RE: PSX 2 dvd's

["Idahosa I. Edokpayi" <stealth_ninja@geocities.com>]

It looks like consoles have finally caught up to PC's.... Driver problems :)

Idahosa Edokpayi

-----Original Message-----
From: gameprogrammer-owner@gameprogrammer.com
[mailto:gameprogrammer-owner@gameprogrammer.com]On Behalf Of
laguna@fortress.ourmag.com
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 12:19 PM
To: gameprogrammer@gameprogrammer.com
Subject: RE: PSX 2 dvd's


Hi Idahosa,

Actually, there's nothing wrong with the hardware. The DVD handling
portion is stored in a DVD driver program on the memory card which can be
changed/upgraded/modified/etc as needed. Probably the reason why Magic
Gate was created, to prevent or make it harder to hack those drivers to
do.. er.. other things. ;)

As for programming the PSX2 being tricky, yes, that will be the case.
Since the programmers will have to work close to the metal to get that
divine level of performance and in essence, they will be working with
parallel execution type code which is very hairy. ^_^; Or so some
developers have said. :p

I'm still waiting for that demo dev kit that the postcard from SNsystems
said was coming. ^_-

But it isn't hardware that's messed up with PSX2, but the drivers. And
that can be easily fixed(relatively speaking) with driver updates onto the
memory card.

What interests me is whether there is any real difference between a
Japanese PSX2 and an American PSX2 since the one I have has both english
and japanese language support built in. :)

Oh well, gotta go. :| Work.

Wing.

On Sun, 2 Apr 2000, Idahosa I. Edokpayi wrote:

> Hmm, the thing is that developing PSX 2 stuff is so pricey... :( I want it
> so bad...... ARGGGGHHH back to the good old *cheap* pc. No use coding for
a
> pricey machine that doesn't work right *yet* I feel as if the thing has
been
> rushed and that Sony will need some time to fix it. I alos think a lot of
> developers are going to be embarassed at their inability to squeeze
maximum
> performance out of it. I have been told PSX 2 coding is very tricky.
>
> Idahosa Edokpayi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gameprogrammer-owner@gameprogrammer.com
> [mailto:gameprogrammer-owner@gameprogrammer.com]On Behalf Of
> laguna@fortress.ourmag.com
> Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2000 4:50 PM
> To: gameprogrammer@gameprogrammer.com
> Subject: Re: PSX 2 dvd's
>
>
> Hi Idahosa,
>
> Hmm.. it can play the US dvd's, but not all DVD's work all the time. Some
> won't work at all. :| But I'm sure that that will be fixed with a driver
> upgrade. :)
>
> I'm using the v1.0 J-PSX2 driver utility cd, so the region one playback
> will work... (stick normal psx controller in first socket, hold the
> directional up, turn on psx2, pop in Region 1 dvd. It should play or
> attempt to play).
>
> The only game I've played on it is Ridge Racer 5.. which I have to admit
> is very.. immersive. But the problem is that it doesn't handle saving to
> the cartridge correctly... ie, it will corrupt the dvd drivers and will
> require a "reorganization" from the utility disk which won't erase
> anything, but will fix the problem.
>
> I've seen the drum beat game at the store where I bought it, and that
> looks pretty cool, but they aren't really making full use of the
> capabilities of the PSX2 yet. I'm waiting for the Squaresoft titles to
> come out. ^_-
>
> The generation one games will run on it. I've only tested the Japanese
> Generation one games.. Final Fantasy 8 and Kodelka. Both run on the
> machine just fine. Though if you do a soft reset, I've noticed that FF8
> and the PSX2 freaks out a bit.
>
> I was able to turn the menu systems from Japanese to english so it will
> work fine. The utility disk is also a 90 page digital manual. :) So that's
> pretty cool. But it's completely in Japanese.
>
> I dunno, would be great if I could hook up something to it to do some
> hacking, but that's gonna be later. ^_^;;
>
> As for the price and the place I got it from, they are shipping in about
> 15 jPSX2's every week or two and I was first in the list of pre-orders. :)
> I paid about $899 for it though. That's for one main unit, one controller,
> and one game. Very pricey... and definitely not worth it if you don't have
> access to imports. ^_^;;
>
> I think the hardware definitely kicks ass.. but without a game to tap it's
> power, it will be a bit disappointing.
>
> Btw, the 8meg card with the magic gate. It is were your DVD software
> drivers are stored, so I think it's only a matter of time before someone
> figures out how to write up a DVD-region anywhere player software for it.
> ;)
>
> I'm just waiting for someone to write up a driver to let it run Linux via
> the card and use the usb or pcmcia card slot to hook up a 10/100 nic. >:)
>
> The thing has two usb ports, one firewire, one pcmcia(in back), two
> controller ports and two memory card ports.
>
> It's as cool as it looks on the websites. :) Can't wait to see what get's
> changed in the US version though. ^_^;
>
> Hope that answers your question about the PSX2.
>
> I'm wondering where I can pickup a dev kit.. or how I can get stuff to
> boot from the mem card...
>
> Oh well. :)
>
> Now I really wish I had accepted that PSX2 game dev offer instead of my
> current network job offer. :p Oh well. ^_^
>
> Btw, as for the intro's on RR5, all of it is real-time render and not
> streamed from the disc, which is cool. But as I said before, without
> software to take advantage of the hardware, it will currently perform
> pretty much around the quality of a dreamcast.
>
> The machine also has an internal clock and PSX-1 game enhancements like CD
> speed read changes and texture smoothing. All menu's in the PSX2 are 3d
> transparent cubes with refraction going on, so there's quite a bit of eye
> candy.
>
>
> So short answer to your questions: Yes, I have experienced some problems.
> $899 is what I paid for mine. And yes, it does kick ass. Just need the
> right software.
>
> Heading out the door now to get some lunch. -_- Too bad I can't cook. :p
>
> Wing.
>
> On Sun, 2 Apr 2000, Idahosa I. Edokpayi wrote:
>
> > By the way Laguna, have you experienced any of the DVD problems I have
> heard
> > about? How much did you pay for your PSX 2, and most importantly off all
> > does it kick ***?
> >
> > Idahosa Edokpayi
>
>
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