I don’t quite get it. I love my psps, I rocked my hacked psps for years, the but the pocket sized Linux handhelds have gotten so good and cheap. Way smaller, more powerful, and a better screen can be had for like $150.
Oh absolutely. This was exactly me for the longest time. I review retro handhelds, so I’ve had everything from the entry-level to the high power ones (like the Odin 3 Max). I thought you couldn’t get better than upscaled graphics and save states, but when I got a re-obsession semi-recently with the PSP:
https://gardinerbryant.com/tag/psp/
…I’ve realized that native hardware just has magic to it. The handheld is slim, the design is retro futuristic in the best way (in my eyes), the jailbreak and add-ons are invaluable and the experience is just fun. I’ve just reviewed the Retroid Pocket Nova, am reviewing the Anbernic RG SP, and have a couple more on the way, but that isn’t stopping me absolutely loving WipEout on my PSPs :)
You’re so right about the “magic.” The way you jailbroke the PSP was just the coolest. You hacked the battery! I remember doing that for the first time and I felt like a hacker—my friends looked at me like I was one too—even though I was just following simple instructions.
20 ish years later, I wanna get my hands on some more consoles but wanna try hardware modding to learn how to solder too.
I did it on mine and it was awesome. I told my brother I could do it for him, sliced the foil and started a lithium fire in the house. Threw the battery on a plate and carried it into the front yard while burning out.
Some people prefer retro gaming on the original hardware.
But half of the appeal of the hacked psps is that it is an emulation machine. These folks aren’t so stoked on just psp games.
I should really dig my PSP out and see if it holds a charge still
If it doesn’t, I highly recommend the OSTENT 1,400 mAh batteries. Higher capacity than the original and they work perfectly. 100% the one to choose!
I actually dug out my psp a couple years ago but couldn’t find the battery. I did have the wire to plug it at least but I haven’t managed to use it only with that. Is it known if the battery needs to be inside to get it to start? Should it work without the battery but plugged in? Before I buy a replacement I want to know if it is actually dead.
