PSP homebrew developer TotalNoob has released an application that, at first may seem tiny and simple, but is actually still quite useful in its own right. MusicHold allows you to activate the shoulder buttons and Volume buttons of the PSP to control the music's volume, even if it's on hold mode.

Download: MusicHold v0.1
Visit: QJ.NET PSP development forums

 

If you haven't noticed, some of us are quite big fans of simple apps and homebrew that inform and educate. On the one hand, there's something like SuperbatXS' Biographies of US Presidents to teach us about the American Presidents. On the other hand, we also have stuff like this: The Good News Bible, now on your PSPs.

ai3gtmc released a beta of his Good News Bible for people to try out and read. His beta version currently carries only the Old Testament, but it seems to be accurate, according to our humble comparison with our own Good Book. Of course, it could probably use an interface of some kind, but for folks who want to read the bible as it is, without distractions and footnotes, it's definitely worth looking at. Just remember to check his instructions for installation and use beforehand so you don't inadvertently install this in the wrong place.

Now, if only we can get something like this for other important books...

Download: The Good News Bible Beta
Visit: PSP Development Forum

 

It's not often you see an educational app on the PSP, with the exception of those brain training games. Well, we're pleased to see SuperbatXS' foray into educational homebrew media with the beta release of Biographies of US Presidents.

As the name connotes, the application gives you a basic biography of the first 29 presidents, from George Washington to Grover Cleveland. Some of these presidents did happen to fall through the cracks of history, but they do manage to get some kind of representation here. We're not too hot with the use of Wikipedia for the information on some of these entries, as Wiki has a tendency to be wrong on certain occasions, but it's still a worthy try (as far as we can remember of US history).

As always, check the readme to find out how to install and use the application. You can expect him to update this one if he gets enough support and constructive criticism, so let him know what you think, alright?

  

Download: [Biographies of US Presidents Beta]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

It takes a lot of work to have a team of programmers working together to combine their talents. That's why it gives us great pleasure to see another version of the PSPLua Game Pack, now known as G-Pack v0.2

Let's go over the list of this crack tactical squad and their operations today. Squad Leader SuperbatXS and squad vets Tactical Penguin, Ninjax, Xploren, and Yoyomacy have recruited new roughnecks to their cause: Freshmilk, BlackShark, EminentJonFrost, SG57, YongoBongo, and Savagefreak.

Their mission: to expand their coding abilities and entertain the PSP-loving masses.

Contrary to their readme, they've got eight games in this new pack, including betas for Be Thou for the People and Drag-Star. They've also got the HazedMirror dev team's Hedgehog Apocalypse game in this pack, as well as a new version of PvP Pong that comes with online play. The G-Pack's shell also comes with an mp3 player, image viewer, and game loader, among other things. Needless to say, there's a reason why it's 12 MB, and that's because they've packed this little gem with a lot of content.

Before installing this app, be sure you check their readme. It's got installation instructions, notes and issues you'll need to remember while using the game, as well as a list of a lot of people to thank. Don't hesitate to go into our forums to ask them some questions about their games or give them props for a job well done. Enjoy!

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UPDATE: After some talking on the forums, SuperbatXS informed me that they've made an update to G-Pack v0.2. This new version updates the eboot and the readme. You'll be pleased to know that this new version has some added pictures and, more importantly, allows G-Pack v0.2 to run on OE firmwares.

It's still 13 MB though, so for those with slow connections, you may want to make some popcorn and watch a movie in the meantime. You'll probably get the download when you finish watching "Titanic" or something. We hope.

Download: [G-Pack v0.2 (updated for OE Support)]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

You heard right. If there's a reason to download the latest version of yoyomacy's side-scrolling Lua shooter, it's because it's now got sound effects, courtesy of the efforts of superbatxs. Also, because the code has been cleaned up a bit, bugs were fixed (although it seems that online feature from the last version is still not working as planned), and some other new stuff which are detailed in the change log below. But again, the big change is that, Houston, we now have sound.

So now you don't only get to ride to the danger zone, you can hear it, too. Here's yoyomacy's changelog:

• SOUND
• New menus
• Smaller Files
• Health bar
• button smasher mode (kill a slow moving boss thats coming towatrds you if you dont he will touch you and you die.. button smasher mode is difficult, cuz you can only shoot 5 bullets at once at the screen and if you shoot more the first bullet you shot will disappear, so it might not reach the plane, its challenging but doable)
• space out levels more
• more weapons
• ultra speed survival (how long can you last in super speed)
• Planes now scroll off screen instead of popping off
• Animation when planes are shot
• Bullet now has tracer-like red on it
• At certain levels the speed ACTUALLY increases
• Ammunition limit added
• Points are gained when enemies are shot
• Code was cleaned up a bit, runs smoother
• Sometimes explosions stop midway through and sit there untill planes move off screen, especially at high speeds with the small planes
• No more Bullet.lua, combined with game.lua
• Minor buggies were fixed
• Start or Select now exit the game

Download: [LuaAirForce v0.5]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

SuperBatXS made a post on our forums to announce the first release of PSPLua Game Pack v0.1. The pack is made by SuperBatXS, TacticalPenguin, PSPGamer81, Xandu, and Ninjax. Their dev team also has a site up already and you can take a look at the forum release thread to know more about their team.

If you want to check this pack out, be sure to follow SuperBatXS' advice and read the README file. Please take note that this release is a 1.0 EBOOT especially edited to be compatible with the SC-B' custom firmware.

The game pack contains SuperBatXS' button tester/guide (partially updated), TacticalPenguin's new release of Chase the Penguin, pspgamer81's release of Dance Dance 0.25, and Xandu's L:UA (Lua Utility Applications) v1.0.2 (no LUA player needed).

    

They're trying their best to update this pack as soon as they can, and they hope that in the future, they'll be able to add in more games and improve on the graphics. Good work guys!

Download: [PSPLua Game Pack v01]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

In the wake of the earlier release of SuperbatXS's LUA Button Tester and guide, a forum member who goes by the moniker The Unique Warrior decided to make his own button tester in C++ since SuperbatXS's tester was in LUA. The result is PAD Tester, a non-LUA button tester that works with DA 2.71 SE-A.

It works pretty much like the aforementioned LUA Button Tester and is just as useful when it comes to testing out if your buttons are still in good shape. When you press a button on your PSP, the name of the corresponding button shown on the screen will light up. PAD Tester can also detect if you have a UMD in your PSP. In the presence of a UMD, the words "UMD Present" turns red. If there is no UMD, they'll remain blue.

Click on the download link below to check out this useful homebrew app. If you have any suggestions for the coder or if you just wanna say something, don't forget to click on the 'discuss' link to discuss this release in its own forum release thread.

Download: [PAD Tester v.1.00 for 2.71 SE-A (non-LUA Version)]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]

The LUA Button Tester is a piece of homebrew that actually works two ways. First, it detects any button presses that you make on your PSP, allowing you to check if all of your PSP's buttons are in tip-top shape or if there's a problem with some of them. Second, it can be used as a guide for new LUA coders.

If you have an interest in learning to code a LUA homebrew game or application for the PSP, a thorough perusal of the LUA Button Tester's LUA script can help you in the following areas:

• learn to load an image with the press of a button
• make a loading menu
• load sound with a press of a button
• learn how to display battery life remaining and temperature
• learn how to take a screenshot of current state
• learn how to create a basic program (in LUA)!

SuperbatXS is currently hard at work, finishing up his next release for a possible release on Sunday, so keep an eye on QJ for that one. Click on the link below to download the LUA Button tester and guide, and don't forget to check out the forum release thread if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this useful little piece of homebrew.

Download: [LUA Button Tester and guide v0.1]
Discuss: [Forum Release Thread]