The ESA board must have been reduced to tears of joy yesterday - to them, I'm sure, they now believe there is a god. This week, the Swedish court has found the four operators of torrent site The Pirate Bay guilty as charged for copyright infringement and illegal activities (digitally distributing illegal copies of games and media content). Of course, ESA is more than happy with this victory against the ongoing war on piracy - so happy, in fact, that they had to come up with an official press release about it!

I look forward to the day David Perry finally starts to talk about a new Shiny Entertainment game. The past couple of weeks, he's been a constant thorn in Sony's side with his claims of a new UMD-less PSP. This week he's even challenged Sony to call him a liar. The company hasn't responded yet with a "liar, liar, pants on fire" quip, but they have rolled out some interesting new ideas for the future of the PSP in terms of software. Let's get cracking on this week's PSP Weekend Warrior!

After last week's media blitz of new games for the PSP, Ready At Dawn CEO Didier Malenfant gives us his bit of insight on the matter. First, he says he doesn't know what the hell Sony's talking about - this whole "we're having talks with RAD for a new PSP game" thing. He does agree with John Koller on one thing though: the whole digital distribution direction. Because Malenfant thinks it's a good idea after all, and to quote him: "It's not piracy but used games that are killing us."

Discuss: QJ.NET General Gaming forum thread

Sony has started changing their gameplan for the PSP by giving some advice to third-party devs. They're asking devs to make more games from big franchises, but make them shorter. Think Chains of Olympus.

Details after the link.

Again and again, over the past few months, we heard the PSP labeled as dying and, in some cases, already dead. Of course, Sony kept saying, "No it's not. Just wait until 2009!", but hey, we hardened gamers can recognize a line when we see one, right? Turns out it wasn't just a line. Now the future of our beloved handheld seems pretty bright thanks to the announcement of a whole slew of big PSP titles that are all supposed to come out this year. Keep reading for another edition of the PSP Weekend Warrior!

Originally posted on February 27, 2009

Oh wow, would you look at that. Finally something that's actually not coming from John Koller! Surprise, surprise! Ha! If this rumor proves to be true, it could be none other than Kratos himself making another handheld comeback care of Ready At Dawn.

Yet again, we hear from John Koller. He's been everywhere since yesterday. He already said that he wanted Ready At Dawn back for PSP development, and now, it looks like he doesn't want to let go of Rockstar Games too. Well, who wouldn't? Koller reveals that there are talks to get Rockstar back into PSP development for another GTA game (which gives the GTA: San Andreas Stories rumor some backing). In other Rockstar-related matters, he also reacts to GTA4's Xbox 360-exclusive DLC and the release of GTA Chinatown Wars on the DS.

Now isn't this just absolutely rad?! Or, RAD, rather. Ready At Dawn may have ended their PSP development after Daxter and GoW: Chains, but not if Sony's got any say on the matter. That's radical, dude! Could we see new fruits of their labor come E3 2009? Cross your fingers!

After their departure from PSP development, it looks like Ready At Dawn will be going down the multiplatform route for their next game.

The PSP started the year with a bang, and then it quickly cooled off. The DS never really peaked, but a constant stream of gaming goodness flowed forth. Not really a banner year for either platform, but there were quite a few gems. Oh, and one game seems to have clobbered the rest into submission...