Hacking the PSP Blog

Tekken: Dark Resurrection for PSP - New Screenshots

REVIEW: Mega Man - Maverick Hunter X

by Matt Paprocki (who also wrote a great review of my book, Hacking the PSP!)

While the spin-offs of the Mega Man franchise have gone overboard and the X series has taken a sharp downswing, Maverick Hunter X becomes all the more appealing. This PSP exclusive is stunning; losing nothing of what made the original SNES hit a classic, while updating everything outside of the game play (and even this has been tweaked). The extras sell this package, and while they're not as rich as Mega Man Powered Up, they're still worth unlocking since they essentially turn into a second full game.

With the graphics revamped in full 3-D, the sheen on Maverick Hunter is the immediate standout. Unlike the experiments in Mega Man X7 and X8, this update keeps the game play in two dimensions all the way through. The polygons are used to sharply enhance the animation and cinematic qualities (which are then unfortunately brought down by voice actors that barely qualify as actors). It's a necessary and detailed face lift that shines on the PSP.

Read the entire review here.

Looking to go to E3? Here are the floor plans!

Gizmondo is (Unfortunately) History

Formerly very flashy shop of Gizmondo located on the renown Regent street in London, UK (weak attempt to imitate Apple Corporation and their shop on the same street) is now in process of liquidation - similarly like the whole Gizmondo company (photo taken yesterday):



The same shop looked previously much differently - a Gizmondo flag waving, mini-car with advertisement, big flashy presentations:



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Gizmondo - known also as Tiger Telematics - a British company that tried to release a mobile gaming console based on Windows CE - has gone bankrupt with big debt (over 200 million USD) and is no more, so let's take a look "postmortem" what went wrong and what others (i.e. other manufacturers producing hardware based on Microsoft mobile software) can learn from it:

• Gizmondo was based on Windows CE operating system that is a basis on which Windows Mobile is built and operating system used in many industrial applications. What went wrong: standard OS like Windows Mobile Pocket PC should be used because it offers already a lot of software, also games, and extending existing games for Pocket PC to new features of Gizmondo would be much easier than making wholly new games. Another example of this mistake: Microsoft's own Portable Media Center (PMC) platform that is based also on Windows CE, doesn't offer Pocket PC or MS Smartphone compatibility (although Microsoft calls it "Windows Mobile" sometimes).
• Gizmondo device had GPRS connectivity but no ability to make phone calls. What went wrong: artificially limiting features of the device is always sooner or later striking back. Another example of this mistake: lack of A2DP (stereo audio over Bluetooth) in several Windows Mobile phones manufactured by HTC although this feature is available as integral part of Windows Mobile operating system. Yet another example of this mistake: Microsoft's own Portable Media Center (PMC) platform that is based also on Windows CE, but doesn't allow execution of 3rd party programs - Microsoft thinks that it knows better what users need or don't need and says that PMC are for video and audio playback and not for running programs. Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't fire people for mistakes, so Microsoft employees just repeat blindly marketing mantra and are still claiming that it is good that PMC is so limited.
• Gizmondo was equipped in Bluetooth for near-range gaming but lacked Wi-Fi. With Wi-Fi many things become possible like for example Skype (Gizmondo had 400 MHz processor so it could handle Skype only if it would have Wi-Fi). Another example of this mistake: lack of built-in Wi-Fi in some contemporary Windows Mobile phones.
• TV-out socket was missing in Gizmondo. It would be useful in a gaming console anyway and it is available nowadays in various mobile phones even (for example: from Samsung). Another example of this mistake: lack of TV-out in HTC Universal.
• wrong business model: business model of Gizmondo in big part was based on "Smart Ads" where users were supposed to be able to purchase Gizmondo cheaper in return for agreement on watching advertisements while gaming. Obviously users don't like watching advertisements if they pay for something. Another example of this mistake: some vendors of Windows Mobile phones try to sell them through exotic distribution channels instead of striking a deals with mobile operators (i.e. wireless carriers) and some other vendors have unrealistic business models based one and only one feature - see example of big failure of Voq smartphone from Sierra Wireless, where flippable QWERTY keyboard was presented as the biggest invention since slice bread, but the rest of the phone was missing the point - not even Bluetooth was available. Lesson: don't base business model on one method or feature only but try to address maximally broad spectrum of users (example: if a phone has TMC then put also FM radio program - don't assume that it is only for businessmen, who don't care about radio).

Sony's map software for PSP: "Minna no Chizu" - No GPS

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Good news from Sony today: they've partnered with Japanese map data provider enrin to introduce new software for the PSP called Minna no Chizu. Set to be released on April 20th in Japan, the software comes on a UMD and features map data for the entirety of Japan.

To go along with this release, Sony Style will sell additional contents called Guide Information to be used with the software. These contents cost about 105 yen each, and data are downloaded to the user's Memory Stick. These Guide Information contents will contain information about local cafes, restaurants, tourist spots, and so on. Sony Style plans to offer 200-300 of these Guide Information packs throughout the life cycle of Minna no Chizu.

It's important to point out that, in its current state, Minna no Chizu does not use GPS or any sort of positioning technology. Users are required to manually operate the maps, with scrolling, rotating, and zooming functions all supported.

A few primary features of the software:

1. Four functions for controlling the map. Scrolling with the d-pad, rotating with the shoulder buttons, zooming in/out, and the My Spot function.

2. Guide Information, as described above. Estimated 105 yen each, and are downloaded to the Memory Stick Duo from Sony Style. There will be 150 contents available at the launch of Minna no Chizu. A brief list:
-Nationwide Sightseeing Information from JTB
-Nationwide Restaurant Information from Gourmet Pier Network
-Nationwide Autocamping Spot Information from Japan Sightseeing Association/Railroad Information System Corporation
-Nationwide Wirelss LAN Spot Information from IRI Commerce and Technology
-Nationwide Sightseeing Information (Specialized Themes) from Child Food
-Kyoto Osaka Kobe Sightseeing Information from Kyoto Osaka Kobe Magazine
-Nationwide Medical Institution Information from Wellness Corporation
-Region Limited Sightseeing Information from Koala Corporation

3. My Spot Function. Allows you to mark your favorite spots on your map (up to 500 spots), and share them with friends via Ad-Hoc.

4. Area Select allows you to search for addresses, and Train Station Select allows you to search for train stations.

5. Home Position setting allows you to easily get to a pre-defined location quickly by simply selecting it from a menu.

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OFF TOPIC: Be Part of the Next Test Drive Game for XBox 360!

Now you can be a part of the development of Atari's next BIG racing game - Test Drive Unlimited and win a free copy of the game while your at it!

The team at Atari is working on the package design for Test Drive Unlimited which is coming out this Fall on X360, PS2, PSP and PC.
We would love to get your opinion on which concept, 1 or 2, you prefer. Let us know by voting and getting all of your friends to vote. The concepts can be found here:

Homebrew: New PSP Homebrew Releases for April 16, 2006