All-in-One PC modder

[Dubzer]

Right the easiest way to state this is to start with the truth.

I'm considering a project for a course at college and need to source the most amount of information as possible.

The theory is that hardware aside the firmware an such stuffs from a games console can be replicated on the PC to allow a PC to play game console software titles.

�

IS it possible, if not how can it be made possible...............

[kasavien]

I don't know much about the why but i'm almost certain that the answer is going to be no you can't replicate a console with PC components. My reasoning would be that the hardware architecture is fundamentally different to a PC, take the processor for example, the processor will use an x86 architecture and will be able to process a certain instruction set, whereas the cell processor in the PS3 uses a different architecture (Power Architecture) which uses a different instruction set. Other issues you would face would be things like reading discs etc.

The only way you could possibly get the games working would be under emulation, which would be incredibly slow and probably highly illegal.

Hope that helps and hopefully someone will give you better information for the "why" than i can.

Andy

Edit: On the other hand you would be able to build a PC that could render better graphics than a PS3 or an XBOX360 using equivalent PC games but it would cost a hell of a lot of money.

[b0redom]

To be honest, if you're asking this question, writing the software is probably beyond you.

In order to get the console games running on a PC, you would need to write some software which interprets the console code, and then translates it from native console code to the underlying OS (presumably Windows in your case).

This sort of stuff is possible, eg. Apples are able to run PowerPC architecture code on Intel, or Amiga on PC with WinUAE etc but is pretty complex.

If you're still considering it, have a look at the MAME source code.

[DDY]

In other words you need to write a software emulator, it has been done but there hasn't been a single emulator on the PC capable of emulating sixth gen consoles onwards (e.g. PS2, Xbox 360) well enough to replace the consoles or even come close to it.

Unless you have mad software writing skills your project has hit a 8 meter thick brick wall.

But, you can go back in time. Emulators for fifth gen (e.g. PSX, N64) consoles have enjoyed some success and emulators for fourth gen and less (e.g. Megadrive, MAME) have been emulated almost perfectly.

[directhex]

you absolutely do not have the level of technical skill required to write an emulator, regardless of generation, based on the questions.

also, you're banned 1 week for spamming

[Thorsson]

I thought that the XBox was built on X86 architecture?

[DDY]

I thought that the XBox was built on X86 architecture?

It is, the Xbox uses a Pentium III CPU. As it runs x86 it's possible to port software from the PC to the Xbox!

[Thorsson]

I felt someone had to have tried emulating the Xbox, and I found a site:
Cxbx, The Xbox Emulator -> News
obviously didn't get completed, but it seems from what I read that it is feasible.

[Dreaming]

One of my friends is doing a compsci project about something totally different, but it sheds some light.

I can't remember, but basically rather than having all the calculations done by software, your have the PC interpret it, then send it to a hardware calculator that is set up for the calculations, churn it through and get the output. Apparently it's tonnes tonnes tonnes faster. I don't remember any of the specifics though!

And therein lies the problem. Consoles are designed specifically to run games. They receive instructions in a format that runs through the hardware very nicely. A PC is completely different. To transform it, you need some kind of software layer to do all the translation, and in performance terms it's never ever going to be as good as pure hardware. So to get similar performance you can't go current gen, only 2 or so generations back.

Basically. I'm not a compsci though (Management student... lol - I just learn bits of everything from everyone ).

It's possible but problems of performance and interpretation means that performance on similar level technology (i.e. 2007 console vs. 2007 PC) the console (hardware implementation) will always beat the emulation on a PC (software implementation).

[-iceblade^]

such emulators do exist; scummvm is one such emulator... i think there are also gameboy ones for symbian / java and pocket PC (windows ce 3 if i'm not mistaken)

[directhex]

such emulators do exist; scummvm is one such emulator... i think there are also gameboy ones for symbian / java and pocket PC (windows ce 3 if i'm not mistaken)

scummvm isn't an emulator, it's a reimplementation of a game engine

[Dubzer]

So now after a pathetic ban has expired.
I've been doing some research i've found a PS2 emulator it runs slow but the fact is its in exsitence.
Its called PCSX so now that the idea that its not possible to run an emulator for a post 4th gen console on the net is blowen out of the water how about helping me to find a way to create new boundries instead of conforming to the old ones?


PS must appreciate all the response's giving me a reason to continue researching for this hell of a project so THANK YOU!!

[Dubzer]

Ah Dreaming I was wondering if its not to much to ask if i could get a copy of your mates compsci project please
No matter the answer thanx

[Betty_Swallocks]

Just looking at the problem from a different angle there used to be a PC available that had Playstation hardware built in so you could switch between the two.

Not emulation but genuine console hardware in the same box and using the same DVD, monitor and sound output.

It didn't take off but it was an interesting idea.

[DDY]

So now after a pathetic ban has expired.
I've been doing some research i've found a PS2 emulator it runs slow but the fact is its in exsitence.
Its called PCSX so now that the idea that its not possible to run an emulator for a post 4th gen console on the net is blowen out of the water how about helping me to find a way to create new boundries instead of conforming to the old ones?


PS must appreciate all the response's giving me a reason to continue researching for this hell of a project so THANK YOU!!

Have you not read my posts? :

"Emulators for fifth gen (e.g. PSX, N64) consoles have enjoyed some success and emulators for fourth gen and less (e.g. Megadrive, MAME) have been emulated almost perfectly."

"it has been done but there hasn't been a single emulator on the PC capable of emulating sixth gen consoles onwards (e.g. PS2, Xbox 360) well enough to replace the consoles or even come close to it"

Your idea is still in the water, infact 3000 meters below surface and chained to a 300 ton anchor.

[b0redom]

Dubzer,
Assuming that you're not a troll. What language are you proposing to write your emulator in? It would help if you were a little more specific on the level of coding you already have.

Have you tried to compile MAME from source? That will very quickly give you and idea of what you'll be letting yourself in for (and someone has already done most of the hard work for you!)