ePSXe makes use of a plugin-based system to emulate GPU, SPU, and CD drive functions, similar to the model first introduced in PSEmu Pro. This approach is also taken in PCSX, PCSX2, and Project64. ePSXe is closed source with the exception of the application programming interface (API) for its plugins.
History
For half a year, ePSXe was developed in secret, away from the public eye. When released on October 14,2000, ePSXe was a revolution in the PSX emulation scene, boasting higher compatibility and performance than other PlayStation emulators of the time.[1]
When ePSXe 1.6.0 was released on August 5, 2003, its development seemed to halt, with rumors claiming that the source code had been lost due to a hard disk failure. However, on April 5, 2008, the developers of ePSXe made a public statement revealing that in the summer of 2007, they had decided to continue development of the emulator, due to encouragement from users. On May 24, 2008, ePSXe version 1.7.0 was released.[2]
Design
As with many modern emulators, ePSXe makes use of plugins to emulate GPU, SPU, and CD-ROM drive functions, a model first established in PSEmu Pro.ePSXe can read from CDs and run many types of CD images directly from the user's hard drive. With few exceptions, it is capable of nearly flawlessly emulating many PlayStation games. Games that do not necessarily run properly, or even start at all, can still be fixed and played via the use of ePSXe patch files in .ppf format. In the latest version of ePSXe (and possibly some older versions), there is a patching feature that allows the user to patch certain games. Not all games prone to bugs have ppf patches written for them.
Unlike a few alternative PlayStation emulators that are able to use high level emulation to mimic the effect of the PlayStation's BIOS, ePSXe functions with an image of an official Sony PlayStation BIOS. Since the various PlayStation BIOS images are Sony's intellectual property, it is illegal to distribute them. For this reason, ePSXe does not come bundled with any of the PlayStation BIOS images, requiring the user to provide one for the emulator.
System requirements
ePSXe's stated system requirements are:[3]- Processor: Pentium 200 MHz, recommended 1 GHz
- RAM: 256 MB RAM, recommended 512 MB RAM
- Graphics card: 3D graphics card with support for OpenGL or DirectX
- Operating system: Windows: 9x (95, or 98/98SE), NT (XP, 2000, Vista, 7, etc.); GNU/Linux: any distribution
- CD-ROM: 16x or faster (optional)
Plugins
- GPU: Most GPU plugins run with either Direct3D, OpenGL, or the Glide API, and are available as freeware or open source
- SPU: The SPU plugins can emulate everything from music to sound effects, with varying degrees of success depending on the plugin settings, and of course the plugin being used
- CD-ROM: ePSXe comes with a core CD-ROM plugin, but many others are available for freeware download and many can emulate up to seven different types of read modes
- Input: The core plugin is sufficient, but there are others that allow for more functionality. It is even possible to plug in and use a DualShock controller with a USB adapter
Compatibility
The current version of ePSXe, 1.7.0, is able to run nearly all Playstation games flawlessly, with some exceptions. In the case that a game does not run successfully, patches written for the game in question can be used, though few games have patches available.Quite often, users would download ePSXe 1.5.2 to avoid using ePSXe 1.6.0. This was due to version 1.6.0 having numerous complications about it that lead users to use the last properly functional release. 1.7.0 repaired most, if not all, of the issues present in 1.6.0.
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