DarkAlex
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PSP super-hack hits the internet
Well you knew it was coming. That PSP hack we told you about a few weeks ago has hit the interblogs, and we predict all hell will be breaking loose any moment. Un-retired homebrew mastermind Dark_AleX has come up with a little number called Timemachine, which is capable of spinning your PSP back to all sorts of crazy firmwares at the touch of a button. We know you can hardly stand finishing this post due to excitement, so... get out of here and grab it![Thanks, Craig]
PSP modder extraordinare Dark Alex calls it quits
After nearly a year of playing cat-and-mouse with Sony's legal and dev teams, it looks like the heat was too much for Dark-AleX, the modder behind a couple (in)famous PSP cracks, including the "run any PSX ISO" 3.02 firmware and the bust-it-wide 3.10 "Open Edition." In a terse posting on his website, the cracker says the effort was not only taking up too much of his time, but that Sony's recent "menaces" to PS3 modders left him unwilling to continue. We can see why he'd drop out, but we're sad to see him go -- the PSP homebrew community owes him a great deal.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Dedicated game sites to browse and enjoy
Handheld gaming has a dedicated fan base, as those that frequent our very own site can attest. When the allure of new releases wears its welcome, it can be interesting to scour the web for sites that cater to very specific game tastes. In case you missed our recommendation for these game sites earlier, Pocket Gamer reminds you of gems like Beyond Loco, which caters to everything LocoRoco, offering wallpaper, music and even themed demos. Dark Alex also brings a unique flavor of PSP homebrew for those daring enough to visit. Something new and for the slightly older crowd that welcomes a trip down memory lane, there's even the HandHeld Museum where you can revisit handheld gaming's finest. The included pictures of box art should jog a few memories, if the title alone isn't enough. We can't be the only ones to remember those Galoob titles, can we?
Dark_Alex working on 3.30 OE [Update 1]
DCEmu is reporting that Dark_Alex already has a custom firmware version of 3.30 in the works. He's only just begun to decrypt the newest Sony firmware, but seems to think that it will be an easy nut to crack. Dark_Alex seems to think we won't have to wait long for a new custom firmware. This is good news for me and other PSP owners who currently run custom firmware. Let's just hope it comes out before the next big title that requires 3.30 firmware. [Update 1: Fixed firmware list errors]
PSP hackers Dark Alex and Fanjita unmasked
Heroes. Villains. Homebrewers. Pirates. The hackers behind some of the most significant PSP security breaches to date have been called many things. A new BBC report does little to settle the ethical debate, but does demystify a pair of thorns in Sony's side.Fanjita, best known for his GTA: LCS eLoader exploit, is none other than mild-mannered David Court, a 34-year-old professional programmer who writes server software for telecommunications companies. Court, who spends an hour or so each night tinkering with his PSP, resides in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife. He is also a martial arts enthusiast.In recent months, Fanjita's celebrity has been eclipsed by hacker Dark Alex, whose custom firmware has opened the PSP wide open. A student from Spain by day, Dark Alex derives his moniker from his real name Alejandro. He favors all things goth and finds comfort in manga and cats. "I think it is up to users to make the correct decisions about how to use my software," says Alejandro. "I believe in the presumption of innocence, unlike the media companies." [Thanks, Brian]
Play Ratchet on custom firmware
Like many PSP owners, I like the added functionality of Dark_Alex's custom firmware. What I didn't like though was how Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters didn't work on my PSP because of it. Luckily, the fine folks at DCEmu have come up with a solution. Let me run you through it step by step, so you too can get Ratchet swinging his wrench on your custom firmware.
