Do you want an alternative to PSP's current keyboard? Perhaps you'd like to rip open an Xbox 360 chatpad and use it to connect it to a PSP? That's exactly what the clever folks at Acidmods did. A remarkable feat of engineering, indeed -- but we'll patiently wait for the official keyboard peripheral, due next year.

Video is embedded after the break. (Warning: video features music which may or may not be incredibly annoying.)

[Via Engadget]

Download to PSP

You know, we just don't have enough strategy RPGs on the PSP. With the exception of Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics, Wild Arms, R-Type Command, and Yggdra Union, there's certainly a dearth of games to choose from. Thankfully, Neverland Card Battles will fill in this sorely under-represented genre on PSP. Coming this fall, this very anime SRPG combines: cards AND strategy (shock!). Certainly, PSP owners will be totally unfamiliar with this innovative genre of gameplay.

Why can't robots get along? The various pilots of the dozens of Gundam series seem to be enraged -- they're all fighting each other! We have to join together and tell Namco Bandai that we won't stand up for this. This robot-on-robot bloodshed needs to stop! Wait, Gundam 00 is also in this collection? Where do we sign up?

[Via PSPHyper]

Many hardcore PSP fans love being able to launch games off the Memory Stick, instead of UMD. Not only does it mean we can carry multiple games on our system, without having to carry around an extra pouch for games, but games stored on Memory Stick typically load faster as well. In spite of that, many casual users of PSP may not know about the PLAYSTATION Store. Sony Europe's solution? To bring downloadable games out on UMD.

The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Power pack will arrive in Europe next month, and it will house three very different downloadable games: beats, a music game which lets you use your own MP3 collection, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, a third-person multiplayer shooter based on the Syphon Filter universe, and flOw, a relaxing adventure where players grow and evolve creatures.

The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Puzzle pack will feature three other download games: Lemmings, Go! Sudoku! and Go! Puzzle. This collection will also be available next month.

[Via Siliconera]

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With Dissidia, Square Enix's upcoming PSP-exclusive brawler, coming by year's end in Japan, the company has been quick to release tons of new videos for Final Fantasy fans everywhere. This new trailer shows a lot more CG, a lot more action, and even highlights Final Fantasy VI's Kefka -- a favorite character for many fans of the franchise.

[Thanks, Morty!]

Download to PSP

Here's another game for Japan which has the inklings of becoming an import hit. Project Diva has you starring as an adorable big-eyed anime girl wooing her way to stardom. Sing well and you'll find your room growing with tons of decorative items.

It seems like Sony crammed a bit more magic juice into the upcoming PSP Brite (PSP-3000). Before, they claimed that the upcoming hardware revision would have a slightly shortened battery life. However, a new post on the PlayStation.blog says otherwise. John Koller admits that the "screen of the new PSP draws a little more power" but he claims that "our engineers in Japan worked to reduce the power consumption of the overall system including its components." As such, final battery life on the Brite series will be nearly identical to that of the previous model: "about 4 to 6 hours for games and about 4 to 5 hours for UMD videos," says the post.

While we're glad to see Final Fantasy Agito XIII head to PSP, we're saddened to hear that this online-enabled RPG may only arrive in the distant future. According to an interview with Tetsuya Nomura (translated by FinalFantasyXIII.net), the PSP addition to the Final Fantasy XIII universe will arrive after the two other PS3 games: Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. The reason for this? According to Nomura, there's simply too much content in the game. The "lengthy story" and "large amount of characters" makes it one of PSP's most ambitious titles yet.

Final Fantasy XIII will not debut until 2009 -- and who knows when Versus XIII will release? It looks like for the time being, Agito won't be on our radar until well beyond 2009, into at least 2010. Ouch.

Wondering what's taking Monster Hunter so long to make its way from Japan to other countries? The multi-million selling Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G perhaps won't sell as many copies elsewhere, but it'd be easy money for Capcom to take advantage of. Well, the announcement of a new Infrastructure mode for the game (enabled via PS3) has us thinking the game is finally getting prepared for a wide release around the world.

A survey was released on the Capcom-Unity site, one which specifically mentions the Link functionality. Link would allow players "to play with other players across the world via a PS3 connected to the internet." Sounds just like the newly announced feature, no?

And the title of the game featured in the survey? Monster Hunter Unite. While Capcom reps refuse to comment on Monster Hunter Unite at the time, we think our guess that it's a localized version of 2G is a solid one -- guess we'll have to wait to find out more.

[Thanks, Yuri!]

Download to PSP

LucasArts has always been a strong supporter of the PSP, and the effort they're placing into the upcoming PSP version really shows. Anyone who's played the PS3 demo will find this level awfully familiar: it looks like the PSP version makes no significant sacrifices. Physics, destructible environments, and large hordes of enemies are all present in the PSP version. In fact, there's exclusive content on the PSP version you won't even find on the consoles. How's that for love?

Finally! Sony has announced that the long-awaited PSP Wi-Fi Store, which allows players to purchase and download content directly on the PSP (without the need for a PC or PS3), will be available this Fall in Japan. Most likely, this will be global simultaneous launch. To commemorate the opening of the new Store, a free downloadable game, Mainichi Issyo Portable, will be available to all.

In addition, Sony has announced that a new feature will allow players to connect their PSP to their PS3 systems and enable a new Infrastructure mode for certain games. For example, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G will be online-enabled through the PS3. In addition, players will be able to add text and voice chatting capabilities through this service. Additional details will be revealed at a later date.

It looks like Sony isn't falling asleep with the PSP. Let's hope concrete release dates for these services will be available soon.

Download to PSP

Ikki Tousen: Eloquent Fist truly is a bizarre game. It's hard to make commentary on a game that's known for its emphasis on well-endowed school girls whose clothes seemingly explode at random. The truly strange fighting game has us asking all sorts of questions: why is she fighting random teenagers? Why are they so angry at her? How is all of this happening? Why are her clothes exploding? We're sure for the Japanese audience (and importers) that get their hands on this, all answers will be revealed.

[Via PSPHyper]

Sorry we're a bit late on this one. We've been hosting it for a while, but only now did we have a chance to put it on the front page. Hopefully, we got this Japanese demo of the Reborn! game just in time for the Labor Day weekend. Enjoy!

1. Download the demo zip file.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy NPJH90007 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

[Image Source]

A new 2D platformer starring everyone's favorite penguin pals from Disgaea has just been revealed. Very little is known about the game, but the initial screenshots look quite promising; look at the quality of these sprites! More info about Prinny: Is it Okay if I'm the Main Character? will undoubtedly come when its official website launches in September.

[Thanks, Zach M.!]

PSP main man John Koller went to Gamespot to talk about the upcoming PSP Brite, and revealed a few key facts. He admits the change is "minor," one in a continuing series of changes the PSP may see along its proposed life cycle. Most revealing of all is his comment about battery life: the brighter screen will draw more power, diminishing battery life by 20-30 minutes.

He does say that the now-discontinued extended life battery will make a return, possibly rebranded for use with the PSP-3000 series.