It's no secret that the PSP (as with any system) gets ports of games from other consoles. Most of the ports to PSP logically come from the PlayStation 2. But all that is starting to change. With the PS3 on the rise and the PS2 on the decline, PSP is starting to get ports from some unexpected places.

The DS has many a game that it's shared with the GBA, but recently it seems like more and more GBA games are jumping over to Sony's portable. The most obvious of these are all of the recently announced Final Fantasy projects. From Final Fantasy Tactics to just plain ol' Final Fantasy, these GBA remakes are being remade again for the PSP. But it doesn't just end there, the PSP will also see a port of the GBA RPG title Riviera (which is great for me, since I never played that game).

Of course, while it seems like quite a few PSP games are from GBA land, that isn't the only system sending off titles to PSP's library. Xbox games like Xyanide and Painkiller: Hell Wars are reported to have versions coming out this year for PSP and the DS racer Asphalt Urban GT 2 will be out shortly. Even the PC isn't exempt as fantastic physics platformer Gish has a release date for our system of choice.

The future though seems to be the Wii and PSP connection. While Alien Syndrome is one of the only Wii/PSP games announced so far, the fact that Wii games have to be developed independently from the rest of the home consoles means many developers may be looking to PSP versions as another source of profit. Of course as with any business move, these ports will have to make money if this is to become a serious trend.

Sony seems to be having a bit of a problem. They have a portable system that is a success, but not by any means their main product. Then they have a new console that desperately needs games any way it can get them. Obviously they need to compete on the high end next gen game front, but they also need to compete against the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade. Without the backlog of games like Nintendo or the head start of Microsoft, they seem to be turning to a questionable source for their downloadable games; the PSP.

The obvious issue with PSP games going to PS3 is that it begins to negate the reasons for a consumer to own both. Sure, right now it's a Gripshift and a Tekken, but what happens if the trend just continues? Sure, this would strengthen the PlayStation Network, but at the cost of PSP exclusives. This is just not acceptable when the PSP still has a long way to go to establish itself.

If Sony does insist on continuing to take games from the PSP library to the PS3, than it needs to change how it does so. Microsoft announced Live Anywhere quite some time ago, but we're still waiting for the day when we can play Xbox Live Arcade games on the go. Part of the reason is that Microsoft doesn't yet have a portable gaming system, but Sony does. Why not have it so if I download Gripshift on the PS3 I can download it to my PSP as well free as charge. For games that require progress, it would be great if I was able to share saves between my PSP and PS3. Maybe this is part of Sony's eventual plans anyway, but until I can buy Tekken on my PSP and continue it on my PS3 or vice-versa, it seems like a missed opportunity.

It could just be that this is a temporary solution and as more developers jump on board the PlayStation Network, Sony will stop relying on PSP games as downloadable content. Even if this is the case though, it still seems like a dangerous road for Sony to travel. It could just be that I'm overreacting though. What do fellow PSP owners think of this development?

In the last GUN Showdown Feature trailer, I complained that the game didn't seemed to look more like a PS1 title than a PS2. In the newest feature trailer, I have to admit the game's character model do seem to look a bit better.

However, I just can't get over the fact developers Rebellion/Neversoft Entertainment seem to be putting too much focus on the character models and the surrounding infrastructure is getting the short end of the stick. The same low-res textures still seem to be present.

But if Showdown can capture the same great gameplay that was present in GUN, I'm sure publisher Activision will have a hit on its hands. Showdown is set to ship Oct. 10.

It seems like Sony is starting to make a habit of taking freeware games and bringing them to their video game systems. First it was Flow on the PS3, and now it's Cave Story on the PSP.

However, I may be going out on a limb here, but I think it's safe to say Cave Story will receive some drastic graphical improvements before it reaches our hands. At least I hope it does. The game is being developed by Variant Interactive and should be released in 2007.

In case you're like me and have never heard of this game before, it's about a boy who wakes up inside and "delves into the rocky tunnels in search of clues to his where abouts and his identity. Meanwhile, a mad doctor makes use of an enchanted crown to enslave a race of rabbit-like creatures, known as Mimigas.

As the boy travels through the cave, searching for an exit, he meets Sue, a mimiga unlike all the others. Soon he is caught up in an adventure beyond imagination as the fate of both human and mimiga races hang in the balance," according to Variant's website.

How do you guys feel about having to pay for a freeware title, even if it's been upgraded?

[Via Kotaku]

If you can't beat them, take from them.

Although the old saying may not go exactly like that, it's what Sony has done as they managed to woo Dr. Kawashima, the creator of the DS' immensely popular Brain Age games to join the PSP team.

In addition to coming to the PSP, the game is getting a name change to Mind Quiz, which is developed by Sega and published by Ubisoft. Mind Quiz challenges player's (you guessed it!) minds with math, reflexes and memory mini-games that end with the player receiving their "brain age" score. Currently, Mind Quiz is scheduled to go on sale throughout Europe in November.

Seeing as I don't own a Nintendo DS, I've never played these games before, but they have interested me. However, after I get to play Mind Quiz, I won't tell you all my brain age score out of fear of public humiliation.

[Update 1: Clarified a sentence that was a bit confusing.]

[Via Joystiq]

Yesterday, we broke news that 1UP broke news of the Official Playstation Magazine breaking news of Oblivion heading to the PSP and PS3. Did ya get all that?

Well, now we get confirmation right from the source. Yeah, that's right, Bethesda has issued a press release confirming Oblivion is headed to the PSP in spring 2007. In America, the game will be published by Bethesda, while Ubisoft will publish it in Europe.

As if you didn't already know, this is a huge win for the PSP and PS3. I don't think there's anyone in their right mind who would argue that the PSP is the only major handheld system on the market that has enough horsepower to properly handle a game like Oblivion.

It's times like this that help me forget about things like hardware sales charts and focus on the massive amount of great games on the PSP's horizon. It truly is a great time to be a gamer.

[Via Bethesda]

If you're a member of the anti-PSP port camp, then I have some bad news for you – Myst, a 13-year-old game, is making its way onto the PSP sometime next year. And to make you even happier, IGN has just posted some new screens of the game in "action."

Unlike some ports, developers Hoplite Research/Cyan Worlds, Inc. isn't resting on its laurels and just porting the ancient game to the PSP. The port will have "new adventure scenarios, as well as updating the game's visuals for the PSP's widescreen format," according to IGN.

I'm actually pretty excited about this game. I played the hell outta it back in the day and to get it on the go, has me salivating.

Oh, and I have a question for you port haters. Why aren't you complaining about the ports on Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo's Virtual Console, but are always bashing any old-school game or port released on the PSP?

(Via IGN)