Hacking the PSP Blog

REVIEW: PSP Graphics Make for New Gameplay

Developers continuously try to reinvent how gamers interact with titles and consoles. But the addition of high-quality graphics to the portable gaming scene with Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news).'s PlayStation Portable makes for new gameplay and, sometimes, more complex controls.

Here's a look at a few titles worth checking out for the PSP:

Read the entire article on Yahoo here.

Neuros releases new firmware to fix PSP Firmware 2.70 issue

From Geek.com:

We previously reported Neuros was working on a firmware update that would fix the incompatibility issues with playback on the PSP. Neuros has now officially released firmware upgrade 2.0.12, which not only fixes the PSP incompatibility issue, but also includes additional video playback functionality and other bug fixes. A complete list of the updates is below:

# Fixed the issue that rendered recorded files unplayable on PSP firmware version 2.7
# Fixed the issue of low volume playback of recorded video on PSP. The audio is now 30% louder
# Added recording options for smartphone, cellphone, and PDA. The new options are 176x120-15fps; 320x240-15fps. The application of TCPMP with AAC plug-in is highly recommended to play the videos on smartphones and PDAs. The video format is MP4, and the video quality depends on the computing power of your smartphone and cellphone
# Added the recording options for iPod: 320x240 Fine (1024kbps) & Superfine (1536kbps) for superior video playback

The problem originated with Sony's release of a firmware update (PSP 2.7) that rendered programs recorded on the Neuros unplayable on the PSP. Neuros immediately started working on a firmware update that would fix the issue and released an early beta that addressed the issue and added additional functionality.

Neuros CEO Joe Born doesn't believe Sony did this on purpose and had this to say:

    [I]t's ironic that we are expanding our list of supported devices over time while they are reducing theirs. We think Sony should join us in embracing the value developers and third parties can add to their devices. The Recorder makes the world's content available for the PSP, legally and easily. Consumers have already made clear the enormous value that adds to their PSP. They don't want to be limited to proprietary UMD discs.

You can read more about the problem and solution in the company's press release.

REVIEW: NBA Ballers Rebound

When the original Ballers was released in 2004, it brought a breath of fresh air to the arcade basketball genre. Not since Dr. J versus Bird had anyone pulled off a one-on-one basketball game that was quite as compelling. The experience of the original Ballers game has now been shrunken down into portable form on the PlayStation Portable with NBA Ballers: Rebound. While it still retains the same modes and fun gameplay from the original, that's also part of the problem--you're hard pressed to find what's new in the game. But as a straight port of the original, Rebound gets the job done and delivers a fun basketball experience on the go.

Read the entire GameSpot review here.