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ycd='/dev/cdrom:/vmlinux root=/dev/sr0 video=ps3fb:mode:130 rhgb init=/mame/runscript'

I just added that line to my kboot.conf at the bottom of the file, it does still work even after a poweroff, restart ,reboot etc..., so it doesnt get erased or rebuilt from scratch every boot I can confirm.

Zep--

Sweet, thanks! Yes, editing /etc/kboot.conf (the one in your main root filesystem) indeed does work w/ the stock yellow dog otheros.bld / kboot image.

Much less intrusive than installing a new otheros.bld, so cool.

Fwiw, that otheros.bld could be of use for somebody who doesn't want or need to fully install linux, but wants to use mame - or whatever else pops out using a similar disc image . Of course, they'll need a disc built, so having linux installed will help there.

I'll fix the readme, then start hacking the alternate video modes into the front-end.

In the next release, I will move 'runscript' up to the cd root (init=/runscript), such that things have greater generalization for other apps too.

Hi Phil -

Sounds like you're making some great progress on getting MAME to run on the PS3.

I have been running MAME under Windows for years and am very excited about getting it to run on my PS3. However, I am brand new to the PlayStation world and to Linux, so let me apologize for the overly basic questions up front.

1) Do I have to install Linux on my PS3 to run MAME or is it possible that this can all be on some sort of bootable disc?

2) Assuming I want to install Linux, I'm getting the impression that it matters which one I install (Yellow Dog, Fedora, Gentoo), is that correct or will the Mame you're working on run on any Linux system?

Thanks in advance for your advice...

Oh... One more question...

The first Mame running on PS3 I read about was referring to AdvanceMame... How is that different from the SDLMame you're working with?

Will,

I believe if you use Phil's otheros.bld you don't need to install linux as his runs like a LiveCD.

follow the instructions here, start at the PS3 Preparation step.

http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/installation/ydl5.0_ps3_guide.pdf

but when you get to the part where it says to install YDL's otheros.bld, use phil's)from his site) and you should be able to boot right to his cd image without installing any linux at all.

backup your system with the backup utility before you start (you will have to format the ps3 even if you arnt going to install full blown linux). I was able to backup, format then restore my backup without losing any data, but I have heard some not being able to do that. I am at 1.51 firmware.

Zep--

Oh..if you want to add your own games following phil's instructions...your going to have to install YDL or other linux, or you'll have hours of fun only playing Robby the Robot as thats the only game on his prebuilt CD Image.

Zep--

Phil,

a thought..would it be possible to automate the ./gengamelist thing on the CD so it's part of init?

that way all someone would have to do is populate/replace the rom folder and burn the image. Since that's the only step you can't do in windows since it's a Linux script.

Zep--
PS.
(don't forget to include the BIOS roms you'll need..coz i did, more then once. :))

Er..duh,,i guess that wont work since it's a CD

Sleep is a wonderful thing.

Zep--

Phil,

Thanks a lot for all your work here. Seems the 'net is rather fractured with lots of tidbits related to PS3, Linux, and MAME, and I found your posts here to be the most cohesive so far.

I was able to build and run xmame 1.06 as well as sdlmame 1.112 (no doubt in part thanks to your work ... it now has a "CELL" define in the Makefile to uncomment and produces a "mamecbe" binary) on my PS3 running YDL 5 (which, as I understand it is Fedora core <some_unknown_number> + some PS3 mods). I also built advancemame, but it is not happy with PS3 framebuffer features so will not run (I found it insane that someone else built advancemame for PS3 and posted it on the 'net without ever verifying it even works).

I haven't yet tried your sdl boot CD, as I tend to want to have a full OS booted because I always want to tweak something somewhere, but I like the concept, as I have friends with PS3s that would not want to do a full Linux install themselves but could probably handle the otheros setup and a boot CD like yours.

I've been using Linux since 1991, and using/building arcade emulators a couple of years before MAME came around. I'd like to help move PS3/Linux emulation forward and see loads of potential (like using CELL BE SDK to use those six idle 6 SPEs for 3D calculations, sound, ... to leave the PPC less burdened, accessing extra 256MB RAM on PS3, possibly getting at some 3D graphics hardware potential,...). Before spending too much time on these areas, it seems lots of small things need some tweaking. Seems you've done a good job of getting PS3 controller functionality going, getting some basic resolution setting options, as well as starting work on a front end (I take it you looked at AdvanceMenu and others and weren't impressed?). One of my problems is that YDL 5 doesn't seem to allow dynamic resolution switching (ps3videomode reports properly but will not switch). I can change res via kboot.conf and kboot prompt, but I like to run my desktop in mode 131 (full 1280x720 without the borders) for general Linux functionality and MAME bogs down big time scaling games to that resolution without graphics hardware support.

I'll stop babbling for now...Thanks for your work in kicking things off here, and let me know if you see any places where I might be able to help you move things forward in this space. (Also if you know anything about YDL 5 and dynamic resolution switching or /dev/fb to work with AdvanceMAME, I'd appreciate any pointers).

Cheers,

Bruce

You need to be root for ps3videomode to actually change things.

IMO the best immediate use for the SPEs would be to do the output scaling - you could kick off 4 of them each doing 1/4 of the screen and it'd work quite well. I live in hope that Nvidia or Sony will give us some sort of OpenGL, but thus far that looks gloomy.