Space Invaders Extreme Demo Released

Sony has released a demo for the upcoming Space Invaders Extreme. I didn't expect much in an updated version of Space Invaders but I was pleasantly surprised when I downloaded it and played it. I spent at least two hours playing the single level provided and there seems to be some depth to it. Many power-ups, bonus levels, etc. are included. The graphics are good, as are the controls, There also seems to be a little bit of "on the fly" music creation. What I mean is that when you destroy the Invaders the sounds produced compliment the background music in a way that makes you feel as though you are adding "notes" to the music... sort of. Here are some screen shots.





Powered-up weapons:


Invaders can turn sideways as though they were flat:


Boss battles:


Bonus levels:






Detailed score system:


Give it a try, you'll have fun.

Squarez 0.8.1 Retro Review

For some of you this game will be old news. Squarez has been out for a few years but I suspect that the many of us have heard about it but never played it. This is due to the fact that it was last updated in 2005 and required a "fix" to work on later custom firmwares. Well, I found a fixed version for 3.10 oe-a (I think) and KXploited it to work on the 1.5 kernel. Globware is the original developer of Squarez. I take no credit in its development. I will provide these downloads [FileAvenue <<(right click and "Save as ...") or BigUpload Mirror] of the game files as long as Globware has no objection. The readme files included with the download are the unaltered originals so be aware that they are not up to date. Leave comments if you have any problems with the download or files. On with the review...

Squarez 0.8.1 is an action game where you play as a blue square trying to avoid and at times kill the red squares while collecting the green squares. There are many power-ups which allow you smash the red squares, drop grenades, add grenades, slow down the red squares, etc. Most of these power-ups have a time limit so you have to be quick on your feet. There are several different game modes which you can try: classic, arcade, survival, bomber, custom, and timed. You can customize the look of the game by adding themes found at Globware's website. Here is what Squarez looks like:









This game is addictive and frustrating. There are games which are hard and make you want to throw your PSP across the room. Squarez isn't one of those, it frustrates in a way which makes you want to play again and again. The graphics are clean and simple and pleasing to the eye. The controls work the way you would expect and respond the way to you want them to. With that said there will be many times where you think you are going to miss that red square and don't, this means instant death and start over. This is going to be your fault not the game's. That is what makes you want to play over and over.

If there is one flaw with this game it has to be the music. It gets a little annoying and repetitive after you spend so much time playing. And believe me you will spend a lot of time playing this game, it is that good. I will definitely be adding this to my Best Homebrew list.

PSP-HUD version 1.31 Review

PSP-HUD v1.31 was created by Darko for 3.80 M33-4 and is a "Heads-Up Display" plugin showing cpu speed, battery life percentage remaining, and the current time. You install it in the "seplugins" folder and enable in the recovery menu like all other plugins. Here is the readme file which has all the details:

=====================================
PSP-HUD v1.31 - January, 18th 2008.
=====================================

This is a plugin for PSP CWF 3.80M33-4 (update 4 is required) that displays some basic info on screen:
- CPU speed and CPU usage
- BUS speed
- battery status (percent and time left)
- local time

Installation:
-------------
Put hud.prx and hud.lang in seplugins directory on your PSP memory stick
and append ms0:/seplugins/hud.prx to vsh.txt and game.txt files.

Usage:
------
Default configuration is to show CPU speed, battery percent left and local time in bottom right corner.
Default button setup is:
- NOTE+LTRIG to access configuration menu.
- NOTE+RTRIG to turn HUD completely ON/OFF.
When you exit menu configuration will be automatically saved in ms0:/seplugins/hud.cfg
If button configuration is changed and you can't enter menu anymore (or can't rembember) delete hud.cfg and restart PSP.

Known problems:
---------------
Display is not perfect and is usualy best shown in bottom left or right corners but it really depends on program or game running.


Version History:
----------------

January, 18th 2008. v1.31
-------------------------
- updated for 3.80M33-4 (actually droped previously used NIDs for 3.71 and now using NIDs from pspsdk)
- new translations: german (two translations), dutch, italian, spanish, polish and turkish

I won't be accepting any more translations and I'm planing to drop translations for future versions (it's easier for me).

January, 10th 2008. v1.3
------------------------
- added language menu option
- added serbian and french language (thanks to Mizou93 for french translation)

January, 7th 2008. v1.22
------------------------
- fixed cpu usage display

January, 6th 2008. v1.21
------------------------
- slightly improved display

January, 5th 2008. v1.2
-----------------------
- buttons for menu and HUD are configurable within configuration menu
- add custom alignment (adjust with analog)

January, 4th 2008. v1.1
-----------------------
- added cpu usage and bus speed
- menu is now accessed with NOTE+LTRIG
- toggle HUD with NOTE+RTRIG
- redesigned menu selection (looks nice now)

January, 4th 2008. v1.0
-----------------------
- initial version

You can see the HUD in the lower right corner of this screen shot. I play games for review in short spurts because I have limited time. I often wonder what time it is but while in game you can't see the time or battery life left so this plugin comes in very handy.



I haven't had any comflicts with games, apps, or other plugins so I feel confident recommending PSP-HUD. It works well, does what is supposed to do, and takes up very little screen space. Well done Darko.

PSP-280 Stamina Battery Pack 3.6v 2200 mah Unboxed

For many of you this won't be big news. It will probably be old news in fact but I just received my new 2200 mah PSP battery and thought that people who are new to the homebrew scene may find it interesting. Here are the unboxing pics (click to enlarge all images in this post):



This will become my primary battery and my original (1800 mah) battery will become my Pandora battery along with my 1 gig memory stick. I realize that it am really late to the Pandora party but I wanted to explain a little about these batteries here and I will be making another post in the near future about how I made my Pandora battery/memory stick. Here is my original battery:



There is a lot of confusion about exactly which batteries can be used for Pandora. Here is an ongoing list/thread about which brands and models are Pandora compatible. Post #66 from the thread talks about this exact battery, and says that it works for Pandora.



As you can see in the pic above, I was able to find what I believe is a genuine Sony PSP-280 battery made in China. If this is a fake then the "pirates" creating these are very talented because I can not find anything that makes me believe it is not a genuine Sony product. I bought it from Amazon here. According to the compatibility list above, this battery should be Pandora ready. I am not planning on making this new battery into a Pandora battery but I wanted to have the option if something goes wrong with my original battery.

I hope this helps any of you who are considering buying a new battery and need it to be Pandora compatible. This battery is more expensive than many others but I would rather spend the money on the battery I know I want than gamble on whether the cheap one can be Pandora-ized.

Dark AleX releases TimeMachine v0.1 (UPDATE)

Dark AleX has released the much anticipated TimeMachine v0.1. This allows PSP slims to run 1.5 homebrew and also lets slim and phat users load older versions of DAX's cfw's directly off the memory stick. This sounds like it will be very useful for quick and easy version changes to your cfw, as long as you have a Pandora battery. Here is the readme that comes with TimeMachine:

TimeMachine 0.1
---------------

The Timemachine is a program to load previous firmwares and custom firmwares from memory stick using pandora. Like devhook, but working throgh pandora and custom ipl's, it would work even if the flash and nand ipl of the machine is destroyed.

The timemachine is useful to run software that is not supported anymore, and also as a way of booting psp's even if the internal firmware is destroyed. It can also be useful for developers to test their homebrew in different firmwares.

Currently the timemachine can install the following firmwares:

- Original 1.50 (can only be loaded on the phat)

- 1.50 with some 3.40 hw modules. Can be loaded on both, phat and slim.

- 3.40 OE (can only be loaded on phat)

- 3.60 M33 (can only be loaded on slim)

Rest of cfw will be added in the future.

Requirements of time machine:

- The timemachine itself doesn't require any firmware, only a pandora battery.

Timemachine nand boot in slim, requires, however, 3.90 M33-2 or greater.

- The timemachine installer requires 2.71 SE or higher.

Instructions: Copy the TIMEMACHINE folder to /PSP/GAME and run.

All firmwares can be installed on whatever PSP (slim or phat), but they can only be used in the psp indicated in the option.

Explanations of options:

- Option 1: Install iplloader. This will install the timemachine iplloader in the memory stick.

The iplloader is so small, that doesn't require any mspformat to have been done before.

This step is necessary to run anything else.

The iplloader of the timemachine is a multiipl loader that can load multiple ipl's accorrding to key configurations found in the file /TM/config.txt (this file will be created by the timemachine installer).

The default configuration is to load the ipl's with the following keys:

- 1.50: cross

- 1.50+3.40hw: circle.

- 3.40 OE: triangle.

- 3.60 M33: square

- Pandora/DC1-4 ipl (converted to TM format): digital up

- Anything else: will boot the firmware installed on flash.

(Note: as said before, in the slim, only nand firmwares with 3.90 M33-2 or higher can boot. Neither prvious CFW nor whatever original firmware can boot from nand when booted from a Pandora battery due to a Sony protection that has to be bypassed by the own nand ipl code).

You can modify this configuration following the instructions of the file config_readme.txt that will be written on the /TM folder after installing the iplloadder.

- Option 2: Convert pandora IPL into TimeMachine format.

Because the ipl used in pandora and DC1-DC4 (they are all same) is not compatible with the timemachine ipl format and user may want to load pandora/DC1-DC4 with the TM iplloader, this option is for that.

Requirements: the ipl of pandora/DC1-DC4 in the root of the memory stick, named "msipl.bin".

This file is written by Pandora and DC1-DC4 installers.

After convertion, the converted ipl will be in /TM/pandora.bin.

- Option 3: Install 1.50.

It will install 1.50 which can only be run on the psp phat (for a 1.50 that can be installed on the slim go to the next section).

Requirements: the eboot.pbp of 1.50 in the root as 150.PBP

- Option 4: Install 1.50 with 3.40 HW modules. (PSP PHAT or SLIM).

This will install a mix of 1.50 software modules with some 3.40 hardware modules, so it can work on the psp slim. It will usually run most 1.5 homebrew.

Requirements: 1.50 and 3.40 Sony eboot.pbp in the root renamed as 150.PBP and 340.PBP, and the 360.PSAR on the root too (to know what the 360.PSAR is, read below, in the 3.60 M33 installation section).

From 1.50 it will be extracted most modules, usually the software related ones.

From 3.40, it will be extracted a few modules, usually hardware modules.

From 3.60, it will only be extracted the wlan bios of the slim chip.

Known problems or considerations of the 1.50+3.40hw:

- The media doesn't work fine in the XMB (music, videos, etc).

Yeah, this is known, anyways the main purpose of this firmware is to run homebrew, as for XMB usage is better to use a more modern one.

- The "videocodec bug", aka crappy pmf play, only happening in the slim.

For some hw incompatibilty that coudln't been resolved yet, pmf videos, including the gameboot, will play crappily in the slim.

This will happen also in 1.5 games you try to run, videos will play crappily.

Because PMPAVC videos also use the videocodec API, they will play crappily too.

Normal pmp (xvid) (used on pimpstreamer too) will play fine however as they are decoded by cpu.

- The exit with home with "odd colors" bug.

When exiting with home from a homebrew or game, you may see random colors at the end of the framebuffer.

Nothing important, it even gives it an accidental stylistic look

- The PC os may detect the PSP slim as a new device.

This is normal, psp slim has a different product id (pid), but 1.5 usb driver uses only the old phat pid. Nothing important, the usb will work fine in the slim.

- Wlan. The wlan seems to be working, it has been tested using the network update download, and pimpstreamer 201 for 1.50.

However two things are recommended:

* Turn off the wlan power save.

* Use manual IP and DNS configuration (otherwise you may have DNS problems).

If you don't know the manual configuration for your router, just do an automatic connection in a higher firmware, and write somewhere the data that appear in the test page at the end, and use that info to fill the manual configuration in 1.50+3.40 hw.

* As in normal 1.50, there is no WPA support.

- Homebrew that uses some patching code over some of the module that are from 3.40, will not work and will probably crash. This is obvious, they were coded to patch 1.50 modules

- Option 5: Install 3.40 OE.

It will install original 3.40 OE which can only be booted on the phat.

Requirements: 1.50 and 3.40 Sony eboot.pbp on the root as 150.PBP and 340.PBP

- Option 6: Install 3.60 M33.

It will install original 3.60 M33, that can only be run on slim.

Requirements: 360.PSAR on the root.

Because there is no 3.60 eboot on the net as the slim was shipped directly with 3.60, the 360.PSAR is a file that has to be created on a psp running 3.60 M33.

To dump 3.60: run the program 360DUMPER that is in this release in a psp running 3.60 M33.

The result 360.PSAR is a file that uses the decrypted psar format (what a sce psar would look without encryption), that was already used in 3.51/3.52 M33, and it will have following size and md5 (checked anyways by the tm installer):

Size: 18189502 bytes.

MD5: EAA13343C70D9B0337C75B295 474C69A

-------------

Differences between running a firmware in the TimeMachine and a firmware in the flash.

Usually the time machine will run the firmware or cfw unmodified, including its original not critical bugs.

There are some exceptions:

- In 3.40 OE a critical bug regarding the configuration file descriptor not closed is fixed by the timemachine core patching the OE core in ram

- The TA-086 brightness is fixed for everything that has a 1.50 kernel

- The 4th level of brightness (i cannot live without it) is enabled for whatever thing, either if it is done nativelly (3.40 OE, 3.60 M33) or by the timemachine code (1.50, 1.50+3.40hw).

- The signcheck is patched and the firmware is written unsignchecked, so it can be shared between different psp's.

- 8 GB and greater memory sticks are enabled everywhere.

- 1.50 an 1.50+3.40hw can run not kxploited pbp's too.

- Flash USB doesn't work. This is normal, the flash usb uses the lflash block device, and in the timemachine that device is unnecesary and its implementation is a dummy one. Just use the normal memory stick usb, as the firmware is there

Other considerations:

- Usually the firmware running the timemachine should have more free kernel memory than the normal one, because the lfatfs module is replaced by the timemachine core which should be using less memory.

- IF you see somewhere (probably in the browser) an error 0x80010018, this is because of too many files opened in the memory stick (as normal memory stick driver is shared with the pseudo flash one).

The timemachine core tries, however, to minimize at maximum that this error happens.

- The Time Machine works faster if you install all firmwares you are gonna use after having formatted the memory stick, and then put everything else.

- When booting with a pandora battery in the nand firmware, remember that unless you change the battery, you will need the same memory stick to recover from sleep mode!

- Be sure to distinguish between TM bugs and OE/M33 bugs. For example, in 3.60 M33, if your iso running in March33 no-umd mode hangs at exit, that was a bug of 3.60 M33, not of the timemachine!

Little FAQ:

- What is loaded from nand and what from memory stick?

Only idstorage is read from nand, everything else, ipl and flash files are loaded from memory stick.

Not even a single instruction of Sony regarding the reading of flash files and partitions is executed.

In the future, the load of idstorage from memory stick is planned as an option.

- Why don't you make a 1.50 addon for 3.90 M33 for the slim if it can run now on the slim?

Currently, it is only possible to run this 1.50+3.40hw in a TOTALLY fresh booted machine by the user.

Not even a psp cold-reseted by software can run 1.50+3.40hw after having been in 3.xx, due to some problems related with slim hardware.

There are other implementation problems, but that one is the more critical.

UPDATE: This doesn't happen too often so I thought I'd add this bit of news: Dark AleX on Engadget. Sounds like the guys at Engadget know how cool this is.

God of War: Chains of Olympus Cyclops and Medusa Trailers

Here are some more trailers for GOW:COO. Wow... 'Nuff said.

RS-GUI PopstationMD Version 3.0 Review

As you may have read in my previous post I thought that Red Squirrel's RS-GUI was o.k. but had some problems. Well, Red Squirrel has made a major update/improvement with the release of RS-GUI PopstationMD v3.0. Wow, this gui is your one stop shop for single and multiple disk PSX game conversion to PSP eboot. Here is the long list of features (the most important items are in green):

-Added Turkish, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish and Greek translations!
-Added popstation.exe support, now 1CD PSX games can be converted too! Only one program to convert ALL PSX Games!
-Thanks to Brisma, no BASE.PBP or KEYS.BIN is required by popstation.exe
-Added the zero compression level for 1CD PSX games
-Added a Splash Screen with a security check for the presence of program's necessary files
-Possibility to disable and re-enable aforesaid Splash Screen
-Added support for NRG and MDF CD images. Now program read these following formats: ISO, NRG, IMG, BIN and MDF!
-Now popstation.exe and popstation_md.exe will ask user to press any key before closing them, so users can understand what is the error which does not allow the eboot creation (if it exists!).
-Added a list of games titles-codes
-Possibility to search for a game title quickly from the listbox
-Auto-recognition of Game-ID from its title
-Added a security check for Game-ID correctness
-Added a "real time" preview of eboot personalization
-Possibility to enable/disable aforesaid real time preview
-Added the possibility to insert any image as PIC0, PIC1 and ICON0! All formats and sizes are accepted! Program will resize and covert images automatically
-Added the possibility to choose the output folder name (Noone, Game Title and Game Code)
-Added a check for the true existence of selected image
-Added the docmaker!
-Possibility to create a DOCUMENT.DAT standard alone or with the eboot itself
-Possibility to insert any image to DOCUMENT.DAT, program will resize and convert images automatically (so all formats and sizes are accepted!)
-Possibility to add, remove or clean the images list added to docmaker
-If DOCUMENT.DAT will be created together the eboot, it will created in the same folder of the eboot
-Many v2.0b bugs fixed
-Something other that I don't remember at the moment
(This was taken from Red Squirrel's release post)

I have used v3.0 to convert several multi-disk PSX games and they all play as expected. I would like to see the dev make the gui look a little more professional but that is personal preference and has nothing to do with how well the gui works. Here are some screenshots:







RS-GUI 3.0 definitely makes it easier to use DAX's popstations (single and multi-disk) and customize your eboots. I included images which were the wrong size for icon0 and pic1 and, as claimed, it resized them to the correct size. In my opinion, including the game title/code list was essential. The one major drawback for many people will be the installation of the .NET frameworks. I already had them installed but I know many people consider them bloat.

I recommend using RS-GUI 3.0 above other gui's that have come out recently because of it's feature set and ease of use. Well done Red Squirrel.

Valentine's Day Love = Patapon Demo Release

Sony has officially announced that the Patapon Demo will be released on the Playstation Store on Valentine's Day. Go get it, you won't regret it. Here's a new trailer to wet your whistle.

Hexaxis XXI Updated

This is one of my "Best Homebrew" picks so I have to pass along the news of an update. There are several added features and levels. This is a very good puzzle game for those of you who haven't heard of Hexaxis XXI. Here is a video of the game in action.



Definitely give it a try.

OpenTyrian: The Review (UPDATE #4)

If you are looking for some background/history/info on Tyrian here are some links:
Tyrian Wiki, Tyrian Fansite, Tyrian Repository.

I played Tyrian a couple of times many years ago. OpenTyrian brings back memories of fast game play, beautiful graphics, and a never ending onslaught of enemies. This review is about the porting of the game not the game itself so I won't be reviewing the game play but the adaptation of the game to play on the PSP. I will say that the game play is addictive and fun. A great game.

OpenTyrian was ported to the PSP by Deniska, best known for Mapthis! GPS app for PSP. I never have high hopes when someone takes a program, app, game, etc. and adapts it to work on hardware it wasn't originally developed for. The outcome is usually disappointing because it was never meant to be used that way. When I think of PSP homebrew ports that work well, Cave Story is the only one that comes to mind. The Cave Story port is perfect, at no time do you realize that this wasn't originally made to work on the PSP.

OpenTyrian isn't there yet, but it's close. I am pleasantly surprised by how well the game plays on the PSP. While in the middle of destroying hundreds of enemies there are very few hints that this wasn't originally meant to play on the PSP. OpenTyrian has two game modes: Arcade and Full versions.

During the arcade campaign the PSP seems to slow down a little when the action gets hot and heavy. This slow down is very slight and does not hinder the game play but it is noticeable.

Now let's get to where I think the OpenTyrian port has a major flaw. While playing the full version you will notice that there are no power-ups like in the arcade version. Upgrades to you ship are made be purchasing better guns and shields with money/points. So if there are no power-ups what do you collect as you play the game? Data. This data is basically how the story of Tyrian is told through the game. The arcade version has cut-scenes between missions to fill you in on what is happening but the full version's story is found in the menu. The full version's data problem is that you can't get the whole story. The text runs off the page and there seems to be no assigned button to scroll the text. This makes it very difficult to follow the story when you only get half the information.

Another flaw, which is more of an annoyance, is that navigating through the menus is quite difficult. Moving through the menu is done with the directional pad (up and down). The problem is that you will constantly go past the item you want. The pad should be pressed each individual time you want to move to a new choice. Currently pressing the pad will highlight the next item, then the next, and so on, with a constant scroll. Believe me, you will go past the item you want several times before landing on the correct one.

If you are only into the game play, and not interested in the story at all, then OpenTyrian is an excellent port for the PSP. The controls respond as you would expect and the only in game problem I found was the slight slow down when there is a ton of enemies and bullets on the screen. Well done Deniska, thanks for all the hard work. I hope that since this is version 0.5 we can expect a solution to these couple of problems I mentioned.

(My first impressions post on this game has download links and some other useful information.)

UPDATE (12/07/07):
Deniska has put out a new version. OpenTyrian v0.6 is a bug fix. All of the bugs I have mentioned have been addressed. Whether they have been fixed is another story. I'll let you know.

UPDATE2 (12/09/07):
Well as far as I can see Deniska has addressed and fixed all the issues I mentioned above. Here is a link to the full KXploited eboot for Deniska's OpenTyrian v06 port. I have nothing but praise for Deniska and the port of Tyrian to the PSP. This is a memory stick "must have". One thing I forgot to mention above and is an issue/problem for me is that currently OpenTyrian isn't able to save games. Since you have to start at the beginning everytime, it can get a little mundane. Since Deniska fixed the bugs listed above in such a timely manner I expect that the "save game" issue will be cured soon too. I will be adding this to my Best Homebrew list soon.

UPDATE3 (2/01/08):
As you will see from the comments, Deniska has released version 1.0 with improvements/fixes. I will find time to play it soon and edit this update with what's new.

UPDATE4 (2/10/08):
I found the time. Deniska has definitely did OpenTyrian right with the latest versions. Version 1.0 has none of the flaws I listed above and I can say it is very close to perfect.







The last major issue I had with OpenTyrian was the fact that you could not save your progress in the "full game". Deniska has granted my wish, back in version 0.7, and now I will be able to slowly but surely reach the end of the game. As you can see from the screen shots above game saves are possible. Unless you read the readme file included with the download you may miss the reference to the OSK (on screen keyboard). I would like to thank Deniska for this addition. I will admit that the OSK is a little buggy. I'll save all of you the trouble of figuring it out:

• In the menu, go to Options.
• Select Save.
• Select an "Empty Slot" and a pop-up screen appears.
• Press the right trigger/shoulder button and there is the OSK.
• Press up and down to select a letter. The readme file says to press the right shoulder button again, this is supposed to transfer your letter back to the pop-up screen. Sometimes it will transfer the letter, I have gone back and forth several times without the transfer taking place. I found that if you select your letter, then press square, then press the right shoulder button, the transfer rarely fails. I'm sure this isn't supposed to work but it does. Deniska will probably fix this soon, not many bugs last long around him.
• Continue to select letters with the OSK and eventually you'll have the name for your game save. See screenshot above. Mine is jackal, go figure.
• To load a game, select Options in the menu, hit Load and choose which game save you want to play.
  

The only thing left for Deniska to do is provide all of us with the holy grail of homebrew: Infrastructure play via the network option. I won't hold my breath expecting Deniska to provide us with servers to play on but it would be nice.

Deniska, thanks for all the hard work.

More Crisis Core

Here is another video from Crisis Core: FF7. This time in English. Enjoy.

Game and Watch Fantasies v2.0 review

Game and Watch Fantasies v2.0 is a very quirky, different game. You play as a strange looking guy which can only move and jump at a set distance. In this puzzle/platformer you must navigate platforms, trees, lcd displays, and much more but often you character doesn't line up with the object you need to jump on or through. You will find yourself moving the little guy up against walls or jumping up against ceilings to reset/change the pattern in which he moves.

GWF is unique and fun. The gameplay is challenging and different. Graphics are decent and appropriate for the style of game. Controls work well and respond as expected. The music is quiet and soothing which is needed at times because of the level of frustration which can be reached trying to figure out some of the levels. The score in GWF is determined by the number of moves or jumps you make. The lower the number the better. I was doing pretty good (I think) until I reached level 15 where I proceeded to triple my score. This level stopped me cold (see screenshot above). A nice feature included in Game and Watch Fantasies is autosave. When you quit the game it automatically saves your progress and you can return to the same place the next time you play.

Even though this game can be quite difficult, it is very entertaining and if you like puzzle and/or platform games I suggest you give it a try.

Download Squad give PSP homebrew history lesson

DownloadSquad.com has posted an article about the history of PSP homebrew. Very interesting and informative if you are just getting into the homebrew scene.

New Ironman Movie Superbowl trailer

Ironman is really looking good. See for yourself, just press play:

RS-GUI PopstationMD Version 3.0 released

Red Squirrel has released a huge update to RS-GUI PopstationMD. Looking at the new features, I have a feeling this is what I've been waiting to see. Check it out here, I will be.

The Newton War Review

Real Tech VR has released The Newton War. In this game you play as a star which has two magnetic fields: red and blue. The red field temporarily disables the enemies giving you time to grab "fragments" with the blue field and relocate them on top of the numbered activation squares. Activate all the squares found in a level and move on to the next level. Difficulty increases with the number, type, and strength of the enemies, as well as the number of squares to be activated. Gravity holes try to suck you in and the "fragments" you are trying to move.

The Newton War has excellent graphics which has become Real Tech VR's trademark. The music is very good and fits the game well. Sound effects are good as well. Controlling your player/star can be difficult at times but I believe this is because of the gameplay and not poor implementation of the controls. I liked the game as a whole but found that it got a little monotonous. This is another quality game from Real Tech VR, check it out.

Jump 'n Bump

MK2k has released a port of a very cute bunny game: Jump 'n Bump. You play as a bunny and you need to kill the other bunnies by jumping on their heads. When I downloaded and installed this game I assumed that it was a single player game but the readme file mentions 2 player games so I was pleasantly surprised. The problem is that there is no single player mode and the 2 player game is played on only one PSP. One player uses the directional pad while the other player uses circle, cross, square, and triangle. This seems a little odd to me, two people crammed together playing on one PSP.

This game could be fun in single player with A.I. for the other bunnies or if adhoc wifi two player mode was available. The controls are good and play as expected. There is no in game music but the sound effects are appropriate and a little "cute". Graphics are good and clean. I hope that MK2k will release future versions (maybe with single player mode?) where you don't have to sit shoulder to shoulder with your opponent.

Here is DAX's 1.50 slim PSP

Dark Alex has one awesome FF7 PSP slim. See it here.

P.S. Oh yeah, he has the 1.50 kernel running on it. DAX's 1.50 Time Machine will allow you to run 1.50 homebrew on PSP slims. DAX == GOD.