Playstation Classic Mini System

[A Former User]

I wonder if Sony are having licensing issues regarding music tracks ?
Gran Turismo games, had lots of commercial music in them. Perhaps they couldn't get a license, or didn't think the cost of getting one was worth it for the price of the mini.
I wouldn't trade my original PSX for one, or even my Pi. But it looks great, for a mini.
HDMI, isn't going to look good for these old Playstation games. Many haven't aged well even on a CRT, so seeing them all crisp on a HDTV might put a few off. Newcomers, might like it.
I'll get one for the novelty, but it will be for show only.

[BobHarris]

@John_RM_70 I'm sure Sony will put smoothing and scanline options in there. Only the really early games (1995) still look bad then.

I bet Gran turismo is a nightmare..with all the songs and car brands in there.

[thelostsoul]

I also miss Gran Turismo 2. But I bet there was licensing issues for 500 (!) cars.
Btw, off course Final Fantasy Tactics and 9 are also essential games, but with a selection of 20 you can't fill it with JRPGs only. I wonder if the European version will have a different selection of games.

[Clyde]

@BobHarris I thought the same, especially since the SNES Mini has such a mode, too. Sony would be ill-advised to omit such a feature.

@John_RM_70 The Music may be also the reason for a missing Wipeout.

[A Former User]

@Clyde said in Playstation Classic Mini System:

@BobHarris I thought the same, especially since the SNES Mini has such a mode, too. Sony would be ill-advised to omit such a feature.

@John_RM_70 The Music may be also the reason for a missing Wipeout.

Yeah, you're probably right about Wipeout. Lots of 90s dance tracks on there, many from famous bands.
Shame, would have thought the main attractions for a mini Playstation were all 3 Wipeout games, Gran Turismo 2, Tombraider 1 & 2, and so many more I can think of. Perhaps it's also the lack of analogue controllers ?

[Clyde]

@John_RM_70 said in Playstation Classic Mini System:

Perhaps it's also the lack of analogue controllers ?

That may be, but even for Wipeout and Ridge Racer, analog controllers were optional, so …

[lilbud]

@Clyde Popular game I'm surprised is not on this "classic console"

[Clyde]

@lilbud Ah ok, I was confused because you asked about it right after the two games you didn't know. Thanks for unraveling my mind. :)

[edmaul69]

@BobHarris there is actually more than just not falling off. You need to complete the game in the minimum amount of moves to finish it with an iq of 999. I absolutely love intelligent qube. It is a selling point for me.

[edmaul69]

@Clyde i figured that the music was most likely the reason for the omission of wipeout. Im guessing probably lag involved in those games.

[BobHarris]

@edmaul69 Lag on wipeout? Those games aren't demanding. They (XL and 3) are one of the few PS1 titles on my non overclocked Pi 3 that I can play with enhanced resolution.
It's most likely due to issues with music licensing / brand placement (Red bull). Otherwise Sony would have put them on the PSN store years ago.
But they aren't really a good fit for the PS Classic anyway. Playing XL, the only way I have been able to master the 7th and 8th circuit and phantom speed was with the Negcon. I play XL and 3 on my Pi with the thumbstick and it helps, but it's not as intuitive/accurate as the Negcon. Just a dpad would be even harder.

[edmaul69]

@BobHarris the reason i say that there is probably lag is because the game is actually sit in two. Half is the game and the other half is an audio cd that is the music

[thelostsoul]

@edmaul69 Why should this lead to a lag problem? Never heard of this before. There are some games with cd audio music included, in example Rayman and Battle Arena Toshinden (wonderful soundtracks btw).

[edmaul69]

@thelostsoul well depending on the power of the system it’s possible that running a game like wipeout that runs that fast there may be hicccups that you wouldnt see in games like rayman. Rayman is a 2d game that doesnt have the background changing as fast as wipeout does. None of us knows why some games arent included so we are all speculating at this point.

[thelostsoul]

@edmaul69 Ok fair enough. :-) It could be possible. But don't forget, the games aren't on disk anymore. Now you remember me when I started with PSX emulation on RP3 and had some problems with cd audio games, exactly like you describe. There was small hiccups in example at Ridge Racer.

[lilbud]

Yep, definitely worth $100.

Only 2 save states for each game (not ingame saves)

no extra emulator features (shaders, borders, video size, etc.)

Priced it out, you can get everything included with this classic console (but with a Pi) for $10 less.)

[thelostsoul]

@lilbud said in Playstation Classic Mini System:

Priced it out, you can get everything included with this classic console (but with a Pi) for $10 less.)

While I agree on your other statements, this statement is the one I don't much like. I read this often. While it is not untrue, there is something else you get for your money with the official systems: The work has been done, no need for configuration, setting up emulator, games and the whole RetroPie sytem, no need for "piracy" (or at least don't feel bad for it) and internet connection to get the games and so on. It is pre configured for plug and play.

Said that, I won't buy it, because I am happy with what I have. But I can fully understand if someone is getting it, even if it is not perfect. It is the only official plug and play retro PlayStation release yet.

[dankcushions]

here's a fun thing - the playstation classic uses the very same PCSX_reARMed emulator that we use in retropie - https://kotaku.com/playstation-classic-plays-fine-but-it-s-a-bare-bones-e-1830294616

i don't know if it has been modified (if it has they will have to release the source code as per the GPL), but to get accurate bare-bones psx emulation for these titles you likely wouldn't need to.

looking at the screenshots, the UI doesn't seem very interesting either, compared to what nintendo did for the NES/SNES classics. i think we'll see a lot of knock-offs on ebay, using retropie and delivering a better experience (NTSC versions of the games, better UI, higher resolution, shaders and so on).

i do agree with @thelostsoul on the benefits of official products, though.

[A Former User]

The comments on that kotaku article, make me want to put my fist through the monitor and give them all a good slap.
I mean, I started out a few months ago not knowing NOTHING about the Pi or Linux, and yet here I am today able to make my own retropie image from scratch, as well as tweak settings, mess with the config, overclock, setup perfect CRT resolutions.

I've even read comments that say "Yeah, you stick with your pirate emulator and roms", and I'm thinking YOU would be using the same emulator that most retropi owners are using, so who is the pirate now ? Idiots. And are Sony going to be sticking the the gpl ?

And the GUI is god-awful. It's like Sony gave the task to some young intern, along with Windows Paint, and internet access.

I might buy one just to gut it, and stick a Pi in there.

[mediamogul]

@dankcushions said in Playstation Classic Mini System:

looking at the screenshots, the UI doesn't seem very interesting either, compared to what nintendo did for the NES/SNES classics.

Well, they're emulating the look of the original PSX options menu. The problem is, that design always looked like it was thrown together quickly without any thought. At the time, I was learning Macromedia Shockwave and this design was very close to the most basic user interface examples from the book I was using. At a certain point nostalgia should be tempered with good taste when releasing a modern commercial product.