PSP Fanboy

Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 30

Posted Oct 13th 2007 9:30AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Ask PSP Fanboy

Ask PSP Fanboy is back with an all new edition. Every few weekends, PSP Fanboy will answer your burning questions. If you have a question for the team, send an e-mail to andrew @ joystiq.com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."

Q: Do the component cable ONLY work on HDTVs? Or can you use a SDTV as well? And what is the difference between the two cables?
A: We get this question on a nearly daily basis. Component cables will only work on EDTV/HDTV sets with component inputs. You can NOT use a SDTV. The main difference between the two is that the component cables will allow you to play games on your TV. If you do not have a HDTV, you will not be able to play PSP games on your TV. Hope that clears things up!

Q: Is there any way to access the PlayStation Store for downloading PSP from PS1 ports without using a PS3? If there is how does it work? And if not do you think that they will have it any time soon?
A: A PSP version of the Store is already in the works, and is available right now in Japan. We won't see it until next year, I'd assume. However, the Store will not only include PS1 games, it will also include brand new games that were made specifically for the PSP.

Q: Is the PSP-2000 just as capable of running custom firmwares as the original?
A: It depends. The first batch of PSP-2000 systems can be exploited using Pandora's Battery. However, recent reports suggest that any new systems, such as the Star Wars PSP, are not vulnerable to the exploit. You'll have to experiment

Continue reading Ask PSP Fanboy: Volume 30

Deal of the Day: Star Wars PSP for $185, Castlevania for $21

Posted Oct 12th 2007 5:55PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Software

This isn't going to last very long. FRYS.com is having a one day sale, and there are some terrific PSP deals. The two that are most noteworthy: the discounted Star Wars Battlefront PSP, which includes the Darth Vader PSP and new Renegade Squadron game, is only $185 -- $15 cheaper than normal. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles also comes in cheap, for only $21. Considering the game includes both a remade Rondo of Blood and enhanced Symphony of the Night, this might be one of the best video game deals ever. Yes, even better than The Orange Box.

[Via CAG]

For a Hero, You're Pretty Impudent: the trailer

Posted Oct 12th 2007 3:15PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Video

The brand new play-as-the-villain RPG for PSP, Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida, has us intrigued. While the art style certainly doesn't appeal to our sensibilities, any game that lets you wreak havoc on potential do-gooders is fine by us. The brand new trailer from Sony shows you what the game is all about. You seem to carve a path for explorers to take, and then send your minions. Watch as the little critters take down the hero, and you laugh your way to victory.

It's too pretty: the Yggdra intro

Posted Oct 12th 2007 1:30PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Yggdra Union

The upcoming PSP remake of Yggdra Union is getting a brand new opening cinematic. And like most anime introductions, it's stunning. Yukio Takatsu, director of animation for Persona 3, will also be helming work for this intro.

Go to Gpara for more screens from the game. If this much effort is being put into the cinematics, we're hoping the rest of the game will look just as vibrant.

[Via PSPHyper]

Fanswag: Win a new Darth Vader PSP-2000 (Day 5)

Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:00PM by Christopher Grant
Filed under: Star Wars, Fan Stuff

Click for high-resolution image.

Day 4 is over (we're busy picking our fourth winner) and Day 5 – the final day – of our Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron PSP-2000 bundle is ready to kick off. Along with our friends at Joystiq and PS3 Fanboy, we're giving away the last of five brand-new limited-edition Darth Vader PSP-2000 systems this week. These Ceramic White systems feature Darth Vader's menacing profile on the back, and are a must-have for the dedicated Star Wars nerdcore. Not only that, the package includes the brand new PSP-exclusive Star Wars Battlefront game.

So, how do you enter? First, find out what the PSP Fanboy team thinks about Star Wars Battlefront (Andrew, Jem, Nick, and Colin and ) and then leave a comment letting us know how many redundant copies of Star Wars you own on DVD? Be sure to leave your comment on the corresponding giveaway posts at Joystiq and PS3 Fanboy, for a total of three entries today. We'll select one comment from all three sites at random tomorrow morning before we give away another PSP-2000.

Of course, there are rules. You must be a US resident, 18 years or older. Limit 1 entry per person per site ... or else (that means three entries spread out, no more)! This entry period ends at 11:59am ET tomorrow, so get your entries in before then. For complete rules you can shared with your loved ones, click here. And much thanks to the fine people at LucasArts for the great prizes.

Scandalous Haruhi figure for Japanese pre-order

Posted Oct 12th 2007 3:00AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Imports

Suzumiya Haruhi is huge in Japan, and the upcoming PSP game will most likely sell billions of copies. Japanese pre-orders include this incredibly revealing Haruhi figure, one that would make any otaku blush. This "Santa swimsuit," as it's being called, would be much too skimpy for use in the North Pole. Maybe they should consider renaming it?

[Via PSPHyper]

New Sonic battle modes revealed

Posted Oct 11th 2007 8:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Sonic, Video

Yet another video of Sonic Rivals 2's battle modes have been revealed. This time, see a Chao get kidnapped in this brand new mode. Remember, Rivals 2 will support Game Sharing, so we're expecting many (if not all) of these features to be available over one UMD.

(Sort of) Deal of the Day: Monster Hunter for $30

Posted Oct 11th 2007 5:30PM by Andrew Yoon

It's a slow news day, folks. Might as well save some money. amazon.com has Monster Hunter Freedom 2nd, the gazillion-selling PSP game, at a discounted $30. That's a savings of $10. Sure, it's not a great deal, but it's better than nothing, right?

[Via CAG]

Sony starts extensive PSP campaign on adult swim

Posted Oct 11th 2007 2:00PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: News

Cartoon Network's adult swim website is being plastered with ads for the new PSP. Good thing -- the adult swim demographic is exactly what Sony needs to target to keep PSP momentum strong. Check out Bertrum's Almanack, which provides some "fun facts" to listeners. Unfortunately, the site says that "Bertrum's Almanack not available on PSP system." But, games like NBA 08 and Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow are. Hopefully, this campaign is one of many Sony's planning to promote their handheld.

Fanswag: Win a new Darth Vader PSP-2000 (Day 4)

Posted Oct 11th 2007 12:00PM by Christopher Grant
Filed under: Star Wars, Fan Stuff

Click for high-resolution image.

Day 3 is over (we're busy picking our third winner) and Day 4 of our Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron PSP-2000 bundle is ready to kick off. Along with our friends at Joystiq and PS3 Fanboy, we're giving away the fourth of five brand-new limited-edition Darth Vader PSP-2000 systems this week. These Ceramic White systems feature Darth Vader's menacing profile on the back, and are a must-have for the dedicated Star Wars nerdcore. Not only that, the package includes the brand new PSP-exclusive Star Wars Battlefront game.

So, how do you enter? First, find out what the PSP Fanboy team thinks about Star Wars Battlefront (Andrew, Jem, Nick, and Colin and ) and then leave a comment settling this once and for all: Does Han hurt nerves or herd nerfs, cause he can't do both? Be sure to leave your comment on the corresponding giveaway posts at Joystiq and PS3 Fanboy, for a total of three entries today. We'll select one comment from all three sites at random tomorrow morning before we give away another PSP-2000.

Of course, there are rules. You must be a US resident, 18 years or older. Limit 1 entry per person per site ... or else (that means three entries spread out, no more)! This entry period ends at 11:59am ET tomorrow, so get your entries in before then. For complete rules you can shared with your loved ones, click here. And much thanks to the fine people at LucasArts for the great prizes.

New Bubble Bobble sequel coming to PSP

Posted Oct 11th 2007 9:45AM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: News

The title doesn't really flaunt its Bubble Bobble heritage, but Rainbow Islands Evolution is yet another addition to the Bubble Bobble franchise. Taito is working on a PSP revival of the long-forgotten Rainbow Islands, which originally released in the arcades in 1987. The new puzzler feature Bub and Bob "under the shadow of an evil record company who is polluting the ecosystem with a constant, mass-produced musical dirge." Does that sound like a political statement to you? According to the press release, "the strict vertical ascents of the original have been expanded and extrapolated into three dimensions, with each level's building-block platforms now following perspective and disappearing into the distance." Once we get video and screenshots of the game, we're sure that'll make a lot more sense.

New Star Ocean screens reveal new characters

Posted Oct 10th 2007 11:30PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Star Ocean

Square Enix is bringing yet another remake to the PSP. The First Departure is a revisited version of the first Star Ocean game, and as seen in these new screenshots, it's getting more than just a cosmetic facelift. Two new characters can be spotted, both donning angelic wings. How these angels, Rei and Erisu, fit into the storyline is unclear for now, but we do know that they will be quite powerful.

SWAT trailers focus on weapons, mission briefing

Posted Oct 10th 2007 8:00PM by Andrew Yoon

The brand-new SWAT: Target Liberty is slowly sneaking towards the PSP. Planned to release next week, Sierra's tactical shooter brings back the franchise exclusively for the handheld. In the game, you'll have to carefully choose your weapons and stay true to the mission plan -- or else you'll find you and your squad members losing rather quickly.

Continue reading SWAT trailers focus on weapons, mission briefing

Japanese PS Store continues to expand with more PS1 games

Posted Oct 10th 2007 5:55PM by Andrew Yoon
Filed under: Store

The Japanese PSP Store was updated today with a slew of new PS1 classics (isn't that an oxymoron?). The service, which is yet unavailable in Europe or America, continues to expand in Japan. Here's a list of the games in today's updates:

Sanyo Pachinko Paradise
Sanyo Pachinko Paradise 2
Alundra
XII [sai] JUMBO
Popolocrois
Hanafuda Graffiti: Koi Monogatari
Echo Night 2
Kings Field III

Granted, most of these are pachinko games, but we can't help but be jealous of our Japanese friends. Sony, don't you want our money? Release some PS1 games, and let us download it directly onto the PSP.

[Via Siliconera]

Vagrant Story a "natural" choice for next PSP makeover

Posted Oct 10th 2007 2:00PM by Nick Doerr
Filed under: News, Interviews

In an interview recently, the Ivalice Alliance (the Square Enix development team behind the legendary titles Final Fantasy Tactics (Advance), Final Fantasy XII, and Vagrant Story) had a roundtable chat, so to speak, about the future of their games, of Ivalice, and what's going to happen on the PSP. Feel free to check out the discussion about all things Ivalice, but we're only interested in one segment of the discussion -- and that's Vagrant Story.

Vagrant Story is the only game that hasn't gotten some form of remake or sequel and with the release of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, it seems like it would be logical for it to return. On this idea, the Ivalice Alliance responds: "Vagrant Story was a title that pushed the PS one to its limits. The technical hurdles in porting it to the PSP would be extremely high. Of course, I think it's the next natural candidate for such an update, and there's no denying its extreme popularity overseas."

When asked if the hero, Ashley Riot, could appear in some other Ivalice title, there is a hint of a sequel if you're good at reading between these lines: "Even in Vagrant Story, there's really not that much we learn about Ashley Riot. Without knowing more about him, it would be difficult to include him in another title." We could learn more about him in, say, Vagrant Story 2: The Wanderer. Just an opinion.

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