Wondering what’s changed in PSP 5.05 firmware

The latest PSP firmware is out! Don’t go running to perform an update though. Unless you’re willing to pay for an Asian or Japanese copy of one of the three versions of Idolm@ster SP, you won’t be able to get your hands on 5.05. The latest update from Sony is only available on the Idolm@ster SP: Perfect Sun, Missing Moon and Wandering Star UMDs, which need the update to play on the system.

There’s no reason to get upset. Since it is only on UMDs for one specific game, the firmware obviously only applies to Namco Bandai’s Idolm@ster SP games. There’s no changelog, so we can’t be exactly sure what 5.05 does differently than 5.00. The best we can do is wonder and hazard some guesses.

• DLC related? All three Idolm@ster SP games allow players to purchase downloadable content from the Asian or Japanese PlayStation Stores to use in the games. You can even do so by going to the 765 Shop option in the main menu, which takes you directly to the Idolm@ster DLC items available. However, PSP game DLC isn’t new – Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero? has it as well.
• Promise System related? The Idolm@ster SP games have a unique system in place referred to as the Promise System. When you choose to leave the game, the idol you are producing may ask you to return and play again by a certain time. Also, players can choose to have the idols attend a lesson in the game alone and state they will return at a certain time to resume play after the lesson. It is possible that the new firmware has to do with how the game gauges time – though this is explanation is very unlikely. After all, Animal Crossing has been able to gauge the passage of time for years.
• PSP-PS3 connectivity related? One of the unique points of the three Idolm@ster SP PSP games is that they connect with Home, giving Home Rewards to players. Perhaps the firmware update facilitates this connectivity? Unfortunately, I don’t have a PS3, so this theory can’t be tested. It seems like the most plausible reason for the firmware update, given the game is first to have this feature.
• Piracy Protection related? Perhaps this update is even as simple as a mere piracy protection check. Many PSP owners running custom firmware who have either purchased the game legally or acquired it via questionable methods are reporting an error message (80020148).

Read [eXophase.com] Also Read [Gpara (Japanese)] Via [IGN] Also Read [DannyChoo.com]