Hacking the PSP Blog

Off Topic: Nintendo on the latest 'technical divide'

Great work is being done to narrow the gap between the technical haves and the have-nots across the planet. At MIT, Professor Nicholas Negroponte seeks to equip every child in the developing world with a laptop. In Kenya, the government is supporting assembly of inexpensive PCs as part of university curricula, ultimately designating those computers for distribution throughout the African continent.

At the same time, on the most granular level, I wonder if a similar technical divide exists inside your own home. One person is probably expected to provide solutions when it's time to install the wireless network, redirect the satellite dish, or retrieve a lost document. The have-nots sit and wait.

Several years ago, we noticed this same kind of dichotomy beginning to separate active core consumers from potential consumers in my own industry, video game entertainment. While ardent players reliably responded to ever-advancing technology and complexity, those same attributes consistently chipped off potential new players from the total market, narrowing the consumers into a smaller niche.

For the frustrated, it simply wasn't worth the investment of time or money in the midst of a life ever-busier with work, family and other obligations. The players happily jousting inside the castle walls didn't see the moat outside widening.

For us, this raised two fundamental challenges that I believe now, or someday soon, will confront almost every consumer-facing technology business. First, how do you satisfy the core while still expanding appeal? And second, how do you leverage your strengths against entirely untapped audiences--to the so-called "blue oceans" in popular marketing speak?

The snap answer is obvious--"innovate!" It's a popular prescription, but not a simple one to follow. Harvard professor Clayton Christensen outlines one distinct course of action for innovation: Provide a new product that actually underperforms on an established industry metric for "progress," and substitute an alternative that typically is smaller, less expensive and easier to use.

Read the full article here...

Reggie Fils-Aime - President, Nintendo of America
May 9, 2007

Source: CNET News

Malaysian student creates PlayStation Koran

KUALA LUMPUR -- Muslim gamers worldwide will soon be able to mix praying with playing after the creation of a Koran that can be downloaded onto PlayStation portable consoles.

Student Ikhwan Nazri Mohamad Asran, 21, designed the software after seeing a similar version of the Bible.

"They did the Bible, so why not do the Koran ... This application can help younger people to read the Koran," Ikhwan said Tuesday.

PlayStation enthusiasts, more used to playing games such as Ridge Racer and Metal Gear Acid, can download an English-language version of the Koran, with displays in Arabic script, from the Internet.

Ikhwan said that the software should appeal to parents, who sometimes distrust the Internet and gaming.

"For some parents, when we talk about the Internet, all they see is porn, the bad things. When we talk about the PlayStation, all they see is gaming and spending too much time not studying," he said.

"A mother can say, 'Read the Koran first and then I'll let you play games.'"

The software follows the creation of The Raise, an English-language magazine on Islam, for the Sony console, and other content such as Islamic wallpaper.

"We focus on giving information on Islam and clearing misconceptions that non-Muslims have about Muslims," said Ikhwan.

Ikhwan, a student with Malaysia's Multimedia University south of Kuala Lumpur, is due to graduate this year with a degree in creative multimedia.

Aided by a team of 10 student volunteers, he started developing the Koran software between classes in January.

It was launched earlier this month to a gathering of parents at a Muslim charity dinner who responded well, Ikhwan said, adding that he would later include Koranic recitations following requests.

The software will be available for download for free after May 19 from his Web site http://raise.flavert.com, he said.

"People have to download all the files, put it into their memory stick, and then they can read it. All the instructions are included," Ikhwan added.

Middle East Times Staff
May 8, 2007

Source: Middle East Times

Sony gaining on Nintendo in Australia

It seems Sony has been the receiver of good news lately, and the latest comes in the form of Australia sales figured for the PlayStation 3. Despite being released three months after the Nintendo Wii, Sony has sold only 1,000 units less. Gaming site, gamer.blorge.com reports that as of last quarter, Sony has sold 27,000 PlayStation 3s down under.

Sony's latest console has also been the largest revenue generator compared to the Nintendo Wii and the Microsoft Xbox 360, pulling in AUS$27 million. However, critics argue that although the PlayStation 3 remains a massive revenue generator, Nintendo is the only console maker which is making a profit on each unit sold.

Given that the PlayStation 3 has only been on Australian shores for a little over a month, it is still too early to predict if it will end up being a success, however, if sales figures are any indication, Sony is off to a good start to dominating the world gaming market once again.

May 8, 2007

Source: PlayStation Universe

Rumor: PSPs with non-downgradable firmware on its way to the stores?

Would you buy a PSP armed with a security feature that makes it hack proof?

According to Nadclovek from PSP-Spot (sourcing an EB Games Regional Manager in Calgary, Canada), new shipments of PlayStation Portables may sport higher firmware (4.xx) and retail at 169.99 CAD or around US$ 153.67. This might not be good for PSP sales to say the least.

Nadclovek says:

Sony was sending out Emails to its Commercial Retailers that all new PSPs to be sent out will have 'Downgradable Prevention' built right into them. All new PSPs to be shipped out as of next week Friday, May 18th, will be a higher firmware, 4.xx (specifics were not released), but they were promised to include new security features to prevent hacks and downgrades. Apparently this is one of their first steps to start focusing on the PSP again, instead of diverting all attention to the PS3.

The report also mentions that it might have implications in North American PSP sales. While we doubt that it'll be the end of PSP hacking as we know it, but it's a sobering thought to say the least. For now though, we're still sticking this in the rumor bin until further notice. Stay tuned.

Source: ConsoleSpot via PSPUpdates