PSP-Archive/ARK-4 r42068

Version 4.20.68 (ARK-X) Rev 14

on GitHub

Rev 14

• Fixed Simplified Chinese in VSH Menu (#329).
• Cleanup.

Rev 13

• Added MagicMemoryCreator (DC-ARK-Maker), you don't need another PSP to create a MMS for DC-ARK (works for 1K and 2K only still). Located in the PC folder of the ARK4.zip, (reuploaded rev fix) Also include uninstaller.

Rev 12

• Added Pops4Tool, a set of patches and files to enable pops in toolkits (requires PopsLoader, compatibility varies).

Rev 11

• Cleanup, refactor and small fixes.

Rev 10

• added fix for camera_patch_lite plugin on Vita Standalone.
• reduced memory consumption of Memory Stick Speedup. Improves stability of the feature.
• the ARK Right Analog plugin (https://github.com/rereprep/ArkRightAnalog) is now automatically installed and configured by FasterARK. This allows using the second analog stick on certain PSP games (requires gta_remastered and/or camera_patch_lite to be installed on ARK).
• implemented X/O swap in xMenu (ARK-X custom launcher).
• changed default icon in xMenu (for games without an ICON0.PNG).
• some small fixes and cleanup.

Rev 9

• Fixed control issue in ARK-X on Vita TV or MiniVitaTV (requires updating ps1cfw_enabler).
• Fixed exit-to-launcher combo on Vita TV/MiniVitaTV.
• Fixed FasterARK when an ARK_01234 savedata folder was already installed.
• Some other small cleanup and fixes.

Rev 8

• Disallow Memory Stick Speedup in PS1 since it doesn't actually impact these games and causes clashes with cwcheat.
• Improve exit-to-launcher key combo in ARK-X.

Rev 7

• Fixed memory leak in xMenu (ARK-X).
• Added a few more options to xMenu.
• Several small fixes and cleanup.

Rev 6

• Fixed exit on PS Vita.

Rev 5

• Fixed screen not rendering when exiting back to launcher in ARK-X.
• Fixed crash in ARK-X when no PS1 games are installed.

Rev 4

• Fixed bug in FasterARK that would corrupt taiHEN config.

Rev 3

• cwcheat now displays correctly in ARK-X.

Rev 2

• ARK-X installation is now handled by FasterARK, making it considerably easier to install and use.
• Added patch to prevent crashing in TwinBee Portable when the system language is not set to Japanese or English.
• Lots of code cleanup.

ARK-X

Introducing ARK-X, a new way to sideload custom PS1 games on the PS Vita making use of the Official PS1 Emulator.

History

On earlier PS Vita firmware versions (as late as 3.18/3.20) it was possible to exploit PS1 games via crafted savedata, in pretty much the same way that VHBL and earlier ARK versions would use exploited PSP games.

Using this crafted PS1 savedata it was possible to load a minimalist PSP Custom Firmare with the only goal to sideload PS1 games (i.e. TN-X and ARK-3).

This worked because the PS Vita doesn't really have its own PS1 emulator, it rather uses a modified version of the PS1 emulator for PSP, with sound processing being handled by the native Vita (since the PS Vita lacks the PSP's ME coprocessor that the original POPS used for audio emulation). PS1 games on the PS Vita are ultimately running on a PSP environment, albeit a heavily limited one.

PS1 CFW on Later Firmwares

On later firmware versions the PS1 emulator was limited even more to prevent us from running a CFW in it, however with Henkaku now being both a reality and a common software, it has been possible to code a simple plugin to bring back PS1 CFW functionality, named ps1cfw_enabler.

With this new plugin, it is now possible to load ARK in ePSX mode once again, and use it to load custom PS1 games using the Official PS1 Emulator of the PS Vita.

From a user perspective, ARK-X functions essentially the same as a regular Standalone ARK installation, with the main difference of it being primarily focused on PS1 games.

Instructions for installation can be found in the readme.

Credits

• qwikrazor87 and Acid_Snake for the original discovery and implementation of PS1 exploits on PSP/Vita.
• thefl0w for his implementation of TN-X PS1CFW which served as a base for ARK-X.
• SilicaAndPina for her work on ChovySign and ps1cfw_enabler that allowed this release to exist.