Emulators running on PS3?

By Rob Fahey Published 20 November, 2006

MAME running on Linux.

Early adopters of the PlayStation 3 have reportedly managed to get a variety of emulators up and running on the system - including hugely popular arcade machine emulator MAME, and a NES emulator, with videos of games such as Super Mario Bros and Pac-Man being posted to YouTube over the weekend.

The emulators are allegedly up and running on Fedora Linux, the Linux operating system which was released for the PlayStation 3 this month, and which is generating plenty of interest from those interested in expanding the multimedia functions of the console.

Admittedly, the videos are dodgy quality, and the Mario video is particularly suspect, since it cuts away at the point when the system reboots. However, we'll give it the benefit of the doubt for now - this seems to be down to bad camerawork more than any kind of subterfuge, since the video is correct in all other respects, right down to the Fedora desktop and the "boot-game-os" command line switch used to boot back into the standard PS3 operating system.

All of which is... Well, a bit obvious really. PS3 runs Linux, emulators are freely available on Linux, therefore it stands to reason that PS3 can run emulators - but there had been some doubt over whether Sony was really about to allow such nefarious activities on its device. Noses are likely to be particularly out of joint at Nintendo and Microsoft over this move, since it effectively means that PS3 owners with a modicum of technical know-how will be able to play (illegal, lest we forget) ROM versions of games which they'd rather sell you, for money, on the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade services.

Sony, for its part, has indicated that its own PlayStation Store download service is going to focus on new, original content and on distributing PSone and PS2 games digitally - so it doesn't really have much to fear from the ROM piracy scene at present, especialy since early mutterings from the beard 'n sandals brigade suggest that one of the technical restrictions on PS3 Linux is that it's not capable of tapping the system's 3D graphics power, without which emulating 3D games would be extremely difficult.

As to why people might choose to play 20 year old games on their PS3 rather than settling down with one of the console's launch titles... Well, the comments thread is right there. Off you go. Play nicely!

Picture of Rob.

About Rob Fahey

Rob Fahey is a former editor of GamesIndustry.biz who spent several years living in Japan and probably still has a mint condition Dreamcast Samba de Amigo set.

Read more articles from Rob by visiting the Rob Fahey archive page.

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Comments (82) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • jiveguy #1 5 years ago

    So it's looking like the PS3 will be the console of choice for pirates. I wonder how long Sony will allow this to continue though.

  • PSegAgesPete #2 5 years ago

    Meh - Retro Rocks! ;)p

  • symmetry #3 5 years ago

    Pity about the no-3D thing, otherwise this would have been a pretty amazing thing, and a HUGE departure from the way that the PSP was strictly controlled.

    I wonder if the extremely clever 'beard and sandals' brigade can find some way of over-coming the no-3D limitation, and whether Sony will change it's tune once they do...

  • Blerk #4 5 years ago

    This is the most interesting thing about the PS3 so far! :-D

  • Shinji #5 5 years ago

    I should add that I have no idea whether this is actually a restriction, as such, or if the Linux distribution just hasn't built support for PS3's 3D hardware yet. I was a developer in the distant past, but the closest I get to wearing sandals these days is tweaking some PHP and then feeling clever for about a week. :)

  • Cappy #6 5 years ago

    I'm guessing any Linux emulator which can use software rendering rather than relying on the graphics card is viable. I'm wondering how Cell would handle the more CPU intensive stuff in MAME though.

    I'm hoping Sony leaves this particular door open, the PS3 would then have far better emulator support than my poor old Mac.

    *edit* Its not 'no 3D' its just software rendering only. Tempest and I, Robot will work in MAME just fine as should later titles like Starblade Alpha.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 12:06

  • gizmo #7 5 years ago

    Sounds interesting.

    MS, re-think you live arcade strategy with regard to selling us 20 year old dross for £3.50 a time.

    New IP, please. (Or Worms)

  • jiveguy #8 5 years ago

    Only pirates who follow the Pirates Code play older games ;)

    I'm talking more about the people who will use some customised linux distro to hook into the PS3 hardware and do what software pirates do best.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 12:05

  • stuarty_2003 #9 5 years ago

    Surely it won't be long until there is a software solution to allow pirated games to run?

  • peterfll #10 5 years ago

    Well, whilst one cannot condone piracy, if it makes MS re-think they're pricing strategy for 25 year old games via Arcade Live! it can be no bad thing.

    The pricing started to look bad when MS started charging £3.40 or thereabouts for each of these games when typically they were bundled from about £1 each on retro collections.

  • mingster #11 5 years ago

    nothing new here...

    all emulators snes, nes, mame, cps2, etc etc.. already work on the PSP.

    so if the PSP can play them well then the PS3 should cope admirably too.

  • rudedudejude #12 5 years ago

    hehe, here come Sony then with their lame firmare updates in exchange for some nonsense feature :)

  • bunglebonce #13 5 years ago

    As to why people might choose to play 20 year old games on their PS3 rather than settling down with one of the console's launch titles...

    The same which could be said of the Other Two.

  • mingster #14 5 years ago

    i dont see how a firmware update will stop programs running under linux unless they disable linux completely .. which they wont.

    its totally different to the kernel mode access that required firmware updates to patch on the PSP

  • Steroyd #15 5 years ago

    I wonder how long Sony will allow this to continue though.

    Sony supports all third party software on their Linux, so i guess Sony will erm... walk away and whistle?

    Until people start pirating PS3 games that is.

  • mingster #16 5 years ago

    yup as long as it doesnt allow sony games to run under linux ..
    (which is a small possibility as there is a PS1 emulator for linux)

    then i very much doubt Sony care at all. They only hated homebrew on the PSP as it also allowed pirated ISO's to run as well.

  • kangarootoo #17 5 years ago

    @stuarty_2003

    "Surely it won't be long until there is a software solution to allow pirated games to run? "

    Emulated in Linux? There would be no point, you might as well emulate the PS3 on a PC (with all the performance woes that would bring you).

  • mingster #18 5 years ago

    umm disc,,, your point is?

    i know the PSP was allowed to run unsigned code in kernal access.

    And i know that linux is limited under PS3..

    so are you agreeing with me saying it wont open up piracy on the PS3..

    or are you saying something else...

  • chupachups #19 5 years ago

    If Sony is losing $300 on every PlayStation 3, they clearly wouldn't want people buying it for software other than their games.

    I suppose the emulator market is very small, but that makes it even more bizarre that they're allowing people to do this.

  • kangarootoo #20 5 years ago

    @Adam_T

    "hehe, here come Sony then with their lame firmare updates in exchange for some nonsense feature"

    What? Have you posted on the wrong thread by accident?

  • Markusdragon #21 5 years ago

    And thus, the market for PS3 games downloaded online collapsed.

  • kangarootoo #22 5 years ago

    @chupachups

    "I suppose the emulator market is very small, but that makes it even more bizarre that they're allowing people to do this."

    One thought just occurred, a question for the Linux heads really?

    I understand that releasing a build of Linux means you fall under certain license agreements. Does that mean that you can't chop it up too much (similar to building a JVM, hence MS getting sued for building a non-compliant one)?

    Perhaps its not a matter of Sony "allowing" this. Maybe it is more a matter of Linux being able to do this and Sony not being allowed to switch things off. For that matter, what would you even switch off? How could you turn off parts of Linux used for emulators, whehn that would break loads of other apps too? Emulators are after all, just applications with a certain objective in mind.

    Coders, harken to me and say clever explanatory things, as clearly I don't really know what I am on about :)

  • Kafeen #23 5 years ago

    I wonder if you can use WinE to play Windows games.

  • MadMirko #24 5 years ago

    Chupachups +1

    Chances are they rely on BluRay movies as a second pillar? That strategy misfired on the PSP, as UMD wasn't adopted by the consumer. Sony is in for a ride if the same happens to BluRay.

  • JHuxley #25 5 years ago

    The GP2X does me fine for all my emulation needs right now, although I admit this could get very interesting depending on how much of the PS3's power these blokes with sandals and beards can tap in to.

  • Muddtallica #26 5 years ago

    Wow...that was bloody quick.

  • Steroyd #27 5 years ago

    And thus, the market for PS3 games downloaded online collapsed.

    That is why Sony is aiming to have lots of Original titles for their Arcade like download service. :-)

  • bavelb #28 5 years ago

    I knew there were nutbags out there spending 600 doller to play pong on their HDTV.... ye gods how sad.

  • attep #29 5 years ago

    I think it's a good idea. Provided Sony are stopping new games running as pirated copies then great. I have a 360 and keep buying stuff from the marketplace (sucker) and paying too much for what it really is. The only exception is Texas Hold 'Em (which was free) and Geometry Wars. None of the other games are worth the price M$ are asking (I have bought them though) and it's good that they will be forced to rethink and start offering them at sensible prices.

    Also with all the talent that modded the original xbox, in many cases able to do more than the 360 can now, this could herald great things for a linux based PS3.

    @EG Where the hell are my Jaffacakes - you said :(

  • bonker #30 5 years ago

    Nintendo and others need to kick the fuck out of Sony in the courts for running their ROMs on sony's machine.

    Boy I'd love to see that happen after Sony's Lik-Sang shit ...

  • Steroyd #31 5 years ago

    it's legal to have ROM's and Emulator as long as you have the physical game.

    ROM's are deemed as backups.

  • L0cky #32 5 years ago

    'no 3D'

    I'm sure that mighty Cell can handle a software renderer for many games.

  • urban #33 5 years ago

    I'm fed up of emulation being called piracy, if you own the roms you're allowed to play them, and i own all the ones i want to play so stop bugging me!

  • bunglebonce #34 5 years ago

    it's legal to have ROM's and Emulator as long as you have the physical game.

    ROM's are deemed as backups.

    Lets not get confused here.

    In the US, this could arguably be the case because of the 'fair use' defence to copyright infringement.

    In the UK, there is no such defence. Copying anything for a back-up is copyright infringement, although it's extremely unlikely any copyright holder is going to take an action against an individual.

  • dadrester #35 5 years ago

    i thinks it's great that sony are allowing alterate OS installs, it shows at least that they're listening to what homebrewers (not pirates) want. Here's hoping the bods who make XBMC do something similar for the PS3. I assume all the network functions are still open to the alternate OS?

  • Rambaldi #36 5 years ago

    All that money and fuss to play a load of old shite eh? Still, better than Gundam :)

  • bavelb #37 5 years ago

    @ disc
    The story was about the running of Mame and the likes. Tbh Im not interested in any retrogaming on any homeconsole (handheld is a tad different). My xbox ran several unused nintendo emulators. I just don't get what's so special about running oldschool stuff on such expensive hardware.

    edit: let me rephrase. the fact that its possible and people have achieved it IS interesting, the fact people actually would use it is beyond me however.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 13:55

  • SeesThroughAll #38 5 years ago

    i thinks it's great that sony are allowing alterate OS installs, it shows at least that they're listening to what homebrewers (not pirates) want.

    Well, access to hardware under alternate OS is limited, so it's not exactly a dream coming true for homebrewers either.
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 13:57

  • Skooch #39 5 years ago

    @ Peterfll

  • Skooch #40 5 years ago

    @ Peterfll

    There is a very simple solution mate, don't buy it if you don't think it's worth the money. :)
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 13:58

  • gamesb*tch #41 5 years ago

    "Noses are likely to be particularly out of joint at Nintendo and Microsoft over this move..."

    Yeah, cos Sony were never planning to sell us rancid old tat via their online services, were they? Actually, looking at some of the PS2 compilations they normally save it up and sell it on a disc!

    /runs away a la Zoidberg
    /whoob whoob whoob

  • sanctusmortis #42 5 years ago

    I would hardly say they're supporting the idea of multiple OS support, but merely having a swipe at MS by trying to steal some of the lucrative PC market... It'll never work, obviously.

    As for allowing such stuff to run on their machines, I doubt their publisher associates are happy with such ideas. It's only a matter of time to someone doing an RSX driver and making Sony very red in the face.

    On the bright side, no need to "chip" your machine...

  • Steroyd #43 5 years ago

    and they all come out to play. :)

  • bavelb #44 5 years ago

    Dont see that happening tbh. VC titles on the Wii won't use the wiimote either on a general basis. Which sucks, becuase OOT with wiimote could turn out sweet.

  • mingster #45 5 years ago

    i never had to 'chip' my xbox to play emulators either.

  • Virvel #46 5 years ago

    Sure emulators will work. Whats the big deal? This is just as expected. I see the inclusion of Linux in PS3 as having two main reasons:

    - Sony make Linux possible in order to get the PS3 approved as a computer in the EU, thus having less taxes applied to it.
    - Linux is a serious threath to Microsoft worldwide. Sony will use it to upset Microsoft :) Look at OpenOffice, its free and you can load/save Word and Excel documents.

    How ironic it will be, reading/writing Microsoft word and excel files on your PS3 :)

    GOOD NEWS!!

  • doctor__no #47 5 years ago

    Some Japanese guy even got Windows XP running in Linux on the PS3 via QEMU.

    [link url=http://xs20 9.xs.to/xs209/06471/xp_ps3.png
    ]http://xs20 9.xs.to/xs209/06471/xp_ps3.png
    [/link]

    [link url=http://www.b eyond3d.com/forum/showpo...4&postcount=30
    ]http://ww w.beyond3d.com/forum/showpo...4...[/link]

    http://rian.s26.xrea.com/

  • Wobble #48 5 years ago

    So much for the DRM crusade they're trying to champion with all this HDMI hardware limiting wank... I guess the only digital rights they're interested in protecting are their own or those they profit from...

    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 15:24

  • mkreku #49 5 years ago

    Wow.. I could see myself having LOTS of fun tampering with the Playstation 3 Linux..

    BUT I WON'T BECAUSE I AM BOYCOTTING THE PS3 FOR BEING DELAYED IN EUROPE.

    Let's see how long I last :|

  • Steroyd #50 5 years ago

    - Sony make Linux possible in order to get the PS3 approved as a computer in the EU, thus having less taxes applied to it.

    Jesus Christ do i have jump ontop of Mount Everest and scream.

    THE EU ABOLISHED TAX ON CONSOLES LAST YEAR!!

    That means the Wii and Xbox 360 don't get taxed either.

  • crazyhorse174 #51 5 years ago

    Linux is not a serious threat to Windows.

    Most people who use Linux at home, only do so because they have some personal vendetta against Microsoft for the prices they charge for their operating systems, and so run Linux because they can get it for free.

    The fact that there is hardly any software support for it and that its murder to use, doesn't seem to phase them much...They're just happy to be getting something for nothing and getting one over on Mr Gates!

  • SeesThroughAll #52 5 years ago

    The fact that there is hardly any software support for it and that its murder to use, doesn't seem to phase them much...

    Bullshit.

  • chupachups #53 5 years ago

    "It's a bit like Apple allowing people to run Windows on their computers."

    It's not like that at all though, that's my point.

    Apple make their computer-related profits almost entirely from people buying their computers, because the computers are sold at a profit. If someone buys an Apple to run Windows software, that's money in Apple's pocket. It's the same thing with the iPods, they're sold at a profit so Apple doesn't care what people do with them.

    The PS3 is sold at a $300 loss (a $400 loss in Japan), but Sony hopes to make at least some of its money back from people buying official Sony games and Sony downloads.

    If someone buys a PS3 to run Linux software, that's $300 that Sony's lost, so why would they allow someone to use the PS3 as a Linux computer if they have no way of making money from that situation?
    Edited by 1 at 20/11/06 @ 16:08

  • chupachups #54 5 years ago

    "chupachups: You are funny."

    For wondering why Sony allows Linux to run on the PS3?

  • mingster #55 5 years ago

    /i"The fact that there is hardly any software support for it and that its murder to use, doesn't seem to phase them much...They're just happy to be getting something for nothing and getting one over on Mr Gates!"/i

    rubbish... download UBUNTU its free easy to install. All the extra apps are easy to install from a simple add/remove menu that checks the net and installs everything for you. You can try it by booting from a CD without even installing it.

    I use it at work and haven't bothered loading xp in ages. It comes with open office all preinstalled opens word. excell powerpoint etc.. an email prog that s identical to outlook.. firefox etc..

    Program wise theres most of the same programs that are available on XP and using CEDEGA you can get loads of XP games working as well. ALso VMWARE loads XP, VISTA, etc.. in a virtual partition on your Hard drive under Linux.

    So i think you are misinformed im afraid

  • SeesThroughAll #56 5 years ago

    chupachups: Why would anyone pay 600 euros for a machine that will only run Linux? Might just as well buy cheaper PCs. No, running Linux on the PS3 is an extra, but no big deal, really.

  • mingster #57 5 years ago

    They 'allow' it to run because its actually possible to run linux or varients of it on virtually anything.

    It runs on the GP32, an IPOD, the XBOX, a PC, a dreamcast, a MAC..

    GNU has always been used on the PS1+2 as a programming environment by developers

    therfore it wasn't exactly much work to get it running on the PS3.
    IBM released some specs on thats all they needed...
    SONY have kept access to parts of its hardware off limits though just incase.

  • Glitch #58 5 years ago

    lol im just waiting for hackers to start chipping the PS3 and everyone gets free games! Now that will be interesting!

  • Danj #59 5 years ago

    PS3 + 120Gb 2.5" HDD + USB 2.0 TV tuner + MythTV = awesome DVR/HTPC.

  • SeesThroughAll #60 5 years ago

    They 'allow' it to run because its actually possible to run linux or varients of it on virtually anything.

    Ok, I think that what most people mean by "allowing" is that any user can easily install it, without voiding his/her warranty, contrary to what happened with most examples you cited.

  • chupachups #61 5 years ago

    "Why would anyone pay 600 euros for a machine that will only run Linux? Might just as well buy cheaper PCs. No, running Linux on the PS3 is an extra, but no big deal, really."

    Fair point, but why have Linux at all? Microsoft has made a fair bit of cash from selling various bits and bobs through Live and Sony have similar plans... why threaten those with an OS that lets people load their own games and apps?

    Come to think of it, Sony talked about selling emulated games through their online service. If someone's running them for free on Linux that's money that Sony's lost, at least in theory, so why is Sony encouraging this?

    I suppose Sony might have had in mind trying to make the PS3's price seem more reasonable because perhaps some people would think about it more like a PC than a console if they knew it could run Linux apps. Still seems a bit desperate though, as you say no one would buy a PS3 primarily as a computer, especially if Linux can only access a limited portion of the hardware.


    "They 'allow' it to run because its actually possible to run linux or varients of it on virtually anything. "

    I wasn't surprised that someone could run linux on the PS3, I was surprised to hear Sony officially sanctioning it because I can't see how it helps their massive losses at all.

  • mingster #62 5 years ago

    i see what you mean now..

    nope they won't make any money out of linux at all.

    But they might sell a few extra PS3's as its available as an 'extra'.

    Then again as they lose money supposedly on hardware then any extra sales = more money lost.

    /hmm no win situation.

    But yes you are right they won't make any money of software from linux. Its all free!!

  • crazyhorse174 #63 5 years ago

    Geez...al I do is give my opinion of Linux and someone takes offence! I don't like Linux - I cant help that!

    And I have used it before - my laptop at home is dual booting XP Pro/Fedora Core, although I never use Fedora. I appreciate that its free and that there is free software available for it, but it doesn't have the support that Windows has - I don't think anyone can argue with that? (Although I'm sure someone will try...)

    At the end of the day, if it was so great, wouldnt more places use it? Offices, schools, unis, etc, where people are on a budget? Why choose to pay for software, when a free alternative is available?

    I'll probably get replies of "Windows is distributed with new PC's, so people dont havea choice", or "Most people dont know any better", or even "Bill Gates has brainwashed people to buy his products", but at the end of the day, if people *really* wanted to use Linux to save money, they would install it and train their users to be able to work with it properly.

  • mingster #64 5 years ago

    lol .. offices, schools, hospitals, uni's etc... do use it. Not all of them but a percentage.
    What percentage exactly i don't know admitidly its small but they do.

    A large portion of ISP's use it to run web/mail servers on though. Higher than Windows servers.

    It has great support for the apps that are native to its OS. I've never had a problem finding info on getting a program to work on it. Getting Windows apps running on it is not easy obviously but just install VMWARE thats sorts it.

    /o btw dump fedora install UBUNTU its much easier to use and nicer.

  • BootLace #65 5 years ago

    "In the US, this could arguably be the case because of the 'fair use' defence to copyright infringement.

    In the UK, there is no such defence. Copying anything for a back-up is copyright infringement, although it's extremely unlikely any copyright holder is going to take an action against an individual. "

    Wrong, UK copyright law has an exclusion allowing the backing up of computer programs.
    [link url=http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_ uk_copyright_law
    ]http://ww w.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyri...[/link]

  • bunglebonce #66 5 years ago

    Very good.


    296A.-(1) Where a person has the use of a computer program under an agreement, any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prohibit or restrict-

    (a) the making of any back up copy of the program which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of the agreed use;


    I take it this is the section of the CDPA you're on about? It would take a shit-hot lawyer to argue that it's necessary to back up a computer game ROM for the purposes of the agreed use of the game.

    I don't normally like to do this, but Wrong.

  • old_skool #67 5 years ago

    Most people who use Linux at home, only do so because they have some personal vendetta against Microsoft for the prices they charge for their operating systems, and so run Linux because they can get it for free.

    Now that really is a crazy statement to make . Many people use Linux for different uses such as webserver , mailserver , proxy , pabx , voip gateways , dvr , simulations , cluster computing , anything you can think of really . It's probably running that router you're using . The internet is build on the Unix operating systems .It's far more stable and secure than windows , it's scalable and generally the programs are portable to various architectures . Having the option of running Linux on the PS3 is a nice bonus . What you can do with it is limited to your own imagination .

  • davisorle #68 5 years ago

    Sony themselves boosted piracy in Europe since Ps1 and who makes you think that if they didn't want piracy and specially with emulator working on their system it was that hard to prevent? Or at least they could put some minor security in their system to pretend that they tried to avoid it. I mean get reals. Sony is counting on piracy. I would think the same way. "Console so expensive...The games as well... I don't think that even if I get the money to buy a PS3 I'll be able to buy tittles and enjoy it..." But I CAN! I can get burned games and play so much crap on emulators on a ps3! Well, Sony sucks cause they can't be more obvious. Their console just came out. You think that piracy wont be available really soon on PS3 or what?

    Gizmo: Dude... MS what is doing is legal. The emulators that they are talking about on PS3 are illegal... Just make a smart comment someone. Please

  • IronGiant #69 5 years ago

    "So it's looking like the PS3 will be the console of choice for pirates. I wonder how long Sony will allow this to continue though."

    Errr no, the 360 is already the pirates choice as backups are readily available and 360 drives are easily flashed. In fact Gears of War was available for download about a week before it went on sale.. ive heard of loads and i mean loads of people who have recently bought 360's to be modified.

  • BartonFink #70 5 years ago

    True but it looks like it's gonna be much much easier on PS3.

  • BootLace #71 5 years ago

    @bunglebonce: You stated "Copying anything for a back-up is copyright infringement", this is incorrect.

  • NegativeZero #72 5 years ago

    Everyone realises that this is all just a tax dodge, right? By getting the system effectively classed as a 'computer' they avoid an extra tax in the USA... They tried it with the PS2 linux as well, but I don't think that worked in the end.

  • bunglebonce #73 5 years ago

    @bunglebonce: You stated "Copying anything for a back-up is copyright infringement", this is incorrect.

    As a general rule it's not.

    Section 16(2) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 states:

    (2) Copyright in a work is infringed by a person who without the licence of the copyright owner does, or authorises another to do, any of the acts restricted by the copyright.

    Which, according to your link, does not allow backing-up. Except for computer programs in generally commercial terms.

    None of the exceptions to s16(2) are related to personal use, which is the context of the article and therefore this argument. That is reason I said "anything" at the time.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/06 @ 01:31

  • mingster #74 5 years ago

    ffs theres some extremely wrong comments here!

    emulators arent illegal .. having roms you dont own is though.

    classing a console as a computer for a tax dodge doesnt apply anymore its been scrapped.

    sony dont approve of piracy why do you think they keep revising firmwares and modified the motherboards on the PS2 so many times. They try and stop it but the hackers are good. They just make it difficult.

    If microsoft with all their security and programming xpertise couldnt stop it then sony arent going to be able to either. they just have to try as best they can.

    linux isnt going to open up piracy its crippled by not having full access to the internal hardware. Until some clever hacker rewrites its core to access these components. (Which is a possibility) But its not a pirates dream out of the box.

    they are relying on software and blueray dvd sales to begin with they dont want it copied, if you think they do your insane.

  • BootLace #75 5 years ago

    "50A Back up copies
    (1) It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer
    program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.
    (2) For the purposes of this section and sections 50B, 50BA and 50C a person is a lawful user of a computer program if (whether under a licence to do any acts restricted by the copyright in the program or otherwise), he has a right to use the program."

    I understood this to allow a person with the right to use a program, to be able to back that program up, but I'm not a lawyer.

  • ratso #76 5 years ago

    is it actually possible that drivers could be created for the gpu??? if the hardware is locked out what good are drivers? Please explain your ideas?

    yellow dog linux, due for release soon, has full hardware access according to the devs

  • bunglebonce #77 5 years ago

    50A Back up copies
    (1) It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer
    program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.

    I think necessary is the key word here which would make this section irrelevant for you & I, and more suited towards educational purposes & in a business.

  • SeesThroughAll #78 5 years ago

    Looks like by now the PlayStation3 has all the ingredients for being the next Dreamcast.

    - Expensive hardware? Check.

    - Easy to pirate? Check.

    - Losing third party support? Check.

  • old_skool #79 5 years ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    So what's your point ? PS3 is teh d00m3d ?

  • SeesThroughAll #80 5 years ago

    I hope not, but unfortunately all signs indicate so.

  • kangarootoo #81 5 years ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    I guess "all the signs" don't include things like people queing down the streets to buy onein Japan and the US, or the hugely inflated prices of those seen on eBay in Europe?

  • SeesThroughAll #82 5 years ago

    Nothing to do, no. The Dreamcast selled well in the first months too.