Don’t get too excited just yet though; the promotion page says to “Look for the T-Mobile HotSpot call-out on the packaging of T-Mobile supported PSP games” so it may be that only certain games are playable using T-Mobile HotSpots. If that’s the case, shame on you Sony for using such an underhanded tactic to get us to buy more games. If not, play on!

With the release of the new 3.30 firmware, full screen video support has finally become feasible and the developers of PSP Video 9, Red Kawa, are all over it. In less than twenty-four hours, they put together a version of PSP Video 9, albeit very beta, capable of encoding at 480×272 and 720×480 resolution. There are only two encoding profiles to choose from, but you can’t complain considering how fast they released this puppy. This new version features a redesigned user interface. However, only 3.30 users will be able to get anything out of it because this version is only for PSP users of firmware 3.30 only. PSP users with firmware lower than 3.30 should use the most current non-beta version (1.94).

Head on over to Red Kawa for more information and download links.

New features:

• Support for PLAYSTATION®Network titles has been expanded.
• Support for thumbnail images of items has been added under [RSS Channel].
• Support for thumbnail images of videos that are stored in the "VIDEO" folder of Memory Stick Duo™ media has been added.
• The following types of files can now be played in the "VIDEO" folder.
  – MPEG-4/H.264 AVC Main Profile (AVC CABAC) video files of the following sizes:
  720 X 480, 352 X 480, or 480 X 272
  * Depending on the data type, some files cannot be played.
• [Use Wireless Hotspot] has been added as a feature under [Network Settings].

Someone from Acid Mods has created an ingenious PSP battery pack mod that allows you to use standard AAA batteries with your PSP. The tutorial covers how take out the innards of a standard PSP battery pack and solder on positive and negative battery contacts to allow for three AAA batteries to used. This would definitely be useful for those long plane trips.

If you don’t feel like you’re ready to make the downgrade leap, the Noobz team has also create HEN 3.03 which installs a temporary patch in the memory of the PSP and puts it in a 1.50-esque state allowing you to run homebrew almost as if you had firmware 1.50 installed. The only downside is that the patch goes away after the PSP is fully restarted, so you will have to run it each time you turn on your PSP. Note that the patch persists in sleep mode. You will still need an unpatched copy of of GTA: LCS for this.

To determine whether a copy of GTA: Liberty City Stories is patched or not, look at the firmware update included on the UMD. If it contains the 2.00 update, it is unpatched. Patched versions contain higher version updates.

Please note that while the Noobz team has tested this exploit to be highly successful, there is still a small chance of brickage as usual with all homebrew that modifies the firmware of the PSP. If you are ready to take that risk for the sake of homebrew, checkout PSP Updates for more details and the installation procedure.

Sony has given us a little treat: firmware update 2.81 and a special Halloween LocoRoco demo. It’s not quite as satisfying as candy but I guess it’s better than nothing. The update has no new features apparently as it says “Revisions to strengthen security have been added.” Early reports say the LocoRoco demo works on firmware as low as 2.80 but we haven’t confirmed it yet. You can get the LocoRoco demo here.

The October PSP Content Pack has been released. This month features the G.A.P Killzone wallpaper contest finalist. Sadly, there is no demo this month; perhaps the new Killzone content will make up for it.

Download the October PSP Content Pack

PSP Content

• ATV Offroad Fury Pro – Trailer
• Gangs of Londo – Gang Videos
• Gangs of London – Launch Wallpaper
• Killzone: Liberation – Video Preview
• Killzone: Liberation – G.A.P. Wallpaper Contest
• LocoRoco – Music
• NBA 07 – Trailer
• October Calendar Wallpaper

PlayStation2 Content

• Dew Action Sports Tour: PlayStation Tricks of the Year
• God of War II – Trailer
• Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron – Trailer

On the DS side, we have a storm of games coming. Dragon Quest Heroes, yet another new Pokemon game (the series just won’t die), Konductra, and a few others are all being released on either the Monday or Tuesday.

PSP Games

• September 19 – The Godfather: Mob Wars
• September 19 – Open Season
• September 19 – World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions

DS Games

• September 18 – Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
• September 18 – Bratz: Forever Diamondz
• September 18 – Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
• September 19 – Danny Phantom Urban Jungle
• September 19 – Konductra
• September 19 – Open Season
• September 19 – The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Trouble

PGZine is about all portable game systems. To prove that to you we are bringing you a great review of Starfox Command for the DS today. Mitchyd has done a great job bringing you his thoughts on the game, thanks for submitting this Mtchyd.

If you would like to contrbute to the PGZine, drop my the bMash forums and let us know!

Go to PGZine.com to download or view online.

There are several games on the DS front as well this week. Mega Man ZX, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Mario Hoops 3 on 3 and a few others are all coming out this week.

PSP Game Releases

• September 12 – Bomberman
• September 12 – Bounty Hounds
• September 12 – LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• September 12 – NHL 07
• September 12 – Rengoku II: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N.

DS Game Releases

• September 11 – Mario Hoops 3 on 3
• September 12 – Mega Man ZX
• September 12 – LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• September 12 – Harvest Moon DS
• September 12 – Cooking Mama
• September 12 – MechAssault: Phantom War

Ubisoft has announced that Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas will be making its way to PSP alongside it’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 brethren. However, this is not simply a port. Vegas for PSP will feature a parallel storyline with a single and multiplayer action.

In Vegas for PSP, players will play as Brian Armstrong and Shawn Rivers who support the characters in the console version. The game will set place in Las Vegas (who would of thought?) and players are tasked with saving the city from the terrorists.

The controls are being fine tuned for the PSP so don’t fret. Although how they will work has yet to be seen. As a Rainbox Six operative, you’ll use a variety of high-tech gadgets such as snake-cams for tagging enemies before bursting into a room with guns blazing. Rainbow Six Vegas will also have ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplayer where players can duke it out in Survival and Team Survival modes on classic Rainbow Six maps.

Be on the lookout for this game as it is scheduled to be released this holiday season.

PSP version 2.81 is out in the wild folks. But not so fast. 2.81 brings no new features. It’s another one of Sony’s security updates to patch the recently discovered TIFF exploit. But if you really want to the latest and “greatest” firmware, you can download it via network update. It is not available through the PlayStation website yet unfortunately.

Update: The firmware update is now available on the PlayStation website.

In fact, we’ve reached the stage where a GT4 equivalent runs on the PSP hardware. However, our main focus at present, is the development and release of a GT title for the PS3 platform.

Once this has been completed, we can return to, and jump-start, development for the PSP version. In regards to release dates and details, we’ll be making further announcement, at a later date.

Sadly, there are no new DS games coming out this week. PSP gamers on the other hand can rejoice as LocoRoco has a good chance of loosening the DS’ monopolistic grip on game sales.

PSP Games

• September 5 – LocoRoco
• September 5 – Guilty Gear Judgment
• September 6 – NASCAR 07