PSP... Any good?

[sandyduff]

I'm considering selling my DS and buying a PSP... i bought a PS3 recently (off ebay so i can't enforce European law, otherwise i would have done Rainless) and i quite like the idea of buying PS1 games off the playstation network and playing them on a psp...

Only thing is tho, i've never played a psp so i have no idea what i;m looking for, i see different versions... lite... one with the slidey up screen... i'm a bit clueless...

Anyone give me some pointers? Ta... :D

[tinymouse2]

If you can get one I would get a PSP-1000 simply because with custom firmware you can convert your PS1 disks to work on the PSP without having to pay again for the game. A VERY nice feature!

I haven't got one of the PSP "Go"s but they do look terrible. Apparently it feels cheap, tacky and it's much more rewarding to play one of the older versions. Apparently the 3000 series is the best version out there.

So if you're looking to play the new PSP games and you're OK with buying from the limited number of PS1 games from the network then the PSP Go will be great.
If you don't want to play the latest games (I can't play the latest, doesn't bother me at all :D) and you have a load of PS1 games on disk that you want to play on your PSP then the 1000 or possibly 2000 version with custom firmware is the best idea.

[Pandam00nium]

I've owned one for many years, and I can say it's only worth it if you can get an old version to enable custom firmware. The PS1 library is enough to make it worth it since the PSP library is average at best. I would say 90% of the PS1 games work just fine.

Also the homebrew community is slowly working on allowing new games to be played. It's a bit of a cat and mouse chase with Sony making new games compatible with only the newest firmware version.

I think official firmware is at 6.10 or so, and the homebrew community is sticking with 5.50. I read there was a workaround that let custom firmwares play the recently released Metal Gear game that is out in Japan through decryption.

[tinymouse2]

It was going amazingly until Dark Alex left :(

There is now a way to basically recode an ISO to work with an earlier firmware (5.00m33.5 or something).

[Pandam00nium]

I think GEN is okay, but yeah its definitely progressing slower compared to when Dark Alex was around.

It's not a big deal to me though since I mostly use it to play old PS1 games. I hardly touch any PSP games.. The PSP library is that bad to me, and I've had thoughts of just selling it and buying a cheap netbook for my emulator needs. Might see my PSP in the classifieds now that I think about it even more. :P

[rainless]

I would like to third and fourth a PSP 1000... which you can probably get under a hundred dollars... so no real need to sell the DS unless you're flat broke (like I was when I sold mine). I ended up buying another DS in the end because they're ALWAYS going to come out with an awesome game the minute you get rid of the damned thing. (Might and Magic Clash of Heroes comes to mind...)

[Twigglish]

I also suggest an earlier version of the PSP.

[sandyduff]

If you can get one I would get a PSP-1000 simply because with custom firmware you can convert your PS1 disks to work on the PSP without having to pay again for the game. A VERY nice feature!

I haven't got one of the PSP "Go"s but they do look terrible. Apparently it feels cheap, tacky and it's much more rewarding to play one of the older versions. Apparently the 3000 series is the best version out there.

So if you're looking to play the new PSP games and you're OK with buying from the limited number of PS1 games from the network then the PSP Go will be great.
If you don't want to play the latest games (I can't play the latest, doesn't bother me at all :D) and you have a load of PS1 games on disk that you want to play on your PSP then the 1000 or possibly 2000 version with custom firmware is the best idea.

I have no PS1 games anymore so the playstation network it is!! Yeh i've heard mixed things about the Go... guess i'll avoid it...

I've owned one for many years, and I can say it's only worth it if you can get an old version to enable custom firmware. The PS1 library is enough to make it worth it since the PSP library is average at best. I would say 90% of the PS1 games work just fine.

Also the homebrew community is slowly working on allowing new games to be played. It's a bit of a cat and mouse chase with Sony making new games compatible with only the newest firmware version.

I think official firmware is at 6.10 or so, and the homebrew community is sticking with 5.50. I read there was a workaround that let custom firmwares play the recently released Metal Gear game that is out in Japan through decryption.

I have no idea about any of that... what are the advantages of these different firmwares? The ability to play certain games?

I would like to third and fourth a PSP 1000... which you can probably get under a hundred dollars... so no real need to sell the DS unless you're flat broke (like I was when I sold mine). I ended up buying another DS in the end because they're ALWAYS going to come out with an awesome game the minute you get rid of the damned thing. (Might and Magic Clash of Heroes comes to mind...)

Yeh i can get hold of one for around £80... i don't have to sell the DS to fund it but i've not played the thing since sometime last year... i'm more interested in old PS1 games... i've already bought final fantasy VII off the PSN... :D

[Twigglish]

Doing custom firmware is not very advanced at all. Many many people have done it, so there are very good guides for doing it.
Different firmware allows you to store games on a memory card instead of having to always have the discs with you. Allows you to play backups of PS1 games. Allows you access to homebrew apps and games.

[sandyduff]

Doing custom firmware is not very advanced at all. Many many people have done it, so there are very good guides for doing it.
Different firmware allows you to store games on a memory card instead of having to always have the discs with you. Allows you to play backups of PS1 games. Allows you access to homebrew apps and games.

Sounds very cool... by backup of a ps1 game, do you mean rip it onto a computer, put it onto the memory card and the psp will play it?

[Pandam00nium]

I have no idea about any of that... what are the advantages of these different firmwares? The ability to play certain games

The PSN has a very small list of PS1 games. There are some good ones like FF7 as you mentioned, but for some reason Sony hasn't listed a whole lot.

With custom firmware you can play most of the games released on the PS1, even ones not listed on PSN. The compatibility is already implemented by Sony, but they're just stubborn to release more games.

As Twiggish said you also have access to homebrew games that developers have created. I've seen things from a homemade Magic: The gathering card game (http://www.psp-hacks.com/2010/03/14/wagic-the-homebrew-0-11-1-released/), Triple Triad (http://www.psp-hacks.com/2009/09/01/triple-triad-psp-v0-3-released-ff8-mini-card-games-for-your-psp/), and a boatload of other applications http://www.psp-hacks.com/category/7

It's pretty much enabling your system to gain access to more applications and getting the most out of it. Installing it may be a bit intimidating at first, but if you can follow instructions and not skip any steps you should be fine.

Sounds very cool... by backup of a ps1 game, do you mean rip it onto a computer, put it onto the memory card and the psp will play it?

Yup that's exactly what it is. Although it requires a little bit of converting cause the PSP reads EBOOT files. You would just use a homebrew application to convert the backup ISO to an EBOOT so the PSP can read it.

[Adragontattoo]

I have a PSP, with no custom firmware. The newest model (3000 IIRC). For what it is, I have zero complaints. It works great for sitting in an airport for a few hours, sitting on a plane etc.

I have a bunch of legit games and a few movies, none have made me regret buying them.

[Twigglish]

The biggest thing is to first plan out exactly what you want to do. Figure out all the special stuff you want, then find a PSP version that fits that. So make a list of what's important to you, and we can suggest an exact version for you to buy, and suggest guides to accomplish what you want out of your version.

[-_{MoW}_-Assasi]

I remember with the PSP-1000 with IRShell

Universal IR remote program, going around and messing with display TVs :D

Good times

[rainless]

I remember with the PSP-1000 with IRShell

Universal IR remote program, going around and messing with display TVs :D

Good times

I used to use it to go around and shut down Xbox 360s at department stores in France... good times.

...that was before Gears of War came out. :(

Yeah you'd have a much LARGER library of PS1 games to choose from with custom firmware.

Like ALL of them.

You can get any PS1 game for practically nothing (maybe 5 bucks for the most expensive multidisk games.) And a lot of times you can get the disc cheaper than you can buy the game online. (Though I'm sure convenience may be a factor.)

[sandyduff]

The biggest thing is to first plan out exactly what you want to do. Figure out all the special stuff you want, then find a PSP version that fits that. So make a list of what's important to you, and we can suggest an exact version for you to buy, and suggest guides to accomplish what you want out of your version.

I'm not too concerned about playing actual PSP games, unless there are some good ones that people recommend... i'm more interested in playing old PS1 games... so an older version of PSP with the homebrew firmware?

I like the idea of buying old PS1 games and just converting them... would save me a lot of money... and the choice would be much bigger... hmmmm i'm liking the sound of this...

Cheers for all the input so far guys... :beer:

PSP-1003...? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-PlayStation-Portable-PSP-1003-Console-/180500723502?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_VideoGames_VideoGameConsoles_VideoGameConsol es&hash=item2a06ae772e#ht_500wt_1182

Edit: What's the battery life like on the older PSP's?

[tinymouse2]

Better :P
The 1000 battery is about twice as big as the 2000 version.

Just saying, that PSP could be bricked. If it's bricked it basically means it failed while updating. Usually you can fix this with the pandoras battery but you can sometimes get corrupt memory which is impossible to fix (as far as I know :()

So just make sure it's not broken before you buy it...

[sandyduff]

Better :P
The 1000 battery is about twice as big as the 2000 version.

Just saying, that PSP could be bricked. If it's bricked it basically means it failed while updating. Usually you can fix this with the pandoras battery but you can sometimes get corrupt memory which is impossible to fix (as far as I know :()

So just make sure it's not broken before you buy it...

Cheers Tiny...

How about this one? Can't really argue with the price...

Says Firmware 6.00, i take it i can put an older version on it? i.e 5.50?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-PSP-SLIM-LITE-CONSOLE-Black-Boxed-VGC-/150438204033?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_VideoGames_VideoGameConsoles_VideoGameConsol es&hash=item2306d0d281#ht_889wt_939

[tinymouse2]

I've been running 3.71m33 for a few years now. I don't know if you can downgrade from 6.00. Also do still contact the seller. Make sure it's not bricked.

I wouldn't buy a PSP from ebay unless it said for 100% certainty that it wasn't bricked.

[sandyduff]

I've been running 3.71m33 for a few years now. I don't know if you can downgrade from 6.00. Also do still contact the seller. Make sure it's not bricked.

I wouldn't buy a PSP from ebay unless it said for 100% certainty that it wasn't bricked.

I'm pretty sure i'll be covered if it's in any way faulty...

Did some googling and apparently you can't downgrade firmware...

[tinymouse2]

http://www.unbrickpsps.com/

Pandora's battery...
It's not really a downgrading tool, more of a re-format.

I think you can only downgrade if you have under 3.2 firmware.

You can't downgrade if it's a 3000 PSP as far as I know but a 1000 or a 2000 will be perfect for downgrading.

[sandyduff]

I take it this battery is available in the UK?

Found a good PSP on ebay, PSP-1003, has firmware 4.05 on it, comes with a few games and a 2GB memory card... buy it now of £75... tempting

[tinymouse2]

If you ask kindly I could probably lend you mine :P
PM me if you're interested, I have an official pandora battery here (so not just a modified one).

[sandyduff]

Just been reading up on the Pandora's Battery, so it doesn't matter what version of firmware that's on it... the battery will put it back to version 1.50?

[tinymouse2]

Oh forgot to include that in my message.

If it's the PSP-1000 then it will restore it to either 1.50 or 3.71.
If it's the PSP-2000 then you'll need a copy of the 1.50 firmware as well as the 3.71 firmware so it can jump straight to 3.71 (the 2000 model just doesn't have the right core files to be able to run 1.50).

[sandyduff]

Oh forgot to include that in my message.

If it's the PSP-1000 then it will restore it to either 1.50 or 3.71.
If it's the PSP-2000 then you'll need a copy of the 1.50 firmware as well as the 3.71 firmware so it can jump straight to 3.71 (the 2000 model just doesn't have the right core files to be able to run 1.50).

Ok cool... i'll be bidding on a PSP-1003 according to the ebay listing, i take it that is the 1000 model?

[tinymouse2]

No idea :shrug:
I think it might be the 1000 series but it comes with a later version of firware (their first attempt at trying to get rid of pirates).

[sandyduff]

No idea :shrug:
I think it might be the 1000 series but it comes with a later version of firware (their first attempt at trying to get rid of pirates).

Did some more googling... it's a region thing... so yeh, it's the 1000 model... :D

PSP1000 - Japan
PSP1001 - USA
PSP1002 - Australien
PSP1003 - Großbritannien
PSP1004 - Europa, Mittlerer Osten & Afrika
PSP1005 - Korea
PSP1006 - Hong Kong
PSP1007 - Taiwan
PSP1008 - Russland
PSP1009 - China

[tinymouse2]

Ah! Well it doesn't matter about games, movies are the only thing that is dependant on the region.

Well like I said, poke me if you need any help, and the best of luck! :thup:

[sandyduff]

Ah! Well it doesn't matter about games, movies are the only thing that is dependant on the region.

Well like I said, poke me if you need any help, and the best of luck! :thup:

Ah right so its only the UMD discs that are region coded... cool...

I'm just looking forward to play through Final Fantasy 7 again... where ever i go... :D

[tinymouse2]

Just saying the games that are on UMDs aren't region coding, only the movies that are on UMD are :thup:

[sandyduff]

Purchased a PSP for £65... :D

[rainless]

Purchased a PSP for £65... :D

Which one?

[sandyduff]

PSP - 1000, been looking into custom firmware and the like...

[tinymouse2]

Well hopefully it won't have anything wrong with it :p
I eagerly await to hear about it! :D

[sandyduff]

Well hopefully it won't have anything wrong with it :p
I eagerly await to hear about it! :D

Hopefully not... i will be in touch when i get it dont worry... :D

[Pandam00nium]

I may be a little late in responding, just woke up, but if you're purchasing a PSP-1000 I'm fairly certain it won't matter what firmware version you're on as long as you have a pandora battery. It's the newer Slim models and PSP-Go that have issues when you're at the newest firmware version.

Anyways enjoy your PSP when you get it. If you have any questions installing CFW just ask. They have some easy installers to just put on your memory stick and load the application, and it does the rest for you. However you may need to downgrade first. I think the best version at the moment is 5.50GEN-D3.

[sandyduff]

I may be a little late in responding, just woke up, but if you're purchasing a PSP-1000 I'm fairly certain it won't matter what firmware version you're on as long as you have a pandora battery. It's the newer Slim models and PSP-Go that have issues when you're at the newest firmware version.

Anyways enjoy your PSP when you get it. If you have any questions installing CFW just ask. They have some easy installers to just put on your memory stick and load the application, and it does the rest for you. However you may need to downgrade first. I think the best version at the moment is 5.50GEN-D3.

Cheers Melan, yeh i've ordered a Pandora's battery along with a 4GB stick to do the downgrading, like i said in my initial post this is all new to me, hopefully the psp will be here by Wednesday as im away for a long weekend so would be good to have it done before i go!!

[-_{MoW}_-Assasi]

I used to use it to go around and shut down Xbox 360s at department stores in France... good times.

Oh yeh, I did that to Xbox ppl too

Would be a crowd of people gathering around to try it and then I would eject the disk while it was behind some sort of display glass thing and people would all go wtf?!

You better do this once you get your PSP :D

[sandyduff]

Oh yeh, I did that to Xbox ppl too

Would be a crowd of people gathering around to try it and then I would eject the disk while it was behind some sort of display glass thing and people would all go wtf?!

You better do this once you get your PSP :D

Oh im gonna be trying this!! My brother has a 360... this could be funny... :D

[iaacp]

Any of you guys know any good guides for Pandora's Battery and CFW? Googling shows guides, but all are from ~2007 or 2008. I just want something updated.

[iaacp]

Oh yeh, I did that to Xbox ppl too

Would be a crowd of people gathering around to try it and then I would eject the disk while it was behind some sort of display glass thing and people would all go wtf?!

You better do this once you get your PSP :D


That's so funny! I definitely want to do this. Will be fun with roommates...

[tinymouse2]

Any of you guys know any good guides for Pandora's Battery and CFW? Googling shows guides, but all are from ~2007 or 2008. I just want something updated.

If a new guide is released it will be exactly the same as the old ones.

There's no better way of doing it, just trust that guide. JUST BE CAREFUL! It's tricky to restore it to return it from a Pandora's battery back to a normal battery.

I would just go and buy a datel tool, worked perfectly for me :thup:

[sandyduff]

It's tricky to restore it to return it from a Pandora's battery back to a normal battery.

I would just go and buy a datel tool, worked perfectly for me :thup:

I'm gonna be using the Pandoras battery... you have me worried now!!

What's a datel tool?

[tinymouse2]

A retail version of the Pandora's battery not a hand modified one :P
If you brought it from somewhere you have nothing to worry.

[sandyduff]

A retail version of the Pandora's battery not a hand modified one :P
If you brought it from somewhere you have nothing to worry.

Phew... :thup:

[iaacp]

So Datel's Tool = retail battery, and Pandora's Battery = DIY?

[tinymouse2]

So Datel's Tool = retail battery, and Pandora's Battery = DIY?

Datel's tool = Retail Pandora's battery
Homemade Pandora's battery = Homemade Pandora's battery

It really is as simple as that :thup:

[sandyduff]

God dam i missed the postman by 5 mins... need to collect it tomorrow morning from the depot. :(

[tinymouse2]

Oh man... I know the feeling :P
When I brought my current compootin hardware I saw the van drive off. Was 4 days before I finally got the parts (wasn't postal service, was some private company). Hopefully you'll get it back a bit sooner :P

[sandyduff]

Oh man... I know the feeling :P
When I brought my current compootin hardware I saw the van drive off. Was 4 days before I finally got the parts (wasn't postal service, was some private company). Hopefully you'll get it back a bit sooner :P

It's just good ol' Royal Mail, i live 10 mins away from the depot so its nice and easy to get to... still... should be playing with it now tho...

[Nechen]

This is just my opinion but stay away from the PSP and I'll list the pro's and con's below:

Pros:
-PSP 1000 is very hackable and you can run PSX ROMs off it along with many other homebrew things

-For a general media player it works well with music and videos

-Most games are hit and miss, my favorite was GTA and Def Jam which were well done


Cons:
-PSP acrylic "screen" scratches very easily, after a year of use I finally had a gash so deep it was impairing my ability to see and play (And yes I did keep it in a protective case)

-PSP 3000 suffers from very nasty interlacing issues on its LCD (Unless they fix this?) which creates a severe "Ghosting" problem. Sony's response? Get over it

-PSP 2000 is much thinner than the PSP 1000 and is more susceptible to breakage if you drop it (The PSP 1000 is a tank in comparison to durability)

-The buttons and analog stick will eventually give out on you, before I took a sledgehammer to mine the X and O button had already stuck to the point of no return and the analog stick would get stuck in certain corners and misregister thus resulting in my character wandering around and running into walls

-PSP Go looks disgusting and about as durable as a happy meal toy from McDonalds, also a slightly smaller screen and I'm guessing a weaker battery and TOTALLY unhackable...no CFW whatsoever.


IMO the PSP is a hunk of junk and while the PS3 seems to be pretty solid I would never recommend any kind of PSP to someone unless I hated them for banging my sister in the confessional booth at church during my son's baptism even after I helped them get over their crystal meth addiction and paid for their rehab THE INSCOLENT SON OF ---

[tinymouse2]

So, any update on your PSP to be?

[sandyduff]

So, any update on your PSP to be?

It has arrived and YHPM

[sandyduff]

How do i copy PS games from my ps3 onto the psp? I have synced my psp with my ps3, but when i click copy on Final Fantasy VII, it says "The owner of the content must be signed in" or words to that effect... i checked the information on the game and i am signed in as "Sandy" and the owner of the game is "Sandy" so i don't know what to do...

Any ideas...?

[Pandam00nium]

How do i copy PS games from my ps3 onto the psp? I have synced my psp with my ps3, but when i click copy on Final Fantasy VII, it says "The owner of the content must be signed in" or words to that effect... i checked the information on the game and i am signed in as "Sandy" and the owner of the game is "Sandy" so i don't know what to do...

Any ideas...?

If you purchased the game can you redownload it via PSN from the PSP? I don't own a PS3 so I can't really say how to do game transfers.

Any of you guys know any good guides for Pandora's Battery and CFW? Googling shows guides, but all are from ~2007 or 2008. I just want something updated.

The guides should be no different from now. It depends on what version PSP you have. The old "phat" 1000 versions required you to break a pin on a certain chip to turn it into a service battery. It remains as a service battery unless you can solder that pin back on.

The slim versions only required you to short two resistors to make it a service battery. Removing the wire from the two resistors converted it back to a normal battery.

[tinymouse2]

@Pandam00nium

He's running CFW now.

Downloading the PSP games from the PSN store would work fine if he was on OFW but he's not, he's much to awesome for that :D
Only way to do it is to have the actual PS1 game and use a converter.

[Pandam00nium]

@Pandam00nium

He's running CFW now.

Downloading the PSP games from the PSN store would work fine if he was on OFW but he's not, he's much to awesome for that :D
Only way to do it is to have the actual PS1 game and use a converter.

I haven't used this yet since I rarely use my PSP now, but it may be possible to get access to PSN with CFW.

http://www.psp-hacks.com/2010/04/25/psnlover-beta-v1-released/

[tinymouse2]

Emphasis on the "BETA" in the title :P