Have you ever wondered what the biggest plane in the world to take flight more than once is? It is actually Russian Antonov-225, a strategic airlift transport aircraft made to carry the Buran orbiter, the only fully completed and operational space shuttle from Soviet Union's Buran Program.

Antonov 225 has a wingspan of 290 ft., a height of 89.4 ft., and a length of 276 ft. Another plane has a larger wingspan, the Hughes H-4 Hercules known as "Spruce Goose". But Spruce Goose flew only once, and the Antonov 225 beats it in all other aspects. Antonov 225 has a maximum gross weight of 640 tons, making it the heaviest plane in the world. In 2004, the Guiness Book of Records acknowledged this plane for all its unique attributes.

The aircraft can carry over 275 tons of load. This is what it's made for: carrying load, specifically the Buran orbiter. After being produced in 1988 the Antonov 225 has been used to transport cargo. The US has been using the Antonov 225 quite a lot mainly for transporting military supplies to the Middle East. This is a testament to the quality of the aircraft, no other American-made aircraft compares to it.

Only one aircraft of this model is currently working while another one is still in the making. The US made a long-term contract with the makers of Antonov-225 to make more of these sorts of planes. They are to be used to carry more load for the US military. Here are some pictures of An-225 to admire.

- Source: [Gadgets]

Black Rhizura Icon set by innercy





- Source: [QJ]

OK ma first tut Ill try ma best to make it clear as possible and if not and u have suggestions just tell me and ill make the changes.

If ur too foolish to follow instruction and brick or do anything and brick ur psp, Me or Psp-Hacks or no-one else is responsible.

This tut is for 3.03OE to 3.10OE and basically makes u customize ur boot text example:



or your boot sound or both example (thanks to undertaxxx from maxconsole):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05kg-aRjnGQ (vid has been removed) :(

And the good thing ur PSX will load perfectly

Here wee go.

Stuff u need :)

1st. A 2.50 decrypted opening_plugin.rco files

2nd. A game_plugin.prx also decrypted (make sure its one for ur current fw eg. Ur 3.xx OE need a 3.xx decrypted game_plugin.prx)

3rd. A Hex editor (here is the one i use its free http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/fr.../xvi32.htm)

4th. RCO Icon Editor v1.0.5 By ZiNgA BuRgA  here: http://endlessparadigm.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=167

5th. Photoshop Trial/Demo http://www.adobe.com/downloads/ (i have the full version but i hear this wil do)

6th. A sound editor (any of ur choice most use Goldwave)

7th. MFAudio (to make ur boot sounds) http://www.sendspace.com/file/jm23iy

8th. Space. U may need space on your Flash0. I used Free Spacer v2 beta. http://www.sendspace.com/file/lh9w44

9th. A good brain. (always back up any file u are replacing on ur flash0)

Now lets start shall wee


Use the Free Spacer v2 beta to make some space, i just rid of the camera and the network update (select the option Disablen on them).

Open ur decrypted game_plugin.prx in ur hex editor an look fo the line flash0:/vsh/resource/opening_plugin.rco as shown below:



in that line change opening_plugin.rco to 0pening_plugin.rco (That's o to 0=ZERO)
then save it.

Now lets deal with the boot sound, u need to have up sound in .wav format with just up to 3sec of play time with a Frecuency of 44100Hz and Sample Rate of 16bits and the Channel 2 (which is stereo or 1 for mono) then open it in MFAudio as shown below:



Next click the Save As button and give it a name it doent matter but make sure to have ur Save as type as VAG , then click save and then put ur file format on VAG too, then click Process! button. You should get a prompt saying complete.

Please remember where u save all these files, u goin to need them all later


Ok now for your boot text.

Open ur opening_plugin.rco in RCO Icon Editor v1.0.5 and highlight [MIG] tex_logo and the pic or the text should show in the box on ur lower right and click extract.
Extract it as a Bitmap (32bit) image and open that pic u just extracted in photoshop it should look like this:



don't worry it should look that way.

Next select the channel tab founded down ur lower right:



Next select alpha and the text should be visable now instead of the white thingy:



Ok almost there. Use the paint brush make sure it has the colour BLACK and wipe out the previous text:



Now write over with white text then save, Note if the text goes too close to the right hand border it may cut off the word there. When writing it will look like the pic below:



Don't mind the red background and black text, as long as u chose white then ur all good, now save ur text as .bmp files and a prompt will come it after u click save.



When the prompt come like above choose 32 bit and click ok.

Now u done making your boot sound and boot text. Now to put them togeter an make them work on the psp


Open back RCO Icon Editor v1.0.5 and open back the 2.50 decrypted opening_plugin.rco file.

Now on your left select [MIG] tex_logo and click the replace button and select ur bmp that u made in photoshop and saved.

Next select on ur left again [VAG] snd_opening and click replace and select the vag file u create and saved earlier then close RCO Icon Editor v1.0.5. (This may be a little different with newer version of RCO Icon Editor)

Now on to flashing.

Turn off ur psp and turn on holding r button and go into Recovery Mode, next go to Advanced, then click on Toggle USB (flash0), make sure ur psp is connect to ur pc via usb.

Now go to ur vsh folder then your nodule folder and copy over the decrypted game_plugin.prx that u hexed earlier, overwrite the current one there.

Next go back one folder that would be your vsh folder and then go to ur resource folder.

Look for ur opening_plugin.rco and name it 0pening_plugin.rco with the Zero.

Then copy the 2.50 decrypted opening_plugin.rco file that u edited in the same resource folder.

So u should have a opening_plugin.rco (the edited one) and 0pening_plugin.rco (the original one).

With this done exit recovery mode and ur boot up should now be changed, Enjoy.

I hope this tut helped u out and wasn't waste of my time, some comments would be nice and if u don't get somethin jus ask, if i missed out anythin or was incorrect anywhere please do inform me and ill correct it.

Thanks goes to bstronga, carboycam and undertaxxx over at maxconsole for the info to help mi do this.
Also i want to thank ZiNgA BuRgA for his software
And anyone else i left out thank you all so much, now im tired and need some sleep.

Just Post And tell me what u think THANKS   :D

Also Thanks to ZiNgA BuRgA for the update and tell to post this tut here

This:

turned into reality:

Source: YouTube


:gasp:

UPDATE:  I have added all the gameboots to one pack, and added them as a direct attachment here at EP since most of the external links died.  I had actually forgot all about this thread, but if people are interested, I will post more in the future.

Also: I made all these gameboots a long time ago, so I do apologies for any lack of quality.

** All gameboots are of standard length, and therefore compatible with all firmwares

*********************************************************************************************
Title: shizzy's Custom Gameboot Pack #1
Origin:  Contains over 41 various gameboots
Description:  Source: YouTube



UPDATE:  Here is a shorter preview of pack #1.  It has sound,  but it was recorded with the NYCO PSP-To-TV adaptor, so the quality of the preview still isn't perfect, but at least you can hear the sound on them now.  
Much thanks to JoostyJuice for creating the awesome Zelda PSP bootsound used in the Zelda gameboot. :D

Source: YouTube



MEGAUPLOAD:
Link:

*********************************************************************************************


Title: Custom Firmware by: Dark_Alex
Origin:  My tribute to Dark_Alex  :)
Description:  Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************


The Preview Gets Cut Off At The End,  But The Gameboot Plays All The Way Through

Title: Bypassing $ONY Firmware Protection
Origin: Video .cgi from Google, Audio by me
Description: Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************

Title: Playstation 3 Gameboot
Origin: My PS3 :P
Description:  Source: YouTube


Link:

*********************************************************************************************

Title:  PS3 Gameboot Version 2
Origin: Version2.  This one has no SONY branding @ the beggining
Description:  Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************
Title:  Mario Spank
Origin:  I originally saw this as someone's avatar.  I've wanted to make it into a gameboot ever since...
Description:  Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************

Title:  Mario 64
Origin:  I found the best quality Mario 64 intro on the net that I could.  So the video quality is so-so.
Description: Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************

Title: Gears of War v2
Origin:  Gears of war Trailer
Description:  Source: YouTube


*********************************************************************************************

Title: Playstation 3 Waves
Origin:  I got a request for a gameboot with the PS3 waves, that displays NO SONY Text.  Here it is...
Description:  Source: YouTube


THIS GAMEBOOT DOES COMPLETLEY FADE TO BLACK, IT"S JUST THAT YOUTUBE TENDS TO MESS UP THE END OF PREVIEWS SOMETIMES

*********************************************************************************************

Okay, decided to write this tutorial cause it's easy to do :P
Well... not exactly...

The advantages of this method over others:

• You can use stereo sounds (even stereo click sounds :P)
  
• Use longer/shorter sounds than before
  
• No hexing required

Okay then:
Contents

1. Creating your sound
   
2. Converting to VAG
   
3. Replacing in the RCO
   
4. Installing

Tools required

• A sound editor such as Audacity, Goldwave or SoundForge
  
• MFAudio converter (52.9KB)
  
• RCO Editor v1.11 or higher
  
• FW 2.50 RCOs or FW 2.60 RCOs (using opening_plugin.rco and system_plugin.rco; note, in the package supplied, a file 0pening_plugin.rco is given, this is the 3.xx opening_plugin.rco)

1. Creating your sound
You'll need an audio source of some kind.  Let's say wee're making a custom coldboot sound and wee're using the first few seconds of the song as our bootsound.  Open your song in your audio editor and delete everything that you don't need.  Now save this part as a 16bit 44,100Hz WAV (PCM) file.
If you want stereo sound, save each channel as a 16bit 44,100Hz WAV (PCM) file.  To do this, in SoundForge (for other programs, you'll have to figure it out yourself) click your mouse in the top channel so that the cursor is only in the top half, then select all of it.  It should look something like this:

Now press Ctrl+A then Ctrl+E - you'll have a new file opened with just one channel - just save this as a WAV, then repeat with the other channel.

Note: for custom bootsounds, although you can use really long sounds, it's recommended to keep it down to about 4 seconds.  The PSP cuts off the sound after loading a certain part.  So if your PSP takes ages to load up, I guess you could use a longer sound, but just keep in mind that long sounds take up a lot of flash0 space...


2. Converting to VAG
Now that you have your WAV file(s):

1. Open up MFAudio.exe
   
2. Click Open and select your WAV file
   
3. In the Output audio file » File Format listbox, select VAG - Sony PSX Sound - Compressed ADPCM
   
4. Click the Save As button and select where to save the file
   
5. Finally click Process
   
6. If you're making a stereo bootsound/click sound repeat the above with your 2nd WAV file

3. Replacing in the RCO

1. Open up RCOEdit.exe
   
2. Open opening_plugin.rco or system_plugin_fg.rco (the former is for bootsounds, the latter is for XMB click sounds).  Note, you must use a FW2.50 or FW2.60 RCO
   
3. In the list, scroll down till you see some [VAG] entries
   
4. Select the file you wish to replace, then click Replace
   
5. A dialog will pop up - select whether you want to make a stereo sound or not
   
6. Now just add your VAG(s)
   
7. Click OK

4. Installing
WARNING: this step involves flashing - do not attempt this if you don't know how to recover and know what you're doing etc etc.  I am not responsible if you somehow manage to brick

NOTE: I strongly recommend you having custom firmware - it's possible to semi-brick by flashing RCOs.

Now, this procedure depends slightly on your version number:

For 3.03 OE-C or later users

1. Enter recovery menu - if you don't even know how to do that, shoot yourself
   
2. Go to Advanced » Enable flash0 USB (or whatever it's called)
   
3. Connect your USB cable to the PC if not done so already
   
4. Go into flash0:/vsh/resource and copy opening_plugin.rco and system_plugin.rco to somewhere on your HDD - this is your backup copy - don't loose them!
   
5. Copy your modified RCOs into flash0:/vsh/resource overwriting the previous ones
   
6. Exit recovery mode and enjoy

For 3.03 OE-B or older users

I suggest upgrading to 3.03 OE-C or later - this makes things easier, but if you insist on staying at the lower firmware, figure out how to use PSP Filer...

Note: using a FW2.50 or FW2.60 opening_plugin.rco (custom bootsound) will cause PSX not to work, however there is a work around.  More info can be found in Ruttus' guide: http://www.psp-hacks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=74269

Set
Customize
Extend
Protect

This is a very neat PRX with alot of features that have been missing for quite sometime since the 1.50 firmware.

Features:

1. Access Recovery Mode Settings
   
2. Change CPU speed
   
3. Shutdown/Restart your PSP
   
4. Password option (There is a flash0 version for added security)
   
5. Screenshot option with customized capture area
   
6. System Info
   
7. Enable Analog navigation in the XMB
   
8. Mount USB host to stream games from your computer
   

Please visit the official website for the download links.
Official SCEP Homepage [English]

Sony "memsticks" get a whole new upgrade as they double the (old?) 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo to a whopping 8GB of memory. For a piece of silicon that small, to say it was packin' a lot would nominate you for the Understatement of the Year award. Sony Japan dubs this as the "MSX-M8GS," and it's only available to modern Sony products.

What about PSP users? Well, as long as you've got firmware version 2.81 (and above) up and running, you will be able to enjoy 8GB of freedom. Well, actually you get 7.35GB of freedom, after some file allocation and formatting.

Expect the access performance to hit a minimum low of 15MBps. Sony says that Cybershot digital cameras and Vaio laptops won't be able to handle this puppy unless they were released in 2007.

New launches reports that the 8GB package will be sold in Japan starting March 9, 2007 for ¥ 38,000 or (get ready for it) US$ 325.63. 326 smackeroos! Hells bells!

- Source: [QJ]

Now let's wait for prices to come down...