Hacking the PSP Blog

Video: The DS Sucks, Folks. Look It Up.

This video editorial from Jon of Talking With Jon fame clearly outlines why the Nintendo DS is inferior to the Sony PSP. For instance, can you use the DS as a PlayStation 3 controller? No. Is the DS widescreen, the future of gaming? No. Does it have the gigabytes? No. Can you play it without plugging it into the wall? Apparently not. Pretty damning evidence.

Before you go out willy-nilly buying game portables, watch this video. You will say "Huh.". You will say "Wow!". You will say "I can't believe I just watched that for 12 minutes...". — Michael McWhertor

Source: Kotaku

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops on Sony PSP

A new Metal Gear Solid game is coming to the Sony PSP in Winter 2006/1st Quarter 2007. Kojima Productions has created an original storyline that follows the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Highlights include:
- All-new Metal Gear Solid action game on the PSP system
- Original storyline set in 1970 featuring Big Boss
- Returning cast of characters including Para-Medic, Major Zero, Sigint and more
- Recruit NPCs with different abilities to create a custom fighting force
- Fully voiced cinematics featuring 3D models and original artwork from renowned illustrator Ashley Wood
- New 3D camera optimized for play on the PSP system
- Connect to wireless access points to recruit new comrades – each access point generates a unique group of allies
- Unique new multiplayer modes
- Wide variety of multiplayer-specific environments
- Use your squadron of comrades in online play and recruit new members only available in multiplayer
- New “White Flag” system – choose to surrender and live to fight again or fight to the death until the next game begins
- Trade squad members online with other players

Check out some screenshots here and read the official press release from Konami.

Source: Gaming Bits

PSPRadio 0.38.10 Released!

Raf has released a new update to his awesome PSP Radio homebrew application, which allows you to stream music and listen to Shoutcast servers from your PSP.

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The Dynamic version includes retawq and links2 plugins.

NOTE: If a plugin stops responding, try L+R+START (should take you back to PSPRadio)

New Features

(raf) Core/(Links2): Updated/enhanced pthreads implementation.
(raf) Core/SHOUTcast: The SHOUTcast request string can now be specified in the configuration file.
(sandberg) Dyn/Core: -Prepared the plugin framework for game plugins.
(sandberg) Dyn/Retawq: -Modified Retawq plugin to use danzeff for inputs.
(raf) Dyn: If plugin load fails because of lack of memory, then the message displayed on the screen will say so.
(raf) Dyn/Code: Now PSPRadio allocates 6MB instead of 8MB or RAM. This to give more RAM to plugins.
(danzel) Core: Added lite version to danzeff library.
(sandberg) Core: Added GU version to danzeff library.
(raf) Dyn/Retawq: -Updated code to take advantage of changes to newlib (for pipes/file descriptors/sockets)
(raf) Dyn/Retawq: -Cleaned up the code to make it easier to update when a new version of retawq is available.
BUG FIXES
(raf) Calling network termination functions before exit -- hope this helps exit when using eLoader.
(raf) When a socket closed, writestring() would keep trying to send, and keep reporting errors, filling up the event queue, and causing pspradio to exit. Thanks PSP KEVIN for the report.

Download: Here (Dynamic & Static Bundle)

Official Website: pspradio.sourceforge.net

Reverzi Coming To PSP!

Deniska shows off the screenshot of his latest PSP porting project, the Reverzi - a clone of the Othello (also known as Reversi). The board game was invented around 1880 by two Englishmen, Lewis Waterman and John W. Mollett. It became quite a sensation at the end of the 19th century in England. However, the modern set of rules originated in Japan in the 1970s where it was known as Othello. In the Othello version, the goal is to trap one or more opponents' pieces between two of your pieces. Trapped pieces then become your pieces. When both you and your opponent cannot play another piece, or if the board is filled, the game is over. The one with the most pieces win. It's a strategy game than can quickly turn a newcomer into an addict.
In addition to the standard gameplay, Deniska's PSP adaptation will feature the following:

    * 3 different difficulty settings for AI
    * AI vs AI mode
    * Human vs AI mode

No word yet on when PSP Reverzi will be released but as soon as we get the word, it will go right up here on QJ. Keep checking this site for that and more PSP homebrews to come.



Source: PSPUpdates and Deniska

School will never be the same with Doko Demo Issho

As a sequel to Doko Demo Issho (Always be with you), not everything's the same with Doko Demo Issho: Let's Gakkou! (Everything's the Same: Let's Go to School!)

Gakkou meaning school in Japanese, gave the good people at Sony a very good marketing strategy slash excuse, and release the game via a scrumptious study bundle that includes a ceramic white PSP, the Let's Gakkou! UMD software, a pencil case, and a ball point pen all for 28,140 yen or about $250 USD.

Although I find this product to be extremely kawaii, I don't think that any kid would prefer to listen to the lesson with this under their desks. School will never be the same.

Sega Sammy Reveals Number of Sega Titles in Development

Sega Sammy (Yeah, Sega merged with Sammy a while back) has given a list of how many games they will be releasing in the fiscal year, which ends April 2007. All I can understand is that either Sega has no business sense or Sammy is having some Sonic kind of affair with Sony.

• PSP: 29 Titles
• PlayStation2: 28 Titles
• PlayStation3: 17 Titles
• Nintendo DS: 17 Titles
• Xbox 360: 14 Titles
• Wii: 7 Titles
• Gamecube: 2 Titles
• Game Boy Advance: 2 Titles
• Xbox: 1 Titles

As you can see, the PSP has more titles from the company than the Nintendo DS. The Wii has half the titles of the Xbox 360. Older systems such as the Gamecube and Xbox are actually receiving titles. Also, they expect to have 17 PS3 titles available in less than six months after the PS3 launches? Good luck with that guys.

To clarify, Sega's games have all sold best on Nintendo platforms and worst on the Microsoft platforms. Their titles on the home Sony consoles have done almost as well as on Nintendo consoles, but much of that stems from the large userbase (90 million users on PS2 as opposed to 20 million - 25 million on GCN and XBX).

It's kind of mind-boggling how they're still supporting the Gamecube and Xbox which are basically dead systems. However, we do expect Super Monkey Ball Adventure to do quite well.

Source: PSPUpdates