Homebrew developer Poison of CXMB fame has released a nifty homebrew utility dubbed “HostCore.” Essentially, it creates a virtual bridge between a PC and PSP, allowing users to access media content located on their PC from the PSP. Fully compatible with custom firmware 3.90 M33, the plugin supports loading music, photos, videos, and games from either WiFi connection or USB.
Remember to take a look at the included readme file for installation and setup instructions.
HostCore 1.0 release [2Alien]
In terms of global hardware sales, the PSP was Sony’s top performer for fiscal 2007. According to a recently released financial report, the handheld shifted 13.89 million units, up from 9.53 million units the previous year.
The PS2 managed to push 13.73 million units during the same time period, with the PS3 moving 9.24 million units, as detailed in our previous report.
Despite the rather impressive increase in hardware sales, PSP software sales did not see a similar increase. The company recorded a total of 55.5 million units in fiscal 2007 portable software sales, compared to 54.7 million the previous year. That’s not much of an increase considering the sheer rise in PSP owners.
Sony did not offer specifics in terms of its fiscal 2008 outlook for software, only that it expects to sell 250 million in game unit sales across all of its platforms - the PS3, PSP, and PS2.
According to Sony’s Q4 earnings announcement for the 2007 fiscal year, the company expects to sell ten million PlayStation 3 units throughout fiscal 2008, which began on April 1 and ends March 31, 2009.
Comparatively, Sony pushed 9.24 million units in the previous fiscal year. Despite outpacing PS3 sales for the second year in a row, the company expects PS2 sales to drop off next year, forecasting yearly sales of 9 million, down from 13.73 million units in fiscal 2007.
Moving away from the console market, Sony is anticipating that worldwide PSP sales will hit 15 million throughout the course of fiscal 2008, up from 13.89 million the previous year.
Homebrew developer JBrown has released Beats Off v0.1, a cross-platform utility that allows users to import custom loop sequences into the popular PlayStation Network title known as Beats.
As this is the initial release, there are a number of limitations. The author notes that created BAR data files must replace an already existing Jam BAR in order to be used. Additionally, all generated loops are required to be four bars long, and there is no support for cover art or samples as of yet.
Either way, if you’re a fan of the game and don’t mind delving into the realm of customization, this worth checking out. Just be sure to read the included readme file for installation and setup instructions. Beats Off is fully compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX platforms.
Beats Off v0.1 [JBrown]
Those seeking an official hard-case solution for their PSP Slim are in luck. Sony will release the PSP-2000 Traveler Case in North America later this month.
The case comes equipped with storage space for a single PSP Slim, along with extra room for a pair of Memory Stick Pro Duos and UMD discs. According to online retailer Amazon, the peripheral will be available for purchase on May 25.
PSP 2000 Traveler Case [Amazon via PSPGadgetZ]
Mere weeks after the release of Monster Hunter 2nd G and the PSP is still managing to maintain its clear dominance in the weekly Japanese sales charts, according to data from marketing research firm Media Create.
For the week ending May 4, the PSP edged past the 100,000 mark in unit sales. Its rival, the Nintendo’s DS, sold 52,542 units during the same time period. That’s nearly less than half of what the PSP sold. But even with these impressive numbers, we can’t imagine that Nintendo is worried much, considering the DS has already sold through 22 million units across Japan, compared to 9 million PSPs.
As usual, the full list of hardware sales can be found after the break. more »
XSEED Games announced today that it has entered into an partnership with Japan-based publisher and developer Marvelous Entertainment. Under the deal, XSEED will publish key Marvelous Entertainment titles in North America - the first of which is PSP title Valhalla Knights 2.
Slated to launch in fall 2008, Valhalla Knights 2 is a sequel to the original handheld action RPG title, featuring all-new races, job classes, weapons, magic spells, foes, armor and more. Like the original, players can trade items and weapons and engage in co-op and versus modes with others over wireless ad-hoc connection.
As a result of the publishing partnership, additional titles will be announced for a North American release in the near future.
Sony sent out a release today celebrating the fact that its critically-acclaimed Gran Turismo series has shipped 50 million units worldwide. The impressive feat was achieved on April 30, 2008, ten years and four months following the series’ initial 1997 debut on PSOne.
Looking at the worldwide sales numbers, Gran Turismo 3 A-spec shipped 14.89 million copies, making it the best-selling title in the series. Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, which saw a release in both Europe and Japan but not North America, came in dead last with 1.36 million units shipped.
Time to break out the champagne, Sony. more »
Publisher Activision today released its financial figures for the 2008 fiscal year ending March 31, revealing whopping net revenues of $2.90 billion, up from $1.51 billion the previous year.
Reporting $602.5 million in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008, Activision attributed the results to “strong market conditions” and the ongoing success of multi-platform software hits Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. For comparison’s sake, the company made $312.5 million in the fourth quarter of last year.
In terms of future outlook, Activision’s first quarter of fiscal 2009, which runs through April 1 to June 30, will see the release of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Kung Fu Panda, Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.
This week’s PlayStation Store update is packed to the brim with a staggering amount of add-on content and game demos. First up is the Encore expansion pack to PixelJunk Monsters, which adds 15 levels on an all-new map entitled “Toki Island.” Also available now on the add-on content front are three new Rock Back song tracks and the recently-announced Muse track pack for Activision’s Guitar Hero III.
In terms of freely available content, this week brings the four player co-op enabled Haze demo to the North America PSN, along with playable demos for The Bourne Conspiracy, Race Driver: GRID, and PSP title SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2.
For the full list of this week’s content, look past the break. more »
