PS3 Testing old ps2 software emulator

DeadEnd

DeadEnd

Senior Member
Hi all,

I've decided to make a video about the old softemu that sony used to have before moving on to ps2 classics. Everybody hates it but it could actually run a handful of games. I might make a second part later on. I've also learned that there is a possibility to save games with it by using a memory card adapter for ps3. Unfortunately the prce of it seems to start at 50 euros and up. I am not willing to pay so much just for testing it out. So if anybody has one and willing to send/sell, drop a message. Thanks.

 
thanks. I didn't know the memory card adapter worked with the soft emu. I've played around with it, the emulator, on cobra, and boy was it shitty. haha. obviously, it was just incomplete. I think a lot of the config files for ps2 come from that emulator. and, I understand your reluctance to buy a memory card adapter. I bought mine for $55 in the states. I put all my cards on the ps3 (ofw), trying to mirror the color of the card the saves came from where you select color. the only card I couldn't dump was a madcatz, third-party pos obviously. btw, are you able to play ps2 games from an external drive? I couldn't remember if I was forced to use internal like normal or not. I was on cobra 3.55 like a decade ago, so I can't remember. haha
 
There seems to be conflicting information about the adapter. Some say it will work, others say it will not. So I am not even sure.

There is also a program for the adapter? https://github.com/elepro/Anthony

I have not tried to play from external drive. I could only play from discs on softemu. My cobra has finally arrived which allows to play ISOs. So I guess I should make another video soon...
 
It turns out using cobra dongle with their cobra CFW does make softemu recognise virtual memory cards. The more you know...
 
DeadEnd said:
It turns out using cobra dongle with their cobra CFW does make softemu recognise virtual memory cards. The more you know...
Click to expand...
I was thinking of the memory card adapter. I noticed you can't assign it a slot number, but you can copy all of its content to a virtual card, so maybe actually using the card directly was false?
 
Any chance you know how to force a BC ps3 to use software emulation for discs instead of HW emulation in the event of a failed EE chip?
 
ba114 said:
couldnt find it in the options...

edit, found this video on youtube, but it shows making an iso as opposed to running from a disc
Click to expand...
you may be right. I don't know why the netemu would even have access to the disc drive. I don't know if a cobra patch could do it or if it has to be an iso.
 
"ps2emu" does support physical DVD playback, it does have built-in driver, and Cobra USB did support it while back.. not sure about using 4.30 version but 3.55 should work.. and here's the raw source code released from the cobra team while ago..

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/blob/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu/main.c

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/tree/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu

and in theory, we could build a 3.55 CFW with ps2softemu support... and removal of encryption and dongle requirement is also needed.
 
Joonie said:
"ps2emu" does support physical DVD playback, it does have built-in driver, and Cobra USB did support it while back.. not sure about using 4.30 version but 3.55 should work.. and here's the raw source code released from the cobra team while ago..

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/blob/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu/main.c

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/tree/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu

and in theory, we could build a 3.55 CFW with ps2softemu support... and removal of encryption and dongle requirement is also needed.
Click to expand...
Probably no point though right, given the performance is pretty sub-par. Really trying to see what alternatives exist for the CECHAxx and CECHBxx models that end up with failed PS2 hw emulation.
 
ba114 said:
Any chance you know how to force a BC ps3 to use software emulation for discs instead of HW emulation in the event of a failed EE chip?
Click to expand...

Joonie said:
"ps2emu" does support physical DVD playback, it does have built-in driver, and Cobra USB did support it while back.. not sure about using 4.30 version but 3.55 should work.. and here's the raw source code released from the cobra team while ago..

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/blob/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu/main.c

https://github.com/Joonie86/CobraUSB/tree/master/USB/ps2emu_stage2/softemu

and in theory, we could build a 3.55 CFW with ps2softemu support... and removal of encryption and dongle requirement is also needed.
Click to expand...

But you are talking about ps2_softemu. Not ps2_netemu. I assumed the question that was asked referred to using netemu for discs, because enabling the laggy ps2_softemu just for the ability to read discs is a bit silly. I mean the compatibility will be quite bad and most games would lag (just like I showed in the vid). The only smart way would be to make ps2_netemu recognise and read ps2 discs, but it can't.

Also when EE fails, I recommend fixing / replacing it ( you can contact me if you need help with that)
 
Last edited:
DeadEnd said:
But you are talking about ps2_softemu. Not ps2_netemu. I assumed the question that was asked referred to using netemu for discs, because enabling the laggy ps2_softemu just for the ability to read discs is a bit silly. I mean the compatibility will be quite bad and most games would lag (just like I showed in the vid). The only smart way would be to make ps2_netemu recognise and read ps2 discs, but it can't.

Also when EE fails, I recommend fixing / replacing it ( you can contact me if you need help with that)
Click to expand...
netemu lacks I/O drivers including CD/DVD and network interface.. I don't know if you can just add them without the original netemu source.. maybe not enough memory space also… perhaps @mysis has better ideas
 
ba114 said:
Probably no point though right, given the performance is pretty sub-par. Really trying to see what alternatives exist for the CECHAxx and CECHBxx models that end up with failed PS2 hw emulation.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, if anyone has actually watched the first vid I posted here. There is a guide on how to enable softemu on non BC consoles ( and possibly BC consoles too, but I have not tried it). It is at around 6:40 minute. This is how I tested the games on the slim console myself. Now at first I posted the files in the description, but then got advice to remove it because it may lead to youtube blocking the video. I will post them here later.

upload_2024-9-26_5-40-49.png
 
About the above: this current ps2_softemu 4.01->3.55 mod and blacklist removal is all courtesy of kozarovv. The app to launch softemu on 3.55 is basically a repurposed app, in this case a PS3 reboot app originally made by @haxxxen posted on a random thread here, to instead be used as a boot_ps2 substitute.

This is not perfect. PS2bootparam is not active, so virtual memory cards are not set and other things like that, and ISO mounting is out of the question. The internal config table seems to be successfully loaded via this method, which is cool, as it seems softemu configs are not loaded via CobraUSB 3.55 AFAIK.

Joonie said:
and in theory, we could build a 3.55 CFW with ps2softemu support... and removal of encryption and dongle requirement is also needed.
Click to expand...
This would be cool for people wanting to test softemu on 3.55 with ISO mounting, virtual memory card support, etc. I would be all for this.
 
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