Nick delivers on his promise: a quick PSP Video Converter (PSPVC) update with the system tray icon bug fixed. As well, sometimes a Jedi-like force may be required to convert a stubborn video; thus, Nick’s new “force conversion” option. Use the force and no longer should videos refuse your demands of conversion.

Download:
PSPVC v3.41
CCCP Codec Pack (Required)

- source: pspvc.nswardh.com

Get back on the Socom Fireteam Bravo 2 cheat wagon with BakonICE v1.80. NoEffex has rolled out a new version correcting a major bug discovered in the previous… That and more detailed for you below.

BakonICE v1.80 changelog:

• Thanks to a recent patch in the debug library, I was able to remove almost all, if not all flicker caused by _pspDebugScreenClearLine.
• Removed the Anti-Server lock as it was removed, but not completely removed anyhow…
• Added an animations applier as a replacement for the anti-server-lock. Has a variety of animations.
• Fixed the massive overflow problem that 1.70 was absolutely plagued with. If someone had told me sooner…in that retrospect, any problems, pretty please email me at nofx@tshcodes.com.
• A variety of other things that I forgot to open the changelog to document.
• There is a bug that I’m assuming that is caused by the clear line thing, but I really, really don’t care. If anyone cares, email me and I’ll work on it. Until then, the very first bar of the title will flash whenever you enable clear line (by pressing a variety of buttons, whenever it changes a string).

Download:
BakonICE v1.80 (cfw 4.xx/5.xx)
BakonICE v1.80 (cfw <= 3.80)

- source: google code

Back at it… MaTiAz & FreePlay have released a “Hello World” demonstration, as well as the SDK used to build said homebrew demo, for the newly discovered GripShift vulnerability.

Now coined the Sparta exploit, here’s what you should know: for the moment, you cannot downgrade or install a custom firmware with this, you may only enjoy Sparta-compiled homebrew and hope Sparta later leads to kernel mode access.

And finally, another video for your viewing pleasure –

FAQ
---
Q: Will this allow downgrading?
A: No, because this is an usermode exploit and functions required to downgrade are only available in kernel mode.

Q: Why the name?
A: Because the original exploit was found by overwriting the player name with "this is spartaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa".

Q: Can/Will Sony block this?
A: Yes.

Q: I wanna make homebrew using the exploit. How?
A: Get FreePlay's GS SDK: http://tinyurl.com/sparta-sdk. It has some constraints though, check the readme. The Hello World was written with it.

Download:
The Sparta SDK
Hello World (for the Sparta Exploit)

- source: lan.st

Packing quite a hefty change log is the new version of ne0h’s Xplora.

Xplora is a multi-purpose homebrew file manager serving as a great alternative to Mediumgauge’s PSP Filer. Move or copy files around your memory stick, categorize homebrew, dump UMD games, and more…

Download: Xplora v1.8

- release / discussion thread -

Xplora v1.8 changes: (more…)

Every so often some claims are made and videos surface, most completely fabricated, but this time — we have the real deal. Discovered by MaTiAz and proven successful by both MaTiAz and FreePlay is a user-mode buffer overflow exploit. The vulnerability lies within the GripShift save game loading routine. Check it –

It’s a step in the right direction all right.

Let me quote MaTiAz –

GripShift has a buffer overflow vulnerability when loading savegames. The savegame contains the profile name which can be easily used to overwrite $ra. The savegame file is pretty big (25kB) so you have lots of space to put your code there. I wrote a simple blob of code to paint the framebuffer completely white (to just indicate that arbitrary code is running). The return address is located at offset 0xA9 in the file. In this poc it points to 0×08E4CD50 (which is only a few bytes after the return address), and the code starts at 0xCC in the file.

It was tested on 4.01M33-2 with US version of GripShift (ULUS10040), and psplink.prx, usbhostfs.prx and deemerh.prx loaded (also without psplink and usbhostfs). The decrypted savegame (sorry, couldn’t [be bothered to] get Shine’s savegame tool working so it’s in plaintext form) is in the SDDATA.BIN form which Hellcat’s Savegame-Deemer produces (thanks to him, if the program didn’t exist I wouldn’t have bothered with this). Just copy the ULUS10040SAVE00 directory to /PSP/SAVEPLAIN/ and run the game. EDIT: yeah, don’t forget to have Savegame-Deemer working, duh.

Download:

GripShift SaveGame Exploit (POC)
(both MaTiAz and FreePlay’s included)

Savegame Deemer
(to decrypt and use the unencrypted GripShift savegame)

- source: lan.st

Your holidays are almost over, so you may as well spend this weekend converting videos for the way to work or whatever on Monday… Nick’s PSP Video Converter for Windows — get it.

PSPVC v3.40 changes:

• Added a “Process Priority” select box
• Added a “Constant Quality Mode” in “Advanced”
• Added support for subtitles embedded in OGM videos
• Added option to save batch-list to file for later editing (if needed)
• Unlocked view of batch while converting
• PSPVC will now be placed in systray when minimized
• PSPVC will automatically be resized to fit small screen resolutions
• Fixed an 5:1 audio bug
• Fixed a subtitle-stream mapping bug
• Fixed a subtitle bug
• + a bunch of misc improvements

Download:
PSPVC v3.40
CCCP Codec Pack (Required)

- source: pspvc.nswardh.com

Paying homage to the Amiga is Art with his latest version of Powernoid. If you’re new: Powernoid is a Breakout clone inspired by MegaBall. If you’re old: you know it’s a classic and that’s that.

Powernoid V4c (01/01/09):

• Implemented Mikmod player for in game music.
• One more extra life powerup brick added to game.
• Improvement to sound routine so powerup samples are always played.
• Increased pause duration between stages, new ball in play, and game pause with Home button.
• Small display bug fix for game over where extra life powerup brick is displayed.
• Change to high score encryption so the save file is incompatible with previous versions.

Powernoid V4b (01/01/09):

• Bullets on either side of paddle now operate independently.
• Fixed collision detection for powerup bricks that have multiple colours.
• Moving barriers implemented in some stages.
• Moving bricks implemented in stage 2.
• Added Megaball style powerup description screen to intro.
• Added powerup brick for extra life.
• Change to high score encryption so the save file is incompatible with previous versions.

Powernoid V4 (31/12/08):

• Fixed two bugs in stage 15.
• Fixed screen flicker on intro and game over screens.
• The second ball can now activate powerup bricks if it is in play.
• Change to high score encryption so the save file is incompatible with previous versions.
• New original wobbly ball bad powerup introduced in stage 6.

Download: Powernoid V4c

- source: qj

By now you’re feeling good and no doubt digging custom firmware 5.02 GEN-A. Although, perhaps you were a little saddened when you learned CXMB was no longer functional… But that’s all changed; Miriam has released an unofficial version of Poison’s CXMB that is now fully compatible with CFW 5.02 GEN-A. So boogie on down and enjoy countless user contributed XMB themes all over again. You can find a bunch here.

Download: Unofficial CXMB for 5.02 GEN-A

- source: pspgen

As promised — Miriam’s 1.50 kernel add-on for Custom Firmware 5.02 GEN-A. This is intended for use with PSP-1000 (Fat/Plus Size) models only.

Download:
CFW 5.02 GEN-A 1.50 Kernel Add-on
Custom Firmware 5.02 GEN-A

- source: pspgen

I hope you all had a bangin’ New Years Eve… And now, while we nurse our hangovers, we’re going to kick off 2009 with Miriam’s latest — custom firmware 5.02 GEN-A. Please see the included documentation for requirements, installation, and other important notes.

Custom Firmware 5.02 GEN-A features:

• All functions of the official 5.02 firmware.
• Suspend, Reset and Pandora options added in the recovery.
• Hide MAC Address can be enabled via configuration in recovery.
• VSH Recovery can now be opened with an option in the vshmenu.
• You can quickly exit the recovery by pressing the Select button.
• Game Categories Plugin by Bubbletune integrated (enabled by default, can be disabled in recovery).
• Option to reboot in to official firmware in the recovery, it will remain like this until the next cold reset. (Slim Only, support for the Phat PSP might be added later).
• Slim Colors Patch by Bubbletune integrated; enable in the recovery and flash 13-27.bmp to your flash0. This will allow you to use the Slim Colors on your Phat PSP.
• Higher homebrew compatibility compared to other 5.02 custom firmwares.
• Functional 5.02 pops (keep pops compatibility in mind).

Download: Custom Firmware 5.02 GEN-A

- 5.02 GEN-A Firmware Guide -

- source: pspgen

Thanks Demonchild