Hi

Due to popular demands, I've updated PSPVice.

The new version is there :

http://perso.numericable.fr/~ckckck/C64_PSPVice.html

V1.1 : (Aug 07)

What's new :

- Stereo effect on sound output (I like this effect)

- Subdirectories support. User can now browse any directory of the memory stick.

- Update to latest VICE version (1.22)

- Add autofire option. Two speeds available.

- VIC20 standalone version.

- PLUS4 standalone version.

- "Shifted" keyboard GFX added (thank to Shabanak)

- Small speed improvment (unfortunatly still not enough for some few games like Cauldron2).

- PSP icons are hidden now ( __SCE__ method ).

- Welcome text at load time (instead of black screen)

- New menus organisation


Bug fixed :

- .NFO Comments fully displayed.

- Fixed "RESTORE key works only once" bug. (from VICE core team)

- Fixed crash when using game files with very long file names.

- Disk files can be saved, but this need to be done manually (by detaching disk). Menu is now more clear and doc on web page describes how to save disks (the feature was in PSPVice1.0).

- P00 files can be launched now.


What is still not working :

- Mouse emulation

- Plus4 and Vic20 are rough ports. Need more polishing.


I'm also updating PS2VICE to support same options as PSPVICE. Write me if you are interested in that version.

Have fun

Its basicly a non-scroling platformer on which you have to clear the screen from enemies. You do this by picking up eggs that spawn on the platforms, and throwing them at the baddies. You can also defend yourself by jumping ontop of the enemies, but that won't kill them. Once the level is cleared all remaining eggs on screen will turn to gold. Picking them up will give you good points if you mannage to do so before you get warped to the next round.

In the future there will be added a lot of extras... like moving platforms, worse baddies... maybe bosses... a key that you can find in some levels to open a treasure (you can find part of that in the debug menu) and a lot of other stuff... but I'm not going to spoil it with all of my ideas...

The ability to play PlayStation 3 dragon-combat game Lair on the PSP has generatád plenty of headlines in recent days. What's gained much less attention, however, is the fact that the feature is potentially available for all PlayStation 3 games.

Indeed when checking up on the Lair situation with a Sony technical insider, we got the response: "It's a nice start. Over time, I'm sure we'll have more advanced features."

The core of this PS3-PSP interaction is the PlayStation 3's Remote Play functionality, which allows registered PSPs (you have to initially connect your PSP to your PS3 via USB to register it) to access media such as movies or TV programmes held on the PS3 hard drive, or which are being accessed in real-time on the PS3.

The ability to play PS3 games on your PSP is obviously a more complex technical step, but fundamentally, it can still be reduced to the ability of the PS3 to stream video footage across a wireless network.

So when you're 'playing' Lair on your PSP, the game's not actually running on the PSP's processors. In this case – just like when watching a film that's running on your PS3 – the PSP is merely being used as a display device, albeit one that enables the interactivity of button presses (whether that be to pause the video stream or rotate the in-game camera) with a small enough latency to make playing a game manageable.

That's the reason any PlayStation 3 game could enable the feature, as long as duties such as remapping the second analogue joystick or second shoulder buttons to the PSP's buttons are carried out.

Still, it seems unlikely it would be appropriate for all PS3 games, even if developers wanted to enable the ability (significantly, it is something that's officially supported within Sony's PS3 software development kit).

For example, the latency of most domestic wireless networks would struggle to provide the fluidity required for beat-'em-ups such as Virtua Fighter 5 or Tekken 6. Conversely, a more sedate 30 frames per second experience such as Lair is ideal.

Other examples of how the technology could be employed have already been skwcased by Sony (although yet to be fulfilled), and include the use of PSP as a rear view mirror in racing games such as Gran Turismo.

Expect to hear much more about PS3-PSP interoperability in the coming months as Sony starts to ramp up its Christmas marketing campaign for both platforms.