Hacking the PSP Blog

$199 PSP pack in Stores today - V2.61 firmware on-board???

Today the new $199 PSP basic pack was released, consisting of a PSP, battery pack and AC adapter. There are also reports of this new PSP basic pack including v2.61 firmware pre-loaded meaning no eLoader compatibility right now.

A message I found today may indicate the GTA and eLoader hack will not work on the new 2.61 PSPs. Ack! No worries, though - we all have faith in those super developers out there. Of course, you don't have to run the updater, either, if Sony even releases a standalone 2.61 updater.

Here's the message:

2.61

I just got back from target. I bought one of these. Its got a new firmware on it 2.61. GTA eloader doesn't work for it :(. No homebrew on this one I guess.

by Anonymous Coward at Mar 22, 2006 at 04:10PM

Source: MaxConsole

GDC 06: Phil Harrison PS3 & PSP Q&A Info

The man behind the software answers a ton of PS3-related questions.
by Chris Roper

March 22, 2006 - After this morning's Sony keynote address, Phil Harrison held a brief Q&A with the press to answer a few questions and clear up any lingering misunderstandings about Sony's recent announcements. There are still some mysteries about, but the meeting was certainly productive and gave way to some new info.

One of the first questions presented to the president of Sony's Worldwide Studios was with regards to the system 60GB hard drive and whether or not it will actually be included with the system. Harrison answered that it will undoubtedly be a key component of the system and that developers should program titles assuming that the drive is there, but being that his role is more software-oriented than hardware, he couldn't give a definitive answer as to whether or not it will be in the box. He says that we, and even he, should know for sure at this year's E3.

Read the entire article here.

GDC: PSP News and Official Updates Revealed

During their keynote Address Sony has confirmed several new PSP features and their projected release dates.

During Phil Harisson's keynote address for the Game Developers Conference today, the Sony executive has revealed a number of release dates for upcoming additions to the Playstation Portable.

Harisson began his presentation by describing how the company's portable is the fastest growing platform in Sony's history. He then went on to confirm that RSS feeds will be available for the device during the next automatic update. While a solid release date has yet to emerge for the patch, it is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

In regards to the system's current level of development cost, Harisson has stated that the cost of acquiring PSP development tools has fallen to the $5,000 mark. By easing the costs of developing games for the handheld device Sony hopes to increase the overall level of games produced for it.

During the keynote today the company has also touched on the forthcoming PSP camera, Eye Toy peripheral, and GPS system. The camera accessory is currently slated to arrive during the Fall of 2006 with GPS functionality made available later, during the Winter of 2007.

Sony has stressed today that they will heavily emphasize both Eye Toy and GPS functionality within the Playstation Portable, as the company hopes the device can attract considerably more users due to its unprecedented level of features.

In terms of online play for the portable gaming system, it is now known that an update to the existing network infrastructure is in the works and will be available during the Summer months as will the anticipated release of Loco Roco for the system.

Source: PSP Advanced

GDC 06: Will PSP Be "Live"?

Still no confirmation on if the handheld will share in the joys of the PS3's online plan.
by Nix

March 22, 2006 - In his platform keynote address at GDC 2006 this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President Phil Harrison addressed SCE's new online scheme. The plan is Sony's full-on assault on Xbox Live, with Friends' Lists, online game hosting, micro-transactions for downloadable content, and text and video chat.

All of this sounds great, but unfortunately, none of it has been confirmed as being planned for PlayStation Portable, Sony's not-to-be-forgotten handheld gaming system. (For that matter, nothing about the plan was mentioned as far as PS2 support, although the PSP's robust WiFi features and Memory Stick storage abilities make the system fully compatible with this sort of online structure.) Early rumors pointed to the PS Hub (or "PS Live", as it has been unofficially termed by the press and gamers) being a cross-platform system. Ideally, gamers would be able to check the online plan to see where there friends were -- not just at home on their game system, but anywhere in the world when within WiFi range -- and challenge players to play a game with either system for games on either platform. Not only would this provide a portable connection to SCE's new online plan, it would greatly help the PSP's online support, which has been unfortunately dallying with just a few titles connected and incomplete friend-finding features. Online will be a big part of PSP as it goes on -- already, SCE has announced plans for "videophone" and other online features -- so it is hoped that PSP will be included in the plan either in the near future or with further phase roll-outs of the PlayStation network plan.

SCE has neither confirmed nor denied that the new PlayStation network structure might have a PSP component. SDKs for the new online network are being sent out by SCE next week, and the service will go live in September. For more information on Sony's online plans in general, check out the linked article.

Source: IGN

Homebrew: New PSP Homebrew Releases for March 22, 2006

What a great Wednesday! Games! Apps! Even an update to NesterJ! Enjoy!

Games
Fire Pong - A hot twist on the classic game.
Sonic in Emulator Demo for PSP - Yep, the popular game, running in this emulator demo!

Applications
Ace Dictionary v1.00 - PSP Dictionary
LUA Wav Hex-Opener - View WAV audio file waveform patterns on your PSP.
MP3-ID3 v0.01 Beta - Read MP3 ID3 tags on your PSP
PSPiano v0.16 - Piano simulator for the PSP. Updated.

Emulators
NesterJ v1.10 Beta - Nintendo original NES / Famicom emulator.

Firmware Hacks & Launchers
Flash Mod v3.01 with Font Installer
PSPdizaster WMA Enabler for 2.60 PSP