It’s that time of the month again! You have 4 days to vote on /talk for your favorite tutorials. The winner of each category will get a $10 PSN Code.

Every month, we give away a total of $60 in PSN codes in our monthly tutorial contest, for the best guides in each category: PSP, PS Vita, PS4, PS3, and 3DS.

This month, PSP and 3DS had only one entry each, so the writers of these tutorials automatically win $10 each. Congratulations to reprep and tardisidiot, for their tutorials on high quality video encoding for PSP playback, and how to play DS games online now that Nintendo have shut down their servers. I will contact these two winners shortly to send them their codes.

This month we also introduced the “mods award”: we’re giving an extra $10 to the best tutorial this month, as voted by myself and the mods. This extra $10 used to be awarded to the tutorial with the most votes overall, but we’re trying something different moving forward. All tutos who entered the contest qualify for this additional vote(including reprep and tardisidiot’s entries).

The PS4 category did not get any entry this month. PS Vita and PS3, on the other hand, both got 2 entries, and the vote is therefore open for them:

• Vote for your favorite PS3 tutorial (winner gets $10)
• Vote for your favorite PS Vita tutorial (winner gets $10)

Voting will end in 4 days, after that we’ll start the December contest

Good luck to everyone, keep the cool guides coming!

This isn’t really an update that fixes the issues with the vita, but more of a work around. The latest update available is still the one we spoke about last time. It includes the following changes:

– tempGBA now correctly saves sram to the correct folder (.sav extension)
– fixed an issue with tempGBA when loading compressed archives.
– pce-fast: fixed most graphical glitches and improved speed a lot. most CD-rom games now run close to fullspeed.

Recently retorarch’s developer aliaspider had posted in their forums saying:

rename a core .PBP to EBOOT.PBP and put it in its own homebrew directory ( or replace the one in the main retroarch folder ).

This workaround has been now confirmed working on a PS vita running TN-V. Thanks to member SILENT_Paul, who posted a video demonstrating it running on a PS Vita, on retroarch’s forums.

Vita users now’s your time to go ahead and give this a shot . If you encounter any issues, feel free to address them into retroarch’s forums. I’m sure the developers will look into it once you’ve done it appropriately (giving as much information as possible of course). Remember due to the lack of extra ram on the Vita’s eCFW, you’ll have to use the PSP 1000 version. Anyways happy emulating!

One of the most famous & popular PSP custom firmwares is going to receive another update. I am of course talking about Neur0n’s 6.xx ME & LME CFW.

While it was originally developed and maintained by Neur0n himself, it has been updated and improved by developer Rahim-US since revision 1.9 and following.

My good friend Rahim-US has now announced that he has added some additional feature to the ME & LME CFW, which should make even more people happy with this masterpiece of custom firmware.

The first thing Rahim has added is something that has been missing from the ME & LME CFW, since it was deemed ‘underused and unnecessary’.

This cool feature is now supported by the ME & LME CFW. I am of course talking about Pro Online support, which lets you play ‘local multiplayer only’ games with people all over the world, similar to Hamachi, XlinkKai and other services.

The feature itself is still in beta (regardless of using it via PRO CFW or ME/LME CFW), and the added support for it is also still in beta, so expect it to be updated, if there are flaws with it.

Another feature that will be added with the new revision 2.3/10.3 of the ME & LME CFW is the support for the .DAX ISO-format. An alternative format to the common .ISO and .CSO format.

The .DAX format was used in older custom firmwares (OE CFWs, as far as I know), but was later discontinued in later versions of the M33 CFW. One could still use the .DAX format via an additional plugin, but most people did not bother with it, which was another reason this format was discontinued.

The advantages of .DAX over .CSO are actually pretty simple. Games compressed as .DAX are smaller than .CSO files, but have less loading times than their .CSO counterparts.

This makes the .DAX format a better format for compressed ISOs than the actual CSO (compressed ISO) format itself.

The common .ISO and .CSO formats are of course still supported by the ME & LME CFW – The .DAX format is only an additional format that is now natively supported.

Since .DAX is superior to .CSO, why aren’t we using .DAX ISOs for TN-V and ARK-2 on the PS Vita?!

The last thing that will be included in the new 2.3/10.3 revision of the ME & LME CFW is the ‘High Memory Layout’ for homebrews and games that support it.

This option enforces that launched content will use more of the PSPs RAM, than usually. This will improve emulators that have the capability to run smoother and with better performance on 02g+ devices (PSP 2000 and later).

It should also reduce loading times in bigger games, as long as you are using a PSP 2000 model or a later device (2000, 3000, Go & E1000).

The “High Memory Layout” is unavailable on the PSP 1000, since it has only 32MB RAM, opposed to the 64MB RAM that every other PSP model has.

The revision 2.3/10.3 of the ME & LME CFW should be released later this month. With a that great CFW to be updated, we can not wait for Davee to jump in and bump the 6.20 perma patch boundaries up to firmware 6.60.

Source via Rahim-US.

Every month we organize a tutorial contest for our 5 favorite devices: the PS Vita, the PS4, the 3DS, the PSP, and the PS3.

Each month, the authors of the best tutorial for each category get a $10 PSN code each, for a total of $50. Additionally, the mods and myself choose our favorite tutorial, and award a bonus $10.

This month, edukarlo won the PS Vita contest with a tutorial on how to rearrange categories on TN-V with the help of PSPFiler. In the PSP category, reprep’s guide on high quality video encoding with handbrake, and tardisidiot’s How to play DS games Online again were both the only entries in their respective categories, guaranteeing an easy $10 to their authors.

In the PS3 category, How to play PSN games from your external HDD by timtraoro got the audience vote, while mysis’s How to find Dev’s Klicensee tutorial got the mods award. We were all impressed by the technicality of this guide, something we would love to see more often! The PS4 did not have any entry this month.

Congratulations to all 5 winners. PSN Codes have been sent and should reach you very soon.

It’s also already time to submit your tutorials for December’s contest! Here again, there’s a total of $60 in PSN codes to win. Your tutorials don’t have to be extremely technical, as long as they are original and directly related to one of the 5 consoles mentioned above. You can see detailed rules and how to participate here: Monthly tutorial contest.

Have fun, and good luck to everyone!

Every month we publish a list of the best Vita and PSP homebrews as voted by our community over the previous month. You can add your own homebrews to our /downloads Database, and vote for your favorite ones. This doesn’t require any login.

Check out this month’s most popular homebrews and releases, as rated by our community below.

Native vita exploit tools keep surfacing in our top10 since their inception a few months ago, and I’m sure we’ll see more Native stuff in the weeks to come.

10. 138Menu

The most popular homebrew menu, compatible with VHBL and CEF (ARK / TN-V)
– Multi-language English, Spanish, German, French, Turkish, Polish, Italian
– Various settings
. Loading/Showing games/installers icon
. Listing games from a custom path and/or PSP/GAME/
. Uses FBOOT.PBP, VBOOT.PBP, wmenu.bin, EBOOT.PBP (only for CEF) and/or a custom app name

– Homebrew installing
– You can use custom themes and wallpapers
– Delete App and Homebrew Folder format features included
– Custom OSK
– Easy-to-use interface
– Protection measures included
– Low sized

138Menu can be downloaded here

9. Snes9xTYLmecm(/cm) 0.4.2 Mod

This is a mod of Snes9xTYLmecm(/cm) 091127.
Snes9xTYLmecm is a mod of Snes9xTYL which is a famous Snes emulator on the PSP.

Snes9xTYLmecm(/cm) 0.4.2 Mod can be downloaded here

8. Vita FTP

Coldbird’s FTP server to ease the transfer of files to your Vita

Vita FTP can be downloaded here

7. Vitasploit

Vitasploit by Hykem is his version of an exploitation framework based on the Vita webkit exploit. It regroups webkooz, akai, memtools_vita and JSoS-Module-Dump in a single repository.

Vitasploit can be downloaded here

6. Wagic, The Homebrew

Often compared to commercial games for its replay value and quality, Wagic is a heroic fantasy card game, in which you fight as a wizard against the computer. As you win battles, you unlock new game modes and earn credits that allow you to improve your army. Wagic is community driven, entirely customizable (you can create themes, mods, even new rules), available in several languages (English, French, German, spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Serbian), and open source. It currently runs on the Sony PSP, Windows, Linux, and N900 (maemo).

Wagic, The Homebrew can be downloaded here

5. memtools_vita

Set of developer tools to leverage the Webkit exploit on Vita 3.18

memtools_vita can be downloaded here

4. JSoS Module Dumper

Connect vita to server, dumps happen automatically

JSoS Module Dumper can be downloaded here

3. DaedalusX64

Nintendo 64 emulation at its best! DaedalusX64 is the direct successor of Daedalus

DaedalusX64 can be downloaded here

2. gpsp

Gameboy Advance Emulator

gpsp can be downloaded here

1. Open CMA

A patch by Virtuous Flame to prevent the PS Vita Content Manager Assistant from connecting to the internet.

The PS Vita comes with a system to copy save files that requires you to be connected permanently to the internet. This system is here to force you to update the Vita when a new version is available. In addition, it might be inconvenient for you to be constantly connected when you want to copy your files from and to the Vita. This patch is here to help you with this situation

Open CMA can be downloaded here

New Release of the Month: Ninjhax

Blasphemy! A 3DS release in our PSP/Vita homebrews of the month? Well, you’ll agree that the big event of the past few weeks has been Smealum’s release, that enabled Homebrews on all models of 3DS, up to the latest firmware. The Ninjhax release went smoothly (except for the incredible increase in prices of the exploitable game, Cubic Ninja), and people who have the exploitable game can now enjoy a few emulators and homebrews on their 3DS. No doubt the list of homebrews will now grow, and we’ll try to add them to our database as well.

Ninjhax can be downloaded here

Also check the following!

The following homebrews did not make it to the top 10 this month, but were pretty close. Check them out!

• DSonPSP (DS emulator)
• psp7800 (Atari 7800 emulator)
• ONElua (LUA interpreter)

Also check our huge list of emulators for your PSP/Vita, and our top 50 Vita / PSP homebrews in 2013!

Check out our huge emulators database for your Vita and your PSP!

What would you recommend to fellow PSP/Vita owners? Feel free to add your homebrews in our database and vote for your favorite ones!

Just a few days ago I’ve told you about the new upcoming release of the updated ME & LME CFWs, and now they are available for download!

After the update to 2.2, in early 2014, Rahim-US has updated Neur0n’s CFW yet another time. This time to revision 2.3!

The 3 most noteworthy changes will be explained below.

The first big feature is still in beta, but adds the support for the PRO Online mode. This pretty much enables you to use the adhoc multiplayer function of games via the Internet, which basically turns the adhoc multiplayer into an online multiplayer, similar to services as XlinkKai and Hamachi.

You do have to download the additional 6.xx Pro Online files (for ME/LME CFW) to use the Online mode on your PSP running the newest revision of the ME/LME CFW, as these (optional) files are not shipped with the firmware files themselves.

The second important feature is the support for the .DAX file format. The CFW is now able to read and play PSP games that were converted into the .DAX ISO-format.

The .DAX format is smaller than the .CSO format, but has better loading times. So it is pretty much ‘a better CSO (compressed ISO) format, than .CSO itself’.

A handy converter can be downloaded below (Windows only?!).
An alternative tool that can convert into .DAX is the UMDGEN 4.0 tool.

The fastest loading times are still obtained with the good old .ISO format, but those also have a bigger file size. What do you prefer? Fast but big, or slower but smaller?

Last but not least is the support for unlocked memory for PSP games. Previously only homebrews were able to access the extra memory, that the PSP 2000 (and newer) have, if the homebrews requested it.

With this 2.3/10.3 revision update, the extra memory can also be unlocked for PSP games, which should shorten loading times and make things a bit smoother!

Oh, and the TimeMachine software, which lets you boot PSP (C)FWs from the memory stick via a Pandora battery, has also received an update. It now is capable of installing and booting the 6.60 OFW & 6.60 ME-2.3 CFW.

If you are still using your good ol’ PSP, why don’t update it to the most versatile and pretty much best CFW the scene can offer? The 6.xx ME/LME CFW!

Download: 6.20 ME-2.3, 6.20 ME-2.3 (OFW Version) & 6.20 LME-2.3 CFW.
Download: 6.39 ME-10.3, 6.39 ME-10.3 (OFW Version) & 6.39 LME-10.3 CFW.
Download: 6.60 ME-2.3, 6.60 ME-2.3 (OFW Version) & 6.60 LME-2.3 CFW.

Download: 6.xx Online mode files.
Download: 6.xx DAX file format converter.
Download: 6.60 ME.2.3 TimeMachine installer.

Source via Rahim-US.

Note from Wololo: This tutorial was initially published by /Talk member reprep, as part of our monthly tutorial contest. Reprep won the best PSP tutorial prize (a $10 PSN Code) for his entry. You can find the original post here.

Do you still use your PSP for video playback? If yes, continue below to make best use of it. I generally use my PSP Go for watching anime and it is great at that.

PSP has a hardware decoder for h264/AVC video which is the same video codec used in Blurays and most digital broadcasting. It delivers high quality video at low bitrates and generally much better than competitors.

For audio it uses AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) which is again one of the best audio codecs out there and most content providers use it for high quality audio at low bitrates.

As x264 (free h264/AVC encoder and generally considered as the best) is still advancing, we now have the chance to use much better video at low bitrates for our PSPs. I will use HandBrake front-end which is available on PC/MAC/LINUX for this tutorial, but you can use any x264 front-end or even use command line interface.

• First get HandBrake here: https://handbrake.fr
• After installing, on main screen, go to Options>Import to import the psp Preset I uploaded here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/w12ju4
• Go to Tools>Options>Output Files>Default Path to choose the output directory. You can use your “PSP’s memory card drive letter”/VIDEO folder if your memory card is plugged to your PC. Or you can just copy the contents to your PSP later.
• After that, you can just drag and drop the file you want to encode into HandBrake, click Start, you are ready to go. Your encode will be at 480×272 if your source has higher resolution than that. If not, its width and height will be rounded to the nearest multiple of 16 for compatibility reasons.
• If you want to do batch encoding, choose Source>Folder to choose the directory of your source files. After that choose Add to Queue >Add All and then start the queue.

That is all, after your encoding is done, just copy the content and enjoy your videos. Continue to read if you want further info.

Explanations, Tricks, ETC.

Video

If you want to have more control over the settings, let me explain them.

I made the video settings so that you will have very high quality encodes at relatively large size and a long time. If you want, you can lower the video quality and both save space and reduce encoding time.

At the Video tab, there is Quality Section. I chose 18 which is nearly identical to the source. You can choose up to 21-22 without much lowering picture quality and have lower file sizes. I don’t recommend higher values as they will make the picture much worse.

Other than that, at the Advanced tab, you can choose Hexagon (Default) for Motion Est Method for faster encodes, also you can reduce Subpixel Motion Est from my default 11 to 7 to drastically decrease encoding time. Both will have a negative impact on quality. Also you can choose lower Maximum B Frame values especially if your source files aren’t cartoon/anime. 3-4 should be fine.

Audio

If your source file has AAC audio, you can choose “AAC Passthru” codec at Audio Tab. This will save you the hassle of converting audio and give you high quality audio. If not, you should choose a AAC codec to convert audio. AAC (CoreAudio) is your best option, but unfortunately it is only available to MAC users. If you are on PC or Linux choose AAC (FDK). If you care about high audio quality choose 160 kbps, if not you can go as low as 96 kbps.

Subtitle

Unfortunately PSP doesn’t support soft-subs. It means you have to hard-code subtitles into your video if you want them. Go to Subtitles tab, choose the subtitle in your source and tick the burn-in box to hardcode them. You can also import a .srt file if you choose Import SRT option.

Miscellaneous

PSP can decode resolutions which both height and width are divisible by 16. Also both height and width should be smaller than 480×272. You got some exceptions for that though. PSP can also play 640×480, 720×480 and 720×576 values. With Tv-Out PSP can output 720×480 video at full resolution. So if you want to have your encodes playable with your other devices too or you use Tv-Out, you can choose one of the resolutions above.

Best of the Best

There are a few more things for increasing video quality, be warned, these will most possibly only aid your OCD.

As i have already said, PSP can play 720×576 video. As the PSP screen has 480×272 resolution, you shouldn’t see any benefit from resolutions above this. But no, in fact you do see benefit, even though it is not much. PSP converts YV12 colorspace to RGB before outputting to LCD. PSP isn’t very good at that conversion and higher resolution input will help the PSP do better conversion. So you can encode at 720×576. The quality increase will not be much but file size increase will be a lot.

You can also try increasing Motion Est Method and Motion Est Range, though encode will be much slower and your gain will be minimal.

Unfortunately you can’t enable Weighted P-frames, Pyramidal B-frames and 8×8 Transform. Also you can’t use more than 3 Reference Frames. PSP won’t play the video if you do.

You can always try other settings and read about x264 encoder properties.

Note from Wololo: This tutorial was initially published by /Talk member edukarlo, as part of our monthly tutorial contest. Edukarlo won the best PS Vita tutorial prize (a $10 PSN Code) for his entry. You can find the original post here.

TN-V arranges icons and categories according to last creation, by default. (A last created category and/or installed game/app appears on top of older ones)

So this is a simple trick to rearrange them

Requirements:
You must have PSP Filer and CategoryLite Plug-In (or any other category plug-in) installed.

The main technique here is by simply changing the file/folder’s date and time properties.

• 1) Open PSP Filer
• 2) Navigate to the folder of the category that you want to be 2nd from the bottom (not including “uncategorized”)
  (PSP/GAME and/or PSP/ISO)
  
  (I used Emulators here because it will automatically put “For Edu Use ONLY!” below it (and also the other categories, temporarily)
• 3) Press “x” and then “up” to open folder’s properties
• 4) Highlight dates (created, accessed, modified) one by one then press “select” for each.

• 5) Then press start to save new properties
• 6) Repeat for the category you want to be third from the bottom, fourth from the bottom, and so on, until you reach the one that you want to be the topmost category.

And there you go, the categories are now arranged to your preference.

Note: you can also do this to rearrange the games/apps within each category, since PSP Filer’s icon rearranging function only works for uncategorized games/apps.

(pressing “triangle” then “left” at the main PSP Filer screen)

Just select the ISO file and folders of specific games under PSP/GAME that you want to rearrange and do the same process above

Apologies for the delay, real life took over… but it’s that time of the month again! You have 5 days to vote on /talk for your favorite tutorials. The winner of each category will get a $10 PSN Code.

Every month, we give away a total of $60 in PSN codes in our monthly tutorial contest, for the best guides in each category: PSP, PS Vita, PS4, PS3, and 3DS.

This month, PSVita, PS4, PS3 and 3DS had only one entry each, so the writers of these tutorials automatically win $10 each. Congratulations to them. I will contact these four winners shortly to send them their codes.

Last month we also introduced the “mods award”: we’re giving an extra $10 to the best tutorial this month, as voted by myself and the mods. This extra $10 used to be awarded to the tutorial with the most votes overall, but we’re trying something different moving forward. All tutos who entered the contest qualify for this additional vote (which is why I’m waiting a bit before sending the prizes to the 3DS, PS4, PS3 and PS4 winners, as one of them might qualify for an extra $10).

The PSP contest go 2 entries, and therefore the vote is open for this console alone:

• Vote for your favorite PSP tutorial (winner gets $10)

Voting will end in 4 days, after that we’ll start the January contest

Good luck to everyone, keep the cool guides coming!

Just a few days ago a new PSP firmware, version 6.61, has been released by Sony.

After taking the firmware apart, we were able to check if the firmware 6.61 patches the 6.60 exploits…

And it does not. All the signed content is still working (Homebrews, fake signed ISOs, sign_np signed ISOs) and so is the HBL, at least if you use the VHBL builds, instead of the old 6.60 XMB HBL build.

The most important things, the Custom Firmwares and the downgrader, are, as of now, not working on firmware 6.61.

But dont worry, it does not look like that the firmware 6.61 changed that much, which therefore means that the CFWs can easily be updated for firmware 6.61.

Through a few dirty tricks it is possible to install a cIPL CFW (those for the PSP 1000s & non-88v3 2000s) on firmware 6.61 as of now, but it is worth to mention that the 6.60 CFWs are not fully working on firmware 6.61.

The custom firmwares are currently being updated for the new firmware 6.61, so that a properly working 6.61 CFW can be released in near future.

It is currently unknown if the downgrader will be updated for firmware 6.61, but we think that someone will do it, eventually.

After confirming that the Firmware 6.61 has barely changed (compared to firmware 6.60), developer Qwikrazor has updated the PRO CFW (partly) and the 6.60 Downgrader (once again, partly) to support the firmware 6.61.

The ME & LME CFWs are currently being updated as well.

If you ask why I wrote partly behind the PRO CFW and Downgrader, then you’re asking the right questions.

At first the PRO CFW: I said partly because Qwikrazor did not update the cIPL Installer for the PRO CFW (only supports PSP 1000s & non-88v3 2000s), which means there is not “full CFW” for firmware 6.61 as of now.

PRO CFW should properly work as a temporary CFW on any PSP (be it a 1000, 2000, any of the different 3000s, an E1000 or the Go), though.

Now about the downgrader. The downgrader is capable of downgrading PSPs from firmware 6.61 to a lower firmware, but it is currently not capable of downgrading from 6.61 to 6.60.

You will have to downgrade to 6.39 and then update to 6.60, if you really want to return to firmware 6.60.

Since the PSP E1000 can only install the firmwares (6.50 as pre-installed, no installer available) 6.60 and 6.61, and the downgrader can not downgrade to 6.60, it (the PSP E1000) is currently not supported by the 6.61 downgrader.

Thats pretty much it. We expect that the PRO CFW cIPL Flasher will be fixed in the future, and a newer version of the downgrader be available soon~ish.

If you prefer the ME or LME CFW, then be patient, since it is already being updated to firmware 6.61. No words about the 6.60 HEN, though.

The 6.61 PRO-C CFW and 6.61 downgrader can be downloaded via our forums.

The first downgrader was only working on most PSPs (not on E1000) and did not support a direct downgrade to firmware 6.60.

This new version of the downgrader now supports all PSPs (including the E1000) and also supports a direct downgrade from firmware 6.61 to 6.60.

Qwikrazor has pushed a proper update of Davee’s Chronoswitch downgrader, which is now capable of doing the very same as the previous version, but with added firmware 6.61. support.

The new Chronoswitch downgrader v6 supports firmwares 6.3x up to firmware 6.61, and can downgrade your PSP from up to firmware 6.61 down to firmware 5.00 (lower firmwares are currently untested), as long as your PSP supports said firmware in the first place.

Once again great work by qwikrazor! Next stops: The updated ME & LME CFWs for 6.61 and the permanent patch for firmwares 6.30+.

Source via our forums.

2015? And we’re still talking PSPs? Heck yeah! I mean why not? After all this site started as PSP Homebrew site. Anyways, today I will present to you 10 homebrews that are worth looking forward to from the year of 2014.

The production of PSP homebrews has drastically decreased compared to years of 2010-2012. Although this hasn’t stopped some developers from injecting their softwares into the PSP scene! Take note that this is entirely based on my opinion, feel free to state yours in the comments. Anyways without further ado:

Number 10: One Installer – Developer Davis9278

Thanks to the new lua interpreter by gdljjrod, this homebrew has made its way onto the PSP scene. One Installer is an application designed for downloading and managing PSP applications homebrew, plugins and themes, directly from the PSP, similar to PSP Installer by  spike_132000. The application has the option to install all contents directly into your memory stick.

Number 9: CyanogenMod PSP Beta – Developer Joel16

Not really a fan of putting my own projects in the front page, but from the very few homebrews released this year, I believe this deserves a spot. This homebrew’s aim is to be equivalent to iRshell (without its ir functions), designed similarly to the modern look of android’s custom rom, CyanogenMod. However it’s still in beta and only offers a few features as of now. These features include:  File Manager, Music Player, Gallery viewer, browser (PSP’s default netfront browser), and some recovery menu functions, all designed exactly like Android.

Number 8: Flappy Bird PSP – Developer Sandoron

The frustrating yet popular mobile game has been bought to the PSP thanks to developer Sandoron. You know the code! Avoid them green pipes and beat your highscore!

Number 7: ME/LME CFW – Developer RahimUS and Neuron

How would we play our homebrews and backups without this? I mean, well yeah we have other sources like PRO Cfw, TN Hen and signed homebrews using OFW, but this CFW has proved its standards and is still being updated today. This CFW is the most updated, and includes almost all must-have CFW features.  This includes the time machine (for PSP’s with hack-able mobos only), leda for 1.50 homebrew support and also PRO Online! The one thing this CFW is missing is the permanent patch that allows permanent CFW access on PSP’s with firmwares over 6.20 and unhackable motherboards. Let’s hope Davee can achieve this, because with that this guy is complete!

Number 6: Nibbler PSP – Developer Insoft

Wish I could post more of Insoft’s homebrews for the year, but we needed more room for others J Nibbler is a remake of an old arcade game, where you navigate a snake through a maze, while collecting apples before making progress to the next level. It consists of a neat retro look and feel to it.

Number 5: Alice in: Pasta Crocket – Developer 240-185

This game was coded during “AC” party which was held near Paris at the month of April 2014.
You must destroy a lemon pie by smashing a ball into it. The lemon pie will send you lots of surprises and traps. It’s a pretty cool arcade-like game, definitely worth giving a try if you ask me.

Number 4: Zelda Navi’s Quest PSP Port – Developer Vincent Jouillat and suloku

Zelda – Navi’s Quest is a PSP port of the fourth game in the french homebrew tetralogy which was created by Vincent Jouillat. The current version is based on the 1.3 PC version and can be completed 100% on the PSP. Do note that his homebrew won’t be compatible with the old PSP 1000 (phat) due to memory problems.

Number 3: Minecraft PSP Edition – Developer woolio

This is the most recently updated lamecraft mod which offers a plethora of features! This mod is only based on survival mode. Some of fascinating features it includes are: seed generating option, new terrain generator, biomes, crafting, shadows, fogs, and much more! Happy Crafting

Number 2: RetroArch PSP – Developer aliaspider and RetroArch team

RetroArch is an open source, multi-platform frontend designed to be a fast, lightweight, and portable multi-system emulator. The emulator currently contains the following cores: gambatte, tempGBA, fceumm, fmsx, beetle-pce-fast, nxengine, prboom

Number 1: Nazi Zombis Portable – Developer Jukki and Ju[s]tice

NZP is a “remake” of call of duty’s game mode (zombie mode) aimed for PSP. This game lets you fight endless amount undead in a closed and limited area. You gain points from killing them, which you can then spend on purchasing weapons, and advancing further on the map. You can get some things to help you out, but eventually you will die. Your goal is to get to as further as you can through each round.

So which one do you think is your top homebrew of 2014? be sure to leave your top 10 or top 5 down below.

Just a few days after the downgrader was updated to fully support firmware 6.61, Developer Rahim-US has updated the ME CFW & LME CFW to firmware 6.61.

I also have updated some of my projects. My LightSpeed Mod has been updated to firmware 6.61 as well.

Developer Rahim-US, the person in charge of updating Neur0n’s ME & LME CFW, has published an updated version of the ME and LME CFW, which now also support the firmware 6.61.

The ME and LME CFWs are the most versatile CFWs there are, and I personally would recommend these CFWs to anyone who is interested in using a CFW on the PSP.

Since this has been a simple port from 6.60 to 6.61, no new features have been added, so the 6.61 ME & LME CFW have the same features as the 6.60 ME & LME CFW.

The 6.61 ME-2.3 CFW also supports cIPL, which means that an old PSP 1000 or PSP 2000 (non-88v3) using the 6.61 ME CFW is capable of rebooting (or losing power) without having to use any kind of launcher to return into CFW mode.

It is currently the only 6.61 CFW that offers cIPL support.

The LME CFW can not do such kind of magic (except on firmware 6.20, thanks to the permanent patch), since it is made for the newer PSPs (2000 88v3, 3000s, Go, E1000), which do not support cIPL.

These PSPs have to use a launcher to return into CFW mode after rebooting the device (or losing power), but there is a solution to return into CFW mode with ease and style.

My LightSpeed XMB Mod is the solution. It replaces either the digital comics or SensMe channels XMB Icon and reuses it as an CFW launcher.

It is easy to use and also easy to uninstall, if you dont like it. So why don’t you give it a try?

This pretty much brings the firmware 6.61 to the same level as the firmware 6.60. All important things that have been available for 6.60 either just work on 6.61 or have been ported to 6.61.

Now lets wait another 3.5 years for PSP firmware 6.62, haha.

Source via Rahim-US.

Hey there! how’s your week been? Well, that’s nice.Interested in what’s happening in this weeks news of gaming? Right: News on the objective in No Mans Sky, a nice bit of news for PS Plus owners, and Square Enix’s first collective project is on Kickstarter!

The infamous fat princess, is back! aren’t you excited? I sure am, well, in anticipation for our excited-ness, let’s take a look at an upcoming Vita game that has the fat princess name on it but has nothing to do with the new game, it’s such an original concept, too!

The description for it is ‘three-match puzzler’

When I first saw this on the blog, I simply thought what all would probably think – just another 3 match bejeweled spin-off, well, you’re right on the first part and I even had a joke lined up on here, but then I tried the game for myself on my Android phone- Any One Plus brothers out there? (also available for Vita and iOS) and it’s actually pretty impressive; each symbol has a purpose, whether it be attack with a sword, musket, bomb, or heal – match three of these and you will be able to attack the opponent/heal your teammates with them. But I’m really impressed for such a take on a simple game, I’ll actually be playing this one!

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2015/01/13/fat-princess-piece-cake-available-free-download-tomorrow/

Much like the PS3 had terrible themes, the influx of PS4 ones have now started in an effort for people to get a quick cash grab, does anyone remember the meme theme for PS3? I was stupid enough to buy that.

With an addition of 35~ ps4 themes to the store, all of each costing around $3, and most of which stupid. I don’t really see the point in doing such a thing, take a look at these photos from the online store:

It seems like our buddy Virtual burger has been hard at work….. looking through his past images and putting them as a background, then changing the colour of the highlight area! (I Wish we could make our own themes)

Thankfully, they haven’t hit the EU store yet, but it’s only  a matter of time…

Although, I will have to give a couple credit before I blow them all off as stupid;

There’s  virtual aquarium dynamic theme

3d Dynamic meteor theme

There are a few other environment dynamic ones – Sharks too, but I haven’t experienced what they’re actually like so I can’t judge them, I’m just giving my opinion on what they look like from the  1 picture they supply.

http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2015/01/oh_no_the_terrible_ps4_themes_have_arrived

Ever since they introduced it everyone, including myself have been wondering, what do you actually do in No Mans Sky? Do you just explore then go to the next planet? Well we found out via Eurogamer the other day! Here’s what we learnt, for a full and better explaination however, go to the link below because it’s a pretty beefy reply:

You work your way inwards from the outer of the galaxy inwards, trading, mining, shooting, exploring – upgrading yourself, your weapon and ship on the way to the centre. collecting money (Units) on the way to provide for your upgrades, there’s nothing to say that you can’t just jump around the outer edge of the galaxy to keep alive and explore that area, however.

So overall, if I could sum it up into a category, which seems pretty tough, it’s more of a ‘sandbox’ space survival action exploration game……. Which sounds pretty fun to be honest, this game hasnt’ gotten my full attention just yet, but I am keeping my eye on it!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-22-so-what-do-you-actually-do-in-no-mans-sky?utm_source=eurogamer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=net-weekly 

Here’s a bit of nice news, The Order: 1886 has gone gold! Coupled along with this announcement was a story trailer which looks quite nice, the trailer was good, as it showed some areas we were familiar with, yet showed the cutscene that was in that area, in any case, the trsiler is worth a watch, but is extremely gory so if you can stomach a bit of fake gore, go right ahead, I’m not your mama:

http://www.gamrreview.com/news/92333/the-order-1886-goes-gold/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gamrReview+%28gamrReview%29

Sony’s own tv show, Powers, the show that they rambled on for AGES at their E3 last year, is debuting on March 10th, with a slice of good news for us PS Plus members; it’ll be free! Also, the first episode will be free to anyone with a PSN account, and the series will span 10 episodes.

http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/playstation-exclusive-tv-show-powers-debuts-in-march/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000595

Everyone remembers Theme Hospital, right? the awesome game that is just amazing, well turns out that Origin are offering it free with their ‘on the house’ programme – only downside being, you have to download origin!

Jokes aside, the game is awesome, I’m not sure if I hold it in such high regard due to it’s nostalgic effect on me but still, it’s free! give it a go! (The PS1 version is terrible, PC controllers are much better for this game)

https://www.origin.com/en-gb/store/buy/theme-hospital-origin/pc-download/base-game/standard-edition?auto-login=true

This game is pretty interesting, if you remember a while ago Square Enix launched a collective to help publish ‘indie’ games, this game is one of them, it’s now on kickstarter for funding and at the moment, has got $9,546, with a $30k goal and another 24 days – it’s entirely possible.

Here’s their kickstarter video:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/438269196/goetia?utm_source=massmailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=COLLECN05

With the recent announcement of Microsoft making the awesome idea, where they got it from I have no idea: Xbox to PC streaming for windows 10 devices, they are also investigating PC to Xbox. Making PC games playable on your Xbox, this seems like a pretty good idea. but I can bet that it won’t happen.

Why?

PC games are cheaper, meaning less money, if everyone makes use of this feature and only buys PC games from then onwards, it would mean less Xbox games bought. Anyway, it would be nice, but I don’t see it happening, this isn’t me hating on Xbox, it’s just me giving my view as I wouldn’t implement it if it was my console

Was there a windows 9?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-22-microsoft-investigating-pc-to-xbox-one-streaming?utm_source=eurogamer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=net-daily

Weekly Blog Round-up

Release: Patapon 2 VHBL Exploit for PS Vita Firmware 3.36

Important correction: Upcoming Exploit game for the PS Vita Firmware 3.36!

PSP: ME CFW, LME CFW & LightSpeed have been updated for Firmware 6.61!

Top 10 PSP/PS Vita Homebrews of 2014

PSP: 6.61 Downgrader updated – Now supports PSP E1000 & firmware 6.60!
PSP: First hacks for the new Firmware 6.61 – PRO CFW & Downgrader updated!

PS Vita: Custom Bubble creation on Firmware 3.36 possible!

Reddit Time!

Some guy made a Crash Bandicoot PS1, how awesome is this!

This is 17 years of technological enhancements, very impressive!

I really enjoyed this on my flight to America, seems I’m not the only one!

Our entries for the January tutorial contest are in! You have 5 days to vote on /talk for your favorite tutorials. The winner of each category will get a $10 PSN Code.

Every month, we give away a total of $60 in PSN codes in our monthly tutorial contest, for the best guides in each category: PSP, PS Vita, PS4, PS3, and 3DS.

This month, PS3 and PSP had only one entry each, so the writers of these tutorials automatically win $10 each. Congratulations to them. I will contact these two winners shortly to send them their codes. Sadly, we didn’t get any entries for the 3DS or the PS4 this month.

We also recently introduced the “mods award”: we’re giving an extra $10 to the best tutorial this month, as voted by myself and the mods. This extra $10 used to be awarded to the tutorial with the most votes overall, but we’re trying something different moving forward. All tutos who entered the contest qualify for this additional vote (which is why I’m waiting a bit before sending the prizes to the PS3 and PSP winners, as one of them might qualify for an extra $10).

The PS Vita got a huge amount of entries, so vote for your favorite one below:

• Vote for your favorite PS Vita January tutorial (winner gets $10)

Voting will end in 5 days, after that we’ll start the February contest

Good luck to everyone, keep the cool guides coming!

Here is a huge post with the most popular 50 homebrews and tools of the past year for the PSP and the Vita in our database. If you are new to the PSP/Vita scene, or if you’re looking for some exciting new content to try, this is what you are looking for! You can find more homebrews on /downloads, and don’t forget to add yours, and to rate your favorite ones. No login is required!

Most of the homebrews are compatible with both the PSP and the vita (in the case of the vita, you’ll need to run VHBL, TN-V, or equivalent tools. For the PSP, usually a custom Firmware is required)

This is a list generated from the community’s votes. If you want a “human-curated” list, check joel16’s Top 10 homebrews for 2014.

Feel free to report any broken links.

50. QSPLINK

Simple PSPLink mod to recover from the QSP bug during a crash in TN-V.

QSPLINK can be downloaded here

49. CyanogenMod PSP C

This isn’t a port of CyanogenMod for android, it’s a project created from scratch. It will never allow you to run android apps, the psp system doesn’t have the hardware capabilities to run android. It’s purpose is similar to that of “iR Shell”, but with a UI inspired by CyanogenMod. If developers are interested, feel free to contact me through my email: sauskethunderkid@gmail.com

CyanogenMod PSP C can be downloaded here

48. Minecraft PSP – [LC Mod]

Joel16’s mods based on Drakon’s game (Lamecraft, PSP’s popular Minecraft homebrew clone) are to enhance lamecraft’s graphics and gameplay, and give it a more ‘minecrafty’ feeling.

Credits go to Drakon for his amazing project.

Minecraft PSP – [LC Mod] can be downloaded here

47. OpenTyrian PSP+

This is an enhanced version of deniska’s original PSP port of OpenTyrian.

OpenTyrian PSP+ can be downloaded here

46. TN-V usermode Loaders

This is the download page for usermode exploits loaders for TN-V. Choose the download matching your game below

In addition to the usermode exploits below (choose the right one for your game), you will need:
– TNV Core files
– The 6.60 PSP Firmware update (rename it into 660.PBP)

Check the instructions on the TN-V4 Download page for installation!

TN-V usermode Loaders can be downloaded here

45. Ubuntu 12 PSP Shell

Ubuntu 12 PSP Shell can be downloaded here

44. HTMLIt

webkit exploit kit for < PS Vita 2.00 and roptool

HTMLIt can be downloaded here

43. PSVita Style CTF Theme

eCFW TN-V / CFW PSP CXMB Theme with vibrant, vivid PS Vita icons and start-up sequence.
Inspired by, and moded from Paolok95’s PS3 style theme.
removed all the shadow effect icons to lessen filesize and minimize(or eliminate loading bugs), since the icons are a bit heavy for loading.

More info at the forums:
http://wololo.net/talk/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=38923

PSVita Style CTF Theme can be downloaded here

42. SGKeyDumper

Lightweight simple plugin to dump a game’s savedata key.

SGKeyDumper can be downloaded here

41. Big Luaplayer (Lua Scripting Engine for PlaystationPortable)

This program enables the user to create and run “Lua” scripting files on his “PSP”. The program is designed to create games and other application for “Sony’s PSP” via “Lua” code.

Big Luaplayer (Lua Scripting Engine for PlaystationPortable) can be downloaded here

40. Flyer

Flyer is a top-down shooter. Your goal is to control some sort of spaceship, and reach the end of the level, completing level objectives by the way

Flyer can be downloaded here

39. TN-V

(also known as CEF 6.60 TN) Custom Emulator Firmware 6.60 TN for PS Vita, with XMB support, by Total_Noob (individual game exploits by various hackers)

Features:
* The whole PSP environment
* Recovery menu and VSH menu (many options to set)
* Support of plugins
* CPU speed changement (makes no sense, as the difference is only minimal :P)
* Install Addon
* Network update
* 1.50 kernel homebrews compatibility
* Higher homebrews compatibility (VLF homebrews)
* High PSX compatibility (experimental sound support since TN-V9)
* High backups compatibility

TN-V can be downloaded here

38. PicoDrive

PicoDrive can be downloaded here

37. pyMenu

pyMenu can be downloaded here

36. Alice in: Pasta Crocket

Alice in: Pasta Crocket can be downloaded here

35. Pro CFW

Unleash the full power of your PSP with the most popular Custom Firmware on the scene! Compatible with all PSP models on firmwares 6.20, 6.35, 6.39, and 6.60

Pro CFW can be downloaded here

34. Lamecraft

If you know the PC game Minecraft, you will feel at ease with this genesis entry which reuses the same concept: allowing grownups to play with blocks like little kids. LameCraft is for now just a sandbox that allows you to build a 3D world to your liking. But Drakon has been restlessly updating this entry regularly for the past months, and each update is simply impressive.

Still need to be convinced? 10 days after the first release, there痴 already a massive community around this homebrew, and the release thread in our forums is already 23 pages long as I type this. This will quickly become a must-have in your homebrew library.

Lamecraft can be downloaded here

33. Open CMA

A patch by Virtuous Flame to prevent the PS Vita Content Manager Assistant from connecting to the internet.

The PS Vita comes with a system to copy save files that requires you to be connected permanently to the internet. This system is here to force you to update the Vita when a new version is available. In addition, it might be inconvenient for you to be constantly connected when you want to copy your files from and to the Vita. This patch is here to help you with this situation

Open CMA can be downloaded here

32. yMenu

yMenu can be downloaded here

31. Naruto Ultimate Ninja Battle

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Battle is a Beat em Up Homebrew Game which plays in the Naruto World up to the Newest Events! It is made by shaplayer in LUAPlayerPlus and is based on the Battalla ninja v2.5-engine by tonos!

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Battle can be downloaded here

30. PSPokemon Grey

PSPokemon Grey can be downloaded here

29. DaedalusX64

Nintendo 64 emulation at its best! DaedalusX64 is the direct successor of Daedalus

DaedalusX64 can be downloaded here

28. Iso tool

Backup your games decrypt them, create shortcuts.. ISO Tool is a useful that allows you to patch your untouched PSP Game. Once the game is patched, you will be able to play it on pretty much every CFW out there.
Version 1.978 works with ofw and allows you to patch some backups for ofw (not 6.60 or up)

Iso tool can be downloaded here

27. ARK

ARK is a PSP Emulator Custom Firmware for your Vita, based on PSP’s Pro CFW. It supports most PSP Homebrews, plugins, and backups, as well as PS1 games

ARK can be downloaded here

26. Bookr

The best eBook reader for your psp/Vita.

Bookr can be downloaded here

25. Vitasploit

Vitasploit by Hykem is his version of an exploitation framework based on the Vita webkit exploit. It regroups webkooz, akai, memtools_vita and JSoS-Module-Dump in a single repository.

Vitasploit can be downloaded here

24. Cave Story

Probably the most famous platform freeware game, cave story is the result of 5 years of work by an independent developer. This is the psp port.

Cave Story can be downloaded here

23. Wifihack

Cool application that calculates the default password for some routers. Developed by m.rr

Wifihack can be downloaded here

22. VideoPRXmodule v.0.33

Mod of the original Pacman plugin, which has been adapted for use in the PSP HEN, this plugin named VideoPRxModule can take video on the XMB in. GIF, make catches in the menu and in-game, they’re stored in the TIM-Record folder that is automatically created when recording a video. Catches the saved in. BMP and stored in the PHOTO folder by default.
VideoPRXmodule v.0.33 can be downloaded here

21. TN Savestate plugin

By Total_Noob

Imagine you’e playing a difficult level where you need so much time to go through, but you always fail at the end against the big boss.
This shouldn’ be annoying anymore, as with this plugin you can save and load states WHENEVER, WHEREVER you want. You can ehm call it…hm kinda cheating, but this plugin can also be used for other purposes!.
The PSP/PS Vita is intended for short gaming sessions and this is possible! Now you can quickly switch from game to game, with this plugin.

TN Savestate plugin can be downloaded here

20. Vita FTP

Coldbird’s FTP server to ease the transfer of files to your Vita

Vita FTP can be downloaded here

19. SHELL

SHELL can be downloaded here

18. Asteroids

You love to travel in space: we too, after Cosmos Lunar by Samir88Nasri, this is psgarsenal who wants to take us to the stars but also to meet asteroid …

In Asteroids, as its counterpart on terminal arcade, you control a small spaceship but this one is facing a slew of asteroids appears quite aggressive towards your vessel. Your goal, if you accept it is to destroy the spheres while avoiding being crushed by the latter.

The game is accompanied by a small space orchestrated music by Applelo.

We hope that this game you will spend pleasant time on your PlayStation Portable which must be, as you probably know with Custom Firmware.

Asteroids can be downloaded here

17. 138Menu

– Compatible with VHBL and CEF (ARK / TN-V)
– Multi-language English, Spanish, German, French, Turkish, Polish, Italian
– Loading/Showing games/installers icon
– Listing games from a custom path and/or PSP/GAME/
– Uses FBOOT.PBP, VBOOT.PBP, wmenu.bin, EBOOT.PBP (only for CEF) and/or a custom app name

– Homebrew installing
– You can use custom themes and wallpapers
– Delete App and Homebrew Folder format features included
– Custom OSK
– Easy-to-use interface
– Protection measures included
– Low sized

138Menu can be downloaded here

16. PSP Revolution

Dance-Dance Revolution clone

PSP Revolution can be downloaded here

15. USPeed Profile Manager

Tired of those games that don’t allow you to create more than 1 savegame? We have the solution for you!
This plugin will switch between customized profiles to allow you to create as many savegames as you want.
Your girlfriend will not ever kill you stats !!!

USPeed Profile Manager can be downloaded here

14. Silveredge

Adrenaline packed space shooter!

If you enjoy games such as Tyrian, or Rrootage, Silveredge is for you. AndrewYY worked on this game for one year before submitting it to the Genesis competition, and it shows. The graphics, audio effects, music, menus・everything is really polished and very impressive. From the very beginning of the game, you get into the action, the controls are explained as a quick element in the story, and, well, that痴 a detail but it痴 the kind of stuff that gives us the impression of playing a professional game.

Silveredge can be downloaded here

13. 6.60 ME

6.60 ME can be downloaded here

12. Qwikrazor exploits

Leaked archive of psp usermode and kernel exploits, including full VHBL ports, hello world, PS1 exploits, and psp kernel exploits, with full sources.

Qwikrazor exploits can be downloaded here

11. NesterJ

Nes Emulator

NesterJ can be downloaded here

10. Slender PSP

Slender PSP is a remake of the hit PC indie game, Slender. Slender PSP has very little story, mainly simple, all you must do is collect 8 pages, before Slenderman finds you! With only a flashlight!

will you survive?

Slender PSP can be downloaded here

9. memtools_vita

Set of developer tools to leverage the Webkit exploit on Vita 3.18

memtools_vita can be downloaded here

8. pspkvm

pspkvm can be downloaded here

7. PSP Benchmarker

A simple tool to test speeds of various PSP versions/models/emulators

Runs a set of calculations then tells you how long it takes.

PSP Benchmarker can be downloaded here

6. gpsp

Gameboy Advance Emulator

gpsp can be downloaded here

5. ONElua

ONElua can be downloaded here

4. Wagic, The Homebrew

Often compared to commercial games for its replay value and quality, Wagic is a heroic fantasy card game, in which you fight as a wizard against the computer. As you win battles, you unlock new game modes and earn credits that allow you to improve your army. Wagic is community driven, entirely customizable (you can create themes, mods, even new rules), available in several languages (English, French, German, spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Serbian), and open source. It currently runs on the Sony PSP, Windows, Linux, and N900 (maemo).

Wagic, The Homebrew can be downloaded here

3. JSoS Module Dumper

JSoS Module Dumper can be downloaded here

2. PSP Filer

A File Manager for the PSP

PSP Filer can be downloaded here

1. psp2600

Atari 2600 emulator

psp2600 can be downloaded here

Need more?

Also check our huge list of emulators for your PSP/Vita, and (last year’s list) our top 50 Vita / PSP homebrews in 2013! And again, don’t hesitate to add your homebrew to the database!

Check out our huge emulators database for your Vita and your PSP!

Every month we organize a tutorial contest for our 5 favorite devices: the PS Vita, the PS4, the 3DS, the PSP, and the PS3.

Each month, the authors of the best tutorial for each category get a $10 PSN code each, for a total of $50. Additionally, the mods and myself choose our favorite tutorial, and award a bonus $10.

The PS4 and 3DS got no love in January, as nobody submitted a single entry for those 2 consoles. That’s a potential quick $10 for whoever submit a tutorial or guide for one of these consoles in February, as they don’t seem to get the attention they deserve. PS3 and PSP each had a single entry, so their authors instantly won $10. On the PS3 side, mileleku’s tutorial on how to undub Tales of Xillia (or any other PSN Game) got him the $10, pretty useful for those of you who want to play a game in its original language with subtitles. For the PSP, reprep submitted a pretty advanced tutorial on injecting your own Roms into the PSP’s PC Engine emulator (yes, the PSP firmware supports more than PS1 and PSP games, it also has support for PC engine). Reprep not only won the PSP contest this month, he also got the mods’ prize, which grants him a total of $20.

On the Vita, competition was fierce this month, with no less than 7 entries, many of them dedicated to the recent bubbles and exploit releases. Ultimately, dark69 got the most votes for his tutorial on how to sign PSP backups of any size to use with your bubbles.

Congratulations to all 3 winners. PSN Codes have been sent and should reach you very soon.

It’s also already time to submit your tutorials for February’s contest! Here again, there’s a total of $60 in PSN codes to win. Your tutorials don’t have to be extremely technical, as long as they are original and directly related to one of the 5 consoles mentioned above. You can see detailed rules and how to participate here: Monthly tutorial contest.

Have fun, and good luck to everyone!

Note from Wololo: This tutorial was initially published by /Talk member reprep,  as part of our monthly tutorial contest. Reprep won the best PSP tutorial prize, as well as the mods award (a total of $20 in PSN Code) for his entry. You can find the original post here.

PART I

Do you know Turbografx-16/PC Engine? That hybrid 8/16 bit console by Hudson Soft and NEC cooperation was home to a lot of classics. Especially if you are a shmup fan, you are in for a treat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TurboGrafx-16 http://www.racketboy.com/retro/turbografx-16/tubrografix-16-tg16-101-beginners-guide

Well, as co-developer of PC Engine, Hudson soft released some compilation games for PSP. They were Japan only at first, but later some of them hit European and US PSNs too. As you can expect from the creators of the console, emulation quality is top notch for these official collections. Now i will tell you a way to make your own compilations with that top notch emulation quality.

What you need:

• A copy of the game “Soldier Collection (PC Engine Best Collection)“
• A way to convert the game UMD to .iso (custom cfw is the best way)
• UMDGEN
• up to 5 PC Engine/Turbografx-16 roms you want to inject. Only HuCard games.

1. First rip your UMD as an .iso file with the way you choose.
2. Open the .iso with UMDGEN
3. Go to PSP_GAME/USRDIR/CONTENT/CDROM directory.
4. Have your Turbografx-16/PC Engine roms ready and rename them to whichever you want to overwrite: N43401JD.PCE (Super Star Soldier), N43403HL.PCE (Final Soldier), N43403JL.PCE (Final Soldier Caravan), N43405MD.PCE (Soldier Blade), N43405ND.PCE (Soldier Blade Caravan Stage) , do not mess with SYSCARD3P.PCE or HCD2024 folder.
5. Drag and drop your renamed roms to the PSP_GAME/USRDIR/CONTENT/CDROM directory and confirm overwrite.
6. Save your compilation through the File => Save As
7. Boot your new iso and go to the game you replaced through the menu.
8. Have fun

EXTRAS:

If you want to reduce iso size, you can erase the .PMF movies in PSP_GAME/USRDIR/CONTENT/GALLERY/SOL and/or optimize the .iso through the UMD properties tab. Of course do not go to the Gallery in game if you erased the movies.

The game is in Japanese but the navigation is simple. After you boot your rom, it first asks if you want to load the save file, if you deny, it asks if you are sure yes/no. Remember OK is O button. You can change the display by R button and go to the menu by L button. Compatibility is very high from what i tested.

I can hear you saying, what about PC Engine CD / Turbo Grafx-16 CD games? Patience is a virtue, who knows maybe a famous PSP/Vita coder/hacker might help us with following part to achieve much more than this…

Part II

This time we will use PC Engine/Turbografx-16 classics psn releases. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_Store_TurboGrafx-16_games

1. First get the pkg link of your legally purchased turbografx-16/PC Engine Classics PSN game. you can use a packet sniffer while downloading to your PSP/Vita/PS3.
2. Use this great tool by Leecherman to decrypt the pkg. https://sites.google.com/site/theleecherman/psnpkgdecryptor-extractor
3. You will get an iso file and 3 files within a directory named with title id. these files are CONTENT.DAT, PARAM.PBP and PSP-KEY.EDAT
4. Get the files i attached here . They need python 2.7. (mirror https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6I8159zvhjvbUZibC0xMmljWFk/view?usp=sharing)
5. Put the PSP-KEY.EDAT to the keys folder and CONTENT.DAT in encrypted folder.
6. Run the decrypt.py and wait for some time. Decrypted files will be in decrypt/files folder.
7. For now, we are interested in a file called xxx.PCE. Replace this file with a rom you want, be sure the filename stays the same. There is no size limit etc, just be sure it is not a CD game, it is a hucard game. CD games are possible to be replaced too, but it will be explained a bit later.
8. Run the encrypt.py and wait for some time. You will find the new CONTENT.DAT in final folder.
9. Copy the game iso to ISO folder on your PSP and PARAM.PBP,PSP-KEY.EDAT and new CONTENT.DAT in PSP/GAME/”titleid” folder.
10. Be sure to use a CFW with noDRM option enabled or NPloader plugin.
11. Have fun, i would love a compatibility list if anyone has time. though from what i see, only slowdowns i get are in the real system too.

Decryption/encryption algorithm was found out by Qwikrazor87 and PCE py tool was coded by him. All credits belong to him, i can’t thank him enough for giving us the chance to use this wonderful official emulator.

There’s plenty of news this week, some of which include a new video from IGN outlining Bloodborne’s character creation menu a special edition of MLB: The Show for their 10th anniversary, and something else, I’m going to introduce a new little segment at the bottom of my blog!

As for PS Vita games, unfortunately I could only find a single game this week;

Q*Bert Rebooted. – PS Vita, PS4 & PS3 – February 18th

I’ve never played this game, so I might just give it a try, they’ve added a few improvements to the game, rather than simple squares as the blocks they’ve introduced hexagons, and as Jason, Product manager at Loot ent. said, that doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but I think it will do.

Suddenly, you get some really interesting level designs, especially later in the game.

The game also includes the original Q*bert game, as an added bonus.

Here’s a look at what the level layout looks like for the re-boot:

He also details new enemies, characters, game modes and features too:

In addition, there are new features, such as time and score challenges, new enemies with their own unique behaviors, new playable characters, power-ups, traps, and gem-collecting. Q*Bert Rebooted is the equivalent of your old backyard treehouse refurbished by Bob Vila: same nostalgic joy, but magically just better.

Time for PS4 games now, so according to the PS Blog, this weeks ps4 games were:

Small Radios Big Television: No release date as of yet!

Dark Souls 2: Scholar of The First Sin –     April 2015

‘Zombie Army Trilogy’ – Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 1,2&3      6th March

Super Stardust Ultra –  11th Feb

Shiftlings – Youtube trailer here – Spring 2015

Here’s a bit of interesting but unfortunate news, upcoming game Dragonball : Xenoverse

When trying to start the game, you are greeted with the message:

Can not display the current screen from the PS4 system via remote play.
To display the PS4 system home page, type the PS button on the toolbar.

Now, by all means the developers could add the feature in on the day one update, but seemingly someone has already got ahold of it before the game is released. In any case, I would believe them but there’s still another 20 days before release, is it enough time to program in the remote play feature?

If you’d like to visit the page, click the link below, but it is a French website, at least Wololo will be able to translate it for us properly…. Right?

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en

Ahh man, these look cool. SCEJA announced that they have created 1:6 scale replica of all the PlayStation home consoles, including an interesting Optimus prime that can transform into a PS1:

And here are the consoles themselves, they look pretty cool, and if they’re readily available and easy to get/ship to UK, I will definitely be getting them:

Each one of these pieces of awesome, is 5cm tall and is 800 yen, ($7) and will be releasing in Japan late February.
As for the Optimus prime statue, that will cost 10,000Yen, ($83) it comes with a couple of discs, and is just under 20cm tall, I’ll be taking a miss on this one however.

http://www.dualshockers.com/2015/02/06/these-ps4-ps3-and-ps2-look-lovely-but-theyre-actually-super-detailed-16-scale-models/

So as I stated in the intro, MLB: The Show has released 10 games year on year now, and they’ve decided for their limited edition game to pack a hefty amount of free DLC in there, supposedly $130 worth of the stuff, it includes:

The steelbook is a pretty interesting design for sure, and doesn’t look like the name of the game is on the spine (although it would be easily recognizable from the design) which is quite annoying some times, and as for the damn sleeve, what’re they thinking. Sleeves are the devils work…. the case design is always so much better than the sleeve, so for the first few times you use it you decide to keep the sleeve

Sleeves are the devils work…. the case design is always so much better than the sleeve, so for the first few times you use it you decide to keep the sleeve on the case, well after this you put the sleeve somewhere, and then just leave it in it’s place. I currently have Beyond Two Souls Ltd edition sleeve knocking around somewhere, and also PS All stars in my cabinet, sitting there doing nothing. They’re pointless

/rantover

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/02/05/mlb-15-show-10th-anniversary-edition-ps4-detailed-includes

Well I guess it was bound to happen, a DmC and DmC 4 ‘definitive’ edition, especially when Capcom usually leeches off of past released with DmC, but what does surprise me is that Ninja Theory are heading this project, I know they developed it, what surprises me is Capcom let them head the project despite saying back in 2013, ‘excessive outsourcing’ lead to a ‘decline in quality’ despite the fact I really enjoyed the game, maybe I was one of few.

85 Metacritic score, by the way.

The addition of Vergil in DMC 4 is interesting, I wonder how that will play out.

Here’s an awesome interview PlaystationUK have done with Ninja Theory’s Creative director on the game:

Gotta love the spirited away shirt….

I guess Hollie is hot too.

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/02/05/dmc-devil-may-cry-definitive-edition-trailer-released/

IGN managed to get a first look with the Bloodborne character creation menu, with many different designs and combinations to be made, they went for the obvious one and chose, well, Harry Potter. Yup.

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/02/04/see-various-bloodborne-character-creation-options-new-video/

So a bit of The Order news now, the ESRB rating has gone up and it looks pretty….. gruesome? Nah. Awesome.

I’ll skip to the chase:

This is a third-person shooter in which players assume the role of a soldier in the Victorian era London. As players progress through the storyline to unfold a mystery, they use pistols, rifles, grenades, and fantastical weapons (e.g., electric arc gun) to kill human enemies and Lycan (i.e., werewolf creatures). Players can also employ stealth attacks (e.g., slitting throats) to dispatch enemies. Firefights are accompanied by realistic gunfire, explosions, and splashes of red blood. Some explosives cause dismemberment; mutilated bodies, with exposed viscera, are also depicted. Cutscenes also depict intense acts of violence: a character stabbed repeatedly in the chest and throat; a character shot in the head at close range; a man chained to a tub and repeatedly dunked and punched by guards. During the course of the game, players can visit a brothel that depicts prostitutes with exposed breasts. One brothel sequence depicts a topless woman gyrating on top of a man—the sex act is partially obscured. There is also a fleeting depiction of male genitalia in the game. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” can be heard in the dialogue.

So, profanity, guns, and bewbs. My kinda game.

Head here to unlock a dynamic theme for your PS4! Note: You’ll need to be on the US site (therefore a US account is needed for redemption) to get the code,  I used ‘Hola Better Internet‘ to do this.

You just have to watch a bunch of trailers, click them then head continue browsing the net.

https://theorder.playstation.com/

I like how the age checker goes down to 1886. Nice touch.

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/02/03/order-1886-esrb-rating-detailed-find-get-free-ps4-theme/

So we got a bit of news on the new Tomb Raider, the one exclusive to Xbox, (albeit timed), anyway, sourness aside, here’ the news:

Rise of the Tomb Raider, the next AAA installment for the series will be set in Siberia.

Gameinformer did a cover on it, and they’ve got a new description for the game. Here it is:

After the events on Yamatai, the young archeologist has grown into a capable adventure seeker, and Rise of the Tomb Raider will send Lara to the frozen wilds of Siberia on a hunt for the lost secrets of immortality. Now Lara will have to hunt and craft new survival gear in order to take on larger puzzle tombs and a deadly new enemy, a secret society that has been lying in the shadows since the last game.

 

Although no announcement has been made for the game to come to other consoles and PC, it was announced that the deal did have a time, and from their FAQ, they say:

Does the exclusive to Xbox have a duration? Is it timed? How long is the duration? Can we expect a PlayStation 4 or PC release in the future?
Yes, our deal with Microsoft has a duration. We aren’t discussing details of the deal, and are focused on delivering a great game on Xbox One and Xbox 360. 

 

To be perfectly honest, I’m extremely disappointed in the decision, Tomb Raider was essentially a PS1 mascot back in the day, and the decision to exclusively bring it to Xbox is a huge punch to the gut, I enjoy square Enix games, but I will not be buying this game, purely out of the fact what they’ve done.

Here’s Gameinformers video of their coverage:

The opinions in this blog are purely my own,

and not representative of this web site nor Wololo himself.

Okay, so I don’t want to bore you, but there’s been quite a bit more news this week still! Here’s some quick links:

Mortal Kombat X Kollector’s Editions Revealed

5 New games PS Now:

• Uncharted 2
• God Of War 2
• Red Faction: Armageddon
• Galaga Legions DX
• Arcana Heart 3

Nintendo Are trying to make software cheaper, rather than consoles

Raptr has been hacked, CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD! (if you have raptr, I think I have an account 4 years old and haven’t touched it since…)

Life is Strange developer thinks gender is irrelevant in a good story

Naughty Dog won’t be resurrecting Crash OR Jak&Daxter – Sad face

Key quote:

the stories that we’re trying to tell right now are a little bit more grounded and a little bit more grown up than they were back in the Jak and Daxter days.

Weekly Blog Round-Up

Re-exploits reloaded: Qwikrazor releases yet another exploit game for PS Vita Firmware 3.36! – This guy doesn’t stop, does he?

In 2015, will the PS4 be (natively) hacked before the PS vita? – This would be pretty annoying if it’s the case, and we have to commend Sony on making such a locked down firmware.

January tutorial contest winners announced, and February contest started. $60 to win! – These are always cool, some good ones this month, but none for PS4? Huh
Gone: Numblast & Hatsune Miku: Project Diva extend have been removed from the PSN stores! – Well, we were all expecting it, weren’t we?
10K! Follow me on twitter for a chance to win a PS Vita (Borderlands 2 Limited Edition Bundle) – Ah well, it’s a shame I can’t compete, but you can! – I have a PS Vita already, so I’m good thanks!
PS Vita: Maintaining a healthy exploitable game & firmware! – A nice bit of info from The Z about the exploits, give it a read!
The 50 Best Vita / PSP Homebrews in 2014 – Well, atleast flappy bird wasn’t number 1, I’ve had enough of that game. Although I’m pretty surprised at the Atari emulator, no surprises from the file manager though!

Reddit Time!

I doubt I’d be much better at riding a chopper in battlefield, but I’d certainly hope so!

Unrelated to gaming, but still funny as heck!

This is a 7-year old’s work he brought home from school:

Playstation Trivia

So I guess I should introduce this first, I recently decided to purchase the Playstation Magazine and it came with a little booklet that featured 1001 Playstation trivia facts. I thought it’d be good if at the end of my blogs I’d list, say 5.

1. One person designed all 200 dungeons in TES: Oblivion
2.The Original GTA was originally called Race ‘n’ Chase. However, an AI glitch created overly aggressive police cars that rammed players of the road. Testers enjoyed the ‘bug’ so much it became a feature and was re-designed!

3.Devil May Cry was originally a Resident Evil Spin-off

4.The Playstation began as a collaboration between Sony and Nintendo to make a CD add-on for the SNES. Sony announced the PlayStation at the 1991 CES, only for Nintendo to betray them by announcing a deal with Phillips for a peripheral called the CD-i. Sony went solo and the rest is history.

5.The only reason Sony continued to work on the PlayStation was then CEO Norio Ohga’s desire to spite Nintendo for its earlier betrayal.

I apologize…