---------- EDIT ----------
1.50 Beta Testing positions are now filled
2.00 I have no 2.0 testers. Please email me if interested
2.50+ Beta Testing positions are now filled

We might have one more round of testing before the game is released (pending the feedback on the current round). I will make another post if need be. Thank you all for your help.
---------- END EDIT ----------


Greetings PSPers,

Mega-Mart or: How I Learned to Stop Living in Poverty and Love the Corporation is now looking for beta testers. Before it is released, we would like to do a trial run and get some feedback. As a beta tester we ask that you do the following:

1. Look for any bugs in the game
2. Give comments and feedback on game play
3. Offer any ideas you have for the game.

If you have a 1.0 or 1.5 PSP you are welcome to beta test. I will accept a limited number of 2.0+ beta testers, as I do not think the game will run on these systems but would like to test and find out for sure.

If you would like to help fine tune what may just be the best original PSP game to date, send an email with the following subjects to [email protected]:

Subject: Mega-Mart Beta Tester

Please include the following info in the email:
Firmware Version – Needed so I know what files to send you
PSP MAC Address – Needed to ensure the game only runs on your PSP so it does not get leaked before it is ready for release.


Once we have around 10-15 testers, I will email a link to where you can download a copy of the game. Fortune & Glory awaits you!

Garak
AIM: Garak2000
Email: [email protected]

P.S. Forgive me, I originally posted this in the DEV section, but realized it does not receive as much traffic as the news section. If this topic is better suited elsewhere, mods feel free to re-locate it. ...

Hey folks

Just a little update to let you know what I'm up to. I've been bitten by the "NEW" super mario bros bug on the DS, so that has been taking a lot of time lately (ooops) and of course working hard at my normal day job has left me feeling a bit worn out in the evenings.

I've read al of your feedback on the forums, and it looks like I've made at least a few of you happy! Can't guarantee to add all of the features/games that you want, but I'll try dammit!

Next release is going to add at least 10 new games. Donkey Kong will be one of them..

Thanks to everybody who helped me with my typingwand site so far! Sadly not one person has donated to the MAMEPSP fund yet via paypal - which I'd like to use to put to wards another PSP solely for devving.

Look out for a new release this weekend!

Mike ...

Article from Spong

Newsweek, America’s second largest circulation weekly magazine in the U.S. is running a story this week suggesting that Nintendo’s recently unveiled Wii “could cap off a remarkable comeback.”

This follows laudatory pre-E3 reports in Time magazine, America’s first largest circulation weekly magazine, earlier this month – which you can read about on SPOnG right here.

Nintendo’s PR machine, so it would seem, is quietly seeding the story of Wii right where it needs to be – bang in the centre (center? – Ed) of the US mainstream. Aside from Miyamoto appearing on Larry King to demonstrate the device, it’s hard to see what else it can do to spread the word (and SPOnG would not be at all surprised if this is part of the company's ‘Q4: Wii US PR strategy’!)

Newsweek’s N'Gai Croal offers a quick round up of E3 to non-gaming readers, and introduces Nintendo who is, in his opinion: “placing a double-or-nothing bet on the Wii, which closely resembles a television remote. The hope is that its more appealing, intuitive, gesture-based interface…will lure a wider audience of women, parents and the elderly.”

Croal goes on to offer some context, outlining how Nintendo's share of the U.S. game market, “plunged from a high of 90 percent during the '80s to less than 14 percent today; it's fared only slightly better in Japan and worse in Europe.”

Now, however, he goes on to say, “thanks to new management, a new strategy and a timely assist from its long-profitable handheld-gaming division, Nintendo is finally poised to regain some of its lost market share in the home-console business.”

Satoru Iwata is introduced as ‘the difference maker’ who, “started a task force inside the company to figure out why nongamers didn't play games, and how to attract them to the pastime. Beginning with the successor to Nintendo's popular Game Boy Advance handheld, Iwata and his team determined that they could draw a new audience only by radically changing the machine's interface. The result was the Nintendo DS.”

The DS succeeded, as SPOnG knows, due largely to what Newsweek refer to as the “genius of the company's master game producer, Shigeru Miyamoto.” Newsweek gives the now often used examples of Nintendogs and the Brain Training games to back up this argument.

The Wii is introduced in the piece as “the second part of Iwata and Miyamoto's expand-the-audience strategy” and as “instantly appealing… in a manner reminiscent of Apple's retro-futuristic iPod.”

Miyamoto admits to Newsweek that the first set of Wii games are essentially little more than new ways of controlling the same old games, but also stresses that that won't be the case forever. "Two years from now, we'll have a strong lineup that can only be played using this interface," he says.

Newsweek then goes on to interview a number of leading third party publishers to ascertain their opinions on the Wii, including EA’s John Schappert, supervisor of two large studios in charge of Wii development, who tells the publication: "We looked at the success Nintendo had on the DS by starting with a clean slate, and that's the approach we're taking on Wii."

Laurent Detoc, head of U.S. operations for Ubisoft, (who "spent a hell of a lot of time playing Goldeneye") had apparently long wanted to establish closer ties with Nintendo, so jumped at the chance, when Nintendo approached the team to make a first person shooter for Wii.

"I would use the dominance of the DS in Japan to predict the future for Wii, since the vision for Wii is similar," Michihiro Ishizuka, president of the Konami’s game division, told Newsweek.

"Not only will fan boys buy it [Wii], but it will also be the second console of choice for PS3 or Xbox 360 owners,” added analyst Michael Pachter of the U.S. research firm Wedbush Morgan. ...

New TV Game released



Power up for some classic 80s arcade games with this Namco plug-and-play TV Games Video Game System. Just plug it directly into your TV and play Pac Man, Boscoman, Galaxian, Rally X and Dig Dug. No game console is required and the system is portable enough to so you can play anywhere.

More info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-1da1.html ...

New TV Game from Play Asia



features
• Easily portable, self-contained gaming system
• No videogame consoles & no gaming cartridges required!
• Simply plug in the A/V output jacks that come with the controller into standard television set, turn on and play!
• Lightweight, compact, all-inclusive controller houses a combination of videogames with all the hardware built-in
• Number of videogames with just one single purchase.

More info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-1da2.html ...

Play Asia are today stocking the MK2 GP2X Console, heres the full info:



features
• Powerful Dual core CPU: Dual core 'ARM920T, ARM940T' is embedded in GP2X. Enjoy cutting edge music, movies, and games with powerful dual CPU.
• Entertainment follows you: Replays MPEG, XviD, WMV DivX format digital contents up to 720*480 pixels and supports caption. Watch vivid motion pictures on the high resolution 3.5" 170,000 colors TFT LCD.
• Enjoy Games with GP2X now! CPU which has 2D accelerator enables you enjoy games anytime anywhere. Meet the exclusive GPX2 games along with abundant emulators.
• Realizes a powerful digital sound, and supports various audio codec: Replays music in MP3, WMA, OGG format on the multi-codec MP3 player. Listen to 100mw of true high quality sound.
• Electronic Album-JPG BMP Support: You can download and view photos taken on a digital camera through your PC. Enlargement, abridgment is available from 320*240 up to 1024*768 and you can rotate Images up to 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, Supports JPG, BMP, PCX, GIF files.
• Read a text file with GP2X now! You can read electronic novels and any other text files through the text viewer. Besides you can use enlargement and abridgment function when you read a text file.
• Upgradeable Firmware
• USB 2.0 high speed: You can get a file of 500Mbps with USB 2.0 which is connected with PC.
• 2AA Batteries: You can watch 320*240(30frame) of video file for approximately 8 hours and listen to mp3 file for approximately 14 hours (LCD off ) continuously with 2AA batteries.
• PC Development: Basic development: Linux. Windows: Enabled via Cygwin installation.
• Open SDK Library: Supports software development library: SDL (Simple Direct Library), Basic Library, Graphic library (Sound library), Hardware I/O library
• Color: Black
• MK2 version with new display and new joystick cap & Firmware 2.0.0

description
Powered by embedded Linux, the GP2X offers video playback of sources up to a resolution of 720x480. The vivid 3.5inch screen features 170,000 colors and a 320x240 pixel TFT LCD display. Backed by a Dual-CPU, both clocked at 200Mhz, 64MBytes of Flash Memory (non-volatile to store data) and 64MBytes of RAM, it gives you all a video games enthusiast can ask for. The system is free for anybody to develop software on, be it emulators or native applications. Games and emulators perfectly utilize the screen resolution. The buttons are laid out in a classic style, essential for true gaming.

Besides its gaming capabilities, the GP2X is a rich multimedia device. It supports multiple codecs for video (MPEG, MPEG4, DivX, XVid) and audio (MP3, OGG, WMA) and you are able to hook up the device to your TV-Set. Viewing pictures you have just taken? Just put an SD-Card in the socket and view them with your friends and family. It has never been that easy.

Games, Movies, Music, E-Books, Photos - Enjoy it all with GP2X.

The MK2 Version has the following benefits:

Preattached screen cover

Larger (more grippy) joystick cap

Firmware V2

Comes with 2 game demos (Vektar & Payback)

Buy for $169.99 at Play Asia ...

New Commercial Release posted at Play Asia

Field Commander™ is the first military turn-based strategy game for PSP and the only title that offers engaging, challenging skill based warfare in a realistic military setting. You play as a Field Commander working for an independent organization established by the Allied Nations to defend the world against an evil terrorist organization bent on inciting wars, illicit arms deals and global domination.

Command the land, skies and sea. Orchestrate an offensive attack through 30 unique missions, each one coming alive in beautiful 3D environments with highly-detailed terrain and dynamic visual effects. With an arsenal of 15 army divisions and 11 commanding officers to choose from, the power is yours to outwit the enemy at every turn.



More info at Play Asia ...

More classics for sale from Play Asia:

Welcome to the second volume of our classic gaming update. We are continuing with another few hundred of brand new and never played before classic gaming addtions made to our product catalogue. Make sure to check back for updates frequently and don't forget to check out our First Volume of the news, which contains another 300+ classic games.

May 22nd: Today's update contains around 60 new additions or restock of previously sold classics. Once again all items listed below are brand new and have never been played before. Today's biggest additions are for Dreamcast™, WonderSwan™ and Sega Mega-CD™.

Sega Mega-CD™:
After Burner III JPN US$ 24.90
Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Meshika: Genchou Hishi JPN US$ 19.90
Blackhole Assault JPN N/A
Daihoushinden JPN US$ 24.90
Dark Wizard: Yomigaeri Shiyami no Madoushi JPN US$ 29.90
Death Bringer: Himerata Monshou JPN US$ 14.90
Detonator Orgun JPN US$ 19.90
Devastator JPN US$ 19.90
Dragon's Lair JPN US$ 19.90
Dynamic Country Club JPN US$ 14.90
Jurassic Park JPN N/A
Mega Schwarzschild JPN US$ 19.90
Road Blaster FX JPN US$ 19.90
Sangokushi III JPN US$ 14.90
Seirei Shinseiki: Fhey Area JPN US$ 14.90
Sol-Feace JPN US$ 9.90
Switch JPN US$ 34.90
The Heroic Legend of Arslan JPN US$ 19.90
Thunder Storm FX JPN US$ 24.90
Time Gal JPN US$ 24.90
Tomcat Alley JPN US$ 19.90
Vay: Ryuusei no Yoroi JPN US$ 19.90

WonderSwan:
Armored Unit JPN US$ 19.90
Buffers Evolution JPN US$ 14.90
Clock Tower for WonderSwan JPN US$ 24.90
Densha de Go! 2 JPN US$ 19.90
Final Lap 2000 JPN US$ 19.90
Fishing Freaks: BassRise JPN US$ 14.90
From TV Animation One Piece: Treasure Wars JPN US$ 29.90
Hunter X Hunter: Ishi o Tsugu Mono JPN US$ 24.90
Kyousouba Ikusei Simulation Keiba JPN US$ 14.90
Macross: True Love Song JPN US$ 19.90
Makai Toushi SaGa JPN US$ 29.90
Makaimura for WonderSwan JPN N/A
Nice On JPN US$ 19.90
Rhyme Rider Kerorikan JPN US$ 14.90
SD Gundam Gashapon Senki: Episode 1 JPN US$ 14.90
SD Gundam: Operation U.C. JPN US$ 29.90
Side Pocket for WonderSwan JPN US$ 14.90
Tekken Card Challenge JPN US$ 29.90
Turntablist: DJ Battle JPN US$ 24.90
Wuz up b? Produce: Street Dancer JPN US$ 14.90

Dreamcast™:
DiGiCharat Fantasy [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 39.90
Kaitou Apricot JPN US$ 39.90
Mei * Puru JPN US$ 39.90
Memories Off: Omoide ni Kawaru-Kimi JPN US$ 54.90
Mercurius Pretty: End of the Century [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 39.90
NFL 2K1 JPN US$ 19.90
Pizzicato Polka: Suisei Genya JPN US$ 49.90
Sonic Shuffle JPN US$ 19.90
Suigetsu Mayoi-Gokoro JPN N/A
Super Euro Soccer 2000 JPN US$ 14.90
Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation JPN US$ 19.90
for Symphony: With All One's Heart JPN US$ 39.90

Gameboy Color™:
Grandia: Parallel Trippers JPN US$ 9.90
Sakura Taisen GB JPN US$ 9.90
beatmania GB JPN US$ 29.90



PlayStation™:
Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Remix Append: Club Version Vol. 1 JPN US$ 19.90

PC-FX™:
Deep Blue Fleet JPN US$ 14.90

Mega Drive™:
Valis III JPN US$ 9.90 ...

Last week we mentioned that the firmware of the Samsung disc drive in the Xbox 360 was hacked&mdashallowing you to play 1:1 backups of games but not run unauthorized code&mdash but that it required not only a degree from MIT to get it working, but also resources that only a mad scientist would have access to. A group by the name of Team Xecuter is getting fantastically close to making a modchip of the plug-n-play variety that would permit the drive to use both the hacked and normal firmware. There’s still some bugs to work out, namely that the firmware chip is connected to the Xbox 360 with nigh impossible to remove epoxy, thereby hindering the plug-n-play model, but this is certainly a promising development for all of you who need to backup your games because your kids throw the originals around like frisbees.

VIA Gizmodo ...