It's time for another edition of "They Did What?" Okay, so it's the first and only edition (so far), but this is pretty darn cool. We're talking about nullDC PSP, the first Sega Dreamcast emulator for PSP. It's the creation of nullDC (a Dreamcast emulator for PC) author "drkIIRaziel" and has just recently gotten to the point where it loads and runs Shenmue ... at, oh, one frame per second. (With games taking 20-30 minutes to load.)
Still, the prospect of walking around with a "DC Pocket" is definitely appealing. Let's hope for the sake of those who'd use it to play games they legally own that Sony's rumored new PSP-3000 doesn't make a mess of the hombrew scene with potential new anti-piracy measures.
Hopefully, this first step will lead to something amazing...
Though, my hopes aren't too high. PSP even chokes a bit on playing Super NES games. Well, that's only due to the "best" emulator being a port of SNES9x to PSP... and I don't think the code is very well optimized (my guess, anyways; never looked at the code). If it were an original emulator written specifically for PSP, with optimized code, it'd probably run great (the CPS2 emulator works excellent; On my PSP-1K, it can run games like MvC1 at full speed with very few issues).
I think making a Naomi emulator would be easier instead, Naomi is the arcade board that ran Marvel Vs Capcom 2, along with other Dreamcast games like Power Stone, Capcom vs SNK 2, etc.
Even then, I think its impossible on the PSP.
I'm amazed at what we have right now, what amazing talent!
There's no way this will ever be functional at all. The Dreamcast was actually a bit MORE powerful than the PS2 in terms of raw power. The PSP is actually a tad bit less powerful than the PS2.
No one should get their hopes up for anything even remotely functional to come from this.
It's functioning right now.. Can't you see the video? Doesn't seem like you know much about emulation.. I admit that I don't but I have been reading the nulldc forums about it. The system requirements for nulldc is much lower than PCSX2 (ps2 emu). I don't think nulldc has dual core implemented into it and it's already running great on lower end pcs. That said, what makes you think that DreamCast has more power?
umm, actually the PS2 was significantly more powerful than the DC. and PS2 is slightly more powerful than PSP, although PSP has its advantages like native progressive resolution versus interlaced PS2 games.
now go ahead and quote DC games that looked better than launch/early PS2 games you noob.
i hope the 64MB ram of the PSP Slim is sufficient enough to get a working emulator going. PSP controls are even perfect for DC games (one analog stick, 2 shoulder buttons). if not, well then we can only hope that Sony ups the ram on PSP-3000 to 96MB.
I Don't want to be pessimist, but Like other people have stated, full speed emulation its impossible. I think I read somewhere that to be able to emulate hardware perfectly well the current system must be 5~10 times more powerful, in terms of CPU speed and RAM, than the one being emulated.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Saria the Cat @ Jul 29th 2008 1:11AM
Whoa, it took a while before I could wrap my head around that headline.
GIMcFly @ Jul 29th 2008 11:10AM
This statement is made even funnier due to the fact that Ryo doesn't have a head in the video.
BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 29th 2008 1:11AM
Hopefully, this first step will lead to something amazing...
Though, my hopes aren't too high. PSP even chokes a bit on playing Super NES games. Well, that's only due to the "best" emulator being a port of SNES9x to PSP... and I don't think the code is very well optimized (my guess, anyways; never looked at the code).
If it were an original emulator written specifically for PSP, with optimized code, it'd probably run great (the CPS2 emulator works excellent; On my PSP-1K, it can run games like MvC1 at full speed with very few issues).
Still, it's a nice proof of concept.
ben @ Jul 29th 2008 2:05AM
I think he's going to need an overclocked, water-cooled psp.
the_insider @ Jul 29th 2008 1:15AM
Does this mean there is a chance of a 5fps DC emulator on the Pandora? It's hardware seems to be closer to the DC's than the PSP... ;)
Emophia @ Jul 29th 2008 5:24AM
What's a Pandora?
Young_Nastyman @ Jul 29th 2008 8:21AM
Clive Winston is better
the_insider @ Jul 29th 2008 12:54PM
www.openpandora.org check it out...
gir @ Jul 29th 2008 1:18AM
Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! My dreams of playing MVC2 on the PSP might come true!!!!
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 29th 2008 1:20AM
I think making a Naomi emulator would be easier instead, Naomi is the arcade board that ran Marvel Vs Capcom 2, along with other Dreamcast games like Power Stone, Capcom vs SNK 2, etc.
Even then, I think its impossible on the PSP.
I'm amazed at what we have right now, what amazing talent!
BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 29th 2008 2:11AM
Uhh.... Naomi IS a Dreamcast. But, like, with twice the RAM. If anything, it'd be HARDER to emulate than Dreamcast.
jusama14 @ Jul 29th 2008 1:26AM
it runs at that speed with little to no optimization... keep in mind this will only be on the slim psp
gir @ Jul 29th 2008 1:31AM
Nooo, what about the fat one. They can't just dump the brick. It has so many uses....like banging someone's head with it.
jusama14 @ Jul 29th 2008 3:05AM
lol, the drkrazi said himself that the fat one doesn't have enough ram etc. So it's highly unlikely.
Nacho @ Jul 29th 2008 1:35AM
There's no way this will ever be functional at all. The Dreamcast was actually a bit MORE powerful than the PS2 in terms of raw power. The PSP is actually a tad bit less powerful than the PS2.
No one should get their hopes up for anything even remotely functional to come from this.
jusama14 @ Jul 29th 2008 3:12AM
It's functioning right now.. Can't you see the video?
Doesn't seem like you know much about emulation.. I admit that I don't but I have been reading the nulldc forums about it.
The system requirements for nulldc is much lower than PCSX2 (ps2 emu). I don't think nulldc has dual core implemented into it and it's already running great on lower end pcs. That said, what makes you think that DreamCast has more power?
Curmeo 2.0 @ Jul 29th 2008 10:16AM
umm, actually the PS2 was significantly more powerful than the DC. and PS2 is slightly more powerful than PSP, although PSP has its advantages like native progressive resolution versus interlaced PS2 games.
now go ahead and quote DC games that looked better than launch/early PS2 games you noob.
fred @ Jul 29th 2008 11:30AM
DC specs:
http://dextremes.com/dc/specs.html
ps2 specs:
http://www.vgescape.com/features/53/ps2-specs
I hope they're accurate.
...I have no idea what the numbers mean
D:
Jacksons @ Jul 29th 2008 1:36AM
They do have the same controller layout, but that poor little MIPS processor is begging for mercy.
Grant @ Jul 29th 2008 2:52AM
i.just.peed.a.little.
Autopsy15 @ Jul 29th 2008 3:03AM
Hey, if you drag the slider on the video it's just like watching the game!
Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 29th 2008 8:20AM
You won the internet...today.
Curmeo 2.0 @ Jul 29th 2008 5:07AM
i hope the 64MB ram of the PSP Slim is sufficient enough to get a working emulator going. PSP controls are even perfect for DC games (one analog stick, 2 shoulder buttons). if not, well then we can only hope that Sony ups the ram on PSP-3000 to 96MB.
DangerMouse @ Jul 29th 2008 10:23AM
And up the processor speed by another 500MHz.
chip5541 @ Jul 29th 2008 7:04AM
Who needs a DC emmu when there is an Amiga one? PSP-UAE
Turrican anyone? http://youtube.com/watch?v=7rrLj8oyFHM
Haggard @ Jul 29th 2008 7:51AM
Video no longer available :(
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 29th 2008 8:36AM
Do they have Blue Stinger? Haha, I loved that game!
Batzarro @ Jul 29th 2008 9:06AM
Dar! While that's an awesome technical achievment, my mind can't bear the load of passing Shenmue at that speed.
bloodwolf @ Jul 29th 2008 10:33AM
OMG CANT WAIT TO PLAY TEH GAMES IN 0.32FPS!!!!!!!111111111111111111111111111111111
peepoop @ Jul 29th 2008 11:05AM
there's a rap about this emulator here:
http://journalrhythm.blogspot.com/2008/07/dreamcast-emulator-for-psp.html
Jhongerkong @ Jul 29th 2008 12:30PM
If a dreamcast emulator is at least functioning on a psp, then maybe we can get one for the wii.
the_insider @ Jul 29th 2008 12:56PM
openpandora.org
check it out!
Appdirect @ Jul 29th 2008 4:15PM
I want a psp emulator for the dreamcast.
LocalToast @ Jul 30th 2008 2:58AM
Anyone up for a game of Lucky Hit?
Unununium @ Jul 30th 2008 4:40PM
I Don't want to be pessimist, but Like other people have stated, full speed emulation its impossible. I think I read somewhere that to be able to emulate hardware perfectly well the current system must be 5~10 times more powerful, in terms of CPU speed and RAM, than the one being emulated.