Using Linux on game consoles. (or handhelds)

[Metallion]

I'm playing with the idea of buying a console for myself and using linux to run emulators for old systems, watch movies, listen to music, etc.

Of course the PS3 seems like the best choice since it actually supports Linux and doesn't require some dirty hack but also it locks out things like video acceleration so I'm wondering how it is for watching movies. Also I like how simple it is to change the HD. (And that little thingy called MGS4 :)) I'm also quite interested in how the Wii, X360 and older consoles are doing in this field. I'd prefer to have a possibility other than installing a mod chip though. (something like the twilight hack)

Just to be clear, my plan is to not only run Linux but also play games so that "feature" must still be easily accesible.

I've found many websites on how to install it but very little on how the daily life after installation is. Therefore... Has anyone got some experience with Linux on console? How easy/hard was it to install the penguin playground and what kind of issues did you run into after installation? What do you use it for? How's package management? etc.

Feel free to use this thread for any console+linux or handheld+linux related discussion. :)

[Metallion]

*bump* Nobody with any exp at all?

[unisol]

i dont have any experience, but, i can tell you there is a PS3-Powerpc distro for ubuntu 7.10. you can get it here; http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/gutsy/release/

[tom-ubuntu]

If it is about a mediacenter, then I would check for some native applications. A good example (the best) is XBMC for the (old) Xbox. There is no current console with a good, native media-player/-center around.

Mplayer for Wii was released today in version 0.2. But still a long way to go.

I am using still Xbox's with XBMC as streaming clients. Works like a charm. Even WAF is high ;-)

[allforcarrie]

just buy or build a cheap media pc from newegg.....

[zmjjmz]

OK, here we go.
Gamecube: There is a project for running Linux on a Gamecube
http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page
PS2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS2_Linux (their homepage is down)
PS3: http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/products/ydl/
Wii: http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_apps/Wii_Linux
Xbox: http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page
Xbox 360: http://www.free60.org/wiki/Main_Page
Nintendo DS: http://dslinux.org/
PSP: http://jacksonm80.googlepages.com/linuxonpsp.htm
SEGA Dreamcast: http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7466555948.html
PS1: (it's possible, but all the documentation is in other languages) http://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/PS1
Gameboy Advanced: http://wwwhsse.fh-hagenberg.at/Studierende/hse02006/uclgba/

[Jim!]

I don't know why I never bothered to reply to this thread because I actually have some 'experience' in this area. I had a modded XBOX which ran linux and allowed me to play many games on an emulator including N64 (Worked Great). I was also still able to play original and copied xbox games. I was able to use it as a region free dvd player without needing to buy that "dongle" or whatever it was called that allowed the xbox to play dvd's.

[dracule]

GBA emulation SUX hard on the PS3

[grossaffe]

personally, I have yet to start hacking the Wii as I haven't gotten my hands on a copy of Twilight Princess, but there are a lot of things you can do with the Wii even without running linux on it (which you can do). You can install something called the Homebrew Channel which allows you to access all of your homebrew applications ranging from emulators to linux.