PSP UMD format cracked; game ISOs appear

Another step forward in the race to crack open the PSP: Paradox has worked out how to get a dump from a UMD disc, and has released the ISO files for several PSP games (Wipeout: Pure US, Ridge Racers Japanese, and Vampire Chronicles: The Chaos Tower Japanese). Also of note, UMD discs use the standard ISO9669 format, so the released ISOs can be burned to regular CDs or DVDs. Know that the games are not yet playable in this format, but it's a big step forward now that all the reverse engineers out there can get their hands on this stuff.

[Thanks, Jason]

[Gam3rFr3ak @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

About time theres some "hacking" in progress!!!!
But I have a vibe taht using these ISO's will require PSP's webbrowser. lol

nice job to whoever did this.....looking forward for a www.psp-scene.com (nvm, this site already exists)

[Yet another matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

amazing, these things happen so quickly now, even on non standard hardware. So does this mean if someone gets hold of the ISO and puts it on a big enough memory stick, itll play?

[chewy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

hmm... do you think it'd be possible to "cut" the dvds/cds into shape?

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

They don't sell the Duo cards in a high enough capacity to fit a game unfortunately. But definitely a step in the right direction.

[odr4cir @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Yes they do. The Duo Stick pro 2G stores 1,85 Gigabytes of files. The UMD is only 1,8 GBytes.. so you still have 50Mbytes for saves ;)

[Pikoro @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

More comments and forums on this topic available at http://www.psphacks.net/ for those who don't want to register for the same info at ps2nfo.com just to read it.

[t0dd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

2gb should be enough: http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=acc_DIMemoryStickMedia_MemoryStickProDuomedia&ProductSKU=MSXM2GN

[RC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

@ #4
They will!

UMD is 1.5Gb isn't it?
There making 2Gb Memory sticks

[n8 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

When it comes to the file size and the the size of memory sticks, keep in mind that many games for the PS2 require much less capacity than the DVD on which they are burned. If the same is true for PSP games, one might be able to get 2 or 3 games on a 1 gig memory stick. The PSP would probably have to be modded though, much like PS2s, if it's even possible at all.

[Chester @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

UMDs have a capacity of 1.8Gb. They do make 2Gb memory sticks but right now they cost $400+. You could buy about 10 games for this price. I'm not sure how this is "a step in the right direction" since even if you can get one game on a memory stick it is going to cost you an arm and a leg. No one in their right mind is going to backup a $40 game to a $400 memory stick. Am I missing something?

[Jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

actually the three games ripped are all smaller than 500 mb, and ridge racer is smaller than 200 mb(132.9 MB). I'm sure the guy that ripped them tried that but they're still not playable at the moment. check here for more info http://www.psphacks.net/content/view/193/2/

[semi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

sony will upgrade the firmware at appropriate times to counteract people playing games from the memory stick,

[Tesla @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Who cares about playing ripped PSP games? I definitely do not condone playing games you haven't bought legitimately. I want a SNES emulator! Yes I do have my old SNES game cartridges still, so emulation of them is technically legal. I've waited forever to be able to play Final Fantasy VI/III and Chrono Trigger on a portable.

[Suntiger @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Paradox as in Paradox, the cracking group? Good on them if so :)

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I understand the importance of this from a home brew point of view...and that's great.

But are we supposed to be celebrating the idea of being able to pirate commercially-produced games? Frankly, my view is that people worked long and hard on those games...and they deserve to be protected from piracy. There are enough studios in trouble as it is.

[Malfoy R @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

10,

Then we just have to not update the firmware :)

If it isn't broke/hacked I'm not patching it...

*smiles at computer still sporting SP1 and doing juuuust fine.

[G4 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Nick i know waht you mean but when companies like sony charge �30-40 per game in the UK and like $30-40 in the US. It kinda makes you scream.

Sony need to stop taking the mick and charge all gamers equal prices. Why should the UK pay more?... always!

[Malfoy R @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

They like using one number and its the EU's fault the Euro is doing so well. :P Take advantage of the low dollar and import :p

[Pip @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Yesterday we saw that programs could be run with older firmware on the Japanese PSPs. I would assume someone would be able to code a boot loader to stream ISOs from a wireless/usb network share pretty quickly.

[DM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#12 Actually they might FORCE you to upgrade the firmware, to make new releases to work....

[Malfoy R @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#17
Are you hinting that one might need more than Lumines?!

[RoundBoy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

So... if they are standard ISO compliant disks... will mini cds work ?

[Keirmeister @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Actually, it would be really nice to have ISO backups of my games on the Memory Stick. That way, I could have 2 or more games readily available and not have to swap UMDs.

I gotta say, the design and feel of the PSP is righteous. Sony has once again lived up to their reputation for aesthetics.

However, they could have used an industry-standard flash memory card (SD comes to mind). Also, I don't mind that the unit is read-only for the UMD, but why limit it to this new format? If it could accept mini-DVD or other such media, I could put my own movies onto disk for PSP viewing, etc. I know Sony's notorious for doing this kind of thing, but it's annoying. They're missing out on making the device truly universal...a must-have for everyone.

Oh well...maybe they'll provide an update for that too. Even better, maybe they'll relent of release a consumer-level UMD reader/writer.

[zed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

G4, re: #15
EVERYONE knows that the UK is inflated prices are so much. Don't blame the companies man. Ask me how much it costs to buy a CD import from the UK back when I bought import? $30 for a $15 CD. How much is anything in the UK? Isn't it the most expensive place besides Tokyo?

[Scarpad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

The only "Hack" I want is the ability to rip DVD's to memory stick at the full native res of the PSP. Give me that and I'm content

[pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#13

It's not necessarily about the piracy angle - it's about cutting out those load times, and saving your original media from wear & tear...

[Eric W @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Bring on the emu's. Full speed GBA, SNES and a playable Ps1 should be doable. I might actually buy a PSP now.

[PEter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#9 you are an idiot if you don't see this as a step in the right driection. Of course NOBODY will buy a 400 dollar memory stick.

But realize without this step, psp hacking wouldn't be able to progress to a stage where it will become practical to play copied psp games.

You have to think farther down the line.

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Hacking is about hacking - the joy is in the journey, not the destination. Because the destination in this case is nonsensical, IMHO - dropping a hacked $50 game onto a $400 2GB MemoryStick.

Unless. . .unless the New Evil Masters(TM) at Sony are trying to drive adoption of the 2GB stick. . .hmm.

[Hoagie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

if they can be burned to a cddvd, then maybe a usb harddrive attachment to play them?

[ratatosksv @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Whoop-dee-doo... They have linux running on the DS already... (see dslinux.org)

[Carl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

For that matter they are getting linux on PSP,,, whoop-dee-doo for either....... This ability however well allow the playability of games straight off the memory stick....and once Sandisk or Lexar release their 2gig+ Pro Duo Sticks... they will be alot less than sony's.... I just bought a Sandisk 512 for 55$ at TARGET of all places... when Sony's Model retails for about 110-120 I believe,,, So we'll see. I do hope they release a USB hard drive compatibility, as I already have a 40gig mini USB 2.0 Hard drive which can be powered by USB itself OR have an external powersupply,,, anyway... This is much better news than the endless variations of the PSP browser

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#25

Exactly, the other aspect too is that on mine the UMD drive feels really flimsy. I would like to be able to back my games up so when the drive breaks(which it will), i will still be able to play the games i payed for without having to get it repaired at some horrendously inflated cost. Also what about fair use??

[Kipp @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Can we nominate Paradox for the PSP hacks prize?

[bibo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Does anyone know why people are reporting that Paradox is a person? Paradox is a well known game release group.

[sb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Playing off the memory stick would save a lot of battery life as well.

Also I think I saw an article about a memory stick slot->cf adapter working on the psp. You could do a case mod into an actual cf slot for cheaper storage...

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Re: G4 - won't argue with the UK prices thing, am also lucky enough to live here and it's a disgrace. Having said that it applies to just about every other product (including iTunes - ridiculous!) and it still doesn't justify pirating games.

Am all for homebrew development though, bet we can get some really cool apps on the PSP, better than most things Sony will put out there.

[Benny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I want to replace my UMD slot with a 8gig IBM MIcrodrive :-)


-b

[Jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

If you buy a 2gb memory stick even if it's $400 usd opposed to buying a $40 usd UMD game, it still means you could recycle it, and use it to play as many games as you want. If you get bored of one you can always delete it and load up another one.

[Spicytuna @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

YAY! I am celebrating the possibility for homebrew games! Can't wait to get my hands "dirty" with the homebrew scene!!!111311

[Mark Smith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Why are you condoning piracy in this article ?

You say the guy promptly released ISO's of games and then go on to say this is a step in the right direction ??!?!

I know if I was the developer of "Wipeout: Pure US, Ridge Racers Japanese, and Vampire Chronicles: The Chaos Tower Japanese" I'd be mightly pissed off and flush the chances of letting Engadget review future toys down the toilet ...

[mentor @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I celebrate the finding of new information about the PSP which allows one to make any possible use of it. I implore you however to not consider this simply an excercise in being able to play illegally copied games.

[Charles Faust @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Most companies charge you up front for supposed "Piracy"; when the fact of the matter is, if the big guys didn't charge so much for software and music they would more than likely reduce piracy, and increase sales over all.

I do not condone piracy, but I do appreciate the fact that people can and will do things of this nature to remind the big companies that no matter what they try to do, there is someone or a group of someones out there that can figure out their scheme.

[idfx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Are there any homebrew kits for the PSP yet? anybody? I think it's a MIPS 4000 processor, but even if your compiler supports that, what kind of system interface is there?

[Jens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

The most exciting thing here is power consumption; running a game from solid state memory (memory stick) would save shed loads of battery juice compared to the spinning umd disks!
Add an extra hour to the average playing time?

Save us guys in the UK several $$$$$

[Saint @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I don't own a PSP, nor have I ever seen a UMD disc up close - so please forgive my misunderstanding - but aren't the UMD's just a disc inside a plastic enclosure? If there was a way to get the PSP to run files from a normal dvd file system I know a few DVD media companies who make custom sized mini-dvd media. All we'd need to do is fashion a kit that lets you add / remove the disc from a UMD and we'd be in business.

[AceMilo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Ok, I have decided to take a pic or 2 for everyone to get a sense of scale of these discs. My digital camera's batteries just died on me so I had to use my cameraphone (luckily its an lg 8000 with a 1.3mp so it ain't THAT bad, but they are kinda dark).

http://home.earthlink.net/~acemilo/psp1.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~acemilo/psp2.jpg

The first one is a umd on top of a mini dvd you can see how much bigger the mini dvd is. The second is a mini dvd on top of the psp where the umd drive is. You can see there is no way the disc could possibly fit. It is not possible to put and media other than umds in the psp's optical drive right now. Maybe someone will manufacture their own umd compatable discs, but no discs on the market will fit. Hope this clears some issues up.

[David Webb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

All we need now is a psp emulator for windows/linux/mac and we are all all set.

[peter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

the way i see it - the psp will get a modchip which will enable the handheld to read burned dvds.

someone of course, will probably create dvds that fit in the psp. disc size is the biggest problem, but i imagine after there is a modchip that allows the psp to read the burnt games, someone will manufacture blanks that fit.

afterall, the psp can read the iso format that standard dvds use.

[Jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Well some of the point of having games that play on the mem stick is that you can keep most your games on the computer and later put any game you wish on your mem card. You don't have to keep it there. You can always delete or overwrite it later. Also I wonder if Sony will incorporate firmware updates in new games. Imagine you want to buy the latest X game...and when you put it on..it updates the firmware. Also if you have an ISO of a game that updates the firmware..how do you stop that? The burned game could potentially upgrade your bios and stop working on reboot.