DivX for the PS3 and internet radio for the PSP weren't the only treats buried in this morning's latest Sony firmware updates. Nope, they've got a little something special for those of you rocking both of Sony's latest consoles: PS1 games are now playable via Remote Play. What does that mean to you, Joe Gamer? You can download PS1 games on your PS3 through the PSN Store but, instead of swapping games on and off your no doubt ballooning Memory Stick, you can stream them straight from the PS3. You can also leave your favorite PS1 game in the drive and Remote Play that, if digitally distributed media ain't your thing.

Coupled with the PS3's recently acquired Remote Start capability and the PSP's internet-enabled Remote Play functionality, you can tap into that library of PS1 games at home from anywhere in the world. That's a pretty exciting feature ... but, there is one shortcoming: when's that library of PS1 games coming?

[Via PS3F]

When the chips are down and creativity's glass feels half empty, we know we can always look to the mavericks at Atlus to come up with something just a hair shy of normal for an experience that is, if anything, unique. With surgery sim Trauma Center: New Blood's release sewn up and a pair of Japanese-style strategy RPGs for the Xbox 360 on the way, Atlus is one of the last remaining 'garage bands' of video game publishing.

Now the company has announced its next project, namely a dungeon crawl-style action RPG called Baroque, describing the game as "hardcore" and "a pure RPG experience" for both the mini-game addled Wii and aging PS2. With an art style that is all its own, Baroque is set for release on both consoles in February, and is a remake of Japanese dev Sting's Saturn/PlayStation original, no doubt throwing yet another log on the fire for those weary of the Wii's growing catalog of last-gen ports. For us, we're just more interested in finding out what a trek through a post-apocalyptic dungeon has to do with excessively intricate art. Color us intrigued.

Those dying to download Marl Oukoku no Ningyou Hime (and who isn't?) from the Japanese PlayStation Network will now find another payment option nestled in the aisles of the nearest convenience store. IGN reports that PlayStation Network Tickets will soon be procurable from convenience stores and post office ATMs across Japan, allowing those without a means of direct electronic payment to enjoy and more importantly, pay for the wares of the PS3's virtual marketplace.

The tickets will function in a similar fashion to Nintendo Wii Point cards and Xbox Live MS Point vouchers, with the exception that they'll be grouped in a non-bogus currency. Available in units of ¥1,000, ¥3,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000, the cards will contain a 12-digit code recognized by the PSN as a command to fill up your virtual wallet with the corresponding amount.

As for the possibility of PSN Tickets becoming available elsewhere, Sony offers, "We have no announcement regarding any changes to the electronic payment options on the PlayStation Store in North America at this time."

If you've been hankering to play those classic PSone games on something besides your PSP (or your, uh, PSone ...), then your reception of Sony's recent 1.7 PS3 firmware update was likely something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, news that the PSone emulation software was enabled, allowing you to play the games you've already been rocking on your handheld, was great; however, the revelation that the functionality would not work until May probably left you a little frustrated.

Well, it's May and Sony has announced that the PSone format software available from the PlayStation Store will now be operable on both the PS3 and PSP systems. If you've already purchased any titles, you'll be able to re-download them to your PS3 at no additional charge. We'll give our copy of Crash Bandicoot a spin on the PS3 later today and report back on how it goes. Now, if we could only skip the PS3 entirely and download straight to the PSP ...

You know how Nintendo's Virtual Console Monday has become like this totally reliable weekly retro-release date? Well, apparently Sony's keen on catching up. Tomorrow, the Japanese division will release a PS1 title for every week PlayStation 3's been on the market, and then some; 25 games in all. While the list is cluttered with oldies you've never heard of -- Marl Oukoku no Ningyou Hime, Yaku Tsu Noroi no Game, etc. -- the massive outpouring is perhaps a sign that Sony's ready to settle into an e-Distribution rhythm. (Hopefully one not marked by random bursts of content.)

It's possible that Sony sat on this stockpile in anticipation of PS3's firmware 1.7, which unlocks the system's "virtual console." But then, only 11 of the releases are actually compatible with PS3. Seemingly odd, until you consider that maybe Sony really has locked these downloads away for tomorrow's discharge; that is, perhaps the 14 games only playable on PSP are of the old, profoundly incompatible sort that will be straightened out by May. One thing's certain, working on PS3 or not, all 'Game Archive' titles are now subject to a new tax-inclusive price, bringing the cost per download up from ¥525 to ¥600 (about a 63-cent hike).

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Sony has confirmed with IGN what Joystiq and the Fanboy sites discovered last night: current downloaded PlayStation Classic titles do not work on the PS3, despite its firmware upgrade.

The problem is that two files -- the ROM and its certification key -- are needed for the PS One titles to work on the PSP, but that "such a system is not needed on the PlayStation 3," according to the article. We're not sure how this explains the console's inability to play the titles, but rest assured SCEA manager Al de Leon told IGN that, "we'll be replacing the older PS1 games with fixed versions sometime in May" and you will then be able to download the games directly to your hard drive.

Sony did not comment on whether or not previously-disabled multiplayer modes would be reinstated upon the May update.

When Sony sent word of "Car Combat Coming to the PlayStation Store" we assumed it was final confirmation that David Jaffe's Calling All Cars would arrive in February, as planned. Instead, we're today offered the PlayStation 3 Full Auto 2 demo and Destruction Derby, another yawn-inducing (we hear they're contagious) PS1 oldie for PSP. Look, we like the thematic mix, but this half-baked cake is missing the icing. Just a little more time in the oven and Sony could have delivered with PlayStation Store's first great triumph. Maybe next time.

Sony got around to releasing that Blast Factor multiplayer pack ($2.99) for PlayStation 3 today. The update adds support for 4 players (co-op and 'grudge' modes) and an option to increase the game's speed by 50%.

Jet Moto ($5.99) joins the Blast Factor add-on in PlayStation Store as a lonely lowly PS1-to-PSP offering. The PS3-required PSP service has sure gotten off to a slow start; and Jet Moto (pictured) is hardly reason to believe that release pace and quality will improve. Having watched hacker efforts surge ahead of Sony (a month ago!), using Sony's own emulation technology -- releasing Eboots of most pertinent PS1 games, while offering tools for PSP owners to create their own -- one has to wonder, really wonder, what is Sony's strategy? Jet Moto?

[Via Press Release]

An old skeleton from the PSP closet has come back to haunt Sony as their 2.81 lockdown has come to an end thanks to the ongoing efforts of the PSP homebrew community. Famed PSP hacker Fanjita has taught an old crack a new trick as the Grand Theft Auto saved game exploit has once again brought Sony's PSP security measures to its knees, enabling any and all firmware versions to run homebrew applications.

That's odd. We thought they squashed that bug a long time ago. According to Fanjita, Sony didn't quite bring their A-game when it came to stopping their unruly fan base.

It's not all sunshine and unicorns for those itching to tear apart the coding that holds their PSP together. The brave will need an original copy of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (later copies were updated to prevent this trick from resurfacing) and nerves of steel. An "easy mode" downgrader isn't available yet, but the wait should give you enough time to scrounge up a stack of PS One games to stick in there.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

While the complete change log of the latest PlayStation 3 update (v1.50) is still conspicuously absent from public eye, it's been widely reported that Sony has corrected the fugly resolution issues that plagued PS1 and PS2 titles (those not originally coded for 480p output) when played on the new rig. That's right, no more (unprecedented) artifacts and jaggies. Huzzah!

Note: the fix does not upscale the original resolutions of PS1 or PS2 games.

Update: PS3 Fanboy has posted a list of additional changes implemented by the update:

• A personal image/photo can now be used with a user ID
• Edy support added
  
• 'Operation Sound' added to sound settings
• 'Delete Backup Data' added to backup utilities
  
• WEP128, WPA-PSK (TKIP), WPA-PSK(AES) can now utilize AOSS
  
• Login password can be saved without setting the system to log in automatically
  
• Korean keyboard setting now available

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Dark_AleX has released another edition of his custom PSP firmware. Just as it appears '3.03 Open Edition Revision A' (OE-A) is essentially a modified version of Sony's official v3.03 fimware. 3.03OE-A also comes with a modified version of Sony's PS1 emulator, popstation; and with this latest custom firmware release, custom-made ISOs (game files) can now be compressed to conserve memory stick space.

Ethical concerns aside, it's amazing how the PSP homebrew scene has exploded ahead of Sony, unlocking the company's emulator for use with all PS1 titles. With just a few hours of research, a stack of old PlayStation games on hand, and perhaps a little trial and error, you now have the power to forge your own emulation experience -- imagine that. You don't even need a PlayStation 3.

Update: clarified that popstation is a modified version of Sony's PS1 emulator.

Tired of waiting for Sony to release your favorite classic PlayStation game for PlayStation Portable playback through the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Store?* Well, if you don't mind hacking your firmware and breaking what is no doubt a bevy of Sony end-user licensing agreements, you can now play a ripped copy of any PlayStation disc on the PSP.

PSP users that upgrade to the Dark Alex's Open Edition firmware 3.02-B can play ISOs ripped off of PlayStation discs right from a MemoryStick. Commenters report that the emulation runs at full speed with perfect sound, but PAL games seem to have some graphical glitches. Still, a nice Christmas gift for the hacking/piracy community.

* - We tried to squeeze the word PlayStation into that sentence one more time, but we just couldn't manage it.

[Update: fixed a typo in the first paragraph. Thanks commenters.]

[Via PSP News]

Sony has dropped nine more PSOne games into Japan's PlayStation Store. The process is still tedious, the files still only playable on PSP (and only downloadable with a PlayStation 3). A new PSP firmware update (v3.03) is required to play the newest oldies; and although the update is available for all to install, it's useless to those outside of Japan -- or those in Japan without access to PS3's PlayStation Network.

Here's a rundown of the PSOne games you won't be playing on your PSP today:

• Dino Crisis
• Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: L'Arc-en-Ciel vs Tomarunner
• Global Force: Shin Sentou Kokka
• Migi Hadari U-SA
• Migi Hadari USA
• Mr. Driller
• R-Type
• Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
• Taiyou no Shippo: Wild, Pure, Simple Life
• The Conveni: Anomachi o Dokusenseyo

Sure, a larger and cheaper selection of PSone titles hit Japanese PlayStation 3s a couple weeks ago but Sony has released the service stateside this week. The initial list includes Cool Boarders, Crash Bandicoot, Hot Shots Golf 2, Syphon Filter, and Tekken 2, all available for the exceptionally reasonable price of $5.99. Unfortunately, the list comes up notably short in the large jumping robotic rabbits category but, for now, we're just happy we're getting anything (see the full break down of Japanese versus American titles after the break). While the process of getting these PSone games from the ether and onto your handheld isn't quite as elegant as we'd like to see -- you need a difficult-to-find PlayStation 3 to download the games from the PlayStation Store and onto the PSP, even though you can't play those games on that PS3 -- the technology worked flawlessly and is an impressive display of the PSP's versatility and the potential interactivity between the handheld and its console big brother.

Enjoy our photo guide for getting PSone games onto your PSP using nothing only $5.99 in virtual cash, a USB cable, and some time (then some more time) ... oh yeah, and a PS3.

While the service launched in Japan today, and the PSP's firmware has been updated, we're still waiting for the nascent PSone download service to be available to Western gamers. Yeah, you'll need a PS3 to get those games to your PSP. Yeah, we know they're sort of hard to come by. But we're still bristling with anticipation! Sony isn't talking about release dates yet, but they are talking prices. Downloadable PSone games will be available for $5.99 to $10.99; a little bit more than Japan's $4.50, but an incredible value compared to some of Nintendo or Microsoft's digitally distributed offerings.

Before we get all upset about the bizarre PS3 interoperability -- the games need to be downloaded on the PS3 but aren't playable on it -- remember they're still working on making the games playable on the PS3. Whether or not we'll be able to download games directly onto our PSPs without the need of a PS3 (although we like the idea of using the home console as a storage point) remains to be seen. For now, we'll take whatever they've got ready!