Homebrew coder Zion has just made an announcement regarding the ongoing Chip-8 emulator project, DreamChip. This PlayStation Portable-based homebrew application has just been updated to version 3.0, and is now available for your downloading pleasure.

Chip-8, for those asking, is a programming language originally created by Joseph Weisbecker for the COSMAC VIP and Telmac 1800 8-bit microcomputers back in the 70s. This particular PSP version was coded from the PC emulator originally coded by TJA of the emutalk forums. Chip-8 carries ported classic games such as Pong, Space Invaders, Tetris, and Pac-Man. Getting back on topic, here are the changes from after version 2.0:

• The emulator now runs in full screen mode.
• Flickering reduced (only seems to affect Pong).
• Input working flawless (no more stickyness).
• Slight Speedup.
• More compatibility (games like Space Invaders now work)
  

Now, in case you guys were wondering what else is under works for version 4.0, Zion listed these:

• More compatibility (a few bugs are hampering a few games)
• Solve Flickering issue (flickering issue will be solved by the next release)
• File Browser (its been low on priority, but i will definitely include in next release)
• Speed (more speed )
  

Be sure to view the README to see how to upload this application to your PSP. DreamChip's source code to the bundle, which is hoped to help other aspiring coders learn the basics of PSP emulating. Lastly, be warned that Zion does not permit unofficial builds of this application. With that said, we thank Zion for this release, and hope you guys enjoy your download.

Download: DreamChip v3.0

After giving us an Alpha release just a few days ago, Zion is back with a bumped up version of his Chip8 emulator for the PSP called DreamChip.

Zion says that he worked really hard on this second release so that he can bring us a version that'll fix the previous bugs that users have reported. He has also tweaked the controls such that it now works great with every game he tested it on.

In addition to that, he says that more ROMs now work including Tetris. He has also decided to include the source code to this release BUT, he also wants to get this message across: "Source code is released under the gpl licence (i think) and is included in the zip file. I do not permit unofficial builds to be released of this emulator."

Hope that's loud and clear for all those who are interested in working on DreamChip. But just in case you're really interested, you can find Zion's contact details, as well as other info, on the readme. Included in his to-do list for the next release is a file browser and a speed up for the games that are currently running a bit slow.

Download: DreamChip v2.0

We have a piece of emulator goodness for you guys today. Over at the DCEmu forums, HomerSp has released a Chip-8 emulator. The Chip-8 is an interpreted programming language that was initially used on the COSMAC VIP and Telmac 1800 8-bit microcomputers in the '70s.

The Chip-8 emulator also includes a simple file browser for easy file selection. To return to the file browser at any time, just press the START button. HomerSp has also included quite a few public domain roms to get you started on your adventures in old-school Chip-8 emulation.

While HomerSp has no plans to update his Chip-8 emulator, he has expressed interest in the Z80 processor. We're looking forward to what he comes up with in the coming days.

Download: [Chip-8 Emulator]
Download: [Chip-8 Emulator source file]

Zion's released a brand new emulator that brings back memories of old-school game systems, placing them all into your handy-dandy PSP. It's called DreamChip, and it's currently in alpha stage, awaiting some testers who want to see just how far they can go in a high-stakes game of Pong.

Zion's DreamChip v1.0 Alpha is a Chip-8 emulator he's coded to bring old-school gaming to the PSP. In addition to being a programming language emulator, he's also added some games ported to Chip-8 and placed in the public domain, including Tetris, Space Invaders and Pong.

Of course, all of this is still in Alpha. The controls are still a bit clunky, and may need a rewrite of the input system. Still, Zion could definitely use some ideas to make this emulator even better, so why not make a comment here or send him an email, right? Enjoy!

Download: [DreamChip v1.0 Alpha]

Sougen has released another great update of his PSP Genesis emulator. Changelog:

- Automatic support for loading old save states (untested since I don't have any old save states around)
- Option to change the sound quality. (44100 is not recommended because it needs a lot of processing power to emulate the ym2612 chip at that frequency), but it's there if you really want it.

Just some info on the 6-button setting. You should only turn it on for games that support it. A lot of games don't handle the 6-button controller properly (which is why there is a 'Mode' button on a real controller that you hold down when you power up the megadrive). I'll have a look at seeing if this can be autodetected.

Just so people won't be guessing/asking later on, I am currently really busy, so there won't be much releases for a while.

You can get it in our PSP Download section [here].

Apsd has just released a Chip8 Emulator.  He started this emulator a couple months ago, and got busy with infrared releases, forgetting about this emulator.  Well, he has finally released it, and here is what he had to say:

Almost two months ago, before I got busy with the infrared stuff, I wanted to write a first emulator and got advice from ector to start with Chip8 interpreter... About three days after I wrote a working version on my computer, I ported it to the PSP and ever since it has been sitting here...

I've finally gathered up this post to release this beta version of the emulator. I call it beta for three reasons, the first is that there is a bug I need to weed out that causes it to improperly play tetris, the second is that the key arrangement is currently not optimized, the third is that the sound code for the single "beep" (which can be varied in length throughout the games) isn't implemented. (the Chip8 interpreter has 16 keys, so all convenient keys on the PSP are used (Circle, Triangle, Cross, Square, Up, Down, Left, Right, Analog stick up, down, left, right, and a few others... two keys are disabled in this version).

I've packaged the interpreter with just about every Chip8 game (they're public domain) I could find.

I'll release the source once I clean it up.

Expect SCHIP8 (SuperChip8- a few new instructions, extended screen) support in about two releases- these games are slightly more interesting.

Read the readme for more information, and check wikipedia if you want to learn more about CHIP-8.

Don't expect these "games" to be breathtaking. [S]CHIP-8 was a very simple interpreter.

You can get it in our PSP Download section [here]

Christophe Thibault has just released a new version of his Amiga emulator for PSP, version 0.31. Changes in this release include:

? Chip memory set to 2mb so Monkey Island works again
? File selector improvements
? Added options menu

You can get it in our PSP Download section [here]

Maman has released a new version of his Jpeg Viewer, v0.31. Changes in this release include:

? Adjusted the kilobit intervals.
? Overhauled the Filer Mode thumbnail display.
? Modified the cache management.
? I have disabled the ability to view overly large pictures in an effort to avoid the instability that occurs after trying to view them. (Only files of 15M or less may be viewed)
? Large pictures now automatically displayed as thumbnails.
(Have confirmed that 8000*4000 24bit thumbnails can be displayed)

Translation with many thanks to Tenchu the word wizard.

You can get it in our PSP Download section here.

You can download it here. (154 KB)

Now the goods:
This is a modified version of RIN v1.1b based off the source posted by Mirakichi-san. What is added:

What i've thrown in:
v.01
+ Added Quicksave/Quickload
> R+Select = Save State
> R+Start = Load State
+ reverted to old SRAM routine
> Mirakichi's updated source checked the hex for "battery"-type saves; however, some games (like Final Fantasy Adventure) used a custom save chip, and this results in incompatiblity with standard SRAM checking
+ Changed the wording of menus; more of an "English Translation"

Also to be noted, more games run in this release, however Yoshihiro's speedhack was removed (and the routines for rendering the screen were also altered, so it couldn't simply be 'reinserted'). Therefore it runs a bit slower than the UoRIN1.0 releases.

Sound is in the source, but disabled for good reason: it's choppy and slows down the emulation immensely. Obviously will be worked on.