Emulators For Next Gen Systems?

[PityOnU]

Aside from the WiiU, both the PS4 and the Xbox Whatever will be based on the x86 architecture.

Does the fact that they will be sharing the same architecture with modern PC's mean that these systems will be easier to emulate?

I figure that it must have some affect on emulatability (to coin a phrase), because due to their similar architectures, a Wii can easily emulate a Gamecube using Devolution, while my workstation with an Intel i7 processor struggles to even get 30fps with Dolphin. The same workstation, however, manages to run PS2 games using PCSX2 at a slightly faster pace. Again, I'm assuming that this has to do with differences in architectures being easier/harder to emulate in software.

Comments/thoughts?

 

[Rydian]

If the system can be virtualized instead of emulated, then that will take a lot of the CPU load/slowdown away.

But there's still the issue of actually documenting the machine enough to write the emulator, which is a big undertaking in itself. The power required just limits practicality in most situations.

Devolution isn't an emulator, it runs the Gamecube games in Wii mode instead of GC mode, since the Wii is an upgraded GC as far as the hardware goes.

 

[trumpet-205]

Devolution isn't an emulator, it is more so like a virtual machine. Since Wii is basically an upgraded GC from technical perspective, it can run GC games without the need of recompilation/interpretation. The reason why Wii U can run Wii game is also due to this simple reason, with Wii U being an upgraded Wii/GC. Same reason why PSP and PS2 can run PS1 game (all three of them is in MIPS).

Original Xbox is x86 based (using Pentium 3), but there is still no decent "emulators" as of today, unlike PCSX2 or Dolphin. Lack of documentation and lack of interest are the reason why Xbox never took off in PC "emulation". Being on the same architecture does not mean there will be a decent emulators.

 

[PityOnU]

Original Xbox is x86 based (using Pentium 3), but there is still no decent "emulators" as of today, unlike PCSX2 or Dolphin. Lack of documentation and lack of interest are the reason why Xbox never took off in PC "emulation". Being on the same architecture does not mean there will be a decent emulators.

Wow, that's actually insane. I had no idea that was the case.

So based on what you two are saying, the x86 architecture would reduce the amount of computations required for emulation, as they could be virtualized instead, but that doesn't guarantee good emulators because its basically do the devs feel its necessary to invest the time into it?

 

[Rydian]

Correct. Check out how PSX games run on the PSP (a 7-year-old device) for an example. They don't hit any slowdown or anything, whereas many (affordable-to-the-average-person) android phones are just now getting decent PSX support.

 

[the_randomizer]

Correct. Check out how PSX games run on the PSP (a 7-year-old device) for an example. They don't hit any slowdown or anything, whereas many (affordable-to-the-average-person) android phones are just now getting decent PSX support.

The PSP uses vritualization as opposed to emulation to properly run PSX games, correct?

 

[Rydian]

The PSP uses vritualization as opposed to emulation to properly run PSX games, correct?

Yes. It doesn't have to simulate all the actions of the PSX CPU since it's own CPU can understand the code.