A new day and a new version of DevHook awaits us. First, a big reminder: This doesn't emulate firmware 2.80. Get that out of your mind. Second, about the news you've been reading on other sites: NO, 2.80 isn't decrypted, just extracted. Anyways, on with the update about Devhook.

The new version has a few major changes. And who better than Jeff Chen to get it translated! Here's a whole list of new updates:

• Implemented the function for combining Flash emulation from the Memory Stick and the internal flashROM of the PSP
• Countermeasure for Memory Stick file damaging bug
• Fixed the problem that prevents returning from FW 2.XX to normal FW
• Now forbids mounting "flash0:" in write mode
• Major changes to the launcher menu
• English launcher changed back to the original alphabetic folder
• Added management functions for built-in FlashROM to the launcher (no function for installing into MS)
• Added the auto launch time setting for the launcher > See "MS_ROOT/dh/autorun.ini".
• Added the application for exiting from inside FW2.XX DevHook.
• Added "umdciso_P47_SS_2000.prx" to resolve the problem the comma dropping problem of ciso. The setting is now like PRIORITY=47 , SHORT SLEEP,ciso buf=0x2000. Just replace the file "umdciso.prx"

One thing to note is that this version allows you to flash a part of the dump onto the PSP's flash, making emulation faster. But since the usage is still a grey area, I'd recommend you guys to not try it out, especially if you're using a custom firmware. We'll know more about it in the days to come...

Booster has also released the Devhook SDK, so if you want to contribute to the development of devhook, you can start as soon as you want! You don't need to use the SDK if you just want to emulate firmwares. The SDK is just for developers.

Download Link: [Devhook 0.46 with SDK]

As much as I like some of the official games being released by Sony, there will always be a special place in my heart for Tetris. There are few games bettering the original concept. And it means hours of unadulterated fun which few games over the ages have been successful in providing.

And I've just found out about the updated version of the Tetris clone for PSP. Updated to v1.2, it might offer a lot of new things. I'm not sure about the improvements since the readme is in Japanese and our resident blogger Jeff Chen isn't available.

Anyways, I'm still gonna enjoy myself. For those who are interested, the author has provided two versions, one KXploited and the other one for 1.0/2.0, which you can still use on 1.5 if you're using one of the custom firmwares.

Download Link: [Tetris for PSP v1.2] (Contains both 1.0 and 1.5 builds)

Proof that once the great developers start, they simply keep rolling out amazing updates! And proof that Booster is one of the greatest developers to have graced the PSP hacking scene.

Just like the last update which offered 2.71 emulation, this one will rock your socks off too! It apparently supports homebrew launching right on 2.71 firmware. Couple it with harleyg's custom firmware mod which allows you to directly load DevHook on startup, and you're practically in PSP heaven. Together, these two mods offer almost all of the functionality of the $90 modchip, for free!

Here's a detailed changelog, translated by our very own Jeff Chen:

• Support for loading EBOOT.PBP on memory stick and EBOOT.BIN on UMD(ISO) in ELF format.
• Fixed problems that made 1.50 NoUMD not functioning.
• Added more exclusive controls added to flash emulation. As well as other memory stick breaking countermeasures.
• Memory map changed for rebooting.

To-Do

• FW2.71 registry initialization failure problem.
• Stabilize flash emulation (file access).
• NoUMD for FW 2.xx
• NAND driver level emulation

Now I don't know about you guys, but the To-Do section lists some pretty revolutionary things too! If you're new to the whole 'devhook' thing, don't worry. One of our dedicated forum members, chriscooke109, has written a great guide on how to make the magic work. Although it still reads as a Devhook 0.44 guide, the steps mentioned there will work just as well for the new version.

Isn't it great how the PSP scene is suddenly bursting out with great discoveries and creations everyday? And this just begs the question- "What next?". And I personally can't wait for the answer!

Download Link: [Devhook v0.45]

Digg it!

UPDATE: NJ has fixed the support for the 2.50/2.60 eLoader. The new downloadable file  reflects this update.


The hard-working NJ has once again updated his NeoGeo Emulator for the PSP today, bringing it up to version 0.2.2. As always, this version adds new bug fixes and features to the emulator, so here's the changelog as translated by QJ's very own Jeff Chen:

• Raster effects will always be enabled when running the BIOS.
• The raster effect setting will still take effect when in-game.(Changed to improved the running of uni-bios v2.0/v2.1/v2.2)
• Extra drawing clipping process removed.

Now, I've left the bad news till the end. Although NJ has been working very hard on this, and we've had a new release at least once a day for the past few weeks, NJ has now announced that this emulator will be put on hold. He says that it is at a milestone, and the date when he will resume work on this emulator is unknown. Thanks for all of you hard work on this NJ, we appreciate it!

Download: [NeoGeo PSP v0.2.2]
Download: [NeoGeo PSP v0.2.2 (Updated)]

I've been reading the comments on every NEO-GEO article, and I'm quite surprised that some people wouldn't actually want to know of the developments surrounding this emulator. I respect everybody's opinion, but personally, I think to help boost the developers spirit and the community's as a whole as well, there must be some sort of positive reinforcement provided. So whether it be a tiny bugfix or a major update, I think it's worth an article (and in NEO-GEO's case even two, because they work so fast). After laying all that out, here's the latest NEO-GEO release from NJ!

Should I even say who did the marvelous job of translating the changelog? Thanks a bunch Jeff Chen!

Changelog:

• Save/load state function added.
• There is not enough memory to compress the state data.
• When loading a state, if the BIOS in the data is different from the one you are using, the BIOS settings will be automatically updated into the state data. The SRAM data will also be returned when saving.
• Fixed a bug that prevented kf2k3pcb from running. This is simply a miss. All the games that needed this support to run are now completely supported.

Download: [NEO-GEO Emulator for PSP 0.2]

Update: NJ has released a quick fix on his emulator dealing with a bug wherein the clone set won't start. The download link is below:

Download: [NEO-GEO Emulator for PSP 0.2.1]

A while ago I wrote an article about NEOGEO CDZ Emulator 0.5 Beta 2 for PSP and said how unbelievably fast the people over at the NEOGEO camp are working, and I don't know if they are making a sport out of updating (good news for us) but they're back. This time around they have released a bugfix on the NEOGEO Emulator for PSP. Call it a hunch, but maybe in an day or so they'd release another update.

The translation is brought to you by the letter J. Thanks Jeff Chen!

Changelog ver 0.1.3

• Fixed a bug in timer processing when updating ncdzpsp.
• Fixed a bug when a reset occurs in watchdog, there is a chance that the program falls into an infinite loop and cannot exit.

Download: [NEOGEO Emulator for PSP 0.1.3 (Bugfix)]

Fast would be an understatement to describe how the guys responsible for developments on the NeoGeo are, at dishing out updates. I was checking out the website one minute and already in the process of writing an article on the Beta 1 when all of a sudden, there it was, Beta 2 updates. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining (and I am pretty sure, so are you). I am in awe at their dedication to the project. Kudos to the team!

Changelog:

Beta 1

• NeoGeo emulation modified according to the same changes made on ngepsp
• With the change above, the internal structure has been largely modified, thus making the state data unusable (cannot select Load).
• Raster effect supported. I added this to ngepsp just to test it out. If you enable it, the emulation speed will suffer a big drop due to the heavy calculation of this effect.
• Problems introduced from the Windows version have been fixed:

1. ssideki2 - the ground disappears when raster effect is enabled.
2. Karnovr - the background of Jean stage/round 1 is not showing.

• Some games run faster (the opening of Galford in Shin Samurai Spirit and etc.

Beta 2

• Timer processing fixed.
• Watchdog processing fixed.
• State save version update. The compatibility with older versions is now void.

Thanks a bunch to Jeff Chen for the translation.

Download: [NEOGEO CDZ Emulator 0.5 Beta 2 for PSP (English Binary)]
                  [NEOGEO CDZ Emulator 0.5 beta 2 for PSP (Japanese Binary)]

There was a significant amount of time in between the release of e's powerhouse of an emulator called e[mulator] for PSP, which combines his own eSwan emulator with HuE. After the release of v0.80 Beta 5, it took months before v0.81 came along. But fortunately for us, it seems that the hiatus for this developer is now officially over.

Just today he has released fixes intended for version 0.81. We have got to give it up to Jeff Chen for saving us the trouble of browsing through a Japanese-English dictionary.

This version fixes some problems in 0.81.

0.81 fix 1 changelog:
(1) The menu now doesn't hang up any more.
(2) The TOC selection of PC Engine now works.
(3) Key config now fully works.
(4) The SRAM file of WonderSwan is now saved.
Compatible with the SAV of WSCamp (maybe).
The cooperation with the SAV is not confirmed yet.

Download:[Fixes for e[mulator] for PSP 0.81]

Now here's a developer we haven't heard from in a while! 'e' has released the first new version of his e[mulator] for the PSP, bringing it up to version 0.81 today. e[mulator] for PSP is an emulator which combines e’s own eSwan emulator with HuE. eSwan is an emulator for WonderSwan on the PSP, and HuE is an emulator for PC-Engine on the PSP. Here's the changelog that has been kindly translated by QJ's very own Jeff Chen:

Overall
- State management fixed
- Thumbnail auto-generation fixed

WonderSwan
- Horizontal scrolling problem fixed
- HBLANK and VBLANK processing fixed

Famicon
- ROM database processing fixed

Now supported hardware
- PC Engine Super Graphics CDROM2
- WonderSwan
- Famicon (modified and used the source code of NesterJ for PSP)
- GameBoy (modified and used the source code of RIN)

Download: [e[mulator] v0.81 for PSP]

I think everyone that has covered NJ's NeoGeo Emulator has said everything that I wanted to say. This guy sure works in lightning speed. Yesterday, his new release was covered by Kyle M., here at QJ. The article was the quintessential which-one-would-you-like-to-hear-first-the-good-news-or-bad-news situation. Although there were a lot of updates like the raster effect unified into the normal version and Rom converter being  updated, there were also some drawbacks, like not being able to add any new functions that were planned in future versions due to memory limitations.

But why sulk, when there are new updates from our favorite emulator, right? It now comes bundled with a new ROM converter.

And who translated the changelog? Drum roll please. Jeff Chen, of course.

Changelog:

• Fixed a conversion bug on s1945p.

Download: [NEOGEO Emulator for PSP RC 2 with New Converter]
                  [New Converter]