The Need for Speed ProStreet gig didn't work out for Electronic Arts and internal studio Black Box, but the superstar publisher decided they could still make a turnaround for the franchise again, starting with Need for Speed Undercover. Perhaps guided by the popularity of night and illegal street racing movies, Need for Speed Undercover's design resettled for the open sandbox design of Most Wanted with a different story. A story, they say, that will include Mission Impossible 3's Maggie Q.

NPD Group's recent survey manged to investigate the niche segment of the gaming market that is extreme gaming, together with six other segments that the games industry has categorized gamers like us under. Feeling like a can of peaches at your local convenient mart? Well, welcome to new, modernized, cash-driven games industry, folks. Find out where'd you fit in among the 20,000 sampled at the full story.

This week's release list can be described in a few words: college football. Tuesday marks the release of multiplatform sports game NCAA Football 2009 on every modern console there is to date. During our search, we've found that some games haven't surfaced in the previous weeks - even on online retail. So expect to see a repeat showing this week. Maybe we should consider renaming "On Shelves This Week" to "Should Be Out This Week"... Now there's a thought. Upcoming releases follows at the full story.

If you've been ever asked what you could get if you modify a modified homebrew app, here's one embodiment to your answer: a remodified app. Remember AnonymousDev2's modification to Red Squirrel's Psar Dumper utility? Well, someone managed to send the source of that build of the Psar Dumper to Poison, and by request had it tinkered with to decrypt and dump Sony's PSP official firmware 4.01.

Download: Psar Dumper for PSP FW 4.01

It's been a short while since author CrazyC brought the DOS emulator homebrew application to updated status, and so this new upgrade is more than welcome. After all, the premier version of DOSBox - the open-source Windows and Linux revisions - are not even completely perfected yet. More in store for legacy gamers on Sony's PlayStation Portable at the full story.

Download: DOSBox PSP version 07/06/08

Latest to come from Red Squirrel is a major update to CTF Manager, a companion for sorting out, archiving, and even creating your own custom themes on the PlayStation Portable. Coupled with the ability to incorporate CTF files onto your custom firmware touting PSP, this adds a delectable possibility for personalizing your homebrew and handheld experience. The homebrew developer tackles the .NET application's new features at the full story.


Download: CTF Manager v2.0
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forums

Yes, it's another Lua game, but unlike some releases, this homebrew game for the PlayStation Portable shouldn't be shrugged off. Homebrew developer MadMax11's Maelstrom Alpha is functional and polished unlike some early release projects, even if it is incomplete in game content. Learn more about the Lua-based space RPG at the full story.


Download: Maelstrom Alpha

We know what you're thinking. You've got those thought bubbles that read, "Another TimeBaby." Technically that's true, but aesthetically, it ain't. You see, there's a reason you'd have more than one clock around. One is for "blingage" - there's plenty of functions built-in to the thing that it starts rivalling several of your appliances. The other? A full-on, no-nonsense timekeeper with that "I'll get you up early in the morning or your money back" attitude. Mexican homebrew developer Trom_US' WakeUp Clock is the latter, and like simple alarm clocks, it does the job.

Download: WakeUp Clock v2
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forums

One word for this post: Poisonhzkj. You'll probably know the name, because the developer behind it was responsible for delivering the CXMB plugin to the last Custom Firmwares prior to 4.01. Well, would you know that coder Miriam took the plugin and updated it so that CXMB v4.0 would allow the use of unofficial XMB themes in CFW 4.01 M33? If you care to know more, you know where to go. For first timers, that's the "read more" link below.

Download: CXMB plugin v4.0 for CFW 4.01 M33

So what's going to be in our videogaming menu starting this week? A whole lot of DS games once again, we tell you, though there's a few gems or two in the Nintendo handheld rough on Tuesday. There's a music rhythm game for almost every console out there, plus a couple new additions to the portfolio of PC games. Somehow we're also seeing another relaunching of Gears of War for the Xbox 360 the "Refresh" edition. We don't know why it's re-listed, but it is. The full list follows at the full story.