javayoda wrote:Could someone buy the PS3 development kit and write a "virtualized" Linux that runs in the game os? Such a beast could access video memory.
I suppose if Sony can control the distribution of Game OS content, this could never happen. Interesting idea though.
Theoretically, you could.
BUT (you knew this was coming..)
there's some issues.
First, you'd have to re-work Linux quite a bit. One of the "benefits" the hypervisor gives you is a standard PC/Mac architecture. It abstracts the PS3's inherent weirdness to present a standard "fake" computer. That's why PS3 Linux can be so rapidly developed.
By comparison, PS2 Linux didn't abstract. It took forever for changes and fixes to happen, since you had to work directly against the PS2 architecture, which was pretty complex. There were never any updates to the original PS2 Linux - different variations, but all from the same base libraries. I managed to compile a newer Linux kernel that was developed for a PS2 Broadband Navigator (in Japan!) from publically available sources - but it broke a few graphics libraries.
Second - as you mentioned - Sony controls the distribution of PS3 software. With the current model, you'd have to encrypt your code with their libraries to have it run on consumer PS3s. I don't think anyone has figured out a way to run unsigned code yet.
Still - an interesting thought.
Cheers,
Paul