Posted May 26, 2007 at 11:59AM by Jerico G. Listed in: PSP Tags: Sony, PS1, Dark AleX, homebrew community, Zeus
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Dark Alex logo - Image 1


(Developers Corner will serve as a tribute to the pillars of the PSP homebrew community. Basically, we'll be running a series of posts highlighting the achievements of a particular hero of homebrew. It'll be rundown of their major contributions to the PSP homebrew scene, think of it as our online hall of fame for the guys that make PSP a true multi-media device.)

Since this is the very first Developer's Corner post we might as well greet the PSP scene with a bang, and nobody gives a louder bang than hero of homebrew Dark AleX. If I'm to liken DaX to a popular video game character, it has to be God of War's Kratos. Granted he's no Zeus (that's got to be Sony, they made the PlayStation Portable after all), but Kratos has no qualms smiting the mighty God of Gods when he feels like it. That's exactly what Dark Alex is to the homebrew community, the lone force that occasionally kicks Sony between the legs with his PSP firmware hacks. Yes he's a badass, but he's our badass.

So just who Dark AleX really is? He's the guy that sired golden custom firmwares, the very same dude that rescued us from the dark days of various official firmwares, and the man responsible for playable PS1 backups in our PSPs. And yes, he's also the cool guy that's got a marijuana leaf url icon (can't get any more badass than that) plastered in his website.

The Chronicles of Dark Alex

Period I: Downgraders

He bursts into the PSP a year ago carrying the flaming torch of 2.60 downgrader, and since then there's been no looking back. The links below should lead us to posts made during those sweet days (downloads included, I figured taking a peek at them would be fun, at least for the sentimental among us).

June, 2006
Downgrader Test for 2.50/2.60 - There and Back Again
Download: 2.60 Downgrade Test v0.4 - Source Code

July, 2006
2.5/2.6 Downgrader FINAL Released!
Download: 2.5/2.6 Downdater (Downgrader) Auto Final

1.50 -> 1.0 Downgrader in Progress + Forum Announcement + Released

Download: 1.50 to 1.00 Downgrader "Downdater 1.00"

October, 2006
Dark AleX's Generic Downgrader- Now Downgrade to any PSP firmware from 2.71!
Download:2.71 Generic Downgrader

December, 2006
2.71 TA-082 Firmware PSP's Now Able to Downgrade!
Download:TA-082 Downgrader for 2.71 Firmware

Period II: Homebrew Enablers

Back to Kratos reference: Just like how Kratos defeated Ares minus his Blades of Chaos, Dark Alex was resilient enough to find the proper alternative to homebrew-less, then-uncrackable firmwares. Thus homebrew enablers were as valuable to us then as the Blades of the Gods was to Kratos, so these series of useful PSP applications should definitely make our to-look-back list.

September, 2006
Dark Alex's 2.71 XMB Homebrew Launcher! Homebrew from the Game Menu!
Download:Dark Alex's 2.71 XMB Homebrew Launcher Proof-of-Concept (Revision A)

Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 (Revision B) Starts PSP Utopia

Download:Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 (Revision B)

Dark AleX's Homebrew Enabler updated to Rev.C! Now load all your user-mode homebrew in 2.71!
Download:Dark AleX's Homebrew Enabler for FW 2.71 (Revision C)

Dark AleX's Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 - RevD (HEN D)

Download:Homebrew Enabler for 2.71 - Revision D

Period III: Custom Firmware

Custom Firmware is Dark Alex's masterpiece. This is his Blade of Olympus, a weapon even Zeus (in this case, Sony) fears. With CFWs installed in our PSPs, we can enjoy full features of the latest official Sony firmware, along with the ability to load homebrew and PS1 backups directly from the PSP's xmb. This achievement cemented Dark Alex's legacy.

October, 2006
2.71 Custom Firmware SE-A released by Dark_AleX!
Download: 2.71 Custom Firmware SE-A

December, 2006
Custom Firmware 3.02 OE-A released by Dark AleX!
Download: 3.02 OE-A by Dark AleX

Dark AleX's 3.02 OE-B released!
Download:3.02 OE-B by Dark AleX

January, 2007
Dark AleX's 3.03 OE-A' released
Download:Dark AleX's 3.03 OE-A

3.03 OE-B Released - Movie Madness!
Download: 3.03 Open Edition Revision B

February, 2007
3.10 OE-A custom firmware out and about
Download:Dark Alex's 3.10 OE-A custom firmware

April, 2007
Dark AleX releases 3.30 Open Edition Revision A
Download: Dark_AleX's 3.30 Open Edition Revision A

Dark AleX update of the week: 3.40 OE-A and 3.30 OE-A'
Download: 3.40 OE-A by Dark_AleX

If you still have any qualms on just how big Dark Alex is, I suggest you go over the links above. The Kratos comparison isn't a stretch, actually Kratos would do well to take some "class" pointers from DaX. Anyway, be sure to give our PSP homebrew God of War some love, and watch out for the next outing of Dev's corner.


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95 Comments


Sort by:
   by Nice (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Love it

Great article.

FIRSTER *****ES

*Cue arguemnts*


   Re: lukk here (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » .....

http://warez.mukingdom-network.com/

   Re: W. Jones (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » You're amazing....

You're amazing Dark AleX! We all, as a homebrew and PSP community, appreciate your great work. Thanks for all you've done so far and what may come in the future!

   Re: addition to the guy above me (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ....

there is a nice tutorial on easy online money...withh proof of check under ebookz + tutorialz....ppl must check it out....seems alright..

   Re: elad (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » Keep Up Good Work DarkAlex

Keep Up Good Work DarkAlex

   Re: chepu (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » where is fanjita?

i remember lots of ppl kissing his balls and saying he was gad etc etc....

anyways un español se chingo a todos ustedes culeros jajajaja!!

   Re: HACK RUNESCAPE!! (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » GO HERE!!!

this website is soo dam sikk
http://krazyhacks.bravehost.com/ go there now an u can get anytin in RS!!

   Re: trueBELIEVER (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » LOAD OF BULL!!

crap, this is some sort of Satan prayers. There's no merit on having to decrypt crappy $ony crapware.

The true measure of a GOD is to put Linux on the PSP, until then everything is an exercise of futility. PSP community should stop being infatuated with XMB icons moddification OMFGBBQ!!! Cut it out with decrypting firmware, OMFGBBQ!!!111one

Guys be a real MAN, (programmer) and put linux on this puppy!!!

Any effort put on $ony shyet is a waste of energy and time.

by suxers...

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: emorhalp - 2007-06-03
 » plzzz help me!!! im a very nooBz

how can i install the homebrew enabler+3.40 OE-A?? and other appication in my PSP??
plzz can anyone help me?? i really really need a help.. i really want to upgrade my PSP but i dont know how..im sOrry if i im a nOob..Pls help me..
   by ???? (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » wtf....

what happend to the 2.71 SE series???


   Re: seven (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ...

Umm.. it was replaced with the better 3.xx OE series... Why stay on an old custom firmware when theirs more supported and more feature-full ones available?

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-05-29
 » ...

Man, you ARE behind...
   by Sonny (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » DaX Rocks!

Dark Alex is a GENIUS!


   Re: zeromatrix (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ....

Aren't you guys idolizing this guy a little too much? Sure this guys cool and all but GET OFF HIS NUTZ already!!!

   Re: ujay (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ***** u

id like to see u figure out a way to play homebrew w/o killing ur mem stick with devhook
   by moneytoo (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » No Special Edition?

What about 2.71 Special Edition? :-)

   by Captain Planet Summoner (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Let's Summon Captain Planet!

EARTH!


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: milo22 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Go Planet!

FIRE!

   Re: Ranmaru (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Go Planet Go!

WIND!

   Re: paulrules (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Go Planet Go!

WATER!

   Re: James (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Go Planet!

HEART!

   Re: milo22 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » yes!!

GO PLANET!!

   Re: random (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Go Planet!

With your powers combined I am Captain Planet.

   Re: Phil Collins (Unregistered) - 2007-05-27
 » Go Planet!

Captain Planet, he's our hero,
Gonna take pollution down to zero,
He's our powers magnified,
And he's fighting on the planet side
   by Scarface (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Nice

Great

All you tell is true He is a god !

   by GmDude66 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » lol

SE sucked :P

OE is the future.


   Re: mohaas05 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » but

SE was a major milestone. For the first time people could have the homebrew capabilities of 1.5 with the features of 2.71. It definently deserves a spot on the list.

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Naroon Kasui - 2007-05-26
 » No...

OE isn't the future...OE is NOW, and OE is GOOD. :)
   by McPirate! (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ARRR!

Way to deepthroat an internet personality...


   Re: Busty Brown (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » *slurp*

Thank you

   Re: Sr_Moska - 2007-05-27
 » avast!p éanuts!

I remember the days I had 2.71 SE-B'' I was so scared when I installed it lolz I had the files in my computer for a week XD
   by ssjnaruto (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Sony - Zeus

ROFL. I'm still laughing.

   by me (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » my 2 cents

quote
December, 2007
Custom Firmware 3.02 OE-A released by Dark AleX!
Download: 3.02 OE-A by Dark AleX
/quote

it should be December 2006
and not December 2007

and the 2.71 SE series rocked so why is it missing?

   by Bored (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » You forgot something...

If Sony is Zeus, and Dark_AleX is Kratos, then who is, like Gaia, USING Kratos for their own agenda, against Zeus?

Think about it.

;)


   Re: Jerico G. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-26
 » LOL!

LOL! :D

   Re: cruel.Angel (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » Gaia

we are...
   by Hardrive (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » That's not all the custom FW's

What about the 1.50 POC?

What about the SE firmwares?

   by Mentality - 2007-05-26
 » DUDE

Well said, guys a genius, thanks DAX

   by yeeah (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » woo

First *****es

   by AD HATR (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » AD HATR

Guy is super smart, registers every dark-alex domain, except .com???? LOL page is trying to load crap ads but I got popup blocker so all I hear is beep!!! Take that u assoles at QJ. I dont have to see ur damn ads.


   Re: yy (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » yu

i dont think dark akex has dark-alex.tk ...does he?
or the .co and crap
   by Talidan (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » sigh

Another useless article from QJ praising those at the front of the scenes and disregarding all those who work behind the scenes. I am not surprised.

Oh and what's that i hear? What happened to 2.71 SE? What happened to the 8 versions of the massive DAXZISO loader - the first breakthrough in ISO compression? What happened to the revolution in UMD dumping, UMD Dax Dumper?

Another lack lustre article QJ. You can do better, we all know that.


   Re: Jerico G. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-26
 » Please be patient Salidan

Please be patient, as stated in the article, this is just a first of many posts talking about various developers, famous or not.

   Re: Jin (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » ...

Translation: Waahhhhhhhhhh!

   Re: killaj (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » no iso loaders, talidan

qj.net has a strict policy against iso loaders. they even spoke NOTHING about the iso loading capabilities of devhook, but focused solely on the firmware emulation instead

   Re: Talidan (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26
 » k

Okay, I retract my statement :P

   Re: Sigh (Unregistered) - 2007-05-29
 » Exactly!!

When has anyone ever thanked or even appreciated those working behind the scenes. The guys over at ps2dev, the authors of pspsdk, tyranid author of psplink (arguably the single best piece of homebrew ever released). You can bet DA's and Fanjita's work is based on using tyranid's and others tools.

Sites like these only praise those who benefit the users, what about praising those who benefit the dev's??

   Re: Raphael (Unregistered) - 2007-05-29
 » Re: praise those who benefit the devs

It takes a dev to notice those benefits, and unfortunately all QJ staff members aren't devs. At least not that I know of.
   by Aryn (Unregistered) - 2007-05-26