Alternative Uses and Interesting Mods for a PS1?

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?"

Comments

yes!

[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.

Re:yes!

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, duh, he's using wireless!

Re:yes!

[Zantetsuken]

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...

Cool

[anss123]

But how are you getting the PS1 on the net?

For Inspiration

[Cap'nPedro]

For inspiration, see what Ben Heck's done. He's a console modding god. If you want aftermarket, and are skilled with tools, make it portable!

Oh, and I have to mention his Xbox 360 laptop. Because it rocks.

Mod parent dubious?

[reality-bytes]

There is rumour of (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:Mod parent dubious?

[Reaperducer]

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.

Emulators for a Modded Playstation 1

[Croakyvoice]

PS2 News over at DCEmu has emulators and some games for a Modded PS1. http://ps2emu.dcemu.co.uk/

Audiophile Quality CD Player

[Andrew Tanenbaum]

The PSX is almost an audiophile quality CD player.

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

Re:Audiophile Quality CD Player

[Anonymous Coward]

Bzzzt. Wrong. It doesn't cost $9000, therefore it logically can not be an audiophile device.

Re:Audiophile Quality CD Player

[Slashcrap]

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.

How about programming?

[skurk]

Get one of those cheat cartridges with parallel ports (Game Shark, Action Replay, etc). They come cheap, $3-$10 on ebay at the moment. Reflash the EPROM and you're ready to inject your own code, or simply watch some demos.

Catapult ammo

[antifoidulus]

Your neighbor will never expect a 10 year old game console will come crashing through his window.

Re:Playstation Computer

[TeknoHog]

I was really expecting you to use the actual Playstation hardware... :( using the case to house a boring standard x86 computer is probably not what the original poster is after.

Mod Your PlayStation

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you should mod it +5, informative.

Re:Playstation Computer

[that this is not und]

I think a cool idea would be to find a really, really tiny 'boring standard x86 computer' board, and house it in a gutted mouse case. Then mod a full sized PC to transform it into a mouse by gutting it and putting the mouse circuit board and it's little buttons and wheels inside. You will need to add some sort of caster-type base, probably with a suspension mount, so the PC case can be manouvred around to use as the pointer. Awkward, but a cool 'irony mod.'

Even better would be to find a 'smart button' of some sort (a pushbutton with active display on it's face). Build that button into a PC case, and use it as the main display for the PC. Find the largest monitor you can afford, and configure it to display a solid red or green color on it's face to indicate the PC is on.

These ideas are all now copyright by me. But you're granted an unlimited license to implement them, so long as I am credited. Or something.

Don't do anything to it

[acidrain69]

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:Don't do anything to it

[Grave]

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

[Hatta]

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

[mysidia]

hm..

I like to use mine as a system clock sometimes.

From ~/.bashrc2:

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