PSP homebrew bootstrap now available
By Barb Dybwad 
posted June 15th 2005 9:30AM
posted June 15th 2005 9:30AM
So it's finally official, and we've had at least one
report that the PSP homebrew bootstrap does work as expected. A lot of the servers are getting hit hard right now but
folks are putting up a bunch of mirrors — if the link below is throttled you should be able to poke around and find
others.
[Thanks, ScottCim and dash, and to pspalexis for the image]
oh wow. oh wow. oh wow. oh wow.
I can confirm that it works quite well with most homebrew out there now, there are one or two things it's having troubles with right now, but there is a way to get those to work too, as soon as i figure out how to read this readme that is, gotta love translations.
my god. maybe i'll actually go out and buy one now...
Yep, it works on my 1.50. Its kinda a pain to have to switch memory cards in between launching apps...but hey its a start. If they can use this to start a program to rollback the firmware, things could work out pretty good.
can someone explain to me what this actually does :)
uh, no habla espaniol, hombre. Although it seems pretty straight forward, anyone have the english version?
So it has finally arrived and to be honest i am impressed seriously impressed but then i realise i must have 2 mem sticks but considering the results i am more than pleased. Good work guys
So it has finally arrived and to be honest i am impressed seriously impressed but then i realise i must have 2 mem sticks but considering the results i am more than pleased. Good work guys
You use there program to load a homebrew program. It creates two eboot.pbp (psp application files) you put one on card a and one on card b. Put card a in the psp and run the program, right after you start it you switch to card b. It then runs as expected.
No offence, Nathan, but I understood nothing of that explanation.
Could someone please explain, in laymen's terms, why people are going "oooh!" and "ahhh!" over this?
Thanks!
for those asking what this does:
read the text in the graphic, i think it's self explanatory.
Yes, it seems you are able to load a program, but the question from those of us that obviously just don't get it is - Why?
i can run non-encrypted homebrew... some kind of icy beverage?
WARNING: Removing the memory stick while the PSP is accessing it can damage the memory stick and possibly damage your PSP as well.
http://www.psphacks.net/content/view/267/2/
#6 -- What did you download? Because what I have had English, Spanish and French versions of the tutorial PDF.
Damn... I'm not sure I'm too keen on the swapping memory card thing. I was hoping to be able to run a SNES emulator off the same memory card the hack runs on... :(
(8)
You and me.
I think this is a "hack" to enable the playing of non encrypted games. In other words you are not stuck paying high prices for new Sony authorized games for the PSP. Rather you can use your own games downloaded onto a memory card.
Let's see if anyone tells me I got it wrong.
What Mike said: Yes, we understand that you can potentially run your own applications - what the hip seem to be referring to as "homebrew", which, at first, sounded like a term used to push the PSP into the white trash-community.
But, again, what kind of apps? Etc. etc. etc.
(the fact that no one seem to be able to respond to this in a simple, didactic manner is quite scary - it's like we are witnessing the very essence of hype appear naked in front of a baffled crowd)
The best example of homebrew applications is EMULATION. This means you could ran Gameboy, Playstation, even old PC games on this. HUGE, guys HUGE.
Ok...for those that aren't "getting it":
Yes...this works...it works great.
What is the upshot?
Well...I just spent the last 20mins remembering the "Good ol' days" playing T-16/PC Engine Super Star Soldier...then switched to Devil's Crush.
On an Emulator running on the PSP.
*oooohhhhh*
The memcard "swap" does not appear to be as omninous as I guess some would like you to think: Once the PSP screen comes up...the loader appears to pause (no activity) so that one can in fact stick in the card with the goodies.
When you do, the PSP read light comes on, loading continues. Good times.
Homebrew apps include such things as emulators, games, maybe even a web browser?
The main apps used will be emulators (snes/genesis etc) and pirate copies of original psp games.
"But, again, what kind of apps? Etc. etc. etc.
(the fact that no one seem to be able to respond to this in a simple, didactic manner is quite scary - it's like we are witnessing the very essence of hype appear naked in front of a baffled crowd)"
Basically this lets you run software that isn't designed by Sony..
For example, you could run the latest PSP SNES and MAME emulators, or possibly Sony UMD games ripped to Memory Stick.
Once they finally figure out how to decrypt psp games, maybe I'd consider it, but until then, I'd rather keep my money. I have no interest in playing SNES games or Gameboy games on my psp when I could use the real thing.
"(the fact that no one seem to be able to respond to this in a simple, didactic manner is quite scary - it's like we are witnessing the very essence of hype appear naked in front of a baffled crowd)"
If you don't know what kind of apps can be run, you don't read Engadget. They have been posting for weeks about different emulators that now run on the PSP. NES, SNES, NEO GEO. Eventually, as is obvious to everyone else, there will be loads of exciting apps, homebrew games, and of course, pirated PSP games. (also, the term "homebrew" has been used in relation to software LITERALLY as long as the personal computer, and trust me, you are the only one who doesnt know what this means.)
The reason no one wants to answer you directly is because your question is the equivalent of going on an astronomy board and asking what color the sky is.
Yeah seriously noobs, if you don't get the sheer significance of this breakthrough, then I would really recommend you don't mess with your PSP and all this "techie stuff"!
I don't understand why people can't buy the PSP games. Developers work hard to produce a good product and then have it stolen by these hackers. Very Uncool.
I'm a little etchy about the swapping... I'll wait till I hear some horror stories from people who've lost mem sticks and/or psps before I start doing this... and dammit was hoping to jam to some old-school batman games while waiting through the abysmal comercials at the theatre tonight
ha ha ha @ #23, well said.
that and the url is 404, anyone have a mirror of this or put it up on your uni server for the rest of us?
so excited, i've been playing super metroid and legend of the mystical ninja just frothing at the mouth waiting for the psp/snes experience.
vds-362742.amen-pro.com/index2.html
putoamo.addr.com/index2.html
www.only4.info/psp-dev/index2.html
web.icoiig.es/ubalda/index2.html
yay mirrors
Note to self: Sony != apple. They like to do bad things like restrict your freedoms. Don't install every update that they offer.
someone please make a 1.5.1 launcher! I'm banging my head against the wall for updating (for the record, Wipeout was refusing to download the gamma pack, so I thought that maybe this update would help...)
#25, don't be a douche. Not all homebrewers are pirates, and you are just perpetuating the stereotype that they are. Most people who are excited over this is because they now have a portable SNES/GBC, etc. All of these homebrew developers have worked very hard for this, appreciate it.
Waiting for my 256Mb Duo card, which has shipped and should arrive any day now...
This is way cool. Can't wait to try MAME and use the 100's of cool retro games that I use on my N-Gage, Pocket PC and WinXP system.
The typo "HOMEBREW IN YOU PSP 1.5" doesn't make me confident as to the program's integrity.
hey #30 don't be a bitchtits...I was referring to the PSP games being pirated not the homebrew idea. SNES/GBC games that hard to get and somewhat lived out it existence to the next-gen consoles are fine...It proves to the developer that they made a great product to be emulated on the psp/pc.
#25...
"I don't understand why people can't buy the PSP games. Developers work hard to produce a good product and then have it stolen by these hackers. Very Uncool."
uh.... most of us do buy the PSP games... and while this hack could allow PSP games on a Duo, the cost factor is a bit out there ($100 for 1gb Duo vs. $40 for PSP game).
As others have said, most of us are after the retro emulators. For me, it's the old arcade games I used to play, as well as GB ROMs.
Well I'll definitely enjoy this new hack once I get home and load things up. But don't be surprised, if Sony doesn't come up with an embedded patch that updates the firmware when loading up a new UMD game they release in the future. We'll see how hot and heavy they go after folks.
But for now, enjoy the 1.50.
There seem to be two crowds here at Engadget - those who are more "deep geek" those who are more consumer-product oriented. Let me try to bridge the gap:
The PSP is a powerful piece of hardware, but Sony has limited its ability to run software other than that stamped-with-approval by Sony. This means that the user is limited to UMD games from Sony (and licensed 3rd parties) and software from Sony -- of which there has been none, but there may be in the future.
This new "hack" is a way for owners of the PSP to take more control over what software they run on their machine. They will now be able to run any code from any person who knows how to program for the PSP. Applications already include a calendar, an ebook reader, a calculator, a dead-pixel fixer etc. There are sure to be more -- a web browser for instance would be nice, an email program, maybe a few more robust PIM applications, DivX support...the list goes on. There are also original games for the PSP that are made by programmers who own the copyright - games like Chess, Pong, and a few others. From what I understand there are a bunch from Japan as well. And some of them are pretty good. But the point is that the software that a user may run on his or her PSP is determined by the user, not by Sony.
And yes, there are programs that "emulate" other game machines like the Gameboy and old arcade machines. Many folks will use their PSP for purposes that infringe on copyrights by using emulators to run games they do not own. Others will use emulators the way they were "intended" which is to play games they already own from several devices on one device that is now mobile. Take this example: if I own an old SuperNintendo and a bunch of games for it, I can now play those same games away from my living room. I have the game so I have the license to play that game, just like I have a Metallica CD and have the right to move the songs to my iPod.
So yes, this is huge. It's huge because the PSP hardware suddenly became much more robust and the user now has the ability to use it for what they like. Some will use it for good, others less-than-good. But that's the way it is with most things in life.
Theres another mirror at http://www.emuholic.com
Thank you n8, for an extremely thorough reply! It's all making sense now.
No thanks to poster #23, Eric W, who is snobbery incarnated - and doesn't seem to acknowledge the casual reader, nor does he seem to appreciate that "homebrew" is not a term easily understood in its most diverse definition(s) by people from, say, outside the States ... who doesn't have english as their primary language.
"The reason no one wants to answer you directly is because your question is the equivalent of going on an astronomy board and asking what color the sky is."
Yes. Yes, that's a marvellous analogy. Being a foreigner and asking what homebrew is, and what it can do for the Sony PSP, is exactly the same as going on an astronomy board and asking what color the sky is. Yes, brilliant.
Like your post WASNT snobbery? You have no knowledge of even the most basic information available to the most casual gadget fan, and then bitch because we don't lay it down in a style suitable to Luddites and 6 year olds. I'm surprised you didnt request an explanation of what a PSP is(I'ts a portable video game system).
I don't know why your post irritated me so much, other than the fact that acting like a whiny bitch is not likely to get you what you want in this world IMO(that means "in my opinion" in case you were wondering).
I do have a question. BTW this comes for a Computer Geek who JUST bought his PSP and getting into the Homebrew / Emulator.
Basicly will you be able to set up multiple "folders" in M1 & M2 so that you can use M1 to load SNES & Sega and other emulators on the same card or will you have to choose what emulator you are going to use on M2 Card, and have to get anothe card (M3) and put SNES on it.
I hope I do not confuse anyone since I have not loaded this on my system yet, I guess I wanted to know is there a selector on what EBOOT.PBP you want to load.
Thank you
In response to #38 AND #39 ---
Just have sex already, would you please? We know how you both feel. Get it over with. Let it out.
The moron who doesn't understand what a homebrew is shouldn't be on this page, because you don't understand any of it and there's no pr0n here.
The moron who likes to bitch about the guy who can't find real pr0n -- give it up, he's a n00b pr0n-less bitch. Have pity on him and give him head or something.
This page needs serious xanex.
If you want to be really cool then download this software while using the Wipeout Pure browser hack. Then you will be rox0ring like the 1337 hax0rz.
I find it kind of ironic that when someone asked what you could do with it (before n8 gave his excellent summary), that the reply from several folks was essentially "Dude, we're not pirating games...we're running an emulator and running games from other system like the GB, GBC, SNES and arcade machines..."
You do realize that unless you own those ROMS, that's piracy, too, right? I mean, I don't consider it a bad thing (in point of fact I think it's awesome), but let's be intellectually honest, here.
yes, i am a newbie. where does one get said emulators. i've relly enjoyed learning about the whole process, but in my mind what is the point if i can't get any emulators to play?
Agh homebrew thats not what i was waiting for i want a port of mplayer (or xbox media center) to my psp!!!! then we can talk full support for all video types :D
Oh this is awesome.
I don't have it yet but I'll be looking to get on board.
I've been reading about this, and a buddy at work has had his PSP for months now.
I just got mine two days ago (1.50) and can hardly wait to play some marion on my PSP.
To the noobs-
This is how hackers/gamers/passionate people in general tend to be.
Read up and have good, intelligent questions if you expect to hang.
Now lets's get this thing goin! :D
@25- When sony develops emulators running at full speed with complete rom sets and puts em on umd and sells em, I will buy it, but since they can't/won't, I need to find other ways to do it. Playing pirated games right now is not possible, they have ripped them but there is no way to play em yet.
@44- They are technically illegal since they are made using sony software and aren't licensed so you will need to look underground (ie not on web sites).
@45- Agreed.
Really Fast Mirror: http://www.dual64.com/swaploit_1.5_psp-dev.rar