For the fans of Crazy Taxi, here's a treat for you. Sega has launched something for the upcoming video game - a fun mini-game called Crazy Taxi: Fare Rush.

Gameplay's pretty simple. First you choose between four drivers and their cars: Axel, BD Joe, Gina, and Gus. Then you're set in a top down set with passengers littered around the town. You get two minutes of gametime and as with all Crazy Taxi titles, you've got to pick up passengers and bring them to their destinations in record speed.

You can check out the mini game by clicking the via link below. It might just tide you over until Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars' June release. Enjoy!

Remember waaaay back in September we brought you guys Art's oh-so-cool PSP homebrew app X-Flash V15g and said that it could possibly be his last release? Well thank God it wasn't, because the number of PSP users downloading his app just keeps getting bigger, and they'll be glad to know that he just rolled out X-Flash V18k which allows you to write custom icons.

Here's what Art had to say about that:

Functionality to write custom icons from source topmenu_plugin.rco file in Modified folder to the same file in flash0. The source file must be the correct file as output by the icon program by kgsws. It must also be the correct version. Original icons can still be relaced by pressing Circle. This was done so writing new custom icons need not affect changed menu labels and other mods.

If this is your first time to encounter this app, you might wanna check out our previous posts on X-Flash. Also, you should know that this app writes on to Flash and CAN brick your PSP if you're not careful. So PLEASE check out the FAQ file included in the zip. Art also says that he's just started a job that requires long hours so he hasn't been able to update X-Flash that much. But the good news is, there will be even more future releases so make sure you check back with us if you don't wanna miss those.

Download: [X-Flash v18k]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

hallo007 has just rolled out his latest contribution to the community. His homebrew app for the PSP called Flash Agent has been bumped up to revision D.

In case this is your first time to encounter this app, it works pretty much like X-Flash except that it may be a bit more complicated because you have to specify the directory and location where you want to flash the file.

But now that it's been updated to revision D, flashing gets a lot easier now that hallo007 has added information text, a main menu, and tons more. Revision D packs in a whole lotta changes and updates to hallo007's app since Revision C was rolled out. So whaddya say we get to the list of changes now, otherwise known as the...

Changelog:

• Pspdebugscreenprintf changed to printextscreen (not yet completed in filebrowser)
• Main menu added
• no hardboot anymore needed , you can exit everywhere
• text bug fix(dam english:P)
• backup files extracted out eboot will now be deleted after use
• coldboot flashen
• custom backgrounds flashen
• recovery menu update(coldboot+custom backgrounds)
• battery check bug fix ,now battery has to be 50%
• If ac adaptor has plugged in the app will always start(also without battery)
• Information Text added
• layout update
• Eboot layout (music , images)
  

hallo007 warns all you guys to use this at your own risk, because even though Flash Agent has a recovery mode, you can never be too careful. You wouldn't wanna brick your PSP now, would you?

Download:[Flash Agent Revision D]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Art from our forums has once again released an updated version of his wonder firmware modification program, X-Flash. A few days ago, it was in version 18c and now, he just unleashed version 18d. Just like the earlier release, this one also has Multiple Firmware Support.

If this is the first time you've heard about this or if this is the first time that this app has caught your fancy, we'll tell you something about it. Art's creation is a firmware modification program for PSP Firmwares 1.50, 2.71 SE, or 3.02 OE, this could also be used to make the process of customizing new PSP units as easy as pie. Talk about adding a personal touch to your PSP handhelds. With that, here's what's new with version 18d.

Changelog:

• Implementation of the SDK Idstorage library gives the program access to many fields of information regarding the subject PSP.
• Implementation of PSP Information screen with the possibility of becoming an editor. (I may not do this, as editing idstorage will always be dangerous).
• Added restore options for 3.02 OE-A, and 3.02 OE-B to both of the version spoofers (use Square, Circle, or Triangle buttons).

Art's brainchild is considered by many as one the safest apps in the homebrew scene, but it is really important that you know what to do before using it. The risks of bricking your PSP is very low, but still, it doesn't hurt if you take some pre-cautionary measures such as reading the readme file that comes with the download or checking out our past coverage. Download link's down there, enjoy!

Download: [X-Flash V18d]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

  

Before people start raising heckles about something from Microsoft on a Sony product - because this ain't from Microsoft... Da_MerV emails us about his Vista Shade for Flash-enabled PSPs. What it is is a Flash app portal that will launch PSP Flash homebrews. That is, incidentally, themed like Windows Vista, complete with Start button, user icons, and all...

But what is nice about this is that Da_MerV says this should work off 2.7+ firmwares, which means "even if your one of the unfortunate stuck with a homebrewless PSP, you can still browse your flash 'homebrew'. Okay, on to specifics:

• up to 15 different Flash apps can be launched directly from Vista Shade
• customizable desktop, wallpaper, user ID, using the included Vista Shade config.exe program or by manually editing the configuration file (see Readme for more details)
• Easy to install:
• Connect your memorystick (no-duh)
• Drag the contents of 'MS_ROOT' into your memorystick
• Setup config file (see below)
• Place icons and swf files into 'Vista' folder
• Disconnect and browse to 'file:/vista.swf' and Bookmark if desired
• If it loads correctly, Enjoy! If not, check your files again!

Download links below. Okay, does anyone know how to bring up Task Manager on this thing? We can't find "Ctrl-Alt-Del" anywhere on the PSP...

Download: [Vista Shade for the PSP]
Download: [Vista Shade configuration exe]

2.71 SE-A Customizer, the homebrew app that won't win any beauty contest (as QJ writer Pranav described it) but will definitely win the talent portion, has been updated by eiffel56. According to QJ reader mikeall (thanks for the tip bud) the previous version had some spelling mistakes. [CORSS] should be [CROSS] and a German dialogue box appears when you want to change the background.

Aside from those fixes the app's features remain the same. To use:

• Copy the 271c folder from the archive to the PSPGAME150 folder.
• Copy the relevant files to your memory stick. For example, if you want to change your font, just move the ltn0.pgf to your memory stick. It can also change Gameboot and Background.
  
• Run the application. Once running, you will be given the choice of flashing different items. For the font example above, simply pressed the X button.
• Reboot your PSP.

Now here comes the warning. It touches flash so it could brick your PSPs. In case something goes wrong, use the recovery menu (Press R trigger while booting PSP) in the 2.71 SE-A firmware and go back to 1.5. You can again upgrade to 2.71 SE-A from there. Still, make sure you know what you're getting into before installing this app. Better safe than sorry.

Download: [2.71 SE-A Customizer Update]

A contest being ran by FITC and the indie UMD label Silver platter sees you - the ordinary flash coder - coding something amazing to utilize a PSP Keyboard which is coming to the PSP in Spring next year. Yes, a PSP Keyboard is finally on its way! FITC and Silver Platter have teamed up for a contest dubbed as 'Type This' to find the coolest Flash applications in order to give away an amazing stash of prizes.

The winning Flash application will be bundled with the keyboard and PSP on UMD, or downloaded using the PSP's WiFi connection. There are no limits to the amount of times you enter, as long as your Flash application is designed to fit on the PSP's screen and would utilize a PSP keyboard. Here's the list of prizes you could be in with a chance of winning:

1st Place winner

• Your Flash piece will be bundled with the new keyboard released for the PSP in spring 2007!
• The Action Pack, only from Silver Platter which includes:
• One (1) PSP and Three (3) UMDs
•  One years Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear Amp Speakers, PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case (Customized with your APP!)
• Two full tickets to FITC Hollywood 2006 (or two tickets to FITC Toronto 2007)

2nd Place Winner

• One (1) year Supply of new UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case
  

3rd Place Winner

• Five UMDs from Silver Platter
• Logitech PlayGear PSP Headphones and PlayGear PSP Case

This is a very unique opportunity to win yourself some great prizes, let alone the priceless prize of your application being bundled with a new PSP keyboard set for release next year. We've been waiting for one for so long so roll on the PSP Keyboard!

Thanks for the tip nathan42100!

TeamOverload">TeamOverload (thanks for the tip) from our forums has released a new flash application for all those PSP users on firmware 2.7 and above today. Text me v0.5 is a simple flash text reader made perfectly for the PSPs small screen and 2.7+ firmware browser. This application is part of a flash suite that TeamOverload is currently working on called OPSP which will be released soon. TeamOverload is releasing some of the parts of the suite (like this one) in order to get your thoughts on his applications.

This is not the final release and expect the final version of this text reader to be slightly different when released with the OPSP suite. Make sure you report any bugs or suggestions in the forum release thread so that TeamOverload can fix them for the final OPSP release. Good luck with OPSP TeamOverload!

Download: [Text Me v0.5]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

Our forum's Flash Competition is coming to a close with all submissions in and voting closing soon. The competition was held just over a month ago on our forums, and we have several prizes to issue, yet not that many votes. So, I'm pleading that you take a few minutes of your time and review and vote on your favorite flash game or portal. I've taken the time to do much of the "dirty" work as to testing them all on my 1.50 PSP (Devhook emulation), so you really don't have to. Just vote on who you believe should win, and hopefully by the end of tomorrow we will have the winners announced and prizes distributed! Good luck to all those who have entered, and remember - Those who have been found as using duplicate accounts will be disqualified from the competition.

Vote: [Poll for Flash Portals]
Vote: [Poll for Flash Games/Apps]

They have been promising a flash portal for 2.7+ users, and now My PSP Portal delivers that promise. True, the Mypsportal Flash Portal for 2.7+ and DevHook .45 users may currently be just a beta version and there still are some features missing but as the My PSP Portal team said, it still "looks pretty sweet".

This beta release, labored over by the real mr bob and b00ndit, is sure to create a fiery-looking PSP Web Browser with its red, black background. All graphics were created from scratch by the two minds behind the project - all except for the icons, that is. However, you can expect b00ndit-originals replacing these icons in future releases. Future releases will also include a fix in the music player's color plus more songs on a "first come first serve requests" basis...so if you want any songs making its way to future releases, make sure to let your request be heard via the comments.

If you're new to having a flash portal on your PSP, a word from the real mr bob on installation: "To install the MPP.swf file on your PSP simply copy the MPP.swf into the root of your memory stick and copy the MPP folder to the PSP > COMMON > FILE GOES HERE. Once you have copied over the files to your PSP launch devhook and go the PSP web browser and type in file:/MPP.swf (2.7+ users can do the same thing)."

Have fun!

Download: [Mypsportal Flash Portal for 2.7+ and DevHook (.45) users]