Follow Slashdot blog updates by subscribing to our blog RSS feed

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
PlayStation (Games)

Alternative Uses and Interesting Mods for a PS1? 48

Posted by Cliff from the breathe-new-life-into-old-hardware dept.
carolinamagi asks: "I've got an original Playstation collecting dust in my garage that I only use when I've got a fix for Final Fantasy VII. I know the original Playstation is a dated system but I can't help but wonder if there are any 'after market' or non-game mods which others have tried (with success) to give their Playstation some new life. The catch is that I'm a total novice when it comes to mods (although I am handy around the house and around a computer) and I would still like the ability to play games with my modded Playstation. Any ideas?"
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Alternative Uses and Interesting Mods for a PS1? More

Alternative Uses and Interesting Mods for a PS1?

Comments Filter:

  • yes! (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    search your favorite torrent site for the PS1 linux CD. I have a PS1 running linux used as a router/static content web server.

    • Cool (Score:2, Insightful)

      by anss123 ( 985305 )
      But how are you getting the PS1 on the net?

    • Mod parent dubious? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by reality-bytes ( 119275 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @02:52PM (#18913197) Homepage
      There is rumour of [tuxish.com] (I haven't tested) a kernel port of Clinux for the Playstation 1 MIPS-NOMMU but it's hardly a distribution.

      Seeing as the PS1 only has limited memory card storage and would require a bespoke serial NIC for use as a webserver, I'd reserve judgement on the ACs claim unless further information is given.

      • Re: (Score:2, Offtopic)

        by BW_Nuprin ( 633386 )
        You'd probably be better off modding a DS. They're about the same horsepower, and the DS is portable. Although if you're really jonesing to mod a PS1, I'd think the best you'd be able to do would be to make it portable.

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Reaperducer ( 871695 )
          Of course, since he HAS a PS1, and NOT a DS, it makes your comment pretty worthless. Why would he go out and buy another game machine just to mod it? The point is to re-use what he has, not to satisfy one fanboy club or another.

    • Re: (Score:1, Interesting)

      by brianez21 ( 945805 )
      How do you get ethernet on the PS1? There isn't even USB.

      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Well, duh, he's using wireless!

      • Re:yes! (Score:5, Funny)

        by Zantetsuken ( 935350 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @08:38PM (#18914981) Homepage
        A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there existed such ports as serial, parallel, RJ11, and cable splicing... Such things weren't so clumsy as today's USB ports - no, they were meant for a more civilized society...
  • I'm in a similar position, not actually sure where mine is to be honest...

    I'm sceptical you'll get anything great though, without an internet connection or Wii like control, what -can- be done with it?
    ---
    That surgeon is a man after my own heart
    ---

  • For Inspiration (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Cap'nPedro ( 987782 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @02:48PM (#18913165)
    For inspiration, see what Ben Heck's done. He's a console modding god. If you want aftermarket, and are skilled with tools, make [benheck.com] it [benheck.com] portable [benheck.com]!

    Oh, and I have to mention his Xbox 360 laptop [benheck.com]. Because it rocks.

  • Emulators for a Modded Playstation 1 (Score:3, Informative)

    by Croakyvoice ( 986312 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @02:59PM (#18913231)
    PS2 News over at DCEmu has emulators and some games for a Modded PS1. http://ps2emu.dcemu.co.uk/ [dcemu.co.uk]

  • Audiophile Quality CD Player (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Andrew Tanenbaum ( 896883 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @03:03PM (#18913259)
    The PSX is almost an audiophile quality CD player.

    See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15484873/ [msn.com]
    And: http://dogbreath.de/PS1/index.html [dogbreath.de]

    • Re:Audiophile Quality CD Player (Score:4, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 28, 2007 @03:25PM (#18913365)
      Bzzzt. Wrong. It doesn't cost $9000, therefore it logically can not be an audiophile device.

    • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      I don't doubt it's a decent CD player, but it's nothing special, and the article you linked to is full of complete bullshit. It tells you to leave to console on for at least three days to "break it in" - if that doesn't raise red flags in your head, there's nothing I can do to explain it to you.

    • Re:Audiophile Quality CD Player (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Slashcrap ( 869349 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @03:39PM (#18913435)
      The PSX is almost an audiophile quality CD player.

      According to one of the linked articles, it has a very bog standard looking 16 bit DAC. The analogue output stage looks singularly unremarkable.

      Some other choice quotes from the articles :

      "Michael told me to look for a PlayStation with the model number SCPH-1001, which is the unit with separate audio and video RCA output jacks. That particular model allows audiophiles to use their own (expensive) audio cables to get "perfect" sound."

      "Before I started my listening tests, Michael had a warning for me: "Plug in the units -- turn 'em on -- and don't turn them off." It seems the PlayStations sound best when left on all the time. Michael was right. You shouldn't even listen for the first three days. Both units need every second of the break-in period."

      To me, both of those quotes raise red flags. The flags have "Audiophool" written on them in big letters.

      I also doubt that simply removing two caps and replacing them with the expensive polyester variety is going to make a difference audible to anybody not already skilled in the art of self deception. And apparently if you have one with a mod chip, you should definitely remove it just in case it ruins the sound. I would have thought it would be obvious whether it does or not to somebody with such golden ears.
      • Um, yeah.

        A Marantz 8B is a pretty unremarkable circuit. Have you ever heard one?

        This is the classic debate between engineers and audiophiles; the engineer determines how a piece of equipment will sound by looking at a schematic, an audiophile determines how a piece of equipment will sound by listening to it.

        • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

          by Anonymous Coward

          Audiophiles determine how good something sounds by how much is costs.

        • Re: (Score:1, Insightful)

          by Anonymous Coward
          >This is the classic debate between engineers and audiophiles; the engineer determines how a piece of equipment will sound by looking at a schematic, an audiophile determines how a piece of equipment will sound by listening to it.

          Sounds like the classic Western vs. New-age Medicine debate: A "Western" doctor figures out a cure through double-blind tests and publishes the results in a medical journal [nih.gov]. Then a phamaceutical company makes medicine from the findings. A New-age doctor just tests it on himse

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by LKM ( 227954 )

          The engineer determines how a piece of equipment will sound by looking at a schematic, an audiophile determines how a piece of equipment will sound by listening to it.

          Which is why audiophiles will always deceive themselves by all kinds of subjective factors unrelated to audio quality (such as looks, price, current mood, and the color of the room's walls), while only engineers are capable of objectively judging audio quality; precisely because they don't involve their own opinions.

      • My favorite is this picture. [dogbreath.de] I can't begin to imagine the thought process which simultaneously rationalizes spending $2,000 for some RCA cables, and yet solders those same cables to some 2 cent copper wiring jerry rigged around a piece of scrap plastic. It boggles the mind.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        According to one of the linked articles, it has a very bog standard looking 16 bit DAC. The analogue output stage looks singularly unremarkable.

        Actually, it isn't a bog-standard 16-bit DAC. It's a professional-quality DAC. AKM is the choice for DACs and ADCs used by pros (along with the likes of Burr-Brown (now TI, I believe). A lot of pro soundcards use AKM. What's surprising is that Sony went with them (I guess it's because they're Japanese and all...). Note that in the same articles, later revisions of t

  • How about programming? (Score:3, Informative)

    by skurk ( 78980 ) * on Saturday April 28, 2007 @03:13PM (#18913317) Homepage Journal
    Get one of those cheat cartridges with parallel ports (Game Shark, Action Replay, etc). They come cheap, $3-$10 on ebay [ebay.com] at the moment. Reflash the EPROM and you're ready to inject your own code [c02.at], or simply watch some demos [pouet.net].

  • Catapult ammo (Score:5, Funny)

    by antifoidulus ( 807088 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @03:50PM (#18913497) Homepage Journal
    Your neighbor will never expect a 10 year old game console will come crashing through his window.
  • Mod it to run Super Mario Bros. =)

  • Mod Your PlayStation (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 28, 2007 @05:00PM (#18913907)
    I think you should mod it +5, informative.
  • You may, or may not have some VCDs. However, they are fairly simple to get, and if you are downloading videos, some will be in VCD format. So, if you want to use your PS1 for something besides a game player and CD player, there is an attachment:

    GAMARS VCD Card for PSX [trhonline.com]

    This will let you use your PS1 as a VCD player.

    • I still have mine and it works well, but you are better off purchasing a DVD player so you can also play SVCDs and the laser will be of higher quality. I have a cheap $35 DVD player here that will play any disk you through at it. I have a DVD that wasn't mastered correctly and will refuse to play on any computer or game console, but the little tank will chug along and play the content without issue.

  • Don't do anything to it (Score:3, Insightful)

    by acidrain69 ( 632468 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @10:09PM (#18915453) Journal
    Just keep it handy so you don't have to use a PS2 or PS3 to play them. Having seen about every PS2 I have ever come across die at some point due to laser alignment issues, it helps to not use the new consoles if you have an old one that will play the games. I keep a gamecube around so I don't put any additional wear on the Wii by playing GC games on it. Same for the PS2. I softmodded mine and play almost everything off the hard drive, and I have a slim model for the stuff that won't work on the hard drive.

    I know GP asked about PS1, but for the PS2, they tend to be able to read CD games long after they get finicky on DVD discs, and part of the softmodding process involves booting a PS1 CD.

    If you just want something geeky to do, restrain yourself. This hardware is only going to get harder to find/more expensive to buy on ebay.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Grave ( 8234 )
      Given that more than 100 million were sold worldwide, and how many are sitting around collecting dust since the PS2 and PS3 play PS1 games, I disagree with your "harder to find/more expensive to buy" statement. Sure, a lot of them are wearing out and failing now. But there are plenty that still work, and really, I'm not convinced there's going to be much in the way of "collector" status attached to the PS1 consoles.

    • Re:Don't do anything to it (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Hatta ( 162192 ) on Sunday April 29, 2007 @01:18AM (#18916179) Journal
      This hardware is only going to get harder to find/more expensive to buy on ebay.

      Of course emulators are only going to get faster and more accurate.

  • Fancy uses for a PS1 (Score:5, Funny)

    by mysidia ( 191772 ) on Saturday April 28, 2007 @10:13PM (#18915465)

    hm..

    I like to use mine as a system clock sometimes.

    From ~/.bashrc2:

    export PS1='\h:`date +"%m-%d-%y %H:%M:%S"`:\w [\!]$ '

Slashdot Top Deals

E = MC ** 2 +- 3db

Close