PSP 1.50 Firmware Upgrade a Requirement

[TrackZero]

Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) is reporting (http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000213048226/) that the PSP game Coded Arms will come included with the 1.50 firmware update on the disc itself. Seems like no big deal, except the update is required to play the game. (Note: The 1.50 update is known to break "homebrew" PSP software.)

This isn't an issue for people not interested in Coded Arms, however Joystiq editor Craig posed the question:

And what if the game had been Grand Theft Auto?

Looks like Sony is really trying to knockdown the PSP mod scene before it even gets its feet of the ground.

[Reanimated]

*scratches Coded Arms off of buy list*

Fuck Sony. I'll run whatever the hell I want on my PSP, thanks.

[Savok]

Every change only makes the modders faster, stronger and smarter. Keep going Sony!

[ReaverX]

(Note: The 1.50 update is known to break "homebrew" PSP software.)

[/I]

The only people this applies to are importers that have 1.0 versions from Japan. American PSPs shipped with the 1.50 firmware. Which was recently cracked to allow the use of homebrew, so it won't be breaking anything for now. :cool:
Future updates will most likely try to stamp it out though.

[eatme]

Quickie for those who don't click through:
There's already a no-swap workaround for 1.50, so you can upgrade to 1.50 and still run homebrew. Not 1.51 or 1.52 yet, though.

[emperordahc]

They broke the 1.50 firmware last week. I'm using my 1.50 USA system to play homebrew (coughemulatorscough) right now. In fact, it's running Castlevania 2 as we speak.

Note that version 1.51 *does* break homebrew, though.

[Bushido]

I think its cool that ppl are running emulators on sony PSP its really too bad sony cant find a way to crush this fun and less than profitable pasttime.

[Heretic Machine]

Sony's fight against modders is really killing my interest in the PSP...

[Varsity]

And what if the game had been Grand Theft Auto?Even more piracy than if they left it be, of course. If Sony were smart they would also add useful features to the firmware upgrades. But this is a corporation we are talking about...

[bapenguin]

Sony's fight against modders is really killing my interest in the PSP...

Hahahah...what console manufacturer do you know encouraged modders?

[Kamalot]

This sets the stage for every future PSP game to include a forced version update.

[OSX]

I think its cool that ppl are running emulators on sony PSP its really too bad sony cant find a way to crush this fun and less than profitable pasttime.

If Sony would have opened the UMD format, made video watching as easy as drag and drop (and its not really that much harder, but still) and allowed us to do what we wanted, I gaurentee they would sell a ton more units.

[KarmaGhost]

The only real reason I can think for Sony to discourage the use of homebrew stuff is if people crack PSP or PS2 games and play them for free. Even then, however, you'd have to have the biggest memory stick ever.

I've always thought that if I got a PSP it would be cool to run some apps (and not anything I brought back from my lastest trip to Juarez, Mexico) as well as movies and games.

[Grimgrock]

I've always thought that if I got a PSP it would be cool to run some apps (and not anything I brought back from my lastest trip to Juarez, Mexico) as well as movies and games.


Not that I am looking to highjack the thread or anything but it sounds like there is a story that goes along with this...

As for the PSP, I doubt there is anything that Sony can do to stop the modding community completely.

[Royal Fool]

I'm importing a Japanese PSP unit once I get my paycheck. Screw Sony Europe, screw Sony period.

[Reanimated]

On another note, I was in the local Gamestop over the weekend and noticed that they have 7 preowned PSPs in their glass cabinet for sale. I was like goddamn... I mean who the fuck trades in a 250 dollar console/handheld just weeks after release.

[*Legion*]

Every firmware Sony releases is going to get cracked. And Sony isn't going to keep releasing a new one every 3 weeks. Just wait until the crackers get some of their more creative solutions up and running....

[Lynxara]

Someone who's noticed that there aren't any good PSP games out right now that haven't already been out fot weeks. It could pick back up, tho; DS suffered from terrible game library for months after release, and is just now starting to see game releases pick up. Still, it's disappointing that Sony could come off such a smart launch, game-wise, and then have nothing but UMD movies to follow it up with.

[TrackZero]

I think the point is this won't stop here. Sony will keep adding firmware upgrades to all their A list titles to try to stamp out modding.

[TrackZero]

On another note, I was in the local Gamestop over the weekend and noticed that they have 7 preowned PSPs in their glass cabinet for sale. I was like goddamn... I mean who the fuck trades in a 250 dollar console/handheld just weeks after release.

I can believe it. My local EB games maybe sells 1 PSP a week (at least from what they're telling me, and I haven't seen their stack hardly move at all). Friends who picked up the PSP are telling me they hardly use it now, they're still waiting for some "good" games to come out (read: AAA titles). I'm sure it's big in some circles though. It probably depends on your local area.

[Heretic Machine]

Well, I still don't know -anyone- irl who owns a PSP. I know lots and lots of gamers, many of which have plenty of money to throw around... and none of them own a PSP. I know at least ten other people who own a DS though.

[Lynxara]

That seems to be how it is everywhere, if the intarweb is to be believed. I heard from some guys who work at GameStop that a run on memory cards when the swap exploit got released was the biggest spike in PSP interest they had seen for awhile.

[Mrbunchypants]

If they came out with some office stuff for the psp i'd get one. homebrewed or not it makes it easyer to have one out when the boss come by. :D

[jim_rock]

Hahahah...what console manufacturer do you know encouraged modders?

No one really. Though microsoft practically begged for it when they made the xbox the way they did. PC gaming is the only mod friendly enviroment. I think the zodiac tapwave encouraged homebrew too because developers wouldnt make games for their system. But that didnt do to well. And the sega genesis had a lot of addon crap like the 32x and cd system.

[jim_rock]

Well, I still don't know -anyone- irl who owns a PSP. I know lots and lots of gamers, many of which have plenty of money to throw around... and none of them own a PSP. I know at least ten other people who own a DS though.

Thats funny, we have reversed situations. I know like maybe two people who have a ds and like 7+ who have psps. Me and friends bought them on launch day and played untold legends ad-hoc until our eyes popped out. My ds friends mostly play GBA games on their ds and we psp guys play mostly emulators recently. Softwares been weak for both systems so far.

[Phhhh]

This has already occured with other games in japan (space invaders pocket if i'm not mistaken), this is probably the Japanese version of Coded Arms seeing as every US psp shipped with 1.5 bios... move along nothing to see here.

[mister_slim]

Hahahah...what console manufacturer do you know encouraged modders?
Gimme a sec... I'm trying to find some way to blame MS (they're a console manufacturer now...) and Windows CE for the Dreamcast...

[TrackZero]

This has already occured with other games in japan (space invaders pocket if i'm not mistaken), this is probably the Japanese version of Coded Arms seeing as every US psp shipped with 1.5 bios... move along nothing to see here.

It's setting precident, so it is something to see.

[Phhhh]

But it isn't, the precendent was already set before as I said. So it isn't new information. This isn't the first time it's happened. Space Invaders Pocket forced players to upgrade their bios to play it too. And if coded arms requires the 1.5 bios then it must be the japanese version of the game as every US PSP is already 1.5 bios otherwise this is only going to affect import PSP owners. Coded Arms isn't that great from what i played at E3 anyway. Again... nothing to see here, this is old news, move a long.

[Savok]

Hahahah...what console manufacturer do you know encouraged modders?

Hardware wise, Nintendo. The simple switch for multi-region on NTSC GCs, SNES you just had to snap some plastic as I recall, Afterburner for the GBA...

[Kamalot]

Coded Arms isn't that great from what i played at E3 anyway. Again... nothing to see here, this is old news, move a long.
What wasn't good about it?

Maybe it won't be a problem if Sony only forces updates on craptacular games. Then, you can never be forced to update and still play non-crappy games.

Hey, I can dream, can't I?

How much you wanna bet that other updates will come on big-name titles that break the hacks and loaders. :-(

[TrackZero]

But it isn't, the precendent was already set before as I said. So it isn't new information. This isn't the first time it's happened. Space Invaders Pocket forced players to upgrade their bios to play it too. And if coded arms requires the 1.5 bios then it must be the japanese version of the game as every US PSP is already 1.5 bios otherwise this is only going to affect import PSP owners. Coded Arms isn't that great from what i played at E3 anyway. Again... nothing to see here, this is old news, move a long.

It's a topic of discussion obviously by the postcount. I'd not heard of it before, obviously others hadn't as well. Don't be so anal.