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 Playstation Development _I_
by Alex Knight (knight@ocs.net)

In this article, I will touch base with how to start developing software
for your playstation. I will include the information on where to get the
things you need to get started with, and where you can either purchase or
get for free.

This is my first article on Playstation Development. Depending on the
popularity, I will see about continuing to release articles monthly. I
might even just do a 4 part series, with this first one being an intro
into the realm of Playstation Development. 

INTRODUCTION
------------

We are all familiar with the 32-bit gaming console system known as
Playstation. It was developed with users the ages of 18-35 in mind. Most
of the games have advanced control, smooth graphics, and best of all no
Mario.

Developing demos, software, and games for the PSX (PlayStation) is a bit
more simple than you would think. With an investment of about $100, you
are off to the development world of the game pros. Ofcourse, with this,
you will need to include some talent, time, and experience.

The rig I will talk about in this article will give you complete control
of your psx from your computer. You will be able to reboot, dump, and
explore your psx. When you have written a piece of software for the psx,
you will be able to either burn it to a CD, or write it over your
communications link to the psx directly. 


GETTING SETUP
-------------

You will need the following equipment/software:

	o CommsLink Communication Card
	o Parallel Cable (length between your psx and pc)
	o GameShark / Xplore / Action Replay game cheat device
	o Caetla GameShark ROM image
	o PSY-Q w/ Playstation Libraries

The CommsLink Communication card is relatively easy to purchase. Often
little specialty Playstation rental stores will carry them for about $45.
Be sure to lookup your little local asian run psx rental shop today. They
always carry some cheap imported crap they snuck into the country. The
CommsLink card is essentially a high speed parallel port. Where your
normal LPT port gets about 70k/sec, the CommsLink achieves speeds between
1.5-2 megs/sec. 

The parallel cable you need is actually a db25 on both ends (male on one,  
and female on the other). The important thing to realize when purchasing
(or making for that matter) your cable is that it is a 25 pin
straight-through (also known as pass-through) cable. We want pin 1 on one
side to equal pin 1 on the other side, etc. Many cables do not have the
full 25 wires. So be sure it proves to be a 25 wire straight-through.
	
The GameShark, or Xplorer, or Action Replay device can be purchased from
Fry's Electronics, Toys-R-Us, or most any other place that sells
playstation games and equipment. I recommend the GameShark or Action
Replay since that's the only one I have had direct experience with. The
GameShark is the most common cheat device out for the Playstation right
now. However, this Xplorer device seems to be new. You will be connecting
the serial cable up to the back of this puppy, which in turn, connects
into your playstation. The reason we need this device, is because it will
act as a cheap version interface to your playstation. Building your own
interface into Playstation's serial port would cost you more than the $50
for the GameShark had you had to do it manually. Besides, with this
technique, we will simply modify some rom code, and off we go.    

Caetla is the rom code for the GameShark, Action Replay, or Xplorer cheat
device. This will replace your current "operating system" for the device,
and add several new utilities. To start, you will still be able to perform
cheat functions, and browse the cd's, and memory cards. Resetting your PSX
has been added, as well as the ability to upload compiled PSX code in
executable format. You can download Caetla from  
http://www3.airnet.ne.jp/kcomm.

PSY-Q will be your most difficult addition to your psx development
library. PSY-Q is a set of libraries, and tools for compiling your psx
code. It includes a MIPS compiler, and the "top secret" Sony libraries
that you can only get from becoming a registered Sony developer. Getting
this package requires you to become an official Sony developer, but
can be found on the net most likely. I do not in anyway recommend you
download this from some "kiddie" because I really doubt you will be
making decent code anyways if you have to rely on "juarez" to code psx
software. If you have gotten your PSY-Q password, you can go to the PISS
web-page and download it at http://computer.freepages.de/piss/.  

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
---------------------

First things first. Make sure you have your CommsLink card installed into
an ISA slot on your PC. Next, connect the serial cable to the CommsLink
card, and the respective end to the GameShark (or whichever one you have).
Next, make the GameShark active by pushing the toggle switch into the up
position, and be sure it is plugged into the back of the PSX. 

                |GS|----------------    -------
    ----------------               |    |     |
    =              =                \   | PC  |    
    =  PlayStation =                 \  |     |
    =              =                  \ |     |
    ================                   \|_____|

Follow the instructions for installing the Caetla rom image into the
GameShark. It should be as simple as something like:

	psupdate -p3 caetla.bin

But follow the docs so you don't screw up. I shouldn't have to give you
every detail anyways. Most likely, you are an intelligent being who knows
how to read documentation when required. I hope so.

Now that you are all setup, you can start developing games, demos
(remember the Amiga days? yes! for psx!), and utilies. 

(NOTE: Xplorer ROM updates are different than those of GameShark and
Action Replay updates. It has become aware that Xplorers don't use a raw
binary format. Just be sure to read the documentation.)


RESOURCES
---------

Ok. Let me assume right off the bat you don't have PSY-Q. Most likely you
don't. Not to fret. This setup is still fun! You can go download a crud
load of pre-existing demos that have been created for the playstation. You
can also, still examine other people's code, and learn the syntaxes. 

There are several demo groups for psx development. Check their pages out
to download source code, demos, and utilies for psx development. DO NOT
ASK THEM FOR PSY-Q. THEY WILL NOT GIVE IT TO YOU, AND DON'T WANT TO BE
BOTHERED WITH YOUR PITTIFUL WAREZ REQUESTS.

HitMen		http://www.hitmen-psx.ml.org
Napalm		http://napalm.intelinet.com
PISS		http://computer.freepages.de/piss/
K-Comms (Caetla) http://www3.airnet.ne.jp/kcomm/

These are definately good sites to look at. You can also find Caetla here
if you can't seem to find it elsewhere.

If you use EFNet IRC, you can join #psxdev for conversation on Playstation
Development. Please do not ask for BIN images of games. That will get you
banned immediately. #psxdev is not a warez channel. And we don't want
idiot kiddies looking to pirate PSX games rather than learn how the PSX
works to join and be cluebies.

If you have read all the docs provided, and you are still having problems,
feel free to email me at knight@ocs.net, or find me on IRC as knight
(perhaps even knight-). I'll be happy to get you started, but only if you
have read the docs. If you come asking me what Caetla is, then you
obviously haven't read the docs. Just read the fscking manual!

Alex Knight
December 1998
knight@ocs.net
    
