Since I already talked about PCSX2 – PlayStation 2 Emulator for the PC, might as well do so with the more classic ones as well – the ePSXe, an awesome desktop emulator for the original PlayStation!

You can easily download it for FREE at http://epsxe.com/. The site also comes with instruction articles and guides in how to get it operating properly. Though no worries, you can just follow the step-by-step configuration procedure when running the emulator for the first time after installation.

What you might have a hard time with is what to do next to get it working: finding a BIOS dump of the original PlayStation and finding the right plugins for you and your games. Luckily, I’ll help you get through this!

These games bring such a sense of nostalgia, don’t they?

1.) BIOS? What the hell?
In a nutshell, a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) instructs the computer on how to perform a number of basic functions such as booting – so ePSXe needs this to emulate how the PlayStation starts. PSX BIOS dumps are not legally redistributable and you must dump them from your own Playstation. This is also why there are required – to verify that you own a PSX. How do you get them? All I can legally say is to ask the all-knowing search engines and you’ll be on your way. Teehee.

2.) Plugins WTF? And what are the best ones?
ePSXe is able to function through a number of files called plugins. There are video plugins (the one that processes video), sound plugins, controller plugins, etc. Meaning, if you have outdated or dull plugins, don’t expect ePSXe to work properly. There are lots of user-made ones found on the net but from what I’ve experienced, they’re all crap! Except for three important ones – just click on them to download. To install, just put them in the ‘plugins‘ folder located in your ePSXe directory.

A. Pete’s OpenGL2 Driver 2.9 (Video Plugin)
B. P.E.Op.S. DSound Audio Driver 1.9 (Sound Plugin)
C. Eternal SPU Plugin 1.50 – alternate plugin if games don’t work for option B

Using the standard settings of these plugins should let you play your games smoothly, unless you’re somewhat using a very outdated machine. If you want to play around the settings, then tweak to your heart’s content.

Now that we have our ePSXe running, where can we get games!? Just like how I can’t tell you directly where to get your BIOS (illegally), it goes the same with games. I guess you could rip or copy your PSX game files to your desktop and make an image file from them using UltraISO. Or you could again ask the all-knowing search engines and you’ll be on your way. :)

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Posted on Thursday, April 21st, 2011 at 2:28 am in Games   |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback URL