If you were intrigued by that map-making game for the Sony PlayStation Portable, you'd be delighted to know that there's more to it than playing with your PSP camera. Nippon no Asoko de, where you step into the shoes of an alien exploring Japan, apparently also has god game elements. See its trailer at the full article to know what we're talking about.

If you fancy yourself as a talented cartographer, then you might want to check out the latest PlayStation Portable title from Good Design. Titled "Nippon no Asoko de", the game allows you to snap pictures using the PSP camera and make an original map of Japan. For more details regarding this innovative title, check out our full article.

In a rather intricate mod, Russian developer timurmurmur managed to fit a camera to the back of his PSP. The camera not only fits inside the PSP without any protrusions, but is small and inconspicuous enough not to be noticed by those who aren't looking. According to his email, the camera he used is a Go!Cam.

Watch the video of the "invisible PSP camera mod" at work in the full article.

With the recent release of the PSP Slim complete with new video output feature, and the PSP Camera out on the market for some months now, it's only a matter of time before someone tinkered with the possible hardware/software tricks between the two. Lunacy8m of Gadgetmadness did exactly that and he's now showing us in his Youtube video what he dubs as the world's first PSP webcam.

Basically, what Lunacy8m did is attach a PSP Camera to the video output-equipped PSP 2000, connect it to his laptop and voila, he now has a working PSP webcam. What made the PSP to laptop connection possible is the Adaptec Gamebridge, a hardware add-on that establishes compatibility between gaming consoles and PCs (it's usually used to play games on the PC without the need of TV).

It's not that hard of a trick really, Lunacy8m just happened to have a really good common sense and the right stuff to make it work. To those wondering if this one's legit, it should be noted that Lunacy8m is the same guy who came up with the Gameboy webcam and the original EyeToy webcam.

As much as a lot of us are slightly annoyed by fancy names for normal things like progress - web 2.0 we're looking at you - Sony announced back in GDC 2007, that Sony Computer Entertainment's approach to the next-generation gaming experience will be known as Game 3.0. Basically, Game 3.0 is a fancy name for using the PSP as a means to take part of your living-room based entertainment with you on the go. Yes, this is more stuff on their much touted PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable connection.

Of course the Game 3.0 era also implies further evolution for the PlayStation Portable. We're already experiencing that with their continuous releases of firmware updates and such. When asked by the folks at IGN if Sony is worried that the PSP will ever run out of space for that, John Koller, Senior Brand Manager for Sony Computer entertainment (SCE), said that no, for what they're considering, there's always space to evolve the PSP. He explains:

No, for what we're considering, it will not run out of room. We obviously never designed the PSP to be a static product - it will always continue to grow, evolve and allow the consumer new opportunities to utilize the PSP in unique ways. We launched it with a set of features that were pretty dynamic in terms of games and photos and video and movies and music, and we've added on to that quite a bit. You'll continue to see quite a few additions this year and beyond. We've been fairly regular with the firmware updates, and I think we have offered a lot of content that has been asked for, both in our research and in what we see out there in the broader PSP communities.

As for third party contributions to the PSP's features, Koller notes that despite their policy of making broad strokes and having users take everything at update instead of having things parceled out, they do listen to what people ask. He says: "...we definitely do listen to what consumers are asking for, and I think that that is what we really have to emphasize and have resonate this year."

John Koller also notes that Koller is thinking of ways to integrate the PSP in the PlayStation Home dynamic. They're still looking at ways to optimize that though. He does however, assure that they'll be more open about the PSP PlayStation home mesh soon.

We know, it's a long interview. But there are reasons to check the rest of the summary after the jump. Let's see:promises on PlayStation Network and Store, Remote Play, and two certain PSP accessories in Japan you guys have been asking about.

Here's another cool video from AcidMods' Neubit">Neubit. Yes, the same person responsible for the AAA PSP Battery mod. Behold, the new PSP Chotto Shot night-vision mod, in which your PSP Camera is apparently able to capture decent quality video in dim / dark lighting situations.

As much as we'd want to enjoy this mod, and as much as we eagerly await his promised mod tutorial - which he promises to release later this month - there was something about this mod just creeps us out. For one thing, he says that his brother (the one seen waking up in the vid) didn't even notice him (Neubit) filming him.

But what about future implications? How long will it be before we hear more complaints of shaky cam amateur adult content creeping on the PSP?

Okay, so you've already captured videos of your family at their most embarrassing moments with the PSP camera, now what do you do? Upload them for blackmail on the net, of course. And for many net-savvy gamers, the site of choice would have to be Youtube. For the guys just wondering how exactly to pull that off, you're in luck.

Just after yesterday's release, zmcnulty has put up another set of Youtube videos for fellow PSP owners out there, and these will be guiding us through the process of uploading PSP camera-recorded videos direct from the portable into Youtube. But before you get started on the videos, zmcnulty notes important details on the video settings:

• The Camera needs at least firmware 3.00 or above to work.
• The ideal video setting for youtube uploads is 320 x 240.
• (Obviously) You'll need an existing youtube account.

Now, on to the viewing.

The rest of the video instructions after this jump!

It's a pity Chotto Shotto is still not being announced for the American market yet our Japanese contemporaries are already having a grand time with it. We really don't have much to say regarding the matter because as it is, the whole PSP Updates QJ Blog is swarming with details, videos and images.

When we said grand time, we didn't only mean in a jovial, selfish kind of way. Fr@nkie, through an email, informed us regarding the PSP camera being ran on 2.71 SE-B. As we all know, the camera requires 2.80 and comes with firmware update 2.82 on the Edit UMD. It's a good thing though that those techie people who already received the camera are thinking of the whole PSP community.

The homebrew application is called USB CamPRX. We really can't host it, but if you know your way around the internet you should be able to find it. Also, here's a video clip uploaded via YouTube by Amanogami, possibly the coder of the application.

ABK_Lotus Pod has just posted some pretty cool images on his newly received Chotto (PSP Camera).

BOTH TAKEN WITH THE CHOTTO

As you can see from these pictures, the quality of the images is very good. Since the screen is only 480x272 1.3 megapixels is all that is needed for good picture taking quality.

What We Know:

• Camera requires 2.80 and comes with firmware update 2.82 on the Edit UMD.
• A CHOTTO_SHOT folder is created in the VIDEO and PHOTO folders making it easy to transfer the media to your pc.
• Videos are 15 seconds long and are saved in your Album on the Edit UMD you can enter your album and convert your videos to Motion JPEG (It says they are converted to AVI but their really converted to Motion JPEG.) After converting it will then add your video to the CHOTTO_SHOT folder in the VIDEO folder.
• You must have the Edit UMD to take pictures or video without the UMD you can ot use the camera.
• The Edit UMD is part English. The main things you need to know are in English but pretty much all the editing is Japanese but I got the hang of it very quickly and already remember what all the things do. Again its not hard its actually kinda fun finding out what everything means.
• Also if you do get the camera and have difficulties finding out how to do thing PM me and I'll help you to the best of my knowledge.

FEATURES:

• Camera has a mic so yes there is sound on the videos.
• Has digital zoom.
• Has a night mode for videos.
• Has many special effects to add to your videos and photos to list a few you have background music, sound effects, can freeze reverse video, theres just soo many things to do when editing theres too many to list.

The full article, packed with more info, images, and video showcasing the PSP Camera, after the jump!

Let us give you a little background on this story first. A few months ago, Sony presented a few slideshow images during their PlayStation Business Briefing. They said that several things were supposed to be released by the time October's being displayed on our wall calendar. The official first-party camera was supposed to come out last September. Well, so far we have 2.81 firmware, RSS audio, Flash, Chinese font, and GPS/camera library files.

This is where the big and obvious question from PSP3D's Birdman1 comes in -  WHERE'S THE CAMERA?

He gives several speculations as to what might be causing delays. Most interesting is that Sony R&D might be delaying it in light of the new TIFF exploit. They could be taking time to patch up the firmware and the security holes or something. Most likely (and this is what we agree with), is that Sony might be holding back because of the holidays. The PS3 does invade this November, and interest for Sony goods will probably peak. Holiday season equals buying power, and this perhaps is what is causing Sony to delay their first party accessories.

Then again they might just be a bit too occupied with the PS3.

Birdman1 went on to worry about possible business problems for Sony if they continue to deviate from what they've promised to deliver. Well, we know you guys are tired and probably annoyed already with "doom and gloom" business analyst predictions about Sony losing money. Some of us here at QJ are sort of tired (and confused) with all the bad news too, so we'll just leave the Sony accessory delay issue in your hands. Well? What do you guys think? Does the delay with the PSP Camera mean that Sony's abandoning the PSP? Will this bring them deep doo-doo?

Anyway, we're tired of "this is bad for Sony" news, but we guess it can't be helped. It's all over the place; it's like a Pink Elephant in a room, or a fly in your soup, you just have to talk about it. Personally, I don't think this will be bad for Sony, after all they've got a console coming out. They could probably care less... But still, we just want that camera. There's official word on Japan getting the camera. What about us?