Hacking the PSP Blog

Sony Releasing PSP2 By Year's End?

Word on the street is that Sony’s planning to release a version of its PSP that uses an 8 GB Samsung NAND flash. Recent reports do state that negotiations have broken down between the two companies. Moreover, Sony wouldn’t use the NAND flash, but instead would go with a microdrive. Market sources say on the contrary, and that Sony’s going with NAND.

Whether or not Sony will be offering any further tweaks is not yet known. This Japanese article does refer to a “PSP 2,” which could simply be a journo mistake (likely) or an inside scoop (not).

Here in English Sans PSP2 [Digitimes] Thanks, David!

Source: Kotaku

New Bust-a-Move Ghost Screenshots

From GameSpot - enjoy!

Lack of Standards Could Delay PS3

Sony says it's still aiming for Spring launch.

A Reuters report from yesterday quoted a Sony representative saying that the company was still waiting for a consortium of industry leaders to decide on the final standard specs for technology used in the PS3, including the Blu-Ray drive. "We're waiting for them until the last possible minute, but the launch could be pushed back if they're not decided soon," said the spokesperson. However, Sony re-confirmed that they are still looking at a Spring launch.

Of course, analysts take the "spring launch" with a double helping of salt. An analyst at KBC Securities noted, "No one is seriously thinking a spring release is realistic any more. If I were Sony, I wouldn't be that worried about releasing as soon as I possibly could." Analysts at Merril Lynch published a report last week predicting delays for the PS3 launch, a report that was quickly denied yesterday by Sony spokesperson Kei Sakaguchi, who told Japanese press, "There is no change in our original plan to release the console in spring 2006."

It's become increasingly tough to penetrate the iron curtain that has descended around Sony's next-gen console. As we reported earlier, game developers have in some instances been working on games without the final specs of the console, and without knowing exactly when the launch is. While studios have internal deadlines of this summer for completion of games, and while some also have been working on PSP games with built-in PS3 connectivity, there is still no information about how Sony's new online service will work.

And then there is the issue of fulfilment. If Sony wants to hit a September launch with a decent number of consoles (say, 600-800k), some industry insiders estimate that they will need to start production and assemby by May, or June at the latest. Production will likely be a bit tricky - the Cell is a beast of a chip, bigger than the Pentium D; the Cell CPU is not a simple design. Also, the Blu-ray drive is going to be a big deal to manufacture, once the standards are decided. How many will Sony be able to produce? And how many can they earmark for the PS3?

There is an SCEE developer conference March 1 and 2 for European developers which this year will focus on the PS3, and it's possible that more information will be leaked to European press after that date. Interestingly, one of the speakers, Mike Kavallierou, comes from Microsoft and has apparently spent two and a half years working on Xbox Live. He must be under some crazy NDAs, but he's a director for Sony's networking team now.

Source: 1Up

Sony Offers SOCOM 3 Downloads

U.S. Navy SEALs Map Packs for $5.99 each.

Starting in March, Sony Computer Entertainment America will offer U.S. Navy SEALs Map Packs as exclusive online downloads for SOCOM 3. The packs will be available directly from the SOCOM 3 servers, where they can be saved onto either a USB memory device, internal hard dish for PS2, or a PSP memory stick (minimum 32MB size).

The first map pack will feature three maps from SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, "After Hours," "Last Bastion," and "Liberation". The maps have been updated to accomodate SOCOM 3, with multiple game types available, weapons customizatopm, and different respawn modes.

Two more map packs are coming, featuring a mix of classic SOCOM maps as well as all-new ones.

Source: 1Up

Cool Project: Build Your Own LEGO PSP Charging Block

What a cool new project from Tyson!

Check it out in our forums here!

PSP wireless service to begin in Taiwan in March, highlighting the increase of services for mobile entertainment devices

Press release; Michael McManus, DigiTimes.com [Tuesday 21 February 2006]

According to Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong (SCEH), Sony will begin providing download services on March 21 for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) in Taiwan.

Content will include animated cartoons and music, with Sony affiliated ISP Sony Network Taiwan (So-net) supplying the service. Users will be charged a monthly fee to access the service, but all content will be free to download.

Sony launched the PSP in December 2004, but in Taiwan there has been no content supplied for its wireless service since then.

Increased wireless services for mobile entertainment devices are beginning to be seen throughout the world. In the US, iSuppli has speculated that Apple plans to launch a WiFi enabled version of its iPod in June, which will allow users more freedom to download music and videos at their own convenience.

While in Korea, MP3 player vendor ReignCom (iriver brand) announced it will launch a game console supporting WiBro (wireless broadband) in August, with an executive from the company stating that content will be the key to success for wireless-enabled mobile devices.

Therefore, iriver is looking to cooperate with game developers and network service providers in South Korea, with the company already establishing partnerships with telecom service provider Korea Telecom (KT), telecom hardware provider Posdata and mobile game provider Nexon Mobile.

Source: DigiTimes Systems

FIFA Street 2 Goes Gold on Sony PSP

Electronic Arts is pleased to announce that FIFA Street 2 has officially gone gold for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PSP and NDS. The game will ship to retailers under the EA SPORTS BIG brand on Tuesday, February 28.

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is the new face and spokesperson for FIFA Street 2 and his image adorns the packaging on all platforms world wide. Ronaldo has fast earned himself the reputation for being one of the world’s most exciting and electrifying wingers since joining the English Premier League in August 2003. Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004, Ronaldo will showcase his skills on the largest international stage when he makes his World Cup debut for the Portuguese national side at the FIFA World Cup in Germany in June.

FIFA Street 2 builds upon the arcade game experience of the original that was launched last year with a greater emphasis on skills battles, a larger selection of tricks, including for the first-time ever in-game juggling, and a new way to win with Gamebreaker. With advancements in gameplay, including new Trick-Stick control, all-new signature moves for the world’s most skillful professional players, and 10 new venues, FIFA Street 2 takes the game back to the streets in the ultimate display of skills. Using the superstars of the game, legendary street masters, or a created character, players can rule the streets and make names for themselves by mastering an arsenal of tricks in FIFA Street 2.

PSP screenshots:



DS screenshot:



Game features include:

TRICK-STICK WEAPON:
Intimidate and disgrace your fiercest rivals by executing an onslaught of tricks including new juggling moves using the right analog Trick-Stick.

SKILLS BATTLES:
One-on-one encounters result in Skills Battles where both the attacking and defending players use the Trick-Stick to counter-attack each other's tricks for bragging rights. Execute the humiliation moves and you enter the momentum state trick multiplier, allowing you to rain down tricks on your opponent.

GAMEBREAKER TRAUMA:
Fill your Skills meter by obliterating the opposition with tricks, then demoralize your victims with awe-inspiring special moves during Gamebreaker or use the power of the multiplier trick state to inflict permanent trauma on your rivals and win the match outright.

STREET SUPERSTARS:
The game features more than 320 pro stars representing 20 national teams, and showcases two dozen superstars with their own signature moves. Plus there is a deeper selection of street masters that reflect the culture and style of soccer from their respective regions of the world.

PITCH CREATOR:
Build and customize your home turf from the ground up. Add your own flair by choosing from hundreds of different options and even morph the pitch surface controlling the texture and effects with an intuitive control system. The all-new Pitch Creator allows you to define your personal playground.

PLAYER CREATOR:
Create your own player and teams to form the ultimate squad. Express yourself with more than 1,000 customizable assets including hairstyles, shoes, and accessories.

RULE THE STREETS:
Progress through the ranks of street football elite and master new trick moves as you take part in the ultimate underground street tournament. Customize the abilities of your players by mastering new trick moves and stealing players from the opposition along the way, or team up with a friend in Co-op mode.

Developed in Vancouver, B.C., by EA Canada, the studio which is also home to the popular NBA STREET and best-selling FIFA Soccer franchises, FIFA Street 2 will be available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, and Nintendo GameCube™. The game also will be available for the first time on the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system and Nintendo DS™. FIFA Street 2 is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB.

The game’s official website is www.fifastreet2.com.


Source: MobileTechReview

Report: Sony to add 8GB NAND flash to PSP

DigiTimes is reporting that Sony plans to release a version of its PSP that uses NAND flash memory from Samsung in the second half of this year. The PSP will feature 8GB of NAND flash, according to the site's sources.

"Although recent reports stated that Sony would opt not to use NAND flash in the next version of its PSP, and would instead use a microdrive, the sources indicated that Sony was stalling to negotiate better pricing from Samsung. When rumors circulated on February 16 that negotiations had broken down between Sony and Samsung, spot prices for 1GB and 2GB NAND flash dropped 5.3% and 3% in one day, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN)."

Note from Auri: This does not mean the PSP2 will ship without a UMD drive!

Source: PSPWorld

Homebrew Releases for February 21, 2006

Two great new magazine issues today for you to download and enjoy. Plus, an update to the game Beats of Rage.

Games
Beats of Rage v0.5

PSP Magazines
PSP Ins and Outs Magazine Issue 3
PSPWeekly Issue 7