Part time gamer, full time games journalist

• 8Oct 07

  Red Ring Woes

  Just in time for the launch of Halo 3, my Xbox 360 finally died, giving me the red rings of death. I'd only had the console for 8 months, but I expected it to fail soon, what with the random disk read errors, frequent freezing and wireless controllers refusing to connect to the console. Still, I was hoping it would last until I could complete Halo 3's campaign. I had managed an enjoyable few days on Stranglehold and was playing the Call of Duty 4 beta before it finally died.

  Typically all this happened just as I was moving house so I didn't have access to the internet either, making arranging the return a particularly unpleasant procedure.Relaying information to a friend at home who found the entire phone numbers I needed was still less annoying than the actual conversation with Microsoft tech support, but once everything was confirmed the collection went pretty easily, with UPS sending me a label through the post and collecting the console the next day. That was on the 24th of September, and I was told the turnaround would be 20 days, so I should only have a week or so left before I get it back. Then I'll be straight down to my local games store to buy a copy of Halo 3 (The thought of buying it and leaving it on my shelf, mocking me for a month wasn't appealing).

  I managed to miss out on the last experience unlock of the Call of Duty Beta too, so I'll have to wait until November to get my COD fix again!

  • Posted Oct 8, 2007 7:46 am PT
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• 30Jan 07

  My PSP downgrade Diary #1

  Thanks to an informative post on Joystiq, I discovered recently that PSP firmware 3.03 could be downgraded to 1.5, unlocking the potential to use the console for homebrew apps and PS1 ISOs. I'd been using 3.01 for a while, seeing no point in upgrading any
  further as I am still waiting for the PS3 release in Europe, but this
  piqued my interest. Not wanting to miss out, I quickly downloaded all the necessary files and began the procedure.
  
  When I got half way through the procedure the nerves started to kick in, particularly when the PSP did nothing for 10 minutes while I waited for it to unpack the EBOOT files, but I was rewarded with dark_alex's 3.03 OE-C firmware on the system information screen! Panic now over, I'm experimenting with ISOs, homebrew and emulators. So far, the experience has been great!
  • Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:24 am PT
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• 17Jan 07

  PSP features Ideas #1 - PSP Notes

  This is the first of many ideas I, like many of the PSP community, have had regarding possible new features for the console.
  
   As firmware 3.0 came and went, many PSP users expected some crucial feature that would make owning Sony’s handheld truly worthwhile. Unfortunately, they were mostly disappointed, particularly those based in Europe without access to a PS3 for game downloads. Dark_alex certainly helped out those with older firmwares, but people with PSPs that can’t be downgraded are stuck waiting for Sony branded features, which look extremely far off as of now. As one of the core target audiences for Sony’s PSP system, teenagers and males aged 18-30, I can’t help but notice that there are several critical applications that Sony has yet to integrate into its handheld’s firmware.
  
  
  Having made it through my first term of University, the sheer amount of notation and comprehension involved make a word processor invaluable to most students. The main solution to this is a laptop, with the majority of people owning light machines that will last for several hours before needing a recharge. If someone owns a PSP, it is likely they are interested in games of some kind which, in my case, led to my purchasing a gaming laptop to take with me to university, rather than bring a desktop and all the extra trouble that transporting electrical equipment contains. When my laptop is plugged in, it’s a dream, carrying out everyday tasks, but capable of playing oblivion on the highest settings when I’ve finished all my assignments. Of course, there are downsides to such a powerful machine. While the graphics chips can be set to power saving modes, the 17” screen drains battery constantly, meaning I can’t be too far away from a wall socket if I want to take the machine with me on the move. Carrying a gaming laptop to university is neither practical nor safe, and the additional power brick adds greatly to the total weight.
  
  
  A simple solution to this problem lies in the PSP system. Bedroom coders have already come up with simple word processing applications for the system, although they rely on manually entering each key through an onscreen keyboard. Third party manufacturers have announced keyboard peripherals, but Sony has no plans to make one. Clearly, they are missing a trick. A fold-away keyboard, with a stand for the PSP to rest in, would fit onto a desk far easier than a laptop, and more importantly would fit into a standard rucksack, not requiring a separate bag as most large laptops do. With connectivity to a PC and the ability to output stored text files in .txt or even word and appleWorks formats would create a tool of use to not only students, but professionals as well, who also like to play while on the move.
  
  
  A Sony branded keyboard, with the right software integrated into the PSP firmware, could make it an invaluable tool to the modern student.
  • Posted Jan 17, 2007 12:41 pm PT
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