I'm considering buying a PSP for the express purpose of playing ROMs on it. How hard is it to make the PSP ROM compatible, how expensive is it, what PSP would I have to buy, and what would I NOT be able to do with the PSP (ie - go online, download updates, etc). Just want to see if this would be worth my time/money.
Well, to make things easy...I hope it's an old slim (2000) or phat (1000) model, easier to hack. Now, NORMALLY once hacked your totally blocked out by the psn, however... There is a plugin (It was once called "psn f*cker, now it's lover XD) that allows the use of psn, thus gaming online and shopping (LOL) works. Making them work varies, with the latest custom firmware (5.50GEN-D3) 80% of psp dedicated games will work, all homebrew will work, ps1 game conversions have about 65% chance compatibility. I say 80% for psp games because it's been ages since an update, we will get one some day, but for now ethier the latest games won't start, or someone might make a patch that'll let it run. Post Merge: [time]1274888243[/time] Oh, and don't ever download official firmware ever again once hacked unless you want to kill your psp.
Most of new games aren't really playable as ISO, some of new games are working with patches but some of them aren't really 100% functional meaning it could be missing some features or have errors/freezing problem even with the patches.
But there aren't really any good games that are coming out in the future for me. All of the good games are older. I would get a PSP 2000 personally. Either the Daxter edition or the Star Wars Edition with Darth Vader on the back. It's about $120 USD, but well worth it. These are just examples of what they look like mind you. http://www.amazon.com/PSP-Battlefront-Renegade-Squadron-Entertainment-Sony/dp/B000UA0LY0 http://www.amazon.com/PSP-Daxter-Entertainment-Pack-Silver-Sony/dp/B000U9TXJ0 You will also need a Pandora Battery which is WAY less than a PSP. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12472 And you will also need PSP Grader and the 500.PBP file in order to properly flash your PSP with Custom Firmware (CFW). http://pspslimhacks.com/psp-grader-v008/ Download the second download link and rename the file to 500.PBP - http://pspslimhacks.com/custom-firmware-500-m33-6-released/ When you boot up your PSP, hold down the L button to install 5.00 M33-6.
PRO TIP: Buy a bricked PSP off of ebay. Make sure it's a 2000, though. Then use the Pandora Battery to unbrick it. Also, I would suggest getting at least an 8gb memory stick.
More than that. I use a Dual Micro SD card reader. - http://www.amazon.com/PhotoFast-CR-5400-MicroSD-Adapter-Dual/dp/B001I0T92Q 1 8GB and 1 4 GB card.
Also N64, NES, SNES, SegaCD, Sega Genesis, Gamegear, NDS (Slow as hell though), and just about anything from N64 and PSX to below that.
So in short: Buy a PSP 2000 Get the Pandora battery Install specific firmware Never ever install Sony firmware ever again Put ROMs on memory cards in order to use them on the PSP Is that about right? Also, would the roms need to be ISOs, or...?