Preliminary details about a forthing coming Scooby Doo PSP UMD game title from game publisher THQ were released today.

'Scooby Doo! Who's Watching Who?' is expected for European release on November 3rd 2006.  The title sees the gamg from Mystery Inc. pitted against rival ghost hunting team GSI (Ghost Scene Investigators) in a competition to see who can "debunk the most ghosts".

Within Scooby Doo! Who's Watching Who?, gamers will be able to take control of the Mystery Machine in a combination of puzzle, driving and  platform gameplay.

THQ have already released a number of Scooby Doo titles across various other platforms.  Scooby Doo! Who's Watching Who? will also be available on Nintendo DS.

The newest version of PSP firmware, v2.80, was released today.

Available via the Network Update option within the existing PSP software, the firmware upgrade is expected to be available from the official Sony Update page via download soon.

New functionality includes RSS video feed support, AAC file with *.3gp extension support, register devices via wireless LAN access point and the ability play content saved under the "MUSIC", "PICTURE" and "VIDEO" folders on a memory stick.

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the first Greatest Hits collection of PSP game titles.

A total of five of the most popular PSP titles are now available priced at just $19.99:

Ape Escape®: On the Loose
ATV Offroad Fury®: Blazin' Trails
Hot Shots Golf®: Open Tee
Twisted Metal™: Head On
Wipeout®Pure

Sony hopes the Greatest Hits collection will increase market interest in the PSP in a typically slow time of year for new titles.

“The PSP system has truly arrived with the launch of its ‘Greatest Hits’ collection, which we expect will drive consumer interest in the device and strong hardware growth, just as the ‘Greatest Hits’ programs have done for other PlayStation® platforms,” said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. “Summer is typically the industry’s lightest season for new titles, so releasing the PSP ‘Greatest Hits’ now benefits many consumers who find themselves with more downtime, whether they’re on a plane headed on a vacation or simply trying to beat the heat at home.”

Other titles are already slated for release under the Greatest Hits tag, with the following titles set to join the inaugural collection later this year:

Lumines™
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Star Wars Battlefront™ II
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix
Untold Legends™: Brotherhood of the Blade™

Sony has revealed more tiny pieces of information regarding what the future holds for the PSP at Comic-Con.

IGN reports that the PSP will act as a remote control for Sony's PlayStation 3.

Details regarding the upcoming PSP firmware update were also disclosed.  Those who upgrade their PSP units will benefit from a demo of World Tour Soccer, along with more functional upgrades such as RSS video feed support for the built-in web browser.

With the recent news regarding movies being delivered on memory sticks prompting suggestions for "iTunes style" video distribution, Sony Connect is working on a way to provide downloadable movies in a similar manner to how they distribute music, but currently reviewing systems to protect intellectual properties.

Other news-worthy items:

 - Syphon Filter Dark Mirror and Pursuit Force are "great games" and "great reasons to own a PSP."

 - No plans to enhance text entry on the PSP or any plans for a Sony keyboard.

 - Video out is something they realise is important and are working on.

The pending September US release of PSP gaming title LocoRoco seems to be cause for much anticipation for US PSP owners.

Almost uniquely launched in Europe and Japan some time before a US release is expected to hit the shelves, the puzzle platformer is currently slated as one of the most addictive titles around.

In LocoRoco gameplay players control blobs with jelly-like qualities which roll and jump around a two dimensional world in which the user can rotate the gaming environment to the left or right.

LocoRoco certainly has a following not limited ot those in Europe and Japan who have had a chance to get their hands on a copy already.

Buena Vista Games, Inc has announced details of the soundtrack and music video combinations which will feature in the follow up to the highly successful PSP puzzle game Lumines.

Lumines II will feature music and videos from the following:

Beck - "Black Tambourine"
Black Eyed Peas - "Pump It"
Chemical Brothers - "Star Guitar"
Fatboy Slim - "Gangster Trippin'"
The Go! Team - "Bottle Rocket"
Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl"
Hoobastank - "Born to Lead"
Junior Senior - "Take My Time"
Missy Elliott - "Lose Control"
New Order - TBC

The following additional title will appear within the games soundtrack:

Junkie XL - "Breezer"
Stigmato Inc - "Reality Check"

In addition to the pop culture titles above, Lumines II will feature music written exclusively for the game by Shinichi Osawa, the Japanese artist also known as Mondo Gross and who also providing the opening track for the original Lumines title.

Lumines has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide and is rated by Gamerankings.com as one of the highest scoring PSP titles to date, with a review score of 90 percent.

Lumines II will hit US stores in November this year.

With the future of UMD in doubt, Sony has announced plans to ship Memory Stick Pro Duo Entertainment Packs via Sony Style retail and web stores.  The packs feature either a 1GB or 2GB ($60 / $100 for the MSX-M1GSTEP and MSX-M2GSE respectively) Memory  Stick Duo along with a DVD which when run on a PC delivers one of four specially PSP optimised movies available for playback via the memory stick.

Movie choice consists of Hitch, S.W.A.T, The Grudge or XXX: State of the Union.

PSX Extreme has reported that US chain store Target is the latest brand to start pulling back shelf space for UMD titles.

Target has reportedly sent out memos to 1,400 stores advising the removal of large numbers UMD titles to be replaced with HD-DVD and BluRay formats.

US game publisher Crave Entertainment has announced a new card gaming title for the PSP.  World Championship Cards features more than 30 different classic card games, including Bridge, Gin Rummy, Solitaire, Cribbage and more.

World Championship Cards for the PSP is multiplayer enabled allowing online or wireless (8 user ad hoc) gameplay.

MSRP is espected to be $19.99.

Highlights from a presentation made at the MI6 Game Marketing Conference by Jason Anderson, director of research for the International Development Group (IDG), gave a mixed judgement for the PSP within the handlehd market.

In projections through 2006 to 2008, growth of PSP ownership consistently lagged behind the GBA and DS Nintendo handheld consoles.  Despite healthy numbers of 8.7 million 2006, 14.4 million in 2007 and 17.6 million by 2008, the DS still holds the number one spot with figures of 8.8 million, 15 million and 20 million respectively.

In terms of game quality, research from IDG show PSP surprisingly pipping the GBA rather than the DS, which features significantly lower than the GBA.

PSPOne emulation will soon be a reality for PSP users.  UK PSP Magazine report that Sony has confirmed that up to 7,000 PSOne titles will be available buy the end of 2007 as part of a PSOne emulation service, originally announced and demonstrated (video footage) at E3.

The news comes as a blessing for PSP gamers wanting to take PSOne classics on the move.  Games will be stored on memory stick meaning that precious battery life will be extended due to the PSP unit not having to spin UMD discs.

Eidos Interactive and PlayFirst have partnered to bring top-selling title Diner Dash to the PSP.

Nintendo's DS and GameBoy Advance will also benefit from a port of the Diner Dash title, billed as a "casual" title which lets gamers take on the role of the female protagonist, Flo as she strives to grow her fledgling restaurant.

Release of Diner Dash is set for 2007.  Those not familiar with the game can download trials/full versions for both the PC, Mac and Mobile platforms as well as play a free web based version on the PlayFirst website.