'Why are you hacking your PSP?' asks Sony
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 10th 2008 at 12:15AM }
Earlier, we reported some distressing figures on the state of PSP piracy, and we're hoping that Sony attempts to correct the problem in some way. We're assuming the results of this survey will influence some key decisions in the future regarding system security.
[Via PlayStation Boards]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andy @ Apr 10th 2008 12:20AM
I hack my PSP because thats what all the cool kids are doing.
Haiddasalami @ Apr 10th 2008 2:01AM
To stream crap from my laptop.
So I can call people through wifi and annoy them.
Relive the old days of gaming.
Play xvids
Change xmb (long time ago)
play homebrew games
QUAKE!!!
Edge @ Apr 10th 2008 12:52AM
Ugh. This reeks of a soccer mom trying to relate to her teenagers.
Why do you rebel? Because you can do a lot of cool things when you don't follow arbitrary rules...
Jesse @ Apr 10th 2008 2:29AM
Ha ha, it defiantly does.
Kokomadeta @ Apr 10th 2008 12:51AM
...Because there aren't any good games to play on it and I'd rather play my PSP than have it hold down my papers all day.
lorderk @ Apr 10th 2008 12:59AM
no good games? that excuse is dead. there are plenty of good games for the psp. any of the syphon games, god of war, daxter. thats just to name a few. pretty stupid to say there are no good games.
Kodros @ Apr 10th 2008 12:02PM
Why the hell did you buy one then?
dnlkk94 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:54AM
Am I one of the few who still runs official firmware...? >_>
Da @ Apr 10th 2008 12:56AM
Well only you can answer that one bud.
Jacksons @ Apr 10th 2008 1:08AM
I do! I don't care enough to dink around with custom firmware.
Dehshizknight @ Apr 10th 2008 1:46AM
I've thought about running homebrew, but I stuck with the official firmware and I'm glad I did.
Lovely @ Apr 10th 2008 7:10AM
I run the official firmware because it seems like too much trouble to mess around with the custom-ware craziness.
That said, I DO find custom firmware to be appealing because I have a large PS1 collection and I would love to play them on my PSP.
.....still, I just don't want to go to the trouble, so I probably never will. *sigh*
Lars @ Apr 11th 2008 1:19PM
I'm using the official firmware. The official firmware does everything I want it to, except homebrew. I'd love to be able to use programs that other people wrote, but with the homebrew I've seen that's out there, it's not worth a whole lot to me. Not interested in running hacked games in the least... I like to pay developers for the work they've done.
p-diddy @ Apr 11th 2008 7:44PM
I was going to browse and close, but I had to post after seeing:
>> Not interested in running hacked games in the least...
>> I like to pay developers for the work they've done.
I have two PSPs, a fat and slim. I hacked the fat because I want to play my paid-for Playstation One games on it. I am not so naive to think that people don't pirate games, but such a blanket perception that everyone that "hacks games" is pirating them is BS.
I've paid for every single game I've "hacked" and put on my PSP.
-p-
Aj Collins @ Apr 10th 2008 1:21AM
I hack my PSP for these reasons:
1. Back-up of my legally bought games in-case I loose them.
2. I am able to mod the games, like GTAVCS for example.
3. More FPS and faster loading than using the UMD/locked CPU.
4. Can run custom software on it/Custom PRX files.
5. No need to carry my UMDs around hoping they don't break,
I've never used my PSP to play games I don't own, I'm totally against pirating.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 10th 2008 6:08AM
Then you're one of a rare breed.
Trickob @ Apr 10th 2008 1:34AM
i'm not smart enough to hack my psp. nor do i care about hacking it. there, i said it. not that i have a problem with other people doing it. other people can do it all they want. knock yourselves out.
SKI @ Apr 10th 2008 6:48PM
I know you're not smart enough because you don't know where the Shift key is.
Trickob @ Apr 11th 2008 1:07AM
nah, just too lazy. i s'pose that's another reason why i won't try homebrew.
k @ Apr 20th 2008 4:45PM
it's not that hard to hack a psp an 8 year old with averege knowledge and an exacto knife can do it in 15 min
NotAFanboy @ Apr 10th 2008 1:43AM
I used to have a hacked psp, but then I bricked it when I messed with the themes. Friend pandora'd it for me and now I am on 3.95. I only got it hacked for the themes anyway and now that Sony made it run off the memory stick I'm happy.
Jogo @ Apr 10th 2008 2:24AM
...because I read that it will help me get a girlfriend.
Jogo http://www.dragonlasers.com
Dustin @ Apr 10th 2008 2:41AM
i see no point to homebrew. I'm not a fan of it. Tried it once. nothing special.
beavis_2k @ Apr 10th 2008 2:54AM
One important question they forgot...
What types of features should we "borrow" (steal) from the home brew firmware to include in our next release (an call it our own)?
the major features that should be looked into such as
1) playing avi/xvid/ogm/mkv/etc or at least flv (you tube)
2) custom programs such as games or applications such as a graphic calculator,calendar, word processor/notes, email client, or even get firefox to run on it to see if "insufficient memory" problems can be addressed.
Home brew shows us the potential is there for the psp hardware to do cool things...
The Dark Trooper @ Apr 10th 2008 3:00AM
its a Handheld gaming system, not a PDA
The Benster @ Apr 10th 2008 3:56AM
Um, actually it's a Mobile Entertainment Device. Playing videos and browsing the internet are a few of the many things it can(or should) do.
The Dark Trooper @ Apr 10th 2008 5:16AM
I'm not arguing there, It should be able to surf the net and play videos, Which it can it just relies on a few simple conversions of videos (Although FLV support would be nice), and visiting the right type of sites, Its the stupid idea of putting a graphics calculator, or a word proccesser in that I was addressing. It just sounds like people would rather have a PDA or a PSPhone than system itself.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 10th 2008 6:09AM
Yes homebrew does show us the potential of what the PSP can do, but it also shows us how to pirate games and steal money from hard-working developers.
mark @ Apr 14th 2008 11:27PM
i would use the hell out of a graphing calculator.
i'm in a ton of math classes.
word processor not so much.
but the point is they should have these and other apps in the online store under applications and we could get them from a new section in the XMB. (it felt so good when they added the web browser and we got to go one more click to the right).
and they should do real small simple games, for like a couple bucks that we can save on the memory stick. like a tetris game or a chess game. little stuff like that.
p.s. i don't do homebrew or cfw but i realize the potential, and sony should look at some of the stuff out there and use it.
babak @ Apr 10th 2008 4:47AM
ok...first of all im iranian and here my ansewer:
1:
personally i like original games but in iran for example even 20$ means to00o much money and its a big deals for us iranians ,,,, thats goes for other consoles like ps3 or xbox360 which for one game we must pay 60$
2:
in homebrew i can save my games in MS
3:
ctf themes so0o0oo co0o0o0ol....
>-----------( ^ ____ ^ )-----------<
daxFan @ Apr 10th 2008 4:34AM
The whole reason I bought a psp in the first place was because of custom firmware. I wanted to be able to play my ps1 games on it. If I couldn't do that, I never would have purchased one.
McWeen @ Apr 10th 2008 8:29AM
I did the same thing and bought a PSP because I could hack it and play PSX games on it. In the 4 months or so that I have had the system I have used it to watch South Park at work and play Kagero: Deception II for the PSX (which I own the disc of).
jalannom @ Apr 10th 2008 4:52AM
Some of you guys sound like you guys never download MP3 illegally. Running on original copies of Windows? Driving under 65MPH limit on the freeway? come on..
I bought the system, I could do whatever I feel like doing to my PSP.
SparkyJ23 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:56AM
Why? For added functionality
pspbookreader - reads pdfs, text files
pepviewer - a picture viewer that isnt crippled
play ps1 games I OWN on it without having to wait to fucking buy them again.
Streaming my music and video rather than some shitty radio station you think i might like.
All these things should be available out of the box but Sony chose to refuse to do so.
Look at what folks are adding and do the same then you get to scream piracy sucks - as it is its just a by product of sony not moving the thing forward.
Prime example is GoExplore! can't be bought but can be downloaded - Just get the damn things in the shop - it was announced in August ffs
Micah @ Apr 10th 2008 5:24AM
Hacking my PSP give me superpowers.
Hacking my PSP gives me minty fresh breath.
Hacking my PSP makes me a sex-bomb.
Hacking my PSP cures cancer.
Hacking my PSP turns lead into gold.
Hacking my PSP brings my dog back from the dead.
Hacking my PSP makes doughnuts fall from the heavens.
Hacking my PSP disproves global warming.
Hacking my PSP makes my Wii feel inadequate.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 10th 2008 6:18AM
Does anyone here understand why there aren't too many games coming out for the PSP as compared to the DS? Or why AAA titles like God of War and Crisis Core don't sell very well in the states, even though they are hugely popular? It's because of homebrew.
Because of how widespread the homebrew community is on the PSP, it has caused a major effect on the platform itself, which is one of the reasons why the system fell in to a slump. Developers aren't willing to make PSP games because they know they will barely sell at the retail. Plus, the AAA titles that come out and are surrounded by hype are extremely hurt by the piracy scene. How does one make a AAA title? By spending lots and lots and LOTS of money. Look at how beautiful Crisis Core is and just try saying that the budget was the same as Full Auto. When those developers don't receive their dues from a game, it results in major losses and layoffs.
I'm not saying homebrew is bad, and I am actually a supporter even though I only run official firmware. But the fact that these problems come from rampant piracy is disturbing.
You call yourself PSP fanboys and lovers? Well you're killing the system you claim to love.
Maverick Saturn @ Apr 10th 2008 6:45AM
Agreed
JM @ Apr 10th 2008 11:54AM
The DS is far easier to hack and pirate games on. And the games are probably downloaded way more because they are all under 256 MB. And yet there is no shortage of quality games.
The PSP's woeful game supply is not because of piracy. Its because of its reputation as an expensive device that has no good games. Chicken, meet egg. Its the same reason the PS3 is lagging in the console wars. We are getting good games now because the PSP is losing its reputation, and the price came down a bit. All of which will lead to more good games, just give it some time. This is probably why Sony has a 10 year lifecycle for the platform.
The developers still get paid despite the piracy. They are work-for-hire. Their studio might go under, but that could be from any number of things. Besides, most studios these days work on all the platforms.
Another factor may be that its easier to get a game approved on the DS because Nintendo has virtually no quality control whereas Sony and MS actually care what games come out on their system. That's why you don't see endless brain-training and bejewelled clones languishing on shelves.
Christopher @ Apr 14th 2008 9:42AM
NO!
Get this RIGHT.
PIRACY is why these games don't sell well. There are a lot of legitimate uses for hacking PSP including your OWN ps1 games. Don't say BS like that.
Christopher @ Apr 14th 2008 9:42AM
BTW, DS is easier to hack than PSP so your claim doesn't jive. Buy an M3 or R4 card adapter with an SD card and download NDS roms. 5 times easier than hacking your PSP, whether for legitimate reasons or not.
koehler83 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:50PM
Oh God that was lame.. That hurt my head. How does Sony's ass taste?
Maverick Saturn @ Apr 10th 2008 6:46AM
Mine is 100% legit
cameronwood @ Apr 10th 2008 7:45AM
my mum wouldnt let me buy GTA:VC or GTA:LC so i hacked it to get them.
gotta find a way to hack xbox 360 before GTA:IV comes out
also who are you kidding 99.9% of all 'hackers' do piracy its just the way it goes.
as for the homebrew apps and 'features' most of them either A) suck or B) are updates of the crap ones although i must admit some are okay,
sony need to sort this problem out soon coz its getting worse, i remember living in fear of getting bricked everytime you put homebrew on, but know theres a pandoras battery!
sony seem to cry out to hackers why! when they know the problem, its too easy, the source codes are too open, look at the DS its got 3 options DS game/ Gamesboy game or pictochat and thats it!!!
sony should have given a free UMD where through that you can play music off memory card or something or not at least have that game folder underneath the UMD option thts just asking to be hacked its too easy!!!
cameronwood @ Apr 10th 2008 12:50PM
just remembered, NO CALL OF DUTY 4 ON PSP, ya wanna know why? coz its hacked! they even have it on DS come on ACTIVISION!
just as well though would have been shit, look at RAINBOW 6 VEGAS on PS3 then compare to PSP!
gabe @ Apr 10th 2008 7:57AM
i'm getting mine hacked because games cost to bloody much
Kodros @ Apr 10th 2008 12:14PM
So you just steal non essential things that you can't afford instead?
Alien @ Apr 10th 2008 8:07AM
Well I dont hack mine anymore .... I used to play SNES/NES/GEN games on it , but since then I moved to my laptop ... now I play only UMD games on it ...
Chris @ Apr 10th 2008 8:26AM
I currently run the official firmware on my psp slim, and the main reason why I'd switch over to homebrew is to play games that will never come out for PSP, like old SNES games or the fan translations for games like Earthbound 2 (Mother 3.) I wouldn't pirate games, just like I don't pirate movies, but rather just wait until they drop in price just like every other system.
charles @ Apr 10th 2008 8:32AM
I use a cfw on my PSP since I am too lazy to carry UMDs around and also afraid that they might break or something. Sony should ditch the UMD and instead offer games online to be downloaded then saved on a memory card and they should use a certain format that only official firmwares can run. That's why homebrew is rampant because Sony is not acting fast on what the consumers really want.
LM2007 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:50PM
I think homebrew is killing the psp instead of helping it, at least for the ISO hacks, game hacks..etc. I use original firwares no custms. But for the other part why Sony is so lazzy when it comes to develop new things to the psp, how is possible custom firmware is at the head of it, then don't cry or do excuse about Sony, you let the potential of the psp to sleep.
And those firmware updates, all about ps3, ps3, ps3 and expanding compatibility for the store? I don't care about the ps3!!! i can't be jogging, walking or waiting in the train playing or hearing music with it.