Bochs the sourceforge project to emulate x86 architecture amongst many platforms has been successfully ported to the PSP. Bochs is capable of running most Operating Systems inside the emulation including Linux, DOS, Windows® 95/98 and Windows® NT/2000.

How to make it work:

1) Create your bochs image and configuration files. I highly recommend installing the OS on a PC before moving it to the PSP (unless you want to spend the next 10 years staring at a progress bar). You can also download some readily available images from here.

2) Download and unzip the files below.

3) If you have 1.0 firmware put the EBOOT.PBP file under the GAME directory (e.g X:\PSP\GAME\BOCHS where X is the PSP drive). If you have a version 1.5 firmware you need to repackage the file using KXploit. I haven’t tested it on a v1.5 firmware so I hope it works. It won’t work on newer firmwares (v1.51, v1.52, v2.0) because it’s impossible to run homebrew applications on them at this time.

4) Create a directory named VM in the root of the memory stick (e.g X:\VM).

5) Copy the disk images and bios files anywhere on the PSP.

6) Edit the bochs configuration file so it will point to your disk images and bios files correctly. Note that on a PSP you have to use the “ms0:/” prefix as the root of your filesystem (see the example configuration in the downloads). Also set the amount of memory your VM will use. Be sure to set it to about 8MB as the PSP will crash if you try to use more (the PSP has about 32MB of RAM total).

7) Rename the bochs configuration file to “bochsrc.bxrc” and put it under the VM directory. This is the only real requirement as the path to the configuration is hardcoded. You can put the rest of the files wherever you want as long as the configuration file points to them correctly. See downloads section for sample script.

8) Run bochs and hope for the best.
DSC01894

To run your own games in DOS, download WinImage here and open c.img from FreeDOS. Extract autoexec.bat, add the commands you would like it to run, ie: prince.exe (prince of persia), save the edited autoexec and put it back.

Bochs PSP
DLX Linux
Free DOS

Source: Gamespress

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment - UMD Initial Release Plans

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment is launching 5 UMD titles available for Playstation Portable’s (PSP) initial launch
period. September 1st 2005 will see the launch of Sony’s PSP in Europe and Australia, and on the same day,
Sanctuary will release their first UMD music title - “Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio.”

On September 12th 2005, Sanctuary will release UMD version’s of “INXS - Live Baby Live” and “Bob Marley -
Live From Santa Barbara.” On October 3rd 2005, cult classic films, “Dune” and “Blue Velvet” will be released
on the UMD format, and will each be at a greater dealer price of £10.21 (recommended retail selling price £14.99).

Click on the link below to view artwork and the press release for SVE’s September UMD titles:
LINK

UMDs are 2.3-inch optical discs housed in protective cases. With data storage capacity of 1.8GB, the discs can
store up to 140 minutes of DVD quality video content. The format was developed by Sony for the PlayStation
Portable gaming system. In January 2005, Sony announced plans to open the format to content providers
interested in releasing movie and music on UMD as well as to other hardware manufacturers who want to create
systems that play the discs.

- end -

Louie Iturzaeta, Billy Iturzaeta and Tri Nguyen have released a Rhythm Composer for your PSP.

PSP Rhythm Composer is a TR-x0x style drum machine. It features a easy to use 16 step sequencer, 16 drump pattern loops and 16 drum sounds.

There are 16 buttons on the bottom of the screen. Each one represents a step in a measure. There is a red line above the step currently selected. When you press the X button the step will light up orange for regular sound, then red for accented sound and green for flam (hits accented drum twice).

There is a bar above the buttons, the note represents each beat and whole gray bar shows you which buttons (steps) are in that beat.

To change the drum sounds press up or down on the D-Pad. The currently selected drum will display on the screen. The buttons on the bottom of the screen will also light up and show you the programming of the drum hits.

Put drum hits where you like and hit Start to play the pattern.

Refer to the included readme.txt for additional instructions.

Included in the zip archive are both versions for 1.0 and 1.50 firmware users. Please note 1.0 has not been tested as the author mentions in the readme. 1.50 works flawlessly for us at PSP Hacks!

Download PSP Rhythm Composer

Enjoy this fine PSP homebrew release!

As usual we have been adding quality homebrew applications to our downloads section. And here are a few of the highlights of our recent additions.

SNEX9x TYL is the latest craze for SNES emulators. It is based on the Y series and has a considerable performance boost compared to anything else out there. However there a few minor bugs and glitchs still being worked on and another version has been promised.

N64 Smash Bros a port of the Nintendo 64 classic for the psp. It uses the PSP’s graphics chip for rendering 3D and alot of the engine has been rewritten for performance.

Dr. Mario v0.2 a homebrew re-creation of Dr. Mario from the old nintendo days.

Fast Loader 0.6b the much loved Fast Loader has released it’s latest version 0.6b.

Today I went out looking to purchase a v1.50 PSP in downtown Toronto inspired by a friends tale of getting one just days earlier from an EB Games. I checked out EB Games in the Eaton Centre right in the heart of downtown Toronto (the only day this mall closes is Christmas). Unfortunetly all EB had was a bunch of PSP’s with the letter B under the barcode, I was searching for the letter A. I continued in the mall towards the Sony Store and in no more then 5 minutes, I was staring at a Sony PSP value pack with a beautiful letter A under the barcode. I immediately paid for it and left the store to make sure it was the right version. Success! So remember if you are looking for a new PSP try and get one with a letter A on the white sticker under the barcode, because v1.50’s are still out there.

For any of you in Toronto that was the Sony Store in the Eaton’s Centre that had v1.50 in stock.

To go along with yesterday’s crazy RipKit extravaganza, The_Net_Warrior has released one for Ridge Racer.

YOP! YOP!
it’s the RipKit for Ridge Racers PSP (591 MB to 134 MB)
BMG and movie was ripped but sfx is herre!!!!
Work on JAP and US version
How To:
Put RIP.bat and 0.pmf on a same root with PSP_GAME root and UMD_DATA.BIN file
and launch RIP.bat

Download Ridge Racer RipKit

Well, it seems today is ‘RipKit Day’… anyway. gotxp has released a RipKit for Wipeout Pure… This RipKit uses GoatSucker’s wad extraction tool.

The readme explains how to use this… it is quite easy to use.. just read the readme.. Once you have the DIR structure set up all you have to do is run the rip.bat. It automatically extracts the WAD, rips the files, and repacks the WAD..

This reduces the ISO size to about 164mb.. which is close to a 100mb decrease in size..

Get The Wipeout Pure RipKit Here

RipSize Update:

Psycho has pointed out that Targa graphic files can be removed without a major visual loss (only seen when you click on your gold metals). Anyway,

Download Phycho’s Updated Wipeout Rip HERE

BROWSER UPDATE:

It seems gotxp, has released another variation to this rip for Wipeout Pure. The following is a Wipeout_Pure_BrowserOnly RipKit. It will allow you to use the wipeout browser without the actual game..

The main reason for this RipKit is for the poor people with 32mb mem sticks.. This Rip reduces it to a mere 26mb. Although, there are alternitive stand alone browser, some may perhaps the comfort of good old wipeout pure :D..

Download the Wipeout Browser RipKit Here

RipSize Update:

Psycho has reduced the size of the previous WipeoutBrowser by about 17mb. It now weighs in at about 9mb. According to the readme it is the same as gotxp’s release; however, a lot more files have been removed.

Download Phycho’s Updated Browser RipKit HERE

MFDOOM has sent us his own personal little hack using a previous hack which allows the use of non-duo memory sticks on your PSP.

Revisiting this hack and taking it a step further MFDOOM was able to gain a full 4GB of storage after slightly modifying this Memory Stick Expansion Jacket (seen here) to make it smaller for ease of portability. Using primer, paint and sanding it down it was then easily mountable to the back left side of the PSP with industrial velcro.

It fits comfortably in your hand providing a solid grip on your PSP unit. The memory stick door can remain closed with the small ribbon cable attached to the 4GB adaptor.

MFDOOM has mentioned he will begin developing a new adaptor unit which will be smaller and provide an blue LED.

More pics…

gotxp has released yet another ripkit. This one is for Mercury, and it reduced the game to under 120mb (close to 117mb).

Download the Mercury Ripkit Here

The best part is, this RIPkit includes a null (<1kb) AT3 file and a null PMF file (just contains the headers). I have not tested it on other releases; however, it is possible you can use these null files to simply ’skip’ the movies (as opposed to playing a different sound/movie).

Zabbyh has released yet another RipKit - this one is for FIFA. Music, Movies and Chants Audio (i.e. Audience shouting team names…) are gone - shrinking the ISO down to 411MB for use on a 512MB+ stick.

Follow the READMERIP.txt for instructions.

Download FIFA RipKit