Hacking the PSP Blog

The Fanjita Monologues - Homebrew and Hacking

The Fanjita Monologues - Homebrew and HackingA long time ago, on a planet not so far away and rather similar/identical to this one, the PSP was a closed console – capable only of running programs deemed ‘worthy’ (read profitable) to Sony. And then came the hackers... bringing with them swathes of homebrew (non professional) programs allowing the casual user to do everything from playing SNES games to controlling your telly.

These homebrew applications would not be out there if it wasn’t for some diligent work from Edinburgh based Fanjita (real name, David Court), who, arguably, broke open the PSP hacking scene. In a fit of whimsy, The Skinny tracked down said hacker to find the whys and wherefores of hacking the little big screen…

"In the beginning, prior to the PSP's release over here, the hacking scene was small; no real advancements were being made. So I guess I decided; if I wanted an open console, I’d have to get involved," muses Court in response to the Whys. The Wherefores however, are somewhat harder to pin-down, due in part to my lack of comprehension of the word…

Anyway, Court continues: "In the beginning, there weren’t many people doing the serious work, but as things have progressed, those of us doing the decrypting have developed quite a close-knit group." Indeed, it is this close-knit group which has managed to crack the latest Sony update (which generally try and lock out homebrew from the console) before it was even available for download on the English servers, something which used to take many weeks. An impressive feat, but one that begs the question: if the updates can be hacked so quickly - and given that their point, for the most part, is to keep the homebrew scene out - why does Sony still bother with them?

"We're not sure why. After all, they have opened up the PS3 to the homebrew scene," Court is referring to the ability of the PS3 to run Linux, an open operating system which effectively lets users run their own programs on the console. "It's symptomatic of Sony’s whole attitude to the consumer. They have a general disdain for the end user: “You will take what we make, and you will think its cool.” It's where they are falling down with the PS3. It doesn’t excite me, and then you can’t afford one.’ True that.

Read the full article here...

Josh Wilson
May 1, 2007

Source: The Skinny

Off Topic: Google may use games to analyse net users

Internet giant Google has drawn up plans to compile psychological profiles of millions of web users by covertly monitoring the way they play online games.

The company thinks it can glean information about an individual's preferences and personality type by tracking their online behaviour, which could then be sold to advertisers. Details such as whether a person is more likely to be aggressive, hostile or dishonest could be obtained and stored for future use, it says.

The move is intended to customise adverts shown to players of online video games by tailoring them to specific tastes and interests. But it has worried privacy campaigners, who said the implications of compiling and storing such detailed information were "alarming".

Sue Charman of online campaign Open Rights Group said: "I can understand why they are interested in this, but I would be deeply disturbed by a company holding a psychological profile.

"Whenever you have large amounts of information it becomes attractive to people - we've already seen the American federal government going to court over data from companies including Google."

The plans are detailed in a patent filed by Google in Europe and the US last month. It says people playing online role playing games such as Second Life and World of Warcraft would be particularly good to target, because they interact with other players and make decisions that probably reflect their behaviour in real life.

The patent says: "User dialogue (eg from role playing games, simulation games, etc) may be used to characterise the user (eg literate, profane, blunt or polite, quiet etc). Also, user play may be used to characterise the user (eg cautious, risk-taker, aggressive, non-confrontational, stealthy, honest, cooperative, uncooperative, etc)."

The information could be used to make adverts that appear inside the game more "relevant to the user", Google says.

Players who spend a lot of time exploring "may be interested in vacations, so the system may show ads for vacations". And those who spend more time talking to other characters will see adverts for mobile phones.

The patent says Google could also monitor people playing on any game console that hooks up to the internet, including the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft's Xbox. It says information could be retrieved from previous game details saved on memory cards: "Such saved information may be thought of state information, and offers a valuable source of information to the advertisers."

Read the full article here...

David Adam and Bobbie Johnson
May 12, 2007

Source: Guardian Unlimited

PSP-Devolution pushed back to May 18

More bad news for the folks hoping to get their hands on the PSP-Devolution "modchip". It seems the sale of the PSP-Devolution chip has been delayed for another week. The current ETA for for the PSP-Devolution is scheduled for May 18, 2007.

For those who haven't heard of it, the PSP-Devolution is more accurately termed a "USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs". One of its abilities, which is definitely the thing programmers and savvy PlayStation Portable (PSP) owners are watching out for, is that it can supposedly downgrade any Sony PSP, regardless of firmware type.

In any event, folks will have to wait for the 18th to hear word of this new piece of tech. In the meantime, you may want to save some cash, as the USB-JTAG Programmer will set you back US $75.



Source: Mod-Chip.com via PSPUpdates

GameStop EB Games deals - free SIXAXIS, bongos, and other discounts

We're always looking for great deals and here's something from GameStop EB Games that'll definitely pique your interest.

They're having In-Store Specials that are valid until May 17. The offers included are the PlayStation 3 that comes with a free SIXAXIS controller. Also, those who're planning to get Donkey Konga 2 can also get free bongos when they get the game. There's also a spot for DS trades and used GameCubes. You can also check out the video game titles that are marked down by US$ 10.

Anyway, you can check out the images below for the titles. And remember, the offers are dependent on title availability so if you see something you like, you better print out the coupons and visit a store at your earliest convenience.

Source: GameStop & PSPUpdates

PSP UK sales increase

Sony is reporting that since chopping £20 off the PSP's suggested retail price on Friday May 4th, the company has seen a 60 per cent increase in sales for the handheld in its opening weekend.

Now at £130 for the basic pack (though easily found for £120 at online retailers such as Play.com and Amazon), Sony is confident the new price should see a continued positive effect on the platform's retail performance through the rest of the year as it attracts a wider demographic.

"The price realignment was about passing on manufacturing cost savings to customers. This new price point opens up a new wave of consumers to the PSP experience," said Sony's sales director Andrew Howsen, speaking in the strange language of sales directors to industry publication MCV.

Obviously we'll have to wait and see if that's the case but the timing does seem apt, coinciding with some very strong recent and imminent releases for the platform, such as Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Burnout Dominator, Driver 76 (expect a review soon), and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

João Diniz Sanches
May 14, 2007

Source: Pocket Gamer