Interview with Dark Alex

**gunntims0103** · November 18th, 2006, 14:57

Translation via dcjoedog

Playstation Now Underground : Hello, Alex, first things first, a very big THANKS in the name of all the users in the Scene of PSP for the impressive work that you are doing.

Dark_Alex: Thanks

PSNU: Tell us something about yourself. Age, occupation, interests, etc.

DA: I am 23 years old, I am currently a student in technical engineering in computer science, and as for interests, computer science and cats.

PSNU: What made you interested in programming for the PSP?

DA: Not really sure, I've been programming for devices like it for a while. I remembered that I already programmed in java for mobile phones but that had too many problems, and also for pocket PC, so the following one, for me, was the PSP.

PSNU: In your opinion, what is the present state of the Scene and what is the direction that it must take?

DA: It's good, many interesting things have happened these last few months with the discovery of exploits in 2.5-2.71 and the dawn of custom firmware. I suppose that the direction the scene must take is to keep this momentum, to continue discovering exploits that allow to load unsigned code, to continue decrypting firmwares, etc.

PSNU: Is there something that you wish to do for the PSP but you see that it is not possible at the moment?

DA: I would have liked to do custom firmware without the necessity of bootstrapping it to 1.5, but at the moment it is impossible

PSNU: You can explain to us what is bootstrapping?

DA: Bootstrapping is the starting of the PSP. It begins with the boot-up program that is loading the first modules of firmware, which in turn load the rest of modules as well.

PSNU: Do you think that SONY will make it difficult to decrypt 3.0?

DA: No matter how difficult they make it, it's just code that can be decompiled. They cannot make magic, their archives must decrypt somehow, and that way is somewhere in their code

PSNU: We would like to know if you have thought about continuing with the HEN-C for the unfortunate users of the TA-082 motherboards, or is it already finalized.

DA: I might work on it more if I can find some more time.

PSNU: Will you include some great improvements for version C of the 2.71SE?

DA: Aside from support for the .DAX format and usbhost not that much more to put. The ability to change the speed of the CPU is also something to add.

PSNU: Don't you think that it's already time for Booster to release the source code of Devhook? What improvements could you/would you wish to make to it?

DA: Booster was thinking about releasing them, but first he wants to eliminate the code that disassembles the firmware to avoid any problems, although I doubt that it is illegal.

PSNU: Any news on what he's been up to?

DA: A beta of a DevHook running on 2.80 exists, that also works for 2.81 (2.82 not tested yet). ISO support is missing, and it has many problems which causes your PSP to hang. Last I heard was that he was keeping himself occupied with the Nintendo DS (I do not have any idea of what he is doing for that scene)

PSNU: Any idea why this beta is having so many problems? The rest of firmwares were easily emulated once they were decrypted.

DA: I don't know, it can that the problems have to do with the fact that the firmware is loaded from the Memory Stick and that Sony may have had in hand in that. Maybe if it was loaded from the flash memory there wouldn't be any of those problems…

PSNU: You seem to know the limits of the PSP well enough, do you think that someday we will get a decent emulator for the PSX or N64 working?

DA: One for the Playstation could be made if somebody dedicates a long time to it(months). And for N64…well, I do not believe that it can go full speed unless it is made for a specific game.

PSNU: Did the idea to make 2.71SE come to you when you saw the DualBoot or something like that?

DA: Well I had the knowledge and I knew it was something that could be done because there was enough space in flash to do it, but I never seemed to be able to get around to doing it. Then while working on HEN and getting to know more about 2.71, I decided to do it because it seemed like it would be easy to do.

PSNU: What you would say to the people out there that still don't trust in 2.71SE and are still using what is called the last good firmware (1.50)?

DA: I say that they should at least give 2.71SE a try, it doesn't bite.

PSNU: Out of pure curiosity… What is your favorite game for the PSP?

DA: Tales Of Eternia, but to be truthful, I haven't played any games in a long time.

PSNU: Thank you again for granting us this interview

DA: Don't mention it

**christophe** · November 18th, 2006, 15:26

cool. i read over at pspgen.com that a new version of psx-p is to be released this weekend. sorry i know this hasnt got anything to do with the interview.. but hey any news is good news right?

**nyrtrublue** · November 18th, 2006, 15:29

well actually it does bc alex said that a psx emu is possible

Any how even though its not a release of something i love hearing from Dark_Alex just out of pure respect

**kando** · November 18th, 2006, 15:35

Originally Posted by nyrtrublue

well actually it does bc alex said that a psx emu is possible

we know its possible, sony is releasing one in their next firmware...:P

ty for posting this!

**Poor-Kingz** · November 18th, 2006, 15:42

very informative. i, too like computers and cats!

**StealthCP** · November 18th, 2006, 15:46

Good to hear more interviews of this sort, especially now that Dark Alex has been interviewed - I have some serious respect for this guy. The change from 1.5 to 2.71SE-B'' has been a big one for me, only adding new features while still completely retaining the old ones. He may be pleased to know I have managed to get 16 people from school so far onto his great firmware, and a great number of them loved the possibility to run any UMD game requiring any firmware (as a lot of them were on a 1.5 build I had done for them and couldn't play their new GTA:LCS) so kudos to you, Alex!