And so, after six months since it was first announced, we're finally getting some actual screenshots for Media.Vision's contribution to the PSP game library, Wild Arms XF (Cross Fire). Of course, we've seen those tiny little pictures from the scans that we posted previously, but then again, nothing beats an up close look on this title's game environment.

The screenshots that we have here clearly show the hex grid system that is implemented in the game. As mentioned in the previous Famitsu scan, each hex has its own properties which will affect a unit's speed and range of movement. For example, a hex that indicates rough terrain or is elevated can somehow impede a character's advance towards a target.

Anyway, the game still remains undated, so until we get new updates on this title, enjoy the screenies.

If you've enjoyed the series of release for the homebrew game CS Combined Assault, then get ready as the latest installment for that brew is already here. Now at v0.5, CS Combined Assault was created and has been regularly updated by the coder who goes by the name of Stealth Kill. From his previous release (which already had a lot of improvements to begin with) he adds these new features to v0.5:

• AD-Hoc 1-4 Players working
• Better Weapons (really good)
• Bots Deleted (I add them in the next version)
• Deleted unused Maps/Models/frames
• Added "DesertHouse" Map
• Added "Arena" Map (funmap very small but good for Ad-hoc)
• Added "Zombie Room" Map (funmap test for Ad-hoc [play in coop mode])
• Added Barret
• Added PSG1
• Added Mp5
• Added Mp5sd
• Added Zoom function

Meanwhile, Stealth Kill also notes that several more things will be improved by the next time that he announces another release. Among the things that need fixing would be that maps cannot be selected while in training mode.

Anyway, this latest release is promising to be another fun game for the community to enjoy and we're looking forward to Stealth Kill's work each time (how could we not, after watching the sample vid below?). As usual, If you're thinking of installing this game in your PSP, then make sure to read the readme file that the author of this homebrew has included.

PSP CS Combined Assault 0.5 - MyVideo

Download: CS Combined Assault 0.5
Visit: PSP Development Forums

Yay for custom firmware season! After Dark_Alex's released his latest (archived) bundle of joy unto the gaming world, becus25 has also updated his own custom firmware. So yes, it's PSP love all around right now.

Anyway, becus25 released Custom Firmware 1.62 IE A Update2 a mere week ago, and here he is once again with Custom Firmware 1.62 IE B. Isn't it good to know that the devs have been working really hard? 1.62 IE B still have the same general functions as that of 1.62 IE A, but on top of that, the following fixes and features have also been added:

General functions:

• In software system puts "version 1.62 IE-B". 
• Recovery and the XMF were now fused .  
• Added security and the flasher and you will not break the PSP 
• Bug fix ( when activated autoboot and was not in the route that touched to the PSP crashed; now if it passes that, the PSP returns to the XMB with normality :P . 
• More speed in recovery mode.  

Recovery functions:

• You can activate/deactivate Autoboots (put the autoboot on pspgamebooteboot.pbp ) from recovery without any kept configuration file. 
• Recovery mode, this structured like a menu . 
• Structured section "ADVANCE" like a menu . From this section you can do this : 
• Change the theme of PSP ( in fact in 1.50 not it can but it is hack :P ) 
• You can activate/deactivate autoboots.  
• You can hide or not hide corrupt icons from the XMB. 

Besides the whole range of changes, he also announced that the current version of his custom firmware has been tested on a TA-079 PSP, and it worked. However, he cautions everyone that this has not been tested on PSPs with boards higher thab 079, so those who wish to install this on their PSPs which are not 079s, are asked to take extra precautions. And on that note, we would like to remind everyone to go through the readme, as well as all the other installation instructions and other directions that becus25 has included with his homebrew, before attempting to install this. Better safe than sorry, right?

Thank you to I-Fzero-I for the tip!

Download: Custom Firmware 1.62 IE-B Update1
Visit: PSP Development Forum

Now, right after PSP aficionados had a field day, thanks to Dark_AleX's latest custom firmware release, homebrew devs are up and about once again with various useful add-ons and applications for the PSP. One such application is something from chachakoala, who revised UFOX's original PSP Content Manager v1.5 so that it can run more smoothly on the latest OE firmwares.

For those who may not be familiar with PSP Content Manager, this app allows one to easily manage and transfer the content of their PSPs so that everything is more organized. On top of that, it also helps to recover homebrews, and even edit your homebrew icons and backgrounds.

As for what prompted the edits, according to chachakoala,

I hex-edited psp content manager 1.5 so it works even more correctly with 3.03&310 OE firmwares (original PSP Content manager used to work fine anyway). I did this because i classified my PSX games in GAME, my 1.5 hb in Game150 and my 3.10 hb (PSPFTPD) in Game310 just to keep things clear.

Meanwhile, he notes the two revisions that he made for PSP Content Manager:

• The homebrews in Game303/Game310 are now listed in a correctly named tab.
• The status messages have also been edited to match the OE version.
  

It should also be noted that UFOX himself later helped chachakoala in revising PCM, so rest assured that this app was made with the original creator's blessing (see? It pays to be nice).

So, if you're ready to start using this application, then just download it via the link provided below. The pack will contain versions of PCM for firmwares 3.02, 3.03, 3.10, 3.30, and 3.40 OE. As always, remember to check the readme file right after you finish downloading, and right before you start installing.

A big thank you to "whoelse" for the tip!

Download: PSP Content Manager 1.5 for OE firmwares

Within the past few days, PSP owners were kept on the edge of their seats by reports of FW 3.40 in South Korea and in Japan. Well, soon enough, the latest firmware version for the Sony handheld reached North American shores, and without fail, coders and homebrew devs set to work on it immediately. And who else would keep the ball rolling but Dark_AleX?

Well, now that the whole community is in motion again, the great DAX is leading the pack and has just produced a couple of more updates. The first is the release of custom firmware 3.40 OE-A, and for this update, he notes the following improvements that were made from 3.30 OE-A to 3.40 OE-A:

• Updated from 3.30 firmware to 3.40
• Security patch: Fixed a bug that has been in all 3.XX OE, that caused random data to be written to a location in lcdc.prx or (in worst case) emc_sm.prx ram space.
• Autboot that is missing since 3.03 OE-C has been reimplemented.
• Improvements in the flasher. It will now generate also the flash1 directories, and it will check that the dxar is the correct for this update, so no more bricks by accidentally using other DATA.DXAR.
  

Meanwhile, he has also updated 3.30 OE-A to 3.30 OE-A', and in THAT update, the following fixes were implemented:

• Security patch: Fixed a bug that has been in all 3.XX OE, that caused random data to be written to a location in lcdc.prx or (in worst case) emc_sm.prx ram space.
• Autboot that is missing since 3.03 OE-C has been reimplemented.
  

Now isn't that a lot to be happy about? In any case, as usual, ALWAYS READ THE README FIRST before you try to install any of these, as DAX has included some important installation instructions for both updates. Remember, you want to prolong the life of your PSP, and not shorten it, okay?

Thanks to everyone who sent us tips about this!

Download: 3.40 OE-A by Dark_AleX
Download: 3.30 OE-A ' by Dark_AleX

After a long wait since it was announced last year, some light is finally being shed on the details for upcoming PSP title, Wild Arms XF (a.k.a., Wild Arms Cross Fire). To herald the release of this game which is due this summer, Sony and Media.Vision have finally opened the official website for this title. Although the site does not indicate any official release date for Wild Arms XF as of yet, it does confirm other things.

First, the site confirms that with the help of a USB cable, you can connect your PSP to your PS2 in order to unlock certain elements in Wild Arms Vth Vanguard (PS2) and Wild Arms XF. The connections allow the player to access 6 secret bosses in Vth Vanguard, while XF will gain access to better items, rewards, as well as access to some special events.

Th website itself has just opened and still does not contain a lot of material. However, we do learn that a recent Famitsu article on the game has revealed the battle system for Wild Arms XF (as shown by these scans from Jeux-France... is it just us or have the scans somehow been vandalized...?). As far as we can make from the scans, the game will be making use of a hex grid system, with each hex having its own surface property and height value. These properties and values affect the movement of your party members. Speaking of movement, unlike in other turn-based games where all your party members dish out their attacks, and their turn, and then wait for the enemies to finish their attacks as well, Wild Arms XF character movements are based on their "RES" stat. This means that enemies and allies can take turns one after the other (remember Final Fantasy X? Something like that).

We're sure that the scans have a lot to reveal, and anyone who wants to translate it for the general public are more than welcome to try (minus those big, red words on the page) .

 

Since last year, many Square Enix fans have been giddy over the news of the upcoming Square Enix Party for 2007. Well, in case you're one of those fans and you need that one last thing to convince you to finally book tickets (and a flight) for the event, then this may be what you need: the schedule of activities of this year's Party.

According to Square Enix's official site, the event which will run from May 12 to May 13 will consist of contests, celebrations, and tributes to some of its game titles. As listed on its site, one of the focuses of the first day would be the performances of some theme song artists, as well as the appearance of a special, secret guest who will be there to promote Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road.

Then, on the second day, there will be a special stage set up for Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors which will host a "mixed screening and recording" of the game (according to Google Translate anyway...), which will be done while previously-unreleased images of the game are being shown at the same time. After that, there will also be a competition for Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, where contestants will vie for the title of Monster Master. The best part is that members of the audience who cheered for the winner will also be receiving original merchandise as prizes. Later on, there will also be another panel which will feature the people behind the Square Enix monthly manga magazine, Shonen Gangan. The panelists will be speaking about a new Square Enix anime which will be launched this April on TV Tokyo.

If you think that's a lot, well it's only part of it, as while all of those are happening, the fifth year celebration for the Square Enix MMORPG Final Fantasy XIwill also be happening. Among the activities that will be part of the celebration will be cosplay contests, trivia contests, movie contests, fan art contests, panels, mini-concerts, chocobo races, and a "Live Quest", to name just a few.

Take note that these are only SOME of the many activities that are currently lined up for the Square Enix Party, and from the looks of it, it seems that the company behind some of the best games that we have ever played is doing its best to live up to its name, by throwing some of the best events that a fan could ever wish for.

If you 're looking for a new RPG title to add to your PlayStation Portable (PSP) game library, then start wishing for summer to arrive so that you can get hold of Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology. This title from Namco Bandai has actually already been out in Japan since December last year, but it has only been announced recently that the game will reach North America sometime this summer. The developers are yet to give a specific date for the release, but at least they've narrowed down the waiting period to some degree, right?

For those who may not know yet, Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology is a crossover title from other games from the Tales series. Because of this, expect to run into characters from games like Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Destiny, and Tales of Legendia to name just a few, as they help your character vanquish the forces of evil that are plaguing your character's world.

In any case, summer isn't that far off anymore, and we're pretty sure that you'll have the US$ 39.99 to spare for this game once it comes out. In the meantime, here are some new screenies to help tide us all over until the game's release.

More screenshots right after the jump!

As we all know, Square Enix will be celebrating the 20th year of existence of one of the most popular (and ironically-named) game franchises in the world, Final Fantasy. So, as one of the centerpieces of this joyous event, they will be releasing the 1987 classics, Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II for the PSP this June, in a port which we now know as Final Fantasy I & II: 20th Anniversary Edition.

Now, since we absolutely cannot wait for this game to finally make its way to us, here's the latest batch of screenshots which features the games' enhanced graphics. Then, let's also not forget that this port will feature new dungeons as well, which should give veteran FF fans a new experience in a well-loved game.

Meanwhile, besides having a higher resolution, the remastered versions will also feature full widescreen support as well as a new, in-game camera. Nifty, isn't it? So, now in their full, high-resolution, 8-bit glory (oxymoronic, we know), enter the Light Warriors and their corresponding screenies.

More screenshots right after the jump!

If you like your dungeon-crawling, magic-casting, min-maxing, and hack-and-slashing to be all done on the go, well no, you don't have to lug around your set of dice, gaming manuals and LARP-crazy friends. Instead, you can just grab a copy of the RPG Silverfall once it finally gets released for the PSP.

As announced by Focus Home Interactive, Silverfall will soon be added to the PSP's repertoire of fantasy dungeon-crawlers. Developed by Monte Cristo Games, and published by Atari, Silverfall is a game that is reminiscent of good ol' D&D, or at least Diablo 2 (surely one of those falls in your generation, right?). So yes, expect to get your dose of elves, magic, and quests from this game.

Originally released for the PC, the PSP version has apparently been redone in order to better suit the hardware and features of a handheld console. Another feature that will also be unique to the PSP version is the support for 2-player co-op on a Wi-Fi connection, and if you're feeling competitive, you can instead go up against 3 other players via the Arena mode.

While any further details about the port (such as its release date) are yet to be revealed, we do have what seems to be the UK pack shot for the title, as taken from ToTheGame.com. However, since the game is still in development, keep in mind the the pack shot, along with other details, can still change within the next few months.