PSone games $15 on PSP?

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 6, 2006 5:39 pm PT

Source: A report with pictures on PSP Updates. The official story: "There has not been any official imagery released from Sony Computer Entertainment showcasing the PS one emulator on PSP. Please disregard those images as false."--a Sony representative. What we heard: This morning, PSP Updates...

Source: A report with pictures on PSP Updates.

The official story: "There has not been any official imagery released from Sony Computer Entertainment showcasing the PS one emulator on PSP. Please disregard those images as false."--a Sony representative.

What we heard: This morning, PSP Updates posted a news report about the PSP's upcoming PSone game emulation, based on an e-mail from a reader. Along with the e-mail, the site reprinted three pictures that showed the emulation system's interface and dropped hints about Sony's plans for the service.

Two of the pictures showed a lineup of downloadable games that featured a number of PSone games including Gran Turismo 2, Metal Gear Solid, and Final Fantasy VII. The third picture seems to be a submenu from which the user can download Gran Turismo 2, and contains information like the ESRB rating, details on the game's support for ad hoc and Infrastructure Wi-Fi modes, and interestingly enough, a price. Downloading the game would purportedly cost players $15.

However, There are a number of suspicious things about the PSP-download menu pictures. For one, look at the roster of games being offered. Sure, Gran Turismo 2 and Final Fantasy VII make sense, but what's with all the mediocre titles cluttering up the list? Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare? Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes? Not one, but two poorly received Broken Sword games? Then there's Doom II--which was was never released as a stand-alone game on the PlayStation. It was instead included in the original PlayStation version of Doom.

Beyond that, two of the pictures show text transposed over the PSP's signature background of gently lolling wavy lines. The thing is, those lines normally move, and the two screen shots show them in identical positions on the screen, suggesting that someone created both images from the same picture of the PSP background.

On the other hand, it's possible that these are conceptual mockups of the interface prepared internally by Sony, in which case everything is placeholder information (including the price), and things like a duplicated background or fabricated list of games wouldn't be any big deal. Also, incorporating obscure details like the PSP's Parental Control system (which includes 11 different levels of content restrictions) shows an unusual attention to detail for a faker who couldn't be bothered to change up the background from shot to shot.

But if that were the case, why wouldn't Sony have sent forth its cease-and-desist lawyer squad to have the images pulled? You know, the crew that made early info about God of War 2 and a co-op mode for the PSP Killzone disappear from the Web? Or the peeps that did the same thing when a site jumped the embargo date on screens for Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom? It just doesn't add up.

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus.

180 Comments

  • BLOODBoy666

    Posted Nov 14, 2006 8:59 am PT

    One thing that you all seem to be forgetting is how we are going to store these games on our psp's. A ps1 disc holds around 800mb, (the scaled down image might reduce the size by about half at max) so you need a 1gb memory card. Since you wil only be able to fit about 1 -2 max games on a 1gb pro duo card, it is gonig to get expnesive buying lots of memory cards to store your games on, depending how many you want that is.

  • BLOODBoy666

    Posted Nov 14, 2006 8:58 am PT

    One thing that you all seem to be forgetting is how we are going to store these games on our psp's. A ps1 disc holds around 800mb, (the scaled down image might reduce the size by about half at max) so you need a 1gb memory card. Since you wil only be able to fit about 1 -2 max games on a 1gb pro duo card, it is gonig to get expnesive buying lots of memory cards to store your games on, depending how many you want that is.

  • edladdlad

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 7:26 am PT

    I don't think games on the psp will be as large (2gb) as people think, smaller screen and stuff. Might be like the way movies are about half the size on the psp...maybe. It would definitely be a turnoff if we have to go and get 4gb memory for old games

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Aug 20, 2006 8:34 am PT

    Can't wait, I already have a list of the games I want. the top 5 are Final Fantasy's, Metal Gear Solid, Crash, Mega Man, and other RPG' s

  • robeyblade

    Posted Aug 19, 2006 12:06 pm PT

    Wow only 15 dollars a game? Sounds great!

  • cloud121

    Posted Aug 19, 2006 9:43 am PT

    its not bad but if the psp can take advantge of the ps emulation sony can come back cuz i think the ds cant play old games but itd be better if the price was 10 bucks i noe id jus get FF7 an MGS and take it on the go but lookin @ a pic ud need to buy 1 g stick but how are they gunna fit alll 3 discs of FF 7 on a 1 g memory stick and plus payin 15 is alot

  • NRG753

    Posted May 9, 2006 9:15 am PT

    SO, it WASN'T bogus!! Looks like the PSP still has life left yet..

  • foofightersrule

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 10:31 am PT

    Just think of paying $15 for sweet old games like that, the only issue being how long it would take to download and payment methods and all that... Hopefully in the long run this turns out true

  • tuddy_666

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 11:05 am PT

    ...I don't own a PSP, but if FF7 came out on it, I would buy a PSP and then I would "do a SNES" thats my term for being over-excited and (possibly) running around the house holding it over my head

  • solidsnakeo

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 7:38 am PT

    im so glad this is bogus because i dont want to pay for games ive owened for years again

  • AzN_K3V1N

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 10:05 pm PT

    I'd say $8 at most.

  • n8archer_XI

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 7:42 pm PT

    just so those early "bloggers" know, this rumor being bogus in no way means no PS1 games on PSP, there will B, but thi means those pics Rn't really portraying the program in theory

  • xXAdventChildXx

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 11:33 am PT

    Yay FF7

  • itsdarockGGI

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 8:33 am PT

    Just another disappointment from sony......... :-/

  • Deaths-reaper

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 7:04 am PT



    its totally messed up that sony wants its loyal followers who shelled like out a fortune for the psp to pay for games that are 5 years old and more, really sony wants its psp it would give it a huge boost to have database of all its games to download free of charge

  • Deaths-reaper

    Posted Apr 9, 2006 6:59 am PT

    for meimnobody

    Ah Death any ROM is illegal. Making a backup is not legal even if you own the software. Software copyrights last 75 years. Piracy is outright killing PSP game sales. Look into how piracy killed the dreamcast and you will see the same thing happening with the PSP.

    dont be stupid if you have an original copy of any game,program, moive or music that has been paid for legaly, ye legaly you are allowed to back up and rom that has been paid for legaly.

    so ye you can buy any second ps one for dirt cheap make a back up file on ur memory card and use an emulator even if its an emulator not created by sony, because you own the psp and the its contents for use how you want to , you are not allowed to dupilcate its hardware coz there patented but can use it how you wish

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 7:04 pm PT

    wooooooooow
    just make a mini pc compitable with everything like psone games ps2 games and xbox!
    its getting really crazy nowadays!~!!

  • ao_bomber

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 6:24 pm PT

    Did anyone actually read the article? This is bogus, meaning don't get your hopes up for $15 ports. =\

  • ao_bomber

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Bahamut50

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    and were not all stupid some of us just post without reading

  • Bahamut50

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    its logical to make a decision like this but its very hard to believe that this is feasible considering the size of these games.maybe if they find a way to make it work for portable but i dont think so

  • ocdog45

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    something like that i'd be down for

  • saberdook

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 12:09 pm PT

    that seems fair.

  • Gmex

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 10:27 am PT

    to bad it's bogus

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Apr 8, 2006 8:18 am PT

    FFVII! FFVIII! FFIX! IM BUYING A PSP!

  • recklessdoc

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 10:23 pm PT

    you guys are so dumb, a PS1 emulator is coming to the PSP this fall, but no prices have been announced yet

  • Smoke2Much

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:47 pm PT

    Sounds interesting ! If it were true it might make me go out and buy a PSP!Couple of games that i don't have i wouldn't mind playing on a PSP

  • S7ATER

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    If they want the PSP to continue sells, they really should make the PSP be able to play PS1 games.

  • alberto2045

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:27 pm PT

    IMPOSIBLE!!!

  • sniper_99

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    hope they'll add MGS1

  • thechosenone827

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 3:35 pm PT

    That would be cool, $15 is not bad to get PS One games to play on the PSP, too bad it is bogus.

  • lakai2k5

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 3:18 pm PT

    bah, no L2 or R2 buttons. they should focus on porting and making sequels to dreamcast games. they could release grandia 1 and 2 together, and jet grind radio.

  • somesthetic

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    remember when nintendo released original nes ports on the gba for $20 a peice and they sold fairly well?

  • thefjk

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:29 pm PT

    Fine wit me!

  • migs2k3

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:21 pm PT

    $15 would be way too high, its just not practical for the good majority of the PSP user base. I mean, lets say you want to get 5 of your favorite PS1 games (if they even release them, there are thousands of games, which will they release? they have to modify them even if they are emulated), so if you buy 5 games at $15 thats $75, and who knows if you can keep them after you buy them. I would say a good price for the games would be $3-$7. $3 for the bottom of the barrel games that nobody likes, and $7 for the metal gear and FF series, and various other great games (Tekken, Resident Evil, etc.)

    Oh, and it better work on the 1.5 and up firmware =P.

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:15 pm PT

    Was there A point in Your post or are You just trying to p*** Me off? I never said the DS was better than the PSP. Not once heck if I had enough money I'd buy A PSP too. So I can add it to My collect of systems. You know xbox/360 PS2 gamecube ect, ect.

    And for the record I will admit the Nortan offers better security. However it takes up to much resources for Me to install right now. Perhaps I will instal it after i upgrade My ram to 512MB through newegg.



    Oh and By the way, You could have just asked Me what I thought of each system insted of assuming I only like the DS. And Your last post makes YOU look like A fanboy

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:03 pm PT


    ssj4_2004- Well Nortons is better than zone alarm, maybe you dont think so since your foolish enough to think the DS is better than the PSP in every way possible. And stop stealing my lines its making you look like a grnidbandit fanboy.

  • Davidhalo18

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:50 pm PT

    MGS 1 , FF 7, Parasite Eves..must stop drooling..

  • 9w43

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:40 pm PT

    Cool PSone games playable on PSP and PS2 games will be downloadable on PS3 hard drive

  • Omega-Ing

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    now that would really help the PSP

  • tony_psp

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:55 pm PT

    This will be hacked and there will be a way to get these for free anyways....if its on your psp you can transfer it on your comp. and host it online....you can then download it for free...im pretty sure

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    I use zone alarm. But who knows maybe someone will create A virus that will get through both of them. Doesn't take at least 2 day to create an vaccine for these virus's? shouldn't we build A bomb shelter of some sort?

    As for actually download the bricker. There is no point to downloading it. I was merely stating the fact that if You WERE foolish enough to download it, it wouldn't do any harm to You. And the last time I checked You can get almost all of the PSP homebrew to work on the firmware update that shipped with GTA. Which blocks the bricker.

    And further more. If You go to the link Gamespot kindly added to this very artical.
    You will find that ALL of they're homebrew is 100% safe. PSPupdates.com was even featured on the screeen savers (AOTS now).

    and one last thing. if You have an alternate firmware on Your NDS You can recover from anything. Just by resetting the firmware. I do not use this however since I download all of My homebrew from NDSupdates. Just stating A fact so You don't assume something else see how thats done. Pretty nice isn't it?

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    ssj4_2004
    Well, that is kind of foolish if You ask Me. Sony released new firmware to block the PSP bricker. So even if You downloaded it nothing bad would happen anyway. Oh and BTW I'm turning off My internet now I MIGHT GET A VIRUS!

    So whats the point of downloading the bricker if sony blocks it, this was made by someone who actually wants to mess your psp, who says they cant make another brewer that could brick your psp. And as far as I know dont you have to have a certain firmware update to download certain emulators and apps, i know for most of them they get updated to the latest update but that takes time, as far as your getting a virus, I would suggest getting nortons anti-virus

  • snakes2solid

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:30 pm PT

    15 .oo for a ps1 game!!!???!!!>. no good!!.. should be like 5.oo...then it'll be great!!

  • runstalker

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    THE Million Dollar Question: How is Sony going to offer 700 Mb games (remember, it's not like emulating a cart-based system - PS1 games have hundreds of megs of FMV and redbook CD tracks) yes HOW is Sony going to offer 700 Mb -- or more: think about 3-disc RPGs! -- in an affordable solution for people with 256mb and 512 mb memory sticks? It's quite simple: audio and video tracks will be converted to the PSP's proprietary format (sort of like ripping 500 megs of CD tracks to 70 megs of mp3 tracks) and resolution. That would seriously reduce the size of PS1-on-PSP game downloads (without affecting quality too much), so it may be realistic to have two full games on your 512mb stick. These games should NOT be $15 however. I'd like to see $9.99 as the price point, lower for stuff like the Namco Museums and Atari Collections. I'd drop 10 bucks on FFVII or Symphony of the Night in widescreen.

  • Supersonic2000

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:21 pm PT

    Just give me Xenogears and Einhander and we'll be golden.

  • SqueekyPants

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:18 pm PT

    BTW... if $15 is too much for games like FF VII and IX (not to mention chrono cross and else), then $60 is definitely too much for Galaga for 360 (or any other 360 game). one more thing... since everyone else is speculating, it's just funny to think about playing ddr on a psp... thinking about it makes me smile.

  • SqueekyPants

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:14 pm PT

    I like how the majority of PS1 Games that people remember and want to play again are from Squaresoft. Squaresoft, where has your total domination gone?

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:12 pm PT

    Well, that is kind of foolish if You ask Me. Sony released new firmware to block the PSP bricker. So even if You downloaded it nothing bad would happen anyway. Oh and BTW I'm turning off My internet now I MIGHT GET A VIRUS!

  • Naruto-freak

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    thats pretty cool

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