Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - Posts

Rumor: Halo for PSP?

I found this post today:

A single person is attempting to bring the Microsoft fun to handheld. As we all know Microsoft does not have a handheld so PSPdemon is trying to mod Iris in order to make a 4 player Halo deathmatch for the PSP. Of course the game won't look as good or feel as good but still good for the guys that can't live without Halo.

Source: Sector7
posted by Auri with 0 Comments

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Gangs of London Exclusively for the PSP

Action Meets Strategy as Gamers Explore London's Streets & Landmarks in the Palm of their Hands with Stunning Graphic-Novel Style Narratives, Crime Action and Unique Mini-Games

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that Gangs of London(TM) will be available exclusively for the PSP(TM) system later this year. Created by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's London Studio, developers of The Getaway(TM) franchise, Gangs of London was designed specifically for the PSP system and will be presented in stunning graphic-novel style narratives. Dynamic storylines enable each player to experience their own unique progression in nearly 60 different missions that immerse gamers in an elite criminal underworld in modern day London. Complete with new gameplay modes, Gangs of London provides intense free-roaming gameplay perfectly tailored for a handheld system." Gangs of London is organized crime in the palm of your hands. Now you can control and give orders to your team of gangsters to orchestrate the most ruthless takeover of the London Underworld," said Daniel Navarro, Team Soho, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "We are excited by so many facets including its accessibility, graphic novel gangster stories, and open game structure that enables a large variety of game modes. It's an intense depiction of London's criminal underworld with elements never seen before on a handheld system."

About Gangs of London

Gangs of London offers a variety of modes of play including Story Mode, Gang Battle, Free Roaming, London Pub Games and a unique Game Sharing mode. In Story Mode, players choose the gang they want to lead and must use strategy and skill to stay one step ahead of the competition. Each mission is separated with narratives that guide players through the background story of criminal masterminds fighting for the right to be called London's number one gangster. Gamers can re-play missions from different gang perspectives, allowing for a variety of routes throughout the game.

Combining some of the best elements of turn-based strategy and card games, Gang Battle mode provides players with an interactive map on which they must use criminal force to attack and defend patches of London. Using a combination of skill, nerve and chance, gamers can take on up to four other gamers on a single PSP system, or compete against up to four AI controlled players.

Free Roaming mode allows players to explore and tackle the streets of London on their own terms as they choose between a variety of characters, vehicles, weapons, time of day, and police levels. Additionally, gamers may activate Tourist Mode, where they will be tasked with exploring and photographing the city's most famous landmarks to unlock game extras. If it's pickup and play gaming that players are looking for, Gangs of London also offers a set of British Pub minigames that include darts, pool and skittles.

Gangs of London also supports a completely original Game Share mode that will generate a new level unique to each PSP, with the content dependent on the serial number of the target system. Once activated, players will find themselves faced with uniquely different mission objectives, environments, characters and weaponry.


The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has not yet rated Gangs of London.

Source: GameZone
posted by Auri with 5 Comments

Microsoft's "Origami" Being Compared To The PSP?

Source: Newsvine

With all the rumors about Microsoft's "project origami" flying around it's interesting to note that a lot of blogs have been comparing the Origami to the PSP.

This weblog (http://etoychest.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3675) called the Origami Microsoft's answer to the PSP. I think it's a bit early to be trying to even compare the Origami to any devices currently on the market, we know almost nothing about it so far . . . personally, I think that all these blogs comparing the Origami to the PSP and such are setting everyone up for a disappointment. I mean, does anyone really think that Microsoft is going to revolutionize ANY industry right now?

Here is another blog entry (http://msmobiles.com/news.php/4963.html) comparing the Origami to the PSP. I also saw an article yesterday on Cnet.com that compared the 2 products but I can't seem to find where it went. Anyways, apparently there will be more info released about it tomorrow, so I might do a post if it's anything not worthy.


posted by Auri with 0 Comments

Generation of Chaos Arrives on PSP

NIS America announced today that its latest PSP offering, Generation of Chaos, has shipped and is now available at North American retailers. Developed by Idea Factory, the title was previously released only in Japan, and this will mark the first time the series has ever appeared across the Pacific.

"Featuring massive sixty-character battles and troop customization"
The will game feature massive sixty-character battles (30 vs. 30), customization of troops, and the freedom to decide which actions will affect the outcome of the war that has been dragging on for generations.

Generation of Chaos for the PSP is rated "T" for Teen and is available at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Get it on Amazon here.

Source: MoDojo
posted by Auri with 0 Comments

Getaway Creators Whack the PSP

New Getaway-esque game coming from Sony's London development team. The Sun goes on standby for the controversy. First screens.

The team behind The Getaway is back in London for more gang-themed shenanigans, this time for the PSP in a new title named Gangs of London. And with the shift in platform comes a whole new experience that'll require brains and brawn.

The main mode of the game is a conquer-the-city type of game where you play as one of five gangs (Cockney, Triad, Yardie, Russian or Pakistani) vying for control of London. The 60-or-so missions offer action on the streets, with a hot-swap feature letting you switch between different gang members on the fly; all while you issue commands to meet mission objectives.

But that's only the beginning. Gangs of London also offers several other modes of play

If you're pressed for time you can have a quick go at various pub games, such as darts or pool. Have a bit more time on your hands? Then why not give the strategy mode a go, in which you and up to four other players (or AI opponents) issue turn-based commands using a board game-inspired interface.

There are also other modes that allow you to tackle unique missions tailored to your specific PSP. These can also be swapped with other players. But perhaps the quirkiest game types are Tourist Mode, where you assume the role of a stereotypical loud tourist, going around the city snapping pictures of London's myriad attractions, and a taxi-themed mode where you have your run of the city.

Gangs Of London will be out only for PSP later this year.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games

Source: Kikizo Games

posted by Auri with 0 Comments

Project PSPdualBoot - Preview

Placasoft from Team Emergency Exit has been working on his project “PSPdualBoot” for a long time. Did he just stop? The answer is NO. Yesterday, Placa gave me a chance to actually test the current progress – very impressive.

The original objective of this project is to automatically launch a homebrew when turning on your PSP. But still, the users should have the ability to choose not to load the homebrew on startup and hit the original XMB interface. The users should be able to select which homebrew they want to launch.

As we can imagine, the project needs to modify our firmware to take effect. Currently Placa is working on an installer for installing and customizing the Auto-Start service, so I had to test it under MPH’s Firmware Launcher. I downloaded the decrypted 1.50 firmware and installed it properly on my memory stick, then applied Placa’s patch on it. After that, I started the firmware launcher. When seeing the prompt of the launcher, I turned on my WiFi switch and then pressed X button to start the emulation.

The launcher started to load the system, as the memory stick access light was blinking. Then the PSP startup video was played, the background with wavy lines was shown. But I never had a chance to see the old XMB interface before the screen went black after 2 seconds. Then, the access light continued to blink… and blink. After several seconds, PSP-OSS was loaded (Yay!).

The homebrew worked fine, but I got bored very soon. I just quitted PSP-OSS and modified the settings to load another homebrew. This time I picked PSIX, maybe the very first one you want to load on startup. And yeah, it loaded perfectly.

Placa told me he didn’t think there was anything that PSPdualBoot couldn’t load. Any homebrew you have in your mind that works on 1.50 can be started automatically with PSPdualBoot.

Placa is now working on an installer. This installer will enable you to customize which homebrew you want to load on startup, and then apply the patch to your firmware. He will focus especially on safety, to make sure you won’t brick your PSP with it (as long as you don’t cut the power of the PSP by yourself).

I also discussed with Placa about something else, like if this can be used to penetrate the parental control of some PSP games. He said very likely. Maybe I was too curious, this function sounds really redundant. :P

The release date is still unknown according to Placa. Maybe just like the famous Carmark said “It’s done, when it’s done.”

Source: PSPUpdates

posted by Auri with 0 Comments