PS3 Dev KaKaRoTo has done it again, this time taken from his latest tweet!

First downgrade from 3.55 to 3.41 successful, Thanks to Xtse! Method not yet ready for the masses because of risk of bricking the ps3.

KaKaRoToKS Twitter

More updates to follow ...

The day everyone has been waiting for, is finally upon us. KaKaRoTo, famous for his work on the PL3 payload, has released a tool/script that converts a standard PS3 v3.55 Sony retail firmware PUP, into a custom version.


PS3: First ‘PS3 Custom Firmware’ now working!

Great news!

Thanks to the tools made by the fail0verflow team (and thanks to sven in particular for his work on the pkg/unpkg tools), the first “Custom Firmware” is now available for the PS3!

I see a lot of questions coming up really fast on my Twitter account, so here are the basic things you need to know :

Because of legal/copyright issues, I will not provide the custom firmware to anyone, however, I’ve made available all the tools necessary to transform an Official firmware update, into a custom one, just grab my ps3utils repository from github, compile, then run :

./create_cfw.sh PS3UPDATE.PUP CFW.PUP


This will take the official firmware, unpack it, modify it, then repack it correctly (requires you to install ps3tools).

This requires Linux of course, but I’m sure others will do it for the masses and illegally release those files somewhere.

The advantage here is that you can do it for any firmware, if you want to keep version 3.41, then give it the 3.41 update, if you are on 3.55 already and can’t downgrade, then run the script on the official 3.55 firmware and it will create a modified 3.55 firmware.

You can put the file in a USB drive under the filename “PS3/UPDATE/PS3UPDAT.PUP” and then go to system update in the XMB, and it will allow you to install the update (even if you’re already on 3.55).

People are asking what are the features of this firmware, it’s simple, all it does is to add those “Install Package Files” options to the Game section of the XMB. It doesn’t do anything else!

This firmware will not allow you to run the currently available homebrew application. Once the homebrew developers re-package their files in a ‘retail’ .pkg format with signed executable, then it will work (this should be coming soon thanks to the work of the fail0verflow team).

Since the kernel is left unmodified, this means that this custom firmware is really meant for future homebrew installation, and it will not allow piracy. I plan on keeping it that way.

This is just the first attempt at custom firmware, and it only contains a minor modification to allow you to install pkg files directly, eventually we’ll get some more options added to it in the future. This is just starting to get interesting!

p.s: Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible!

Enjoy!
KaKaRoTo

ps3utils can be downloaded here: https://github.com/kakaroto/ps3utils

NOTE : As a personal note, I wouldnt reccommend anyone to apply this update yet. See this more as a PoC or wait until more tests have been done. ...

The Patapon 3 demo will be available on PSN on July 6th. If you really can't wait a few days to get your drums on, you can actually start playing it now. Only if you don't mind Japanese text, that is.
...

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (Pro Evo 2007 in states) online via Xbox Live has recently been diabolical. A recent update to the game causes players to disconnect from matches at random times, resulting in both a defeat on your record plus a higher disconnection rate. What would happen is you would be disconnected and a message would appear saying "your connection to Xbox Live has been severed". A quick search on google shows that this is a worldwide problem, and gamers, especially on Konami's official boards, are furious.

However, today I decided to play some Pro Evo 6 on PS2, as Im pretty tired myself of the horrible Live service. Surprisingly, Konami have issued an apology to Xbox 360 users... via their PS2 Pro Evo Servers. The message read something like "Konami realise that xbox 360 owners are experiencing disconnections and we are working to fix the problem. We apologise for the recent inconvenience".

Strange that Konami would issue such a statement on their PS2 Servers. Obviously Microsoft run their own servers for most live games (including Pro Evo 6) and therefore Konami might not have as much free control, but how hard would it be for them to send Xbox Live users this statement via a simple update or even a text message?

Weird. ...

via MaTiAz
MaTiAz has released VSH Rebooter PRX v0.2, a plug-in for PRX devs.
v0.2 also comes with an installer.


Changelog:

* Included an easy installer, which can install the PRX to Network Update or Location Free TV (or both if you like). Read the notes about the installer though.
* The Reboot PRX can now shut down the PSP too, hold L while selecting Network Update -> shutdown

This comes with an installer, Though make sure you check out the installation notes just in case you're relatively new at this and not really sure about what you're doing. To install, just follow these steps:

1. Copy the rbprxinst folder to /psp/game/ like you would with any other homebrew (GAME, not GAME150 or GAME302)
2. Launch the Reboot PRX Installer
3. If you don't know what to do after these steps, you should NOT be using this or trying to install this.

As for warnings, MaTiAz himself states:

This program comes with NO WARRANTY AT ALL, so follow the instructions so you're safe. I'm not responsible for bricks, and I doubt there will be any, except for because of user stupidity (which I doubt will happen either).

Download and give feedback via comments ...

While browsing around Sony-Style (*shudders*) I came across the 8gig Pro Duo. As expected, it does indeed have the steep price tag of $300 (approx £152), and is expected to ship in the US on or before February 19, 2007 . 8 GB storage capacity with 7.35 GB available and Minimum write speeds of 15 Mbps2.


In my opinion, the good thing to come from this is the possibility of a price drop in 4 gig sticks, however, Would you be prepared to pay such an amount for the 8 gig produo?

Check the official Sony-Style item description here. ...

via pocketgamer

According to Capcom, pre-orders for Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (as the franchise is known in Japan) have already surpassed the 400,000 mark, making the dragon-slaying RPG sequel the most successful PSP game prior to release in Japan.

Appropriately, this ties in nicely with the record set by its predecessor, the engrossing and predictably entitled Monster Hunter Portable (Monster Hunter Freedom in the west), which became the first PSP game to break the 500,000 barrier. Early indications suggest its sequel is likely to easily match that, and in record time, too.

We'll find out soon enough – in Japan, the second Monster Hunter PSP game is due on February 22nd. While it's tempting to put an order in from here, the text-heavy nature of the gameplay means it should really only be imported by those proficient in Japanese.

For everyone else, then, it's waiting time. No date has yet been confirmed for the English version, although the original eventually emerged last May in the UK (after a Japanese December release) so that should give us some indication (Christmas 2007, perhaps?). ...

via Winnydows

Once again, Winnydows has come up with another update to his popular video encoding application, XviD4PSP. XviD4PSP 4.048 RC6 adds protection from hi or low audio bits, as well as support for files run on a framerate of 15 fps.

You will need to download the latest .Net framework to get it to run.

Download and give feedback via Comments ...

via Superbatxs

SuperbatXS, Tactical Penguin, Ninjax, Xploren, Yoyomacy, Freshmilk, BlackShark, EminentJonFrost, SG57, YongoBongo, Cools and Savagefreak (thats one mighty list!) have gotten together to release G-Pack v0.2, A collection of Lua games and apps for PSP



They've got eight games in this new pack, including betas for Be Thou for the People and Drag-Star. They've also got the HazedMirror dev team's Hedgehog Apocalypse game in this pack, as well as a new version of PvP Pong that comes with online play. The G-Pack's shell also comes with an mp3 player, image viewer, and game loader, among other things.

Before installing this app, be sure you check their readme.

Reminder - This is a 12mb download , seeing as its packed with goodness ! :thumbup:

Download and give feedback via Comments ...