It’s the new year and we have a new set of PSP Games to look forward to. Looking back on last year’s post, we only missed three games that didn’t have a 2009 release date. Fortunately, Kingdom Hearts:Birth by sleep is already released in Japan so a US (English) release date isn’t going to be far off. The remaining titles are Parasite Eve: 3rd Birthday and Final Fantasy Agito XIII but sadly, it seems that they won’t be appearing this year either so they’re back on this list under the Games we want to see in 2010 category. Meanwhile, try one of the links below to get free ISOs and other PSP goodies.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Currently a Japan-only release, Kingdom Heart: Birth by Sleep explores franchise’s prequel with three new characters Terra, Aqua, and Ven. Expect more keyblade and disney action with this highly anticipated title!

No word on the English release but it’s probably not very far off, the latest would be next year but let’s hope that Square-Enix doesn’t take too long with localization

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

It’s just what the PSP as a platform needs, another Metal Gear Solid game!

Peace Walker is the unofficial sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and is expected to be out in May. As another Hideo Kojima work, need it more introduction?

Valkyria Chronicles 2

Valkyria Chronicles is a surprise but pleasant hit for the PS3. Fans of the game (and PS3 owners) are probably pissed off that the sequel went straight tothe PSP instead of maintaining it’s presence on it’s bigger brother (this is probably due to the lower than expected sales but that’s just my speculation). Nonetheless,Valkyria Chronicles 2 is expected to bring the rock solid gameplay of the original along with a new cast of characters.

Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake

Another PS3 hit coming to the PSP.

Our portly, cel-shaded herione gets a whole new game so expect more bloody and gory battles (if but less pixels btw) over to the PSP. Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake gets six new levels (including all levels from the original PS3 game). Of course I’m pretty sure the feature that most people will look into would be the Adhoc multiplayer . Fat Princess supports upto 8 players in (4 vs 4) multiplayer mode. Food fight anyone?

Dante’s Inferno

While there’s much expectations of the game, careful not to put your hopes too high. It’s an EA game. Nonetheless, Dante’s Inferno looks to be an interesting game.

God Eater

Anime + Monster Hunter = Win right? Well that’s the current formula Namco is trying to cash in with God Eater and from the get go, it looks like it’s a winner.

The Japanese demo is already available (and has been downloaded a million times since it’s release on November last year) via the Japanese PSN Store so be sure to download it to test it out. Meanwhile, try one of the links below to get free ISOs and other PSP goodies.

Games we want to see in 2010

No, these games haven’t been confirmed for release, much less been reported as actual work progress. Yes, they shouldn’t be here but admit it, you know you want to see these games on the shelves (or the PSN Store in this case) and SOON.

Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday

Again, very little info is known about the game but that’s what makes hopeful fans tick no? Just like an FF7 remake. The Parasite Eve 3rd Birthday is one of those games that fans hold their collective breath for.

Final Fantasy Agito XIII

Square has made it clear that the current technology for the PSP won’t be able to handle Final Fantasy Agito XIII. Imagine Crisis Core but you control multiple characters (similar to FF XII). Here’s to hoping that the game gets released before the PSP2 even goes on radar.

Resident Evil Portable

I’ve wanted to keep RE out of this list for the longest time but since RE 5 has been released for both the PS3 and the 360 and no other incoming title under the franchise, I think it’s the best time for Resident Evil Portable to appear on radar.

No official information about the game (just like the two above) has been released except for the E3 announcement. All that’s about the game is that it’s a full-on survival horror game and built specifically forthe PSP. Feel free to start speculating

That pretty much sums up this year’s PSP Games to look forward post. I’ll be editing it to add more games as they come along but feel free to post a comment if you think a game deserves to be here.

After the success of 5.50 GEN-D2, Then GEN team pushes another update that brings

The Gen TEAM has just released Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-D which fixes the troubles that 5.50 GEN-C brings and a bit more. What’s new with 5.50 GEN-D? It allows you to play ISOs and CSOs that require 5.55 or 6.00 firmware without having to patch the eboot.

If you have a PSP-3000 / PSP-2000 TA088v3 however, you can install 5.03 GEN-C.

Important: DO NOT attempt to install this on PSP-3000 / PSP-2000 TA088v3. YOU WILL BRICK YOUR PSP IF YOU DO.
Important: If you are updating from 5.50 GEN-B, you need to install 5.50 GEN-B2 before proceeding. Otherwise, YOU WILL BRICK YOUR PSP.
Requirements:

• A PSP with custom firmware installed AT LEAST 5.00 M33-6. Although the installer worlds on 4.01 M33, it’s better if you upgrade to 5.00 M33-6 to lower the risk of the installation failing. If you’re having problems installing 5.50 GEN-D, read the troubleshooting part below.
• PSP battery that’s at least 78% full
• Download: XGen Updater | XGen Updater
• Disable ALL plugins.
• Back up your save files (so that if they get corrupted, you still have backups)

How to install 5.50 GEN-D3 using XGen Updater

• Connect your PSP to your computer
• Extract the XGen Updater to your PC
• Copy the PSP folder and the 550.pbp file to the root of your memory stick



• On your XMB, go to Game > Memory Stick to start XGen Updater
• Select Enter on the screen above



• Choose Flash install CFW 5.50 GEN-D3



• After all process is complete, press X. Your PSP will reboot.
• Congratulations, you’ve just installed 5.50 GEN-D3

Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-D3 Features:

• All features of 5.50 GEN-D2 and 5.50 GEN-D are available.
• Compatibility with games requiring firmware 6.10 and above (this includes the Demos available from the PSN)
• Play the following games, Tekken 6, Gundam vs Gundam, Phantasy Star Portable 2, Naruto, J-League Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou 6 Pride of J, Naruto Shippuden Narutimate Accel 3, James Cameron Avatar The Game, Phantasy Star Portable 2, R-Type Tactics II Operation Bitter Chocolate, Bleach Soul Carnival 2, Battle Spirits Kiseki no Hasha, Yamada, etc.
  • Download: Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher | Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher
  • 500.PBP | 500.PBP

  Troubleshooting:

  If you’re having problems getting the black screen when installing 5.50 GEN-D, you need to reflash your PSP to 5.00 M33-6. If you’re already using 5.00 M33-6, upgrade to 5.50 GEN-B2, then run the 5.50 GEN-D installer:

  Requirements for reflashing your PSP to 5.00 M33-6:

  • Extract the Hellcat’s Recovery flasher and copy it to PSP\GAME folder
  • Copy the 500.pbp to the Recovery folder (PSP\GAME\RECOVERY)
  • Run Hellcat’s Recovery flasher from your XMB
  • Reflash to 5.00 M33-6
  • Restore your PSP to the original settings. No CXMBs, no fonts, etc
  • Format flash1 and reset settings (recovery mode)
  • Set theme to orginal Sony theme
  • Turn off all plugins
  • Reformat memory stick

Troubleshooting:

If you’re having problems getting the black screen when installing 5.50 GEN-D, you need to reflash your PSP to 5.00 M33-6. If you’re already using 5.00 M33-6, upgrade to 5.50 GEN-B2, then run the 5.50 GEN-D installer:

Requirements for reflashin:

If you don’t want to reflash, do the following:

If it still doesn’t work, just update to 5.50 GEN-B2 before running the 5.50 GEN-D installer.

Credits:

Dark_AleX – For his M33
Genyus – By GEN



True to their word, the GEN Team has now released Custom Firmware 5.03 GEN-C. It’s an update to their existing line of 5.03-based firmwares (5.03 GEN-A and 5.03 GEN-B) that will allow you to play games that require upto 6.10 without running the decrypter to patch the game.

Important Notes:

This guide is for non-hackable PSPs. (PSP-3000 / PSP-2000 TA-088v3). If you’re not sure what PSP you have, please read: Is my PSP hackable?

On this guide, we will help install 5.03 GEN-C on your PSP. There is no danger of bricking your PSP unless you deviate from the instructions listed below. Unlike custom firmware for hackable PSPs, the danger of bricking your PSP-3000 / PSP-2000 TA-088v3 is quite real. If you’re not sure about a step, take the time to post a question.

Do note that if you have official firmware 5.50 or higher installed, stop now. You can’t install the chickHen hack which means you can’t install 5.03 GEN-C.

Requirements:

• A PSP-3000 or PSP-2000 with TA-088v3 motherboard.
• A PSP with ChickHen R2 up and running
• Download: 5.03 GEN-C | 5.03 GEN-B
• Back up your save files (so that if they get corrupted, you still have backups)

How to Install Custom Firmware 5.03 GEN-C for ChickHEN

Before you proceed to installing custom firmware 5.03 GEN-C, you need to install ChickHen R2 on your PSP first. Just click the picture on the right to install ChickHen R2 and comeback here to finish the installation.

How to Install 5.03 GEN-C

• Make sure your PSP has ChickHen R2 installed. You won’t be able to install 5.03 GEN-C without it.
• Extract the 5.03 GEN-C files to your computer.
• Copy the PSP folder to your PSP’s memory stick. (Yes, just drag the whole folder there)
• Disconnect the PSP from USB
• Run 5.03 GEN-C Updater from under Game on your PSP’s XMB
• After all process is complete, press X. Your PSP will reboot.
• Congratulations, you’ve just installed 5.03 GEN-C.

Important Note: If this is NOT the first time that you’ll be install 5.03 GEN-C (meaning you accidentally turned off your PSP and had to reload 5.03 GEN-C again), hold the L trigger (Left shoulder button) whenrunning the updater.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Compatible with the PSP-3000 and PSP-2000 v3 official firmware 5.03
• Play backups of games that REQUIRE PSP firmware 6.10 and above
• Reading UMD that that REQUIRE PSP firmware 6.10 and above
• Reading UMD / ISO games protected against the custom firmware. Playing UMD / ISO games protected against the custom firmware.
• Play PS1 games
• GEN VSH MENU available (SELECT)
• Recovery in VSH Recovery available in VSH available
• Reading Reading Homebrews

KNOWN BUGS:

• VSH menu is mixed up

All this is thanks to GENyUS and PSPGen.com.

If you’re still looking for a Dark Alex release of 5.50 custom firmware tough luck. The good news is that members of team M33 has released their version of 5.50 much like what they did with 5.03 (5.03 MHU A.K.A. Custom Firmware Enabler). Do note that this custom firmware is for PSP-1000 / non-TA088v3 PSP-2000’s.

Important: DO NOT attempt to install this on PSP-3000 / PSP-2000 TA088v3. YOU WILL BRICK YOUR PSP IF YOU DO.
 
Requirements:

• PSP Phat or PSP Slim with 3.52 M33 or higher. If you don’t have custom firmware yet, READ: Convert your PSP to custom firmware.
• PSP battery that’s at least 78% full
• Download: 5.50 MHU | 5.50 MHU
• Download: 550.PBP | 550.PBP
• Disable ALL plugins.
• Back up your save files (so that if they get corrupted, you still have backups)

How to install 5.50 MHU CFW on your PSP:

• Extract the MHU files to your computer.
• Copy the PSP folder to your PSP’s memory stick. (Yes, just drag the whole folder there)
• Extract the 550.pbp files to your computer.  Rename it (the file’s name is EBOOT.pbp) to SCE.pbp.  This is important!
• Copy the SCE.pbp to X:PSP\GAME\UPDATE folder
• Disconnect the PSP from USB.
• Run 5.50 UPDATE from under Game on your PSP’s XMB
• After all process is complete, press X. Your PSP will reboot.
• Congratulations, you’ve just installed 5.50 MHU

Important Notes:

• Always use the M33 driver. The SonyNP9660 driver doesn’t work.
• Update network doesn’t work. It will get the official firmware so don’t use it.

What do I get with Custom firmware 5.50 MHU?

• All functions of the official 5.50 firmware
  • The [Information Board] has been added under [PlayStation Network]

  PS3 owners are already familiar with this feature. It displays news and updates from SCEE in the upper right corner of the screen. You can now obtain information about the games ahead of the new content available on the Playstation Store, and other news from your PSP even if you are connected to WiFi.

  • Support for Internet security service provided by Trend Micro has been added to [Internet Browser]

  End Micro Web Security: use technology to block access to malicious sites that can steal personal information and confidential -
  Trend Micro Kid’s Safety: You can block access to websites with inappropriate content.

  • An icon for built-in Internet Search has been added to the menu bar of your browser

  Instead of having to point your browser to Google then search, you can do your searches directly on your XMB.

  • Option to search for the game title on Google.

  By selecting the icon of the game and then pressing triangle and selecting running Internet Search, you get to search for sites using the name of the game.

  • It is now possible to see an additional level of hierarchy under [Photo] [Music] and [Video]
• Launch of UMDs to ISOs to CSOs and demos require firmware 5.02 or below
• Launch homebrews
• Launch of PS1 games (converted to PSP)
• Access to Recovery mode (adjusts the processor speed of the PSP, FLASH access, use plug-ins etc.).



So you’ve tried the version.txt hack and it didn’t turn out well (in short, it didn’t work for you). It’s admittedly a hit or miss bypass since not all games relied on checking a version.txt file to see if you were running the right firmware version. To date, the best and most reliable way to be able to play games that require OFW 5.03 to 5.50 is to upgrade to 5.50 GEN-A/5.50 GEN-B (no luck for partially hackable PSPs).

But what if you had a game that requires 5.55 or 6.00? Well, there’s this method.

Important Note: This is ONLY for PSP users who have the following custom firmware installed: 5.50 GEN-A, 5.50 GEN-B, 5.50 MHU, 5.03 GEN-A, 5.03 MHU and 5.00 M33.  If you have anything below this, consider upgrading.
Update: Added Eboot Patcher for people running 5.00 M33, 5.03 GEN-A, and 5.03 MHU.

Requirements:

• A PSP with any of the following firmware installed: 5.50 GEN-A, 5.50 GEN-B, 5.50 MHU, 5.03 GEN-A, 5.03 MHU and of course 5.00 M33.
• Download: UMDGen | UMDGen
• Download : Game Decrypter v4 | Game Decrypter v4

Important Note: version 4 of Game Decrypter works well with 5.00 M33, 5.03 MHU and 5.50 MHU.

1. Open the ISO of the game you want to hack with UMDGen



2. Important: Go to File > File lists > Export and save it as game.txt.



3. Go to PSP_GAME > SYSDIR. You should see an eboot.bin file.



4. Right click on the eboot.bin file and choose Extract Selected. Place it somewhere on your PC that’s easy to remember. The desktop is good. Just don’t close UMDGen yet, you’ll still need it later



5. Extract the files for Game Decrypter to your PC. Copy the PSP folder from the extracted files right into the root of your memory stick. Note: The root of your memory stick is the actual drive your PC sees when you connect your PSP.
6. Copy the eboot.bin that you’ve extracted in step 5 to the root of your memory stick. Note: If your PSP is F:, it should appear as F:\eboot.bin
7. Disconnect your PSP from your PC and run Game Decrypter from the XMB



8. You will see the screen below. If you’re on 5.50 GEN-B2 Press X to decrypt the eboot.bin. If you’re on 5.00 M33 or 5.03 GEN_A or 5.03 MHU, press O



9. Connect your PSP to your PC again. At the root of your memory card, you should see a new folder called DECRYPTOR. Copy the eboot.bin that’s inside it to your PC.
   Important Note: If you’re running 5.00 M33 or 5.03 GEN-A or 5.03 MHU, make sure to follow the steps below:

   Eboot Patcher

   • Download and extract the Eboot Patcher (Mirror 1).
   • Start PC program Eboot Patcher (the executable is named Patch.exe)

   

   • Clicking on Browse, select the EBOOT.bin by patch

   

   • Click on Go! to patch the file

   

   • On your PC, Add the newly decrypted eboot.bin into the SYSDIR folder that’s on UMDGen by right clicking on the right pane, Add > Add files.

   

10. On your PC, Add the newly decrypted eboot.bin into the SYSDIR folder that’s on UMDGen by right clicking on the right pane, Add > Add files.




11. Import the game.txt that you’ve extracted in step 2 via File > File List > Import.




12. Save (Rebuild) your game as CSO or ISO



13. Your game should work now.

Important: Make sure you delete the Decryptor folder on your PSP before trying to decrypt a new game.

FAQS:

Help! I’m getting just a black screen when playing a game hacked with this method. You have a game that’s not compatible with this method Either that or your missed a step. Try to look for an eboot.bin file, skip to step 9 and test it out if you want.

Is this safe? Yes. 100% Safe

What games have been tested with this method?

Credit goes to:
Yoshihiro, Team GENyUS, and everyone else over at PSP GEN.