Homebrew on PSP systems with firmware 3.50 was thought to be impossible ... until now. An exploit was found in the classic puzzle game, Lumines, that allows a Hello World application to run on the system. Users must download a special program, and install it on the Memory Stick. When launching Lumines, the exploit will be taken advantage of.
This is a huge win for the homebrew community. Most likely, downgraders will be created to take advantage of this exploit, which will allow all modern PSP owners to revert to a homebrew-capable firmware. Most likely, Sony has already heard about this exploit, and is working on a new firmware to ensure too many people won't be able to take advantage of this flaw.
[Update: Now included a video, via MAXCONSOLE]
[Thanks, Merc25!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-23-2007 @ 10:58PM
Xarek said...
That is amazing. I knew there was other games besides GTA LCS that could run unsigned code.
3.50 downgrader... homebrew ftw.
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6-23-2007 @ 11:23PM
rockeranimefreak said...
on behalf of the homebrew community i welcome you 3.50 users to the REAL SOCIAL :)
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6-23-2007 @ 11:33PM
Paul said...
What I really want to know is...what about Lumines 2?
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6-23-2007 @ 11:48PM
TheGuy said...
Sweetness. After a downgrader gets set-up from this exploit, Sony will have to think-up of a really good feature to get people to upgrade to a higher firmware with this exploit patched. As long as we have homebrew, we'll be able to continue pressuring Sony to make the most out of the PSP's software and hardware.
HOMEBREW FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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6-23-2007 @ 11:52PM
kingofwale said...
wait, FW 3.5 is already out? man, that was quick, yeah, Homebrew community is KILLING Sony. why don't Sony just give up with all this, they aren't gonna win here. Just lie down and accept that most people want to run programs they want on the machine they bought legally. If Sony isn't smart enough to provide all the apps. let the users and community do it.
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6-24-2007 @ 12:11AM
NoBullet said...
You guys actually think the majority of people downgrade just to use some homebrew program, and never pirate games? Good grief...
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6-24-2007 @ 12:54AM
PSP-Rising said...
so called homebrew I am sure exists but the vast majority utilize homebrew to pirate games. This is a big reason for developers to make an inferior POS game for the DS as they know they will get there money out of it. I know there is some real cool homebrew out there as well I but game piracy is far and away the biggest draw for users.
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6-24-2007 @ 12:55AM
kingofwale said...
>You guys actually think the majority of people downgrade just to use some homebrew program
and you actually think you are capable of contradicting that by backing up with solid data?
Oh, "My friend pirate games because he has OE" does not qualify as "solid data".
It's like saying people who likes hiphop are more likely to commit crimes. Nothing short of ignorance.
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6-24-2007 @ 1:02AM
PSP-Rising said...
kingofwale
you want proof? if you look at ANY BIT TORRENT site that has games you will ALWAYS see PSP games and the high traffic grabbing them, you can check traffic on Emule EDonkey and you will ALWAYS see many many many users downloading them. Gee you want solid data, gimme a break, WTF? you going to take a damn survey asking people if they Pirate???? It's pure ignorance to assume this is not a huge thing that is done.
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6-24-2007 @ 1:11AM
kingofwale said...
>if you look at ANY BIT TORRENT site that has games you will ALWAYS see PSP games and the high traffic grabbing them,
wow, that's it, Solid evidence right there. evidence provided by TORRENT site, what do you want to throw out next? Prison survey?
let me make it clearer. here's the quote you need to back it up "majority of people downgrade just to use some homebrew program"
>you can check traffic on Emule EDonkey and you will ALWAYS see many many many users downloading them.
and one more thing, looks like you're MORE guilty of this than anybody here. How about you stop pirating before accusing other people? it's people LIKE YOU who ruin OE for the rest of us. Give yourself an round of applause.
Torrent site has NOTHING to do with downgrader. and frankly, you don't even know who those people are who downloaded torrent.
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6-24-2007 @ 1:24AM
PSP-Rising said...
guilty? You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about. The point I was making id that you can't really get solid proof that people pirate games on the PSP.
"Torrent site has NOTHING to do with downgrader. and frankly, you don't even know who those people are who downloaded torrent."
No kidding, you miss the POINT AGAIN, the torrent site is where they get the PSP games. People can use torrents for a hell of a lot more than piracy, many valid companies and devlopers utilize BT to get there software out there. You have no choice to see what all is out there on these Torrent sites and even you could not miss seing the PSP games listed there everyday.
"and one more thing, looks like you're MORE guilty of this than anybody here. How about you stop pirating before accusing other people? it's people LIKE YOU who ruin OE for the rest of us. Give yourself an round of applause."
Using these sites if you knew what the hell you was talking about makes me guilty on nothing, and shows how ignorant you are when it comes to this.
I bet you have pirated as many games as you can on for the PSP, but I need to have as you say it Proof, well it's just my word as is it yours when you babble and rant on about something. Users that read it can take it or leave it, normally I leave it.
Give yourself a round of appluase for your self imposed ignorance.
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6-24-2007 @ 1:29AM
kingofwale said...
wow, have to lower yourself to the level of accusing other people of pirating? Lol, do I need to remind you that you have 0 evidence of me or anybody else here as regarding to pirating games?
>you can't really get solid proof that people pirate games on the PSP.
Hence EXACTLY why you don't make stupid claims like "majority of people downgrade just to use some homebrew program". Amuse me here for a second, what part of that don't you get?
You don't open your mouth and make claims unless you can back it up. You don't say most people who use OE are pirates, and you don't accuse me of pirating games when you have NO proof.
It's a sad thing to see you losing your credibility. anybody else here you want to accuse of pirating games? How about Colin? or Andrew?
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6-24-2007 @ 1:55AM
Sean said...
woah, Calm yourselves my brothers, let's stop this whole blame game of who pirates games and who doesn't. Anyways, all we gotta do now is wait for the downgrader. I'm Buying Lumines tommorrow.
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6-24-2007 @ 2:20AM
merc25 said...
Sony has a major problem on their hands now, because this was the first killer app the PSP had, was rated E, and is now dirt cheap. All these factors cumulate up to is a game that can be bought by anyone(unlike GTA:LCS which was rated M), there won't be the price gouging we have seen of the unpatch GTA:LCS due to how much time transpired between the game initial release to the finding of this exploit. A major problem with the GTA:LCS exploit was, it was found so early in the life cycle of the game, which made it less pervasive than it could have been. Sony and T2 rapidly worked to fixed it, which made the unpatched version in high and limited finite supply, the result price gauging. The high price and limited possibility of finding one, are strong deterrents of would be cfw users. Lumines is at $20 at most, a much more reasonable price, and it would take considerable amount of time for the supply to run low.
This is Sony's worst nightmare come to fruition.
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6-24-2007 @ 3:42AM
mnemo said...
That is REALLY funny. Exploit for all versions on the day I put my PSP and Lumines up on eBay. D'oh! :-P
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6-24-2007 @ 4:12AM
Saigon said...
@kingofwale
You don't believe that most homebrew users pirate games? Lol, I can't believe you're asking for proof. What's sad, is you're probably a pirate yourself.
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6-24-2007 @ 4:46AM
rogi11 said...
so does it mean this is way to downgrade your PSP from 3.50 or any other firmware to 1.00 and then to homebrew?
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6-24-2007 @ 5:51AM
shanedude333 said...
That's really cool, but I'm not sure what homebrew firmware could really offer me more than a good chance of bricking my poor little pal.
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6-24-2007 @ 6:27AM
zetsurin said...
Ok, let's just get something straight here.
PSP-Rising - smart.
kingofwale - dumbass.
kingofwale YOU ARE IN DENIAL. Grow the hell up!
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6-24-2007 @ 6:36AM
CyborgSPIKE said...
wow fell the love here!
anway, i got lumines for 30 bux not too long ago, and until now has been collecting dust. but now i can hello the world from it and am very happy! cant wait fora downgrader, cuz im on 3.5. i just wanna play FFVII on my psp!!!
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