The title doesn't strike you, does it? But if you're familiar with Streets of Rage and King of Fighters, then OpenBOR isn't something you should let pass. From the engine that allowed Beats of Rage (BOR) to debut on the PC comes the open source version for multiple platforms. Homebrew coder SamuraiX released OpenBOR version 2.1933 for the PSP the day before yesterday, along with Linux (PC, PS3), GamePark, GP2X, DreamCast, Xbox, and Windows versions as well. All you need to know is at the full story.


Download: OpenBOR v2.1933 (Linux on PC and PS3, PSP, GP2X, DreamCast, Xbox, and Windows)

Developer Royale has recently announced the release of PSP-Maps v1.0. The latest build of this map read application now carries support for Google Moon, Google Mars, and Google Sky. Further details on its changes are available in the full article.


Download: PSP-Maps v1.0
Download: PSP-Maps v1.0 Source Code

The results of the PDRoms Coding Competition 3.99 have finally been released. For those who haven't been following this contest, there were quite a number of really good entries from the community but in the end one developer came out on top. To find out who took first place, head on over to the full article.

If you're not too fond of the fact that JRPGs are currently dominating the RPG seas, then you may want to check out homebrew developer _df_'s new project, Fishguts. Slated to use a classic AD&D gold box combat scheme, Fishguts just may be the homebrew RPG fix that you've been needing for a long time.

Download: Fishguts (test version)
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forums

OpenBOR is a homebrew application for the PlayStation Portable from coder SamuraiX. It allows users to come up with their own game so in short, it's a sweet program that brings out your creative talents.

Long-time users will be happy to know that the owner has just rolled out a new version over at the QJ.NET PSP Development Forum. Know the things that were changed after the jump!


Download: OpenBOR v2.1313
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

Homebrew developer Cpasjuste dropped by QJ.NET PSP Development Forum and announced that he was able to make MAME4ALL compatible with the new PSP Slim and Lite. For the uninitiated, MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.

The build ported by Cpasjuste is TTYman's latest take on the project. Aside from the upgrade compatibility features, MAME GP2X v4.7 PSP for PSP Slim works exactly the same as MAME4ALL v4.7. With that said, here are some of the worth mentioning features of the said version:

• Based on latest GP2X MAME4All releases v4.7 & 4.6
• 480 Orizzontal Hires Support in menu and games, now games with >320 pixels are playable (Loderun etc.)
• Overclock support, from 166 to 333 MHz
• Frameskip as GP2X version (fixed 0-5, auto 1-5)
• Vsync on/off
• Save configuration support, default and per game
• Autocentering fix for most games when using FIXED/FIXED DIV2
• Optimized compiled code as derived from GP2X version, but for PSP cpu (fastest graphics core!)
• Stripped & Packed executable, only 2MB
• New Graphic theme from mame.net logo (TM) and mameworld.com Tim's covers (n.1 and n.2)
• Graphic theme 480x240 BMP skins support, both pspmenu480.bmp and pspsplash480.bmp in folder skins

There are a couple of Readme.txt files included in the download package below. Be sure to read all documentation to avoid any problems in installation and actual usage of the program.

Download: MAME GP2X v4.7 PSP
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

When talking about Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, or MAME, we think retro coin-op video games. Well, we're all going to get more arcade goodness - minus the quarters - in TTYman's new PSP MAME4ALL release.

The PSP homebrew developer has released version 4.7r2 Hires, which features a couple of fixes from version 4.7 and then some. PSP MAME4ALL by TTYman is actually based on the GP2X releases by Franxis and supports PSP Hires (480x272), overclocking (133 to 333MHz), among other things. Here's the full list of features from TTYman's blog post:

• Based on latest GP2X MAME4All releases v4.7;
• 480×272 full PSP Hires Support, now games with >320 orizz. and >240 vert. pixels are fully playable (Loderun, Galaga etc.);
• Overclock support, from 133 to 333 MHz;
• Fixed, Fixed Divided by 2, Software Scaled and Software Full Screen Stretched resolutions (all maximum 480×272);
• Frameskip as GP2X version (fixed 0-5, auto 1-5);
• Vsync on/off;
• Save configuration support, default and per game;
• Autocentering fix for all resolutions;
• Optimized compiled code as derived from GP2X version, but for PSP cpu (fastest graphics core!);
• Stripped & Packed executable, only 2.1MB;
• Original graphics theme from Gold edition;
• Music in menu (filename music.psp in data folder), in these supported formats: .MOD .S3M, .IT, .XM and .OGG;
• Added, as bonus, 1st classified OldSkool at Assembly 2007 Music Competition (Commodore 64 based), in .OGG format;
• Graphic theme 480×272 BMP skins support, both pspmenu480.bmp and pspsplash480.bmp in folder skins

Here are the changes from the last version, also from TTYman's post:

• 133 MHz in menu and while paused, for battery saving;
• VSync really works now;
• Corrected build configuration and Makefile, so sounds in various games are now back;
• Correct fixed, div2, sw scaled and sw stretched resolutions, with autocentering

A couple of known issues haven't been ironed out in time for this release but we can be sure that TTYman will stomp them out in the near future: version 4.7r2 slows down with general audio enabled, plus it doesn't have rotate support.

Anyway, check out the emulator by downloading it below. Be sure to go over the readme files included in the zipped file for more information about PSP MAME4ALL. Enjoy!

Download: PSP MAME4ALL v4.7r2 Hires

There's this homebrew application called REminiscence and it has been a while since it was updated. We're now happy to report that a new build for the program has just been released, bringing it up to version 0.1.9. The latest additions and developments were implemented by coder Sektor.

REminiscence is actually a re-implementation of the engine used in the game Flashback: Quest for Identity made by Delphine Software. The game itself is a cinematic platformer that was released on various consoles back in 1992 and holds the title of being the best-selling French video game of all time.

Anyway, the following are the new features that comes with Reminiscence PSP v0.1.9:

• Added support for SegaCD speech files (voice.vce)
• Added level/language selector (copied from rlyeh's GP2X version with some minor changes)
• Select now toggles fast mode and mirror mode
• Added key recording/playback, immunity, power/credit cheat and other debug options to the in game menu
• Choice of full screen or small screen at startup

The program comes with a Readme file containing installation guide and other important information. Be sure to read that first before installing this on your PlayStation Portable units. Sektor mentioned that this is compatible with 3.40 OE but there was no mention regarding M33 custom firmwares.

Download: REminiscence PSP v0.1.9

There's something about puzzle games that just wouldn't go away. The gameplay in itself is addicting already, add to this the colorful pieces, jewels so to speak, and their chime-like sounds whenever you complete all the pieces.

Homebrew developer skeezix released a new game of this nature called BattleJewels. This is not, an ordinary puzzle game, mind you, as several new components have been added to it. As the coder himself mentioned, you can play a puzzle game for as long as you want but not in BattleJewels. skeezix describes this game as a combination of a classic puzzler with head-to-head combat based on a simple RPG engine.

Here, you get to match gems and at the same time go battle it out with your opponent pretty much like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. The RPG engine, on the other hand, allows players to gather gold, buy some gears, and even level up.

BattleJewels was originally coded for GP2X but skeezix decided to make a "debug test" port for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). The Read link below will you to the coder's personal page for more instructions and other details.

Download: BattleJewels Alpha 3

 

The folks at Lavalit have upgraded their OpenBoR project by leaps and bounds, adding new features and updating commands for people to use with the program.

Before we move on to their extensive changelog, let's go and explain what OpenBoR is first. It's a program that allows people to make and play their own fighting and action game modules. In this case, you can play everything from remakes of Double Dragon to homebrew fighting games based on Final Fight.

In any case, below is the changelog for you to peruse. We suggest you also take a look at their website though, as the actual mods you can use, as well as the latest updates for OpenBoR, will probably be put up their before anything else. Enjoy!

By SX:

1.  Dynamic Animation Frame Memory Manager (No more Frame Limits and Also reduces memory by HALF!!!)
2.  Memory utilizations in system options menu (shows how much memory is being utilized by your mod)
3.  Controller I/O interface redesigned for PSP (Thinking of wifi mulitplayer next on the list).
4.  XBoX now uses Sprite Flip Technique.
5.  XBoX now supports 4 Player Control.

More of the changelog after the jump!

Download: OpenBoR v2.0691