The big problem, though, comes from Sony. Connectix also said it couldn't assure full compatibility with every PlayStation title, since some games bypass the standard APIs to perform certain tricks. Which is why the software only runs on 'factory original' G3s, and not lesser machines fitted with CPU upgrade cards. Emulation isn't a free-ride technology, and the downside here is a hefty CPU and bus speed requirement, needed to match the performance of the Sony hardware's dedicated graphics processors. VGS does the same thing, but this time the hardware is the PlayStation. VGS is based on Connectix's well-established CPU emulation software, most notably VirtualPC, which recreates a full SoundBlaster-compatible MMX Pentium-based PC in software. The snag: will Sony, developer of the PlayStation, let Connectix get away with it.

Connectix Virtual Game Station (VGS), released today at MacWorld Expo, allows any Power Mac G3 and iMac to run almost all PlayStation titles out of the box. Mac users could soon have access to one of the largest selections of computer games in the world, thanks to a neat utility from developer Connectix.

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