Sony Looks to Linux for PlayStation 2
New development kit will allow users to run
Linux-based apps as well as create their own.
Stephanie Sim and Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Sony Computer Entertainment announced on Wednesday it
plans to release a Linux developers' kit for its PlayStation 2 console
in Japan, North America, and Europe.
The development kit, "Linux [for PlayStation 2]
release 1.0," is geared towards the Linux development community and will
allow full access to the PlayStation 2 runtime environment and systems
manuals. The kit includes an internal 40GB hard drive for the console,
an Ethernet adapter, Linux kernel 2.2.1, a computer monitor adapter, a
USB keyboard and a mouse, and other software, SCEI says in a statement.
A beta version of the development kit was made
available in Japan in the middle of 2001 and is currently being used by
7900 domestic developers, says Yoshiko Furusawa, a spokesperson for
SCEI.
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The kit went on sale as a result of pressure from the
Japan Linux Association, which compiled a petition of 7000 to
demonstrate support for the concept of Linux on the PlayStation 2.
Positive Feedback
"Since we released the beta version we have been
receiving feedback and many requests for the kit so we decided to make
it more widely available," she says. Since the beta kit went on sale in
Japan, the company has received inquiries regarding getting the kit from
28,000 users.
On top of running computer applications written for
Linux, PlayStation 2 owners who are Linux enthusiasts can also create
original Linux programs and applications designed to run on version 1.0
of Linux for PlayStation 2, the company says.
Because it is targeted at games developers, the kit
won't be available in stores. SCEI will be selling it via the Web and
has dedicated Web sites at Playstation2-Linux.com and PS2Linux.com to
handle customer queries and to support the development community.
Orders will be accepted via the Web sites from
February with delivery scheduled for April in Japan (for $188) and May
in North America (for $199).