Guide to Playstation Emulator on Ubuntu

By | March 19, 2008 |

Playing playstation games on Ubuntu can be achieved easily with an emulator. Currently, the two most popular PS emulators are ePSXe and pSX. In terms of gaming capability, both emulators worked equally well. However in terms of installation and configuration, pSX is a clear winner since there is really nothing much to configure. It just worked out of the box.

The installation is tested on Ubuntu Gutsy.

Installing dependencies

pSX requires OpenGL library and gtkGLext to work. Download the libgtkglext deb file. Click on the downloaded file to install the library.

Installing pSX

Download pSX from http://psxemulator.gazaxian.com/pSX_linux_1_13.tar.bz2 and save it to your home folder.

Untar it. You can either use the Archive manager or via terminal:

tar xvf pSX_linux_1_13.tar.bz2

Installing the bios

The emulator needs a bios file in order for it to work and pSX does not come with a bios file by default. You will have to search for it in Google. (A point of caution – it is illegal to own and use the bios. Download it at your own risk.)

Google search scph1001.bin. Download the file and save it in the bios folder under the pSX folder. (If the downloaded file is in zip form, you need to extract it. Only place the .bin file in the bios folder)

Download ROM

In order to play PS game, you need to have the game images (or game ROM). You can find lot of game ROMs available for download in mininova or amule

Once you found the ROM you want, download and save it to the cdimages folder.

Activate pSX

To open pSX, in your terminal:

cd /home/your username/pSX
./pSX

Upon loading, it will popup a window saying that it can’t locate bios. Click OK

bios-not-found.png

Another window will appear to allow you to select the bios, click on the ‘scph1001.bin’ and click OK.

choose-bios.png

The default playstation will now appear.

psx-screenshot1.jpg

Load your ROM (File -> Insert CD Image).

Done. You can now play your PS game in your Ubuntu machine.

Adding pSX to Game menu

Right click on the menu bar and select ‘edit menu‘

On the left pane, select ‘Game’.

On the right, click “New Item”. A popup window will appear.

Enter the following:
Name: pSX
Command: /home/your username/psX/pSX

click Ok

Click Close.

You can now launch the pSX from Applications->Game->pSX

psx-screenshot2.jpg

psx-screenshot3.jpg

More screenshots



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Damien Oh is the owner and chief editor of Make Tech Easier

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  • http://NoPremium.org/ NoPremium.org

    thanks a lot

  • http://NoPremium.org NoPremium.org

    thanks a lot

  • http://cneil.blogspot.com/ cneil

    If I just bought old Playstation games could I use the CDs?

  • http://cneil.blogspot.com cneil

    If I just bought old Playstation games could I use the CDs?

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

    @cneil: Yes. The CD will work on the emulator.

  • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

    @cneil: Yes. The CD will work on the emulator.

  • Sonja

    (pSX:1914): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    pSX: pcm_params.c:2259: snd_pcm_hw_refine: Assertion `pcm && params’ failed.
    Aborted
    sonja@sonja:~/pSX$

    It crashes after I load the .bin and before showing the Sony screen.

  • Sonja

    (pSX:1914): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    pSX: pcm_params.c:2259: snd_pcm_hw_refine: Assertion `pcm && params’ failed.
    Aborted
    sonja@sonja:~/pSX$

    It crashes after I load the .bin and before showing the Sony screen.

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

    @Sonja: Check your sound setting. If your media player are on, close down all and try again.

    • freakzilla

      I have the same problem as Sonja but I don’t have any media players on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

    @Sonja: Check your sound setting. If your media player are on, close down all and try again.

  • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

    @Sonja: Check your sound setting. If your media player are on, close down all and try again.

    • freakzilla

      I have the same problem as Sonja but I don’t have any media players on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/ Arky

    Looks like the PSX emulator is shipped with debian/ubuntu by default

    I did a ‘ apt-cache search pcsx ‘ and ….

    pcsx – Transition package for pcsx-df
    pcsx-bin – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-df – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-i18n – Sony PlayStation emulator — extra languages

  • http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com/ Arky

    Looks like the PSX emulator is shipped with debian/ubuntu by default

    I did a ‘ apt-cache search pcsx ‘ and ….

    pcsx – Transition package for pcsx-df
    pcsx-bin – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-df – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-i18n – Sony PlayStation emulator — extra languages

  • http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com Arky

    Looks like the PSX emulator is shipped with debian/ubuntu by default

    I did a ‘ apt-cache search pcsx ‘ and ….

    pcsx – Transition package for pcsx-df
    pcsx-bin – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-df – Sony PlayStation emulator — binary
    pcsx-i18n – Sony PlayStation emulator — extra languages

  • Nate Pruessner

    I have just installed a psx emulator. I downloaded the scph1001.bin bio and have a rom in my cdimages file I start the emulator and a “BIOS NOT FOUND” screen pops up I click ok and I put the scph1001.bin in and click ok nothing happens.
    I run Ubuntu 8.1
    and im a newb
    I need to know how to get my psx emulator to work.

  • Nate Pruessner

    I have just installed a psx emulator. I downloaded the scph1001.bin bio and have a rom in my cdimages file I start the emulator and a “BIOS NOT FOUND” screen pops up I click ok and I put the scph1001.bin in and click ok nothing happens.
    I run Ubuntu 8.1
    and im a newb
    I need to know how to get my psx emulator to work.

  • Nate Pruessner

    I have just installed a psx emulator. I downloaded the scph1001.bin bio and have a rom in my cdimages file I start the emulator and a “BIOS NOT FOUND” screen pops up I click ok and I put the scph1001.bin in and click ok nothing happens.
    I run Ubuntu 8.1
    and im a newb
    I need to know how to get my psx emulator to work.

  • Nate Pruessner

    I also have a pentium 2

    • Jay

      Using a P2 to run playstation games is insane. It will be really slow. As far as your question.

      Linux is case sensitive.

      The bios file should be in your pSX/bios dir.

  • Nate Pruessner

    I also have a pentium 2

    • Jay

      Using a P2 to run playstation games is insane. It will be really slow. As far as your question.

      Linux is case sensitive.

      The bios file should be in your pSX/bios dir.

  • Gvidas

    Hi,
    I’m a newbie and I have this problem after I add the ’scph1001.bin’ and before SONY screen.
    Here what terminal tells me (last line):

    (pSX:8124): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    [src/linux/sound.cpp, line 215]: ‘snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access(pcm_handle,hwparams,SND_PCM_ACCESS_MMAP_INTERLEAVED)’ returned ‘Invalid argument’
    pad=0
    Segmentation fault

    I’ve tried this: http://psxemulator.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=2998 but no luck. Can anyone help me?

  • Gvidas

    Hi,
    I’m a newbie and I have this problem after I add the ’scph1001.bin’ and before SONY screen.
    Here what terminal tells me (last line):

    (pSX:8124): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    [src/linux/sound.cpp, line 215]: ‘snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access(pcm_handle,hwparams,SND_PCM_ACCESS_MMAP_INTERLEAVED)’ returned ‘Invalid argument’
    pad=0
    Segmentation fault

    I’ve tried this: http://psxemulator.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=2998 but no luck. Can anyone help me?

  • Marco

    I’ve used the emulator named PCSX and I’ve inserted the CD, but my Ubuntu (9.04) can’t see it as like as the cd doesn’t exist…what could i do?

    Thanks

  • Marco

    I’ve used the emulator named PCSX and I’ve inserted the CD, but my Ubuntu (9.04) can’t see it as like as the cd doesn’t exist…what could i do?

    Thanks

    • http://maketecheasier.com/ Damien

      First of all, is your CD PS1 or PS2 game? PCSX have not been updated for a long long time and I have completely no idea if it still works.

  • Marco

    I’ve used the emulator named PCSX and I’ve inserted the CD, but my Ubuntu (9.04) can’t see it as like as the cd doesn’t exist…what could i do?

    Thanks

    • http://maketecheasier.com Damien

      First of all, is your CD PS1 or PS2 game? PCSX have not been updated for a long long time and I have completely no idea if it still works.

  • Gvidas

    Nevermind, I’m good now.

  • Gvidas

    Nevermind, I’m good now.

  • tuanquoc

    It’s good ^^
    Thanks for your share.

  • tuanquoc

    It’s good ^^
    Thanks for your share.

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  • TUAAM

    I keep getting this fault, im running 9.10

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_connect_data: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_connect_data: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    [src/linux/sound.cpp, line 215]: ‘snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access(pcm_handle,hwparams,SND_PCM_ACCESS_MMAP_INTERLEAVED)’ returned ‘Invalid argument’
    pad=0

    (pSX:10751): GdkGLExt-WARNING **: Cannot open 0u000cK L.so
    Segmentation fault

  • TUAAM

    I keep getting this fault, im running 9.10

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_connect_data: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_connect_data: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

    (pSX:10751): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: g_signal_handler_disconnect: assertion `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)’ failed
    [src/linux/sound.cpp, line 215]: ‘snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access(pcm_handle,hwparams,SND_PCM_ACCESS_MMAP_INTERLEAVED)’ returned ‘Invalid argument’
    pad=0

    (pSX:10751): GdkGLExt-WARNING **: Cannot open 0\u000cK L.so
    Segmentation fault

  • http://myworldofwarcraftonline.com zygor guides

    i think Originally a windows Playstation 1 Emulator, it has recently been …. is a comprehensive beginners guide!