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PSP firmware hits 3.30, with bigger vids and better PSone
We were never ones to stand in the way of excessive format support, and never ones to accuse Sony of such a deed, but it appears they're feeling generous this week, with the brand new range of 720 x 480, 352 x 480 and 480 x 272 playback resolutions of MPEG-4 AVA (H.264) video that can be yours with the new 3.30 firmware update. The update also improves PSone performance with a menu option to increase disk dreading speed in exchange for better load times and a little bit of instability. Finally, Sony is tossing in thumbnail support for video and RSS feeds, another welcome improvement. Not bad at all for a 0.1 update, but we're still holding out for PS3-free PSone downloads.
R-Type Delta adds to our Japanese PS1 envy
As if Sony were mocking Steve's latest blog entry, they've released seven new old PSone titles to the (still PS3-only) PlayStation Store, bringing up the downloadable catalogue up to 31. Each of these games can be purchased for a paltry ¥525 (US$4.33). Shanghai Dynasty (Success) The Drugmania (Hamster) R-Type Delta (Irem) Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (SCE) Puzzle Mania (Hamster) Pet in TV (SCE) Yaku: Yuujou Dangi (Idea Factory) To compare, America has only received 11 games so far, at a higher price of $6. Of those 11, we've only been able to recommend 4 of those games. Please Sony, if you're not going to give us more releases, at least give us better ones.[Via Joystiq]
Japan PS1 download envy
I'm not sure what Sony has against those outside of Japan, but US PSP owners wanting to download PS1 games onto their PSP really haven't had much to get excited about. Nearly every game available for download on the US PLAYSTATION Store is either garbage or there is a better version in the series already on PSP. Tekken 2 or Wipeout aren't that appealing when we can already play more recent and better versions of each on the PSP. Meanwhile, Japan gets 21 PS1 game downloads to choose from and there are some heavy-hitters in the lot too, like Resident Evil, R-Types, Arc the Lad and Mr. Driller. I've only downloaded 1 of the 11 games available in the US and it isn't for a lack of desire. Stop teasing us Sony and give those outside of Japan some worthwhile downloads!
Retro Review: Destruction Derby
File Size: 65MBPrice: $5.99Developed By: Reflections InteractivePublished By: PsygnosisOriginal Release Date: November 1, 1995Short ReviewRecommended. Destruction Derby is easily one of the finest PS1 games for play on the PSP. The graphics aren't too advanced, and the controls aren't very tight. And although there aren't too many tracks to race on, it's undeniable that the game is fun. The crash-heavy gameplay of Destruction Derby makes for an intense racing experience, and the ability to quickly jump into a single race and save at any time in a circuit makes Destruction Derby a truly ideal portable game. With such a small memory requirement, anyone that has the ability to play PS1 games on their PSP should make this a permanent part of their collection.
Calling All Cars missing from PS3 car combat arrivals
When Sony sent word of "Car Combat Coming to the PlayStation Store" we assumed it was final confirmation that David Jaffe's Calling All Cars would arrive in February, as planned. Instead, we're today offered the PlayStation 3 Full Auto 2 demo and Destruction Derby, another yawn-inducing (we hear they're contagious) PS1 oldie for PSP. Look, we like the thematic mix, but this half-baked cake is missing the icing. Just a little more time in the oven and Sony could have delivered with PlayStation Store's first great triumph. Maybe next time.
2XTreme added to PlayStation Store
... And no one cares. Honestly, Sony, when are we going to get some real classics through your currently PS3-only PlayStation Store? You'll be able to take control of one of four extreme vehicles (snowboards, bikes, inline skates, and skateboards) in four extreme environments (Japan, Africa, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles).[Thanks, sean!]
PSP firmware cracked wide open by Grand Theft Auto ... again
An old skeleton from the PSP closet has come back to haunt Sony as their 2.81 lockdown has come to an end thanks to the ongoing efforts of the PSP homebrew community. Famed PSP hacker Fanjita has taught an old crack a new trick as the Grand Theft Auto saved game exploit has once again brought Sony's PSP security measures to its knees, enabling any and all firmware versions to run homebrew applications.That's odd. We thought they squashed that bug a long time ago. According to Fanjita, Sony didn't quite bring their A-game when it came to stopping their unruly fan base. It's not all sunshine and unicorns for those itching to tear apart the coding that holds their PSP together. The brave will need an original copy of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (later copies were updated to prevent this trick from resurfacing) and nerves of steel. An "easy mode" downgrader isn't available yet, but the wait should give you enough time to scrounge up a stack of PS One games to stick in there.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
New PSone games available for Japan
Six new PlayStation One games are available for Japanese PS3 owners. They include:
