Multiplayer PSOne gameplay emulated over WiFi-linked PSPs

A hacker called "AhMan" has created a software mod that enables two PSPs to play PSOne games over an adhoc WiFi connection, although apparently this software is in early development -- really, when isn't this kind of hack? For now the evidence is a YouTube video showing a pair of PSPs playing synchronized two player PSOne games, so we'll have to give them to benefit of the doubt that it's actually legit. If it is, you should be able to procure the software required within a reasonable amount of time: if you're willing, of course, to jump through the usual series of firmware related hoops to get there.

[King T @ Sep 23rd 2007 8:43AM]

Hahaha alright!!!

[Jonathan Keim @ Sep 23rd 2007 9:02AM]

Sony needs to get on the ball. Here you have these 'regular' guys comming up with all these cool ideas that would increase PSP sales, and yet Sony just shuts them down.

Weird.

[ssuk @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:15AM]

Could just be that emulation for PSP games was lifted from an already exsisting PSone emulator on the internet, it's not uncommon, SEGA has been using a modified version of the Gens Megadrive emulator in games such as Sonic Mega Collection and seems to be using a butchered variation of Gens in the SEGA Vintage Collection (360, PSP, PS2) so it can use external sound files, output memory addresses, etc. As a result of them doing that, the emulator didn't factor in WiFi internet multiplayer and there wasn't a viable way to send data over the WiFi. Of course, some braniac on the end user side spent his time getting around the problem, which if Sony had done probably would have cost them a bomb and well over budget.
I can see them speaking to this guy and getting WiFi multiplayer installed for the next firmware update... I put THAT much confidence in Sony, at least.

[alex @ Oct 21st 2007 10:54PM]

I totally agree. Although it's pretty much the same on ALL consoles. Backwards compatibility sure, but the should really start making their own emulators for their own systems. Nintendo DS could have added an N64 emulator that would have boosted their sales a ton for all of those old school gamers out there.

[Carl @ Sep 23rd 2007 9:04AM]

At first I thought it was a simulated PSone to PSone system link hack when I first read this.
All I could think was, "What games really used the system link option?".

But this is much cooler.

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 23rd 2007 9:27AM]

First of all, emulating PS games doesn't interest me because the PSP's control scheme is painfully thin compared to the PS controller which had the L2 and R2 button + another analog stick.

I can't play Colony Wars on my PSP using emulation and I can't enjoy a game like WARHAWK (PS)

Homebrew on the PSP is best done to play NES, SUPER NES and GENESIS games.

I live in NYC and there are a couple Chinatown game places that Mod xbox and PS2's so you can play bootleggs.

They sold me a Japan released PSP with a 1 Gigabyte PRO DUO CARD that had NES, Genesis, Super NES and TurboGraphyx16 games preloaded.

An I have some fantastic games on it. Bonk Adventure, Soldier Blade, Dead Mooon, all of the super mario games on NES and SNES... all the METROIDS, all the original Metal Gear Solids and a bunch of other games like ALL of the Contra games and all of the Final Fantasies.

The game play is PERFECT since those systems only had 4 action buttons maximum and the SNES only needs two shoulder buttons.

This is not big news to many modders but for $200 I wash extremely impressed.

That is why I love the PSP. The flexibility.

If anybody is interested in buying one - look in NYC locals for GOLDEN YIP on Canal Street.

[ibrahim @ Sep 23rd 2007 9:51AM]

advertise much?

[ssuk @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:17AM]

Fair cop on the L2 and R2 buttons, however the PS1 did start out with no analouge sticks...

[jonathan @ Sep 23rd 2007 11:39AM]

Haha I live in NYC and was just about to put "where!?"

[Drew @ Sep 23rd 2007 9:56AM]

I used to never use my PSP, then one day I decided to jump into the homebrew scene, and now I use my PSP almost daily! It's incredible what you can do on it. The PS1 games do sometimes have bad control schemes because of the lack of buttons, but to be able to play games like Spyro and Crash Bandicoot in full speed just bring back great memories.

[Mindfield @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:48AM]

Pretty cool idea, and it seems to work quite well, too.

[Michael Mendoza @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:57AM]

I'm amazed with what the PSP can do. I bought one about 6 months ago after I gave my DS to my little brother. I have a 4GB and 2GB card and I love playing older games. I have all 3 discs of my 4GB of Final Fantasy VII and it runs perfectly. I love the fact that I can play it any time I want!! If only Sony sped things up a bit....

[peter @ Sep 23rd 2007 3:38PM]

whens the psp slim coming out in the US?
do the PSP's play PS1 games at full speed/frame
what other portable devices play ps1 games at good speed?

[Darren Tilley @ Sep 24th 2007 12:34AM]

1. Already can buy them
2. Yes, the majority of PS1 games play perfectly or with small issues
3. Some high end PocketPCs have a proof-of-concept PS1 emulator, but not too much is actually playable yet. Currently the PSP is the best, and sorta only, way of emulating PS1 on the move. Bar a ultraportable laptop.