Hacking the PSP Blog

MapThis! v0.5 released, includes new 3D bird's eye view

Deniska has finally released the newest version of his GPS map viewer for the PSP, MapThis! v0.5, 1 year after the application's first release. Along with some new usability options, Deniska has added a 3D birds eye view as well as a night time mode. For those of you with Sony PSP-290 GPS receivers, this version no longer requires the GPS modules from the official Sony firmware. Check out Deniska's change log below for a bigger list of what's new in MapThis! 0.5.

• Birds Eye mode
• Inverted colors (night) mode
• Voice Prompts / Alerts support. (* see notes below)
• Missing zoom layer rendering (only for gpsfs maps). MapThis! attempts to render a missing zoom layer with shrinked tiles from the next zoom level.
• Screenshots are saved in ms0:/PSP/PHOTO now
• Icons/sounds can now be located in either a particular map directory or system (system/sounds or system/icons) directory.
• POI and WAYPOINT files can now also be looked up from ms0:/PSP/COMMON
• Geodata can now be shared between maps if geodata.dat file is placed in the same directory as EBOOT.PBP. The program will attempt to load geodata.dat file in the current map directory first.
• New tiger line geodata for USA (2006se from 03/2007) compiled and available through gmdl18a and higher versions.
• Edit functionality added to "Configuration" screen. While in Configuration screen, scroll down untill the line that needs to be edited is on top. Press [X] to enter the edit mode. You can use up/down arrows to increment/decrement current character by 1. Use [START] to save or [SELECT] to cancel the edit.
• New current position prediction logic, hopefully resulting in smoother scrolling.
• A few rendering bug fixes in graphics routines.
• New parameters added to configuration file: STARTUPFREQUENCY, STARTUPSCREENMODE, NIGHTMODE, SPEEDLIMIT. SATINFOFREQUENCY defines cpu frequency on Satellite Info screen (PSP-290 only)
• Timezone parameter removed from configuration, timezone is determined based on your psp date/time settings.
• Localization support (language packs).
• PSP-290 version does not require prx files to run in non-gps mode.
• Attached sorce code adopted to the latest verison of PSPSDK

View a video of MapThis! v0.5 in action

Download MapThis! v0.5



Via Deniska @ DCEmu

Motion-sensing controllers come to PS2

In2Games announces a series of titles which use wireless controllers, including RealPlay Tennis, RealPlay Pool, and RealPlay Golf.

Peripheral manufacturer In2Games, which recently scored £7.6 million (approx $15.1 million) in venture capital funding, has announced its first series of motion-sensing controllers and games titles for the PlayStation 2, due for release in the UK for this Christmas holiday season.

The first six games in the series will each come bundled with a unique controller. RealPlay Tennis has a wireless tennis racquet, RealPlay Pool provides its own cue, RealPlay Golf comes with a golf club controller, RealPlay Racing features a steering wheel, and RealPlay Bowling has a wireless bowling ball.

Read the full article here...

Emma Boyes
August 17, 2007

Source: GameSpot

Off Topic: Online games more popular than YouTube, Facebook

"Gaming remains the king of online entertainment," reveals new report

Online gaming is more popular in the US than visiting video sharing and social networking sites, according to a new report by Park Associates.

While developers and publishers look to sites such as YouTube, Facebook and MySpace as inspiration for community features in upcoming games, research shows that 34 per cent of US internet users play games online on a weekly basis, compared to 29 per cent who visit online video sites and 19 per cent interested in social networking.

"Despite the growing popularity of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven largely by casual gaming activities," commented James Kuai, analyst at Park Associates.

Read the full article here...

Matt Martin
August 17, 2007

Source: GamesIndustry.biz