PS1 #PlayStationClassic Released & Hacked --- Everything you need to know!

And there it is. After other Console Developers like Nintendo, SEGA or ATARI re-released their older but wonderful and classic Home Consoles in it's new and tiny chassis marketed with some catchy words like "Mini", "Retro" or "Flashback", Sony decided "to jump on the bandwagon" by releasing their own Classic Console in a miniature format - namely the "PlayStation Classic". Announced back in September 2018, the PlayStation Classic is a dedicated version of the Original PlayStation (in short "PS1" or as you would know it as "PSX") providing 20 Classic Video Game Titles built-in. And while reviews from other video gaming journalists showed already that sadly, the PlayStation Classic is a bad example how to re-release a "Retro Console" compared to it's competitors, this Thread will help you with Everything you need to know about the Console itself, it's built-in Video Games and how fast several well-known Developers from other Sony Consoles are already tinkering with it to fix several Problems Sony was too lazy for and to provide additional Features like Emulators and other Homebrew etc.​

By keeping the Original Design, but smaller, the PlayStation Classics provides 20 Game Titles built-in while mirroring the same Button layout and logos - but 45% smaller than the Original Release back in 1994.​

General Information 20 built-in Video Games Emulators & Homebrew Other Useful Features

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  The User Interface from the PlayStation Classic is a homage to the Original UI used on the Original PSX with the same color scheme like in 1994.
  
  With a price of 99,- USD (99,- EUR in Europe - 89,- GBP in United Kingdom - 9.980,- JPY in Japan), the PlayStation Classic comes with two wired Controllers. Sadly those are the Standard Controllers without giving any Analogue Sticks, or even a Vibration function, unlike the very first "DualShock Controller" for the PS1. And unlike the Original PSX (don't worry you don't need to search for your old AV/SCART cables from your basement ), the PlayStation Classic provides a HDMI Output giving a 720p Output Resolution with 60 Frames per Second (FPS). But it is important to note that while it ships with a USB cable to connect it on a USB power source, a USB AC adaptor is NOT included so you will need to use your own, like from your Smartphone or from your TV built-in for example. You also won't need to search for your old Memory Cards since each Game supports it's own Virtual Memory Card giving the classic 15 slots. So technically you have 20 Memory Cards built-in - One Memory Card for each Game. It also supports the neat feature of Save States, so you can resume your Game wherever you need to without searching for Save Points with Cloud and his Friends inside the Northern Cave while grinding your Characters to Level 99.
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  • General Website
  • PlayStation Classic FAQ
  • Game Manuals
  • Support
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  The review from Digital Foundry shows why the PlayStation Classic is sadly a "Disappointed" Approach of bringing the nostalgic Games back with the PlayStation Classic.
  
  Sadly, we already have to speak about the bad things this "Mini-PlayStation" provides. While there was already a hefty discussion about the Gaming Line-up the PlayStation Classic provides with several well-known Classic Game Titles missing, the 20 Games built-in are barely optimized for giving you a 100% perfect and nostalgic experience like you had back in the 90's. While using a Open-Source Emulation solution - namely PCSX ReARMed - the PlayStation Classic shows several Problems during in-Game such as blurry and dithered effects, mismatching sound effects and the most important "bummer" is that several Games are provided as "PAL Versions". Especially the Users reading this Thread here in America will be surprised how slow several Games would run on this tiny machine and how bad this would be for your Gaming Experience. The Video above from Digital Foundry shows exactly how bad this Emulation solution, Sony has chosen, performs and even the other Games, which supports fully 60 FPS instead of 50 FPS only like the European PAL Versions does, has massive frame-drops compared to the Original Hardware and/or other Sony Devices supporting PS1 Games through Emulation.
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  • Games included in all Regions (PAL Versions are in red color):
    • Battle Arena Toshinden (known in Japan as バトルアリーナ闘神伝 [Batoru Arīna Tōshinden])
    • Final Fantasy VII (the Japanese PlayStation Classic uses the "International Version")
    • I.Q.: Intelligent Qube (known in Europe as "Kurushi")
    • Jumping Flash
    • Metal Gear Solid
    • Mr. Driller (known in Japan as ミスタードリラー [Misuta Dorira])
    • R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
    • Resident Evil: Director's Cut (Bio Hazard Director's Cut)
    • Revelations: Persona
    • Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (known in Japan as スーパーパズルファイターII X [Super Puzzle Figher II X])
    • Tekken 3
    • Wild Arms
  • Games Exclusive for North America / Europe / South Korea
    • Cool Boarders 2
    • Destruction Derby
    • Grand Theft Auto (GTA)
    • Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
    • Rayman
    • Syphon Filter
    • Tom Clancy's: Rainbow Six
    • Twisted Metal
  • Games Exclusive for Japan / Taiwan / Hong Kong
    • Arc the Lad
    • Arc the Lad II
    • Armored Core
    • G-Darius
    • Gradius Gaiden (never saw a "Western Release" for the PSX, but for the PSP)
    • Parasite Eve
    • SaGa Frontier
    • XI [sái] (Devil Dice)
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  Thanks to @nvsofts, Doom is already playable on the PlayStation Classic (although it would be interesting to play this with the PlayStation Controller).
  
  Not only the PlayStation Classic itself shows how little Sony was interested to implement a proper self-made and internal Emulation solution like they did for their previous Home Consoles, it seems that they didn't showed any interest as well when we speak about Security Features for this Device. Since the PlayStation Classic runs on bare-metal, it shows that you can observe the internals in both Hardware and Software very easily, which sounds very great. In fact, several well-known Developers from other Sony Home Consoles already showed what's possible to do Sony won't like you do. It's impressive to see, that there are already so many Achievements presented in the first week of it's release. The following list will give you a overview what is already known about the technical specifications from the PlayStation Classic itself, as for playing with the Software itself such as Dumping the Firmware or playing additional PlayStation Games, Sony missed to include by their own. I think we will see a bright future here for this device when we speak about Emulators and Homebrew.​
  
  
  • Developer @v9938 dumps the Firmware used inside the PlayStation Classic
  • Developer xyzz shows the internal code from the Emulation Solution Sony modified to get it run on the PlayStation Classic which shows that Sony tested more Games during their Development
  • Developer @bakueikozo showcases a demonstration of loading additional PS1 Games not included by Sony
  • Developer @nvsofts presents that the Classic Doom is already running on the PlayStation Classic
  • Both Developers @yifanlu and @DaveeFTW also showcases how they were able to load additional PS1 Games on the PlayStation Classic
  • Developer @emuonpsp is showing more details about several "Debug Settings" used from the Emulator itself
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  Getting to the "Debug Settings" by pressing a single button? This was never so easy as before.​
  
  
  But not only the Developers themselves shows the potential of this tiny device. It seems that even Sony itself allows everyone to dig into the internals from their PlayStation Classic very easy. How you may ask? Well, if you already own the PlayStation Classic, just plug a external USB Keyboard in one of it's USB slots used for the Controllers normally and press the "Esc-Button". You will be surprised how easy you can contribute as showed by the Team behind the YouTube-Channel "RETRO GAMING ARTS". Their video shows how many entries you get by tinkering with this device but also that even Sony was able to making things better with the Emulation itself (like with the 50 FPS PAL Versions implemented as explained before). But also Developers like @yifanlu showed together with @madmonkey how easy you can implement your own Games, Emulators, Homebrew or nearly anything else by your own. This shows how lazy (or how inexperienced) the Developers from Sony are during the Development of the PlayStation Classic. Even the decision to choose a Open-Source Solution for the Emulaton shows how they wanted to keep this device as cost-effective as possible, with the bad side effect for those who can't enjoy the Classic Games. It seems that the Homebrew and Hacking Community has to fix Sony's own mistake again like in the past.​

Quite handy the new PlayStation Classic, isn't it?

Our community is also already discussing about the possibilities with the PlayStation Classic. Our own Admin [COLOR=#ff0000]@STLcardsWS[/COLOR] opened a dedicated Forum Section for the PlayStation Classic only where you are welcome to discuss everything related. I would personally welcome a discussion if the PlayStation Classic is even worth the money or to summarize the alternatives from the PlayStation Classic, especially compared to Sony's previous Emulation solutions like they used for the PS2, PS3, or even the PSP and PSvita. The PlayStation TV also looks like Sony's own competitor to the PlayStation Classic where many people already said that they don't need the PlayStation Classic when their PlayStation TV is already emulating their own PlayStation Library in a proper way. Also Thanks to User [COLOR=#ff0000]@GregoryRasputin[/COLOR], you can even share your own discoveries since he opened a new PlayStation Developer Wiki dedicated to the PlayStation Classic only. And lastly, User [COLOR=#ff0000][U]@Roxanne[/U][/COLOR] is also planing to expand her Compatibility Lists for the PlayStation Classic, which will be released very soon (UPDATE: RELEASED) and will give a great opportunity for everyone to contribute in both this Forum, as for the wiki. Again I have to admit that we will see great times here with this tiny toy.
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So what do you think of Sony's approach for releasing the PlayStation Classic? You are welcome to discuss your opinions down below.​

 

did I miss it or how much internal memory can this system hold? I recently hacked my snes classic. without a usb attachment, the system cannot hold every snes game. I think it's either 256 or 512MBs. the nes classic is capable of having all roms on the internal flash, so I'm curious. I probably won't hack my system, but I would be interested to know.

I'm not so impressed by the system. I bought Final Fantasy VII for the switch last night. it doesn't have achievements like the remastered version on the ps4, which I also own. however, it looks far better than the one on the ps classic. it just seems like Sony went with whatever was cheapest.

Final Fantasy 7 for the Switch is the remastered version of the game which launched on 2015, also on PS4 and PC, and of course the graphic settings are tailored for each machine.. PS Classic's Final Fantasy 7 is the original version of the game, the 98's one. Comparing them is like comparing your girlfriend to her granny.

PS Classic has a 16GB module.

 

@kaluas This analogy is far wrong. Of course, PSC version is the same version as on PSX but PS4/NS version is the same as on PC released long ago. It is not only port with added trophies but also with absolutely ugly upscalled pre-rendered backgrounds. On PSC like in any emu, You have control over scalling, on such ports no and You are doomed to what developers setup. So... they are not girlfriend VS granny but dilemma between two different sister girls with pros and cons in each of them.

 

@kaluas This analogy is far wrong. Of course, PSC version is the same version as on PSX but PS4/NS version is the same as on PC released long ago. It is not only port with added trophies but also with absolutely ugly upscalled pre-rendered backgrounds.

Final Fantasy VII was a PS1 exclusive. That means that by the time it launched on other platforms, it launched as a form of remaster in next generation hardware.. It is most definately not the same game as the PS1 version. Look at the size of it. Final Fantasy VII is 1,29GBs for the PSP/PSV/PS3 (through PS1 emulation) and 4,28GB for the PS4. It is an enchanched version of the same game, from 240p to 1080p with trophies.

If you inserted the same 3 disc game on a PS4, then a direct comparison could be made. I cannot understand how anyone, least of all pinky or you mate can confuse the game with its remastered form.

On PSC like in any emu, You have control over scalling, on such ports no and You are doomed to what developers setup.

Obviously. You are describing the 99,999999% of console games. As a console gamer, i don't wanna tinker with the settings. If i wanted, i would buy a pc. I just want to insert the disc and enjoy 60fps of smthng.

 

@kaluas Only a time exclusive. It was released also on the PC and as I already tell You, this is the base version for all "remasters" of this game.

Let me explain to You how majority of remasters are made (including FF7):
1. open graphic editor and upscale bitmaps (including pre-rendered backgrounds) and textures
2. edit original soundtrack giving it false depth
3. save in native target platform formats to avoid writing additional code
4. compile and debug target platform bugs
5. count easy money harvested on peoples who doesn't understand that someone sell them exactly the same product...

If You don't want "tinker with settings" then You are doomed to lowest possible quality. And on top of that, paying several times for the same thing...

 

@kaluas Only a time exclusive. It was released also on the PC and as I already tell You, this is the base version for all "remasters" of this game.

Let me explain to You how majority of remasters are made (including FF7):
1. open graphic editor and upscale bitmaps (including pre-rendered backgrounds) and textures
2. edit original soundtrack giving it false depth
3. save in native target platform formats to avoid writing additional code
4. compile and debug target platform bugs
5. count easy money harvested on peoples who doesn't understand that someone sell them exactly the same product...

So, you suggest that since there is further process on a launched product, it shouldn't be priced, it should be given free ? Or should the buyers process the product themselves ?

If You don't want "tinker with settings" then You are doomed to lowest possible quality. And on top of that, paying several times for the same thing...

It's not the place to discuss the pros and cons of investing in a console or a specific ecosystem. You are missing the point that pinky stated. I am well aware of the PSC's disadvantages, i hope all potential buyers are. Playing the PS1 version of FFVII's isn't one of them.

P.S. Money, in the capitalist's world we live in, is something like a vote, because a company will try to respond to the demand of the market. If many people buy the "remastered" 15 euro/pound/dollar FFVII, they can hope on a remade FFVII in a few years, because it sells. I don't have the remastered version of FFVII cause i don't see any value over my existing FFVII but that doesn't mean nobody does. Try to see things from a different perspective.

 

@kaluas Well, no, I'm not suggested that, and of course work must be well paid. I'm trying point that this "remaster" is not worth my money (so yeah, I'm voting by wallet, unfortunately I'm in minority). To avoid paying the same every time for the same game, I'm emulating them. I'm fan of emulation, including official way. The problem is Sony made emulation containers per platform, not independent. I.e Patapons bought for PSP must be bought again on PS4 (is emulated as I heard and this emulators also adding trophies) and even again for PSV (which has build-in PSP virtualisator). That's unacceptable.

 

The PS1 Classic is just an open-source emulator. That's why is hacked so fast.

 

@PolybiusOfficial It was hacked so fast NOT because it is open source emulator (what a stupid argument...) but the fact producer leave a way to update system from the USB and leaving a key to signed package for that purpose on unencrypted partition (they doesn't understand how GPG works or this "mistake" was intentional)...

This is not an emulator, but whole Linux distribution with also emulator included.

And currently PSC is not fully hacked...

 

The PS1 Classic is just an open-source emulator. That's why is hacked so fast.

It wasn't hacked because it had no protection. And it had no protection because Sony played it smart for once. Due to the nature of the product it had no supplementary products, none software product at the very least, so they couldn't care less what you were gonna do with it - there was no profit to be made from software titles or profit to be lost due to pirating. Plus they knew damn well that they could not include the best of the PS era, thus the budget did not include security. It was just a hardware sale and a major win win.

Honestly, i would pay double that for a PS2 classic with PS2 hardware though and an internal memory.

 

Once the ps classic is hacked one can add their own psx games to play on it, is there a compatibility chart which has info about which psx games can run on the ps classic.
Also does the ps classic have internal storage for game saves, cause i think if i play and save too many games the internal storage of the console would get full and then there is no way to backup these saves to other location to free up space on internal storage of the console for further games.

 

Once the ps classic is hacked one can add their own psx games to play on it, is there a compatibility chart which has info about which psx games can run on the ps classic.
Also does the ps classic have internal storage for game saves, cause i think if i play and save too many games the internal storage of the console would get full and then there is no way to backup these saves to other location to free up space on internal storage of the console for further games.

I don't know about a compatibility chart, but you can save to a usb flash drive. that's how I imported my psx save of dragon warrior 7 to the system. it uses entire memory cards, so you just need to create a new save to add the info to the toc, then hex in the save file from ulaunch.elf. very easy, but time-consuming definitely.

 

Compatibility lists doesn't have much sense because compatibility depends what emulator You are using and in which version. Compatibility list have sense only in case of unhacked, stock emu which I doubt anyone still using.

I prefer RetroBoot which is RetroArch, which have few cores which You can freely switching if something goes wrong. But You have PSV, right? Why You interesting in PSC which is junk? By resharp plugin You can get nearest neighbour scalling also in PSP mode (on which PSX games are emulated).

 

btw, here's where saves are located (at least with retroarch). all psx saves start with SC, so it's easy to find their location, each block is 0x2000 in length iirc, so it's very easy to manipulate saves on the psc:

 

but you can save to a usb flash drive

how to do that pls guide, what im assuming (assuming cause till now i havent bought the ps classic) -- the console saves games on psx mem cards, through ulaunchelf on ps2 i can copy saves from psx mem card to a usb drive

 

so like by default the saves are stored on the usb drive

where saves are located

 

yes, psx saves in raw format. just do a normal copy and paste to get the save in ulaunch elf. then, save in the game you're wanting to import the save to. plug the flash drive into your pc. open the save in a hex editor, look for SC (probably 0x2000 in since each block is the same size), then paste insert over the next 0x2000.

 

Compatibility lists doesn't have much sense because compatibility depends what emulator You are using and in which version. Compatibility list have sense only in case of unhacked, stock emu which I doubt anyone still using.

I prefer RetroBoot which is RetroArch, which have few cores which You can freely switching if something goes wrong. But You have PSV, right? Why You interesting in PSC which is junk? By resharp plugin You can get nearest neighbour scalling also in PSP mode (on which PSX games are emulated).

I just wish to make a collection of playstation consoles and so i thought of buying the psc.
as far as playing psx games i can do that on the ps3 itself as it has the best compatibility for psx games.

 

I actually learned what I know about psx saves from @Berion , and I've successfully imported saves to several systems using that information. since they're raw, it's pretty easy to do.

 

I actually don't even play my psx classic. I just bought it as a novelty. I originally bought it for the msrp of $99.99 iirc, but I returned it when it was a colossal failure and they dropped the price to $60. I bought it again after returning it for that price. I think the price might be like $20 now. haha

 

@tungatung Stock emulator and it's hacks (except AutoBleem), storing memory card images in internal memory. RetroArch storing them on USB. If You want, You can retrieve memory card images from internal memory via network or via bash script which PSC seeking on start (but You need to know basics of GPG and Linux).

About memory card images and saves, You can read more here (@pinky You too ^^):
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/saves-and-memory-card-images-format-types.33638/

If You want extract saves from PSX Memory Cards images, use MemcardRex or IsoBuster v4.7 or newer. Or You can extract them by any hex editor like Pinky said.