Written on Apr 11th, 2007 by Dave

Posted In: Sony PSP News

Custom PSP XMB Icons - 14 Must-Have Themes for your PSP

Digg it!

Last month I wrote up a list of my top 11 PSP XMB Themes and since that was written there has been plenty of new XMB icon releases, so I thought I’d do another round up of whats available to pimp out (or is that up?) your PSP. This list totals 14 entries, which shows just how much work some people are putting into creating these themes.

These themes are really aimed at those PSP owners using the 3.03OE custom firmware, as this version allows you to fully customise the PSP, including all the XMB icons. 3.10OE users can use elements of the themes, but not the icons themselves (ignore the topmenu_plugin.rco file). As the icons make up 90% of the theme itself, being unable to use the icons probably makes these themes slightly pointless.

Anyway, for 3.03OE users, heres the lateset run down of whats hot in the world of custom PS XMB themes. As a side note, this last month has seen a full set of original XMB icons released by Innercy, who managed to create the icons that have been missing since XMB customisation started. This has led to a large number of ‘coloured’ XMB themes being released. These have been (mostly) ignored in this list as they don’t add anything of huge value to customisation scene.

Note: These are not listed in any particular order, and there is no ‘number 1‘, as I’ve decided this is such a subjective matter that its somewhat pointless. I probably should have applied the same logic to the previous list I created. I’ve also missed out alot of themes that don’t quite live up to the standard set by others.

SaiZN’s Red Vista Orbs PSP Theme

A nice completed set of icons, Red Vista Orbs uses the standard PSP icons as the central image, and uses the popular Vista style orb to makes them standout.

Desi Soulja’s Pirate Style PSP Theme

A nice original themes from Desi Soulja that again uses the standard PSP XMB icons but wraps them in a nautical pirate theme. A great idea well executed, and fits in nicely with the upcoming film Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End.

Innercy’s Original XMB+ PSP Theme

This is Innercy’s completed Original XMB Icon set. While a few people faield to understand the significance of this XMB icon set, others soon realised that it meant new XMB themes could be created using the standard icons as a base, allowing that ‘modified but original’ look that many PSP owners like.

Evolve’s Orbital PSP Theme

A slick looking subtle XMB icon set that uses the tried and trusted orb style graphic with custom internal pictures to representthe PSP’s XMB functions. There are versions available of this theme in various colours, from black to white to red to green. If you want something that is quite calming and unfussed, this XMB icon set is just what you need.

PSPCulture’s Buuf Two PSP Theme

This was my second attempt at using the fantastic Buuf icons by Manhatten. I really like these icons, and find them really easy to work with, so creating a new theme from them is painless and quick. This particular theme also has a custom wallpaper made using the Buuf font found in the extra’s set.

Mime’s Naruto Ultimate PSP Theme

An interesting XMB theme that offers a completely original set of icons. Most impressive is the metallic effect the icons appear to have. If you want something thats different to anything else out there, this ones is for you.

androidkaita’s Full Orange PSP Theme

I’ve avoided as much as possible the recoloured icon threads that have appeared on QJ.net over the last few weeks, as they’re not something I’m particularly interested in. However, this theme, with its orange tinted icons was one of the first to appear, so I’ve listed it here.

Evolve’s Calabi Spheres PSP Theme

Another orb style icon set, this time using custom internal graphics. Yet again a simple and effective theme for those who don’t want anything too flashy.

Innercy’s Mini Line PSP Theme

An interesting idea, Mini Lines replaces all the XMB icons and default XMB label text with icons that are simply text over a faded background. This theme works really well with the wallpapers made specifically for it.

Evolve’s Black Aruziah PSP Theme

Evolve’s Black Aruziah theme is made using a number of icon sources, including the group XMB effort set up on QJ.net. These icons remind me very much of Innercy’s Black Rhizura icon set.

PSPCulture’s Duranium R3 Nemesis Blue PSP Theme

I created this blue tinted Duranium R2 Nemesis set because I wanted something that matched Innercy’s fantastic Black and Blue battery. I find this XMB theme works really well with blue wallpapers, keeping the whole theme tinted with a slightly cold hue.

Madsoul’s Unknown Name PSP Theme

One of Madsoul’s best XMB themes, this unnamed set of icons reminds me a little of Nevada’s attempts to create an XMB theme that never really took off. These icons sit well on many different coloured backgrounds, something that a lot of icon sets fail at.

Evolve’s Glass Square PSP Theme

A simplish looking XMB theme that creates a nice glass effect around the icons. I would have liked to see the squares rounded off, but the effect is still good, and with the right wallpaper these PSP icons can make a stunning XMB theme.

PSPCulture’s Shiny-Again PSP Theme

Still one of my favourite PSP themes, Shiny Again is a mix of cartoon like icons with a really high gloss/glass effect. Most of the icons came from a single icon set, although a few have been edited from other icon sets to match the style, such as the game icon. This is one of three icon sets that I switch between when I get bored with my current XMB. For reference I switch regularly between Duranium R2 Nemesis, KDE Buuf (or now Buuf Two) and this one. I rarely use other peoples XMB themes for very long, I’m not sure of my reasoning for it, other than I actually like the ones I’ve created myself.

Anway, comments and thoughts welcome, and if you’ve got your own custom XMB theme, or you’ve got screenshots of your PSP’s XMB using any of the above icon sets, send them into me and I’ll post them up.