Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 40
It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."
Q. Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to buy the white PSP-3000 from Japan and have it still work in English. The reason I am asking is because in North America there will only be 2 colors: black and silver, and when I get the new PSP-3000 I want mine to stand out and be one of the only people with a totally different color PSP than anyone else.
A. While Sony does suggest installing the corresponding firmware with the same region the unit was purchased in, any firmware update can be installed on an imported PSP. Region locking shouldn't be an issue, when it comes to gaming, although some features are locked to certain regions (i.g. Skype, Go!Messenger, etc.).
Q. I heard a keyboard would be coming to the PSP sometime next year. Any chance a firmware update would bring some form of a chatroom feature?
A. It's definitely a possibility, but we won't hear anything about that until we get closer to the keyboard release.
Q. I'd like to ask if you need a "MagicGate" Memory Stick to be able to use it on the PSP? I ask this because Memory Sticks are pretty expensive for bigger sizes and I found a Memory Stick adapter for microSD cards (which are cheaper than MSPD cards) and I would like to know if they would work on my PSP. They don't have the MagicGate logo on them, so that's why I would like to know. Also, do you think it will decrease the read/write speed of the PSP?
A. A MagicGate Memory Stick is not required (though recommended) for the PSP, but adapters will vary. Do some research on the brand you're considering, and see if anyone has had trouble/success with the product. One note: downloads from the PS Store will not work on a Memory Stick without MagicGate protection.
Q. Will the new PSP-3000 play Star Wars: FORCE UNLEASHED without skipping and blacking out?
A. We certainly wouldn't expect it to. Although it's being developed by Krome Studios and not LucasArts, the game should run just fine.
Q. Will PSP-2000`s faceplates and backplates + buttons be compatiable with the PSP-3000?
A. We can't write this one in stone just yet, though we can say the physical size and appearance seems to remain identical to the PSP-2000, so faceplates should be compatible. We'll follow up later.
Q. When I looked on Play-Asia for a PSP Camera, it was still in stock. Does that mean that the regular Go!Cam performs better than the Chotto Cam?
A. The Go!Cam is simply the Chotto Shot camera, released under a different name in the PAL territories. The difference comes in functionality, where the Go!Cam is advertised with Go!Messenger, for video conferencing.
Q. At the start of the year they announced a Keyboard and GPS for North America...again we have heard nothing since. Any news?
A. We'll see the keyboard sometime next year; the GPS should still be coming in the next few months. Sony isn't releasing any information about peripherals at this time.
