How to play Playstation (PSX) games on your mac

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have scoured the internet for the past several days in an attempt to find one how to guide for playing PSX games on your mac.  Unfortunately, every single guide I have found has KEY STEPS MISSING to ensure you do everything properly.  My goal is to make this post your first and LAST resource for playing Playstation games on your mac!

***Before we get started, please note that I am running on an Intel macbook (2.4 GHz) on 10.5 leopard.  If you're running on a powerpc, I don't know how much of this is going to work for you***

**STEP ONE -  Download and install PCSX**
Go to http://pcsx.gpost.dk/download.php.  This is by far the best PSX emulator available for mac.

**STEP TWO - Download BIOS files or don't because it's illegal!**
Here's where it gets tricky.  To properly run games on your mac, PCSX needs BIOS files, which are startup codes for running the games.  The most common BIOS files are:
- SCPH101
-SCPH1001
-SCPH1000
Note: downloading these are illegal :)  If one was to do such a terrible thing, you could probably find some BIOS files at http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3435955/PSX_BIOS_files.  But umm..don't do it cuz it's illegal!  Right?  Blimey!

**STEP THREE - Go to your user name (should have house icon next to it in finder)/library/application support/PCSX/Bios and drag ONE BIOS FILE that you've just NOT downloaded into the folder.  The one I use is SCPH101.BIN.  It is suggested that you only run one BIOS at a time, but I haven't noticed much difference running 2 or 3 at a time.  Mix and match to find which one plays the most games for you.  Once you've dragged the BIOS file into the folder, right click it and open with...PCSX.  PCSX will immediately recognize it as a bios file and will ask you if you want to install it.  Do so.

**STEP FOUR - DOWNLOAD Mooby plugin**
http://web.archive.org/web/20080116100043/http://lamer0.com/files/cdrmooby_PCSX_Plugin.zip
This will allow PCSX to run .iso .bin and .img files (so you don't need to load the PSX disc into your mac to play the game).   Once you've done this, read the READ ME for installation instructions.

**STEP FIVE - DOWNLOAD 7zx and UNRAR**
http://7zx.en.softonic.com/mac and http://www.unrarx.com/.  7zx uncompresses .7z files, which are common file types for games you will come across and download on the internet.  Unrar uncompresses .rar files, which are common as well.  Both should be self-explanatory for installing the programs.  When you download a .rar file or .7z file, simply right click them, and choose open with...and then unrar or 7zx.

**STEP SIX - CONFIGURE PCSX**
Open up PCSX again and go to preferences.  Under emulation, MAKE SURE NOTHING IS CHECKED.  Set the system region to NTSC.  Under plugins, check and make sure you have the following plug ins installed:  2 PEOPS (one for sound, one for graphics), HIDI input and SIMPLE input for controller, and then CD-ROM device interface and MOOBY disc image (which you just installed) for CD-Rom.  If any of these are missing, try redownloading PCSX from http://pcsx.gpost.dk/files/Pcsx-1.6pre.zip and go back to step four to make sure Mooby is working.  Go ahead and set the CD-ROM to Mooby disc image if you are going to be downloading games and not using Playstation Cd's.

**STEP SEVEN - DOWNLOAD and INSTALL ECM GUI**
http://www.neillcorlett.com/downloads/ecmosx.sit
This is easy to do but complicated to explain.  Basically, when people create .img or .bin files of the psx games, there is a lot of unneeded junk taking up space in the file.  To better compress this, they turn the file into a .ecm, which saves a significant amount of space.  When you download the .ecm file, however, you can't just play it as is.  You have to "Un-ecm" it.

Note: this won't be the case for EVERY game you download.  Some will come as plain .img .bin or .iso and you won't have to do this.  But for those that do...

Once you've installed ECM GUI, open it up and then select the .ecm file you need to "un ecm".  Click begin and you should have a playable .img .bin or .iso file ready to go for you.

Further note:  I REALLY wish people would explain this in their tutorials...it took me a lot of headaches to realize how I could FINALLY play .ecm files.  So as a service to you, I'm including this KEY BIT of info in this article to keep you from stumbling all over the internet to try and solve this problem.  You're freaking welcome :)

**STEP EIGHT - Configure your controller**
If you already have a controller good to go and it already works with your system, that's marvellous.  Simply go to PCSX preferences --> plugins --> controller, and then configure the controller to work with PCSX.

If you DON'T have a working controller yet and plan on using a PS3 USB controller, read on.

First go to http://files.tattiebogle.net/PS3/PS3ControllerInstall.0.01.dmg and install this driver.  Once you've installed it, go to your system preferences and then scroll to the bottom.  You should see game pad companion on the bottom.  Plug in your PS3 controller, run game pad companion, and follow the steps necessary to sync up your ps3 controller.

**STEP NINE - Download zee games!**
I like to use http://www.get-your-rom.com/ as its one of the few ROM websites without a billion irritating pop-ups and complicated download schemes.  The only downside is that you are limited to 3-4 downloads per hour.  No biggie.

Or you can simply go to sites like www.thepiratebay.org or www.mininova.org and search for "psx name of game here" and you should find most games you're looking for.

**STEP TEN - UNCOMPRESS AND ENJOY!**
Uncompress the game using 7zx or Unrar, and then "un ecm" a .ecm file if you have to.  Then hit file --> Run CD...select the file...and voila!  Enjoy the sweetness baby!

Note:  not every game you download will work.  I still have several instances where I download a game, and it works perfectly, except I have absolutely no controller feedback.  And a lot of games freeze after the title screen.  If you found a way to get 95% of the games you download working, please let me know.  Right now I'm at about a 65-70% rate of success, which is better than nothing I suppose.

Thank you for your time, and I hope this helps you play some PSX on your mac!

Mr. X