Reg Hardware reports that Manhunt 2 (Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2) can get past the BBFC ban if it is released as a downloadable title. According to lawyer Phil Carnell, hope lies in the UK's 1984 Video Recordings Act.

Carnell revealed to Reg Hardware that downloaded games do not need an age-suitability classification since the Act, which mandates the BBFC's certification program, applies only to physical products.

This loophole has apparently been used by video game publishers to circumvent bans before. A BBFC spokeswoman has also reportedly confirmed that Take-Two could go the download route and get the game out in the UK legally.

Of course, the problem here is that there is no PC version of the game. Moreover, there are no ways to download and play the game on the Sony PlayStation 2 or Nintendo Wii home video game consoles without the use of a modchip.

Carnell also noted that while Take-Two is probably aware of the loophole, the company may choose not to go the downloadable path since Sony and Nintendo are likely to allow only those games rated by the BBFC onto their respective consoles.


Buy: [Manhunt 2 (PSP)]
Buy: [Manhunt 2 (Wii)]

For the guys still wondering how the PSP-Devolution modchip will handle, we've picked a news bit that should help you along. PSP mod guru jrfhoutx has announced that he's going to be reviewing the Devolution, to be released in segments.

This video will be the first part of the said review, and will begin with jrfhoutx installing the said USB-JTAG Programmer into the PlayStation Portable. Just in case the video title gave you the wrong ideas: jrfhoutx is letting the viewers know that this is not to be used as an installation guide for their own modchip. That's all for the moment - we'll let you guys know in case the modder brings up the rest of the review vids. Happy viewing!

Kudos to Foo foo for telling us about this release!

The team behind the much-talked about modchip PSP-Devolution said it best, "it's taken longer than expected". Those who have been following the development of this one know fully well that the said chip has had several tentative release dates before.

Anyway, PSP-Devolution is yet again promising a new release date for the modchip: June 13 to be exact. The good thing about this one, if it turns out to be true, is that the chip can downgrade any PlayStation Portable unit regardless of its firmware type. More accurately described as a "USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs", some if its abilities include:

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• NO power consumption
• Doesn't touch the battery power in any way, powered by USB for the time being used to flash the PSP
• Pre-assembled hi-tech flex PCB for easiest possible connection to the psp mainboard
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. the new TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features (tba)

Pre-orders for PSP-Devolution modchip are currently priced for US$ 75.95. If you are interested, the Read link below should take you to Mod-Chip's product page for the said chip.

More bad news for the folks hoping to get their hands on the PSP-Devolution "modchip". It seems the sale of the PSP-Devolution chip has been delayed for another week. The current ETA for for the PSP-Devolution is scheduled for May 18, 2007.

For those who haven't heard of it, the PSP-Devolution is more accurately termed a "USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs". One of its abilities, which is definitely the thing programmers and savvy PlayStation Portable (PSP) owners are watching out for, is that it can supposedly downgrade any Sony PSP, regardless of firmware type.

In any event, folks will have to wait for the 18th to hear word of this new piece of tech. In the meantime, you may want to save some cash, as the USB-JTAG Programmer will set you back US$ 75.

We're not certain if you are aware of this but Sony has an official dedicated site for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in South Korea. Despite that, we believe that this move is rather sneaky for a company that has the homebrew community breathing down its neck.

Folks, welcome PSP Firmware 3.40. Oh Jeesus!

Now what does this one do? We're not too certain for now because the official sites for other markets, especially the English-speaking ones, are yet to be updated. Anyway, this was generated by an online translation engine:

• It enjoyed PLAYSTATION�Network tie frames and the function for was strengthened.
• [these sense civil officials] were eliminated.
• [Is indicated information which from this sense civil official] with afterwords it will be able to confirm as a same fabrication.
• After selecting the icon of the game information the reporter [it selects △ buttons information] consecutively from the option menu.

We know that didn't make a lot of sense but the point is FW 3.40 has been released. In case this appears on your territory, we recommend staying away from it first. As you will all remember, DAX's PSP encountered a hardware problem - his UP modchip decided to stop working as he was trying to work on his latest custom firmware. Anyhow, here's a screenshot of that page:

 

Thanks gmwave for the tip!

---

Talking with fellow QJ blogger Pranav T., he mentions that PSP firmware 3.40 has already been decrypted. Yes, FW 3.40 for the PSP (which hasn't surfaced on the U.S. and Japan PlayStation sites as of writing), has already been decrypted.

Citing reliable contacts, it has come to our knowledge that, apparently, the keys haven't changed - this means that Team C+D's decrypter for firmware 3.30 will work on FW 3.40. We'll be updating you as more info comes our way.

In case you've forgotten, we would like to remind you that PSP-Devolution's USB-JTAG Programmer for a lot of NAND FLASH ICs (aka modchip) is finally available. Actually, sales started last April 16 and will end on April 20. The delay was caused by an important improvement involving a 4-layer technology that makes the chip even smaller.

Also, the team behind this creation mentioned that the chip has actually two versions. The first one is a 3.3V version that works for PlayStation Portable (PSP) motherboards TA-079 to TA-081. The other one is a 1.8V version that is compatible to TA-082+ boards. That means TA-086 users are covered too.

We've already posted the PSP-Devolution modchip features before but for the benefit of those who missed it, we listed them down again below.

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• NO power consumption
• Doesn't touch the battery power in any way, powered by USB for the time being used to flash the PSP
• Pre-assembled hi-tech flex pcb for easiest possible connection to the psp main board
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. the new TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features

It's taken longer than expected, but the team behind PSP-Devolution, a new modchip for the Sony PSP handheld system, have finally announced a release date. According to PSP-Devolution.com, sales of the PSP-Devolution modchip should commence on April 16.

The delays are apparently due to "some important improvements" that needed to be done in order to ensure top performance from the modchip. The developers of the modchip also say that they have made the PSP-Devolution modchip smaller by using 4 layer technology.

All resellers who have expressed interest in the PSP-Devolution modchip will be informed of the release details via email. New inquiries are also welcome. If you missed our previous post regarding the PSP-Devolution modchip, here's a list of its features:

• Flash your PSP using the internal USB Port
• No additional USB Port required
• Latest ACTEL ProASIC 3 technology
• Low power consumption
• Works on all available PSP versions incl. TA-082 and TA-086
• Custom BIOS with a lot of cool additional features
• Easy to install
• Just a bit of soldering skills required, no hardcore installation

Thanks to Rok for the tip!

For modchip users, Djhg2000 from our forums offers two ways to enable and customize Wi-Fi on Epsilon BIOS: The hard way and the easy way. Yeah, you're going to want the easy way first, wouldn't you?

The easy (well, easier) way is to use his Epsilon BIOS Wi-Fi editor, downloadable from the link below. Instructions are included in the package (please read them!), but this will require the user - meaning you guys - to finalize the result with fixupdreg2.exe, which is NOT included in the package. And we're not including it, for the obvious reasons. That last step is up to you.

On the other hand, there's the hard way.

It requires the full article to display all the instructions.

Download: [Epsilon BIOS Wi-Fi Editor]
Discuss: [Forum Thread]

We at QJ pay much attention to our readers. Believe it or not, we actually heed your requests, comments and all other stuff that you send us. Well, one of our readers, Jordan just sent us a treat via mail. It's a video of his USB mod for the Undiluted Platinum modchip. We admit that the video's not that crystal-clear, but we're pretty sure you can make out Jordan's crafty mod.

Hmmm... the UP modchip. We're guessing that you got that for the nifty Epsilon BIOS v1.1. And who wouldn't? The Epsilon BIOS works somewhat as a "bootloader" and "piggybacks" real firmware from the real flash. Sounds interesting don't you think? Of course it's stored in the UP modchip, so you gotta get that first to load Epsilon on your PSP.

But enough of that. Why don't you check out the video below? And if you got more interesting stuff to share with us, don't hesitate to give us the heads-up. We'll sure appreciate it.

Some thought it might be impossible, others simply felt that only God's hands could code a software downgrader for the unfortunate TA-082 people. Well, let's just say that 0okm might have finally broken the shackles imposed by the TA-082 PSPs.

Firstly, a small primer for anyone new to the whole TA-082 thing. A while back, before the Undiluted Platinum modchip came out, most people were quite oblivious to the whole mobo-mania. Then it was revealed that the modchip wouldn't work with the TA-082 motherboards. Even Dark_Alex's "downdater" couldn't downgrade 'em. Few people who were brave enough to still try it were greeted by shiny bricks. Here's how you can check if you're one of the unlucky ones to have a TA-082 mobo PSP.

The reason was quite unknown. A lot of theories existed, but it was difficult to pinpoint the real problem. Well, we can safely consider it as part of the past now, because 0okm states that he has successfully downgraded a 2.50 TA-082 PSP using a software downgrader. Until now, the only other way to accomplish a downgrade was by using hardware hacks, like 0okm's multi firmware module.

Not anymore though, because we might just have a solution for the TA-082 motherboards! Here's what he states in his blog:

"Success SoftDown FW2.50 TA-082 to FW1.00/1.50

Had found a method SoftDown TA-082's FW2.50 PSP to FW1.00/1.50
But the method is quite complex, SoftDown a TA-082's PSP need about 45min

1. Use software Read Data From TA-082's NandFlash & DDR DRam
2. Analyzes the Data than make a "FW1.00/1.50 NandFlash img" that can Boot on TA-082
3. Use software Write that "FW1.00/1.50 NandFlash img" to TA-082

maybe late i will make a software to let "FW2.50 TA-082" user to dump "NandFlash & DDR DRam" data to me
than i can make the "FW1.00/1.50 NandFlash img" to help them SoftDown their TA-082 :P"

Well, so the method might take a while and it might be a bit complex. But trust the great programmers to make an easy installation method for everyone to use. 0okm has said that he might release something as a proof of concept. Keep the fireworks ready!