So there's only one game out this week for all three major regions. That's just sad. Just plain sad. It's difficult not to vilipend the PSP sometimes, but what can you do when the only game for the week is some Cabela shovelware?

NA Games:

• Cabela's Legendary Adventure

EU Games:

• No new releases

Asian Games:

• No new releases

Even Asia is feeling the pinch this week. At least their lack of games is actually tolerable since they're still getting a steady flow of titles most of the time.

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]

It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."


Q. I work for a well-known store and everybody wants to know, what is the new PSP like? Does it play the same games? Does it have it's own memory card or a built-in one?
A. The PSP Brite (PSP-3000) will be very similar in physical appearance and size, with some notable differences including a brighter, glare-resistant LCD screen, and a built-in microphone. It will still play your UMD games, and depending on the pack you purchase, may come with a 1GB or 4GB memory stick.

Q. Will the PSP-3000 have support for Dualshock 3 controllers?
A. Sony has not released any information regarding Dualshock compatibility with the PSP-3000, however we did discover this patent a while back, so it's certainly a [future] possibility.

Q. Hey, I have a PSP-2000 and I don't have a HDTV. I was wondering if I could buy a Component AV cable and have it work for a normal TV until I get an HD one? I know it can't show games but does it still have the right plug-ins for a normal TV?
A. As long as your TV supports the proper inputs (in this case, component), you shouldn't have trouble with video output. Chances are, if you don't have a HDTV, you don't have component inputs.

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.

Download to PSP

Wanna know more about Prinny: Is It Okay If I Am The Main Character? The new Disgaea series spin-off will be a side-scrolling action title featuring the exploding penguins, and here's the story: Etna had her favorite candies stolen; you are the poor Prinny assigned to look for them, or deal with a fate worse than death. Other highlights include an extreme difficulty level, "200% better pixel graphics," gameplay data exchange and a promise of new maps and bosses in the form DLC in the future.

The official site has also been updated, with information on the controls of the game, the release date, as well as a date for the demo -- the full game will arrive on November 20th for 5,229 yen (including tax) while the demo will arrive on the Japanese PS Store on 9/29. We got the trailer above and some screenshots in the gallery below, so check them out!

[Via PSPHyper]

Valhalla Knights 2 finally has a solid North American release date now that the game has gone gold. October 1 is the day to mark on your calendar for this Norse-flavored RPG from XSEED. The game features six-member party battles as well as ad hoc co-op and versus battles. With a story "penned by the scenario writer of Final Fantasy XII" and a $30 price tag, we'd say there seems to be a whole lot of value in the second Valhalla Knights title.

Wallpapers! You like them? Good, because that's all your getting in your PC Store update today. Not just one, not just two, not just (ok, that's enough - Ed). Nine entire wallpapers are now available, for your downloading pleasure. That's nine whole images, that Sony has uploaded to the store. How's that for a quality update?

• Valhalla Knights 2 wallpaper (x4)
• Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 wallpaper (x2)
• PSP Wallpapers Series #2 (x3)

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]

Don't get too excited. There's nothing of any real interest in today's PC Store update. That is, unless you're into managing your PSP's content via a handy PC application. The Media Manager (version 2.5, no less) is now available for free on the European PC Store and lets you drag and drop content from your PC to your PSP, previewing as you go. Oh, there's also the next episode of Movement. Here's the info in handy list form:

• Media Manager 2.5 (free)
• Movement episode 5, part 2 -- "London" (free, includes 8 videos)

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]

Download to PSP

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.

The previously announced European PSP-3000 bundles might not see their way across the English channel. According to GamesIndustry.biz, The bundles for the silver PSP-Brite with Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters and the black PSP-Brite with a 4GB Memory Stick remain a continental affair that might not be seen in the UK at all. That leaves Britons with future packs for Go! communication, FIFA, Harry Potter, and Buzz! Master Quiz.

In addition to this, Sony corrected previously known information regarding British prices and dates, saying that the £149.99 price tag and October 17 date are set for a bundle yet to be revealed. A stand-alone system will be released in the UK sometime after the launch of the new bundles.

As for the rest of Europe, you should not worry. You're still getting all eight promised bundles with the R&C pack hitting the market first on October 15 for €199.99 as previously announced. The 4GB Memory pack will release across the European continent in "early November."

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.