Software Engineering Daily PlayStation 2 Emulation with TellowKrinkle
Nov 13, 2024
Discover the fascinating world of PlayStation 2 emulation! Learn about the recent release of PCSX2 2.0, featuring a sleek Qt interface and MacOS support. Delve into the complex architecture of the PS2, including its unique graphics system and floating-point mathematics. Tune in as developers discuss challenges like adapting to modern GPUs and unique rendering techniques. Explore the collaborative spirit within the emulator community and how passion drives innovation in gaming technology!
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Starting Mac Port Without Graphics Experience
- TellowKrinkle started contributing to PCSX2 by porting it to macOS, tackling OpenGL and interface issues without prior graphics knowledge.
- He undid old code deletions and used trial and error comparing Linux behavior to fix initial black screen problems on macOS.
PlayStation 2 Architecture Overview
- The PS2 architecture includes a 300MHz Emotion Engine CPU and two vector units (VUs) for specialized parallel processing.
- Its Graphics Synthesizer rasterizes pre-transformed 2D triangles, lacking modern programmable fragment shaders.
PS2's Unique Floating Point Math
- The PS2 uses a non-IEEE 32-bit floating point format, allowing larger numbers but no Infinity or NaN, affecting calculations.
- This causes compatibility issues in emulation and game ports, requiring workarounds like clamping and special exception handling.
