Hacking the PSP Blog

PSP Bluetooth Headphone Adapter ... Fun :)

Well, not quite a bluetooth adapter for the PSP, but if you're tired of your headphone wires getting twisted, check out the Ever-e Bluetooth Headset for the PSP. Just a note, Sony doesn't appear to be very willing to hand out any hardware specs for the PSP, so that's why we're not seeing any third-party hardware devices, such as keyboards, and so forth. All hardware expansions to date - GPS, camera - have only come from Sony. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sony did not appear to be courting any new hardware developers. In fact, it appears they only turn them away, as evidenced by Sony refusing to give any hardware details to Logitech, forcing them to abandon their keyboard project. Related blog entries here and here.

Here's I4U's blurb on it... Thanks to mfriday for the heads up...

Looking for some wireless headphones for your Sony PSP? Chinese manufacturer, Ever-e, has the solutiton for you. They’ve made a Sony PSP Bluetooth dongle.

The Bluetooth headset dongle is designed to fit perfectly on the PSP without protruding much. It plugs into the headphone output, so it will technically work with any device. However, given it’s design, it’s made for the Sony PSP.

So pick up some stereo Bluetooth wireless head phones and start jamming out with your PSP wire free.

(original story here)

Do uCLinux? We see Linux on a PSP

If there are any Linux-proficient people out there who know how to code programs and also have an extensive knowledge of the best way to get apps to work on the PSP, then this may be the stepping stone you need to make your own Linux apps for Sony's little handheld. Yes folks; someone's actually tried to get Linux active on his PSP, it worked, and it doesn't seem to be a joke.

Chris Mulhearn ported µClinux (or uClinux), a version of Linux which runs on hardware lacking memory management units, onto the PSP. His port is based on Xiptech's mipsnommu version of uClinux-2.4.19. Currently, the port does nothing except prove that it can be done, so we're hoping it would give people ideas. There aren't any apps that run for the PSP-based uClinux (since it's a pretty new development and all), but as word of this new accomplishment spreads, that may very well change.

As Mulhearn writes,

Every project has to start somewhere! This site is mainly here to get some developers together so that we can start developing device drivers and porting applications to this new uClinux platform. Once we have enough interesting drivers and applications working, we'll put together an end-user friendly distribution for the project.

Sounds like PSP users might be getting some pretty interesting ports in the next few months. That is, if our talented programmers and members of the Linux and homebrew scenes can figure out how to best use this new development.

Check out the uClinux website here...

Source: PSPUpdates

Guiness Book Adds Video Game Scores

For the first time in 20 years, the Guiness Book of World Records will once again include video game high scores. In addition to top game achievements, a new section will also profile a Canadian man who holds 7 world-record scores.

The Saskatoon Star Phoenix recently caught up with the elite gamer, 38 year-old Greg Sakundiak. Back in the mid-1980’s, Sakundiak set high score records in Dragon’s Lair, Tag Team Wrestling, and Twin Cobra. As a teenager he save money earned from gathering empty bottles and spent his entire allowance at a local arcade

With the rise in popularity of consoles and the resultant impact on traditional arcades, Sakundiak realised it was time to move on:

It was hard to accept. It was really hard… It was a wake-up call for me to do something with my life. I realized I can’t play games forever.

Sakundiak never lost his love for arcade games though. He eventually became an electrician and purchased several arcade machines for his home. Today he manages SML Entertainment, the largest supplier for the amusement industry in western Canada.

Currently, Sakundiak is pursuing the Holy Grail of arcade game achievement, a perfect score in Pac-Man. That record is currently held by Florida’s Billy Mitchell, who is helping Sakundiak with his training. Mitchell once completed Pac-Man’s first 255 levels perfectly in 6 hours.

Although still a huge fan of video games, Sakundiak prefers the classics:

[Games today] are all about killing, shooting, fighting and drugs.

You can check out a thumbnail of the video game section of the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records here.

-Trying to play Frogger while shoveling through snow drifts, GP correspondent Colin “Jabrwock” McInnes

Colin McInnes
January 12, 2007

Source: GamePolitics.com

Fix for USBHOSTFS problems on TA-082/86

Some of you may have had problems using USBHOSTFS after downgrading a TA-082/86 PSP. Due to a problem with downgrade process, some of the idstorage keys may become corrupted. The guys over at lan.st have come up with a fix for the problem. The updated 2.80 downgrader from Noobz should solve this issue for any of you who have not downgraded their TA-082/86 PSP. TheUniqueWarrior has said that this will not brick your PSP but also warned that you used the application at your own risk. Full instructions and the link to the fix can be found using the link below.

Get the USBHOSTFS Fix for TA-082/86 here...

Via PSPUpdates

Slim Down your PSX Games

Garrett and Devilgun informed PSPUpdates of some steps that you can take to remove the extra empty bytes from PSX images, accounting for the difference in the actual game size and the size on disc. It appears like their was quite a bit of discussion to find a way to increase compatibility but it seems as if they have come up with a solution. They key is to make sure the LBA in the ISO extraction utility and CDGENPS2 are identical. Be aware that not all PSX games will work POPS and not all games with work with this method. If you're looking to free up some space on your Memory Stick, than some of you may want to give this a try. Devilgun's method calls for MagicISO and Garrett's uses ISOBuster but the steps are very similar. I've posted both of their instructions below if you have a preference for either one of these utilites.

Garrett's instructions:

1. Extract the ISO contents to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Open that folder and select ALL of the extracted contents from the root of the disc.
3. Open CDGENPS2.
4. Drag the contents of the folder into the CDGENPS2 window (the giant white space that says ISO near the top)
5. (Optional) Go to file-> Edit Volume and change the name of the volume so that it matches the original title of the game (for archival reasons only).
6. Click the IMG button on the left-hand side of the screen and save the Bin/ISO/IMG to whatever directory you want , and use POPS to convert to PSP EBOOT and test it.

On correcting the LBA issue:

You can do so with ISOBuster by exporting a Tree File, and then using CDGENPS2's advanced menu to import it (this is a new discovery to me too, as none of my LBA's were changed thru drag + drop).

Also, you can fix them manually by comparing the LBA section from whatever ISO utility you are using with the LBA in CDGENPS2. Starting from the top, compare the LBA and change it accordingly by: right-clicking the file, and clicking propeties. Check the FIX LBA box type in the correct LBA value.

Devilgun's instructions:

1. Open the iso/bin with MagicISO
2. Now you can see the data AND the !!!LBA!!! Information
3. Copy the Data to a new Folder on Harddisk or just drag and drop it to CDGENPS2
4.  !!!!!NOW!!!!! LOOK AT THE LBA Information in CDGENPS2. IT has to be the SAME for each File as in MagicISO - So order the files, so that the LBA is exactly the same.
5. Make the IMG
6. Compress it with pops.
7. Play it!

Download CDGENPS2
Download ISOBuster
Download MagicISO

Via PSPUpdates

Improved 2.80 Downgrader released by Noobz!

The Noobz team (with help from Mathieulh and Dark_Alex) has just announced and released an improved version of Dark_Alex's 2.80 downgrader with 2.80 HEN support as well! Previously, HEN was only usable on firmware 2.71 but the Noobz team has worked their magic and ported it to firmware 2.80. So, a downgrader and a homebrew enabler in one announcement, what a nice present!

Apparently, a lot of people have been bugging for a stable, secure, and easy downgrader for 2.80 firmware. Well, the Noobz team never ceases to impress us and has released just that!

Using the recent 2.80 downgrader and the generic downgrader from Dark_Alex, the team has been able to create the "best" 2.80 downgrader. The great part about this downgrader is the fact that it uses the original 1.50 eboot file in order to downgrade, which will decrease the hassle of obtaining the 1.50 dump files. For all those TA-082 and TA-086 users, this downgrader will still work on your PSPs.

The Noobz team has also bundled a new homebrew enabler for the 2.80 firmware, eventhough the last one was only on 2.71. This 2.80 HEN will allow users that are afraid of downgrader to execute homebrew on their 2.80 firmware (TA-082/86 supported). There's always a risk in downgrading if you do not follow the instructions, so please follow these instructions if you plan on downgrading -

1. Install the HEN files, by following the details in the readme.txt file.
2. Test that HEN is working fine, by running one of the bundled sample applications - e.g. the cube demo.
3. If you have a TA-082 or TA-086 PSP, run the "TA082 IdStorage Changer", via HEN, to patch your registry before downgrading.
4. Get a copy of the v1.5 upgrade EBOOT (e.g. from here) and copy it to the /psp/game/UPDATE/ folder on your memory stick, as UPDATE.PBP.
5. Start the"PSP Update ver X.YZ" program via HEN, and follow the instructions.
6. Congratulations, you now have a v1.5 PSP! :D

Great work Noobz and Dark_Alex's team! May the PSP community continue to thrive as you all help us! Also, big props to Fanjita for making an excellent chicken in a hard hat, his developer skills are rubbing off on his artistic talent now!

Download TA-082 Easy 2.80 Downgrader
Download Homebrew Enabler (HEN) for Firmware 2.80

Source: PSPUpdates

The 10 worst PSP games so far

Like any console, the PSP has suffered from some absolutely stinkers in the first couple of years of its life. Games so rubbish you'd pay not to play them. Games like KAZooK – so miserable to endure we considered resting a chairleg on our PSP's buttons to make it go faster.

Beware bad games! In the post-Christmas season of cheap PSP titles, it's would be too easy to accidentally pick up a shocker. Here's 10 to shun.

Read the list here...

Owain Bennallack
January 12, 2007

Source: Pocket Gamer

Do PSP games on PS3 cause a threat?

Sony seems to be having a bit of a problem. They have a portable system that is a success, but not by any means their main product. Then they have a new console that desperately needs games any way it can get them. Obviously they need to compete on the high end next gen game front, but they also need to compete against the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade. Without the backlog of games like Nintendo or the head start of Microsoft, they seem to be turning to a questionable source for their downloadable games; the PSP.

The obvious issue with PSP games going to PS3 is that it begins to negate the reasons for a consumer to own both. Sure, right now it's a Gripshift and a Tekken, but what happens if the trend just continues? Sure, this would strengthen the PlayStation Network, but at the cost of PSP exclusives. This is just not acceptable when the PSP still has a long way to go to establish itself.

Read the full article here...

Steven Bailey
January 14, 2007

Source: PSP Fanboy