Current state of the PSP world (custom firmware)

[Harrison]

Oh yes, sorry. You do first need to do that as you are on 1.5.

First you need to copy the kxploitpatcher and kxploitpatcher% folders from the 1.50only dir into the ms0:/psp/game/ directory on the memory stick and then run it. And once that is done you can do the rest.

[AlexJ]

3.51 M33 all went OK

Now I just need to update to Rev7. I've got the file but the readme's not much help. Do I copy the M33_7 folder that contains EBOOT.PBP into the GAME folder? Format memory card first?

[Harrison]

Their update readme files are not much help are they.

You need to copy the M33_7 directory that has the EBOOT.PBP file in it over to the memory stick, and place this in the ms0:/PSP/GAME150/ directory, then run it.

These updates are not full firmware updates, but just patches so they don't take long to run.

[AlexJ]

Great, then just bang the .iso in the ms0:/ISO/ folder and go I guess.

[Harrison]

Yes.

You may also like to know about the M33 recovery menu. If you hold down the right collar button when you switch the PSP on you will get the boot recovery menu appear. You can change lots of useful settings in here.

The most useful part (and the part where you can't mess anything up) is in the main Configuration menu. In here you can switch the UMD mode between normal and NoUMD. If it is set to normal more game ISO images will work, but you will need to have a real UMD game disc in the PSPs drive all the time. With NoUMD selected you don't need a disc in the drive, but not all games will work.

ANother useful option I always set is Hide corrupt icons, otherwise you will get lots of corrupt icons in the games list when using homebrew such as emulators.

Also if you find some homebrew or emulation doesn't run try changing the homebrew kernal from 3.51 to 1.5 as that may help.

[AlexJ]

Okay tried running an ISO with no success. Basically the screen went blank after the PSP splash with no MS activity light and all buttons including power stopped working. Removing and reinserting the battery allowed me to restart. Is that just a faulty ISO or is something wrong with my config? (It did the same in both UMD and NoUMD modes)

[Harrison]

Sounds like a corrupt ISO. I get that sometimes. Normally it will just throw up a "could not run" error and go back to the PSP OS, but sometimes it will just show the Sony screen and then the PSP will switch off. Same also happens sometimes when trying to run homebrew and emulators.

Just download a different game ISO and it should work.

A good place to get lots of PSP ISOs is the torrent site www.gamestorrents.com

[AlexJ]

Thanks for the link, I'll grab a couple from there and try them out. And thanks also for all the help installing the CF, very much appreciated. I think I'll try PSPUAE out using the guide on the main site while I'm waiting for the iso's to download.

[AlexJ]

The 2nd ISO file I tried worked perfect as did PSPUAE. Anyone fancy coming up with a list of the ~10 must have PSP games I should try out?

[Harrison]

Glad to hear it all works.

Games to try depends really on what genres you like.

I've just been playing the updated remakes of Final Fantasy 1 and 2 and they have been ported very nicely and suit the PSP screen well. If you missed them originally they are worth playing.

Valkyrie Profle Lenneth
Puzzle Bobble
Luminies
Loco Roco
Dungeon Siege Throne of Agony
Driver 76
Tekken Dark Resurrection (great PSP version from this series)
Gradius Collection
Hot Shots Golf Open Tee
Lego Star Wars II The original Trilogy (one of my favourite PSP games)
Mercury (nice puzzle game)
Metal Gear Acid
Outrun 2006
Wipeout Pure (one of the best ins series to date)
Ridge Racer (both PSP games are worth playing)
SSX on tour
Tomb Raider Legend
Field Commander
...

I think that will do for now. Out of those you have to play Loco Roco. It is very unique and suits the PSP perfectly.