Having given the open source software movement a boost by choosing Linux as the development platform for its PlayStation 2, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc (SCEI) has also chosen a free software simulator and toolkit. Open source software toolmaker, Cygnus Inc has built a simulation environment for SCEI’s next generation PlayStation games console.
Until now, developers had to wait until late in the hardware development cycle before they could start building games. Developing to virtual hardware increases everyone’s chances of having games ready when the actual hardware ships. The virtual next generation PlayStation follows the specifications of the groundbreaking 128-bit Emotion Engine microprocessor that SCEI announced in February (CI No 3,612).
Cygnus has also delivered an optimized C/C++ compiler, a visual debugger, a macro-assembler and utilities, all based on its GNUPro toolkit, for use in creating games titles for the new PlayStation. The upshot is that developers of Sony games are now users of open source software, whether they like it or not.
