The first PlayStation, also known as the PSX, is the beloved console that virtually every kid of the 1990s generation played on. Do you want to revive the memories of how the crowd played the first part of the terrible Resident Evil series or remember the intense battles in the games of the Tekken series? Today this is possible with the help of emulators on the Android platform. Years of gaming memories can now fit in the palm of your hand thanks to the flexibility of the Android operating system and the powerful software of the Google Play store. Follow a few simple steps to get a boost of nostalgia and simply enjoy the first greatest products in the gaming industry.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Download PSX Games
Step 1. Go to the download site
Launch your favorite browser on your Android device and go to a site with digital copies of older games like Emuparadise.me, Theisozone.com, or Coolrom.com. To do this, simply enter the appropriate address in the line and press “Enter” on the on-screen keyboard.
Step 2. Find the game you want
The search bar is usually found at the top of the page. Click on a line to bring up the onscreen keyboard and enter a title. Game files are stored in ISO (digital copy format) format.
Step 3. Select a game from the list of results
Sometimes there are several search results, so you need to choose the right one. Scroll through the list and select the name that matches your platform. Usually the name of the platform (in our case, Sony PlayStation) is indicated under the name of the game. Tap the title to go to the file download page.
Step 4. Download the ISO image
Scroll down the description page to the “Download Now” button. (download now) Some sites host their files, so don't worry about going to a page like FileHippo or Zippyshare. Typically, an ad appears on the screen, which you can skip after a few seconds by clicking the “Skip Ad” button at the top of the page.
- After going to the download page, click the “Download Now” button, as a result of which a corresponding notification will appear in the device status bar. The download will be complete when the progress bar reaches 100%. By default, ISO files are located in the download folder on the device's internal storage.
- ISO file sizes vary depending on the game itself. Games with good graphics and 3D models (like Resident Evil) usually take up more space than simple 2D games (like Megaman X). Files can be larger than 1.5–3 GB, or up to 500 MB.
Method 2 of 2: Turn your Android smartphone into a PlayStation 1 game console
Run games in the emulator
Step 1. Start the emulator
PSX emulator icons are usually thematically related to images for the first generation of consoles (for example, the traditional PlayStation buttons or the top view of the PlayStation itself). Click the icon of the installed emulator to launch the application.
If the emulator is not installed, then download the application from Google Play. There are a number of options available to choose from such as ePSXe, FPSe, ClassicBoy and others
Step 2. Download audio and video extensions
After launching the application, a pop-up menu may appear warning you to download the extensions. Click the “OK” button in the lower right corner of the pop-up menu. The download will complete when the progress bar reaches 100/100.
Step 3. Load the game
Each emulator has its own user interface. Typically, the application allows you to select a folder to search for ISO files. Some emulators like ePSXe have a “Refresh” button in the upper right corner, which allows you to automatically find images of games in the device's memory.
Browse through the search results and select the ISO file of the downloaded game
Run games in the emulator in conjunction with Chromecast
Step 1. Connect your Chromecast device to your TV
Examine the back of the TV to find the HDMI port. Plug your Chromecast into HDMI and note the port number (TVs usually have two HDMI ports).
Step 2. Power up your Chromecast
Use the included Chromecast USB power cable. Connect the mini USB connector to the back of your Chromecast, and the wide USB 2.0 connector to the USB port on the back of your TV.
If your TV doesn't have a USB port, use the included Chromecast power adapter to connect the USB power cable to it. Then plug the power adapter into a wall outlet
Step 3. Select the correct HDMI connector
Turn on the TV, then press the “Source” button on the remote control. Use the arrows on the remote to select the HDMI port to which the Chromecast is connected. After that, the signal from the Chromecast device will be displayed on the TV screen.
Step 4. Launch the Chromecast app on your Android device
Click the Chromecast shortcut on your device to launch. It looks like a blue outline of a TV screen with a Wi-Fi icon in the bottom left corner.
Step 5. Search for your Chromecast
Swipe in from the left edge to the center of the screen and click “Screen Cast” in the panel on the left that appears. A special menu will open where you can search for your Chromecast device.
Step 6. Broadcast the screen
A pop-up menu titled “Connect to Device” appears. The window will display your Chromecast device if it is connected to the same wireless network as your smartphone. Select a device to stream your smartphone screen to your TV.
Step 7. Start the emulator
PSX emulator icons are usually thematically related to images for the first generation of consoles (for example, the traditional PlayStation buttons or the top view of the PlayStation itself). Click the icon of the installed emulator to launch the application.
There is no need to turn off the screencast to the TV in Chromecast. The video signal from the device to the TV is broadcast in real time, but this should not interfere with the launch of applications
Step 8. Download the required extensions
After launching the application, a pop-up menu may appear warning you to download the extensions. Click the “OK” button in the lower right corner of the pop-up menu. The download will complete when the progress bar reaches 100/100.
Step 9. Load the game
Each emulator has its own user interface. Typically, the application allows you to select a folder to search for ISO files. Some emulators like ePSXe have a “Refresh” button in the upper right corner that allows you to automatically find game images in the device's memory.
Browse through the search results and select the ISO file of the downloaded game. With Chromecast and your Android smartphone, you can enjoy your favorite PSX games on your TV
Use a PS3 controller with PSX emulators
Step 1. Launch the Sixaxis Controller application
Click the icon that looks like the right side of the PS3 controller with the traditional console buttons.
If the application is not yet installed, then download the program from Google Play. The paid application allows you to connect a PS3 controller to your device. It should be noted that you need a rooted device. Download the free Sixaxis Compatibility Checker to check compatibility
Step 2. Allow the application in the "Language and input" section
The program will inform you about the need to obtain permission for the input device. Click the "Allow" button in the dialog menu. The "Language and input" section will open in the device settings, in which you should drag the slider opposite the Sixaxis Controller item. Click “Yes” in the notification window and then click the Back button to return to the Sixaxis app.
Step 3. Run the SixaxisPairTool program on your computer
Go to the Dancing Pixel Studios page (developed by Sixaxis) and click the link to download the program according to your operating system. When the installer has finished downloading, install the program and launch SixaxisPairTool by clicking the corresponding icon on the desktop.
The device pairing software is completely free
Step 4. Plug your PS3 controller into an available USB port on your computer
The values in the “Current Master:” field of the program window will look like “xx: xx: xx: xx: xx: xx”, where “x” can correspond to any letter or number. This is the Bluetooth address of the device paired with the controller.
Step 5. Connect your PS3 controller to your Android device
Now that you know the controller address, use the SixaxisPairTool program to change the master node. Take a look at the bottom left corner of the screen in the Sixaxis Controller app. Enter the values after “Local Bluetooth Address:” in the text box in the center of the SixaxisPairTool window on the PC, and then click “Update” in the SixaxisPairTool. This action will change the address of the “Current Master” in the SixaxisPairTool program. The controller is now paired with your Android device.
Step 6. Disconnect the USB cable from the controller
All LEDs will stop flickering, and one of them will be constantly on. Click the “Change IME” button in the Android app and select “Sixaxis Controller”. You can now use your controller as an input device for games in the PSX emulator.
Step 7. Start the emulator
PSX emulator icons are usually thematically related to images for the first generation of consoles (for example, the traditional PlayStation buttons or the top view of the PlayStation itself). Click the icon of the installed emulator to launch the application.
If the emulator is not installed, then download the application from Google Play. There are a number of options available to choose from such as ePSXe, FPSe, ClassicBoy and others
Step 8. Download audio and video extensions
After launching the application, a pop-up menu may appear warning you to download the extensions. Click the “OK” button in the lower right corner of the pop-up menu. The download will complete when the progress bar reaches 100/100.
Step 9. Load the game
Each emulator has its own user interface. Typically, the application allows you to select a folder to search for ISO files. Some emulators like ePSXe have a “Refresh” button in the upper right corner that allows you to automatically find game images in the device's memory.
Browse through the search results and select the ISO file of the downloaded game. Usually, emulators will automatically map controller buttons to actions in the game, so your controller will be ready to go right away
Advice
- PSX emulators for Android run on devices with version 2.1 or later. To check the Android version on your device, open “Settings”. Scroll down to the About Phone section. A list of device information will open. Find the value under “Android Version”.
- A Chromecast device lets you cast your smartphone and tablet screen to a compatible TV. Play your favorite PSX games on the big screen like a real console. In this case, the level of immersion in the game increases, especially for ordinary spectators, although it is also possible to play on the screen of a smartphone or tablet.