[Alternative Solution] ePSXe On Modern Ubuntu (64-bit)

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
1

I’m wondering if it’s possible to get the ePSXe emulator working on modern Ubuntu (64-bit).

I keep getting Terminal messages about

libncurses.so.5

after setting the executable file as an Executable as Program after right clicking on it and selecting Properties

libncurses6 is installed, which seems to work fine, but it’s not able to find 5.

Google’s AI search results aren’t really helping on this one either.

Is it stuck on/to running on other/older/previous versions, or can this be brought on/to modern hardware/systems/software?

2

I’ve watched this video:

as well, and it didn’t work.

3

Fedora has ncurses-compat-libs for this, I assume Ubuntu has something similar.

Does apt not have a way to search for filenames in packages?

4

ePSXe is quite getting on years…

If you’re not averse to another emulator I would recommend Duckstation: GitHub - stenzek/duckstation: Fast PlayStation 1 emulator for x86-64/AArch32/AArch64/RV64 · GitHub

3 Likes
5

^ agreed, IMO the quality of life improvements on newer emulators are definitely worth checking out!

1 Like
6

Managed to get it (1.9.25) up and running in/through/with Ubuntu Bionic Beaver 18.04.6 LTS

Had to do a lot/bunch of Terminal stuff, which also required Internet/a network connection

Not sure if this works for earlier/later versions

Edit- nevermind, after proceeding to actually use the software, it breaks/crashes. Not sure what the reason is.
Edit2- nevermind… kinda… got Spyro the Dragon to start, but it freezes immediately. Originally did:

./epsxe -nosound

edit3- tried 14.04.6 LTS Trusty Tahr. Worst results yet. Something as basic as:

./epsxe

doesn’t/didn’t work. Terminal just goes to the next line/ready for next input like nothing happened. No idea what’s going on here.

7

The question is: Why?

This emulator really old and you will run in numerous lib compatibility issues, especially with modern Linux. Maybe there are better alternatives.

To be productive:

  • Maybe you could use Distrobox (containerized Linux with GPU acceleration) with an old distro as guest
  • or use the win version of epsxe via Proton.
  • Maybe someone did a flatpack / snap / appimage version of epsxe?
1 Like
8

I’m Fucking giving up.
This is Fucking ridiculous.
I’m glad to see it was atleast working at one point, but I can NOT repeat those successful results.
I have even gone back to x86/32-bit, very early Ubuntu releases, installed many packages, things I’ve never done, and never been familiar with, entered too many Terminal commands to care about, and keep track of.
There is LITERALLY a better solution out there (in my opinion), it works quite well, you can feel the firepower on it, it’s a LOT more modern, up to date, and professional feeling. I absolutely just flat out recommend ditching this thing for Linux, and just going with an alternative. The alternative that I recommend is DuckStation (as mentioned earlier, even by other/different forum users).
Duckstation is/was very easy to set up, and use. As far as I have experienced, it worked flat/, right out of the box. A MUCH better experience that you’ll get using/over ePSXe, on Linux (Preambles, etc… ).
I think it’s really sad to see the idea of something like this with, or that originally had such a successful, or nice idea in mind, and only to see/have it later on degrade to the point where it’s no longer usable, or very hard to use/this freaking difficult to use.
I really, REALLY, wanted to get this thing up, and running for name recognition sake (multi-cross platform), but the work you put into this thing is NOT worth it, considering the better options out there, and I STILL couldn’t even get this thing up, and running.

If you, or anyone else, can get this thing up, and running, please post the steps you took/, or how you did it.

9

Like, I already know I posted this, and everything, but I’m going to leave this here for reference purposes.

Even if I, or someone else, or a combination of both get this thing work, I don’t think I’m ever going to use it because, it’s just that freaking ridiculous to go through that many chutes, hoops, and ladders. It is quite literally that ridiculous. Too many mental gymnastics, and obstacles.

Maybe I’ll feel the accomplishment in/from/after doing something like installing Arch Linux…

I have no idea. Point being. At least for the time being anyway.