Hacking the PSP Blog

Off Topic: Airhockey Over a Distance

If you think video conferencing is reserved for stale meetings that serve little purpose aside from burning up your time, Airhockey Over a Distance aims to ice that perspective. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) created the table (or should we say, "tables") to showcase the "power of advanced networking" and joins a host of other wild ways to get your game on. The table plays like your average air hockey match, except the opponent's half is in another location, and replacing your ferocious counterpart is a screen with a live video feed of him / her and a fancy puck-ejecting system. Sensors at the midway point of the table detect the angle, speed, and trajectory of the not-exactly-oncoming puck, and instructs the mechanism how and where to fire the disc -- you slap it back, and the same sequence happens on your compadre's end. Because this was crafted solely to show the wonders of "computer-mediated human-to-human interaction," there's currently no plans to take this prototype into sports bars or internet cafés, but one question still remains: what happens if the puck gets hung at center ice?

Darren Murph
July 31, 2006

Source: engadget

Entertainment Software Association Announces Evolution of E3Expo for 2007

Washington, DC (July 31, 2006) – To better address the needs of today’s global computer and video game industry, the 2007 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) is evolving into a more intimate event focused on targeted, personalized meetings and activities, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today.

“The world of interactive entertainment has changed since E3Expo was created 12 years ago.  At that time we were focused on establishing the industry and securing orders for the holiday season,” said Douglas Lowenstein, President of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers and the owner of E3Expo.  “Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personal dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences.”

 The new E3Expo will take shape over the next several months.  As currently envisioned, it will still take place in Los Angeles, described by ESA as a “great and supportive partner helping to build E3.”  It will focus on press events and small meetings with media, retail, development, and other key sectors.  While there will be opportunities for game demonstrations, E3Expo 2007 will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years.

“E3Expo remains an important event for the industry and we want to keep that sense of excitement and interest, ensuring that the human and financial resources crucial to its success can be deployed productively to create an exciting new format to meet the needs of the industry. The new event ensures that there will be an effective and more efficient way for companies to get information to media, consumers, and others,” said Lowenstein.

 Additionally, the evolution of the video game industry into a vibrant and expanding global market has led to the creation of major events in different regions, such as the Games Convention in Leipzig, the Tokyo Game Show, and company-specific events held by Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and others around the world.  As a result, Lowenstein said, “It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry ‘mega-show’.  By refocusing on a highly-targeted event, we think we can do a better job serving our members and the industry as a whole, and our members are energized about creating this new E3.”

Additional details about the new E3Expo event will be forthcoming in the next few months.

The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. ESA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $7 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2005, and billions more in export sales of entertainment software. For more information about the ESA, please visit www.theESA.com.

Source: Entertainment Software Industry (ESA)

5 Really Strange (but cool!) PSP and DS Hacks

TechEBlog has a list of "strange" PSP and DS hacks...

Among the oddities are:

1. CollecTic Interactive Game (PSP) - Walk around and get points for finding WiFi spots with your PSP.
2. DS Lite Camera - A DIY project for building your own camera for the Nintendo DS.
3. PSP Robot Remote - Netoo's PSP-based remote control for a robot.
4. PSP Motion Sensor - Play Mercury by tilting the PSP.
5. Nintendo DS Robot - A robot with a DS as its brain.

Check out all the hacks with videos here!

Thanks to Josh for the heads up!

Scarface Skips 360, Goes To PSP

Well, that's strange, but not unappreciated... Apparently Scarface will be a no-show on the XBox 360, but *will* come to the PSP. Well, we're outselling them anyway.

Read the full article here.

MPH Resurfaces... 7-Zip Ported to the PSP

A note from PSPUpdates:



These days, with the functionality of the PSP blown wide open with all the downgraders and hacks, I'm sure a lot of you people have been wondering what MPH was up to. After some of his revolutionary releases like the 2.0 Downgrader and the GTA game loader, a lot of people would be expecting something big.

Well, MPH isn't one to disappoint. He has just successfully ported the LZMA archiving format to the PSP, or more popularly known as the 7-Zip format. Originally created by Igor Pavlov for multiple platforms, this archiving format has been gathering a lot of momentum, and second, only to the RAR format. I've used it a lot and the compression this format allows is simply great.

And Igor Pavlov would be pretty proud to know that another great programmer has just ported his compression format to the PSP. Although it currently only extracts a file called archive.7z in the root of the Memory Stick, it's pretty much guaranteed that in the coming weeks, this will be made into a proper full-fledged application. If not by MPH, then by someone else, because the source code has been released along with the proof-of-concept binary! Heck, I'd love to have it made into an IRShell plugin. Oh well, it depends on Ahman I guess.

Anyways, you can check out for yourself, the final results of what MPH has been busy with for a long time.

Download it here.
And if you want the source code, you can get it here.

E3 Going the Way of the DoDo Bird?

I find this hard to believe, but maybe it's true... Comdex deserved its fate, but E3? -Auri


Say it ain't so! One of the most important technology and entertainment trade shows in the world, E3, has apparently been killed -- at least according to Next Generation. Apparently trustworthy sources have been in touch and gave them the word that publishers are getting tired of spending millions of dollars to one up each other in front of the press and retailers, and might prefer to use that money to better their own campaigns and smaller, more focused shows instead of grandstanding on the E3 show floor. The firestorm that supposedly led to the impending collapse of E3 may have been brought on by a number of large exhibitors jumping ship, which caused smaller companies to do the same (we'll save the finger pointing for now). Frankly, in our opinion the whole matter is a double edged sword. Yes, massive industry events are often better at sorting companies with and without stellar marketing budgets than the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, but it's also a necessary evil. It's simply not always feasible for hundreds of companies to round up retail professionals and game journalists the world over to show off new product in bits and pieces throughout the year every year -- which is why we have massive shows like CTIA, E3, CES, CeBIT, etc. Then again, we shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves here; the death of E3 has yet to be confirmed (and might be greatly exaggerated), so we'll have to wait until Monday before we can expect to hear either way from the Entertainment Software Association, the organization we hope won't be burying our second favorite show of like, all time.

Read the full article here.

Source: Joystiq via Engadget

Off Topic: A few more Wii details on the table?

A quick article from Engadget with more Wii specs:

Yet more unconfirmed gaming news today, this time on the Wii front; Maxconsole is claiming a Wii developer hooked them up with a slew of deets on the Wii's hardware, some of which does and does not jibe with things we've been hearing over the past year. They're claiming will be comprised of a 729MHz CPU ("Broadway), a 243MHz GPU ("Hollywood," which is supposed no different than the GameCube GPU, just faster), 64MB of GDDR3 RAM, 4.7 or 8.51GB single/double-sided disc drive, and optional Ethernet adapter. Apparently the Wii's I/O options will also be as follows: SD card slot, two USB 2.0, WiFi, four GameCube controller ports, two GameCcube memory card slots, and an analog-only AV multi output jack. That's all well and good, but we're kind of beyond the point of obsessing over the specs on this thing, you know? We know it's not doing high def, and Nintendo's not exactly making a big stink about what a performer the Wii's going to be. So for right now you could say we're a little more bent on getting a release date and official price more than anything else.

Read the full article here.

Top 10 Sony PSP Games - Week of July 29, 2006

And heeeeeeeeeere are the top PSP games, based on Epinions.com's results:

1. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (I wonder how the patched version will affect this rating)
2. FIFA Soccer '06
3. Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
4. Need for Speed Underground: Rivals
5. Ridge Racer
6. Tiger Woods PGA Tour
7. Dragonball Z: Shin budokai
8. Def Jam Fight for NY
9. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
10. Burnout Legends

Source: Epinions.com

Flash Competition Closing - Last Chance for Entries!

It's finally that time of the month, and we will be closing our competition in roughly 12 hours from the time that this is published. For those of you who are not aware, or somehow missed out on our first announcement, you have 12 hours to make a flash portal or application/game by the end of the day. You can read about the contest in our previous coverage including the prizes and requirements.

So far we have a handful of entries; something of which I'm hoping will increase in quantity over the next few hours! So, if you just simply forgot about this contest and never made an entry, you can make an attempt still - just might want to work on it as if your life is on the line! The voting will actually begin on July 30th and will last for exactly 1 week. In this one week's time, you can go over to our forums and vote for your favorite entry. I will also be making another reminder for everyone the middle of next week just in case you forget. So, good luck to all those who have submitted or plan to submit, and may the best man (or woman) win!

Submissions ONLY: [Here]
Discuss: [Here]

Source: PSPUpdates

Out of this World Ported to PSP (SWEET!)

I *LOVED* this game when I was in my teens... played it all the time on my Apple IIGS. At that time, it was ported by "Burger Bill" Heineman (sp?), who also ported Wolfenstein 3D to the IIGS. If you think 333 MHz is a barrier, try 2.6 (although lots of us had ZipGSX and TransWarp accelerators). This is great news, and a friggin' sweet game! Check it out! -Auri

The Eric Chahi-developed Out of this World (known as Another World in some countries) may not be the most famous game around, but it certainly made its mark in the gaming community for introducing a cinematic style and feel to computer games. Originally created for Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS platform and finding its way to Mega-CD, 3DO, and Windows later on, Out of this World was able to create a sort of cult following with its groundbreaking graphics, sound, cutscenes, and in-game events.

If you were one of those mesmerized by the game before, or if you're starting to wonder just what made this game a popular title during its release, I'm pretty sure you're now clamoring for it to find its way to this generation's console. Unfortunately, no such thing is being made public as of the moment - but one lucky soul by the name of gawd is able to play with Out of this World on his PSP.

gawd has ported Out of This World to PSP but due to some circumstances is unable to share either the binaries or source of his unofficial, coded-by-himself version of the game. His Out of This World game currently has faulty 16bit sound samples but there's only one logic bug left making it "almost completable". Using his "unlimited bragging rights", he now shares with us some images of his Out of this World port...evil, evil as he perfectly knows we can't get our hands on it.

Maybe we should all start praying now to the video game gods to grant us the same wonderful privilege gawd is enjoying...or we can just sit back and forever envy gawd. Which do you prefer? I'd easily go for the first, especially since gawd leaves us with a hopeful, "I might be able to squeeze out a binary only PS2/PSP elf/iso of the 3DO version".

Source: PS2Dev via PSPUpdates

PSP Magazine Issue #01 Released

There are just some things that you can only express in your language and German PSP gamers will go wild over this news. Experiement1106, has sent us word about their release of the first ever issue of PSP Magazine #01. Their initial serving covers all PSP essentials from Lua Player 2.0, Pimp Streamer and homebrews. Even though I'm a non-German speaker, I truly enjoyed browsing through the nice layout and colorful images that comes along with each article.

He has this to say for everyone:

Hope the People outside like this Version when you have comments about that feel free and visit us. Ok thats enough we hope in future we go better and better.....

Viel Glück!

Download it here.

Source: PSPUpdates

News Flash: Daedalus R7's Bug Has Been Fixed

StrmnNrmn's Daedalus R7 seems to be a series of ups and downs. First, we were given the good news on how much the speed has increased, Justin B. even had it in bold letters on his previous article. But there was also the piece of bad news about a persistent bug that made Mario 64 unplayable. Like I said, a series of ups and downs, so you know what's coming.

Just recently, StrmnNrmn announced in his blog that this nasty bug has already been fixed. He said that it was "due to very rare situations where the trace recorder would exit a trace when there was still a branch delay instruction pending. This caused the fragment generator to inadvertently skip the branch instruction, causing the odd behaviour I was seeing."

He indicated a 20%-25% increase in overall speed this time. Given that he hasn't yet implemented all the optimizations he has lined up for the R7.

Scene	R4 Framerate (Hz)	R5 Framerate (Hz)	Current Framerate (Hz)
Mario Head	#@%!194#@%!	6	8
Mario Main Menu	14	25	30
Mario Peach Letter	6-7	11	13
Mario Flyby (under bridge)	6	10	12
Mario In Game	5-6	9	11
Mario Kart Nintendo logo	10	23	24
Mario Kart Flag 6	6	11	13
Mario Kart Menu 7	7	11	13

Source: PSPUpdates

Russia's PSP Extreme Magazine Issue #3 Out Now

Not to be outdone by the Germans on their recent release of the first issue of their very own PSP Magazine, the Russians have also released their take on the PSP Mag. Nobody here at the QJ HQ actually speaks Russian, but we definitely enjoyed the solid layout of the magazine. The choice of graphics is exceptional as well, and even if you don't speak Russian, you might still have a blast browsing through this lush magazine.  

They currently have three issues of PSP Extreme Magazine out, which include the latest PSP news , cheat codes, wallpapers, reviews and more.

Download it here.



Source: PSPUpdates

PSP is a Planetarium

Non-games have taken us on adventures in brain training, English and even cooking. Now, the genre is shooting for the stars with Sega's latest offering, Homestar: 21st Century Navigator.

Homestar brings a planetarium to your PSP. The title features five million stars, viewable under a variety of options. You can select to view all the way up to magnitude 16, although if that's too cluttered, you're free to focus on only the bright order 1 and 2 stars. You can also chose to view natural phenomenon, with the title recreating eclipses and Aurora effects in accordance with statistical data.

As far as edutainment games are concerned, Homestar seems to stray towards the "edu" side of things. In addition to selecting different stellar bodies such as galaxies and planets for a closer visual look, you also have access to textual descriptions of everything. The software even provides background details on the history of the constellations.

The "tainment" side of things comes from the included Fantasy Theater mode. In this mode, you view a scripted tour of the planets and stars, with voiced narration filling in the details. The title includes over 15 chapters.

In developing Homestar, Sega has enlisted the help of world renowned planetarium creator Takayuki Ohira, who developed the famous Mega Star series. His role in Homestar is as supervisor, continuing the tradition of non-games having supervisors outside the game industry overseeing their production. Serving as producer at Sega is veteran Tetsuo Shinyu, who previously worked on Hundred Sword, Derbu Tsuku and Nouryoku Trainer (a PSP version of Brain Age).

Homestar is set for Japanese release on 10/19 at a budget price of 3,280 yen. The title has yet to be announced for US release.

Anoop Gantayat
July 27, 2006

Source: IGN

UK Gets PSP Download Kiosks

Sony is bringing its free PSP hotspot download service to the UK [today].

UK Retailers GAME, HMV, Virgin, and Gamestation are teaming up with Sony to offer PlayStation Spot kiosks in hundreds of store locations.

By bringing your PSP into one of these stores, you'll be able to download and try out a selection of playable game demos. Each location will offer anywhere from six to eight different downloads.

To find the PlayStation Spot kiosk nearest to you, you can visit the Official PlayStation Spot site.

Frank Provo
July 27, 2006

Source: PSX Extreme

2.80 Blowout: The Aftermath

PSP FanBoy has posted an editorial from Andrew Yoon about the advantages and pitfalls of Sony's new 2.80 firmware for the PSP. Andrew makes some interesting points about the update but keep in mind that this is an editorial and represents the opinion of the author. Read on below to see what he had to say about it.


While homebrew may be a hot topic, it's clear that most people use the PSP the way Sony wants us to. We got nearly twice as much traffic today on a day with this new firmware than we did yesterday. What does that mean? I think it means that people are genuinely interested in updating their PSPs and getting the most out of them.

The Good:

• Getting new firmware is a great deal to the consumer. When I bought a PSP at launch for $250, it couldn't browse the web, or download demos. Through these firmware upgrades, Sony has increased the value of the system over time. The addition of video podcasting is absolutely fantastic. It was a bit cumbersome to add media to the system, but now being able to download files wirelessly is fantastic.
• Sony's finally getting the message that we don't want to deal with their messed up video naming conventions. Folders are now smart: they're called "VIDEO" "MUSIC" and "PHOTO". Being able to put humanly named files into the video section is excellent. Supporting iPod video is yet another step in the right direction. Will I ever PSP Video 9 again? Most likely not. I will just use QuickTime Pro, or happily use the tons of iPod-formatted video out on the web.
• AOSS support. This is not really talked about, but what a life-saver. If you have compatible hardware, there's no need to input insanely long WEP or WPA keys or SSIDs. Just press a button and you have wireless communication. This is utter simplicity ... and it's something the DS has had since the beginning of their Wi-Fi service.

The Bad:

• Sony of America. You completely messed up the World Tour Soccer 2 demo you promised. If it's available on the UK site, why not on the US one as well? Also, why did it take the web team so long to make the system update available online? A lot of people don't have wi-fi connections to utilize. Clearly, Sony of Japan and the UK know what they're doing, but Sony of America worries me. Notice how we don't have a white PSP yet?
• Downloading demos now is still unintuitive. Why can't we have a folder called "GAME" and just dump one file. There's no reason why we should be naming folders ULUS4576 or something like that. It's not too hard, but not everyone thinks like a computer programmer.
• The PSP's video support is infintely better now. It can still get a lot better. Why don't MAQ and M4V files work in the "VIDEO" folder? That seems like a glaring oversight.

Things for firmware 2.81 :

• As much as I'd like to see Sony offer full 480x272 video on our PSPs, that's not going to happen any time soon. However, I want them to get rid of that glitch that makes PSP videos unplayable in the PSP's new "VIDEO" folder. All video files should be able to go in there without any thinking at all.
• Software RSS. I bet we're going to see an RSS feed from Sony that lets you download demos/games directly to your PSP. That's the next step. Think about the current RSS interface, and then imagine downloading game demos with that interface.
• Streaming RSS video. It takes absolutely forever to download a long movie. Why not let us stream it like you let us stream audio? The next firmware will hopefully introduce RSS video streaming.
• Music playlists. You may see m3u files in the video folder when downloading from a podcast. I think this is a hint that full m3u compatibility is coming ... soon. I almost guarantee that'll be in the next firmware revision.

Andrew Yoon
July 27, 2006

Source: PSP FanBoy

PSP Batteries And Other Accessories On Sale At Kmart

Users on Fat Wallet are reporting that K-Mart has PSP batteries and other accessories for dirt cheap. After checking online at Kmart.com, these deals appear to be in-store only. Users are reporting the deals at stores all over the US so stop by your local store and have a look! PSP batteries seem to be marked at $8 and others are getting the car charger for $3!!! Hurry to your local store before they're sold out!

PSP System Update 2.80 Released

As Sony promised, they have released their 2.80 firmware update for the PSP. While they haven't updated the US Playstation website with the system update and change log yet, 0okm was able to track down the US, EU, UK, Australia/New Zealand and Japan eboots and they're posted on QJ's PSPUpdates. Here is a list of changes made in this release:

Network
RSS Channel viewer now supposts video and image content.
Now possible to login to Location Free via a wireless access point.

Music
Support for AAC files with ".3gp" extension.

Misc
Play and save content in "MUSIC," PICTURE," and "VIDEO" directories on the Memory Stick Duo.
Adding the next downloadable game demo to the "Memory Stick Duo".

Download the eboots from QJ.NET if you wish to update your PSP to 2.80.
PSP System Update v2.80 US
PSP System Update v2.80 EU
PSP System Update v2.80 UK
PSP System Update v2.80 Japan
PSP System Update v2.80 Australia/New Zealand

Multi-Firmware Module Coming for TA-082 Motherboards

With the 2.50-2.60 downgraders and custom firmwares coming out in the past few weeks, TA-082 owners have been standing by, unable to get in on the action; at least not without ending up with a bricked PSP. Well, now there's hope for those cursed (or maybe not cursed for much longer) TA-082 PSP users. Homebrew developer 0okm has stated in his blog that was able to successfully use his multi-firmware module on his TA-082 motherboard. Since 0okm is one of the very few PSP hackers to actually create his own modchip, he can test his creations without the fear of a brick. 0okm says in his post: "PSP Multi Firmware module will support TA-082 on NEXT Ver. so if your TA-082 PSP is FW2.50 or FW2.60 don't update !!! :P" So for all of you TA-082 owners, be on the lookout for the next version of 0okm's multi-firmware module!

View the post here.

Source: PSPUpdates

Daedalus R6 Compatibility List

wally4000 has composed a compatibility list of Nintendo 64 ROMs for Strmnnrmn's Daedalus R6. Some of the games have screenshots listed with them along with comments and framerates. Not all of the games in the list have been tested at this point but it's a work in progress. At least it gives you somewhat of an idea of which games do and don't work with Strmnnrmn's emulator.

Check out the list here.

Epsilon BIOS Updated to v1.1

Just a few days into its first release, the Epsilon BIOS core has been updated to v1.1. For those who don't know, Epsilon was and still is one of the most compelling reasons to buy the Undiluted Platinum modchip.

Apart from fixing problems in their ISO loader, the only new update is in the form of a bugfix. In their own words, "Fixed a bug which made it impossible to remove game saves from XMB." And while we do not support the use of pirated backups, as a news source, we feel obligated to inform Undiluted Platinum owners that compatibility issues with several games has been resolved, although there are still titles which do not work properly.

Source: PSPUpdates

Joystiq interviews Sony PSP's John Koller

Robert Summa with Joystiq recently sat down with Sony's senior product manager for the PSP, John Koller. In the interview they talk about tomorrow's 2.80 firmware release, PS1 game downloads, support of the UMD format, competition from Nintendo's DS Lite and more. You can read the full text of the interview here.

PSP UMD Tools Leaked

Somehow the PSP UMD Tools (also known as UMD Composer) used by licensed developers have apparently found their way onto the Internet this week. If you aren't sure what PSP UMD Tools are, they're the tools used by licensed developers in order to actually create PSP UMDs. The 10.8MB archive contains System File Editor v1.0, UMD Image Checker v1.10, UMD Image Generator v1.2.7, UMD Stream Composer v1.5, and UMD Stream Viewer v1.5. Although it is not yet been confirmed that these are the actual UMD Tools used by developers and not some non-Sony mock-up, it's pretty certain that the files have been leaked from the official SDK.

With these applications you can create both PMF Files, and MPS (UMD Video) files, but as most of the release notes and readme's are in Japanese, you probably haven't got a chance making a UMD for yourself. The files all come packaged with PDF files that act as the readme files with instructions on how to use each of the applications. As these tools are highly illegal, we cannot host or link to any sites with the downloads on, but you can be sure somebody from Sony will be getting a firm telling off for this if they are the real Sony deal.

NOTE: Do NOT post any links to the files in the comments for this post or the forums.

Source: PSPUpdates


Screenshot from QJ.net


Screenshot from QJ.net


Screenshot from QJ.net


Screenshot from QJ.net

"Greatest Hits" coming to PSP

Sony announced today that a "Greatest Hits" collection is coming to the PSP with titles being re-released in shiny new plastic and a budget price of $19.99. Starting today you can get Wipeout Pure, Twisted Metal: Head On, Ape Escape: On the Loose, ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails, and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee on the cheap.

The company also said that third-party "Greatest Hits" titles will come later this year including Lumines, Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, and Star Wars Battlefront II.

You say "Greatest Hits" but the only thing we hear is "discount" baby.

Blake Snow
July 25, 2006

Source: Joystiq

Sony's connect.com Site updated with PSP browser compatibility

Sony has recently updated their Sony Connect website for viewing on the PSP. Content on the site located at psp.connect.com is available to the masses, with everything from cars to TV shows to game trailers available on the site in PSP video format. The amazing thing is that the downloads appear to be in ZIP form, but I guess that works differently when accessing it through a PSP than a PC, allowing you to download them in MP4 format.

This update to the Sony connect website is probably in preparation for the next PSP firmware upgrade, which could contain Video RSS feeds. This would make sense as all of the content on psp.connect.com is organised into channels just for you! Whether you're a petrolhead or just a fan of the TV show Rescue Me, there's something for you to download and watch on your PSP throughout the holiday season.



Description Source: PSPUpdates

GTA Vice City Stories confirmed for PSP

Rockstar has put a date to its next installment of its Grand Theft Auto games although other details about gameplay and missions are still thin on the ground.

Fans of the series need to book off the weekend of the 20 October and make sure they own a PSP.

Why? Because Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories will be available for the PSP on the 20 October in the UK.

Scheduled for release in the US on October 17th and heading to Europe on the 20th, the PSP title is being developed by Rockstar Leeds - the same studio responsible for the commercially successful Liberty City Stories - and will be priced at $49.99 and £34.99 in the UK.

Vice City Stories is the second title to be released by Rockstar for the PSP in the hugely successful series.

Liberty City Stories has been recently ported to the PS2, and although there is no confirmation as yet, you can probably expect the same in for Vice City Stories as well.




Stuart Miles
July 25, 2006

Source: Pocket-lint

Sony Loses Developer Relations Manager DeLoura

In a high-profile personnel loss for Sony, Gamasutra has learned that the company's longstanding Manager of Developer Relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America, Mark DeLoura, has departed the firm for a new technical director position at Ubisoft North America.

DeLoura, who is well-respected within the industry and serves on the Game Developers Conference advisory board, has chosen to leave his position in the months leading up to the PlayStation 3's release, and the move is likely to spark new concerns about the readiness of Sony for the November launch date.

The former editor-in-chief of Game Developer magazine and lead development support engineer at Nintendo of America is now technical director for Ubisoft North America in San Francisco, and is responsible for ensuring the technical quality of all third-party developed titles published by Ubisoft in North America.

The new Ubisoft job entails examining technical design documents when titles are proposed, technical analysis of game studios Ubisoft may work with, and co-ordination with platform manufacturers and middleware vendors, and is thus not unlike much of the liaison work DeLoura was striving to accomplish at Sony. However, his reasons for leaving the PlayStation 3 creator have not been made public.

This is the second high-profile loss for Sony over the past couple of months, with Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior director of communications and brand development Molly Smith resigning from the company in June - Smith had served as SCEA's central PR figure since 1994 and the launch of the original PlayStation.

Simon Carless
July 24, 2006

Source: Gamasutra

What Sony Has In Store For PSP

Sony is taking its fight to the streets in the ongoing portable gaming market. While Nintendo hold the lion's share of the market, Sony has a few tricks up its sleeve to make the PSP experience a better one for gamers.

During Comic Con 2006 at Sony's PSP University in San Diego, the company announced that the PSP can be used as a remote for the upcoming PlayStation 3 console. Other shared functionality will be available between the two devices, but no other details were given. Sony is also in listening to users wanting more WiFi access and is in deals with services providers to provide more hotspots for the PSPs. Sony is also planning to bulk up its online Sony Connect service by adding movie downloads to the equation. This would be in addition to UMD and the MemoryStick Entertainment Pack.

The company has also announced a number of upcoming games coming to the platform including US Navy SEALS and Gangs of London. Interestingly enough, the company is still supporting its failed UMD format. The company announced that two cult favorites are coming to UMD: Office Space and Napoleon Dynamite. Other notables include RSS Video feed support in an upcoming firmware update and the company’s decision not to add improved methods of text entry or external keyboards for the unit.

All in all, it looks as though Sony is doing its best to make the PSP more visible and make it an even better platform. The fact that UMD is still kicking around is a bit surprising given its plans for the MemoryStick Entertainment Pack and online movie downloads, but stranger things have happened.

Brandon Hill
July 24, 2006

Source: DailyTech

DIY: PSP, GPS Connection

Deniska's Ports for PSP has a post about a do-it-yourself GPS receiver for the PSP. All of the supplies cost about $130 and it doesn't look too hard to build. Check out the instructions below from their post.


Here is a farely simple way to connect your PSP to a GPS receiver:



You'll need:

- Holux GPSlim236 (~$100)
- Intec G6704 PSP Remote Control (~$11). Alternatively you can rip the connector of your original remote control.
- USB (Mini B) cable ($5-10) (don't use the included USB power cable)
- 1K 1/4watt resistor (>$1)
- Electric tape ($2 roll)

Tools:
- Soldering iron
- Multimeter (for checking the connector pins, alternatively you can use just a circuit made out of a low voltage bulb and a battery)
- Razor blade (to cut and clean stuff)


Basically, you just need to cut the USB cable and PSP remote plug, figure out which wires go to the connector pins, listed below, and connect them according to the diagram:




Use caution when connecting the wires, make sure all of them are carefully insulated. You don't want to short any of them, since this may brick your PSP or GPS device.
Also, GPSlim 236 spec says that the TXD voltage may range from 3.2 to 5 V, so 1K resistor may not be enough to lower the voltage in some cases. So buy a few resistors: 5k,3k,2k,1k and see if your circuit works with a bigger value resistor first..

Once your cable is finished, test your setup with a little GPS viewer program that I wrote:

http://deniska.dcemu.co.uk/bin/gps_viewer.zip
The source code is included in the zip...
Note, the program is written to work in kernel mode, so I doubt that it will work on 2+ fw..
Perhaps someone can look in to how to adjust it...

Here is the screenshoot:


So, waht's the point you ask? I am planning to plug this in to the upcoming map viewer applcation, which, of course will be able to point your gps location on a google-like map in real time... and scroll the map as you move along...

Special thanks to Art and futaris for helpping me out with serial port comm problems...

Almost forgot a disclaimer: As always, I am not responsible for any damages...

Source: Deniska's Ports for PSP

Off-Topic: Microsoft Unveils Wireless Music Player + iPod Killer Strategy

So Microsoft may be the first to a mass-market wireless media device... well, after Sony's PSP, that is... Microsoft's product will be named Zune (at least, for now). I actually believe they can pull it off. They already have a great start on the name - it's not Wii.

Check out the article on CNet here.

PSP homebrew meets the rest of the world

PSPUpdates potsed about an article in T3 magazine about the homebrew software development on the PSP, making mention of ever popular PSPUpdates. Finally, PSP homebrew is getting wide recognition!

The PSP scene has been around and thriving for more than a year now, we have all been there to witness its dark genesis to our shores (PSP debuted to US with the then-dubbed "invincible firmware 1.50"), to its phoenix-like rebirth (when a group called PSP-DEV first come up with the swaploit and paved the way for the now "golden firmware 1.50"). After a few dark days of the dreaded updates, causing the scene to become somewhat a bit slow, the PSP is once again alive and kicking thanks to  the series of breakthroughs (discovery of kernel access, creation of downgraders, and firmware emulation) we've all been lovin'.

With these newer developments, the PSP's life is quickly revitalizing. That's why we've been noticing more and more newbie beginner questions, which are actually a good thing because it shows the interest is growing. It is then not surprising to see T3, considered as every gadgeteer's bible, featuring the perks of having a PSP in its July 2006 ish'. They even covered a full-feature story that serves as a walkthrough for those who are new with PSP homebrew.

The T3 story, all graced with blurbs like "There are hundreds of homebrews (non-commercial home-made applications) out there for the PSP" and "The homebrew scene has created everything from universal remote controls, Wi-Fi signal sniffers, PDA applications and, of course, emulators" runs a step-by-step process on how to install emulators on a PSP.

DrNicket tipped us that there was an article in the latest T3 magazine with PSPUpdates in it, so we went to buy a copy and check it out for ourselves. Let me tell ya, we were all smiles, not because PSPUpdates was in it, but because homebrew is finally getting more exposure -- a sign that the technology we all love is getting the recognition it deserves from the public.

The appreciation just doesn't just go out to the developers who worked so hard to bring us all these homebrew games, applications, emulators, and expolits, to the sites that spread the word about every development, but instead to the whole community as well. Yep, that includes you, my friend. PSP homebrew being publicized to a bigger population means more opportunities and possibilities for everyone. It informs more people, and with more people the broader our horizons will be.

Those currently developing could add creating programs for PSP to their resume (hey, if more people starts to recognize it, it'll get more respect), prompting more outside coders to take interest providing us with fresh ideas and creations. It'll also attract more interest from even those who are beginners to all of this, giving us more opportunities to rear future Fanjita, Edison Carter, Ditlew, Nem, Booster, Dark_Alex's etc. Add all of that up, and what do the rest of us get? A whole lotta load of more homebrew!

We here at QJ.Net definitely welcome this trend, as much as we welcome those who are new to the world of PSP and its currently limitless ever expanding possibilities. We are ecstatic that the media are spreading the word about what was once considered taboo, meanwhile we have to ask what your thoughts on this subject are. Let us know in the comments!

Source: PSPUpdates

Great new 3D Engine for homebrew developers! For Free!

This just in! A small team called LTE studios, headed up by SiberianSTAR, have been working on a free 3D engine for the Sony PSP. And today's the big day! They've just released the first demo of their product, which they've been working very hard on.

So you might not be a developer, and you might be wondering what the big deal is... Well, for starters, this will encourage a lot of developers to venture into making games. Until now, if you wanted to make a proper homebrew game, you would need an engine to handle everything. In case of 2d beat 'em ups, it was pretty simple. But if you wanted to create a proper 3D game, you'd need to program everything to handle all the data/models/sounds using an engine. And trust me, making a game engine is one of the hardest programming challenges.

Apart from finding a way to load/handle all the stuff, you also need to program the physics and a lot of other really technical details, just so that the separate objects can interact just the way you want. If you want an example, how about I give you one about a racing game. Suppose you're one of the guys behind Need For Speed; apart from building the cars, tracks and other things, you'd need to build an engine to actually make it possible to implement all that art and beauty into a game. Another example would be the Source engine made by Valve, or the Doom3 engine made by iD Software.

By now, I'll assume that you know quite a bit about making games. Which brings us back to this great piece of news. These guys have been working for months, to bring us an engine which almost any C/C++ homebrew game developer can use to make a fully fledged game. The talk gets a little technical now...Don't worry if you don't understand all the mumbo jumbo. If I were you, I'd expect a lot of great homebrew games coming out in a few weeks.

For the programmers, here are a few technical details/features:

• 3D Engine
• Mixed 2D + 3D
• Powerful and customizable 2D GUI
• Character animation system
• Particle effects
• Billboards
• Dynamic Lights
• Powerful 2D with alpha, blend, etc..
• Six image formats supported
• Eight mesh formats supported
• Fonts support
• Collision and physics integrated
• Powerful terrain system
• and much more...

Read through the list and you'll notice a lot of pretty awesome stuff in there. There's features in there which are mirrored around in a lot of paid and pretty expensive engines. I'm sure everyone here is curious to see the engine working. You're in luck! The LTE studios guys have been kind enough to provide a demo of the engine; a kind of a proof of concept, if you will... The final version, or the SDK will be released soon.

SiberianSTAR would like to thank Ky@ for his work on the editor, Jeremy Fitzhardinge for PSPGL, and PSMonkey. Oh, and by the way, thanks to PSMonkey for the heads-up too!

Download HERE!!!

Source: PSPUpdates

Getting to Know My PSP (Again)

Brian Ashcraft at Kotaku talks about cuddling up with his PSP again after losing his DS in Japan. It seems as like even though he became very attached to his DS, Sony's portable still holds a special place in his heart. Check out the full text below.

Forgive the LiveJournal confession: Until yesterday, I didn't have a DS. Well, I did have a DS, a regular one, which was left at that squalid hotel Gawker Media put us up in. I don't know how even the likes of Xbox dood J Allard, Mario nerd Cliffy B and Final Fantasy mustache Hironobu Sakaguchi were able to stay there. Booze, perhaps.

Tech overload Joel Johnson located my DS (in the fridge, oddly) and promptly sent it to me in Japan. I never got it, and as we speak, some mailman is getting his jollies on the Brain Training cartridge I left in portable.

Know I purchased the PSP on launch day, stood in line and everything. There are games that I really love for the Sony portable, but sadly, we grew apart. Up on the shelf the PSP went. Now, without that Nintendo portable to distract me, I could really sit down and enjoy the PlayStation Portable. Because, as we all know, insane fanboyism comes from owning only one system. That, and too much NutraSweet.

From E3 until yesterday, I played with the PSP every damn day. It really is a fantastic little machine. Sure, there are shortcomings, blah, blah, blah, but really, the machine is slick. And besides, that was the only the only handheld I had. That made it even rader. The PSP provided a quality, portable gaming experience, so I couldn't have given a hoot about the DS. Rather, I could give a hoot about it. I just couldn't buy one in DS-sold-out Japan. Heh.

Now, that I've got my DS, things between me and my PSP seemed unstable again. Well, yesterday, they did. I feared we're going to start seeing other people: me touching that Pink Lite doohickey and the PSP kicking it with the dust bunnies. That hasn't really happened (as of today), and I've been switching between both systems, trying to get the best of both worlds as they say. Whomever "they" are.

So, is the PSP dead? For the last two months at casa del Ashcraft, it sure wasn't. Hope the same's true for the next two.


Brian Ashcraft
July 21, 2006

Source: Kotaku

Comic-Con 2006: PSP aka PS3 Remote

If you took the time to attend Sony's PSP University at the San Diego Comic Con this morning here is the only news of note you missed.

Turns out the PSP will work as a remote for the PS3. According to the speaker it will have additional functionality and interactivity with Sony's next-gen PlayStation 3, but more details weren't revealed.
Other info and bullet points you missed (not much news to anyone who has kept up):

• Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Pursuit Force are "great games" and "great reasons to own a PSP."
• Ads for PSP Greatest Hits Collection which will be released on July 25.
• Clips from upcoming games like Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, U.S. Navy S.E.A.L.S. Fireteam Bravo 2, and Gangs of London (all of which look pretty cool).
• Movie Trailers of movies coming to UMD format like Napoleon Dynamite and Office Space
• PSP's firmware update next Thursday will offer RSS Video feed support for its web browser (it already supports RSS audio feed)
• Thursday's firmware update will also have a demo of World Tour Soccer 2
• There are no plans to improve text entry on the PSP and no plans for a first-party keyboard
• Sony is in discussion with wireless providers to create more internet hotspots for your PSP to connect easily to the web
• Video out is something they know is important and are working on getting done
• Sony Connect is working on a way to provide downloadable movies (similar to the music they currently provide), but are held up trying to find a system to protect intellectual properties

If you stuck around through to the end of class Sony handed out 32MB Memory Sticks with demos and game trailers, too. Score!

Kathleen Sanders
July 21, 2006

Source: IGN

Devhook Updated To v0.45! Launching Homebrew on Emulated 2.71 Now Possible!

Proof that once the great developers start, they simply keep rolling out amazing updates! And proof that Booster is one of the greatest developers to have graced the PSP hacking scene.

Just like the last update which offered 2.71 emulation, this one will rock your socks off too! It apparently supports homebrew launching right on 2.71 firmware. Couple it with harleyg's custom firmware mod which allows you to directly load DevHook on startup, and you're practically in PSP heaven. Together, these two mods offer almost all of the functionality of the $90 modchip, for free!

Here's a detailed changelog, translated by our very own Jeff Chen:

• Support for loading EBOOT.PBP on memory stick and EBOOT.BIN on UMD(ISO) in ELF format.
• Fixed problems that made 1.50 NoUMD not functioning.
• Added more exclusive controls added to flash emulation. As well as other memory stick breaking countermeasures.
• Memory map changed for rebooting.

To-Do

• FW2.71 registry initialization failure problem.
• Stabilize flash emulation (file access).
• NoUMD for FW 2.xx
• NAND driver level emulation

Now I don't know about you guys, but the To-Do section lists some pretty revolutionary things too! If you're new to the whole 'devhook' thing, don't worry. One of our dedicated forum members, chriscooke109, has written a great guide on how to make the magic work. Although it still reads as a Devhook 0.44 guide, the steps mentioned there will work just as well for the new version.

Isn't it great how the PSP scene is suddenly bursting out with great discoveries and creations everyday? And this just begs the question- "What next?". And I personally can't wait for the answer!

Download Devhook v0.45 HERE!!!

Source: PSPUpdates

Peter Dillie on the Future of the PSP

United Press International has published an interview with Peter Dillie, senior VP of marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc, about the future of Sony's handheld device. He defends he lack of Hollywood support for the UMD formatand the lackluster selection of UMD games but gives very few actual details about the future of the PSP.

Check out the full text of the interview here...

From the interview:

Q. Will future firmware upgrades improve the PSP's music capabilities by including support for playing music in random/shuffle modes?

A. While we have nothing to announce today about additional music capabilities, Sony Computer Entertainment is committed to continuing to build on the functionality of the PSP system. To date, we've developed seven firmware upgrades that help users get more from the device, from expanding the types of music file formats supported to making TV programs recorded with a TiVo available for viewing on a PSP. We will continue to look at ways to enhance the consumer experience going forward via additional updates.

Michelle Alexandria

July 19, 2006

Source: United Press International

Off Topic Hack: Staples "Easy" Button HACKED!

I love my "Easy" button. I keep it on my bar at home, ready for when I work on a difficult problem or just have a need to hear "That was easy!" They're under $10 and really make a difference! BUT what if you want to hack it? Make it say something like "your work sucks" or "network's down, let's go get bagels!" - you can!

Check out the following hack from HackADay:

Hack-A-Day reader [al cohen] was pretty perturbed by Staple’s Easy Button campaign since nothing in business is easy. So he decided to modify their cute button (PDF). He replaced the guts with a cheap recording circuit from RadioShack. He also added a 1/8 inch jack so you can record directly from the computer. The new button doesn’t need a separate mic either; you can record by speaking into the speaker. As a final touch Al ground off the easy, polished it and made the button evil. You can watch a video of the button declaring his distaste for Spam. You might have seen Jeff Caylor’s previous abuses of the Easy Button on Make. My roommate thought it would be funny if someone wired it to generate the “shift+delete” key sequence.

Check out the hack here. (requires Adobe Acrobat 'cause it's a PDF)

Thanks to Josh for the heads up!

Updates On Epsilon BIOS: Manual and Video

The Undiluted Platinum fact sheet may have branded the modchip as a PSP owner's dream come true, but it also admits that it would be a better investment if Team Epsilon delivers their custom flash replacement Epsilon BIOS. Now we have all been promised that the Epsilon BIOS is indeed coming. We were even shown a video of the custom bios flashed onto the U.P. modchip. Pretty believable video, but some still can't help but shout, "Fake!"

The manual provides installation procedures, steps on unbricking a PSP, and running a homebrew for an Epsilon Bios-enabled PSP. It educates users that Epsilon has two parts: bootloader and BIOS. The manual reads further, "The bootloader is flashed to UP memory once, then to install or update the BIOS the bootloader recovery menu is used. You shouldn't need to flash via the UP tool again once the bootloader has been initially installed, making things easier for customers."

With all these new info on Epsilon, dare we hope that the custom bios is indeed nearing its release? Well, as they say, good things come to those who wait. Let's just hope that the PSP community's patience will soon yield a good thing dubbed "The Epsilon BIOS".


Here's the "manual" for those who are interested:

    Epsilon is broken into two parts, the bootloader and the BIOS. The bootloader is
    flashed to UP memory once, then to install or update the BIOS the bootloader
    recovery menu is used. You shouldn't need to flash via the UP tool again once
    the bootloader has been initially installed, making things easier for customers.

    To install:
    -----------

    1) Program "epsilonBootloader1.0.flash" to UP using the flasher tool
    2) Copy EBUPDATE.BIN into the root directory of your memory stick. This can
    be done with a card reader, via the epsilon recovery menu or via the PSP OS.
    3) Turn on the PSP, it will enter the recovery menu since no BIOS is installed.
    4) Select "Update Epsilon BIOS"
    5) If you dont have 2.71 installed in PSP onboard firmware you will need to do
    so. This can be done with the recovery menu, place the update EBOOT in the
    standard place on the memory stick (/PSP/GAME/UPDATE/EBOOT.PBP) and select
    "Launch Firmware Updater" from the recovery menu. This can be used to both
    upgrade and downgrade the PSP onboard firmware using Sony's own updaters.

    NOTE: To forcefully enter the recovery menu, hold SELECT+START while turning
    the PSP on.

    To unbrick a PSP:
    -----------------

    1) Place a NAND flash image of 1.00 or 1.50 firmware (same format as used by
    UP flasher tool) in the root of the memory stick with the file name
    "nandImage.flash".
    2) Enter the recovery menu and select "Restore onboard NAND"

    Running homebrew:
    -----------------

    1) Copy EBOOT's to the normal location (/PSP/GAME/). Both 1.0 and 1.50 types
    are supported.
    2) Execute them from the 2.71 shell

    Running ISOs:
    -------------

    1) Copy ISO files or compressed EZIP (use the supplied tool) into /ISOS on the
    memory stick.
    2) The games will appear in the same menu where homebrew is lunched from
    (the Memory Stick->Game menu). Simply launch them as you would with homebrew.

    NOTE: Each time the contents of the ISOS directory are changed a cache file
    must be updated which will cause a slight delay when entering the
    Memory Stick->Game menu.

Watch the video here!

Source: PSPUpdates

Is The PSP Dead? No - Especially because of homebrew!

Gameworld ran an interesting article about the PSP compared to other portable systems and why (at least sales wise) it is having a lot of issues. However, it does point out the potential for creating homebrew applications (despite Sony's best efforts), ability to link up to TiVo and a wide range of PS1 games on the way. They make some very interesting points and it's worth giving the once over.

Read the full text here...

From the article:

Good news comes from hackers who use the PSP’s multimedia functions to create homebrew software. This type of activity will keep the system alive long after Sony throws in the towel. The PSP can also now be linked up with TiVo so you can transfer your recorded TV shows and watch them on the go. Watching TV shows instead of movies makes more sense when you consider the PSP’s battery life. The downside is it’s an extra $25 dollars a month and can only be played back in 320x240 instead of the PSP’s native resolution of 480x272!

Another positive announcement is that soon Sony could be offering over 7,000 PS1 games to download to your PSP. With an iTunes type download service for games this is exciting news, just what the PSP needs. Finally plans for a price drop towards the end of the year could also help move units especially for those who are on the fence. It would also fix the money problem gamers face with all the new consoles coming to the market as mentioned above.

Source: Gameworld

Need for Speed: Carbon Release Date Announced

Electronic Arts announced today that the release date of Need for Speed Carbon will be November 10, 2006, on all consoles (the complete list of platforms below). Developed by EA Black Box in Vancouver, British Columbia, Need for Speed Carbon is EA's next game in the series that will combine Underground and Most Wanted gameplay. The game will be available for the 360, PS3, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, PSP, GBA and PC.

This the first time a Need for Speed game is set in an actual city or location from the real world - Carbon Canyon in California. Another unique thing about this game compared to the other games in the series is that your teammates will have unique characteristics and will help you bring those pesky enemies off the road. All their skills will be very important during the canyon races, especially ramming them off the road.



Source: PSPUpdates

Flaw Found In Pelican FM Modulator

A QJ reader, who goes by the name of Kay, sent a word of caveat to PSP owners who purchased the recently-released PSP FM Modulator (or Transmitter, if you want to avoid the redundancy). It was discovered that the said modulator has a bug. Apparently,  it doesn't maintain the audio of Burnout Legends after about a minute of gameplay. So, if you bought the product to let your friends hear the awesome sound effects of the game in your car stereo, then prepare for a face-saving excuse.

Kay said, "I called the techs and we discussed them putting out a compatibility list of games for it. I'll let you know if anything else is put out."

This is bad news for Pelican, who over the past months have gotten the ire of consumers due to the release of faulty PSP power bricks.




Source: PSPUpdates

Off-Topic: Disney joins format wars with Blu-ray plan

Upping the ante in the battle for the new generation of DVDs, Disney is to become the first Hollywood studio to provide original, high-defin