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PSP Summer Homebrew Coding Contest

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the something-to-keep-you-away-from-the-glowing-orb dept.

quickjump writes "PSP Updates and Lik-Sang yesterday kicked off their second PSP coding contest, the Summer Homebrew Competition. Programmers now have 45 days to submit a new program, to be screened by people such as Fanjita and others, and then put up for a popular vote to determine the 3 winners with over $500 in PSP prizes, including a 4GB Datel drive, Blaze TV adapter, faceplates, battery packs, cases, a 1GB memory stick and more!"

40 comments

  1. Who is Fanjita? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    I'm not knowledgable about the PSP homebrew scene, so I must ask, who is Fanjita? What gives him/her/them/it a position of respect within the community, enough so to judge this competition?

    1. Re:Who is Fanjita? by ZakuSage · · Score: 5, Informative

      Fanjita is a programmer who used exploits in the 2.00 firmware and 2.01 - 2.60 firmwares for PSP to allow for an "eboot loader" (a way to run homebrew games via the hack) to run.

  2. Lame? by chrismcdirty · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is it just me, or do those prizes seem kinda lame for the amount of work they expect to be put into these apps?

    --
    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    1. Re:Lame? by Ant+P. · · Score: 0, Troll

      *insert obligatory PSP battery life joke here*

    2. Re:Lame? by Aladrin · · Score: 1

      The kind of games that can be devised, programmed, and entered in 45 days are not going to be the gems you're thinking about. They'll be rather quick and easy to make. There may be a few that were already being programmed and this contest came along at just the right time, but for the most part they'll just be quick n dirty jobs.

      For that amount of work, $500 in prizes is quite a lot. And if one of the already-being-programmed games wins, they were going to give it away anyhow, so they made out like bandits.

      --
      "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
    3. Re:Lame? by Eivind · · Score: 1
      No it's not.

      First, $500 is like pay for perhaps half a week of programming. And that assumes that one person got all the prices, and that the prices where actually worth the stated value to that person (unlikely, or he'd have bougth them already) and that he knows before starting that he'll certainly win.

    4. Re:Lame? by Aladrin · · Score: 1

      I'm not talking about 45 days with 60 hours a week, slaving to create the new Doom. Anyone crazy enough to do that for contest STILL has enough sense to do it for a contest worth more than $500.

      This will NOT produce a 'killer app' homebrew for the PSP. Nobody in their right mind expects it to.

      --
      "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
    5. Re:Lame? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      I've taken part in a few 72 hour game development competitions. Some game smanaged to be fairly well developed so 45 days may be enough to create a 19.99$ shareware title like most indies do these days (wait, wasn't that also the time it took Warshaw to develop ET?).

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    6. Re:Lame? by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Oh, so you mean like how EVERY company in tech makes up a "contest" with low-valued prizes to get work done that would otherwise cost a lot of money and time and possibly outisde contractors... *COUGH*Slashdot Page Design*COUGH*

      It is because techies value this stupid idea of some great prestige over their time. And we never fail to disappoint. We will produce content worth tens of thousands of dollars for a _chance_ at a $500 iPod.

      For such "smart" folks, we sure are gullible bastards.

      --
      http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
    7. Re:Lame? by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 1

      Much props on your .sig... you have been added as a friend :)

      --
      http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
    8. Re:Lame? by BrainInAJar · · Score: 1

      low-valued prizes to get work done that would otherwise cost a lot of money and time and possibly outisde contractors...

      meanwhile, Google's paying what seems about a low entry level salary for the Summer of Code participants... (and considering none of the participants has even graduated yet, it's pretty good)

    9. Re:Lame? by Hotawa+Hawk-eye · · Score: 1

      $500 may not be much if that's all the programmers would get ... but the winner can also put on their resume that they won a programming contest for writing applications for the PSP. That practical experience could come in handy if or when the next winner is looking for a job, plus if the game is reasonable they could try to market it to publishers to be expanded upon and distributed as an actual PSP game.

  3. 2.7 firmware? by tepples · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How can one run these homebrews if all new PSP units have firmware 2.7? In fact, how can anyone run homebrew on a 2.01 or later PSP in regions where Grand Theft Auto has not been released (such as if it has been refused classification)?

    1. Re:2.7 firmware? by ZakuSage · · Score: 1

      Well, first you can't run most homebrew YET on 2.70 or 2.71 firmware because no exploit has been found to load eboots. You can, however, run flash applications in the PSP, allowing you to run things like a crossword puzzle and maybe some simple games, as they have to be compatible with Flash 6.

      If GTA: LCS has not been released in your area, you could simply import the game from an area where it is released, as PSP does not have region locking for games.

    2. Re:2.7 firmware? by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      because it is only a matter of time before there is an alternative way to load homebrew games on later firmware revisions. just as was the case with homebrew on 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 2.6 PSPs previously.

      as for GTA, a copy can be imported or bought through ebay since games are not region locked on the PSP. this is probably easier to do than to order a passthru device in order to enable ANY form of homebrew on the DS.

    3. Re:2.7 firmware? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right now, all units being sold are still with 2.60 firmware, and not 2.70 firmware, so your point is moot.

      But then again, you're probably just a member of Nintendo's drone army gone out to troll in anything mentioning PSP, judging by the advertisement in your website link.

    4. Re:2.7 firmware? by Zaplocked · · Score: 0
      this is probably easier to do than to order a passthru device in order to enable ANY form of homebrew on the DS.

      What does this have to do with anything he asked? Or do you just feel the need to validate your PSP purchase by making little side comments about the DS whenever possible?
  4. Where do you get the developer's kit? by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 1

    It seems like you just submit ideas instead of actually coding something. I want to code something.

    --
    God spoke to me.
    1. Re:Where do you get the developer's kit? by ZakuSage · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://ps2dev.org/psp/Projects

  5. Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With the PSP being so anti-homebrew, why wouldn't amateur developers make stuff for more homebrew friendly consoles(like the GP2X) instead? C'mon, by homebrewing for the PSP, you're handing ammo to your enemies.

    1. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      Wow, how much do you get paid for your talents? A GP2X astroturf, and a dig at Sony for being evil. A troll double-play.

    2. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Actually it's realism. Sony doesn't want homebrew on the PSP and they're constantly devising new ways to prevent it so why run competitions for that?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    3. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by bowronch · · Score: 1

      1 - I can buy a PSP and have a lot of commercial games to buy in addition to writing my own programs for it.

      2 - There's a lot of PSP owners out there who can play your game, not just other homebrew authors. I don't think nearly as many non-homebrew authors are going to be buying the gp2x.

      --
      My Stuff: pspChess and foobar2000 plugins
    4. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      other than the GP2X, homebrew isnt "promoted" on any consoles. the playstation line maybe moreso since they at least "offered" a linux kit. homebrew isnt the issue, sony just cant condone the creation of emulators that are used to run other companies IP, and doesnt like the idea that homebrew enables ISO loaders and piracy.

      all companies close found vulnerabilities over time. microsoft patched dashboard versions all the time with the xbox1. later revisions of xbox hardware changed solder points, etc... nintendo sticks with proprietary storage solutions. so personally other than PDA devices and the GP2X, its still even footing when it comes to homebrew and the like. sony aint the only enemy in that regard.

      i never hear anyone complain about having their xbox live account disabled when trying to access live with a chipped xbox. no one cries foul when they opened the x360 and couldnt enable homebrew out the box... no one cried foul when the original mechwarrior, 007, and splinter cell games were pulled from the shelves since they enabled softmodding... i mean why the hypocrisy? if you dont want to upgrade your psp, you dont have to. you just have to live without the latest games, and firmware updates for a while at least.

    5. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, how much do you get paid for your talents?

      Please, I didn't even expect to earn any karma for that comment.

      How much do you get paid to astroturf for sony? I'm not complaining about sony avoiding homebrewers, I'm complaining about the expectation that homebrewers will run after them in spite of that.

      other than the GP2X, homebrew isnt "promoted" on any consoles

      There's also the XGP.

    6. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by SyncNine · · Score: 1

      I agree with your post overall, but just a small note: Nintendo hasn't always stuck to proprietary storage -- the GameCube runs games off a standard mini-DVD, contrary to all of the urban legends surrounding its copy protection schemes.

      --
      To the darkened skies once more, and ever onward.
    7. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      sorry about the remark, but why naysay a coding contest for what is probably one of the most homebrew friendly "major" consoles [yeah, even despite sony's best efforts].

      whenever psp homebrew is mentioned, someone always decides to throw in the obligatory GP2X free ad. its starting to become yet another /. cliche. the GP2X is nice, but the PSP has much more visibility for amateur coders to have their work seen. which in effect, would be the "real" payoff of a contest such as this. the creators of various emulators are known by name to the majority of psp users. as a coder, you cant pay for that type of visibility. numbers dont lie... http://videogamecharts.com/page2.html now imagine that the majority of these users will have the ability to use your program, and even if they do not have that ability, they are likely to know of your program if it is popular enough.

      im not on the sony payroll; i am a multiple console owner. i'll freely admit i prefer my various playstations to my other consoles, but that doesnt mean i love them any less nor does it mean that i havent spent as much money on all of my systems [and thats what really matters]. its a matter of the games. if i read a post that has misinformation, or is a blatant swipe at a console, i add my $0.02 just like any other slashdotter.

    8. Re:Why exact/y would anyone want to do that? by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      sorry, i was just going by the info off of wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamecube#Media they called it a proprietary variant of miniDVD.

      the wiki is known to be wrong at times, maybe you should edit the article.

  6. Flash authoring? by tepples · · Score: 1
    Well, first you can't run most homebrew YET on 2.70 or 2.71 firmware because no exploit has been found to load eboots.

    Are you sure that there will ever be such an exploit?

    You can, however, run flash applications in the PSP

    So how do I make flash applications without purchasing Macromedia's pricey authoring tools? And wouldn't it be called a Flash compo instead of a PSP homebrew compo?

    If GTA: LCS has not been released in your area, you could simply import the game

    And watch it be stopped at customs.

    1. Re:Flash authoring? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      So how do I make flash applications without purchasing Macromedia's pricey authoring tools? And wouldn't it be called a Flash compo instead of a PSP homebrew compo?

      So, how do I make a PSP game without purchasing a pricey PC? If you want the better tools you gotta pay for them.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Flash authoring? by apoc06 · · Score: 1
      Are you sure that there will ever be such an exploit?

      Given enough time, there will be a firmware exploit [patience grasshopper...] Even if there were no firmware exploit, there is now a PSP mod chip. With enough time, the chip [just like all other modchips] will eventually become more and more increasingly easier to install. Eventually requiring no solder, and eventually will be external.

      So how do I make flash applications without purchasing Macromedia's pricey authoring tools? And wouldn't it be called a Flash compo instead of a PSP homebrew compo?

      The format that flash writes to is a open source standard file format. Hence there are cheaper alternatives to flash creation such as Swish [i think thats what its called] a few free alternatives and I believe that there is even a free linux flash alternative.

      And watch it be stopped at customs.

      if you check ebay, or your local classified newspaper section there is a very high percentage that you will be able to find someone local, or at least somewhere within your country that was able to get their hands on a copy and is willing to part ways.
    3. Re:Flash authoring? by ZakuSage · · Score: 1

      There is no guarantee that there will ever be an exploit, but it's awefully presumtuous to say that one with 2.70+ will never be able to run homebrew. Saying YET allows room for the future, if there ever is an exploit.

  7. $ vs. $$ by tepples · · Score: 1

    So, how do I make a PSP game without purchasing a pricey PC?

    Developing PSP 1.5-2.6 apps needs a pricey PC. Developing PSP 2.7 apps needs a pricey PC and pricey software.

  8. Oy vey! by bwcarty · · Score: 2, Funny

    For some reason, I originally read this as a "Hebrew Coding Contest"

  9. What a Bunch of Cheap Bastards by shoma-san · · Score: 1

    This is what you get for tying to innovate while being probed in the ass for ideas:

    $500 in PSP prizes
    4GB Data drive
    Blaze TV adapter
    faceplates
    battery packs
    1GB memory stick ...don't you make enough money to buy crap like this? Or are you do you just want to help the game industry come up with the next best idea for free?

    1. Re:What a Bunch of Cheap Bastards by ZakuSage · · Score: 1

      People make free games for the community out of the goodness of their heart already. Prizes are just a bonus.

    2. Re:What a Bunch of Cheap Bastards by PhotoBoy · · Score: 1

      If I were to win all that shit I certainly wouldn't put any of it on my PSP, it would make it look completely arse. Surely a better prize would be something like a choice of 5 free PSP games from the Lik-Sang store?

    3. Re:What a Bunch of Cheap Bastards by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      Look, I'm holding this gun to your head.
      Now participate in the competition and win those prices, or else!

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    4. Re:What a Bunch of Cheap Bastards by entmike · · Score: 1

      Oh, give me a break. For a 14 year old who has nothing to do all summer, and can't work or is to weak and nerdy to mow lawns for extra money, this sounds like something I'd put some time and energy towards competing with. Not everything is aimed at middle-aged sysadmins who hate their life, you know.