Ever feel the need to make your own customized themes for your Sony PlayStation Portable? You're not alone. NorthernFusion, luckily, has just announced over at the QJ.NET Forums that he came up with a solution wherein you can access the themes in your MS using one gameboot.


Download: CTF gameboot from MS
Visit: QJ PSP Development Forum

The PMF movie player, CIntro, is back! Well, sort of. It's been updated to run for 3.xx kernel but is still in its test stage. The update comes from PSP homebrew stalwart, Coolj. More in the full article.

Download: CIntro v3.90

Sony PlayStation Portable homebrew developer Illegal Machine has recently released the PC Engine emulator for the Sony PSP. It's called Turbo Grafix 16 and it does more than just emulate the older game system.

For one, Illegal Machine says that "this (emulator) has the icon.pmf that shows the original Turbo-grafix TV commercial, among other things." It's compatible with the Sony PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite and firmware 1.50.

Running games on it is fairly easy. Illegal Machine tells us to "just place the extracted folder into the GAME folder and place the ROMs in the Turbo Grafx-16 folder not a folder named ROMs." Pop all of these into the same folder as EBOOT and you're good to go. Enjoy!

Download: TurboGrafix 16 (with icon.pmf)

QJ.NET loyal reader Paul Lyons sent us a tip regarding the new build of poisonhzkj's pet project Custom XMB plugin or CXMB. This release brings the program up to version 2.31. CXMB, for the initiated, is a custom firmware plugin that allows for easier XMB customization.

Unfortunately, CXMB v2.31 still doesn't come with a Readme.txt file but poisonhzkj has a couple of important reminders over at his personal page. First of all, CXMB v2.31 now provides support for: paf.prx/vshmain.prx/common_gui.prx, .res/.pmf/.rsc file, and 3.40/3.52 CFW.

Aside from those, the developer also posted the following:

• Notice 1: You should use the uncompressed prx, if you download a theme with compressed modules, you have to decompress it, so that CXMB could recognize them.
• Notice 2: Use ms0:/cxmb/vsh/module/ (see? not *nodule*) for prx files and ms0:/cxmb/vsh/resource/ for rco files
• Notice 3: ms0:/cxmb/font/ for fonts, but actually it may cause your browser some problem, and DO NOT put jpn0.pgf/kr0.pgf/gb3s1518.bwfon/ltn4.pgf here, it would bring you some unknown problems.

Like we said, CXMB v2.31 doesn't come with a documentation so be sure that you know what you are doing before installing this in your PlayStation Portable units. It would be wise to read our past coverage to gain more insights or visit the developer's page through our Source link.

Download: CXMB v2.31

PSP homebrew developer DeadZone dropped by the QJ.Net Forums earlier to announce that DeFlasher No Limits (NL) has just been updated to version 6.0. The application's latest release has been reworked to be compatible with the recently released Custom Firmware 3.51 M33. DeFlasher still retains its ability to flash an unlimited number of items unto the PSP, and currently supports these files:

• auth_plugin.rco
• 01-12.bmp
• camera_plugin.rco
• common_page.rco
• dd_helper.rco
• dnas_plugin.rco
• gameboot.pmf
• game_install_plugin.rco, game_plugin.rco
• htmlviewer_plugin.rco
• impose_plugin.rco
• ltn0.pgf
• msgdialog_plugin.rco
• msvideo_main_plugin.rco
• music_main_plugin.rco
• netconf_dialog.rco, netplay_plugin.rco
• opening_plugin.rco
• osk_plugin.rco, osk_utility.rco
• photo_plugin.rco
• premo_plugin.rco
• rss_subscriber.rco
• savedata_plugin.rco, savedata_utility.rco
• sysconf_plugin.rco, sysconf_plugin_about.rco
• system_plugin.rco, system_plugin_bg.rco, system_plugin_fg.rco
• topmenu_plugin.rco
• update_plugin.rco
• video_main_plugin.rco, video_plugin_videotoolbar.rco
• visualizer_plugin.rco

Given that DeFlasher alters your PSP's flash0, we advise new users to view the file's readme - mishandling this application can lead to a bricked PSP. Also make sure to visit DeadZone's thread over at our QJ.Net Forums for more information. With Team M33's CFW now appearing to be the current staple, expect similar updates for other homebrew apps to start appearing.

Download: DeFlasher NL Special Edition v6.0 (CFW 3.51 M33)
Visit: QJ's PSP Development Forums

One of the devs who frequent the QJ forums, becus25, has just released v0.6 of his plugin, rGameboot. For those who may not be familiar with the term, rGameboot stands for Random Gameboot, and as the name implies, this plugin is supposed to randomize your gameboots.

For those who want to give this a try, simply copy the "seplugins" and "rg" folders to the root directory of your memory stick. However, just remember that just like in the previous version, you may need a tool called Pmffix for it to work, as this tool allows one to visualize gameboots when using 3.XX OE-X.

Meanwhile, becus25 has provided the roots of the gameboots which are as follows:

• ms0:/psp/system/rg/gameboot.pmf
• flash0:/vsh/resource/gameboot.pmf
• flash1:/vsh/resource/gameboot.pmf

In case you're still unsure of how to install this, then just check out the previous video tutorial on how to do that. And remember, always check the readme first, and if you are unsure about anything, don't hesitate to ask the dev about it via the forum release thread, the link to which we've provided below. After all, we don't want any bricked PSPs, now do we?

Download: rGameboot 0.6 BETA
Visit: PSP Development Forum

Mhorpheox has once again dropped a line on our forums informing us that Legend has updated his PSPModkit app to version 2.0. PSPModkit is a flashing app that runs on a PC instead of on the PSP itself. It needs the .NET Framework 2.0 in order to run, so we've also included a download link for that in case some of you guys don't have it yet.

Here's the changelog for PSPModkit v2.0:

• Now the program have an automatic installer  with desktop shortcut.
• Fixed bug that causing "Error path" in the flash menù.
• Added auto-open directory of processed file.
• Included pmf player in the tool menu (after patch MPS into PMF) and in the flash menù.
• Included rapid installation of pmf player codecs.
• Graphic restyled.
• Code revisioned.

Please read the included readme file very carefully before you try flashing your PSP using this app. Even though it creates a backup of flash0, bricking is still a possibility. For a closer look at the features that PSPModkit offers, check out our coverage of the first version.

Download: PSPModkit v2.0
Download: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
Visit: PSP Development forum

It took a couple of weeks for Hallo007 to release the next version of his Flash Agent, but now we've come to today: Flash Agent H1 with its USB support and improved security, among other things.

• Graphics update: deleted images, new arrow, deleted menusound
• Fixed bug in showing time
• possible to view free FLASH1 space
• added credits, added usb mode
• possibility to flash/recover impose.prx, possibility to rflash/ecover impose.rsc
• improved file check (security)
• entring a folder in file browser is back FAST
• in OK you see now the timer counting down
• RECOVERY MENU is really clear now
• RCO menu is really clear now
• POSSIBILITY to copy folders in file browser (files were already possible)
• possibility to delete folders in file browser (only possible with empty folders) (files were already possible)
• new xmb sound (remix of the previously one)
• fixed bug for flashing photo_plugin.rco (security)
• updated flash security

As the homebrew app allows you to change some XMB default settings, flash gameboots, and clear up your flash chips, please be warned that this could potentially brick your system. There are a couple of README files included in the download below: one for the changelog (and full version history), one for controls, another for supported files, and one about its WiFi functions. Make sure you read all of them if you don't know what your doing. For those looking forward to the next version, here's what he the developer has in mind:

• possibility to preview gameboot
• THEME MAKER - meaning : gameboot.pmf , ltn0.pgf , and other custom files packed with theme maker and possible to flash (so it's one file ), so you can share them to other people very easy

Download: Flash Agent H1
Visit: PSP Development Forums

Xpack and cloudpjff7 have been hard at work making a new version of FileFlasher, the Lua-based flashing app. He's recently come up with version 2 of the FileFlasher, and there are a ton of changes made to the PSP application to give everyone a quality piece of programming.

As always, apps with flashing capabilities do have a potential of bricking your PlayStation Portables, so take some precautions, check the readme, and do what you have to to lessen the chances of bricking. In any event, the rather lengthy changelog is below. Enjoy your download, and happy flashing!

Changes made in v 2.0

• Checks that there is enough flash0 memory when flashing.
• Allows you to browse your memory stick to decide which files you choose to flash.
• Checks to make sure that the battery level is ok for flashing.
• Checks your PSP unit Firmware version
• Checks your PSP nickname
• Allows you to toggle the USB
• Added some graphics
• Small bugfixes
• Creates backups of the following files:
• 01-12.bmp                    (Background)
• topmenu_plugin.rco      (XMB Menu)
• opening_plugin.rco       (Coldboot)
• gameboot.pmf              (Video Clip)
• system_plugin_bg.rco  (XMB Wave Effect)
• game_plugin.rco           (Game Images)
• impose_plugin.rco        (Volume Bars)
• savedata_plugin.rco     (Savedata Images)
• system_plugin.rco        (XMB Click Sounds)
• system_plugin_fg.rco   (Battery Pictures)
• ltn0.pgf                         (Font)

• Allows you to delete backups
• Allows you to recover any of the backups.
• Allows you to remove and restore files to save flash0 space
• This program will automatically create backup of all files:
• Camera Icon and function:    Saves 246.4 kb
• Web Browser:                       Saves 395.9 kb
• Pictures viewer from XMB:     Saves 232.4 kb
• RSS Feeder:                          Saves 128.8 kb
• Music Player on XMB:            Saves 751.5 kb
• Video Player:                        Saves 802.9 kb
• Network Update:                  Saves 33.6 kb

Download: FileFlasher v2.0
Visit: PSP Development Forums

The name of the homebrew app is Slash-N-Flash, and from that alone, you can assume that it concerns flashing your system. And when you're talking about flashing, it goes without saying that you stand a chance of BRICKING YOUR PSP IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Be forewarned. The developer, Slasher (of Team Duck), and QJ would like to stress the gravity of using this app at your own risk.

With that said and done, check out the latest version of Slash-N-Flash, the "generic flasher which can flash whatever files your heart desires" homebrew app. When Slasher posted the release on our forums, he indicated that this will most likely be the last version, unless anyone else has other suggestions or if he comes up with some other amazing features. Here's the changelog for Slash-N-Flash v2:

• GUI Implemented (Font, background image, cursor image, sound effects)
• New Theme Option
• Create themes and flash them:
• topmenu_plugin.rco, 01-12.bmp, ltn0.pgf, system_plugin_bg.rco, opening_plugin.rco, system_plugin_fg.rco, photo_plugin.rco, game_plugin.rco, impose_plugin.rco, system_plugin.rco, gameboot.pmf
• Backup your currently applied theme (Goes into the 'backup' folder)
• More destinations to flash to in file browser
• Free up some space in your flash0

We reiterate the importance of taking a look at the readme for instructions and notes, and if still, you have any further questions, you may discuss them in our forums, as linked below.

Download: Slash-N-Flash v2
Visit: PSP Development Forums