Homebrew developer Brunni has just released a new build for the highly flexible emulator MasterBoy bringing it up to version 2.02. For the uninformed, this particular application is able to emulate Game Boy, Sega Master and Game Gear video games on the PlayStation Portable.

One of the many good features MasterBoy carries is that it allows users to fully recolor not only by selecting one scheme for the whole screen but every single in-game object. VGM and GYM files can also be listened to because of the bundled music player. The changes particular to MasterBoy v2.02 are the following:

• EBOOT now has icon, wallpaper and sound (thanks to Ass-Itch from PlayerAdvance for his nice BG/ICON)
• Corrected the bug of SRAM not saving properly for some people
• Added the last save date next to the save state slot number
• Enhanced SGB emulation (runs a lot faster)
• Corrected the garbage showing in the border of the render.
• Reworked the default palettes to be closer to the GBC ones.
• Augmented the maximum number of files per folder to 1024.
• Note: The bug that some people has, save states not working after saving/loading a few, is still not fixed (I could contact nobody who has this problem for debugging). In between, if you have this problem, use the RAM state and save manually before exiting (or save less often)

Brunni included a Readme.txt file as well as MasterBoy.pdf file that should provide you with all the information you need in installing and running this program.

We'd like to thank Matt T. for the tip!

Download: MasterBoy v2.02

PSP homebrew developer Brunni has just updated the MasterBoy emulator, bringing the application up to version 2.01.

This app is a PSP-based emulator for playing games from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy, Sega Master System (SMS), and Game Gear handhelds. MasterBoy's latest release is expected to carry the following tweaks:

• Finished the english documentation on how to colorize your games!
  
• This version fixes a bug with sound volume when loading RIN states.
• The file list can now display up to 1024 roms.
• Added a small debug mode for the kernel version (copy the EBOOT from the Kernel mode directory to your MasterBoy directory on the PSP - this version runs significantly slower, so use it only for debugging and colorization). For people who reported me strange problems, press L+R+Triangle in the menu. It will show the available RAM. If you have the problem of save states not working after a while, please tell me how this value evolutes. Also, if this mode is enabled when going to Save states, SRAM, Save now, a message box with some information will appear, if you have the SRAM problem (not saving) please report to me the displayed text.
• Bugfixes
  

Users keen on learning how to use this application are advised to check out the readme included in the bundle. Also be sure to drop by Brunni's thread over at the Neo Summer Coding Competition 2007 event via the source link.

Download: MasterBoy v2.01

PSP homebrew developer Brunni has just announced the release of the MasterBoy application as an entry to the ongoing Neo Summer Coding Competition (2007).

This app is a PSP-based emulator capable of playing games from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Super Game Boy, Sega Master System (SMS), and Game Gear.

MasterBoy is based on Brunni's MMSPlus SMS Emulator, which was a winning entry in last year's Neo Summer Coding Competition. MasterBoy carries several new features and functions:

• Rich interface with discrete effects, redefinable shortcuts and buttons (with autofire feature). Also it's fully skinnable.
• Manage and sort your favorites folders and files to access them easily.
• Integrated music player supporting GYM and VGM formats.
• Several display options like Gamma and Color Vibrance, which allows you to choose how colored you want your display to be.
• Z80 under/overclocker: allow you to correct games that are often slowing down or displaying glitchy / blinking sprites.
• Some improvements over MMSPlus in the SMS/GG part:
• Speed up.
• Now 16-bit render mode is enabled by default. You can revert to 8-bit if you want, and it will run even faster.
• Compatibility issues
• Better country detection (now nearly all games should detect the country correctly and not play too fast anymore).
• The bar at the left of the screen can be automatically hidden (depending whether the game is actually using it or not)

That's the basic rundown on Brunni's MasterBoy emulator. To better understand this application's full details, be sure to view the readme and PDF that are included in the file bundle. Enjoy the download.

Download: MasterBoy v2.0

Thanks to Borg Queen X for the news tip!

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Update: Brunni has updated MasterBoy to v2.0a. Unfortunately, we haven't found any documentation on what's new in this release, save for the new v2.0a text that appears on the app's GUI when run in the PSP. We're assuming it's to fix several detected bugs. The download is available if you're interested in upgrading.
Download: MasterBoy v2.0a

*Original article posted on August 21, 2007, 9: 23 AM.

It's been a while since we last posted any updates on RIN, Mr. Mirakichi's excellent GameBoy and GameBoy Color emulator for the Sony PlayStation Portable. That changed today when davex released a new mod of the emulator on our PSP Development Forums.

Davex's RIN mod adds two new features: Rewind and Mirror. The former is a nifty little Sands of Time-like feature that lets players warp back in time without using save states. By default, the rewind button is mapped to the PSP's right trigger button - this can be changed in the Key Config menu.

The second feature, Mirror, horizontally inverts all game graphics. For example, if you're playing a platformer that's played from left to right, the Mirror feature will let you play it from right to left instead. Switching between normal and Mirror modes can be done through the Screen Size menu.

Davex's RIN mod is for version 1.32 of the RIN GB/GBC emulator. Please read the readme file included in the download before you install it. For bug reports and the like, click on the Visit link below.

Download: Unofficial RIN GB/GBC 1.32 RM (Rewind and Mirror Mods)
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums thread

e's e[mulator] takes another step forward in its development with the release of v0.82f. It still packs the same NES, Game Boy, WonderSwan, GameGear/Master System, NEOGEO Pocket, and Lynx goodness as its predecessors, but includes the following updates (that was the updates section, right?) so poorly translated into Engrish by the weblator:

• the number of scan lines from 159 was modified in 160 and compatibility improved. It is thought that speed has decreased with this correction.
• drawing acceleration processing it is in the midst of mounting.
• volume of sound was adjusted the beefsteak toe.

"Beefstake toe..." Help, we need somebody, help, not just anybody, help, someone who can read the original page and translate it for us...

At least the bug file in the Readme is in English...

• not support NES disksystem
• not support GB SRAM save
• NEOGEO Pocket not support PCM.
• NGP is very slow, not support STATE SAVE.
• SMS Plus not support PCM play (depend on SMSPlus)
• CDROM2 support under construction

Download: [e[mulator] v0.82f for the PSP]

The wonderful e[mulator] has been updated to v0.82e today by developer e. If you've missed this one before or are a newcomer to the homebrew scene, e[mulator] is a multi-platform emulator supporting Gameboy, PCEngine, WonderSwan, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, and NES.

It also currently supports Atari Lynx but e has noted that this feature is still quite buggy; although a fix added since the last version should fix it. It is also supposed to support NeoGeo Pocket, but e has pointed out in his readme that it's still very slow and doesn't have savestate support.

Here is the changelog for this version:

• Bug fix to characters that weren't displaying correctly
  
• WS : SRAM retention, state retention and operation verification being completed
• Lynx: Operation of the Lynx part of this emulator should work correctly.
  

Thanks for the tip Byte!

Download: [e[mulator] v0.82e]

Japanese coder E has just released version 0.82d for his PSP e[mulator] as a follow-up for the previous version. At the moment, this emulator supports Gameboy, PCEngine, Wonderswan, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, and NES. It also currently supports Atari Lynx but the creator has noted that this feature is still buggy and a new fix should take care of that eventually. It is also supposed to support NeoGeo Pocket, but E has pointed out in his readme that it's still very slow and doesn't allow saved states.

The current changelog reads as follows:

• Lynx added but buggy....
• WS : Color fix , when State Load.
• WS : VBLANK timing fix

Download: [e[mulator] v0.82d]

E, the homebrew developer who's the brains behind the multi system emulator for PSP called e[mulator], has once again updated his homebrew emulator to version 0.82c. In case this is the first time you're hearing this, the e[mulator] supports Gameboy, PCEngine, Wonderswan, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, and Nes.

This is one of the more underrated emulators around, basing solely on how many people actually download it. Slowly but surely, it would be a perfected emulator and E's hardwork will definitely pay off. So with that, let's go over the changelog:

(1) WS : SRAM Bank change bugfix ¡¡¡¡SRAM Bank
(2) Sprite Table update timing fix

Download: [e[mulator] for PSP 0.82c]

Alrighty then. E's come out with the latest version of his wonderful multi-console emulator, which he aptly titles the e[mulator]. He quite deserves the right, since he's able to pack so much into one emulator.

The previous version supported PC Engine, Wonderswan, Game Boy and NES play, but he's upped the ante, letting PSP players have fun with Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear titles as well.

Now, his site isn't in English, and comes up as arbitrary characters (where arbitrary = reminder of Wingdings font), so if you can view it in its original character setup and translate any additional release notes for people, or reminders from E, we'd appreciate it.

Download: [e[mulator] v0.82]

This Arguru homebrew - SpiceBoy GB/GNC Emulator - offers full speed emulation of GameBoy and GameBoy Color on a PSP (much like Homer's RIN or GeMP). That's full-speed fps for all GB and GBC ROMs. Not bad for a day's work; it was tweaked from InfoBOY (a Win32 GB/GBC emulator) in less than one day.

Impressive as that might sound, there are a few limitations to the current version, Release 0:

• There's no browser. You have to manually replace the rom.gb file.
• Sound is not synchronized with the emulation.
• Some users report color changes.
• No savestates.
  

Download: [Spiceboy GB/GBC Emulator R0]