PSPer’s psp game blog

   All this week, the writers of PSP Fanboy will share their impressions of Star     Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. Make sure you come back every     day, as we’ll be giving away five limited edition Darth Vader PSP-2000     systems.

 I’ll be quite frank: this is the first time I’ve played a Star Wars game on my     own time since Shadows of the Empire on the Nintendo 64. It was bitchin’,     sure, but I only played stuff like Knights of the Old Republic on a friend’s     system. Before Shadows, I think the only other Star Wars game I had was     on the NES — it was hard. Very hard. So, unlike Andrew and Colin, I have     no prior experience with the Battlefront franchise, so its move on psp is     less of a surprise to me, more of … an initiation into something fantastic.

    I don’t know why Andrew and Colin are so dismissive of the controls —     maybe they’re used to something completely different, but as a Battlefront     virgin, I found my cherry popping experience delightfully intuitive. [Wow,     strong imagery there! - Ed.] The basics are this: you don’t move your     cursor around — you press and hold the R trigger to lock onto nearby     enemies. The longer you lock, the stronger your shot. When you’re     locked, instead of running, you strafe. I think you can cycle through     enemies with the D-pad during a lock-on, but I’d just tap the R trigger and     move onto the next closest target. Actually, you know what, the controls     are exactly like Mega Man Legends. Maybe that’s why I love them.

    I wasn’t fond of the vehicles. No real reason, but the larger ones got stuck     a lot and controlling your aim was more cumbersome than rewarding.     Leave the vehicles for your AI peons to handle as you wreck an enemy     stronghold all by your lonesome. This is especially true in the Galaxy     Conquest mode, which I’ll be chatting about for the remainder of this     impression.

Sony launches movies on a stick for PSP
    Sony is introducing two Memory Stick entertainment packs for the     PlayStation  Portable(PSP) system later this month.

    The new capacity Entertainment Packs will feature a 2GB or 4GB Memory     Stick Pro Duo, and will come with a launcher DVD loaded with four movies     from Sony Pictures.
    With the launcher DVD loaded into a PC, one of the four movies can be     transferred from the DVD to the Memory Stick using an unlock code. This     allows the movie to be viewed on the PSP.

    Each movie is optimised for playback on the Sony PlayStation 3 console at     720 x 480 resolution as well as for the PSP. Titles available include Click,     Ghost Rider, RV and Stomp the Yard.

    The 2GB and 4GB Memory Stick Entertainment Packs will be available for     about $55 and $90 respectively.

    Sony has also announced 2GB and 4GB Memory Stick Micro media cards     for use with Sony Ericsson mobile phones, Cyber-shot digital cameras and     Handycam camcorders that have a Memory Stick PRO Duo slot.

    The 2GB Memory Stick Micro media card is available now for about $55.     The 4GB card will be available in November for around $90.

PSP2K was born with the ability to output video which I desire for. So recently I am keeping considering changing my fat P to this new thin thin pet., and I almost list it on taobao for sale. But things changed yesterday since hving found my fat P can do exactly what his successor does.

Last night, I hv read a thread titled Play Your PSP Game via PC Screen by RemoteJoy4iRS. I was so excited when looking at these words. That’s exactly what I’m looking for. It means my fat P can also make a video output to Pc or TV screen like PSP2K. It’s really amazing and I was so excited for that. With no hesitation, I started to configure my fat P settings for RemoteJoy step by step as the instruction told. Things seem to be more positive than what I  expected. It worked at the very first try. And for the first time, I see my psp games images from my PC screen, and then TV.  Thank you Ahman!!!

Everything goes well but for keyboard mapping! Yes, the original bindle keyboard setting is truly awful. It doesn’t use the universal setting for keyboard mapping like WASD etc. Instead of that, it put “z” as down and “d” as right. That makes me right down there!!! And that is why I hv to criticize Ahman the author here. He’s  kinda …ehm… a little selfish. Cuz I don’t think it is a technical reason for him since the previous versions can always work well for custom usage.

Writing down here, I hv wasted 3 hrs to find a way out for my own keyboard mapping. The only answer I hv got from Un-official IRShell Forum is that you can recompile USBhostFS.exe with your own keyboard mapping if you find the current mapping “dumb”. mapping is by AhMan and for HIS keyboard/laptop!

For God’s sake, stop this, cuz I really LMAO when trying press “z” for down!

PS: snapshots for video output effects

PC

Anyone owning a PSP Phat had best look away, as Sony has today announced that Skype will be made available on the handheld device, but only for the Slim & Lite model.

For those not up to date, Skype allows telephone calls to be made over the internet, meaning a great reduction in the cost for consumers. Skype to Skype calls are also completely free, which is a very nice touch. By bringing it to the PSP, it means the following services will be made available for handheld users:

Free voice calls between Skype users
Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)
Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)
SkypeOut calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
Optional SkypeIn™ number that lets users receive calls on Skype from landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)

An update is required to get the features working; that will be hitting late January according to the press release. Once updated, a nice new logo for Skype will appear in the Network category under the Home menu. It will be possible to create an account via the PSP, should you not have embraced the future just yet. Those that have will find it super-simple to sign in via said icon.

Anyone hoping to make use of this will need a Memory Card Duo, an internet connection (duh) and a Skype-compatible input device; basically a microphone so you can talk.

Who’s particularly excited about this new feature that holds so much potential? It certainly makes the PSP even more attractive to media-orientated consumers. Share your thoughts on this move below.

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Comment by SILen(e on 2008-01-07 05:20:15 | Reply
Hmm, i own a phat PSP and thought about a Skype-port months ago, so this is not a new idea to me and i also won’t be able to usw it… why don’t they just release Skype on an UMD (they can’t release it in a firmware on Phat, because it has less flash memory) for 20-30€/$? Even better would be a Skype for the Nintendo DS, it has an integrated microphone AND Nintendo has made contracts with some providers of WLAN hotspots, for example t-mobile in Germany, free WLAN in many central locations, for example Hamburg central station.

Comment by jj on 2008-01-24 20:30:07 | Reply
this is some bull **** sony im not pleased with u ppl at all u better put skype on the psp phat if it burns out OH WELL then we can get a new one. put it on there see what happens sony and put flash player 9 on there while your at it too. If our psps burn out because of this well be orced to buy a new one and then you will get more money sonnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Comment by jj on 2008-01-24 20:31:27 | Reply
right i no let it go on there anyway if it burns out OH freakin WELLLLL. well buy a new one.your prairs have been answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by jj on 2008-01-24 20:32:06 | Reply
if player 9 is on there ill be happy

Comment by jj on 2008-01-24 20:34:23 | Reply
sony i dont get it juz put it on there neway if it burns out the wires in the psp then we will hav to buy a new one sure we wont be happy but at least well have a betteer psp. RIGJT

I’ve been fortunate enough to manage the PSP brand since its launch in March 2005. As we’ve progressed from launch through the first few years of the PSP’s life-cycle, several important trends have emerged. One trend has been the movie/video-viewing usage growth by PSP owners; we know that nearly 60% of you purchased the PSP at least in part to watch movies and videos.

As we looked at these numbers, we started thinking about how to bring even more accessible video content to you PSP owners. We looked at the market and observed that people that were purchasing the PSP were not necessarily being offered the right video choice at the right price. One proposed initiative made a lot of sense to us: have SCEA distribute, market and sell targeted, top content from studios and other content providers for an affordable price.

So today, I’m pleased to announce that we have begun the first phase of this effort with this week’s launch of 10 MTV UMD titles for $14.99/each. With titles such as Jackass, Wildboyz, Viva La Bam, Beavis and Butthead and Aeon Flux, these initial UMD launches will be the first step towards broader content launches. With SCEA’s distribution, marketing and sales strengths, this initiative is a natural fit - and supplies great content to PSP owners. We hope you enjoy these titles. Look to SCEA for further movie and video content launches very soon.

Culver City (CA) - PSP owners will finally make good use out of the system’s voice-over IP functionality, with the official addition of a custom version of the online calling service Skype.

With the next scheduled firmware update, users will be able to download a completely functional version of Skype for the PSP.  In addition to making phone calls to existing Skype users, PSP owners will be able to manage their contacts list, see who’s online and who’s not, make and calls to/from actual telephone numbers, and have complete access to Skype account settings.

According to Sony, this functionality only works properly with the newer slim version of the PSP, further creating obsolescence for the original model.

The firmware update is slated for the end of this month.  A Skype icon will be added to the “Network” category of the PSP’s Xross Media Bar.  Users will also be able to create a Skype account directly from the portable system.  The feature will require a nominal download, so a Memory Stick will be needed to access the program.

Sony is introducing two Memory Stick entertainment packs for the PlayStation Portable(PSP) system later this month.

The new capacity Entertainment Packs will feature a 2GB or 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo, and will come with a launcher DVD loaded with four movies from Sony Pictures.
With the launcher DVD loaded into a PC, one of the four movies can be transferred from the DVD to the Memory Stick using an unlock code. This allows the movie to be viewed on the PSP.

Each movie is optimised for playback on the Sony PlayStation 3 console at 720 x 480 resolution as well as for the PSP. Titles available include Click, Ghost Rider, RV and Stomp the Yard.

The 2GB and 4GB Memory Stick Entertainment Packs will be available for about $55 and $90 respectively.

Sony has also announced 2GB and 4GB Memory Stick Micro media cards for use with Sony Ericsson mobile phones, Cyber-shot digital cameras and Handycam camcorders that have a Memory Stick PRO Duo slot.

The 2GB Memory Stick Micro media card is available now for about $55. The 4GB card will be available in November for around $90.

If you like skiing or snowboarding, SSX On Tour for PSP is the winter sports game for you when you are on the go. SSX comes to the PlayStation Portable for the first time bringing skiing to the table and the PlayStation 2 experience along with it. It also features 4-player head-to-head multiplayer via the PSP’s built-in wireless connection for you and three of your friends to enjoy while you are taking a break from the real slopes.

If you have played any of the SSX games on any of the home consoles then you should know what to expect with SSX On Tour for PSP, and if you haven’t then be ready to adventure down huge mountains on a snowboard or skis performing gravity defying tricks at high-speeds. Then, when you are finished racing down the hills you can show off your tricks in the half pipe events. SSX On Tour will keep you busy for awhile as you progress through event after event to unlock more areas, events, boards, skis, character attribute enhancements, legendary SSX characters, and wardrobes.

All of the environments you board and ski through on your quest to become the #1 ranked competitor and rule the mountain are detailed and very similar in design and appearance to the game’s home console big brother versions. The snow looks realistic and you leave marks as you travel through it. The environments and courses are big, but you still will occasionally go off course and have to be reset back on the correct path. This is common in all SSX games and probably unavoidable in most cases. The lighting and snow effects are also well done and the game has a very polished look to it. There are some minor camera problems, since you are behind your boarder/skier and sometimes can’t see around corners or lose track of your direction in tight quarters, but none of these really take away from the game.

The sights are good and the sounds aren’t too shabby either. The music runs the gambit from hip hop to alternative rock to some classic rock bands like Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, and the Scorpions. I would think you can find at least a few songs you will like on the soundtrack. It reminds me of a lot of other EA Sports soundtracks for better or worse and you can decide that for yourself. The sound effects are also decent and what you would expect in a snowboarding game. You will hear your board cutting through the snow and your character smacking the ground when you bail while trying to pull off a huge trick. There are also some ambient sounds like trees rustling and birds chirping to add to the atmosphere of the game.

Enjoying the atmosphere of a game is all dependent on how easy it is to control and I would like to report that the controls in SSX On Tour are decent, but will take some time to master. The game uses every button on the PSP and at first it will seem somewhat daunting to ski or board down the hill while pulling off tricks without bailing to increase your boost that will allow you to go even faster down the hill, especially if you have never played an SSX game before. Even after you have mastered the controls it still takes a good deal of skill to score high in the events, but with practice you should be able to get good enough to move through the events as long as you don’t get frustrated and give up first.

This frustration level has been one of the problems I have had with all the SSX games I have played in the past. They usually require you to place in 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the first event to move on to the second where you have to also place in the top two to go onto the final event. And if you restart anywhere in this process you go all the way back to the first event. These events also last upwards of 4 minutes sometimes and it is frustrating to waste that much time and not move on to the next event. Maybe I just need to get better at the game, but I can see some people getting frustrated and wanting to give up instead.

As mentioned above, there is multiple modes of play in the game and they include The Tour, which you will be spending most of your time in beating the events to unlock more events and other items. There is also a Practice mode which lets you practice your moves, what a concept? Challenge mode is also available and has you performing different tricks, blasting through ski gates, making it down the hill without bailing, and other things to beat the challenges set forth to unlock more challenges and items. Multiplayer rounds out the modes of play and lets you compete with three of your friends wirelessly in Race, Slope Style, and BigAir events. SSX On Tour has a lot to do and unlock and should keep you busy for a decent amount of time. You will also probably want to come back and play SSX On Tour again even after you beat it to try to unlock other things and beat your high scores. Choosing these different game modes from the menu system is also interesting, since it has animated doodles similar to what you would draw in your notebook when you are bored in class throughout the interface, adding a sense of style to the menu system that is rare.

Final Verdict

Back in July Sony announced that the new Slim PSP would come complete with a video out port, allowing users to plug the PSP into a TV and see everything on a big screen.

However, the cable required to do this, a PSP component cable, has been hard to get hold of. We had to get ours from Ebay. But now we’ve got it and put it to the test, we have to say, we’re suitably impressed.

For £12.99, the price of the official cable, you can transfer games from the small PSP screen to a big screen TV. There’s no lag to speak of nor any drop in quality once the image reaches your telly box. And although the games don’t output full screen, as you can see in the video below, it’s still certainly big enough to see what you’re doing from a distance.

Slide in a UMD movie on the other hand (you do have one right?), and the display fills the screen while looking equally as good as it does on the PSP.

Overall, if you have a new PSP Slim, but still crave to get your big screen gaming fix, then this is well worth the money. Still not convinced? Check out the video below to see the cable in action.

We made some phone calls to major stores, such as GAME and HMV, and checked on numerous website but could only find the PSP component cable in stock at Gamestation. So if you want one, you better get your skates on.