Hacking the PSP Blog

Pelican Power Bricks for Sony PSP Recalled

Even though I've mentioned this before... a while ago I recall... don't forget!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Electro Source LLC has announced a voluntary recall of about 231,000 Pelican Power Brick battery chargers. The recalled Pelican Power Brick is an external recharging battery pack that sells as a separate accessory to be used with the Sony PSP™ (PlayStation Portable). Electro Source has received 143 reports of the recalled battery charger overheating including one report of fire damage. No injuries have been reported.

The Pelican Power Brick consists of two lithium-ion battery cells connected via a circuit board and mounted in a small plastic housing. The battery cells are charged when plugged into an electrical outlet using the PSP™ AC adaptor. Once charged, it is used to recharge the PSP™. The model number for the battery charger, PL-6018, can be found on the back of the unit. Electro Source sold these chargers alone and also as part of several kits containing other accessories. Sony neither manufactured nor distributed the Pelican Power Brick. Only the Pelican Power Brick is included in this recall.

According to the manufacturer’s literature, Pelican’s Power Brick was designed to recharge and play a PSP when other power sources are not avaliable. The Power Brick was claimed to provide twice the playing time of a PSP battery at half the cost.

Manufactured in China, the Pelican Power Brick was sold through electronics and discount department stores nationwide, catalogs, and various Web sites from April 2005 through March 2006 for about $20 when sold alone, and for between $40 and $50 when sold as part of certain kits packaged by Electro Source.

Lik-Sang PSP Accessory Contest

It's starting to look like "Gnomes Gone Wild" over at PSP Garden! Lik-Sang is sponsoring a contest in the Garden, and at stake is a PSP accessory prize pack with some sweet gear to enhance your Sony PSP. It's simple to enter too, so may the *ahem* best gnome win? Whatever!

Source: PSP Garden

Avenged Sevenfold Contest - Win a PSP!

Punknews.org is happy to bring you a new contest featuring Avenged Sevenfold and Coheed and Cambria in support of their co-headlining tour together.

Both bands recently unveiled their major label debuts, with Avenged releasing City Of Evil and Coheed releasing Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness .
Enter to win one of:

• a guitar signed by Avenged Sevenfold
• a snowboard signed by Coheed and Cambria
• Sony PSP equipped with a 10 UMD titles.

You can check out the rules or submit your entry here.

Source: PunkNews.org

CONSOLE REVIEW: GP2X (sorta off topic)

The GP2X is a Korean-made, Linux-based handheld that shares many features with the PSP. In some cases, the GP2X dances circles around the PSP. But the GP2X is not for everyone. It is not the most accessible handheld — it takes some tinkering to get things working the way you want.

The history of the GP2X is convoluted to say the least. GamePark, a Korean company, released the GP32 in 2001. The company split because of "differences in philosophy," and thus GamePark Holdings was created.

GamePark is planning on going toe-to-toe with Sony and Nintendo with the release of the XGP and XGP Mini, set to launch this year. GamePark Holdings, with the original GP32 design team, released the GP2X to keep with the goals of the GP32 audience.

Read the entire review here.

Misleading Ubisoft PSP Ad Found

RedAssedBaboon (yes, that’s one of my blogs) breaks the story that the latest issue of EGM includes a misleading ad for the atrocious Playstation Portable version of Splinter Cell Essentials. The advertisement features a quote from the GameSpy preview of the game, not the review. The quote reads:

One of the best games on PSP.

The problem is, the GameSpy review disagrees. In fact the review landed Essentials a paltry two out of five stars. But what the preview does say is:

Although Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials doesn’t reinvent the wheel in any way, it’s undoubtedly one of the best games we’ve played on the PSP.

The review says:

Hopefully, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials will go down as the all-time low point for the series. Even Sam’s biggest fans will disappointed by this mediocre title, especially those that are expecting the same type of experience they’ve gotten used to on the consoles. Only time will tell if Sam Fisher can recover, but we’re hopeful that this game will be long forgotten by the time Double Agent hits stores.

OK, so you want to hear the funny part? The same guy wrote both of them. Yeah, gets me every time.

Is Ubisoft Lying in Their Ads for Splinter Cell Essentials!?! [RAB, thanks to 1Up for putting the pieces together]

Source: Kotaku

REVIEW: Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai

by Matt Paprocki

If you're worried about your child's reading comprehension skills, you could try to give them Shakespeare as a test. You might as well pick up something like Shin Budokai. For as baffling as classic literature can be for some people, the storyline in Dragon Ball Z is worse, especially when it's all told through text. Thankfully, the PSP offers a start button to skip all of that after you've gone past the point of being lost, and then you'll end up inside a decent, albeit lacking fighting game.

Oddly enough, for being based on an anime, Shin Budokai contains no footage from the films or shows. The intro cinematic is comprised of grainy game footage, while the conversations use still pictures. Past that, the in-game graphics engine does a fine job of representing the characters with a sharp, clean cel-shaded look.

Read the entire review here.

PSP Isle Resort Game For Grown-Ups

Build a log cabin. Tame wild monkeys. Lounge in a hammock. Bandai-Namco’s Portable Island for the PSP lets players get their Robinson Crusoe on and enjoy island life. Think Animal Crossing meets Suvivor, but minus the cuteness and the backstabbing. This “adult relaxation game” (heh) features five different modes.

In Play Mode, gamers decorate their cottage, examine flora and fauna, keep a picture book, catch squid and eat coconuts. Done playing? Try Stand By Mode. The PSP doubles as a real-world clock, giving various backgrounds: Ocean View, Forest View, Indoor View and Aqua View. Set the game’s clock and wake with Alarm Mode. Sounds include peaceful, ambient sounds and noises. Likewise, Radio Mode provides nostalgic radio faces as the PSP plays MP3s. Create island music with Musical Instrument Mode. Thirty kinds of steel drums, along with the standard ukulele are available.

The release date has not yet been announced, but Portable Island sounds incredible. It’s about time somebody made a fab lounge-in-a-hammock game. And best of all, no Gilligan.

More Screens [Game Impress Watch]

Source: Kotaku

PSP Gets Bleached - Japan Gets a new Bleached Game

Sony has announced that it will soon be bringing Japanese PSP owners the third entry in its Bleach: Heat the Soul fighting series. Heat the Soul 3 will be released to the Japanese PSP on July 20.

Sony has added a total of 33 characters to this latest version. Check out the games main site for a video of the game right here.

Source: PSP Advanced

PSP IRC Chat Program Early Build

In this basic build of PSP2IRC, Gary13579 has implemented a few minor features. The program can only connect to one server, but in the future he promises that you will be able to configure your own web server for complete control. The IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, can be used for hundreds of things, from sending files and videos to just chatting. This runs through the PSP web browser. To check it out, use your PSP and head over to http://psp2irc.psp-hacks.com, and start typing! You must be on a PSP in order to access the channel.

Source: PSPUpdates

Note from Auri: Here are the notes from Gary's blog:

What is PSP2IRC?
PSP2IRC is a web based IRC client for the PSP (Playstation Portable). It is made and maintained by Gary Schilling (aka Gary13579).

How can I use it?
In order to use it, you must use one of the PSP's web browsers. The different browsers can be found here.

Can I join other servers/channels?
In the final version, yes. You will never be able to join other servers from this demo version however. This is due to the fact that I cannot control what you do in other channels, and I do not want my server banned from them.

So how can I join other channels?
You have to install it on your own web server. Currently, you cannot do this, because I have not released the source code. As soon as I release it, this page will be updated with instructions.

Homebrew: New PSP Homebrew Releases for April 17, 2006

It must be game day! Time to play after paying taxes!

Games
Master's Intuition Builder - Unlock the secret visual using your intuition.
Mini Games Galore v1.0 - A bundle of fun games to enjoy.
PSPaintball v0.1 - Play paintball on your PSP!
Star Wars Iris Mods Model Pack - Models for the popular Iris game mod.
Super Mini Mario Bros. 2 v0.1 SMM Mod - Another mod for the Super Mario Bros. clone.
WildSniper - Shoot enemies. What a concept! <grin>

Applications
Maxime's GTA Video Viewer - View the videos made by the GTA cheat device. Works right inside your PSP's web browser!

PSP Magazines
PSP Pro Magazine Issue 4

PSP Software Development
Danzeff OSK Source - On-Screen Keyboard (the one used in AFKIM) Source Code