This week, we’ve already had the discovery of the PS3 ‘root key’, but now it seems to be the PSP’s time in the hacking spotlight. Videos doing the rounds today show an ISO loader running on the previously hack-proof PSPgo. Sony’s battel with piracy on the PSP is well known, and the PSPgo was an attempt to counter the attempts.
The PSPgo was released just over a year ago and Sony hasn’t been doing to well selling the UMD-less PSPgo, so this news doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Sony Japan has announced a substantial price cut for the portable console today affecting both North America and Japan.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s CEO has admitted that the PSPgo wasn’t exactly what consumers were looking for, and implied that it was a grand experiment aimed at determining what, in fact, they are looking for. Analysts in the industry predict that digital content would eventually replace physical media (like Blu-ray discs), and this was an attempt by Sony to see if it would work.
If you are looking to purchase a PSPgo, June is the best time to do it. SCEE has announced that starting from June 9th and for a limited time only, new PSPgo owners (aged 18 and over) will get a head start on their game collection with ten games to download from PlayStation Store, absolutely free.
A new exploit has been released to the public, making use of a savegame exploit on the Patapon 2 demo. The exploit works on all firmware versions up to and including firmware 6.20 and on all PSP models, including the PSPgo. According to the dev, the hack was discovered because of a loophole in the Patapon 2 demo with the help of N00b81, m0skit0 and wololo. The dev also promises an e-loader is already in the works so stay tuned.
The PSPgo hasn’t had much success since it was launched last October and Sony admits the lack of success too. While the PSPgo is smaller and faster than the older PSP models and includes 16GB of internal flash storage, the models hasn’t sold well, mainly due to the high retail price. “I think the higher price point didn’t help matters,” says Rob Dyer, Sony’s Senior Vice President of Publisher Relations.
The battery life is equivalent with the current models meaning approximately 3 to 6 hours for gameplays and approximately 3 to 5 hours for playing back videos. Unfortunately, the battery cannot be changes so when it looses its life, Sony would need to replace the battery for you.
If you are the kind of person that likes to know how things are made or work, check out the video below. The guys over at TechRestore took apart the PSPgo, taking over 1,245 photos to create this cool stop-motion video. The video begins with the PSP magically taking its self apart to a groovin’ beat, animated by TechRestore designer Brian Northway, and is followed by a lightning speed time-lapse reassembly, performed by TechRestore consumer electronics technician, Ivan Villanueva.
Due to popular demand, Sony is expanding its PSPgo Free Game Offer until January 31st 2010. The promotion allows you to download a free game when you buy a PSPgo. After purchasing a PSPgo, simply sign-in (or sign-up) to the PlayStation Network and download a promotional theme onto your PSPgo. You will receive a email from Sony within a few days allowing you to download one of three new titles.
An unidentified source has informed gaming news site CVG of Logitech’s plans to create a UMD Drive add-on for the PSPgo. No price or release information was revealed by the source, but apparently the add-on would “plug into the PSPgo, allowing users to play their UMD games on the portable.” Logitech UK said that they’re “not aware of it, so it may be something the US office is working on.” Neither Logitech’s US office nor Sony have so far said anything about this rumor.
