides a secure sandboxed runtime that prevents, by default, access to local storage, though you could access the net for storage. And yes, I do use Java, but for hospital software.

[Tiago @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:51PM]

I actually program for banks for a living and banks don't give two shits about performance.
As long as it's good enough that people (clients and workers) don't wine about it and it's cheap, game on.

This leads nicely into the part about java being slow... It is.
No, there are no "High Performance Games" in Java, there are some engines and 3d apps, but let me know when the next Crysis, MGS, Gears or the like is "Powered by Java".

There may be a lot of things java does well, high performance isn't on that list.

[jay.viz @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:20PM]

@Tiago

No, it's not slow, you just can't code straight to metal, and it's managed only code, which makes it a PITA to use for real-time systems. Most games that use Java don't want you to know about it because people like you give it a bad name. For instance, star wars galaxies makes no mention of it's use of Java. There must be at least half a dozen different quake 3 java ports floating around the net too.

[Lars @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:09PM]

Java is a great language. Flexible, organized, efficient, OS-independent, etc. Sure it's not as powerful as C/C++, but it's a lot easier to use and faster to code. It's a hell of a lot better than VB, making it superb for business apps, utility programs, and lightweight games.

Actually, I've seen some pretty impressive games made in Java, but it's not low-level enough to make something like Crysis. But I doubt the homebrew scene is going to attempt anything like that. One could, for example, make a ROM emulator though.

[Andrew @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:13PM]

Why do you assume that Java would be used for games? PS3 can be used for a lot of other things. Perhaps someone will make a media player and say add support for say lossless audio formats like FLAC or mkv container.

Java might not be a good choice for a specialized application such as as 3D game engine but it's plenty good for general purpose stuff. Not only that but native support for threads means it should be much easier to write code taking advantage of PS3's cell (as long as JVM is written well).

If some of these whiners actually wrote code for a living, they'd realize that squeezing 100% out of available hardware is rarely of concern to companies. Speed of development, reuse and modularity, ease of maintenance and flexibility for change have been at the forefront for over a decade. Gaming is an exception so while it gains speed necessary for 3D engine, it certainly suffers in other areas, as I'm sure older gamers have noticed - i.e. many usability aspects of modern games are lagging behind other contemporary software.

[Tech^Cellfish @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:32PM]

Java is fine IF you are able to code. Some java applications are fast and true multiplattform applications, others are sooo slow it is unbelievable and only run on one plattform.

[mathew @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:18PM]

Yes, there are no high performance 3D games in Java. It's totally impossible to do, let alone get benchmarks better than the C version of the same game. Mmm-hmm.

[ijyt @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:37AM]

If you want to play PS2 games, put in a PS2 game?

[jason @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:41AM]

only if you got the few that support it.

[George @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:43AM]

I think they mean off the HDD.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:54AM]

If you have a 60 gig like me then you have no worries, the real test would be emulating other systems. Most ps3 owners already have a ps2 stuck somewhere in their house. so your comment that if you can play ps2 games is irrelevant and very misplaced. I would like to see thatpsp emulator for the wii come to java-brew (jbrew) ( sounds like some hot coffee to me) on the ps3. Thanks FreePlay i knew you would come through for us. This could lead t a full exploit on the ps3, hopefully we'll get custom FW within the next year.

[sycks @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:06AM]

My PS3 plays PS2 games just fine and until I got about 4-5 PS3 games it actually mattered. However now it doesn't, I never play PS2 games anymore and most people I know with PS3's don't either.

[Andrew @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:34PM]

Ever heard of a game called Persona 3? Playing it right now on my 60G PS3, thank you very much. High definition graphics by itself do not make a good game. Why won't people stop assuming that everyone wants to do the same things with their consoles as them?

[Matt @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:42AM]

FreePlay didn't "come up with a method for the first PS3 homebrew outside of Linux", he released a collection of tools to help build java apps.

[MadMike @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:47AM]

How about the ability to play Hulu.com from the PS3?

[Down @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:47AM]

Well done on the photoshopped pic.

[Drew Shu @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:45PM]

Ooo trash talkin, i like it

[Matthew Hilario @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:25PM]

they spelled L337 wrong.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:50AM]

PS3 PWNED? Hardly! Hey, um “FreePlay” wanna impress us all with your scary talent? Figure out a way to speed this up http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/25/ps3-running-windows/ so that we can run GEARS OF WAR FOR WINDOWS ON THE PS3. Just sayin...

[SugarDaddy @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:19AM]

I know you're probably joking, but that's never going to happen. There's simply not enough memory for a Windows OS to run a game.

[jason @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:54AM]

wow... i just read the thing..

this is worse than those flash "homebew" things that came out for the psp's browser. -___-

with the blu-rays java:
"1. You cannot read or write local files.
2. You cannot list the contents of a directory."
(came from the site listed)

that means no save files, no config files, no rom loading, pretty limiting indeed.


since this is not an exploit and is running on sony code, i dont expect this to change.

[Evan @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:11AM]

The BD-J has two types of storage: "system storage" (think: cookies) which is supposed to be mandatory, and "local storage" (reading and writing large files) is optional. Even without "local storage", "system storage" should be sufficient to save game states and settings.

[Zmathue @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:54AM]

That is untrue if you permisions are correct BD-J has access to files.

[Evan @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:56AM]

I'm surprised that there isn't a flood of Japanese H-games on Blu-Ray! With Java it should be technically feasible. And it would let them get their games onto the PS3 without watering down the content like they did with the PS2.

[Maeztro @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:09AM]

Bet those winners over at ps3fanboy.com care...

[SHoe @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:19AM]

By allowing people to install Linux (or 'Other OS'), Sony seems to have successfully averted people hacking the OS as the incentive doesnt seem to be there as much. Too bad: i'd love a better media player and MAME without having to do the whole business of going to the settings, switching the default OS, then rebooting, and yada yada yada, just to play an Divx movie in VLC that the PS3 should be able to play but can't because of some unknown variation in the codec implementation.
Not that I can complain too much: having UBuntu in my living room on my 42" 1080p with wireless keyboard / mouse setup from my sofa is pretty damn cool and I am impressed that Sony gives us that option. It would just be nice though if i didnt need to so for something like playing amedia file.
And while we're on the subject, Sony: please license a real fucking browser already, OK?

[ShadowKain @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:48AM]

The picture is priceless...

Anyhoo, This IS actually something that could be usefull, especially in lou of the new 80 gb model NOT having backwards compatibility. Go figure.

[Zmathue @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:50AM]

Um... I do not see why this made front page of engadget, this has been available to almost all blu-ray players since day one. The sdk is just for people who cannot figure out how to set up java for blu-ray.

[matt @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:15PM]

So where is the non frontpage of engadget then?

[Zmathue @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:21PM]

Okay I change my statement to
I do not see why this made engadget

[horizontaleight @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:54AM]

Jesus, why don't you kick the guy's dog while you are at it...

[Matthew Hilario @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:28PM]

or did you mean the penguin? lol

[dustandechoes91 @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:04PM]

I care.

Ps3 has had a really slow, almost nonexistent homebrew scene, especially compared to the psp. Maybe with the rise in sales lately it might attract some decent programmers to get this started.

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:10PM]

Azureus PS3 FTW!

[moto @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:24PM]

This post is fuktarded. Paul Miller is a tool. Do some research moron before posting this dribble. Can you even code? This is a small step for a SDK for the ps3. Sure its not much now, but its a step, and maybe it will grow into something,

And why the hate on java? Just because you dropped out of the CS program at your local community college because you couldnt hack it as a java dev, doesnt mean you should be hating on java. . .

[giesen2 @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:47PM]

Java on desktop PCs or servers: awesome!

Java on cellphones (JME): limited. Targets least common denominator low-cost hardware. Often very slow. Android uses the Java language but will run much faster.

[efg5t @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:17PM]

lol some xbox fan is tryin 2 make the shit60 look good.

[Chris @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:02PM]

yes JAVA SUCKS .... as a game platform, whats the f*cking last
"java based" game you saw... give me a f*cking break i would have been more excited for native flash support in the xmb.

[FreePlay @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:56PM]

True. Please do note that I never claimed this, only Engadget did.

lol @ "nobody cares" :)

[Ayrkain @ Jul 24th 2008 12:31AM]

Nice work, man. I appreciate your contributions.

[Morthius @ Jul 24th 2008 1:16AM]

I'll have a cup of that there java

[sea charp @ Jul 24th 2008 4:45AM]

Java sucks because C# took it and ran with it. MS, with all of its faults, does provide a lot of dev tools and a good community.

You want to make six figures as developer? develop in C# or be the most brilliant LAMP developer in your city (black Linkin Park t-shirt and all). The choice is simple.

[Zmathue @ Jul 24th 2008 7:58PM]

okay, Wana show us how to run c# through blu-ray java. Or on the ps3 at all.

[HC @ Jul 25th 2008 12:13PM]

It seems more like Endgadget got owned for the last line in their comment about Java.
Java is more performant than C++ for most use cases. Google for it. And to the last guy who said C# devs make more, just go on Dice and do a comparison of C# jobs vs. Java jobs.
That's one good thing about Google, it makes the troll's job that much harder.