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     Victor Stillwater's Blog
In the Philippines: Custom Firmware is Serious Business
 by Victor Stillwater on 04.21.2008      10 comments






Some time ago, I made an entry about needing to write an article about custom firmware/homebrew, more specifically about enabling Custom Firmware on a PSP Slim using a Pandora Battery.

Now, I've managed to find a guide for doing it using the software method, but it seems that there's one problem in my country I can't beat: no one's selling the hardware needed.

Why is this? Well, there are two main reasons for why this is so. The first reason has to do with profits. The shops here sell Class A batteries which, according to the guides for making Pandora Batteries, won't do the trick. These Class A batteries are cheaper to buy from suppliers and can thus be sold for more profit. They also happen to do the trick when it comes to actually powering up a PSP, or so I'm told.

The second, and perhaps most important reason... is also related to profit. This time, from a conspiracy theory point of view. The conspiracy: to make people dependent on game stores for the unbricking and custom firmware installation services, which people pay extra for.

It seems farfetched, but there's a certain logic to it. By locking out the average homebrewer from making Pandora batteries, you force people to pay stores for the service and thus make more money from one consumer who comes in looking to buy a PSP.

When I went hunting for a specific battery earlier, few people would even talk about Pandora openly unless you happened to know it beforehand. Even then, they wouldn't be able to sell you a stock battery because the only Pandora-compatible batteries they have are the ones they use for their services.

Alas, it seems I'll have to find an old PSP and use that battery instead... if it's actually the proper battery needed. Heaven help me.

Attached photos:

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There are 10 comments about this post:
dephect's Destructoid Blog
Or... you could just buy one off of the internet.
Macca's Destructoid Blog
You could also use the battery you already have?
dephect's Destructoid Blog
@Macca
He needs a separate battery to do what he wants to do. He could "pandorize" his battery, but then he wouldn't be able to set it back to a retail battery.
linuxguy's Destructoid Blog
use the one you already have you can return it to its normal state afterward
Macca's Destructoid Blog
Yes, he could. It's possible to turn a pandora battery back into a stock battery. Unless he's doing the hardware mod to it. If it's via software, he could easily change it back after he's used it.
Victor Stillwater's Destructoid Blog
The guide mentioned using a PSP Fat battery though...
Redzie's Destructoid Blog
I remember getting into an argument with one of those technicians once when he was talking with a customer about needing another game to make his hacks work. He got angry at me for telling his customer that he doesnt need to buy anything anymore.
king3vbo's Destructoid Blog
Or internet.
jpitner's Destructoid Blog
Is there really that much hullaballoo about Pandora in the community? I know those that know of it and want it would know how to find it; and most likely wouldn't be randomly shopping in different stores... unless they just have "heard of the Pandora trick" and don't know how to do it?

Then again a store stocking things that allow people to play pirated games means that they would be losing future business in the guise of making a few bucks on batteries now..?
Victor Stillwater's Destructoid Blog
@jpitner

In the Philippines, PSP sellers make money by selling the units and the game loading service for those people who don't know about homebrew.

- P O S T    A    C O M M E N T -

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Victor
24, and turning 25 on May 23.
Gamer from the Philippines.

Uses a main journal on LiveJournaland posts here because Destructoid rocks...

Enjoys writing posts about different gaming related things, and enjoys comments from people who read his blog, good or bad (but preferably good).

Owns:
PS1
PS2
PSP
DS
Wii
mid-end Gaming PC.

Happens to have, but does not own:
A Nintendo 64 with one game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Would like to have:
a lot of RPGs on different consoles.
World peace.
An end to world hunger.
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