PSP, Firmware, and emulation.

[Darth Sensei]

I'd like to buy a PSP so I can do all the great emulation that everyone is doing.

I tried searching for this info but wasn't successful.

Anybody have a definitive guide as to how to tell the firmware that is loaded on a brand new and sealed PSP?

I've been told you can't downgrade anything above 2.0. Is that right?

Where is a great place to go to learn about this stuff?

I'd rather not buy used unless there is no other way.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Trebuken]

I believe someone posted the information you are looking for. I can't find the thread though. It told you what to look for on the various boxes the PSP comes in. Different codes...

Keep searching it's here somewhere...

Later,
Trebuken

[Muscelli]

http://pspupdates.com

go to the message board and look under the help section for a ton of tourtourials to get you started

[izret101]

I have a downgrader if you need it.

I also have an upgrader incase your version is too low to use the downgrader (ironic).

[Jasoco]

I just finally discovered the joy of emulation!

http://www.jasoco.net/data/files/images/PSP%20Emulation%20Photos/pspemu-1.jpg

I'm on 2.0 still BTW. I see no need to upgrade yet. Especially since I'd lose this emulation that I waited so long to try.

Dragon Warrior, Startropics, Earthbound. Sweet. Too bad the SNES emulator is a little slow on intense graphical stuff (No Pop 'n' Twinbee or TMNT IV due to horrible slowdown. :() but EB works great.

The problem is that some games don't save. Dragon Warrior works perfect. Saves and loads fine. But Startropics didn't save. Neither did Earthbound on SNES, which pretty much ruins that for me. (As I can't find any options in this emulator to Freeze and Defrost or even set the screen to not stretch.)

Now if only I had a ROM for Super Mario RPG...

[Darth Sensei]

I found a "value pack" PSP with 2.0 firmware new at a store, but I'd rather have the GigaPack. Is the Gigapack still commonly available or perhaps just a stand alone PSP?

These questions must sound ignorant, but until this point, I've totally ignored the PSP.

TIA.

[Trebuken]

One of my gaming mags mentioned that SOny is planning on releasing a PSP with a 4GB hard-drive this year...I don't know if it's a new model or just an new 'giga-pack', but I thought I'd wait for it, rather than upgrading my firmware...one for emu's one for PSP gaming...

FYI stuff...

Later,
Trebuken

[Muscelli]

the giga pack is still avalible, and it isnt a limited edition sort of thing

[Darth Sensei]

I got really lucky today at EB Games. I bought a "used" but brand new PSP with 1.51 firmware. It was returned to EB Games and the customer said that he received it as a gift but lost the receipt.

They sold it to me as Used, but it clearly wasn't even opened.

It does however appear to have 1 dead pixel in the far upper left (or it could be a piece of dust under the screen) but from what I've read, that's not bad at all for these things.

I paid $200 for the "used" value pack minus the 32mb card. The clerk told me those have to be wiped by the warehouse and had to be separated from the package.

What do you guys think of this deal?

[tynstar]

Nice deal but for me still 175 too much.

[Anthony1]

I got really lucky today at EB Games. I bought a "used" but brand new PSP with 1.51 firmware.



1.51 firmware is actually one of the worst firmwares to have. You have to somehow get it to 2.0 firmware (which might not be that easy with a 1.51) and then downgrade it to 1.50. Make sure that you don't upgrade the firmware beyond 2.00

[Darth Sensei]

So, it was a bad idea to pick this up? I just assumed that I should get the earliest firmware I could.

[ddockery]

It was a great idea. Juts upgrade it to 2.0 (which is the same on 1.51 as any other version) then you can either leave it at 2 which can do some homebrew, or just downgrade to 1.50.

[NE146]

The problem is that some games don't save. Dragon Warrior works perfect. Saves and loads fine. But Startropics didn't save. Neither did Earthbound on SNES, which pretty much ruins that for me.

That aint a problem. Simply use the savestates function built into the emulator. Come on man :P

[Slate]

Edit: Although 1.5 is not required for Emulators, If you have any newer firmware than 2.0, Eboot loaders will not run.

You don't need to downgrade to 1.5 to play emulators. Just use an Eboot loader.

Here is a good site that has tutorials on how to install emu's, roms, And has lots of downloads.

http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/

Do not download the "Killing PSP" Thing. I think it destroys your unit's screen.

Here is a link to an awesome ROM site..

www.romguy.com

With this site, you have to enter a code before it unzips the rom. the code is the site's URL, www.romguy.com.

As for that pixel issue, I think you did better than i did. My PSP has 3 bad pixels.

[expospourtoujours]

Hi

Where can I get this Eboot loader? I have 1.52 now that I bought Virtua Tennis a few months back. So I can still play emulators? Help the newb...

[Slate]

Hi

Where can I get this Eboot loader? I have 1.52 now that I bought Virtua Tennis a few months back. So I can still play emulators? Help the newb...

The Eboot loader only works on 2.0.0. Since you have 1.52, It's a good idea to upgrade to 2.0.0.

Keep in mind, however, that it must be 2.0.0 for the Eboot loader to run. If you have anything beyond 2.0.0, You're stuck, and cannot play EMU's or Homebrew.

Here is a link to where you can download the EBoot loader:

http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=15875

Read the Readme before you go doing anything. You must have a picture on your PSP set as wallpaper before you run it.

You may be confused of what the Root of the memory stick is.

Well, it is the memory stick. First folder.

[Nature Boy]

Is there a list anywhere that shows which games require which firmware version? Or do I just assume that, say, any game released before GTA will require 2.0 or less and I can stick to those?

(I'm basically lothe to lose my NES emulator)

[Slate]

Is there a list anywhere that shows which games require which firmware version? Or do I just assume that, say, any game released before GTA will require 2.0 or less and I can stick to those?

(I'm basically lothe to lose my NES emulator)

Not sure on the first question.

But games released before GTA should require 2.0 or less.

Games released after GTA may or may not require 2.0 or higher. All depends.

[norkusa]

Is there a list anywhere that shows which games require which firmware version?

Here ya go:

http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=25288

[Darth Sensei]

It may be a moot point anyway.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78251&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=gta

[Darth Sensei]

I got really lucky today at EB Games. I bought a "used" but brand new PSP with 1.51 firmware. It was returned to EB Games and the customer said that he received it as a gift but lost the receipt.

They sold it to me as Used, but it clearly wasn't even opened.

It does however appear to have 1 dead pixel in the far upper left (or it could be a piece of dust under the screen) but from what I've read, that's not bad at all for these things.

I paid $200 for the "used" value pack minus the 32mb card. The clerk told me those have to be wiped by the warehouse and had to be separated from the package.

What do you guys think of this deal?

Well, this wasn't as good a deal as I thought. I've been waiting for a memory card to arrive from Ebay and wanted to test my unit before my 2 weeks was up.

I rented a game and realized that my start button doesn't work. So, I'll be trying to return it today for a refund. :roll:

[Nature Boy]

http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=25288

Absolutely beautiful - thanks dude!

Another question: I got WipeOut Pure yesterday and was thinking about downloading the extra tracks etc. Does anybody know if it also updates firmware if I do that? Has anybody done it? (I might put this in it's own thread, but for now I'll leave this here).


It may be a moot point anyway.

I think we all know that, eventually, hacking the PSP to play emulators will be a snap. But for now I think I'm not alone in wanting to keep what's working as is. I'm in the 3rd set of my NES Tennis match and I'm lothe to lose it! :D

[Nature Boy]

Actually, I believe I answered my own WipeOut question by finding this FAQ on GameFAQs:

http://db.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/wipeout_pure_b.txt

The answer would be no, the firmware isn't updated. I'm trying it now.

[Darth Sensei]

http://forums.qj.net/showthread.php?t=25288

Absolutely beautiful - thanks dude!

Another question: I got WipeOut Pure yesterday and was thinking about downloading the extra tracks etc. Does anybody know if it also updates firmware if I do that? Has anybody done it? (I might put this in it's own thread, but for now I'll leave this here).


It may be a moot point anyway.

I think we all know that, eventually, hacking the PSP to play emulators will be a snap. But for now I think I'm not alone in wanting to keep what's working as is. I'm in the 3rd set of my NES Tennis match and I'm lothe to lose it! :D

FYI, I was a little surprised that after testing it and realizing it was defective, EB issued me a refund without a problem.