Homebrew on PSPs running firmware 2.01 through 2.50!

We knew that it was only a matter of time until someone got homebrew goodness up and running on PSPs running the supposedly "unhackable" firmware upgrades from 2.01 on, and friends, that day has arrived. PSP Updates forum moderator and presumably Sony Enemy #1 Fanjita has posted a version of his eLoader software that works with 2.01 through 2.50 versions of the firmware, and utilizes the same Grand Theft Auto exploit that has been previously used to load homebrew swag. So far only a handful of games and emulators have been tested with the new boot loader, but the list seems to be growing literally by the hour. Never underestimate what a dedicated group of fanboys can pull off with enough time and Red Bull.

[Thanks, Clay]

[Michael @ Jan 27th 2006 4:01AM]

Wow Thats Great. Any Word On Being Able To Play GTA: Liberty City?

[Omega Xi @ Jan 27th 2006 4:03AM]

This is interesting. Does the thought ever occur that companies like MicroSoft and Sony really shoot themeselves in the foot by trying to stamp out homebrew. I mean I'm sure some kind of compromise could be made in which it is okay to write software for platforms as long as it does not involve emulation or software piracy. I mean I really wouldn't mind a decent *.MP3 player for the PSP, better yet an *.OGG player ^_^

//Xi

[Peter @ Jan 27th 2006 5:10AM]

Great :)

Peter

[Cem @ Jan 27th 2006 5:27AM]

Sweet, I might buy myself a PSP soon. Oh, I agree with #2 too.

[adrian @ Jan 27th 2006 5:49AM]

how long until companies start leaking news of purposefully created exploits to sell more units?

I really wouldn't like to have to use a game to load up stuff the whole time.

I guess i'll just stick to my current firmware.

[dave @ Jan 27th 2006 6:52AM]

YESS!!!! aaaaaaahhhhh this is AMAZING!!!!!!


Now i can FINALLY play cut down PS2 games AND old Nintendo and SEGA games on the SAME device!!!!!


Fuck me this thing was worth nearly �300....

[monk @ Jan 27th 2006 8:03AM]

Does anyone still play their PSP anymore? I literally had to brush the dust off of mine the other day to have a round of Luminees.

I think ebay is calling this one's name...

[chris @ Jan 27th 2006 8:43AM]

exactly monk. I eagerly bought a psp over the summer but it is a lost investment unless sony would do the unthinkable and bring ff7 to it and others. Mine is gathering dust as I type and ive never even bought a single game cause they all suck to me. Im gonna get a ds lite when they come to our shores.

[no3rdw @ Jan 27th 2006 9:06AM]

Maybe the reason it's gathering dust is because you've never bought a single game for it. Just a thought.

I still use my PSP, and had to upgrade my firmware when I got GTA and Socom. I'm glad that I can start playing SNES games on it (easily) again.

[phi @ Jan 27th 2006 9:07AM]

the only games I seem to play on my psp these days are non-PSP ones, problem is Sony seems more intent on releasing mediocre games and a crapload of movies rather than releasing some really killer games. I'm actually more excited about nintendoDS games that I've seen and I don't even own a DS.

[PSP Joe @ Jan 27th 2006 9:15AM]

So, does this mean we can now access iso files, or just purely homebrew stuff?

[dave @ Jan 27th 2006 9:17AM]

well this is good news, hopefully we wont need to chose between homebrew or added features...

as for the psp being crap, i have 4 games, all are some of the best games ive played on a handheald.

gta, lumines, virtua tennis and burnout

[tomato @ Jan 27th 2006 9:24AM]

The problem with sony and microsoft allowing homebrew applications is that they are almost always taking a loss on hardware (except MAYBE at the end of the product cycle). If they allowed homebrew applications, how many people would just buy the system and use it for ripped movies and emulated games? I know I would. I wouldnt touch a UMD movie and maybe buy 1 or 2 games. I'm willing to bet that the royalties from 2 games would not give enough back to sony to cover the cost of the psp. They are banking on people buying lots of movies and games for their system, not people playing emulated games and ripped movies.

[Matt S. @ Jan 27th 2006 9:53AM]

exactly right, Tomato (#14). Console makers get their money from licensing software. Apple, on the other hand, makes pure profit from every iPod sold, so what do THEY care if you never buy a song from the iTunes Music Store?

If you don't think the PSP has any "great games," you're not looking hard enough. SOCOM is great. GTA is great. And those are just two from the last 2 months.

[Mike @ Jan 27th 2006 10:02AM]

How about Firmware 2.6? Although I love my PSP, I got a Gp2X to run homebrew, since their attitude is the opposite of Sony's.

[Arizona Glover @ Jan 27th 2006 10:27AM]

This makes me happy.

Thanks Fanjita.



Arizona Glover
http://paulsbaker.blogspot.com/

[Karl @ Jan 27th 2006 11:12AM]

HA! Eat it Sony

[Dave @ Jan 27th 2006 11:42AM]

I really disagree with the whole "GTA and SOCOM are great" argument. No, they're not. That's the pinnacle of game design from like 2002, and it didn't age NEARLY as well as Castlevania: SOTN.

People really need to stop buying GTA. Such lazy, lazy design.

[John @ Jan 27th 2006 11:49AM]

To this point the homebrew scene is the only thing the PSP really has going for it. There are way too few good games on this. Its just sad sad sad.

[Jim @ Jan 27th 2006 12:15PM]

Dave

Remember you are playing a handheld. It is not a full blown console version. I think GTA and SOCOM are great games. I think that GTA is a very well written game and is completely addicting. The graphics are far better then that of the DS. You are right if you compare the current GTA for the PSP it is about the same graphics level as GTA vice city or GTA 3. But it is a hand held version, which I think is an accomplishment not a downfall.

[Michael @ Jan 27th 2006 12:27PM]

I have both a DS and a PSP. I only bought a DS because i was sick of waiting for the PSP. And now, for the last 3 months, I've been carrying my DS. I actually had to think about where i left my PSP so long ago. It's in a drawer. The PSP game developers seem obsessed with trying to impress with fast framerates and high-res graphics, ports of previously popular PS2 games, and just generally cashing in on old work. The games for the DS however are focused on gameplay. They're games made to be FUN. Remember that? When games were about having fun? Not just being as complicated as humanly possible. Sony and Microsoft need to wake up, because the same exact thing has been happening on the main consoles for years. Nintendo focuses on gameplay, while MS and Sony beef up their hardware once again. How long are you going to keep buying the same fucking games with better graphics? They're banking on you being too stupid to figure it out.

[Aaron Ardiri @ Jan 27th 2006 12:37PM]

but.. does it support UMD loading? :) if not, forget it.

[Ix @ Jan 27th 2006 12:51PM]

I don't own a PSP, but I think it's hilarious how every time the discussion turns to extending a PSPs functionality beyond Sony's limits, the first thing to come up (either sarcastically or seriously) is running nintendo games on it. I have a DS that I quite like, and I think the only thing that would get me to buy a PSP would be a ported version of Rez, and even then I would feel like a fool for buying it. It's like having a TV that only plays low-res re-runs.

[thetrash @ Jan 27th 2006 12:58PM]

Agreed #21. Well said.

[Mike @ Jan 27th 2006 2:05PM]

Hey DS fanboys!!! This story is about PSP homebrew not about how much you think the PSP sucks compared to the DS.

Stop with the PSP envy and get a life.

Sheesh!

BTW, DS sucks!!!!

[Michael @ Jan 27th 2006 2:18PM]

Hmmmm.... Thanks so much Mike (25) for your insightful and witty comment. We're all a little wiser for it.
Yes, the comments got a little off topic. And I'm dreadfully sorry to offend you so.

[pokysharpy @ Jan 27th 2006 3:01PM]

I don't know how people can say that there are no good games for PSP. Seriously. Lumines, Wipeout: Pure, Virtua Tennis World Tour, hell, even the Untold Legends series is a fun dungeon crawl.

I don't know what more you guys want from a portable game system besides fun games. Sure, some of these are sequels but that doesn't make them less fun... For example, Virtua Tennis is the best version of the franchise.

Other people seem to love SOCOM, Midnight Club, GTA, X-Men Legends II, and I haven't even tried those games yet.

How many games do you need, how much are you going to play, and how unsatisfied are you people with other aspects of your life?

[Ian @ Jan 27th 2006 3:54PM]

And now we'll get 3.0......

[Stephen @ Jan 27th 2006 4:37PM]

I agree. I don't know why people say there are no good games for PSP. I think people just think it's cool these days to bash PSP now..which is kind of stupid in my opinion.

There are games like Lumines, Virtua Tennis, Mercury, Metal Gear Acid, KoP, SOCOM, GTA...etc. They are all really well made. FF7 Crisis Core is also coming

PSP had quite a bit of ports like ToE, Breathe of Fire III, SRW MX. I bought them because I don't own them on PS2 or PS. I see people bash this system saying it has too many ports, but I think GBA has quite a bit too...Didn't they port all the SNES/NES Mario to it?

I think this is pretty good for a new handheld. It's good that Sony is creating some competition for Nintendo. DS's library wouldn't be this good if PSP didn't exist in my opinion. Nintendo is taking Sony pretty seriously so history wouldn't repeat.

A lot of people say PSP is doing "horrible." With the sales and shipment number, I think PSP is doing pretty well for a new comer

[Jamesology @ Jan 27th 2006 5:31PM]

It's funny how DS fanboys keep giving insult towards the PSP on how crappy the games are; including on how they keep bringing up the sales (I dunno why or how it would affect them)then PSP is doing a fantastic job.

Let's add this up:

DS + hundreds of addicting games + high sales = it must be a good system.

PSP + barely any games compare to DS and not as fun as most DS games + competitive sales reports + high sales too = it must be a good system too.

In summary, if the PSP( with it's lack of games) is able to compare its sales to the DS sales, then they must be doing something good. Also, DS fanboys will obviously hate PSP games since their ignorance towards the PSP will fuel their boredom towards anything labeled PSP; most call jealousy!

I have both and like them for their own seperate reasons, so to tally it up I have the best of both worlds. HAHAHAHAHHA. If you can't afford both of them then stop bitching on these forums and blame yourself on why you don't make enough money or why your parents are poor. I'm a full-time Univeristy student and so is my GF and we both love the PSP and DS. Video Games for life!!!!!

--- O yea, PC gaming is better! HAHAHAHAHA

[nick @ Jan 27th 2006 6:20PM]

Here's my theory:


Sony go so hard out to stop homebrew/piracy, then geeks crack it, and it seems that Sonys efforts were rather pointless. BUT I think it backfires on them even more.

If there was nothing to hack, then this (and the countless other articles that go up on the net about it) wouldnt be there. These articles are basically an advert for how to pirate sht on your PSP.

If there was no exposure, then a lo of people wouldnt know about it.

Take Gameboy advance. you could pirate easy as with a flash cart, but not that many people knew this.

I bet alot of people do this 'coz they can', and end up buying a few less games as a result.

[Ian Charles @ Jan 27th 2006 6:22PM]

I dont get the point of all this.

Seems like a waste of time.

[dave @ Jan 27th 2006 6:26PM]

#30 i bet you and ur girlfriend rock

[dave @ Jan 27th 2006 6:28PM]

and #31, i dont wanna cause a big grammar debate here, but its 'fewer' games, not less, just so u know

[Nico @ Jan 27th 2006 11:15PM]

Yes better not start a big grammar debate here! You all know how wild those get!

[Joshua @ Jan 27th 2006 11:18PM]

Everyone keeps saying how $ony should stop making updates and just let people make homebrew (*hack* emulators *hack*) but they can't. Do you know how bad they would get sued by Nintendo if they didn't. Sure GP32x blatently advertises emu on their machine, but I haven't seen one commercial about it. No one really knows GP32x exists. But if you hear "Take me out" by Franz Ferdinand you (maybe) automatically think PSP.

Anyway, saying $ony should stop making updates or complaining about it when they do is like a kid saying "Why wont my parents just let me do what I wanna do?!?"

[ck @ Jan 28th 2006 4:56AM]

Oh haha - I see what you're doing there with the dollar sign. That's pretty cool.

O.o

[George @ Jan 28th 2006 8:01AM]

http://www.rustam.tk

hi guys they have the loader on the site shown above. But you have to register first. Im so happy that i dont need to sell my psp and get a 1.5 one. But i stil ave a question since i havent installed it on my psp, can you run backup iso games because i hate carrying so many around with me.

[taz @ Jan 28th 2006 10:51AM]

im not really into all this homebrew business but correct me if im wrong.

with this program thing, does it mean you could play games from a memory stick instead of from a UMD?

i mean like play psp games like that, not ps2 or snes games.

[Jonathan @ Jan 28th 2006 1:11PM]

Maybe I'm too old (27 tomorrow, actually), but I recently got an original NES from eBay and bought up a bunch of dollar games. For my money, Super Mario Bros, Paperboy, even Mike Tyson's "Punch out" were and still are mad cool and completely addictive. It's not the graphics, it's the design.

JS

[Mike D. @ Jan 28th 2006 2:38PM]

I own both and honestly, other than movie viewing and slightly better graphics, I have no idea why ANYONE would buy a PSP over a DS these days. The game libraries don't even compare. With DS you get a system for $120 less than PSP, and games that are usually $20 cheaper than PSP, there are more games, and the games are (mostly) more innovative and fun.

I got a DS in december, but my PSP was collecting dust long before that.

Sony needs to: drop the price point of the games and UMD movies if they expect me to buy any, stop the constant firmware upgrades because to be honest, my main use for my PSP thus far is to play old NES and Sega Genesis games. I plan on getting a GP2X eventually, but for now, PSP is my emulation station. I'm glad I will finally be able to play my Grand Theft Auto on it, again, as well as my homebrew.

Maybe I won't sell it after all, but still, my DS gets more playing time anymore than any of my other systems.

[Wildoman @ Jan 29th 2006 5:26PM]

keep it up Fanjita!

[J-hood @ Jan 29th 2006 5:41PM]

Whoever bought the Nintendo Dip Shit, I mean DS. Couldn't afford the PSP. WINDOW SHOPPERS

[ByeLaw @ Jan 30th 2006 8:56AM]

Love the handle :)

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fanjita

[kyle murray @ Jan 30th 2006 6:48PM]

Who eouldnt want a psp over a ds, there is so many more things you can do with it liie music and internet, not to mention its like a nut you can play with outside.

[bignerd @ Feb 1st 2006 5:01AM]

@ #46) Squirl Please!

[kennyb @ Feb 6th 2006 4:28AM]

Ok stupid question time, I have the 2.01 and want to run homebrew (been waiting for ages for this breakthrough).
But I don't understand how to get this to work, I don't have GTA game..so how do I load this and play homebrew? Please don't flame me i'm only new to the game and it's a honest question. Can someone give details .. thanks , KennyB.

[Cid @ Feb 25th 2006 1:33PM]

gah am i the only one who doesnt get exicted about emulations on PSP?
i have played those old games many times back then and played them again on pc with emulation..i dont wanna touch to them again (snes genesis other emus)
i want fresh new titles on PSP!!!!