   A Window of Opportunity for PSP Homebrew?
  With the release of PSP System Update v2.71, the PSP is now capable of playing game demos off of a Memory Stick. Currently, only one demo exists Loco Roco.* Is this an opportunity for homebrew developers? I can definitely see it being an avenue for a new crack to re-enable homebrew apps (2.71 includes security fixes to stimey previous cracks), but perhaps it might be an official means of running arbitrary software on the hardware.I just bought a refurbed PSP to satiate my addiction to all things Metal Gear (yes, I spent $250 total just to play TWO handheld games. I have a problem, I admit it. Are we done?). I have to say that, in my first few days of owning it, I don't think the PSP deserves the flak that it has received. Sony has created an amazing little product with one of the slickest presentations I have ever seen.I am definitely trying to move away from a desktop-PC-centric computing paradigm. I enjoy handheld computers (*sheds a tear for the shattered Axim*) and small laptops. I like being able to flip out a device and perform a task with it very quickly. But right now I think there is a major problem with mobile user interfaces. I don't think the WIMP paradigm works too well on-the-go, but PalmOS and PocketPC are firmly entrenched in it. That's what I think is rather neat about the PSP, its interface is much easier to navigate than a traditional PDA. The tree-based menu system with navigation based on the control pad is far less prone to bad input than a stylus and touch screen. Yes, text input is a little slow, but it's slow on ANY handheld. Perhaps some 3rd party research will make some changes here.Admittedly, I'm not versed in the current state of the PSP homebrew scene. Any thoughts on any of this? Could Sony be seeing the "error of their ways" with closing the system down?*apparently you get redirected to the main Playstation site if you aren't using the PSP Internet Browser.   
  I own a PSP, and maintain it at 1.5 firmware for homebrew kernal mode.  IMO: It WOULD be one of the best systems (especially for people who want to play around making little games on a handheld console).  There are an absolutly massive number of Homebrew Applications and Games currently available.  Almost all of them require firmware 1.0 / 1.5 (homebrew apps can be run in firmwares 2.0-2.5 with a GTA exploit, but it runs in user mode and not kernal mode... which is far slower), but if there are thousands of apps made for primitive/old/rare firmware, there's a lot to be said about what COULD be available if homebrew apps were encouraged, not discouraged.I'm bitter that Sony has chosen to lock-out homebrew application development by enforcing new firmware requirements to play new games.  It's ironic, but their way of preventing people from using homebrew apps is to force them to choose between buying games or homebrew... they would get a lot of money from me (quite a few, what appears to be, cool games out).   ;  The reason I haven't been gung-ho on PSP homebrew development is simply that you have the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. If Sony wants to, they can simply roll over and crush away your user base for a few months with a hasty patch. That's assuming you can get an audience in the first place; most of the homebrew-using user base appears to be morons who just want to play pirated SNES ROMs.Buy a GP2X, ignore the community around it, and go build something useful. Portable Pygame is a thing of beauty.I was considering picking up a PSP once the price decreases further to play the MGA games and the Burnout game for it. I also have a problem with Metal Gear. *shuffles feet*   ;  What Ravuya said. If you want to do homebrew on a portable then you'll make your life much easier if you actually choose a platform which isn't totally closed off from you. Or at the very least choose a platform which has lots of resources available for it (ie. GBA).   ;Quote:Original post by RavuyaThe reason I haven't been gung-ho on PSP homebrew development is simply that you have the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. If Sony wants to, they can simply roll over and crush away your user base for a few months with a hasty patch. That's assuming you can get an audience in the first place; most of the homebrew-using user base appears to be morons who just want to play pirated SNES ROMs.Buy a GP2X, ignore the community around it, and go build something useful. Portable Pygame is a thing of beauty.I was considering picking up a PSP once the price decreases further to play the MGA games and the Burnout game for it. I also have a problem with Metal Gear. *shuffles feet*MGA2 includes a stereoscope for viewing 3D cards, some of them being japanese swimsuit models :DAs for waiting for the price to come down, I got the refurbed PSP with a 1 year non-questions, full-replacement warranty for $200 from GameStop (the warranty was an extra $20, and the store keeps your details on file in case you lose your paper work). The normal return window is 30 days. A brand new system is $250, without the 1 year warranty. They gaurantee that the refurbed system will have no dead pixels. The regular used systems are the same price, so it doesn't make any sense to buy one if they have a refurbed system available.   ;Quote:Original post by OrangyTangWhat Ravuya said. If you want to do homebrew on a portable then you'll make your life much easier if you actually choose a platform which isn't totally closed off from you. Or at the very least choose a platform which has lots of resources available for it (ie. GBA).I've done work on both the GBA and the PocketPC. The GBA has great hardware, with a very good interface, but the programming interface is less than ideal. It's not bad, but there are a couple of compromises here and there that are a little annoying. The PocketPC is a dream to program for, especially with the .NET Compact Framework, but the UI is absolute crap. Buttons that are impossible to push, and the fundamentally flawed stylus-and-touch-screen.edit: the wide ranges in hardware profiles for the PocketPC is also a major downfall.   ;Quote:Original post by capn_midnightAs for waiting for the price to come down, I got the refurbed PSP with a 1 year non-questions, full-replacement warranty for $200 from GameStop (the warranty was an extra $20, and the store keeps your details on file in case you lose your paper work). The normal return window is 30 days. A brand new system is $250, without the 1 year warranty. They gaurantee that the refurbed system will have no dead pixels. The regular used systems are the same price, so it doesn't make any sense to buy one if they have a refurbed system available.Fascinating. I will have to consider a refurbished model, though I don't think Electronics Boutique would carry one, and they'd probably rip me off anyway (We don't have FuncoLand/GameStop where I live [crying]).If I wait until the system is end-of-lifed, the price should be vastly reduced and there should be many more decent games available for it (provided the UMDs don't scratch or otherwise deteriorate).   ;Quote:Original post by RavuyaIf I wait until the system is end-of-lifed, the price should be vastly reduced and there should be many more decent games available for it (provided the UMDs don't scratch or otherwise deteriorate).I rather like UMDs (except for the lack of writers or readers for PC) because of that plastic housing.  Seems rather hard to scratch one.   ;Quote:Original post by necreiaQuote:Original post by RavuyaIf I wait until the system is end-of-lifed, the price should be vastly reduced and there should be many more decent games available for it (provided the UMDs don't scratch or otherwise deteriorate).I rather like UMDs (except for the lack of writers or readers for PC) because of that plastic housing.  Seems rather hard to scratch one.I've noticed that they pretty much need those cases, because the PSP itself would chew through the disk if they didn't.   ;Quote:Original post by capn_midnight...I've noticed that they pretty much need those cases, because the PSP itself would chew through the disk if they didn't.Good point.   