QJ.NET now brings you word from the Spanish PSP homebrew development front. Homebrew developer Kaltorak brings us a new game for our PSPs with his own take on the popular puzzle game Sokoban. Yeah, we know Sokoban-themed games for PSP isn't new, but Kaltorak takes full advantage of the game's addictive nature while giving it a 3D look.

The 3D touch really made the game twice as fun. Just like other Sokoban games, the objective is to strategically place all objects (in this case, barrels) inside a pre-defined location. As usual, it's exceptionally hard since one bad move can ruin your progress. And with the difficulty rising as you beat each level, this PSP homebrew packs quite a challenge for any casual PSP owner.

Installation's a breeze, just download the file below, extract the "KOPBANPSP" folder, dump it inside your 1.50 folder and you're good to go. Those who have PSPs running on custom firmware 3.71 M33 will need the recent kernel 1.50 patch to make this game work though. Also, KOPBANPSP v0.09 is still not PSP Slim and Lite-compatible. Kaltorak is promising us another release soon, so this feature might be added along with new levels and music.

Download: KOPBANPSP v0.09

We now bring you word from the French PSP homebrew development front. French PSP homebrew coder archilolo presents us with a quirky twist to the online game Pong with his PSP 'brew, Archipong v0.2. What archilolo exactly did was take the tried and tested addicting nature of Pong, give it a graphical makeover, and add a dash of cool gameplay tweaks.

Archipong v0.2 has a trippy, laid-back feel to it. The effects were well-placed and it meshed well with the nature of Pong's gameplay. It should be noted that in this version, the player has the option of playing solo or against a friend. Although the developer notes it's much better to have somebody to play the game with, we found it challenging to keep the object from hitting the walls as long as we could (try the game out to find out and see for yourself just how nerve-wracking it is). Anyway, here's the list of changelog straight from an online translation or the developer's release thread:

• operational score
• progressive acceleration of the ball
• correction of bugs (that made odd when I do not say it for somebody of other; I did not realize to what a not reading again and to improve a code, was this simple, could be testing! )
• improvement of the management of the collisions: they is more precise from now on, and that adapts to all the sizes of sprite (both for the rackets the ball)... but in fact, I still have problems with the racket of left!
• rotation of the ball: a small funny effect which obliged me to re-examine all the tests of collision!
• possibility of deforming the ball (with the analogical stick). Attention, that tends to make plant the play! that does not change anything with the way in which one plays; therefore, I think that I will transfer it in the long term; but while waiting, I find that funny
• new graphics; and especially, introduction of the "l'innénarable"

Aside from the aforementioned, archilolo is also looking at some more possible tweaks to further improve Archipong. Here are the changes he wishes to implement in the next version:

• A page of presentation and reception
• A system of skin (bottom of screen, ball and rackets)?
• Rebounds a little less "right angle" (if I arrive there)
• Sounds and musics made house
• Original modes of play (disproportionate but long-lived ambition: to do in Pong what Nervous Brickdown is with the break-in brick... )

Go ahead and give this PSP homebrew game a try. The developers also has something to say to anyone who's planning to to give any form of suggestions, tips, or anything that might help in making this project better - "bah, do not hesitate!"

Download: Archipong v0.2 for PSP

  

One of the main reasons Capcom's gearing up Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law is to give Wii and PSP fans the same high DS owners get on Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney. Throw in the cartoon's signature in your face Adult Swim type of humor with that high and you've got yourself a winner. Now Capcom's giving us wannabe lawyers the one thing we should value in this game's make-believe profession - facts.

Of course, it shouldn't come as a surprise that in this game you'll be taking the role of bungling superhero Harvey Birdman who now has his head (or is beak?) turned towards practicing law. Gameplay consists mostly of the player guiding defense attorney Harvey who's in charge of handling a series of odd and comical cases. As expected, this game has Adult Swim written all over it. How you may ask? Only in Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law will you encounter prosecutors toting Shrink Ray Guns. Anyway, on to the fact sheet:

• Sleuth your way through five uproarious all new court cases
• Experience fully animated gameplay and voice-over dialogue
• Enjoy the vocal talents of series regulars like Gary Cole, Lewis Black, Peter MacNicol, John Michael Higgins and more
• Visit and explore familiar locales from the show
• Interact with favorite series characters - let Mentok take your mind!  Get shrunk by Reducto!  Avoid Phil Ken Sebben's quadruple entendres!
• Investigate and collect evidence for courtroom battles with semi-private prosecutors
• Press, confront and break witnesses for your chance to reveal lies and scintillating secrets
• For Wii version, players will be able to point and aim their way through the cases, using the Wii Remote

Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law is expected to hit video games store shelves on November 13.

Despite hitting some snags in the form of Sega, SCEA, Capcom, and Microsoft backouts, it appears E for All is gaining steam after getting big boosts from dozens of other movers in the gaming industry who have confirmed participation. To prove that E for All is going smoothly as planned, IDG World Expo is now announcing that Future US, Inc. will be publishing the official show magazine for the said event.

This is big news especially for those who are familiar in the ins and outs of attending conventions like this. Why? Event magazines not only provide attendees with a good source of show floor guide, exhibitor and product information, special features and interviews, it's also a great souvenir - it goes right beside event press IDs and pictures with booth babes. Anyway, IDG World Expo CEO Mary Dolaher expressed the same enthusiasm after saying:

We're thrilled to team up with Future to create "E for All Magazine," the event’s official show publication. Given Future’s experience producing publications such as Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: Independent PlayStation Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC and Next Gen, we’re greatly anticipating the creation of a top-notch magazine and commemorative keepsake for this inaugural event.

The magazine will be a 64-page collector's edition in support of the inaugural E for All. Contents will include feature stories, game reviews, product highlights, a full expo schedule, floor plan and exclusive features, interviews with acclaimed game developers, and a user-generated car art from Forza 2. E for All magazine will also carry a commemorative cover to give spice to the said event which will take place October 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center - told you it's a keeper.

With the recent release of the PSP Slim complete with new video output feature, and the PSP Camera out on the market for some months now, it's only a matter of time before someone tinkered with the possible hardware/software tricks between the two. Lunacy8m of Gadgetmadness did exactly that and he's now showing us in his Youtube video what he dubs as the world's first PSP webcam.

Basically, what Lunacy8m did is attach a PSP Camera to the video output-equipped PSP 2000, connect it to his laptop and voila, he now has a working PSP webcam. What made the PSP to laptop connection possible is the Adaptec Gamebridge, a hardware add-on that establishes compatibility between gaming consoles and PCs (it's usually used to play games on the PC without the need of TV).

It's not that hard of a trick really, Lunacy8m just happened to have a really good common sense and the right stuff to make it work. To those wondering if this one's legit, it should be noted that Lunacy8m is the same guy who came up with the Gameboy webcam and the original EyeToy webcam.

 

PlayStation Portable customization master SchmilK has dropped by our forums to release a beefed-up list of scripts for his Updraded RCO for 3.60 M33. These scripts, according to SchmilK, provide "the muscle work to convert those rco to the new 3.60 m33 compatable using CXMB."

The good PSP developer has taken upon himself the task of providing PSP Slim owners theme customization capabilities via Upgrade RCO. He also noted that this project was completed after the CXMB was found compatible on Team M33's custom firmware 3.60. Here's the list of files updated:

• Topmenu_plugin.rco
• Game_Plugin.rco
• Impose_plugin.rco
• Msvideo_main_plugin.rco
• Music_main_plugin.rco
• Opening_plugin.rco
• Premo_plugin.rco
• Sysconf_plugin.rco
• System_plugin_bg.rco
• System_plugin_fg.rco
• System_plugin.rco
• Video_main_plugin.rco
• Visualizer_plugin.rco
• Sysconf_plugin_about.rco

Installation:

1. Put all of your RCO in a folder
2. Extract this contents to the folder with your old RCO and double click 2 clicks to upgrade.bat
3. Wait for the process to finish.
4. Copy your files to ms0:/cxmb/vsh/resource/
5. Enable CXMB plugin and reboot!

All the necessary information you need in installing and using this application is available right at this post. You can also go over the QJ.NET PSP forum discussion thread below to check out feedbacks from the other users who have already installed this PSP application.

Download: Upgrade RCO for 3.60 M33
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forum thread

 

Team 0x4658 has landed in our QJ.Net forums informing us of their PSP tool that allows its users to back up the handheld's idstorage (a different part of the PSP's flash). This useful PSP application, aptly named as MaxSafe 1.00, is actually meant to support owners trying to unbrick their PSPs with the help of Prometheus Project Pandora.

As stated, what it specifically does is create a backup of the PSP's idstorage and (looking at the screenshot) flash allowing you to restore it when the need arises. It should be noted that Pandora doesn't back up or recreate a new idstorage so if that's messed up for some reason, Pandora won't be able help you. However if you've backed up the idstorage using this tool, you can restore it later and repeat the whole PSP unbricking procedure. Maximum safety indeed for MaxSafe users.

Installation procedure as posted (word for word) by Team 0x4658 on our forums:

• We (you) need to have preinstalled the Pandora in your Battery and your Memory Stick.
• 1.- copy the content of MS_ROOT to the root of your Memory Stick.
• 2.- Load MaxSafe 1.0 (form our menu).
• 3.- Press X to install it ( If you want to unistall it, just press O ).
• 4.- You have the MaxSafe installed.

Team 0x4658 notes that MaxSafe has been tested and found working on all PSP motherboards. And since this PSP application is coded based from Team C+D's Pandora exploit, they wish to extend their thanks to the said group. A comprehensive readme is provided with the download and information is also available through our PSP development forums, make sure you go over them first before trying this program out.

Download: MaxSafe 1.00
Visit: MaxSafe 1.00 homebrew discussion thread

 

Quake's back with another update to his popular Windows-based content manager application for PSP, Extreme Link. Now on its 1.5.6 version, this PSP application boasts of various organizational functions such as media (music, photos, and videos), homebrew, and game saves management. It also allows you to keep track of your PSP games' high scores.

Here's the Extreme Link v1.5.6 changelog:

• Extreme Link: OptionsSystemTray
• Added: Systray Ciso Icon
• Added: Systray CisoPlus Icon
• Extreme Link: OptionsCiso
• Added: Systray Option - Works with Check Process
• Extreme Link: OptionsCisoPlus
• Added: Systray Option - Works with Check Process

Quake added a well-written Readme file within the Extreme Link v1.5.6 download below, it contains important information on installation guides and other reminders. So don't forget to read that first before installing this program.

The PSP homebrew developer has also released his application's source code. Those who have enough programming background might want to check it out and give it a few tweaks. Download's right below too, dig in and enjoy!

Download: Extreme Link v1.5.6
Download: Extreme Link v1.5.6 (source code)

(Editors Note: Welcome to our 9th ish! I won't be spoiling anything here, dig on all the news below. One request though: Quickjump QuickPeek is here to stay, and we would appreciate any kind of ideas you have on improving it. Are four articles per blog enough? How should we select top stories? Do we need polls for the comment of the week? Do tell us!)

New week, new breakthroughs, new issue. The last week was one of the most monumental so far, so if you've missed checking our sites, you're a goner. Nah, we're just messing with you. That's what QuickJump QuickPeek is for, to provide you guys with the week's top events. Sure, nothing beats being among the first to read about newsbreakers once they hit our pages, but the QuickPeek experience is close enough. On to this week's issue!

The full issue awaits after the jump!

 

Ready for some "blast from the past" moments? wbb has just landed at our PSP development forums and in the process has given us the gift of reliving the past in the form of his Modo project - an ultra simple mod player. As previously reported, Modo supports 669, IT, MED, MOD, MTM, S3M, STM and XM module format, enabling the old-schoolers among us to enjoy running these files via our PSPs.

Here's the list of changes wbb had created for this release:

• added C64 SID & MUS playback (via libsidplay2)
• no RSID / BASIC support (didn't manage to play these tunes at full speed)
• support for HVSC song length database

Although Modo's already running smoothly, we're sure wbb is open to any form of suggestions regarding any kind of possible improvements for it. Just drop him a line or two at our PSP forum release thread below. Also make sure you go over the readme (its contents also viewable on the PSP forum link below) for all the pertinent info dealing with Modo's installation, usage and other features.

Download: Modo - ultra simple mod player update
Visit: PSP Development Forums