Hacking the PSP Blog

Take-Two pushes latest Grand Theft Auto release out to June

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. said late Tuesday it would push the retail release of its "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories" video game for the PlayStation 2 out to June 6. The New York-based company had previously said that it would release the game before the end of its second quarter, which ends April 30. The game, which will sell for $19.99 in U.S., is an adaptation of the version which is the top-selling game on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld console.

Source: MarketWatch

Looking into Sony's New Portable TV Service for the PSP

Addict3D has taken a look at Sony's new Portable TV Service for the PSP:

Source: http://www.japanchronicles.com/article/14/a-look-a...

Chances are that you first heard rumors about Sony’s Portable TV service (P-TV) for the Playstation Portable when the 2.0 firmware was first released. With H.264 support came news of a new service starting in Japan where PSP owners would be able to download video content directly to their Memory Sticks. Today the service is up and running, albeit with a slightly flawed business model. Read on to find out why and see examples of how it works. Portable TV – what is it? It’s a service where registered users can download video content formatted for PSP directly to it. Some content is free, most will cost you a few hundred yen to download. Here comes the flawed part, the download is DRM-protected, and you only have a limited time in which to watch your download, after that you will have to pay up again. The time allowed ranges from 5 to 30 days on most downloads. The video format varies from standard 4:3 to glorious, native resolution 16:9 for newer content. Presumably, the files you can download here are digitally signed to bypass the native resolution limitation. And it looks good! The service requires you to run at least firmware version 2.60, so if you for certain reasons want to hold on to that 1.5 one, you’re out of luck. If you don’t have a wireless network at home, you can also connect a USB cable from your PC and download it directly to the PSP that way. Full article can be found @ source.

2K Sports Announces Major League Baseball(R) 2K6 for PSP(TM) System Now Available

NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- April 18, 2006 -- 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that Major League Baseball(R) 2K6 for PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system is now available in stores across North America.

"We are thrilled to bring Major League Baseball 2K6, the most authentic and feature-rich MLB(R) video game available, to the PSP system," stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "Baseball fans will now be able to have the ultimate MLB experience wherever they go. Not only will gamers enjoy a bevy of exciting features found in the other versions of the game, but a PSP system-exclusive Home Run Derby Career Mode as well."

Major League Baseball 2K6 for the PSP system incorporates many of the features included in the console versions, such as A.I. powered by Inside Edge(TM) technology; intuitive Swing Stick(TM) control; the all-new Payoff Pitching(TM) system; World Baseball Classic Mode; and commentary from Jon Miller and Hall of Fame legend Joe Morgan. In addition to these stellar features, Major League Baseball 2K6 for the PSP system debuts the PSP system-exclusive Home Run Derby Mode, a tag team-style hitting match, pitting gamers against the best sluggers in baseball to achieve home run career supremacy. Lastly, online play - both ad-hoc and infrastructure - are supported to deliver seamless online play on the go.

Major League Baseball 2K6 is rated "E" for Everyone and is the only officially licensed Major League Baseball video game that will be available on every major gaming console, including Xbox 360(TM) and Xbox(R) video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, and the Nintendo GameCube(TM). The PSP system version is available now for a suggested retail price of $39.99; with the Xbox 360 version available for $59.99; and the PlayStation 2 and Xbox titles available for $39.99.

For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com

WRC Gets Checkered Flag for PSP

Namco Bandai ships the official game of the FIA World Rally Championship.
by Daemon Hatfield

Racing fans can now get their FIA World Rally Championship fix on the PSP, as Namco Bandai announced today the title has shipped. WRC gives you the chance to race across five continents and sixteen countries — 64 stages in all. The game also features 30 official cars from manufacturers such as Ford, Subaru and Mitsubishi. Online multiplayer is included, so you don't have to race alone.

World Rally Championship players are urged to be particularly cautious when leaving the house with their PSP, as most accidents occur close to home.

See all the images/screenshots here.
See the videos here.

Source: IGN

'300' game gets PSP day-date

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment said that it will release "300: March to Glory" simultaneously next year with Warner Bros. Pictures' "300," marking the first time a PlayStation Portable game has been timed to the feature film on which it is based. Developers Collision Studios worked to retain the movie's highly stylized design, which uses unique color treatments and integrates live-action photography with virtual environments. "We are working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to ensure '300: March to Glory' captures the look and action of the film while making it fun to play on the PSP system," Collision Studios executive producer Philippe Erwin said. "The source material allows for great freedom in making a game where the player can be strategic and heroic." (Chris Marlowe)

 FULL STORY

Source: Hollywood Reporter

E3 2006 Lemmings Preshow Hands-On

Psygnosis' classic puzzle game is coming to the PSP, complete with updated graphics, new levels, a level editor with WiFi support, and more.

[ Read GameSpot's Full News Article ]

Worms wage war, and it's a blast

Not many people are eager to stuff worms in their pocket, but THQ hopes to change this notion with the release of the popular strategy series Worms: Open Warfare on the PSP.

NEW HACK: How to change the color of your PSP Remote

A reader of my book told me about this cool idea he had... he posted it to my forums - check it out!

Read it here.

Monkey64 (N64 emulator) videos

PSMonkey has released new videos to show off the progress of his much anticipated N64 emulator. Monkey64 is a Work In Progress N64 emulator currently being developed by PSMonkey.

These videos show that PSMonkey has been at hard work. The graphics look really good for a WIP, and the only problem seems to be a bit of screen flickering. I believe that at this point, the games actually appear playable, with the games running at a decent speed - an amazing improvement from the previous screenshot update.

The games covered in these videos are: Quest 64, Bust a Move 3, and Mace. All 3 run really smoothly considering this is still a WIP, and just getting the games to run properly on the PSP is a great achievement. The N64 is a classic games console, and to be able to play N64 games on the PSP would be amazing!

Download: [Monkey64 Bust a Move 3 video]
Download: [Monkey64 Quest64 video]
Download: [Monkey64 Mace video]

Source: PSPUpdates