MPUK PSP

Tear Down instructions to open up your PSP

2007-06-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

As I had to rip my psp apart, to replace the screen, which I bought off of ebay, and am happy that works, I found that this guy ->

http://www.llamma.com/PSP/PSPTearDown.htm

Is pure Genius. He actually has decent screen instructions on how to tear it apart and put it back together again. Unfortunately, he forgot to mention to wear some latex gloves as to not leave fingerprints on the screen, and to be sure that it's not too dusty, as it can be bothersome to see a fingerprint and other crap while playing.

How ISO/CSO work on custom OE

2007-06-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Once you have An OE version of firmware on your PSP, the way you run games is quite simple.

When you upgrade to an OE f/w you should always format your MS Pro Duo using the menu. This will create the correct folders on your PSP Memory Stick.

The one we will be concentrating on is the ISO folder

If you formatted using the PSP you will find it the root of the MS Pro Duo stick. So from the pc you would see X:\ISO

You would copy the .CSO or .ISO files into this location, and then access the game through the GAME menu on the PSP, below the UMD. See Images Below:

the game could not be started. (80010002)

2007-06-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

I see so many people come up with this error... It's not even funny.
Right, there are only so many things that can go wrong, the main one usually is:

1) You have no-umd enabled in the recovery menu, and you don't have a disk in the UMD drive.
-- So, turn that no-umd off, and leave any game, including the demo disk, in the UMD drive.
To do that, simply turn off your PSP by holding down the power button, then, hold the R shoulder button, and turn it on. You will enter the recovery menu from there. Find the No-UMD option, and set it to disabled.

2) The CSO/ISO file you are using is corrupt, try re-copying it back over to the memory stick, or re-ripping it. Of course we only use back-ups of the games we have. So downloading it again is not an option, we only rip our own here. Support the PSP don't kill it.

3) The Memory Stick is Corrupted, go in there with the USB from your pc, copy back over the savegames you wish to keep, the pictures of your cat, and things like that, format the MS PRO DUO.

4) The Memory Stick PRO DUO you bought from EBAY and was shipped from Hong Kong is a piece of junk, that almost perfect copy you bought thinking it would save you money, turned out to be a rip-off and a scam. Go to http://www.picstop.co.uk and get a real one.

Cheap 4 Gig sticks for the PSP

2007-06-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

So far, here in the UK, there isn't a cheaper option to buy a proper working, high-speed MS Pro Duo stick than going to PicStop http://www.picstop.co.uk/Memory-Stick-Duo%2C-Pro-Duo/Order_1/Memory-Stick-Duo%2C-Pro-Duo/Sandisk-Memory-Stick-PRO-Duo-PSP-Gaming-Card---4GB

They are from Jersey, and Neon bought one, and got it the next day. He also bought one from Hong Kong from Ebay. Guess which one worked?

You can risk getting a stick from Ebay, and finding out it's pure crap, or get one from PicStop and know it's original and works.

3.40 OE and Custom XMB's

2007-06-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

on #PSP there seem to be several people trying to use Custom XMB (Cross Menu Bars) with custom Icons and sounds. Some of them I'm sure they are alright, but others get Black or White screens, and can't revert or do anything. The solution I found is simple, revert to 3.40 OE using the recovery menu.

All you need is the following:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=L20BALRP which contains the 3.40 OE update folder
inside a game.rar file.

You access the Recovery menu on your liberated PSP by turning it off, then Holding the R button, and turning it on.
Then, toggle the USB, and copy the two files (eboot.pbp and data.dxar) into a folder called x:\psp\Game\Recovery (if you don't have the recovery folder, create it).

Then, once you've done that, from the recovery menu, run the command called "Run program at Recovery" and then it should being re-installing the 3.40 OE.

So far I've helped two people with this issue, and it has worked well.

Always have your battery charged when flashing, and always have the charger plugged in.
Additionally, I always recommend having a clean, formatted Memory Stick before flashing, as sometimes they corrupt.

Looking for the Will

2007-06-06T23:19:00.000-07:00

Essentially I'm looking for those moments that allow me to multitask between City of Heroes, Repairing the motor on my boat, and finding time to actually start talking about the PSP and its games! So far, I can state that my favorite games include:

Burnout Legends
Burnout Dominator
Untold Legends 1 & 2
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Star Trek: Tactical Assault
Loco Roco
Lumines
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony (now why would anyone do that? I mean, it's a throne, and you make it of agony?)
Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover
Ridge Racer 1 & 2
Medal of Honor Heroes

I've tried others, and am not getting into them as much as I'd like. There are plenty of RPG's and FPS's and racing games, but some I just can't rate.

Games like Infected hurt my mind. I would love to be a zombie at that stage. I don't mean to bash it, but it just doesn't do anything for me. When I first saw it, I thought the music was good, but the graphics didn't just fail to inspire me, they actually made me think I was playing a Commodore 64 game programmed by an 8 year old. The playability was atrocious, and the whole concept of shooting to hurt, and then kill them off with my own blood... well, let's leave it at I'd gladly let them have all my blood. And my brain, as I'd rather not feel the pain.

Instead Chilli con Carnage proved to be fun, and clearly has proven that stereotypes can be amusing with a pinch of salt. The whole moves and point multiplier added with all the special weapons, the cheesey lines, the mexican remixed music gives it that pure firey enchilada flavor I'd expect from something with a title like that. It put a big smile on my face when I started shooting a chicken in the air and seeing it go higher, and higher, and higher! The opening sequence with the kittens will most likely be remembered for many many years, until alcohol burns it out that is.

Test Drive Unlimited also turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. The online mode is phenomenal, and even though it doesn't compare with the PC or Xbox £360 versions graphically, it does make for plenty of fun and constant playability. Considering it holds the entire map of the hawaiian island, you could almost use it as a fun gps. Well, not really, but it would be nice to go to Hawaii and see if you can't find the homes and roads!

The Need for Speed series on the PSP have also been great surprises. Hours of fun, and even though the cutscenes on some of them are a bit long, and non-skippable, they prove to be quite clever and fun.

More to come later.

Opened for Business

2007-06-06T06:50:00.000-07:00

After Neon so carefully cattle-prodded me, I've finally broken down and opened a Blog dedicated to the review of the PSP games that have made it across to me in one way or another.

For PSP games that I can make screenshots of, I shall, and I will post them here. Also, I think there will be a rating probably star or number based, to state if it is worth playing/buying or just simple buying so you can prevent someone else to be exposed to the same torture.

Happy reading :)