iPhone 3GS PlayStation, Game Boy Advance emulators demoed on video
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jun 25th 2009 10:46AM
posted Jun 25th 2009 10:46AM
Read - Emulator videos
Read - ZodTTD blog post with more info
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WOW! I am truly impressed.
Agreed
I saw this article and I JIZZED. IN. MY PANTS.
Truly. That is hands down the smoothest running emulation on a phone I have ever seen. My SE Xperia can't even play it 1/4 as smooth as that even with the sound off and the resolution turned down. One thing I do lament on the iPhone is it's lack of hardware buttons. If it even just had a single D-Pad it would truly be a viable gaming device.
This has to be the greatest use of the iPhone since it came out.
Perhaps. This is one situation in which the lack of tactile feedback will be truly detrimental to the user experience.
although the idea seems very cool...the dual shock has all those buttons for a reason. i personally think that playing a playstation game on the iphone would suck. playing nes games on the iphone is hard enough, and that only has 2 buttons (besides the directional buttons). here your looking at 8 different control buttons added onto the 4 directional buttons, all on a buttonless touchscreen device.
The greatest use of the iPhone would be to make phone calls you idiot.
@ EI8HT: Dual Shock? This is a PlayStation emulator, which was pre Dual Shock. Notice the controls are the original PS gamepad design.
That touchscreen gamepad literally makes my joints hurt.
Turned based RPGs like FFVII wouldn't be too difficult to play.
the dev could probably even add accelerometer function for the dpad tilt-to-move or something
@Vannilacide: http://195.224.149.148/SB/playstation1_dual.jpg
DERP DERP DERP
dude...i hate to be the first one to bring it up...but after reading the article i was very impressed. and since i'm so used to seeing either this, or "first" i did a "ctrl +f" and typed in "crysis". seems like this blog is finally starting to evolve.
how come apple doesnt do this?
Because of their ridiculous rules surrounding App store apps
Isn't ROMs illegal or even just distributing it? I don't know! But maybe that's why.
probably because of the legal grey areas with emulators. you are only legally allowed to run a game on an emulator if you already own it on another system, but most choose to ignore that. so instead of opening themselves up to a firestorm, they dont have it in the app store.
I'm sure videogame companies will be very interested in licensing their content for the iPhone if legal channels were available.
No, Apple forbids code plug-ins for programs (not just emulators) that aren't also sold through the store. This is because Apple wants to control all the code that runs on the device and take 30% of the sales. If I could release an app with plug-in code, I would just release one app and give it away for free, then sell the plug-ins outside the store and keep all the money for myself. Even more, I could lets others sell plug-ins for my app (perhaps only charging 15% to the seller) and then no developer would need to use the store and Apple would lose their app store revenue.
@WhyNot Yes and you would lose your free hosting, free advertising, free credit card processing etc etc etc. In addition with the 3.0 update you could technically sell all of the roms within the app. Though it is true about the code bit, you cant create an app that processes any kind of code that the formal SDK does not.
I think it is the combination of the two. Since it could threaten Apple's monetization of the device, and because of the legal issues surrounding emulators, it's just so much easier for Apple to ban them outright. Sucks for users, sure, but makes Apple's life a heck of a lot easier.
One does get the impression, though, that a Sony-approved PS emulator, with in-app game purchasing (so Apple gets their cut) would *still* be denied.
And that's why the iPhone won't become a serious gaming platform: virtual control buttons taking over half the screen. It's a pity, since they can do very nice stuff with the revised hardware.
Yea but for RPG's it should work well.
Golden Sun, FF series, etc.
Basically.... the "shoulder buttons" now have to be pressed with like.... the.... back... of the index finger? Weird.
Id buy a nice PS style controller case if they exist and had good games for the IPhone. Apple really should give developers more space! I think they're shooting themselves in the foot!
only because nobody has use the new dock connector APIs to sell a game pad... *YET* I'm sure somebody has a PS controller, a soldering iron and the SDK out as we speak.
If you take a look at sonic in the app store, you can play it like seen above or you can full screen and have transparent buttons over the actual game. Works quite well.
Yes, I have tried the "invisible buttons" in some games on a friends' Touch. Having my chubby fingers all over the screen is still pretty detrimental to the game experience.
A "button case" would be a nice solution if done elegantly and supported in apps across the board. Using BT keyboards or such sort of kills the portability of the device.
WHERE'S MY STARCRAFT - IPHONE EDITION?????
I don't see the problem with that virtual game pad at all.
Obviously you aren't meant to have your fingers over the shoulder buttons when you play, and you need to press them with your thumb.
Granted this means that many games won't be practical to play anyway, as you can only have 2 independent inputs, so any game where you need to press a direction and more than one other button won't work.
As for the issue of the buttons taking up half the screen, what other option is there? If you have the game playing horizontally, then the buttons would need to be invisible or tiny on the sides of the screen, and no one likes that.
As it is with the setup being vertical, extra screen height space for is useless, as it would mess up the video aspect ratio, so there's no reason NOT to have massive buttons.
Not all games will practically be playable with this setup, but for those it works with, it'll be fantastic to have.
Don't any of you boneheads know that they're coming out with a Bone Controller. Jeez. There'll probably be a number of add-on controllers for the iPhone and Touch within the year. Get off the negativity and get with the program. Bluetooth profiles are being written for BT controllers and there's still the 30 pin connector that can be used.
http://www.videogamenews.com/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ArticleView/mid/625/articleId/1865/iPhone-Bone-controller.aspx
The shoulder buttons are activated with the shuffle headphones - double click for left shoulder button, triple click for right.
"And that's why the iPhone won't become a serious gaming platform: virtual control buttons taking over half the screen."
I entirely agree that playing old games with a virtual controller is dumb. It's a nice "blast from the past" but much like playing emulated NES games on a keyboard is not as much fun as playing on the NES controller itself, so playing old games on the iPhone isn't as much fun as playing them on the correct hardware. The reason for this is easy: the iPhone wasn't designed to play GBA or PlayStation games. But this is not to say that it couldn't become a serious gaming platform (it can be argued that it already is, much to my own surprise - I seriously never saw this coming). All that it requires is that games are designed for the hardware. I don't accept that buttons are necessary to play games or to be taken seriously but, much like the Nintendo Wii, it does require game developers to think in a different way.
Final Fantasy 7 would be good enough reason to make me upgrade my iPhone 3g
Ditto! I love Blackberries but seeing that game cover pretty got me sold.
Unless it's a two-in-one emulator, wouldn't these be TWO of the first notable hacks?
Not being grammar police, but wondering if it's a single "port" or multiple ports.
Yeah okay, I'm being grammar police.
Someone's got to do it!
150-225 fps?! Can we infer from this that it would run reasonably well on a 3G too?
You know what they say about people who infer... they make an in....
Hmm.
From my experience with the PSX emulator on my first gen iPhone I'd say the 3G will run it just as slow. It runs, but not very fast. The GBA & SNES emulators from Zodttd are really good on the first gen though.
http://www.zodttd.com/blog/
There is a new version of gpSPhone (GBA Emulator) too.
5.0! http://www.zodttd.com/blog/2009/04/11/vastly-improved-gpsphone-v500-released-publicly/
@robpetrin
Funny you should use that... I ran through a make believe version of that very conversation in my head yesterday. Weird, right? And now I'm telling you about it.
Ability to use a PS3 controller would have a huge advantage though awkward.
That would be pretty cool and seems like a possibility since it's bluetooth
now someone figure out a way to connect (via BT) to my DS3 and i'll be golden.
Good call.
It'll happen enventually.
rendering 225fps of a postage stamp? i'm not sure if I'm impressed.
You must have some huge postage stamps where you live...
Just sayin'
iphone 2g??
ohhh...preeetty..
Hate my 3G! ...need S in my live :'(
Show me a DS emulator and i'll be impressed.
Nice, thats pretty cool.
MGS4 on IPhone tiem naow?
If they get FF8 running, touchscreen is going to suck for boosting GFs. lol
There is so much more you can do with a GF that you should be worried about.
Those shoulder buttons look like the biggest pain in the ass to press.
That's badass.. and it could be even better. Imagine a small stand for the iPhone (which.. you don't need to imagine, they exist), and a small bluetooth controller (or ps3 pad even) connected wirelessly. Man that'd be bitchin. iPhone guys have done it with keyboards, could probably do it with a controller as well. Kudos, team, PS1 is no small feat at that sort of refresh rate.
Dream scenario:
BT capability to allow pairing of DS3 (possibly multiple)
+TV out cable
You've got cool dreams. I WANT IN!
Can you at least credit ZodTTD in the article, please?
http://www.zodttd.com/blog/
Both the psx4iphone and gpsPhone emulator videos and makers originate from there.
And the quick port of psx to the iphone 3gs is only possible because of his work on the pandora emulator.
A ~600 MHz ARM CPU running a 33 MHz PS1 fluidly? I'm just not that impressed.
I've tried some of the other emulators when I jailbroke my 1g Touch (~400 MHz), and wasn't impressed, even the NES emu had skipping sound issues. With this it is better, but apparently, it takes a 600+ MHz ARM CPU to run a PS1 emu well, whereas my PSP can do it, with one a little over 300 MHz, and I still complain about the lack of real L2 and R2 buttons.
Umm, the PS1 CPU was a 33mhz MIPS R3000. The PSP is a 333mhz MIPS R4000.
The iphone (original and 3g) has an ARM11 CPU clocked at 412mhz, the 3GS has a faster Cortex A9 CPU (still ARM11) at ~600mhz.
Can you spot the difference? Hint: It's a lot simpler to execute MIPS code on a MIPS cpu. Show me a non-MIPS cpu in the 300-400mhz range that can do full-speed PS1 emulation, and _I'll_ be impressed.
As far as the better performance on the 3GS, I'm guessing a lot of it is the 50% CPU speed increase, but also the signifcantly more advanced GPU pipeline that can take some of the heat off the CPU.
You also realize that Sony has insider knowledge on both the PS1 and PSP's architecture, ergo, allowing the PSP to run emulated PS1 code substantially more optimized?
Neah, couldn't be that either.
The emulators are not just emulating the 33 Mhz cpu. It has to emulate *all* of the hardware, which includes the "video card/processor" and that is what requires the most processing power (I believe, not really programmed an emulator before, those guys are awesome). Sound is another intensive task, as is keeping it in sync(?)
It has nothing to do with hardware, and everything to do with proper programming. Keep in mind that these emu's are not made by the game companies, they are made by indy devs. I assure you if someone like Sega wanted to make an emulator for the Genesis or even dreamcast, they could make it happen and work well.
Sony is not going to allow people to legally d/l any of PS1 games on the iphone. They sell PS1 games on the PSN, and they want people to buy either a PSP or a PS3 to play these games.
.
Would be a cool idea, but I think it would cut into their PSP sales.
Does Sony own the game though? Couldn't Square Enix port it to other platforms if they wanted? (I think emulation is out of the picture since Sony can block that legally).
Plus, Sony loses money on their hardware sales. Where they make the money is software. So adding another platform (digital, no less) would only help.
I think.
That screen doesn't look impressive at all. Having more than half the screen taken up by buttons...really?
Agreed. There are plenty of iPhone games that effectively incorporate the controls on the sides of the screen (in landscape mode), giving you most of the screen for the game action itself.
I really like the d-pad on Hero of Sparta, for example.
Right...I don't get why you would have a RPG (which relies on menus and land view) in a portrait mode.
That just didn't make too much sense. I hope they correct this. This would be nice for iPhone users (those who jailbreak at least)
Apple stated at the DEV conference that they're opening things up to hardware that can be linked with app's on the phone. Someone may well come up with an oversized controller with physical buttons that attaches to the iPhone, with the phone in the middle or on top. Maybe even a BlueTooth or dock cable connected controller. Personally I'd never buy it but others might and it would solve the button dilemma. Personally if you really want to do it have the iPhone and a Pandora or similar. Having an iPhone and a controller instead doesn't seem to make an much sense.
That would basically ruin the simplicity and usability of the iPhone.
I'm really not trying to be a "basher" here...but reality is the majority of iPhone users are brain dead when it comes to phone operation. =|
That is why the iPhone sales so beautifully. These people never knew what a smartphone was until Apple used the name. They never knew the big dealings of a phone until the iPhone put it out there. Even now...they are still kind of dumbfounded by the use of the iPhone.
I doubt having to carry around a big controller add-on would be very smart. But eh...what's the old saying.
A sucker born every minute =|
Correction: "sells" instead of "sales" Ugh...that's what I get for looking away from the screen
"the majority of iPhone users are brain dead when it comes to phone operation" - iDavey
Compared to users of *other* phones, who have complete mastery of their devices? Puh-lease.
The reason the iPhone sells is because Apple finally made the smartphone accessible to the masses. I gave my wife my old iPhone when I bought the 3GS. She had a handle on the basic functionality almost immediately. And she didn't have to read a manual to do it. Try that with other "smart" phones.
Which is why WinMo 7 will end up looking (shock!) like the iPhone.
This argument that the iPhone is made for idiots is lame and absurd. Just because your non-Apple smartphone choice is difficult to use doesn't mean it was designed for smart people.
Think Different.
It's funny...because your story still proved my point. I said it in a harsher tone, I admit. But it's still the point..
The iPhone was made for those who couldn't grasp the difficulties associated with prior smartphones.
Take it how you want it...good or bad. I don't see it as anything but good marketing tactics.
A company I always compare with Apple is today's Nintendo.
They chose the simple, less "tech" flaunting road...and look at them. Complete domination of the home and handheld console market.
I guess in "nicer" terms I'm saying...most iPhone users are those who would find a normal smartphone too "complicated" to use.
Which is the truth. If you notice also...a lot of statistics show that people come from Blackberrys or still have one (which Blackberry is the only "simple" smartphone next to iPhone and somewhat Android)
That's just what it is.
I mean...how much simpler can it get than screen+round button+eyesight
Compared to the multiple button layout of WinMo and the tedious layers of menus.
So...my point still stands...
I guess I should just say it "nicer" next time =|
@iDavey Im sorry but thats just not true. All of the hardcore geeks i know use an iPhone except 1 friend who uses a Pre. We like the iphone because it works and i don't have to restart it or pull the battery out every 15 seconds.
One of our employees where i work has a G1 and he has no effing clue how to use anything on it, im constantly having to show him how to do stuff and i don't blame him, id give you more anecdotal evidence but ive never met another person with a G1.
This is the same kind of FUD that goes around about apple computers, When if you really took a Poll id bet more professionals with serious computer skills go apple, due to being able to test or write software for ANY platform on the planet.
Not here to start a flamewar though, just try to calm down on calling all the apple users dumb, cause its just not true, obviously or you wouldn’t read this site that is probably posted to by 99% Apples and certainly runs on a UNIX server (unix is hard).
This post is very confusing. You're talking about two different emulators at the same time.
I'm going to have to assume that the GBA emulator is the one that's running at 150 fps because of this line from the read link, "I now have psx4iphone running very speedy on the 3GS. It’s at the point where Final Fantasy 7 is fullspeed at very least without sound"
So, FF7 runs at 30 fps when you don't have sound enabled. Nothing to get excited about yet.
I was lucky enough to be 1 of the 40 people who got this app through adhoc distribution.
I must say that psx is extremely impressive, but a little buggy. ZodTTD is working on stable builds as we speak, so it can only get better from here. By the way, psx renders at 30-40 fps not 150 and higher.
Technically impressive, but using onscreen controls; dear oh dear.
Real games need real buttons to mash.
Thats freaking cool.
nice!
The fact that I have to post a new comment in a not super popular comments thread just to figure out my user number is ridiculous! I just want a password I can remember... *end whine*
Regardless, I think that having an excellent emulator on my new iPhone 3GS would be fantastic... Unfortunately I'm quite nervous about Jailbreaking it once the information on how is available. :(
I think if Apple is serious about making further ground in the gaming market, it will need to produce an attachable joypad for the iPhone.
It would vastly increase the range of games that would be available. Imagine trying to play a game like Super Mario World on a touch screen. It would be very difficult, given the precise nature of timing for jumps, etc.
I just got hold of a Dingoo A320, which has a SNES emulator (fairly decent too) and it was an absolute joy replaying Mario World and Streets of Rage (also has a Mega Drive/Genesis emulator).
3.5" screen cut in half = kill your eyes.
sweet!
FF7 on iphone
me want
Hmm..time for some old school games for sure now...
How were they even able to install the software to test without the phone being jailbroken?
adhoc distribution
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10115674-233.html
This is quite an exciting time for iPhone 3GS owners!
More preview builds of emulators to come ( GBA and TG16 come to mind ;) )
Thanks everyone and hope to see you at my site!
Apple should just throw a nice joystick in, re-brand it "iPlayStation"
and put in a tag line on the side "now you can make some calls, too."
and BAM. another product on the line.
Hell no. You're better off buying a PSP. It would be cheaper.
But will it run iCrysis?
zodttd got a bunch of people excited by the PSX emulator for the zaurus, and lots of people helped test it and give feedback, some putting in a *lot* of time to help. Not long before the promised release, the devs abandoned the zaurus community without a word of explanation or apology - perhaps they'd tapped everybody sufficiently for free consultancy and went off to do their own thing.
therefore I'd be very careful contributing anything, time or money, to this project.