So I made adding PS1 games to the PlayStation Classic as easy as scanning a QR code.
Download the mod (PSC Store) here: https://github.com/hampter-mods/pscstore-release/releases
Hi guys.
This will probably be the last update for a long while.
I’ve been spending an enormous amount of time and effort on this app. Probably over half a year has passed combining testing, programming, and edge-case handling of both the Disc Launcher and PSC Store.
This latest update, v1.7.3, makes adding external source download links much easier. All you need is your phone to scan the QR code and add your download links for your PS1 games in your browser. The .TSV file still exists, and you can still edit it manually in the root of the USB (if you dare), but a lot of people commented saying they didn’t understand it, so I wanted to make it easier while keeping a balance between copyright and convenience.
It’s still the user’s discretion whether they enable External Sources and add their own download links for PS1 game titles.
For those who saw the version of the app that could scrape download sources, the reason I removed it is that it relies on those sources staying up, which, as we know, sadly isn’t always the case. It also changes the conversation around my app’s responsibility for piracy when it links directly to a source, even if I didn’t host it per se.
I wanted an app that I could maintain, one that could help preserve these games and stay available for many people maintaining their PS Classic consoles for years to come. I also wanted to provide much easier and more convenient access to the huge number of great games in the PS1 library, something that is much harder when dealing with the aging Project Eris desktop app and game database management, especially when you start thinking about importing your own physical discs, managing multi-disc games, and LibCrypt.
PSC Store solves all of that with disc importing using external disc drives, multi-disc installation management, built-in LibCrypt patching, and even the Disc Launcher, letting you play your physical discs directly. All of this can be done without needing your computer (other than the initial installation) and without ever touching a single .bin/.cue, .m3u, .sbi, .ini, or .pcsx file.
For those wondering about a PSC Store AutoBleem release, while AutoBleem is great in its own right (as kernel modification is optional and can work without it), modifying scripts, function files, and binaries is a lot more uniform on Project Eris, especially since it keeps the original PS Classic UI fully intact. Everyone has the exact same file structure on Project Eris, which makes it much easier to provide a consistent and reliable experience, as not everyone mods the kernel on AutoBleem, which locks you out of Wi-Fi and networking support.
Although core PSC Store features like search, the library manager, and favorites could be ported to a version for AutoBleem, or perhaps a stepping-stone version that unlocks all PSC Store features when you mod AutoBleem’s kernel, doing that for an entirely different kernel, hooks, scripts, and environment setup is probably not worth it.
Or perhaps the community could help me on that one. I could provide the C source code for anyone worthy of going down that path, but let me know your thoughts on that one.
I still have future plans for the app, like many of you guys’ requests for the ability to transfer games between USB and Internal storage, perhaps on-device game compression, and working out .CHD support to launch PS1 titles directly in the carousel. There’s also the much-requested AutoBleem support and other improvements, like the ability to manually reorder games in the USB/Internal lists, manually change the game ID slot, measure playtime with the stock or the non-RetroArch standalone PCSX emulator, and download other .MOD files for Project Eris (from here: https://github.com/Jetup13/PlayStation-Classic-Wiki/releases/tag/Backup).
In addition, I’d like to add the ability to download PS1 game cheats for RetroArch and the standalone PCSX emulator, as well as RetroArch shaders and other emulator and PS1 emulator cores for RetroArch.
But until then, I hope you guys take care and enjoy this app that I have built. It’s not crazy or anything; the ability to emulate and conveniently enjoy PS1 games is as ubiquitous as emulating NES games nowadays, with the advent of various emulators for PC and phone, abundant handheld consoles from Anbernic and Steam Deck, and FPGA recreations like those from Retro Remake. But it does add much-needed functionality back to this little mini console.
It was certainly my pleasure, and I enjoyed working through all the bugs, even if it was excruciating with such limited hardware. I would love to see your guys’ thoughts, videos, or tutorials, or have you send me any bugs or issues you find over in the GitHub issues section:
https://github.com/hampter-mods/pscstore-release/issues
And while I won’t be actively pushing big features for a while, I’ll still patch any issues, minor features, and support any new homebrew titles that come out for PS1. There were still a few that I missed, like Yume Nikki, that I’ll be sure to add.
Over on my YouTube channel, though, TechArc, I’m planning a few more detailed tutorials and walkthroughs, especially around direct physical disc playback and disc importing with external disc drives, as well as extended tutorials and deep dives into extensive PS Classic mods, like adding a tiny little fan and new heatsinks to keep it cool, internal USB hubs, the USB expansion port for easy disc drive connection, internal Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/8BitDo adapters, and adding a microSD card slot.
So don’t think your PS Classic is useless or a paperweight just yet. My app, and my dedication to improving the experience, will help ensure that you continue to enjoy your retro games for years to come.
Anyway, enough yap. Thank you guys so much, and enjoy.