Official PSIO Development Thread

It doesn't have native functions, it doesn't actively do anything. It's a connector wired to the CPU's low speed bus, so the CPU may talk directly to the outside world (instead of through a serial/controller port).

You could very easily interface PATA, but that would be utterly useless for playing games. I don't think you understand how this stuff works; the PS is old, it doesn't have enough layers of abstraction necessary to play retail games with any reasonable level of compatibility via software exploits (nevermind the performance impact that would occur from lost CPU time). If it did, then all you'd need is an Action Replay to stream data from a PC.

 

That's exactly my point. Why work against the parallel port, instead of going along with it? It obviously doesn't provide a helper CPU to emulate a second cd-rom drive, so why bother wasting time and energy making such a thing? If the Action Replay can boot programs without the Cd-drive, then obviously you can run programs off the parallel port.

Why waste time and energy with cdrom emulation if it's going to cost too much and not even work properly?

If a game can run without redbook audio, fine. But I think there comes a point where things should be looked at differently, especially when hardware emulators and high cost starts to rear its ugly head.

 

I don't understand. How does one go along with it?

The CD drive assembly doesn't have a digital interface that may be intercepted easily (like other consoles), so high-level emulating the whole CD system is necessary. PIO is the only feasible way to attempt that, however unideal, because the other options are to desolder a QFP chip and install an interposer, or directly attempt to encode the laser RF data to feed to the CD DSP and emulate the (analog) tracking mechanism with reasonable precision.

Yes, you can run homebrew crafted to run from an AR, you cannot however run retail games, which is the whole point of the project.

Initially the "team" clearly didn't understand the limitations of the parallel I/O port. I think over time they thought maybe they could get around them, and I'm surprised they got this far honestly.

 

I can't explain but you probably already know (and I honestly don't know too much about the parallel port; 8bit bus?).

I don't see how analog RF can be emulated through a DAC in a low cost manner (especially a consumer product). That's crazy! You might as well reverse engineer the PSX boot sectors. Though it would be totally rad if the developers did those things!

I wasn't aware of that.

I'm amazed as well that they have managed to run retail games off the parallel port (TBH I was amazed after learning this situation and talking with you). The fact they've figured out what's needed to be emulated, and probably how to do it, is amazing and I wasn't exactly expecting things to be this difficult for the developers. Major props and thank you's to the developers for this kind of feat!

EDIT:
I find this hardware emulation stuff hard to believe. But if it's done then that's really cool! If it's affordable then that is even more cool!

 

http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?31736-PS-Hard-Disk-Drive

 

Ah the memories...

 

Id imagine time and this project have given you some perspective on what people were trying to tell you back then.

 

Just had a telephone call from the Shadow advising they've hit the beta stage, which is great news!

If you have a look over at http://ps-io.com you can see where everything is up to and they're sitting on a tidy 92% completion. I'm rather low on the beta testers priority list since I already had a chance to play with one of the prototypes. I sincerely hope that the beta testers / project backers have as much fun as I did when they do go out in due time!

 

We will see Thx Retro for the headsup

 

I want to see this project going gold so bad.

 

fingers crossed this gets officially released before October and USB version is out Soon after.

 

Now this is completed and on sale ( currently out of stock ) have any of the usual cheaper Chinese alternatives starting appearing yet?

 

Is this a serious question?

 

Indeed, although it wasn't meant in the 'Let's put these guys out of business before they have even started' way. I admit, it does read like that.

I'm just looking for a cheaper option that's all. I'm hoping now that we know it's possible others can also get creative with this and start making there own versions, but on a much larger scale with lower production cost and a much lower selling price. The Chinese are very good at this.

It's the same with every single device out there in the world.

 

Was it worth bumping this thread when there was another thread already in place?