Thanks to the ever-busy PSP homebrew community it is now possible to link a PC and a PSP together via USB Cable and a little plugin by the name of RemoteJoy Lite. Using the app you can hook up your Windows PC with your handheld and play PSP games on the PC screen.

Truly, we live in a Golden Age.

The video above gives a rough idea of what the app can do. As ever with homebrew software, you are responsible for your own device - don't come running to us if it makes your PSP implode into a nugget of dark matter that ultimately leads to the creation of an alternate universe where your evil doppleganger has a beard.

Wii Recovery Dongle [HackMii]

Quest For Glory II [AGD, via IndieGames]

Nintendo has been far too busy printing money and dreaming up strange new controllers to actually finish that DVD-on-Wii thing it has been promising for the last couple of years.

Happily, the homebrew community has stepped up and put together a Wii channel that will read a DVD disc and pipe it through the open source MPlayer media player.

It's not quite ready for prime time — the audio can sometimes get out of sync, although this is more a 'feature' of MPlayer than the fault of the hack, we suspect. Worth checking out, though, and it might just save Nintendo the bother of building something that nobody has really been crying out for but would be nice to have for free.

Homebrew Enables DVD Playback On Wii [Gemaga.com]

If you're a friend of Robert Pelloni and you're wondering why you haven't seen him for half a decade, here's why. Bob's Game, a title we'll assume is tentative for now, is a top down 2D adventure game built over the course of five years by a single person. Yes, one (obviously mad) developer is responsible for the programming, art, music, story and script required to bring Bob's Game to life.

According to the developer, the homebrew title is a simple adventure game, an RPG-lite sans repetitive battles that looks more than a bit Shenmue-esque. You can learn all about it by checking out the annotated version of the above clip at YouTube. Pelloni is currently seeking a publisher and hopefully sunlight.

"bob's game" for Nintendo DS [YouTube - thanks, Matt!]

Wii Systemmenu hacks [DCEmu]

UPDATE - Crediar dropped us a line this morning to let us know the tool's gone live. Happy hunting.

Prices will be set at 200 MS points for games 50MB and under, with larger games priced at 400 or 800 MS points. Creators will receive 70% of the revenue generated mailed to them via check on a quarterly basis, though Microsoft will be randomly promoting XNA games, for which they will take an extra 10-20% based on traffic generated.

An interesting fact that is pointed out in the FAQ (linked below) is that even big name publishers can submit their games via the Creators Club, meaning a game that might not pass muster with Xbox proper could theoretically make it into the community section. Hit the link below for the full details!

Introducing Xbox LIVE Community Games [XNA Creators Club Online - Thanks Epsicode!]

June 16 Wii update [HackMii]

Wii Menu Update 3.3 kills Twilight Hack [Wii Fanboy]

Twilight Hack [WiiBrew via Maxconsole]

Sega is no good at marketing hardware anymore. Sorry, guys, it's true. The Saturn was a total flop outside Japan, and, while the Dreamcast did pretty good, it got trounced by Sony's PlayStation 2 marketing.

Old consoles had a lot of very custom hardware in them, and you really had to re-learn how to code in a lot of instances. Look at today's console lineup: basically, all PPC cell processors with various combinations of off-the-shelf video hardware and such. Modern arcade boards are more or less just a consumer console crammed into a JAMMA form factor.

So, in that sense, no, I don't expect nor would I like to see Sega return to the hardware scene. I like them doing what they did during the Dreamcast era: making fun games. Hardware is just not all that interesting anymore.

If you're nostalgic for the days of yore, it's worth a read through. It's certainly an interesting look at the pleasures and pitfalls of trying to keep a dead console alive.

Interview: Cryptic Allusion on Keeping the Dream(cast) Alive [The Escapist]

The catch? It doesn't fit on a stock DS memory footprint, requiring a slot-2 flash card with at least 16 MB of RAM. A list of support cards is available at the offical Q2DS site. The hobby project is free to download, but we haven't tried it out yet, so homebrew enthusiast beware.

Quake II DS [Drunken Coders via Waxy]

A modification of open source software Freevo, Megabox brings VOIP, P2P, Firefox, 3D Linux gaming, TV recording (not sure how on this one), and emulation—as well as plenty of other features. Essentially, it's Linux without the install, reskinned with a neat media center interface. The price is right (free) so we'll give this a try and tell you what we think. Until then, here are the full details:

Video: 1-Reproduction in the premises of almost all the formats of video, including the MKV. 1-Reproduction in the premises of almost all the formats of video, including the MKV. 2-Reproduction in Streaming (from Internet or the local network) reproduces just like in the point 1 that if, the MKV would cost to him more but, depending on the bandwidth of Internet, since in local network we have all 100MB. 2-Reproduction in streaming (from the Internet or local network) reproduces just like in the point that if 1, the MKV would cost more to him but, depending on the bandwidth of the Internet, since in local network we have all 100MB. to 3-Encoder and to decoder of DivX, DVD, TDT and others. To 3 encoder and decoder of DivX to DVD, TDT and others. 4-Recording to CD's/DVD's etc. (Necessary external recorder USB) 4-recording to CD's / DVD's etc. (Necessary external recorder USB) 5-Possibility of using compatible digital cameras with Linux. 5-Possibility of using digital cameras compatible with Linux.

Audio:
1-Reproduction of all the habitual formats. 1-Reproduction of all the habitual formats. (Local and streaming.) (Local and streaming.)
2-Encoder and decoder of CD's and other formats. 2 encoder and decoder of CD's and other formats.
3-Recording of CD's/DVD's etc... (Necessary external recorder USB.) 3-recording of CD's / DVD's etc... (Necessary external USB recorder.)
4-Possibility of using compatible reproducers MP3/MP4 with Linux 4-Possibility of using reproducers MP3/MP4 compatible with Linux

TV/Radio: (compatible with multiple models and marks of devices USB TV) TV / Radio: (compatible with multiple models and marks of USB devices TV)
1-Reproduction of TDT, TDS, TDC and IMAGENIO. 1-Reproduction of TDT, TDS, TDC and IMAGENIO. (Necessary USB capture device.) "one in pack MegaBOX PS3 will be included" (Necessary USB capture device.) "In one pack MegaBOX PS3 will be included"
2-Radio and TV in streaming by Internet. 2-Radio and TV in streaming by the Internet.
3-Recording of programs of TV "to the hard disk of the PS3, external Hard disk or to record it to CD/DVD "with possibility of programming the hour and date of recording. 3-recording of programs of TV "to the hard disk of the PS3, external hard disk or to record it to CD / DVD" with possibility of programming the hour and date of recording.

Software:
1-FireFOX. (Formed with all plug-ins for its perfect operation.) (Formed with all plug-ins for its perfect operation.)
2-System P2P. 2 system P2P.
3-System VoIP and instantaneous mail. 3 System VoIP and instantaneous mail.
4-Emulation of games of almost all the platforms. 4-emulation of games of almost all the platforms. (Reading of ROM's from any unit, even from local NETWORK.) (Reading of ROM's from any unit, even from local NETWORK.)
5-Game for LINUX in 3D (to still not contrasted.) 5-Game for LINUX in 3D (contrasted to still not.)
6-Possibility of launching PS3 games directly from MegaBOX. 6-Possibility of launching PS3 games directly from MegaBOX.
(In the future possibly ISO loader) (In the future possibly ISO loader)
"Software requests are accepted" "Software requests are accepted"

Appearance:
1-Skins Manager so that you modify to your taste the appearance of MegaBOX in your PS3 (Necessary knowledge of XM) 1-Skins manager so that you modify to your taste the appearance of MegaBOX in your PS3 (Necessary knowledge of XM)

Components needed: Components needed:
1-Playstation 3 sixaxis (PS3) 1-PlayStation 3 sixaxis (PS3)
2-Any compatible PS3 device 2-Any device compatible PS3

Screen Resolution: Screen resolution:
1-1280x720 (720P) 1-1280x720 (720P)

Custom Firmware 3.80 M33 has been released [DCEmu - Thanks Wraggy!]

Colors! Home Page [Collecting Smiles via Evil Avatar]
Image created by tsenzen

Your route to work can then become a map, with different levels of play (with varying difficulty) available just by walking a different way home. It's a simple idea that, who knows, might even be as fun as it is original. Has anyone tried it out?

metro-wardive (nintendo ds) [via gearfuse]

Not the activity nor the concept — I participate in the Atari VCS development scene. I enjoy making games for the machine, and I teach it in my classes. I am against the word. Or more properly, the frame it evokes. Let me explain.

UC Berkeley cognitive linguist George Lakoff has advanced the concept of "frames" in language. For Lakoff, a frame is the way we conceptualize an idea. Words invoke frames. The way we use words to frame ideas can influence what and how people believe. In his book Moral Politics, Lakoff discusses the way liberals and conservative use (and fail to use) frames to communicate political ideas. For example, the conservative phrase "tax relief" implies that tax is a burden or an affliction rather than, say, a means to broader social improvement. Lakoff argues that conservatives are very good at verbal framing, while liberals are very bad at it.

Videogame developers, publishers, journalists, and players are also very bad at framing. For example, game proponents often respond to criticisms about game violence inciting real violence by saying "you can't prove it" rather than "shifting the frame," in Lakoff's terms, toward another perspective.

"Homebrew" is another frame we should be shifting.

What does the term evoke? Moonshiners. Bootleggers. Illegal trafficking. Or if not that, illegitimacy. Bastard products. Fakes, fraud, and corruption. Something that can't or shouldn't be done in public, but that you can get away with at home.

There's a reason for that illegitimacy has been a part of "homebrew." One reason is the first-party publishing model. Because the popular game platforms are closed, ordinary people don't have access to them. The only way to end around this limitation is to illegally acquire a dev kit (bootlegging) or to reverse engineer or otherwise jury-rig a solution (moonshining).

Another reason is obsolescence. Computer platforms age and leave the marketplace. When they do, there's no reason to protect them. Thus, homebrew development is sometimes seen as a waste of time. Homebrewers, taking on their drunkard namesakes, appear like slackers and tramps. Why write a game for a dead platform? Why not get a job?

In response to the first objection, we might cite the considerable innovation on early platforms came from reverse engineering. That's how most of the third-party developers (save Activision and Imagic, founded by former Atari devs) figured out how the system worked. So reverse engineering has a history of progressing design.

In response to the second objection, we might question the idea that a platform's expressive and cultural (or even commercial) value ends when it becomes less prominent. Poetry and theater are very hard arts to make a living at, but still people do them, often as a supplement to other parts of their lives.

Compare "homebrew" to, say, "hobbyist" or "community" or "amateur" or "DIY" or "weekender" or "offhours" game development, to name just a few alternatives. These are more positive frames that better explain what so-called homebrew development really feels like. Or we could just forget the term entirely and use different frames of legitimacy: "I'm a university professor and I like to travel, dine out, and make Atari games in my spare time."

It was probably the most fun platform that I have personally worked on. The early consoles that I worked on (SNES, Genesis-32X, and Jaguar) had fun hardware and full documentation, but a lousy development tool chain... While there are a few nooks on the DS that aren't documented, they weren't things I cared about, so to me it was almost perfect. It is a shame that homebrew development can't be officially sanctioned and supported, because it would be a wonderful platform for a modern generation of programmers to be able to get a real feel for low level design work...

Homebrew applications void the warranty of the PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) system, and an official area to discuss such activities cannot be provided by SCEA. Any postings that are clearly homebrew-related, such as those providing instructions on downgrading firmware updates, will be removed from this board.

While many have picked up this story, disgusted with Sony (and somewhat rightly so), who can expect Sony to allow their bandwidth to be spent in a manner that is (in their eyes) directly opposing their business? It's a shame that Sony has not found a way to embrace the homebrew community—a move that would be great PR for their promising but underutilized portable. But until they realize the potential in supporting non-pirated homebrew, we can't feign disgust or surprise at what is a very reasonable move made by an unreasonable company.

Sony Forum [via gamesradar]

It's the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes research and development by some of the top names in PSP hacking, under the name of the Prometheus project.

The reasons are various.
One of them is the time it consumes, which i'm losing from other things.
The other is related to my security. I didn't like Sony menaces to PS3 hackers.
I think it is better to leave now rather than end paying the consequences.

Want to play homebrew something on your PSP, but also like to keep up with your firmware updates? Buy Lumines! The game features a recently discovered exploit that will allow for the running of homebrew code with a simple press of the Start button following the load of a modified game save. The new avenue for emulation enthusiasts, despicable pirates, and homebrew coders will surely turn into something magical for PSP owners looking to get more out of their systems than what is legally and officially available.

Obviously, anyone looking to run homebrew code on their PlayStation Portable will do so at their own risk, voiding warranties and running afoul of copyright law doing so. There may also be some finger waggling aimed in your general direction. Michael McWhertor

The PSP has an active homebrew community, and hackers are hoping to create the same for the PS3. So far, PS3 firmware 1.10 and 1.11 have been cracked, making it possible to boot illegal game copies. However, hackers haven't figured out how to get the booted games to run so they can be played. What's Sony doing to stop this? Spokesman Dave Karraker says:

Unfortunately, hackers will try to exploit any hardware system software. The best we can do as a company is to make our security that much stronger and aggressively pursue legal action against anyone caught trying to use an exploit in an illegal manner... Naturally, any use of an exploit on the system software does void the warranty on the PS3 system... Which could be a costly mistake to see if you can run an old SEGA CD game on it.

Making Threats [Eurogamer]

The guys at Area Code Inc. recently announced that they will be bringing their PC location-aware game Plundr to the Nintendo DS.

In Plundr you sail from island to island aboard a pirate ship buying, selling and fighting for goods. The twist is that your physical location in the real word dictates what islands you'll find nearby. The game is driven by @Loki's Skyhook Wi-Fi positioning system and the DS' built-in WiFi.

The Area Code folks showed off the DS version of the recent Where 2.0 conference. No word yet on when the game might be hitting the DS or if it will get retail packaging or hit the portable as homebrew. Brian Crecente

Plundr DS [Area Code Inc]

It's all in the homebrew sector, folks. Strip Rock Paper Scissors, Tickle Girl, Teenage Quen NDS, it's all here. Most are strip poker-esque, but some are a mix familiar games with a little bootylicious in it. Virus DS (pictured) is your typical puzzle game where you have to inject exploding virus particles while looking at hot anime nurses. I never thought anyone would ever try make a visit to "the clinic" sexy, but hey, everyone's got their own taste. Kim Phu

Naughtiness on the Nintendo DS [DS Fanboy]

You can download the game at the site below, and for you non-PSP owners Triple Triad is also playable on the PC. Get it while it lasts! Michael Fahey

Triple Triad PSP Forums [PSP-Italia via PSP News]

The Beeb spoke with hacking wizards Dark Alex and Noobz Team's David Court about why they spend so much of their free time finding ways around the Sony developed security that allows enthusiasts to run SNES emulators and boot PSP games from the Memory Stick.

While both denounce piracy, highlighting the open-ended possibilities of their work, both admit piracy is an issue but that it should be up to the individual to decide how their hardware will serve them.

Me? I just want something that will serve as my porn-on-the-go device, but I still appreciate their efforts. Michael McWhertor

Three hacker teams unlock the PSP [BBC]

This totally unauthorized collection of homebrew developed Pac-Man titles was compiled by Atari afficianado Bob DeCrescenzo and is now available for purchase for Atari 7800 enthusiasts and completists.

According to the product page, each cart contains the following games (with descriptions):

* Pac-Man (The Original!)
* Puck Man (Same game, more difficult maze)
* Hangly Man (Empty Mazes? Vertical Tunnels? Invisible Mazes?)
* Ultra Pac-Man (6 New Mazes for a new variety)
* Random Mazes (You just never know which maze will appear next!)
* Ms. Pac-Man (The second installment of the Pac-Family)
* Ms. Pac-Attack (Same game, more challenging mazes)
* Ms. Random Mazes (Like Random Mazes above, but with the Ms. flavor)

It even comes with a full color manual!

In addition to that list of games, each can be played in "Plus" or "Fast" mode which provide alternate play options for each title. Yes, Jr. Pac-Man and Super Pac Man are missing, but this is a beautiful package. For a mere thirty bucks, you simply cannot go wrong.

Those looking to complete the package or learn more about the final development of the project should check out this very interesting thread. Michael McWhertor

Atari 7800 Pac-Man Collection

The video explains it best, but if you've ever wondered, "Can I control my MIDI enabled devices with a portable gaming system?" the answer is "Yes." Use your DS(es) as a keyboard, simulated Korg KAOSS effects pad, a MIDI synthesizer and—would you believe it?—so much more. Very cool stuff. Michael McWhertor

DSMIDIWifi

Console hacking enthusiasts have already taken the first steps towards making the PS3 backup friendly, installing LINUX and using it to dump a 7.08GB ISO file from Madden 07 onto an external hard drive. Pool Boy over at PS3News points out that this is exactly how the PSP backup scene got started, and that the PS3 file structure closely resembles the one used in PlayStation Portable games.

In the same forum post he mentions a new AdvanceMAME binary for the PS3 that allows the system to emulate arcade games through Linux, and links to a tutorial on how to install a 750GB hard drive into the console.

It's kinda funny. This is the most excitement I've seen anyone drum up for the PS3 since the system launch. There might not be much in the way of new games coming out for a few months, but the potential for the system as a set top Linux box is quite intriguing, and an angle I hadn't considered. Now we just have to see if Sony unleashes regular BIOS upgrades to quash the homebrew scene like they've done on the PSP. Michael Fahey

BREAKiNG NEWS: *WORLD EXCLUSiVE* PS3 NEWS! [Ps3News.com - Thanks Alejandro!]

Security hole ho!

One day after releasing firmware 3.0 for the Playstation Portable, Sony released firmware 3.01... now with anti-homebrew fixes.

I would hate to be the guy who has to come up with these fixes. You know he was just sitting back in his office chair, about to sip down a Pumpkin Spice Latte after a firmware update well done when someone burst through his door and shouted "exploit!"

I wonder if he did a coffee spit-take? Brian Crecente

System Updates [Sony PSP]

Tips about PSP hardware mods are few and far between here at Kotaku HQ, so it made a nice change from the endless Mario quilt-cake-kleenex-pantsu tips I have to wade through to get to the real meat of the tips inbox: mail-order Russian child bride spam.

This apparently comes from one Joe Stranger, which is a nickname I can get behind. Says Joe to game site Maxconsole:

i just carried out my first psp hardware mod, i love racing games and ever since i got my psp i couldnt beleive how unresponsive the thumb nub was. I opened it up once with a veiw to adding a steering wheel but I couldnt work out how to wire it. Then last week i read an article about Benjamin Heckendorn "porting", hacking, a ps2 analogue stick onto his psp.

This thing should be a standard peripheral. But then again, so should a goddamned keyboard.

But I think I speak for everyone when I cut right to the chase and ask: dude, are you even wearing a shirt?

See what I did there? That was my hard-hitting video game reporter stylings. Eliza Gauger

Ghetto Joystick PSP Mod [Maxconsole]

Tipper Cyanide reports that the newest PSP firmware downgrader is out, and will work on firmwares 2.71 and lower. And apparently it's easier than ever:

If you've found it difficult to use the downgrader, with all the messing around with dumps, or if you've been left out because you couldn't find a dump, Dark_AleX has just made all of it a piece of cake. Now no messing around with dumps, checking to see if it's the correct one. The latest downgrader by Dark_AleX allows you to downgrade your 2.71 PSP to any version upto 1.5.

Head on over to QJ.net for the downloaded and report back when you've used it. I want all the gory details. Eliza Gauger

Dark_AleX's Generic Downgrader- Now Downgrade to any PSP firmware from 2.71! [QJ.net]

Pedro J. Est banez, a homebrewster who we assume is too frugal to purchase the already-available Opera browser, is apparently hard at work on creating a homebrew browser. Meant to cost users nothing, this browser, dubbed Okiwi, is to support .pdf files, JavaScript, file uploading, as well as a few other features. No word on release date as of right now.

I know nothing about the DS homebrew scene, but free is always good, and it sounds like at this point, anything is better than Opera Eliza Gauger

Homebrew Okiwi Web Browser [DSfanboy, via Aeropause]

Thank a group of homebrew devs, and not Sony, for this. Called the PSPTouchME, this concept image shows an in-the-works touch screen overlay that will cover like a screen protector and connect to the PSP via USB. It will also be possible to connect the PSP to the computer via extra USB port on the PSPTouchME, which screws into the portable's top. It will only support some homebrew games designed to use the add-on. How much will it cost? US $56. No word on if and when this will see a homebrew release. And if it'll actually work, for that matter. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [QJ.NET] Thanks, Torokun!

Apple's recent annoucement of iPod games has visions of Doom and sugarplums dancing in our heads. I mean, we know you can already technically do Doom on the iPod. But we're looking for a solution that doesn't require us to install some godawful Linux OS.

Unfortunately, it looks like the iPod's game SDK is extremely closed... homebrew at this point looks like a virtual impossibility on a stock iPod:

Modifying the games is difficult at best, if not impossible, because of the checksumming of every file in the bundle, and then the certificate against the manifest.

Game resource files, particularly audio, aren't obfuscated and can be extracted successfully.

Homebrew is probably an impossibility at this point because of the expectation of a signed cert from Apple.

The fact that there are platform identifiers in the plists makes me wonder what Apple's future plans entail. Maybe this would just be for later iPod revisions, or maybe they're just looking forward. Still, quite interesting.

Cathode Tan, where we snagged this from, points out how absurd it is that while Microsoft releases an SDK for the 360 and Sony updates their PSP firmware, Apple won't even acknowledge the homebrew community one way or another. Then again, Apple has never made any attempt to capture gamers — that's why every Apple Intel Mac owner has Boot Camp installed. Florian Eckhardt

Dissecting iPod Games [Cathode Tan]