Hacking the PSP Blog

AcidMods Razor Nub Preview Video

Last week there was a post about a prototype right-side analog nub for the PSP from AcidMods. Well now they've installed one in a PSP and have it working. To prove it F00 f00's put together a video demonstrating his and cyberpyrot's new baby. Check it out for yourself using the link below.

AcidMods Razor Nub Preview

Off Topic: Chinese game market explodes

A report published by market intelligence firm Niko Partners, specialists in the Chinese game industry, states that the country's video game market saw spectacular growth in 2006.

The report found that revenue from the overall video game market jumped by 68% last year, with the online gaming sector generating USD 995 million in revenue, an increase of 74% from the previous year.

Unsurprisingly, the report singled out China's booming internet cafe culture as the main driver for this growth. The introduction of free-to-play massively multiplayer online games - in which players pay for virtual items - has, according to Niko's managing partner Lisa Cosmas Hanson, further stimulated this trend.

"Chinese gamers pour into the cafes every day to play online and LAN games with friends. They spend money in the games on virtual gifts for friends, services for their characters, and virtual items to help with leveling," said Hanson. "The intertwined nature of China's Internet cafes, social gaming culture, and few entertainment alternatives at a low price point, will continue to be the basis for strong growth through 2011."

But the Niko report goes on to paint a picture of overall good health for the Chinese market. Sales of offline PC games, mostly from Taiwan, rose 28.5 per cent to 904,000 units in 2006. And alongside the 20 million PCs in China's 225,000 internet cafes are an increasing number of consoles, although these are all grey imports, console hardware currently being prohibited in China.

Hanson added: "If a game company can get an impressive game or console to market in China, the gamers there will embrace it. That said, getting a product into the market is not easy. The complex regulatory environment in China is still the greatest barrier to entry for foreign game companies."

China added 3.4 million gamers in 2006, reaching a total gaming population of 37.5 million, 90 per cent of whom play online games. Niko projects this number to increase to 71.9 million gamers by 2011.

Oli Welsh
May 4, 2007

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

PlayStation Home shots leaked

With invitations already sent out for the North American closed beta, the first shaky-cam shots of PlayStation Home are starting to leak out of the woodwork - and here they are.

This first batch, which emerged on the internet this morning, shows quite a bit of the PS3 'Second Life-like' service in action including interacting with your virtual PSP and those damned in-game adverts.

There's also a shot of Home's multiplayer bowling in action, which we're almost certain we won't be able to play without sorely missing the aid of a Wii Remote.

There's no word on when the Home beta will reach Europe yet, but glance your eyes downwards to see the rest of the lovely screenshots.

Andy Robinson
May 4, 4007

More screens and original article here...









Source: CVG

PlayStation 4 rumour is “garbage”

Sony UK dismisses Aussie site speculation alleging that PS4 is to launch in 2008

Australian technology site Smarthouse is reporting that a ‘Sony insider’ has told it that a new PlayStation console is being prepared by the Japanese platform holder and will be launched by the end of next year.

The site claims that the machine will be based on the current PS3 chipset, but “will differ from the current model in the drive bay and in the attachment area”.

The supposed source added: “It will also include an extensive software suite for the managing of content being streamed to a TV or hi-fi source.”

Unsurprisingly, these claims have been rebuked by Sony UK. A spokesperson told Spong that: “Obviously, this is garbage.”

The story most likely emerged following Ken Kutaragi’s admission earlier this week that despite his imminent departure from Sony he has firm plans in place for the PlayStation 4, 5 and 6.

Ben Parfitt
May 4, 2007

Source: MCV