Hacking the PSP Blog

Sony keeps up solid streak of PSP marketing snafus

So those graffiti ads didn't go down so well, "take a running jump here" didn't really take off, and that whole "racism is awesome" campaign in the Netherlands wasn't so hot -- lesson learned, right? Not so much. While it seems Sony has had its fill of offensive messages -- for now, at least -- they've managed to pull off one of the least convincing viral marketing campaigns in recent memory, sparking that special kind of public outcry that it seems we all keep pent up for Sony offenses. The controversy centers on these "all i want for xmas is a psp" fools you might've seen floating around YouTube. Bloggers "charlie" and "jeremy" have been posting up ridiculous rap videos, remarkably slick print-out ads and oh-so-indie t-shirt iron-ons in an effort to convince "j's parents that a psp would be teh perfect gift." Oh, and you all can feel free to use the material for your own ad campaign on the 'rents. Sounds harmless, and we're sure it would be if Sony just put its name on the proceedings from the get-go, but waiting for Something Awful forum members to point out Zipatoni (Sony's apparent viral marketing firm on this campaign) as the domain registrar, and everybody else to laugh at the sheer audacity of Sony for thinking they'd get away with this one, probably wasn't the best foresight on Sony's part. Feel free to peep a couple ridiculous YouTube vids after the break, but just make sure you don't get sucked in, it's all a scam we tell you! Oh well Sony, at least those Bravia ads are still pretty neat.

View Video 1
View Video 2

Source: Engadget

Gaming may get embroiled in new scare

The public loves its scares. Since the advent of gaming, our beloved hobby has been under attack. The scares normally revolve around violence and how gaming is the root cause. The newest scare that might get tagged to gaming: WiFi.

Currently, the scientific world is fighting over the health effects of WiFi. Some claim that WiFi destroys organ tissue -- didn't they try this with cell phones -- and another camp that says the first group is full of bunk. Since each major console, handheld and not-so-handheld, has some WiFi component, it is just a matter of time before gaming gets blamed.

Gamers, gear up for another possible scare: games cause cancer. It is not a matter of if, but when some "intelligent" person figures out that a large chunk of those evil WiFi waves are being pumped out by various DS, PSP, or Xbox 360 units. That's fine by us, we're already fully aware the public-at-large latches onto the worst possible (and frequently wrong) aspect of anything different, we're used to being under fire.

Justin Murray
December 12, 2006

Source: Joystiq

USBCAM.PRX legal module patch for Chotto Shotto

From PSPUpdates:

The first question popping up from PSPU readers, after we started posting up all that stuff about the Chotto Shotto, was if it would work on emulated firmware (DevHook) or custom firmware (SE-B/C). Answers from all over the place, via the comments section, have been speculative, at odds at times, and halfways confusing as we scroll further. Double that after we posted up the USBcam PRX video.

This file below might clarify things some, although it does come attached with a big red exclamation mark. It's a usbcam.prx patch executable by a coder that will enable Chotto Shotto functionality on 2.71 SE. We don't know if this program is related to the USBcam.prx video earlier. Said coder wishes to remain anonymous and prefers to introduce himself, in this case, as PJPSP.

Why the anonymity? We don't know; he wasn't forthcoming about that, either. He is sure that his Windows-executable program is 100% free of any copyrighted code, although he does mention that if anyone spots something copyrighted in there, to please inform the hosting site (in this case, us).

In any case, whoever uses this will also require PSP Filer to flash the file to its proper location. The Readme provides the full instructions, not to mention the required warnings about flashing stuff to your PSP, and so on, so please read the Readme. We hope you have been duly informed and warned.

Instructions:

   1. Dump the 'Flash0:KDusbcam.prx' file to the memory stick. If you're on firmware v2.71SE, it could be in the 'KN' folder, not 'KD'.
   2. Place it in the same directory as the executable.
   3. Open the program, and Press 'Crack'. If you want to keep a backup, tick the box in the window.
   4. If the module is valid, it will be updated to firmware v3.02's version.
   5. The output file will be called "USBCAM.PRX2". Rename it to "USBCAM.PRX", and place it in a folder on your memory stick.
   6. Flash the file with PSPFILER to Flash0:KDusbcam.prx, or if you're in 2.71SE, you may find the PRX in the KN folder instead.

Download USBCAM.PRX USB Fixer

Source: PSPUpdates

Microsoft Releases XBox 360 Homebrew Tools (off topic, but cool!)

I've been waiting a long time for this... Microsoft's following through on a promise for the 360 Sony only gave lip service for on the PSP... but I still hold out hope for Sony's official homebrew kit for our beloved (yes, I used that word) machine. As of Monday, you can start writing your own games using Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express. The language is C#, so the learning curve isn't as fraught with peril as C++, and many, many .NET developers already know and love C#. Of course, I wonder if you can write the game code in C# and lots of other support code in VB.net, since all the .NET languages are supposed to work with each another. The games you write will run on the XBox 360 *and* Windows PCs, so you can really show of your talent to a very large group! From the CNet article: XNA Game Studio Express 1.0 is a framework for creating games with the C# programming language and a content pipeline for incorporating 3D-rich content. It includes libraries of 2D and 3D content that can be applied to games. XNA games can be played on the Xbox 360 itself or a Windows PC. The development tool package is free to download, though a subscription service is required for developers to share the games they create with anyone else with an Xbox 360. The new tool is part of a push from Redmond to create a YouTube-equivalent for video gamers. Microsoft also plans to release a professional version of XNA Game Studio in 2007 that will allow independent developers to create commercial games. You can read the entire CNet article here: http://news.com.com/DIY+games+for+the+Xbox/2100-1043_3-6142658.html?tag=nefd.top And you can download the XNA Game Studio Express here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/XNA/default.aspx Have at it! Best, -Auri