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Sony Annouces Linux PS2 Port for US

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-em-while-they're-hot dept.

krismon writes "Sony has announced that it is gonna release the Linux port(old Slashdot article) for the Playstation 2 in the US, after selling out SUPER fast in japan." I saw this running, it's pretty impressive.

4 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Important Notes Re: Linux PS2 by Zach` · · Score: 4, Troll

    > Why on Earth would I want to run Linux on my PS2?

    Just off the top of my head, I would say there is a lot you can do. eg, many open source linux games can now be ported to the PS much more easily since all the neccesary linux libs etc will be available.

    Also off the top of my head: With just linux, a framebuffer driver for the PS, an opendivx codec and a bit of work, it shouldn't be too hard to get a bootable linux based cd whose sole purpose is to play back the divx thats also recorded to the cd. In other words, an alternative to DVD that plays on any PS and is easily copied and distributed. This would be ideal for people wanting to send copies of their summer party video to their friends, none of whom own a pc, but all who have playstations.

    When someone says that linux runs on the PS, don't automatically think that they are talking about a complete GNU/Linux system together with all the usual shells and servers etc. That will probably not be the case. I expect a bootable linux CD could be set up to go straight into a game from init. The user may not even know they were running linux at all.

    This could be the start of lots of free-software games releases ported to the PS.

  2. Money? by supabeast! · · Score: 0, Troll

    Ummm... Ok, this is cool and all, but how the fuck do I get it for free? I can handle paying for Mandrake distros to run my desktop, that I actually do things with, but given that all I can do with this is fuck around, why the fuck would I pay for the goddamned thing?

  3. a blatant attempt at karma whoring, you shithead. by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 1, Troll

    Wow, this is great news.

    You see, I bought my Playstation 2 a year ago, and I've had no idea what to do with it till now!

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  4. Here's the only thing I could think of until now: by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 1, Troll

    I actually hooked it up to my Palm Pilot, and affixed the Palm Pilot to the wall, and lit it with light strips I got from Thinkgeek, and connected one of the controllers to my serial port and hacked together a rudimentary driver and special CD with my own bootstrap code so I could make the Playstation 2 display system information (like my 9 day uptime!) to my wall-mounted Palm Pilot.

    But now I can run Linux on it. Hot shit!

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"