The sequel to last year's Wii launch title is once more drawing an all-out media blitz. To be honest, I enjoyed the ads as much as I did the game last time around, and things are looking promising again this time around.
This time he's crafted a reasonably small combo portable that plays NES and Atari cartridges. He managed to do this using his preferred NES on a Chip and bits from an Atari Flashback II. Yes it does play both Asteroids and Super Mario Bros. 3, and changes over at the flick of a switch.
The folks at noobz.eu have made a smashing breakthrough for the PSP homebrew scene called they affectionately call Pandora's Battery. For those unfamiliar with past homebrew endeavors, it is only possible on the earlier versions (1.5), and later versions must be downgraded to make it possible. Sony's update service has in the past bricked a number of modded PSPs, but is required for most downloads.
This particular downgrader works on any version of PSP and ever resurrects dead ones. This is accomplished by accessing the unit in service mode through custom software loaded onto the memory stick, and converting a battery to mimic the cues of a service technician's battery. This combo should reset the PSP to firmware version 1.5, where homebrew can be easily developed, or the console can be upgraded regularly through Sony's update service for regular use.
What this means to the homebrew community is that any PSP firmware version currently out there can be downgraded to the homebrew-friendly 1.5 firmware, and any dead ones as a result of failed firmware changes or using Sony's update service on a modded firmware will be revived. This lack of deterrent against downgrading firmwares should also jump-start the PSP homebrew scene once more.
It seems that the Prometheus Project team that was working on this either had a member leak the program early or their security was compromised because a few items have shown up for sale in shady places at high prices. As a result Noobz has decided to release their work free of charge to the public a bit earlier than expected. (Their original original intent was to wait for the PSP redesign to hit store shelves.) Also, a final note since all code was written without the aid of an official SDK, all materials included in the program are free of copyrighted materials. They've mentioned that they'll try and keep up compatibility for future firmware releases.
Kudos to the members of the Prometheus Project, I look forward to future endeavors of the highly skilled and talented members of the team.
Wow, it seems like we just recently had an update from Nintendo for the Wii; yet here is another. This one offers no new features like last time, but just a simple fix to prevent a few issues.
With this patch, it should prevent your console from locking up while resetting the console or using the Internet Channel, and fix some internet connection issues while using Nintendo's Wii LAN Adapter.
Also, (in case you missed it earlier this week) the Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel is now open for free download in the Wii Ware section of the Wii Shop Channel. It features a few streaming videos that download surprisingly fast. Those videos have enough gameplay footage to tease the Prime fans out there, so take what you can get, its still going to be a while. A few more links seem to be there that will be made available 2007.08.16 if you're interested.
Features this week are mixing things up a bit. One of the big "next-gen" selling points for the Wii and PS3 are the use of motion controls as a new means of playing games in relation to mashing buttons and twiddling your analogs. First off is a handheld game with a built-in tilt controller. That game, my good friend, is Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble. Tilt forward, and it feels like Kirby will roll off screen, and a little flick will pop him into the air. This game earned me a lot of funny looks the first time I was seen wiggling my Game Boy Color around.
Shakin' it up is the featured hardware, the highly sought-after Dreamcast Maracas. These babies were never bundled and fetched a high price in stores; yet, they worked with only one game! (Well, maybe a few minor exceptions, but they are poorly applied.) Lets just say that they didn't sell too well and have become a wee bit difficult to find. Speaking of that one game...
The featured image for the week is the cover shot for Samba de Amigo. Why the Japanese version? It captures the spirit of the game. Anyways, playing it for the first time might remind you of your first forray into DDR, club-footed and uncoordinated. Never fear, for an easy learning curve will make you a cha-cha master in no time. Available in all three major regions, this game is for every culture. Getting some of my Columbian friends into it was definitely a rewarding experience that everyone seemed to enjoy.
Oh boy, that commercial gets me excited every time.
The featured collection of the week is someone with even more funky rhythm controllers. Sauza12 has a lovely standee for Donkey Konga in addition to all three GameCube games that make use of the Bongo controllers. In addition to that he also has some interesting items including two arcade cabinets worth checking out.
E3 2007 has come and gone, and this year was certainly different. One thing that got me was the lack of laser weapons being used to blast other-worldly beings into green bits. Aren't aliens, zombies, and ninjas the stock villains of video gaming? Either way, we can supplement your yearning for malicious contact.
The game of the week is Alien Syndrome. Ricky and Mary run and gun their way to rescue their comrades from aliens. Formerly a Tengen cart, Sega is about to release a sequel of sorts under the same title for Wii and PSP in these coming weeks.
The featured image of the week is the cover art for Alien Hominid. This game started out as a freebie flash game and has since been ported to most home consoles and is currently on the move to download services. Alien Hominid is colourful and fascinating as it is entirely hand drawn. Also, the flash version is available for free play in RF Generation's own online arcade! You can't beat free.
Now for a name that could only come from science fiction, the Amstrad GX4000. Its appearance and name look like they could fly you to Mars, or at least to the nearest filling station. This rarely seen 8-bit console took a swift beating as the Mega Drive launched less than a year later with a 16-bit colour pallet.
When missile defense fails to break the UFO shields, there's only enough time for one thing. Thats right, admire James' collection, this weeks feature. Neatly displayed rows of Mega Drive and SMS boxes with one rare and outstanding shooter proudly displayed in the center. If you're curious as to what the title is, you must see for yourself. Suspenseful.
Dreamcast "new" releases... 2007
Triggerheart Exelica
Karous (last commercial release)
Last Hope 2008 Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles 2009
DUX Last Hope: Pink Bullets Rush Rush Rally Racing
Irides: Master of Blocks 2010 Fast Striker 2012 Gun-Lord 2013 Sturmwind
DUX 1.5 2014
Redux: Dark Matters
Neo XYX by NG.Dev Team 2015
Alice's Mom's Rescue
James & Watch 'Arm'
Elansar & Philia
The Ghost Blade
Pier Solar HD 2016
James & Watch: Tooth Cracker
Leona's Tricky Adventures
Orion's Puzzle Collection
Xia & The Goddesses of Magic 2017
Escape 2042 - The Truth Defenders
Rush Rush Rally Racing: Reloaded
Alice Dreams Tournament
Breakers
You've 
Features this week are mixing things up a bit. One of the big "next-gen" selling points for the Wii and PS3 are the use of motion controls as a new means of playing games in relation to mashing buttons and twiddling your analogs. First off is a handheld game with a built-in tilt controller. That game, my good friend, is 
E3 2007 has come and gone, and this year was certainly different. One thing that got me was the lack of laser weapons being used to blast other-worldly beings into green bits. Aren't aliens, zombies, and ninjas the stock villains of video gaming? Either way, we can supplement your yearning for malicious contact.
it's thinking