Did you know that you can download new games directly on your PSP? Yep! The PlayStation Store is available on your system. From there, you'll be able to download original PSN exclusives to archived UMD games. What are the top 10 PSP downloads in February?

1. Beats
2. Super Stardust Portable
3. WTF: Work Time Fun
4. Guilty Gear Judgment
5. flOw
6. Syphon Filter: Combat Opos
7. Brain Challenge PSP
8. Ultimate Ghosts 'N Golbins
9. The Con
10. SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo

Overall, it looks like PSP owners have some great taste. London Studio's original PSP game Beats transforms your PSP music collection into a game and is a must-own for PSP fans. The only real stinker on this list? The Con. Do yourself a favor and avoid that one.

Despite a higher percentage of broadband penetration in Europe, and the introduction of a PC-based PlayStation Store for the PS3-less, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has still opted to wrangle up the bits of some of the PSP's download-only titles for UMD distribution in themed "packs".

The first two packs (there are "more Collection Packs to be released throughout 2009") are the Puzzle Pack – cramming the mischievous Lemmings with the excitable Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle – and the Power Pack – an odd grouping of Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, the more contemplative stylings of flOw, and the rhythm-happy Beats. The Puzzle Pack is slated for a European debut in "mid" October while the Power Pack will come along right behind it, in "late" October. We've asked the fine folks at SCEA to comment on a North American release so, until then, let's just assume this is Europe-only.

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]

Hey, did you know? Those new blue slims are now out in the wild. We had previously said we were going to pick one up and that's exactly what we did. In fact, we've already opened up the box, scoped out all the goodies, and started playing with our new toy. Want to see what's inside the box with us? Then check out our unboxing gallery by clicking on the link below.

Click here to head over to our unboxing gallery!

Wait, you still didn't buy Beats yet? Maybe you need some gameplay footage? Well, fine! We made a video late last night just for you, using the PLAYSTATION Eye. While you watch, you can also read some impressions of the game we received from PSP Fanboy readers through the evening:

"Wow! This game is gorgeous! It's much more deep than I expected from a 5 dollar game. The gameplay is simple and effective. I really enjoy the visual customizations (I picked Rock as my background) and being able to play the game with any song that you want? Priceless." - Barndo111

"i am very, very happy about this game, downloaded it, and its going to be my new crack when I'm on the go! love it! anyone that has a PSP right now should download this immediately!!" - lenny0487

"The game is awesome ... who would've thought that this will be such a great game ? :D" - Alien

Keep the comments coming in, folks. We love to see what you all think of it!

Okay, so maybe you don't have a Windows PC that is capable of running the PlayStation Network downloader. That's okay. You may have a Mac, or you might be running Linux -- or you're just too darn afraid to install a new program on your computer. Whatever the reason, there is an alternative ... provided you have a PS3.

1. Visit the PLAYSTATION Store on any computer. Complete purchase of Beats, but do not download it.
2. Log in to your PS3 using the same PSN account as the one used to purchase Beats.
3. Go to PLAYSTATION Network on the XMB. Click on Account Management.
4. Click on Transaction History.
5. Then, click on Download List. You will see Beats on this list.
6. Download to your PS3. Connect your PSP via USB and install your new favorite PSP game.

Hope this helps the few of you that simply cannot access the Store on your computer. If you're without a PS3 and a Windows PC, you're in tough luck for now. Why not just buy the game at a friend's house?

We'd write a much more thorough review right now. But there's a problem -- Beats has taken control, and we find it difficult to stop playing it. Before you read any further, make sure you load the PLAYSTATION Store, get your credit card ready, and download Beats. It's only $5 -- you won't even notice the cost. What can you do in Beats? A lot.

• Import your music -- and play it! Yes, Beats will detect every song on your Memory Stick and turn them into playable levels. There are multiple difficulties, and they very accurately correspond to the music. The advanced stages will also detect some of the finer nuances of each song. The amount of playability you have from this mode corresponds to how much music you want to put on your PSP. It can be limitless. And what does it play like? A lot like Gitaroo-Man (that's a very good thing). You'll hit buttons according to the beat, but they'll fly in from all sides of the screen, and you'll have to hit the corresponding D-Pad direction in tandem with the buttons on screen. Don't worry, in-game tutorials will teach you everything you need to know.
• Create your own music! Seriously. You'll get access to some rudimentary loops and samples, but you'll get everything you need to create your own tunes. Then, you'll be able to save your music to your Memory Stick.
• Play online via Infrastructure mode! Yes, you can go against other players online and compete in Beats challenges.
• Share your music online! You can also upload your musical creations and download other user generated content.
• Oh, and it's beautiful! Tons of animated skins bring the screen to life. This game is gorgeous.

We have nothing but praise for such an incredible game. It deserves more attention, and we implore you to buy this game. You really have no excuse. Stay tuned for updated impressions.

Wow! This is our first PSN Thursday update on PSP Fanboy! Following the tradition set by PS3 Fanboy, we'll provide you an overview of all the new content that's available on the PSP Store. As expected, beats headlines this week's updates -- but that's not all!

Original Games:

• Beats ($4.99)

PS1 Classics:

• Wild Arms ($5.99)

PlayStation Store's PC portal will be updated today with an original PSP game, Beats. The $4.99 download serves as a rhythm playground for any tunes you've got stored on the Memory Stick, not unlike Harmonix's Phase for iPod.

Developed by SCEE's London Studio, Beats began as a UMD project to be loaded with licensed music and videos by British pop band Sugababes. Thankfully, the London team got the memo in time. As soon as the developers learned that the PSP Store (albeit a PC-to-PSP store) was finally transitioning from dream to reality, they dropped the Sugababes, rear-loading disc and bloated price tag, and opted for an inexpensive, downloadable game powered by its users. Imagine that, Sony did something right.

(Note: Beats is not currently available through PS3's PS Store.)

[Via PSP Fanboy]

The PSP Store will be updated tomorrow with a brand new game: Beats will be available for only $4.99, making it the second original game available on the Store since it launched. As fans of the music game genre, we're excited for Beats. Just like every other music game, players will tap buttons and move the PSP's analog stick in sync with icons that appear on screen. However, the game's biggest appeal is the ability to import your own MP3s and let the PSP generate playable levels based on them.

Originally developed by SCEE's London Studio, Beats was going to be quite different when it started as a UMD title. "Originally, we were going to have it as a UMD [PSP disc-based] title, but as plans for the PlayStation Store developed, we decided to change over and make it downloadable," Daimion Pinnock told MTV. It was going to include licensed music and videos from the British pop band Sugababes. Thankfully, Sony went for the more creative route instead -- opting to generate code that will allow players to play with their own music.

Expect a full review of Beats later this week.

A long time ago, we stumbled upon an ESRB rating for a then-unannounced PSP game, beats. It looked quite revolutionary, as it would allow you to play with and share music in new, innovative ways. It's available on the European PS Store, and we'll be checking it out soon. Until then, enjoy this new trailer of this exciting music game.

The PlayStation 3 no longer exclusively acts as the eerily quiet middleman for your purchases from Sony's PlayStation Store. The PC-based online store (store.playstation.com) has gone live for the US and is ready to absorb your munnies in exchange for PSP games, demos, themes and PlayStation 1 games. Everything you need to get started is right on the front page -- software for transferring the downloaded content from your PC to your PSP, and the ability to create a free PSN account (your PS3 login will work too). Be sure to check out PSP Fanboy's step-by-step guide if Flash-based interfaces flummox you.

The store currently boasts an exclusive PSP game, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, along with downloadable versions of some UMD-based games (we spy WipEout Pure), several familiar PlayStation 1 titles (also compatible with PS3) and some new themes, demos and trailers, all of which you'll find listed after the break. The amount of content doesn't yet prompt the use of words like "glut" and "avalanche", but it's a solid start. Let's hope Sony keeps the store updated and the content fresh in the coming months.

The ESRB has created a listing for a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe product called beats. for the PSP that, if one unconfirmed report holds true, could mean a quantum leap forward for the device's feature set.

Though the ratings board doesn't offer info other that the "E" rating of beats. one NeoGAF poster claimed over a month ago that he gathered details about the title with a little trademark investigation (the source of which is not revealed in the post). The feature set he turned up seems to be almost unfathomably ambitious, including "providing access to gaming, digital music and/or video web sites; providing wireless transmission of music, video and games, via the Internet and via communications networks; uploading and downloading of music, video and games, via the Internet."

It's difficult to cut through the jargon, but this sounds like it could be an extension of Game 3.0 to the PSP platform, allowing users to share different media or even games through the handheld. It could also be one of the company's efforts to help bring in the teen market. But with such a maddeningly vague description (and even less helpful title) this seems like more of a cause for speculation than celebration.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

One of our readers, Y.M., has unearthed an incredible discovery. The ESRB lists a mysterious new product for PSP, simply titled beats. According to our reader, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe trademarked the title back in January, with a truly ambitious description. We're still looking for the original source, but we've seen this description on NeoGAF as well:

"Providing access to gaming, digital music and/or video web sites; providing wireless transmission of music, video and games, via the Internet and via communications networks; uploading and downloading of music, video and games, via the Internet and via communications networks; providing on-line bulletin boards for the transmission of messages among computer users concerning games, music and videos; distribution of computer software relating to music, video and games over local or global communications networks; communication services in the form of matching users for the transfer of music and video recordings via communication networks; information, advisory and consultancy services relating to all the aforesaid."

Y.M. has intelligently put two and two together: Sony said they were looking into expanding the capabilties of PSP to target the teen market. Certainly, a wireless music and video sharing service would out-do everything Zune tried to. The evidence is pointing to a truly revolutionary service for PSP--beats can become the PSP equivalent of PS3's Home.