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Yeah you see the title, you might ask why? Since it’s out for few years already, but why now is the time??

Maybe some of you have guessed it already. Yes, hackers manage to crack PSP already, read on.

July 1, 2005 – The word “inevitable” is used so much to describe this current event on PSP fan and homebrew sites, it might well become the Google search term definition of the word. The hacker community has finally found a way to break through the security and encryption protection measures on PSP, and a “loader” for the PSP game Lumines has already been released.

Working off of a multi-application launcher called Kxploit designed to exploit a security flaw in the early models of PSP (which include systems 1.50 version of the PSP operating system — the 1.0 version launched in Japan was even less secure and allowed unsigned code without question), this specific version of the loader is custom-designed to run pirated ISO files of PSP games. Once set up, a PSP owner is able to load a copy of the game (either from the internet or copied with a ripping application) to a Memory Stick and play without owning the game. This particular loader only works with Lumines (and currently has a glitch that keeps it from playing sound), but more title-specific loaders and eventually multi-game loaders are sure to follow.

This is, of course, SCE’s worst fear realized. The process is requires some technical knowledge to perform the rip and patching, but it requires no modification of the PSP itself to do. Sony has been working to address the vulnerability of the system by requiring updates of the system in newly-released PSP games (including Midnight Club 3 and Dead To Rights: Reckoning), but these games currently only require the older 1.50 update, which still allows pirated games to run.

Hacking the PSP for access has been an ongoing effort from the beginning. Although the crack efforts have been alarming for those in the gaming business (with the inevitability of pirated PSP game and the release of emulators for running bootleg ROMs of other systems), a number of projects from the hacker community have made significant contributions to the PSP. The infamous WipEout Browser hack allowed gamers to browse the web within WipEout Pure’s update function browser, and hacks of the .MP4 format have enabled movie makers to create videos of far superior, full-screen quality than even Sony’s official Image Converter 2 movie program. And although a great deal of effort has been put into creating emulators and other programs made for pirate play, the open-source advocate community has made a case for itself and its demands for access. Homebrew coders (these are independent programmers working with consoles, either within the rights of available code library agreements or otherwise) have been able to program unique applications for PSP to share with the community, including SDKs for allowing other programmers access. One homebrew programmer has even been able to port the source code (based on a Pocket PC port by another programmer of the same code) for the first Quake to PSP.

Now that the loader is out there to run at least one pirated PSP game, the issue of unlicensed PSP development falls under a darker cloud. Sony, as the hardware manufacturer, has the right and responsibility to secure its system and protect the investment of its first- and third-party developers, but of course, there’s only so much it can do now — getting something off the internet is like trying to take pee out of a pool. Cease-and-desist letters will fly, fan sites will remove links, but the spread will still continue. We’ll continue to keep an eye on this situation as the inevitable approaches.

Taken from here.

Although it’s only one game, but it’s a good start right? Actually few months ago team Paradox already manage to rip the content out from the UMD, just that cannot play the game, only the ISO.

Below are part of the NFO from one of Paradox release.

. S P E C I A L N O T E S .

Of course you can’t play this game yet, and you won’t be playing it anytime soon on a burnt umd disc (as sony has already said they wont be releasing burners for these).

However maybe it will give you an idea of what PSP games are like, and just what is hidden on those little discs 🙂 Hopefully it will give psp developers a chance to look into the files etc used on a UMD. Knowing what files are present and where in the file path they can be found may help with loading of ‘driver’ files etc from disc.

(Hint: UMDs use an iso9660 based filesystem, so this image file can be opened in any iso image browser such as isobuster to look at, extract and generally play with the files within. It could also be burnt to a dvd to let u access the files on your computer such as in windows explorer)

Since this contains the ability for “web browsing” its hoped that an exploit can be found that will allow the booting of code on any version PSP. Check the unencrypted files on disc for more info on exactly how the browser works.

Thanks go out to the supplier of this title. Cheers.

So for those who dreaming of buying PSP but don’t want or can’t effort to buy the original game, this is a good news for you. For Sony, it’s their nightmare. 😆