If this little poem doesn't make it obvious why this type of thing should be stopped, I don't know what will.

The PRIMARY use of hacked firmware is to run illegally copied/pirated software, which hurts Sony just as this message implies.

Use official firmware & buy the games you play... or your options in the future may suffer as a result.
Does everybody remember Sega Dreamcast? Kind of cooincidental how it died just as mass piracy without the need of a mod chip became rampant.

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You think there's anyway I could e-mail that to psp's firmware development team, because I think that would be good motivation to work harder.

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I agree with #1, but not fully. I believe Sony sees homebrew as a threat to their platform's hardware and software sales, but it is not always seen as a threat. Most of the PSP homebrew developers are anti-piracy and do not condone illegal use of license software. Some do not intentionally give PSP users access to illegal files, they just give them a way in. The user is responsible for ANY illegal uses of the system, not a programmer. That is why Sony is cracking down more and more with constant security updates.

Of course homebrew is usually used for emulation purposes and there are laws that support/go against that, but original homebrew games are completely harmless and homebrew may actually be increasing sales of the platform because users love to realize the full potential of something.

It's a really tough call and I believe Sony is doing the right thing, but I am somewhat of a hypocrite. I don't use Sony's product illegally, but other things...well...let's just say I know my way around the internet slightly better than the average user.

Sony's intentions mean well and it is their creation to do what they want with it. I think Sony likes the idea of homebrew apps and games but hates the legal issues that usually come with them, so they are doing the safest thing and saving their own asses. (which is perfectly acceptable in the world of business) =D

It boils down to this:
-Sony is just doing the safest thing it can with their platform.
-Homebrew does not = Satan's child.

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Well I will be the one to say good going guys. And to Tye (i hesitated for a second when i read your message because that's my sister's nickname), but that's not the main reason (though I'll concede that it contributed to it). Sega's business model just wasn't good enough to keep the Dreamcast alive. Their marketing sucked for one thing. Another factor was their past record. I didn't buy one when it first came out (or 2 years after it came out for that matter) because I still remembered the Saturn. I wasn't surprised at all when they abandoned the Dreamcast, they'd done it twice before already. They just don't know how to market to make people forget their past mistakes - they still don't. That coupled with the anomaly that initial sales of games when released were higher in the U.S. were higher than in Japan, and you've got a nail in the coffin. I digress however, as this is pspfanboy not dcfanboy. I will say I use custom firmware. I like the homebrew apps, and I like being able to put my psx games on it (some of which don't run on ps2). I bought just about every game released (just ask my fiancee, who hates my "if I buy the ones they make, they'll make more" mentality. And to Andrew I think the teams hostility stems from the same place as the hostility towards microsoft - their business practice. both make awesome products, but both also have a habit of making the customer feel like they aren't heard. If enough people go to DAX's website and request a feature, more than likely he'll see if it can be done. However, it would take that, maybe competition releasing those features, and dropping sales for Sony (or Microsoft for that matter) to do the same...

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@1, don't be such a spout mouth jackass, i use custom firmware to play umd's and MY OWN personally purchased
ps1 games. eat my socks.

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Now, before I address the superficial moral-brigade, I would like to deal with the actual topic at hand. Poetry interpretation is a great concept! Very annoying, but cool no less. Now, explain to me this: The poem seems to attack Sony, that is clear. And we’re assuming that they’re attacking Sony for creating such a dandy device, which they consider evil? Sorry, doesn’t make sense to me, at all. From what I gather, they are bashing Sony, but that could be for a variety of reasons - releasing homebrew cramping updates - and even updates where custom firmware console owners (TA-82s - specifically) get shunned literally from the idea of being able to update. I’d certainly think that those would be more plausible reasons than hate for PSP. Where you people get that extreme an interpretation is really a mystery on its own.

Okay, time to address the drama…

Tye you make some great points, which reflect profound ignorance.

Of course, Playstation 1 and 2 were a staple diet world-wide, especially in areas where such consoles and their games wouldn’t even be considered practical or affordable, for one primary reason: piracy. Most people in developing countries went back for the PS2, simply because they knew they jacked good pirated discs for the original PS.

Interesting note: During the PS vs. Saturn "battle", Saturn was tough to modify for piracy. Of course, the console was a booming success for not being crippled by such a vice, after all, it confers with your little thesis up there.[/ENDSARCASM]

I too had lots of friends with a PS2 and pirated software. And we all know what a pathetic death that console died. Everyone knows the Nokia N-gage won this console war for a reason: Tye‘s Law![/ENDSARCASM]

We also know how this behaviour's thriving on the DS . That console is just failing in ways that one wouldn't care to keep count - utter commercial disaster! Zero sales - dead! [/ENDSARCASM]

Ah, and the whole idea of easily installing and messing around with firmware. Man, you people make it sound so easy. Yet where you have one technophile with his custom firmware, you have an entire monolith of “n00bz” asking some of the most asinine questions about how to install custom firmware - questions that imply absence of even the most elementary aspects of common sense required within the homebrew domain. Now why is that? Could it be that homebrew meddling isn’t for everyone, after all?! *GASP* THAT CAN’T BE! NO!

Hell, one of my adult friends said “screw it!” to homebrew, because he couldn’t keep up with the idea of installing a custom firmware or messing around with applications like Dev Hook. Not because he was ignorant, but rather - he didn’t have the time, energy, or the confidence in taking that line of action. Oh, and he wasn’t the only one out of the capable grown-ups that had a similar stance. This being a whole other group/audience to the ignorant n00bz who just want to homebrew, but can’t. You see, you’d really be assuming a shit-storm’s worth of peoples thinking to come to a conclusion where the majority start to pirate. This line of holier-than-thou belching is almost pitiful! I mean, if most will do it, then will you? What makes you the special exclusion to this trend? Ah, right, the ever so prevalent overestimation of one’s own character in contrast to the rest of the world.

Plus, you talk about how this feature is primarily used for piracy. This would mean that you have some insider knowledge of what most pirates think and how they think, or you've conducted a proper study on the matter. Alternatively, you could just be a holier than thou douche, with a moral-god complex. I am leaning in favour of the latter. So until and unless you could show me detailed results of this study, where you can support your hypothesis: “Most firmware flashers use it for piracy.” You remain in the same latter category of douche-dom. Okay, Professor Douche?

Oh, and nice little closing touch with your last post. It's funny, because your entire soap-box is based on the idea that one shouldn't pirate, and now you're telling one of the members that no one cares about his relatively straighter use of the custom firmware. "No one cares if you use your custom firmware to fight evil!" Man, that's strong wording - evil. [SARCASM] You really know right from wrong, sir! Now that's the poignant decryption of 'evil' in its purest form.[/SARCASM] I must ask: Did digital-pirates initiate genocide against the culture of someone dear to you? Seriously, what is your stance? If no one cares--basically you're speaking for yourself in that post--then why even get into such a thread and condescend the rest of us with your mendacious interpretation of reality? Oh, of course. If he isn’t pirating, then it sorta’ contradicts your little hypothesis up there, which you have yet to backup with substantial evidence; I’m certainly waiting for that little car wreck.

Cheers.

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And one more thing...

Anybody who seriously thinks Phil Harrison runs 3.10OE on his PSP has a pretty warped view of reality.

Let me break it down to one sentence for you :

TOO EASY PIRACY = DANGEROUS FOR GAME SYSTEM. Get it now everybody?

And too easy for you guys, 'techies', doesn't mean too easy for MAINSTREAM CONSUMERS. Just because you can downgrade and then upgrade your PSP and roll the dice on bricking it doesn't mean Billy's parents are going to let him try it.

WAKE UP.

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Hahaha!

You can get one modified for piss price, if you know the right sources. Furthermore, you can indeed get swap discs and what not else. Not to mention, even in Europe, at the moment, one can get a hold of backup dealers who distribute 'back up' copies of original discs. Seriously, your selective bias is sickening.

You can “blah blah blah” all you want, and I’ll just consider you a credibly bored housewife. On the other hand, if you give me actual, legitimate evidence to support your hypothesis, which is beginning to erode into a fucking childish opinion, then I shall finally concede defeat. I highly doubt you’ll be able to come up with any such evidence, because it would involve an open pirates forum, which is legally and logically impossible.

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I modded my PS2 for literally nothing. A few disks, a knife and action replay max. So basically £18 / $36

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I was going to "upgrade" to 3.10 OE-A (I'm currently 3.03 OE-C, I think), but I'll wait until Dark_Alex creates 3.30 OE-A.

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@5 "And Saint Chevron, nobody cares that you're an angel that only uses his powers of custom firmware to fight evil. Stick your socks in it, jackass."

Wait a minute. If you have an issue with piracy, you had BETTER care that there are people out here who DON'T pirate games, who use their own rips of games. Otherwise you cannot reasonably argue your points.

That, and being rude is a great way to make friends and influence people! [/ENDSARCASM]

A few other comments . . .

I think Phil Jackson has a PSP that has everything unlocked. If you think otherwise, you're thinking too small. Why would he have a production item?

Homebrew is a boon for Sony. They get easily accessible PSP community input, they get to see what types of apps we want, they get to see what ELSE their toy can do that they haven't thought of or made a priority. On top of that, they get it for FREE!

PSP comes "crippled" on purpose (as do other products) for many reasons. One that Sony has always utilized is the ability to meak bigger and better games years after launch. Better graphics, higher clock speeds, whatever it is. There was an interview with one of their executives recently that was on this site where they admit doing this!

Is piracy bad? Yeah, it is. Is it ALWAYS crippling to a platform? Nope. Is Sony in this for the gratification? Not a chance. They're in it for the money, make no mistake. But they are not a stupid or anti-consumer as some want to think. Its a business model, and we are all pawns.

Get used to it.

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Wow, Tye, your logic is quite flawed. PS2 piracy is SOOO simple: Buy Duke Nuke 'Em 3D, get a modified save file, install a hard disk, run the exploit, install HDLoader, enjoy. No screws, nothing to open, the most you'll need is an ActionReplay or a DexDrive, or a friend with a modified file.

And this isn't much different from the XBox. Buy MechAssault, load modified save file on XBox, run, install new dashboard, enjoy.

Let me tell you the primary things I did with my modified XBox: I played Halo 2 and I ran XBMC. I LEGALLY purchased my copy of Halo and Halo 2. If I could, I'd show you the boxes and receipts. You know what I did? I used the modified dashboard, loaded Halo 2 onto my computer, recompressed the videos, and stored the game on my hard disk. Why? Because I didn't like my discs being scratched from being taken from place to place and being loaded and unloaded constantly, and because it's hard to forget something you've built into your console. That was it.

You know why I modified my PSP's firmware? Because I wanted full resolution video and the ability to play my own PS1 games on my PSP. And there's no way in hell that 3.30 is answering my questions about hi-res video playback, because currently the only solutions that can create these hi-res videos is PSP Media Manager (or whatever) and Sony Vegas ($100). I refuse to pay for either, and I couldn't use them if I wanted to, since Sony seems to have a stick up their bum about supporting Mac OS X. This, coincidentally, is the same reason I left my MiniDisc player behind.

Let's face it: in recent years Sony has been unresponsive to customer requests and has acted quite arrogant. $500/$600 price tag on the PS3 sound familiar? "I'll pay you $1200 if you can find a PS3 on the shelves?" (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/02/10). It's only now that Sony has started to care because its customers have rebelled.

PSP Firmware Hacking is just like XBox Dashboard softmodding. All you need is a game with an exploit, a computer, some patience, and the ability to follow instructions. Both MS and Sony tried to block softmodding via upgrades to the system and hardware. Both of them failed to achieve the desired effect. The XBox spent nearly half its life span hacked, and it's considered to a successful console (successful enough for a second console). I'm guessing the same thing will happen to the PSP. Besides, PSP firmware modding isn't nearly as rampant as you might think. EVERY SINGLE PSP OWNER I HAVE MET HAD NEVER HEARD OF FIRMWARE MODIFICATION BEFORE I MET THEM. That's right. Not all of them were in love with the idea because of the potential risk of bricking their console, and kept their firmware original. Some of them loved the idea and use Bookr to read text files, a WiFi program for War Walking, POPS for playing their favorite PS1 games on the go, Daedalus for N64 games, some modified their waves and haven't used their PSP for anything too special at all.

So, please, Tye, think before you write. Do a little research. Because my friend who spend $120 on Guitar Hero II and a second guitar, only to load it up on his PS2's hard disk for faster load times would probably thing you're nuts. And personally, I think you're just over inflating the issue and causing a flame war. For every modified PSP out in the world, there's likely at least three to five more that haven't been modified at all.

P.S.: Consider this: Most people with modified PSPs own large Memory Sticks. Sony's still making money off of those sales.

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All we need now is Dark Alex to come out with his next Open Edition firmware so that we can take advantage of it.

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The problem with piracy of movies/games/music in general is the way that the industry deals with it. Why call it piracy? That just makes everyone who does it a pirate. How much cooler could they make it?

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I use my custom firmware just for Tetris and a Wifi Sniffer.

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homebrew actually helps sell psp's because if people look on the internet and see the hacks they'll want a psp because of all the things you can do to the psp.

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