PSP Blogger - PlayStation® Portable Fansite

Finally that long awaited preorder arrives! You tear away on the annoying courier packaging, remove the plastic wrapper with you're grinding teeth, gaze at the front cover for a few seconds, flip open the casing, and finally slam the UMD in your PSP. This is what happened to most gamers who bought themselves a copy of God of War PSP.

The problem came in when they managed to complete the game the same day they purchased it. Fact is that most new games are relatively short (besides the odd RPG here and there). Replay value happens mostly in puzzle and multiplayer games but usually fails with single player action adventure titles such as GOW. Yeah the hardcore fans might replay the title to unlock every last item but for the average gamer this title will most likely be traded or sold. Another example is the relatively short Silent Hill: Origins. You play the game to see what happens in the end (aka story line) but after completing it you don’t really have anything else to look forward too, keeping in mind that SH can be completed in 2 hours.

(Nintendo moment alert) How many times did you play Super Mario Bros over and over or what about Contra or Sonic or even Adventure Island? What gave these games the excellent replay value they still have until today? Maybe it all comes down to choice.

At time when the NES ruled the earth and mankind had to play on blocky looking controllers there was no real competition. Simply put, everybody had NES and everybody had Pac Man. There were plenty of games available for the system but most people just ended up getting one of those 20000 in 1 cartridges (Famicon…hmm). Today you however have the option of getting a Wii, DS, PSP, Xbox, and PS3 or even PS2 (or like some people, all of them). You might like FPS based games, whereas your buddy might prefer RPG’s and this weird looking dude might worship RTS but strangely enough in the NES days everybody loved side scrolling platformers.

There are so many consoles, genres and games to choose from its insane. In the end it’s not the games that lost the replay flavor but more the subliminal idea of alternative choices. While playing GOW you might be thinking about how much (the already preordered) Final Fantasy CC is going to rock but after getting and enjoying FF you might already be thinking about the next big title that interests you (resulting in GOW ending up on the dusty shelf).

With so many consoles and games available, there’s always something else to look forward to and while the replay concept might not apply to multiplayer games or similar it does have an impact on story driven single player games.

As we all know, the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS are currently ruling the charts. The big question however is why.

Most gamers will jump up at this point and shout “It’s the price and portability factor you noob!” We do agree that portability does play a big role but we have to disagree on the price part. In most countries the PSP is actually more expensive than the Xbox 360. Yeah we know the Xbox 360 is pretty unstable (we just had too) but still the console provides much more than the PSP besides the portability.

Hey but wait, the Xbox 360 arcade edition is the only version that’s cheaper than the PSP correct? Next generation gaming consoles are very much like PC’s these days since you get different versions which offer well…different features. You can upgrade hard drives; add wireless adaptors, blah blah blah you know the rest. Another article we read the other day explained how customers got extremely confused with these new console features and revisions and versions and what not and most ended up walking out of the stores empty handed (probably to go do some more research). An employee from a local game store booked in a client’s new 40Gb PS3 for replacement due to the fact that it had problems playing PS2 games (yeah, read that sentence again).

Your Sega Genesis was the same as mine, and the next door neighbor and so fourth and this is how consoles have operated all these years. We love the PS3 but the fact that you have to actually install some of the titles (like DMC4) kind of takes away the whole tray and play factor don’t you think. For internet freaks like us these versions and upgrades are pretty easy to understand but for the end user it’s not always the same story.

Here’s an example: Jack wants to upgrade his PS2 so he runs down to the local game shop to buy a next generation console. Firsts he looks at the 360 only to be informed by the sales person that due to RROD they discontinued sales and are still awaiting new and more stable units. He then spots the nice looking PS3 to once again be informed that the 40GB version won’t run his PS2 games and that the 60GB version is discontinued. Next on the list is Wii which does not really have any titles he likes such as MGS and Gran Turismo available and the graphics seem to be on par with he’s old PS2 as well. He’s not having such a nice day and obviously the fun has been taken out of buying a console. He might end up deciding to go the PS3 route but due to the pricing he will most likely end up going home empty handed.

Gone are the days of just connecting your console to your TV with standard RCA cables. It’s all about surround sound, HDMI, LCD resolutions, wireless, storage capacity, card readers, etc. and even though these features are nice to have they can get confusing to some.

It’s not “Dad, I want an Xbox 360", it’s more like “Dad, I want the limited Xbox 360 Mongoose Edition or Pro Value Edition or Elite Edition but just not the Arcade Edition".

If you wanted a Sega Genesis you simply just had to grab any one off the shelf, but lately people tend to ponder for weeks on what console version to buy and even sometimes end up waiting for later versions to be released with the hope that new features with be included. Now that the PSP can also connect to a television the purchase is just so much easier. “Dad, I want a PSP”….Done.

Gamers are active, gamers are mobile and as we all know people want things easy in life. Handheld console purchases are just so much simpler.

It’s true that not everybody who runs custom firmware on their PSP’s uses it to play pirated games but some people prefer to just stick with official firmware anyway. We use official firmware ourselves believe it or not and you might have also noticed no homebrew related articles appearing on our site. There are hundreds of websites already covering the homebrew scene so we rather decided to focus on the official side of things.

So boys and girls, what else can you do with official firmware (higher that version 1.5) besides the usual stuff? Well to be honest, not much really. Yeah we know, it sucks but there are some simple things you can do to maybe spice up your PSP a bit. Let’s see what’s available on the menu.

Note: This list will be updated regularly

PSP Themes

If you’re sick of your standard XMB theme then now is the time to do something about it. Themes don’t just change your PSP wallpaper but the icons too. It’s not much but at least you’re PSP will look unique (software wise that is).

Click here to download PSP themes

PSP Flash Games

Yeah we know that most of the PSP flash games are pretty weak but there are some nice ones lurking around. We can’t really complain either since they are free you know. A quick Google search should give you plenty of options. Be sure to let us know if you find something nice.

Windows for PSP

This software allows you to run a very basic version of Windows on your PSP through the integrated web browser (you don’t have to be online). You'll have access to a few windows games and applications so you might just want to check it out.

Click here to download

Please note this list is still under construction. Feel free to mail us with any ideas you might like to contribute.

Besides the recently released action adventure game God of War: Chains of Olympus, the PSP has been mostly overwhelmed with Puzzle and RPG titles. Even though Puzzle games such as Loco Roco and RPG’s such as Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy are fantastic games, it still doesn’t really fill out the missing PSP games gap.

There are plenty of titles available for all genres on the handheld but very few of them actually make it into the top spots. Let’s look at survival horror for example; Silent Hill Origins seems to be the greatest title for the genre but on the other hand it’s the only survival horror title on the PSP. Platform adventure titles are also currently in the low with Daxter and Rachet & Clank being the only really worthwhile candidates. RPG fans however are really overwhelmed with great titles (Final Fantasy, Gurumin, Monster Hunter, Tales of the World, Star Ocean) and a pretty much never ending list of games to look forward to. Same thing also applies to puzzle gamers still jamming it out with Lumines and Loco Roco. If we look at the titles we played on the PSX/PS2 and then at the ones currently being played on the PSP you will immediately notice the change.

Even though the PS2 also had plenty of RPG and Puzzle titles, other genres were just as blooming with great titles. All over the web you’ll find gamers literally begging for PSP releases of titles such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Hitman, Gran Turismo, James Bond, Max Payne, Legacy of Kain, Shadow of the Colossus, Timesplitters, Die Hard, Dino Crisis, The Italian Job, Onimusha, Rez, Okami, ICO, and even Red Faction for the handheld. What you’ll however notice about this wanted list is that almost none of these games are RPG’s. The RPG and Puzzle titles crossover between the PSX/PS2 and PSP has been pretty much filled but genres such as action, adventure, stealth, racing, strategy and even FPS are the ones still most asked for.

Looking at IGN’s upcoming PSP release list you’ll however discover that all this should be remedied in the near future since half of the upcoming titles are action, adventure and platform based. Just hope that some developer will hear the cries of horror survival fans.

As with all electronic devices faults are due to arise some how or the other. This can be due to electronic failure, drop damage or even your dog who decided to have an electronic snack. Or maybe you’re just looking at cleaning your PSP after a pretty heavy weekend with Monster Hunter. The following tips should help you out with these little headaches.

The Faceplate

If you’re planning on adding a new look to your PSP or just wanting to replace your cracked faceplate this guide might just be what you need.

Note: Some people have noticed a very tiny crack in the plastic right next to one of the corners of the PSP screen. This according to Sony is perfectly normal and there’s no need to replace your faceplate.

Faulty LCD Screen

I’m sure you have a pretty good explanation as to why your PSP LCD is cracked but either way, this guide should help you replace the screen without the worry of damaging any other components.

UMD Metal Ring Scratches

As you might have noticed, the metal ring on the backplate of the Slim PSP is a magnet for scratches. You might want to consider getting yourself a protective case. Otherwise the following tips be able to assist you on removing those dreadful battle scars.

Power Switch Replacement

If for some odd reason your power switch decided to go to heaven then this guide will show you where and how to solder on a new one.

Replacing UMD Door

Ok, Golden Compass is a real crappy game but there’s no need to break the UMD door. Lukily this handy guide will show you how to replace the poor thing.

Cleaning LCD Screen

Most common thing seems to be a dirty LCD screen. We don’t even want to imagine how it would look like if it was a touch screen. Anyway this guide will help you to make it all nice and sparkly again.

Unbricking

So you tried to run custom firmware but things didn’t really go according to plan. The lights on the PSP are on but nobody’s home. There might however be light and the end the tunnel by checking out this guide.

Cleaning Analog Stick

The biggest problem with cleaning the stick is the little grips on top. All the dirt tends to make home there but this guide will show you how to make you analog stick look like new.

Waterproofing

Why someone would want to make their PSP waterproof is beyond me, but here you go anyway.

It’s only April but what a year it’s been for PSP gamers this far. We found ourselves performing deadly combo attacks with God of War: Chains of Olympus, reviving past memories with Final Fantasy: Crisis Core, controlling odd looking but dangerous little creatures in Patapon and even took our current music collection to the next level with Beats. It’s without a doubt been a truly spectacular year for the PSP (as seen by the recent PSP sales figures).

P.S. The new firmware update 3.95 can now be automatically downloaded via the network update feature on the PSP.

So is this the end of all spectacular PSP events for this current year? Well we're glad to inform you that it’s just the beginning.

Note: Some of the following titles have already been released in certain countries.

Let’s start by looking at PlayStation Store titles still scheduled for 2008.

• Cool Boarders 2
• Cool Boarders 3
• Destruction Derby 2
• Gauntlet Legends
• G-Police
• Klonoa
• Kurushi Final
• Metal Gear Solid
• Motor Toon Gran Prix
• Namco Museum Series
• Omega Boost
• Ridge Racer
• Ridge Racer Type 4
• Roll Cage
• Tekken 1 & 3
• Vib Ribbon

Then there are of course some major PSP titles we can look forward to such as; Secret Agent Clank, Lego Batman & Indiana Jones, R-Type Command, Space Invaders Extreme, N+, Destroy All Humans, Star Wars: TFU and Iron Man.

There are also a couple of rumored PSP titles for 2008 floating around including; Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Oblivion, Cannon Fodder, Dino Crisis, etc. We do however have no idea of how true these rumors are.

Other things that's also worth mentioning are bigger memory sticks (which will also reduce the pricing on the smaller versions), Firmware release 4.0 (which hopefully includes the long awaited DivX functionality), Qwerty Keyboard and some other secrets that Sony doesn’t want to reveal at this point and time.

All and all, PSP gamers can rest assured that 2008 is still packed with goodies so stay tuned for more information.

Even though the PSP is blooming with great titles lately there’s always the bad apples that makes it to every gaming platform. The following list of games should simply stay in the bargain bin or even better…the rubbish bin. We won't go into much detail as to how horrible the games are. Rent it if you really have too and see for yourself.

Beowulf

Even though this game might look semi-ok the rest is pretty bland. The story sucks, the fighting sucks, everything else sucks too.

Bubble Bobble Evolution

The visuals are broken, the soundtrack is awful and the great old school gameplay has been replaced with some mindless puzzle garbage.

Dave Mirra BMX Challenge

Crappy sound, choppy visuals, unstable controls and far too easy gameplay is all the ingredients required for a must avoid title.

The Golden Compass

Extremely poor graphics, horrible platforming, crappy controls and awful camera angles is enough to make anybody commit suicide.

The Legend of Dragon

Nice name - crap game. This title is just too easy and far too repetitive. Avoid.

Napoleon Dynamite

This title is suppose to be all about the mini-games and frankly they all suck. What makes things even worse is annoying and frequent load times.

Pimp My Ride

Boring gameplay, frame rate issues, bugs and more waits you in this ridiculously repetitive and pointless title.

Pocket Pool

Lame doesn’t even come close to explaining this game. Rubbish

Need for Speed Pro Street

I’m a real fan of the NFS series but EA really messed up this title. The career mode is boring, the events are boring and to top it off, the controls as crap.

Transformers: The Game

Even though the movie was pretty ok the game itself goes beyond horrible. Avoid at all costs.

Other crappy titles that's also not worth your hard earned cash.

Pocket Racers
TMNT
Warriors of the Lost Empire
Xiaolin Showdown
Ghost Rider
Street Supremacy

Warriors Orochi

All PSP owners should by this time be familiar with the recently added service Go!Messenger (GM). PSP users should also be familiar with the fact that there are hardly ever people online. Currently we have about 146 contacts on our list and we've only seen someone online about four times.

The primary features of this service are voice and video chat. The problem however is that very few PSP users actually own the peripherals that allows this. Yes you also have the option of instant messaging but without the not yet released Qwerty keyboard this can be quite a tedious task. I personally like the idea of connecting to PSP users worldwide even if it’s only to say “hello” but due to the lack of users owning the proper accessories this service is really losing its potential.

Most people use their PSP for games or music and even by reducing the price on the peripherals very few users will actually bother using the service which is quite a shame. A much easier option would be to simply install GM on your PC for easier text messaging but that would pretty much defeat the object of having the service on your PSP altogether.

In the end Sony had a good idea here but unfortunately the service is pretty much dying. Hopefully the Qwerty keyboard will be released soon at an affordable price (which we pretty much doubt).

Feel free to add your GM nickname in the comments section and maybe you might just get lucky and find some people online.

We recently covered a topic about gaming in relationships and received some very interesting feedback. While some females hated the idea of their partner’s gaming habits, others joined in on the fun.

We decided to visit Grrlgamer and had the privilege of interviewing Managing Editor and PR Coordinator Didi Cardoso about female gamers in general. This is what she had to say:

PSPSA: First off, how long have you been with Grrlgamer?

Didi: Going on 8 years, started as a fan-fiction contributor, and a few years ago I took over as managing editor and PR.

PSPSA: Are all the members of you forum/lounge only female and how many of them are there?

Didi: No, our community is composed of males and females. Only the staff is female. There are about 500 registered members.

PSPSA: So what exactly made you decide to become part of the gaming community?

Didi: What made me become part of the site was the passion for games and writing.

PSPSA: Do you think that females in general have a hard time getting accepted as gamers?

Didi: I can't speak for every other girl, but I've had my share of nasty comments and funny stares in several occasions. Fortunately for me, I don't care what other people think of me playing games. :)

PSPSA: We recently had a discussion about females who don't really approve of their partners gaming habits. What's your opinion on this?

Didi: I say try to play a game together, you might enjoy it. My husband and I have been playing games together since EverQuest came out. We've been through a bunch of MMOs together, we play FPSs and action/RPGs together, and it’s a lot of fun. And if it weren't for him and the usual "You have to play this!” I would have missed out on a lot of great games in the past.

PSPSA: We recently added an article to the site that included the words DS vs. PSP, which obviously caused some flaming. Does this problem also occur in your community?

Didi: No. We actually don't have flaming wars, only healthy discussions. Our community is very diverse in both the games they appreciate and systems they own, everything from classic platforms to the PS3. Preferences are preferences, but I think it's unfair to compare systems that are so different and each has its own set of games and features, and serves different purposes. It's like the PS3 or Wii vs. Xbox 360 argument. It just doesn't work.

PSPSA: What is the general age group of your staff and members?

Didi: We're all in our 20's-30's (staff), members ranging from 18 to their 40's.

PSPSA: Anything you would like to say to the guys that don't really approve of female gamers?

Didi: Approve or not, we still play all sorts of games.

PSPSA: If you where forced to choose one gaming platform, what would it be?

Didi: Probably the Xbox 360. Although I like all my gaming systems and use them all, so I'd rather not pick just one especially since I really like the advantages of portable gaming.

PSPSA: Just before we wrap this up, is there anything else you would like to mention?

Didi: I don't know. But I always like to clarify that we don't encourage an anti-male attitude. For some reason, people tend to jump to that conclusion a lot.

Recently we posted an article about the graphics difference between the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. The intentions we had with the article where totally different to the responses we found in the comments section. In a way we could have expected the article to get flamed but strangely enough something bigger evolved. Let’s take a look shall we…

After closely studying the comments the following were the ones most mentioned:

“The DS has better games period”

Yes this is a PSP dedicated site but we always look at the opinion of all the parties involved. OK, so the DS has better games. Is this statement actually true or is it just some heavy over exaggerated rumor created by DS owners?

Now we can sit here for hours and list all the good games on the PSP but DS owners can do exactly the same making this argument pretty pointless. We decided the best option would to visit GameSpot and see what the reviews scores had to say about this.

Total amount of DS games that scored 80% and higher = 47 as seen here.

Total amount of PSP games that scored 80% and higher = 72 as seen here.

Keep in mind that this is not my scores but the figures provided by GameSpot.

“Who cares about graphics?”

If you like 2D graphics or if you’re a fan of Mario then please get yourself a DS. We honestly have nothing against the DS but this statement is really pointless. Playing a pixilated racer or 3D platformer sucks, and that’s why game sites like IGN and Gamespot provide a graphics quality score as well.

“The PSP is just another gamegear”

Where on earth did the gamegear sell over 30 million units? Comments like this only make you look like a fool.

“Everyone here must be on drugs”

In a way we have to agree. You should have seen the 30 odd comments we deleted.

“The PSP will never outsell the DS”

We seem to have fortune tellers here too and also keep in mind that the PSP recently outsold the Wii, PS3, 360 and PS2 combined in Japan and yes it also outsold the DS.

We can seriously go on about this but in a way we actually admire people who stand up for the things they love. It’s just a shame the majority of DS owners seem to be arrogant kids.

How to leave a proper comment 101:

Ok, so you like the DS. Here’s how to leave a proper mature comment:

The proper way: Yes, the PSP does have impressive graphics but I prefer the games found on the DS as they cater more for my tastes.

The wrong way: PSP sucks! DS FTW…DS pwns the world! Bwhahahha..

The proper way: The reason I prefer the DS over the PSP is due to the touch screen and dual screen. I’m also a real fan of Mario and Zelda games.

The wrong way: PSP is for sissies! Noobs!

Please feel free to read the comments provided by your DS friends and see how they embarrass you. The article was purely about the graphics (for those who care about graphics) and had nothing to do about the consoles or the games.

This is a follow up to the article 100 Reasons to own a PSP.

Well since the previous article seemed to have caused some confusion I decided to clear things up a bit. I received plenty of mails complementing me on finding 100 reasons but I also received some mails informing me that the list is super lame. According to these readers functions like clock, mute, integrated speakers and even gamepad lock is extremely stupid. Well, they are simple and stupid but there’s a reason why I listed them believe it not. I also received five mails explaining that you need custom firmware for 333 MHz processor speed. Where on earth do you people hear these things? You don't need CFW for that as the full processor clock has been unlocked with the release of OFW 3.50 (GOW supports 333 Mhz). I honestly don’t usually follow up on my previous articles with another article but since I didn’t really explain why I listed some of these simple features I figured it might be worthwhile.

So here goes, the listed features most people complain about…

#11 – Mute

Why on earth would someone list a function as simple as mute? Well there are people out there who actually like to use this function you know. I have 2 MP3 players (JNC and Asus) and they simply don’t include this function. I also have a Gameboy Advance that does not include this function either. Mute is handy, and it’s something I want when purchasing a unit that can play movies and music.

#40 – Calendar / Date

Another function that’s missing on my GBA and other devices and yes I sometimes forget the date, I’m only human.

#41 – Intergraded Speakers

I own a very expensive iPod and yet this funky little device does not have speakers. You’ll be surprised at how many people use their PSP for some music in the background while reading or whatever.

#66 – Over 30 million units sold worldwide

There is no point in getting a gaming console that doesn’t sell.

#67 – Current best seller in Japan

Most of the titles I play are Japanese RPG’s. If the sales go up then more developers will focus on the console.

#78 – Gamepad Lock

Yes I’m one of the few that likes watching movies on their PSP. The lock assures that no accidental button presses will hinder the movie playback.

#83 – Clock

The clock is another function missing from my Gameboy Advance and some other handheld devices. I also like the idea that I can press the Home button while playing a game to quickly have a look at the time.

#84 – Stereo Sound

I have this real nice Samsung cellphone that supports MP3’s but only has mono sound and like I mentioned previously my iPod doesn’t even have speakers.

#86 – Future DivX support

This function is something that will be featured on the PSP soon and it’s really something to look forward too.

Like I mentioned in the previous article; while some of these functions might seem simple or even pointless to you, they might be of great importance to someone else.

Yesterday evening I was attacked by some forum member and this is what he had to say: “Dude, everybody knows that the DS is more than capable of running PSP games”. This just proves my point that drugs are bad for you. DS and PSP gamers are well aware of the technical differences between the two handhelds. The thing is how big is the graphical difference really? I’m fully aware that visuals alone do not make a game great but eye candy is always nice to have. Imagine you’ve purchased this new RPG that offers 4 million hours gameplay but the graphics is butt ugly. You’ll be seeing this visual representation throughout the whole game so in my opinion graphics does indeed have major impact on games.

The following list of screenshots is not a competition between the two handhelds since the games where created for two totally different systems, but more to give gamers a general idea of what to expect visually when purchasing any of the two handhelds. I know some people might reckon that the comparison is really unfair but if you think about it, the DS is latest handheld from Nintendo and the PSP the latest from Sony.

The top screenshots are from the Nintendo DS and the bottom widescreen shots are from the Sony PlayStation Portable.

Ridge Racer

Sims 2

Need For Speed: Pro Street

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007

Burnout

Crash of the Titans

Well there you have it. So if you’re planning on buying a new handheld then this should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect visually.

The mission:

To provide one hundred reasons to buy/own a PSP. 100 reasons isn’t such an easy task as you might come to think. Yeah sure we can list a truck load of great selling games but that would defeat the object here. The reasons also had to exclude homebrew making the list even harder to compile.
We however decided to take the challenge so we present to you…

100 Reasons to own a PSP console…
The following list includes features, software and general reasons.

Update: 100 Reason to own a PSP console - Part 2

Update: We received quite a few mails complementing us on the list and also some hate mails. Yes some of these features are pretty stupid (clock, mute, standby) but you'll be surprised to see how people don't even know about them. We actually received a mail from some guy who freaked out since he didn't even know you could set the screen brightness. So while some features might be simple or even pointless to you, it might be of great importance to someone else.

1. Games (God of War, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, etc).
2. Skype
3. Go!Messenger
4. Web Browser
5. RSS Reader
6. Internet Radio
7. Remote Play
8. Location Free Player
9. WMA Support
10. Youtube Support
11. Mute Function
12. WPA & WEP Security
13. Firmware Updates
14. Game Sharing
15. Mpeg Video Playback
16. Exclusive Titles
17. Digital Comics Support
18. MP3 Playback
19. UMD Movies
20. USB Charging
21. Tivo Support
22. Extended Life Batteries Available
23. Faceplate Skins
24. Picture Viewer
25. XMB Themes
26. Wallpaper Support
27. PSOne Emulation
28. PS Store
29. Ad-Hoc
30. Online Gaming (Infrastructure)
31. Integrated WLAN
32. GPS Support
33. Camera Support
34. Wide Range of Accessories
35. Various Colors Available
36. PSP Platinum Range
37. Analog Stick
38. Portable Gaming
39. TV-Out Support (Slim)
40. Calendar
41. Integrated Speakers
42. Direct Play Via Memory Stick
43. PlayStation Spot Downloads
44. Online Messengers
45. WLAN Power Save
46. TV Screensaver (Slim)
47. Improved LCD (Slim)
48. Flashing Battery Indicator
49. Lanyard / Handstrap Support
50. USB Connectivity
51. Flash Games
52. Hands Free Speakers (Slim)
53. Supports Memory Stick Pro Duo
54. No Online Gaming Subscriptions
55. Stable Platform
56. Great Build Quality
57. User Friendly
58. Easily Available
59. Huge Game Database
60. Headset Support
61. Qwerty Keyboard Support
62. New Slim Design
63. Music Visualizations
64. Downloadable Demos
65. Light Weight (Slim)
66. Over 30 Million Sales Worldwide
67. Current Best Seller In Japan
68. 10 Year Future Plan
69. Standby Mode
70. Supports Standard Earphones (Slim)
71. XMB Navigation While Playing Music
72. Region Free Gaming
73. Upcoming 16Mb and 32MB Storage
74. Budget Titles
75. VoIP Support
76. Sharable Game Saves
77. Custom Sound Track Support (Game Specific)
78. Gamepad Lock
79. High Resolution Display
80. Future Titles (Devil May Cry, FF Dissidia, Resident Evil)
81. Bundle Deals
82. Widescreen Ratio
83. Clock :P
84. Stereo Sound
85. Responsive Controls
86. Future DivX Support
87. Replaceable Faceplates
88. 333Mhz Processor
89. Free wireless Internet From T-Mobile.
90. Adjustable Screen Brightness
91. Auto Sleep Function
92. Screen Shots (Game Specific)
93. Best Handheld Graphics
94. Photo Sharing
95. Downloadable Game Content (Game Specific)
96. Homebrew Support
97. Convert Your Own Videos
98. Slideshows
99. Wireless Scanner
100. Parental Control

Well that's the list and suddenly we like our PSP's ever more.

As we all know the PSP is filled with great titles such as God of War, Final Fantasy, Patapon, Wipeout, Monster Hunter and Metal Gear Solid. While these games currently own the PSP there are some real true gems that people tend to overlook. After hours of forum discussions and reading user reviews we narrowed it down to the ten following games:

Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

This racer comes straight from the arcade to the palm of your hands. It’s fast, it’s fun and you can play it online.

Silent Hill Origins

If you don’t have this title in your collection then now is the time to go get it. Brilliant graphics, suburb sound effects and chilling monsters make this the one and only PSP horror survival game.

Brave Story: New Traveler

One of the best looking RPG games on the handheld that offers all you’d expect from a RPG and more. If you like Tales of World then you’ll love this.

Beats (PlayStation Store)

Do you have music on you PSP? Get Beats…nuff said

Thrillville: Off the Rails

Build, manage and even crash your own theme park in Thrillville where there are simply no boundaries. Hundreds of different rides, shops and more await you in this jam packed title.

Valkerie Profile Lenneth

If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy then this title is for you. Great story, awesome cut scenes, varied gameplay, crisp graphics and much more can be found in this hidden gem.

Megaman: Powered Up

The original Megaman gets reborn on the PSP. Cute graphics, varied difficulty levels and extra modes make this title one platformer you just must have.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

In this action RPG you play a cute little girl and that’s probably why people overlook this title. Don’t let the looks fool you though because this game has more style and challenges than you think.

Metal Slug Anthology

The title is self explanatory. If you like side scrolling action platformers then you’ll love Metal Slug Anthology.

Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony

This RPG title is based on the extremely popular PC version and offers hours of gameplay, three different story lines, tons of weapons, excellent control system and crisp clear graphics. If you’re a fan of Dungeon Siege or just hack ‘n slash RPG's in general, then you might want to give this title a go.

After the recent discovery of the PSP 3000 label (it was found in the online manual), things started to get real busy in the rumor world. People seem to believe that the new model will most definitely have dual analog sticks as seen here and here.

Hmm, dual analog sticks eh? Wonder if this would be such as good thing? Yeah the idea of having two sticks sounds really nice although I can already see some complications arising if this actually becomes reality. New games will obviously be designed with dual analog in mind but where exactly will that leave old PSP owners? I’m seriously not going to upgrade again.
Another thing that also comes to mind when looking at dual analog is PS2 and PSone ports. PSP gamers will really start to see port heaven if dual controls actually make it to the handheld. This however wasn’t the only rumors flouting around.

Here are some of the features people are hoping to see in the new model (although some of these are really far out).

• Bluetooth (I like this one)
• Integrated Hard Drive
• PS2 Emulation
• Integrated GPS
• Touch Screen
• Double the RAM (again?)
• HDMI port
• Integrated Camera
• Vibration / Rumble (might cause gamers to drop their PSP)

I honestly can’t say if any of the above mentioned features will be included in the new model but I’m really curios to see what plans Sony have up their sleeve this time around.

As you might have noticed, the PS Store is currently blooming with new content (in certain countries of course) and with a new layout coming soon the PS Store has quite a promising future ahead of it.

Price wise however things don’t seem that promising. As you know all purchases on the store are done via credit card. The store however only allows you to activate your PSP on one country setting. What this basically means is that say you sign up for an American account but change to UK afterwards all your content downloaded from the American store won’t play due to license restrictions.

Well since I live in South Africa I obviously selected the South African store as I prefer viewing the currency (Rand) from my own country for easier purchases. Last night I had a little peak at the American store just out of curiosity and was quite shocked at what I discovered. They are overcharging me!

1 USD ($) currently equals 8 South African Rand (R).

Here is an example:

Beats on the USA store costs $5 which equals to R40 whereas on the South African store the same game sells at R75 ($9+). I haven’t checked the pricing on the stores from other countries but I’m sure there’ll be some differences too. Why is Sony doing this? There is no import costs involved since its downloadable content. If I knew this from the beginning I would have signed up for the USA store, and even if I do that now all my already purchased games simply won’t work. I could have purchased Flow and Beats from the USA store for basically the same price as only one game from the SA store.

Really sucks.

PSP gamers seem to constantly talk about custom firmware and the benefits of having it on the console. You’ll find hundreds of forums and websites containing guides, tips, tools, and downloads on CFW all over the web.

Here are some of the main features provided by CFW:

1. You can watch movies from all regions.
2. Run emulators for old console platforms such as NES, SNES, Genesis, Atari, etc.
3. PSP games can play directly from the memory stick.
4. Custom XMB themes can be installed.
5. Full support for third party homebrew applications.

Now while playing movies from all regions and being able to run emulators sound really nice the problem seems to be point nr. 3. Running PSP games directly from the memory stick is quite handy since you don’t have to constantly swap UMD disks but this feature also opens up the door to piracy. Even though the PSP is not that popular in South Africa I was still curious to see how big the effect was CFW had on the gaming community.

PSPSA interviewed local MBB forum member Cerealkilla about CFW and this is what he had to say:

PSPSA: How long have you been in the custom firmware scene?

CK: I’ve been using CFW for about a year now.

PSPSA: Do you think Dark Alex is a genius or just someone who wanted to promote piracy?

CK: I’d go with genius! As for promoting piracy, No! If you download a ripped game, you'll notice in the read me that it's for preview purposes, at the end of the day, it comes down to you as an individual... buy it or be a sad sap.

PSPSA: Is custom firmware in your opinion the main reason for the reasonably low PSP games sales?

CK: I certainly hope not. I think the reason for the low sales rate is marketing and cost related. Firstly, games take ages to reach SA shores. Secondly, some titles are overpriced and last, you don’t see any ads for PSP games!

PSPSA: How many PSP systems have you “hacked” with CFW?

CK: I’ve hacked 3 PSP consoles to date, 2 of my own and a close friend’s console.

PSPSA: Have you experienced any problems while using CFW on PSP’s?

CK: Personally I’ve never come across a bug in the system.

PSPSA: Does running CFW void with the PSP’s warranty?

CK: Yes, it does void the warranty, but you can always reload the original PSP firmware before taking it in and you're good to go. You haven't physically opened the unit.

PSPSA: What’s the main reason you use CFW for?

CK: I use CFW for the homebrew! There are lots of great apps available for the PSP such as using it as a remote for my TV. I love it! Gets my girlfriend really mad when she has the remote and I channel hop!

PSPSA: Do you believe the rumor that the Pandora Battery fix will be patched in the upcoming firmware 4.0?

CK: You know the PSP hackers... anything is possible with time,

PSPSA: What do you think about torrent sites promoting free downloadable PSP ISO images?

CK: I think there should be a fee involved apart from just using your bandwidth. The game should be a full version trial... play it half way, if you dig it, buy the original!

PSPSA: Anything else that you would like to tell us about CFW?

CK: Like I said, I'm a fan of CFW, in my opinion, it rocks. I'll never go back to original FW because my homebrew won’t work.

From what I understand it seems CFW does have its benefits even though games are still being downloaded illegally. The question is who’s to blame. Is it the creators of CFW for allowing the PSP to play pirate games or the users downloading the torrents?

The PSP has turned 3 and everywhere on the net you’ll find articles on how the sales figures improved this year. With new features such as Skype, Go!Messenger and games like God of War, Final Fantasy CC and of course Patapon, the PSP has really made it name for itself. PSP fans all over rejoice with the resent success and DS fanboys are still using the same old PSP complains (hey! Stop throwing tomatoes at me!).

Here are some of the PSP highlights for 2008:

1. Not only is the PSP slimmer but it’s also available in new funky colors and special edition box sets.
2. New bigger memory cards have been announced.
3. God of War, Final Fantasy CC, MH 2nd G, do I need to say more?
4. PSP is currently the second best selling console worldwide!
5. Skype, Go!Messenger, and other new firmware upgrades have been added.
6. PSP manages to out sell the Wii in Japan.
7. PSP sales figures are almost reaching 32 million!

Besides the above mentioned highlights PSP gamers also have some great titles to look forward to like Star Ocean, Secret Agent Clank, R-Type Command, N+, Devil May Cry, Phantasy Star Portable, Metal Gear Solid DGN2 and Echocrome just to name a few.

You might have however been wondering what PSP titles have been bringing in most of the sales. Well according to Wikipedia the best selling PSP title seems to be Daxter. Let’s take a look at the sales figures shall we.

1. Daxter (2 Million units sold)
2. Gran Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (1.95 Million units sold)
3. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (1.95 Million units sold)
4. Monster Hunter Freedom (1.15 Million units sold)
5. Need for Speed Most Wanted (1.04 Million units sold)

In the next couple of months we’ll see GOW, Wipeout Pulse, Final Fantasy CC and even Patapon added to the list. The question is if Daxter will still remain the PSP king.

The PSP (Playstation Portable) was released in Japan on December 12, 2004. The console is already on its way to 4 years! (Where does the time go?) Even though the PSP celebrated a new design and some great titles the past couple of years including familiar names like God of War, Final Fantasy and Silent Hill, there’s always been some emptiness in the PSP gaming market. I was shocked to see over 50 PSX and PS2 platinum titles not showing any signs on the PSP. Well after some research and hours of chatting on forums I narrowed it down to the 10 platinum titles that PSP still needs to be a real Sony hit.

I now present to you the…

Showdown! The 10 Games PSP still needs to be a called real Playstation.

Coolboarders

Yeah, the PSP needs snowboarding, and lots of it. Coolboarders 2, 3 and 4 all hit the platinum series on the PSX and therefore will be a great addition the PSP library.
Spyro The Dragon

Who could possibly forget this little cute fire spitting dragon? This game made it to the PS2 greatest hits range and received the Gamecube player’s choice award. It’s a fun little platformer that caters for everybody.

TimeSplitters

With three titles released on the PS2 and excellent gamer feedback this title might just be the first person shooter the PSP really needs.

Hitman

This game has its own damn movie and has not even touched the PSP console. What on earth could be better then killing people with style in the palm of your hand? Platinum status on PS2 is more than enough reason for a PSP version.

Yeah I know it has been announced but it’s seriously taking too long. To make matters even worse it seems that Capcom is planning on releasing a port rather than an original title. What a shame that would be.

Resident Evil

Another so called announced game that’s just not making any progress. Three movies, 2 million versions and still no PSP release.

Gran Turismo

No comment, seriously.

I honestly don’t know if we’ll see any of these titles soon if ever. Hopefully with the resent jump in hardware sales the developers must just surprise us. We can only hope.