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PSP gets its own homebrew online gaming network, outweighs Sony's own efforts (video)

Jon Fingas — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:53:00 EST

Sony made much ado of the PSP's position as one of the first online gaming consoles, but unless your idea of online play involves Skype calls, there hasn't been a lot to go on since 2004. Team PRO is addressing that deficit through Prometheus, a completely community-driven rival to PSN. The hack lets PSP games with support for ad hoc WiFi play go online by wrapping the normal local-only multiplayer in an emulator library that broadcasts to other Prometheus players. It requires a second-generation or newer PSP as well as a wireless router that can expose the PSP in DMZ mode, but there's a live who's-playing board and even an in-game chat mode to coordinate that round of Fat Princess as it happens. Of course, using a wholly separate gaming network outside of Sony's rubric involves a whole lot of warranty-voiding risk; if you're willing to live on the edge, though, Internet games of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker or Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 will let you put off that possible PlayStation Vita purchase for a little longer.

Continue reading PSP gets its own homebrew online gaming network, outweighs Sony's own efforts (video)

PSP gets its own homebrew online gaming network, outweighs Sony's own efforts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony pulls another game from PlayStation Store after new Vita exploit found

Daniel Cooper — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:44:00 EST

Sony's withdrawn Everybody's Tennis from the PlayStation Store after discovering it could be used to hack the PS Vita. The game was pulled without warning (probably to the consternation of tennis fans) as the company attempts to keep absolute control on its new platform. It's the second title to get the treatment after hacker Wololo discovered an exploit in Motorstorm Arctic Edge that allowed the Vita Half-Byte-loader to be launched on the device. It looks like the game of cat-and-mouse between massive corporation and a single individual will continue for a while, with Wololo claiming they've got access to around 10 more undiscovered exploits. Popcorn, anyone?

Sony pulls another game from PlayStation Store after new Vita exploit found originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video)

Sharif Sakr — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:50:00 EST

...And here's the catch: the game you need is Motorstorm Arctic Edge (or 'Raging Ice' in Japan), and it appears to have already been pulled from the PS Store. Besides, it was never compatible with US-registered Vitas in the first place. Nevertheless, if you happen to have bought this old PSP title for your Vita already, then this may just work. Hacker Wololo claims that later today he'll release Vita Half Byte Loader files, which will give you a "limited PSP homebrew experience" on your lovely new handheld -- and indeed we've already seen it playing Sega Genesis titles. The hack supposedly uses an exploit in this particular Motorstorm title -- but since Sony is already on VHBL's tracks, who knows if it'll really work or how long it'll last? Video evidence after the break.

[Thanks, Patrick]

Continue reading PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video)

PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video)

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST

Still mulling whether or not to pick yourself up a PlayStation Vita? Obsessed with retro gaming titles? If you answered "yes" to both, you should probably start socking away a few extra coins, buster. YouTube user frwololo has just upped a video showcasing the Half Byte Loader running the Picodrive emulator on Sony's PS Vita -- the first major proof that this kind of wizardry is indeed a possibility. The nuts and bolts of how it happened are being kept under wraps for now, and he seems certain that Sony's inbuilt security will make the mod unusable as soon as it's released. That said, there's still a lot of hope to be found in the clip just after the break, and c'mon -- who doesn't need a little hope to kick off a year where we're all supposed to perish?

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PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Go hacked to play UMDs, slightly increase its desirability (video)

Sean Hollister — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:01:00 EST

For Sony, the homebrew community is both enemy and friend -- at the same time hackers are exploiting the living daylights out of the PlayStation 3, they're making the experimental PSP Go moderately interesting again. Here it is running UMD disc images directly from flash storage, letting it play games like Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, formerly off-limits since it was released on a physical disc. Sure, we've seen it play Sega CD games before, but this looks like the real deal -- working, user-installable ISO loaders for PSP Go backups and homebrew. Not to mention the skull-and-crossbones-clad elephant in the room. Perhaps these aren't exactly Sony's friends, on second thought.

PSP Go hacked to play UMDs, slightly increase its desirability (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously

Darren Murph — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:26:00 EST

Now this is interesting. Datel, which is well known for enabling all sorts of hacks on varying consoles, seems to have just introduced a refreshed version of its Action Replay PSP. What's new, you ask? Why, PSP Go support, of course! In the item description, we're told that those using this on Sony's UMD-less portable console will have to install it directly on the inbuilt memory, but one of two things has to happen (in theory, anyway) for that claim to be true. The first is that Datel is now an official Sony partner, which is about as likely as you getting a Foleo for Christmas. The other is that Datel found a way to run unencrypted code on the PSP Go, and if that's the case, we've got an idea that the homebrew junkies in the crowd will be all over this in search of further exploits. Hop on past the break for a promo video, and if you're down with shelling out funds for something that may or may not work as advertised, it's all yours for $24.99.

[Thanks, Bill]

Continue reading Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously

Datel claims new Action Replay works on PSP Go, we hope cautiously originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Go turned into a homebrewed Sega CD emulator (video)

Vlad Savov — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:03:00 EST

At this point, there have been so many Sonic games on so many different platforms, that you don't really need to run an old school Sega Genesis or Sega CD to play with the blue hedgehog. Need, however, is not what this is about. A fellow calling himself Neon (whose real name is presumably Thomas Andersonn) has put together a proof of concept video to show off a custom PSP Go firmware capable of running Sega CD images. Alas, he's only keen to prove said concept for bragging rights alone, and there are no plans to unleash this unto the retro-loving world, but isn't it enough to know that you can bring back all those memories of an insecure youth whiled away in a poorly lit room with a 12MHz console pushing about 200 pixels in total? Of course it is, check the video after the break.

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PSP Go turned into a homebrewed Sega CD emulator (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: PSP Go hacked, says 'hello world!'

Joseph L. Flatley — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:23:00 EST

As you'd expect, as soon as the PSP Go hit the shelves the homebrew community came out in force, looking to see which of its fave hacks and exploits might have made the trip from the original PSP to its UMD-less brethren. And here we are, with two videos posted by YouTube member Freeplay offering us tantalizing proof that indeed, at least one has. Of course, the whole thing is pretty rudimentary, the result of exploiting a known bug in an existing PSP game (which this particular hacker is remaining tight-lipped about rather than see Sony patch the thing). Karl B., who helped us to this one, provides a caveat: "It's user-mode only, meaning no flash modification, no piracy, no advanced custom themes, no plug-ins -- none of that." All the same, it does our inner geek a sliver of hope, doesn't it? Videos after the break.

[Via PSP Updates, Exophase]

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Video: PSP Go hacked, says 'hello world!' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:07:00 EST

The intersection of PSP 3000 and Hack St. has thus far been a pretty lonely little place, so we're pleased to announce that the ChickHEN project is definitely gaining some momentum. According to one extra special YouTube video, hacksters are now able to run the TIFF exploit and boot into a homebrew enabler environment on a PSP 2003 and a PSP 3000 running 5.03 firmware. The code is seen surviving a reboot, and both the system software and MAC address can be changed. While not ready for prime time yet, this does pave the way for emulators, PSP uCLinux, and all of those other things that keep all you homebrew fans happy at night. Video after the break, if you dare.

[Via Technabob]

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PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP-3000 finally screams 'Hello World,' homebrew to assuredly follow

Ross Miller — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:21:00 EST

The notoriously-difficult PSP-3000 model (also known as PSP Brite) has finally been hacked, this time without the need for a downgrader tool. MaTiAz's "The Sparta!!!" exploit was allegedly discovered after overwriting the player's name in a GripShift save file with "this is spartaaaaa..." -- with 57 a's tacked onto the end -- and is now available for download along with a new SDK. It's said to work with PSP firmware versions 1.52 through the current 5.02. The Hello World proof of concept video is after the break. Welcome to the homebrew community, Brite: we've been expecting you.

[Via DCEmu]

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PSP-3000 finally screams 'Hello World,' homebrew to assuredly follow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP 3000 finally, inevitably hacked by Datel's Lite Blue Tool

Samuel Axon — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:08:00 EST

Hacking the PSP has long been a popular pastime, but the 3000 model has proven a tough nut to crack. Don't pop open the champagne just yet, though, Sony -- Datel has revealed a special battery peripheral called the Lite Blue Tool that boots the handheld console into service mode, where downgrades to earlier, cracked firmwares are possible. Of course, most older PSPs could be downgraded without any additional hardware and you only needed a battery like Pandora if you failed the idiot test and bricked your system, but be patient, ~~pirates~~ totally legit homebrew types -- Rome wasn't burnt in a day. Lite Blue is priced at an affordable $29.99, not bad for an interim solution if homebrew and "backups" are your thing.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

PSP 3000 finally, inevitably hacked by Datel's Lite Blue Tool originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP slim gets super-hackable PSP firmware v1.50?

Ryan Block — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:26:00 EST

PSP hackers will probably be pleased to learn that the next step has supposedly been taken by homebrew hacker Dark_AleX, who claims (with video!) to have the original and most hackable PSP firmware ever, v1.50, running on the new PSP slim hardware. The YouTube clip is posted after the break; take it as you will, but c'mon, it's an eventuality.

Continue reading PSP slim gets super-hackable PSP firmware v1.50?

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PSP slim gets super-hackable PSP firmware v1.50? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom PSP firmware 3.90 M33 out, Skypey

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:31:00 EST

Mmm, nothing tastes quite like a fresh batch of homebrew hacks on day-old firmware. PSP owners yearning to get their Skype on need wait no more. The M33 team has released a custom version of Sony's 3.90 firmware available via the new Network Update or directly over that interwoven web of glowing tubes. Really, what more could you ask for on a Friday?

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Custom PSP firmware 3.90 M33 out, Skypey originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homebrew code lets the blind use PSP to identify people

Nilay Patel — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:06:00 EST

Hackers of all kinds continue to be drawn to the PSP, and the latest piece of code to bring a frowny-face to Sony's attorneys will probably bring a smile to lots of other people, as Nanodesktop Blind Assistant from Italy's Filippo Battaglia uses a webcam to identify and locate people in a room. The code is still proof-of-concept and requires a PC to serve images, but developers are working on USB camera support and promise the next version will be "official" and "fully working" -- which makes us wonder if they've seen that internal camera hack. Sadly, there's no word on when that next version is due to hit, but interested parties can download the current build at the read link.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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Homebrew code lets the blind use PSP to identify people originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neo's new PSP motion sensor

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:24:00 EST

Apparently, a PSP peripheral manufacturer called Neo has come up with a novel -- if somewhat useless (currently, at least) -- add-on for the handheld game system: a motion sensor. It's unclear right now what the possible uses for the sensor might be, and frankly, if it's something like an accelerometer, or a light sensor, or some other, cooler, more funky sensor we haven't thought of yet. There is one thing we can tell you for sure: it won't work on your PSP slim. Apparently, the device is aimed at home-brewers and DIY'ers -- and we're pretty sure they'll find something interesting to do with the thing. The company says it's available now, but we couldn't locate the little guy, or its price... so good luck.

[Via MAXCONSOLE]

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Neo's new PSP motion sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Slim security trounced by Team M33's custom firmware

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:57:00 EST

Well kids, you won't have to wait too long to be hacking, cracking, phreaking, duping, shooting, dumpster-diving, and generally getting biz-zay with your PSP Slim / Lite, as the outrageous tricksters known as Team M33 have just released their do-it-all custom firmware (version 3.6, for those keeping score at home), thus confirming Pandora's Battery as a "go" (amongst other things) on the new systems. If you understand what we're talking about, you'll be pleased to know that homebrews from the GAME, GAME150 and GAME360 directories load fine, though some homebrews written specifically for the 1.50 kernel won't run properly (due to some hardware and screen problems on the Slim). Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, don your helmets, and get ready to seriously rumble.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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PSP Slim security trounced by Team M33's custom firmware originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP wireless heartbeat sensor hack

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:32:00 EST

It's amazing what homebrew coders for the PSP are able to come up with, especially when you consider that the "solutions" don't really solve anything. If you've ever hankered for a heartbeat recognition ability for your portable gaming machine, then here it is. One guy called Art simply soldered a coiled copper wire across the microphone input, which allows it to pick up the signal from a wireless heartbeat sensor. The result isn't visually impressive -- he hasn't coded a graphical readout yet -- but it should definitely inspire confidence in the homebrew community's ingenuity. PSP pull-ups anyone?

[Thanks, Wraggster]

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PSP wireless heartbeat sensor hack originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP all-firmware homebrew hack surfaces

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:25:00 EST

In what undoubtedly will be remembered as a historic and life-changing event for PSP enthusiasts everywhere, a group of coders (Noobz and Archaemic, to be exact) have exploited a loophole in the Ubisoft game Lumines which enables homebrew-ing on all PSP firmware versions, from 1.00 to 3.50. This first ever all-firmware hack is a significant development, as homebrewing up until now has required specific versions (and usually the use of downgraders). No word yet on how Ubisoft feels about being party to this party, but something tells us Sony isn't going to be real stoked.

Update: On a completely unrelated note, Lumines has moved from a rank of 797 on Amazon's movers & shakers, to the number 1 slot with a sales gain of something like + 13,166%.

[Thanks, Craig and Bobb]

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PSP all-firmware homebrew hack surfaces originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP emulation and remote control on your PC

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sat, 12 May 2007 16:12:00 EST

Playing a portable console on a static PC may seem little backward, but the PSP homebrew community seems to have no qualms about creating two separate ways of getting their PSP games to play on their 'puter. The first is a little more conventional in that it's apparently the first working PSP emulator for the PC. So far the only proof is some screenshots of various commercial and non-commercial 2D PSP games, so if you want to be a doubting Thomas it's your prerogative. The second option for PSP on PC action uses a piece of homebrew software called RemoteJoy and a simple USB cable, which apparently lets you see and remotely control your PSP through your computer. The evidence here is a lot more convincing, with a shaky YouTube video after the break showing keyboard control, completely synced screens, and daunting command lines. These latest examples just make us wonder what the PSP could be capable of if Sony stopped holding back, or -- dare we say it? -- started supporting its homebrew community. Then again, we can't deny relishing the subversive element of the whole scene.

[Thanks, killfelix]

Read -- First PSP emulator?
Read -- PSP in a PC window video
Read -- PSP in a PC window instructions

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PSP emulation and remote control on your PC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2007 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh the irony: use Sony's Network Update to keep your homebrew fresh

Paul Miller — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:45:00 EST

After years of acting as the mortal enemy of PSP users the world over, Network Update is finally giving back to the community with this latest hack, which allows you to use the nefarious bit of software to update your homebrew-happy Dark_Alex firmware. Of course, to pull it off you'll have to install a plugin from Xandu and Team 280, which involves fiddling with your BIOS and possibly bricking your system, and apparently the plugin is only working with about 2/3 of users so far, but we deem those risks a small price to pay for the sort of moral triumph involved in this hack of hacks.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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Oh the irony: use Sony's Network Update to keep your homebrew fresh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homebrew typing application for PSP pops up

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:31:00 EST

Ever since the PSP launched, people have proclaimed to be waiting for a certain "something" that would kick its nearest rival off its pedestal, dig it a grave, and then nail it into its coffin, all in one fell swoop. We're guessing that a keyboard attachment isn't the combo move that the fanboys have been waiting for, despite the abandoned efforts of Logic, and the new, successful efforts of a coder called Moneytoo, who created a homebrew application that lets you hook up a Palm Universal Wireless keyboard to your PSP so that you can write simple text files. Nevermind that it won't help with typing in crazy long SSIDs, WEP keys, or URLs, it's still a rather impressive coding job, not least in the context of Sony's repeated efforts to prevent people from running unsigned code on their little portables and Logic's consequent failure to produce a PSP keyboard peripheral. The fact that Moneytoo made it possible to use a 3rd party peripheral which can be picked up on eBay for around $50 was a nice touch too, but considering that there's currently no ability to save, or even open text files using the homebrew app, we'd recommend you hold onto your regular homework machine for a little bit longer. That beta tag doesn't mean "better."

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Homebrew typing application for PSP pops up originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homebrew kids add another notch to their belt: Sony GPS support

Paul Miller — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:33:00 EST

We can't really call this a loss for Sony, 'cause it's still selling PSP widgets to these hackers, and we assume should be overjoyed at the kind of "in the face of all odds" homebrew scene its PSP still enjoys, but somehow or other Deniska has defeated The proverbial Man and released a new version of the MAP THIS! software which includes support for Sony's official GPS. The little dongle only just hit Japan last month, so props to Deniska for the quick turnaround. If you're hoping to do pull this off with your own PSP, you'll need to import the receiver from some place like Play-Asia, and be running 3.03 OE-B open-edition firmware.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Filed under: Gaming, GPS

Homebrew kids add another notch to their belt: Sony GPS support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP homebrewer creates indie game encryption system

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:55:00 EST

PSP homebrewing by its very definition requires a moderate level of subversion. As Sony has shown time and time again, running unsigned code on the PSP is not the way that it wants its customers to use the PSP, simply because there's a lot more profit to be gained in selling games than there is in selling hardware. Hold that thought for a second as we bring you up to speed on the latest from the PSP homebrew scene: a developer by the name of Xart has created an encryption system for homebrew PSP code. Apparently, the problem of homebrew community members copying their fellow coder's work and re-releasing it with their name in the splash screen has become bad enough to warrant this encryption system. So lets get this straight: a coder has made an encryption system for a community that's based partly around bypassing Sony's own complex restrictions. What's next? DRM for freeware games?

[Via PSPFanboy]

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PSP homebrewer creates indie game encryption system originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP firmware versions 2.5 and 2.6 now downgradeable

Evan Blass — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:35:00 EST

So if you made the "mistake" of upgrading your PSP to firmware version 2.5 or 2.6 just to find out that your precious homebrew would no longer load, it seems you now have a questionably-legal way to downgrade back to version 1.5 and all the emulation fun that goes along with it. Several forums dedicated to Sony's portable console are reporting that hackers using the handles Dark_Alex and Hitchhikr have succeeded in creating a workaround that exploits files from the 1.5 updater to overwrite the current firmware, although owners of so-called "TA-082" PSPs are warned not to attempt the procedure unless they fancy a bricked device. Furthermore, since you're required to either download the necessary 1.5 swag or get it from a friend, you're probably breaking some anti-piracy laws here, so of course we can't put our stamp of approval on this hack. That's all for now, but the battle between Sony and the homebrew community is far from over, so keep your eyes peeled for the next installment in this exciting saga.

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

PSP firmware versions 2.5 and 2.6 now downgradeable originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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