
Optical Drive Emulators (ODEs) are becoming an essential part of enjoying disc-based retro consoles these days. Not only do they overcome the issue of failing drives on vintage systems, but they allow you to load up a wide selection of games which would normally, on the secondary market, require you to take out a second mortgage or sell valuable organs.
The PS1 was one of the first systems to get a viable ODE option, and it's also one of the cleanest when it comes to installation; PSIO simply plugs into the Parallel I/O port on the back of the Mk1 PS1 console – you don't need to remove the optical drive to use it, which is a massive bonus if you already have a pre-existing collection of games (although you'll still need to install an internal switch board, so it's not totally plug-and-play).
The catch is that the $150 PSIO comes with its own set of issues, and for three years, there had been no movement on firmware whatsoever – but Cybdyn Systems has now given us an update which introduces some welcome features (and one rather unwelcome one).
As reported by Retro RGB, the new update brings SD card writing for a new memory card system, a retooled USB subsystem, improved booting of games to enhance compatibility and GameID support, so you can see which game you're running on your fancy MemCard Pro memory card.
The big catch here is that Cybdyn has implemented a DRM system to combat the large number of bootlegged PSIO clones which originate from the Far East. This process is painfully laborious, and involves communicating with Cybdyn's servers to verify your PSIO is legitimate.
To make matters worse, if you own a PSIO which has been purchased on the second-hand market, you have to pay an additional $15AUD/$10USD fee to 'transfer' ownership from the original owner to yourself.
If you purchase a PSIO directly from Cybdyn, then it's a smoother ride, and there's no denying that the device is one of the cleanest ODEs on the market – so it's easy to see why plenty of people will suck up the DRM and continue to use it.
Do you own a PSIO? Have you already gone through this process? Perhaps you're one of the many people who has picked one up on the secondary market, only to be stung by the unexpected transfer cost? Let us know with a comment below.
[source retrorgb.com]
Comments 9
That’s a funny way of killing your product
@Carck Yep, those are some very bad decisions.
So you just shove this thing in the back, right?
That's handy, since after introducing that ridiculous DRM, Cybdyn are more than welcome to do exactly that with them.
So it's, essentially, a device that lets you pirate games and it's installed DRM out of concerns of people pirating it? Man, irony really is dead.
Purchased the PSIO back in 2017 from Cybdyn. Been pretty happy with it for years now. It does need solder connections to the motherboard to work. I’ll have to look into the new update
Bought one new from Cybdyn, and even posted them my PS1 to solder the board on. It works great, and has worked fine since the last firmware upgrade.
Did I register? I don't even know.
Can I find my log in details? Nope.
Can I be bothered to jump through hoops? Not on your life.
Eh. Everything I want to run works after the last update (was waiting for Ghost in the Shell - it's now supported).
None of these extras look like they're worth my time.
Are there any cool obscure games which have received support with the recent update? Because if not, then maybe I'll just never bother updating again.
I really don't feel like bricking this thing because the manufacturer expected me to keep track of stuff. Not how I roll, mother-funsters!
Oh man. I just had to reset my password to log in.
Into my account. Shows my PSIO.
Unregistered.
Fine, I'll just register.
Except I need to download a menu system, install it to PSIO, to generate a file, to put back on my computer, to upload, to prove I own it, to then download a firmware update?
Is that right? Hell, may there are more steps - I don't even know and I will never find out!
Cybdyn and his entire crew can go whistle. Screw that nonsense. I am NEVER going to that much effort just to play some games.
Took me a minute as I recognized this device from my childhood. After looking it up, this looks identical to the PS1's original GameShark that I had.
Good times.
Couldn’t they just have the new firmware check to see if your device is different from the legit one? If it’s an exact replica then shouldn’t they release a new model and try harder next time? People don’t like when you punish them, the consumer, to get at the competition.
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