02/14, 11:30am
Sony targets adult gamers, mobile users with Vita
Sony on the eve of the PlayStation Vita's first US wave has kicked off a record $50 million ad campaign to recapture its place not just from Nintendo but from Apple. The most Sony has ever spent on any PlayStation launch in the US, the campaign includes both online spots as well as traditional billboards and TV spots. Where PSP ads focused on younger gamers, though, Sony's new Vita ads (below) will focus on adults, where the allure is to "never stop playing" PS3-level games while on the road and with others.
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02/13, 6:05am
PS Vita OS offers Sony an additional mobile option
Sony is mulling the possibility of extending is PS Vita operating system to other devices, according to AV Watch. Incoming CEO Kaz Hirai reportedly mentioned the idea to reporters during a Japanese Q&A session suggesting that, in addition to Android, the PS Vita OS offered additional scope for the company beyond gaming. The view was also given further credence by Sony Computer Entertainment Senior VP Yoshio Matsumoto, who suggested that as the OS was designed to run on the ARM architecture, that porting it to tablets and smartphones was possible.
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02/09, 3:10pm
PS Vita First Edition bundle contents shown off
The early run of the aptly-named First Edition bundle of the PlayStation Vita has just received an official unboxing from Sony's US team. The system is due to arrive on February 15 to those who preordered it, or one week before its widespread launch in stores. Included in the bundle is a 4GB PS Vita memory card, a unique PS Vita carrying case, and a physical copy of the Little Deviants game.
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02/08, 7:10pm
iPad 3 may parallel Galaxy Tab in faster dual core
An incidental rumor floated next to talk of a purported iPad 3 case back has raised the possibility that Apple's expected A6 chip isn't quad-core. Citing unnamed sources, The Verge claimed that it would stay dual-core but have a "significantly more powerful" graphics core. Although not mentioned, it's presumed the clock speed, architecture, or both would be upgraded with the new chip.
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02/07, 11:45pm
North American PS Vita users must buy games again
Sony in a quick brief has warned that North American gamers won't have access to the UMD Passport program for the PlayStation Vita like their Japanese counterparts. A spokesperson told Kotaku that gamers with legacy, physical PSP titles will have to buy them again if they're available on the PlayStation Store. Japanese gamers can currently register their UMD-based games through the PSP and then pay a much smaller fee to download the digital version.
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02/06, 10:05pm
Application initially submitted in 2010
Sony has filed a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a tablet-like game controller. The Position-Dependent Gaming, 3D Controller, and Handheld as a Remote in many ways conceptually resembles Nintendo's
Wii U's tablet-like game controller. Sony actually began the application process for the technology in July 2010, almost a year before Nintendo showed the system.
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02/06, 10:00am
Sony preps PS Vita update for February 8
Sony has teased an update for the PlayStation Vita that should significantly expand its features just a week before the North American launch. The 1.6 firmware patch will add a mapping tool with both driving and walking directions. Likely based on Google Maps, it has the options of satellite and traffic views as well as sending locations out on the Vita's own group messaging for a meetup.
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02/05, 11:25pm
PS Vita on smooth track according to Sony
Sony in its results call Friday was confident that the PlayStation Vita was selling well so far. Having moved slightly more than 535,000 units in its first three weeks, according to Media Create data, company CFO Masaru Kato didn't see "any problems" with results so far. The comment came even after shipments had dipped to just over 18,000 in January and had been mostly steady since.
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02/05, 1:50pm
GameStop now has PS Vita testers
GameStop stores as promised have started carrying PlayStation Vita demo units. Depending on which of the 3,300 stores showing the Vita gamers visit, they should have access to a handful of the 25 launch titles to try. Among the mix will include FIFA, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Wipeout 2048.
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02/05, 11:20am
Sony gives PSN new SEN badge in days
Sony has given notice that the unification of its online entertainment services mentioned during its CES keynote would affect the PlayStation Network on February 7. A terms of service change will see the service renamed as part of the Sony Entertainment Network. Actual functionality should stay the same.
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01/31, 10:45pm
PS Vita games get discount over PSN
A quick investigation has confirmed that PlayStation Vita owners in the US will get a discount on games if they buy through the PlayStation Network. Shacknews heard that, as in Japan, games will not just be available the same day as a download but will be price-cut over their retail versions. The discounts are about 10 percent over boxed copies, or about $4-5 for games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss.
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01/27, 3:50pm
Sony tempts gamers with special PS Vita deal
Sony has hoped to lure gamers to the PlayStation Vita with another bundle for the official February 22 US arrival. The Launch Day bundle mates the 3G version of the console with a free month's pass for 250MB of AT&T data. While most of the accessories aren't present from the First Edition bundle, gamers get a twice-as-large 8GB memory card to encourage more game and add-on downloads.
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01/23, 10:45pm
PS Vita can control full PS3 games with tricks
A new hack demoed on video (below) has shown that the PS Vita can play full PS3 games through Remote Play. A jailbroken and modified version of the PS3's 3.55 firmware, lower than the most recent official build, can pipe through full games such as Battlefield 3 and the Mortal Kombat remake without having to get official support. Sony only allows its current list of PSP-aware Remote Play games to work.
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01/22, 10:15pm
PS Vita top 3G plan costs more but gets more
Sony has quietly updated its PlayStation Vita 3G plan page to reflect the AT&T plan shakeup from this past week. While the $15, 250MB plan stays intact, the top-end plan has been bumped up $5 to cost $30 and provide a larger 3GB. As before, both are 30-day prepaid plans and can be managed entirely from the Vita.
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01/18, 8:20pm
PS Vita sales continue to drop
New Media Create data has made clear that the PlayStation Vita isn't yet threatening most other consoles or smartphones. After a blockbuster launch in December, it has tapered off for a second time in a month to just 18,361 systems as of January 15. Every console's sales dropped off sharply in the same period, but it still sat behind Sony's seven-year-old PSP, the PS3, and Nintendo's 3DS.
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01/17, 10:35am
IDC sees 3DS and Vita surviving Apple and Google
Dedicated handheld gaming systems like the Nintendo 3DS and Sony's PlayStation Vita will trigger a "rebound year" that fends off iOS and Android, IDC estimated on Tuesday. A wave of revenue stemming both from the new hardware and from game sales attached to it was expected to last through 2012 and 2013. While Nintendo and Sony might still sell fewer units and fewer games, the frequent $30 to $40 prices of their games would trump the dependence on cheap or free titles on smartphones and tablets.
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01/09, 2:00pm
ATT details PlayStation Vita plans
AT&T during its Developer Summit detailed its 3G data plans for the PlayStation Vita. The device will have plans similar to those for the iPad, starting at $15 for 250MB of data and $25 for 2GB. The plans are prepaid and let users add service without having to talk to AT&T.
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01/02, 6:50pm
PS Vita runs Genesis mutiple layers deep
Attempts to get unofficial PS Vita code running took their next step this weekend after video proof emerged of Sony's system running Sega Genesis games. Picodrive, the offshoot of a competition for a classic console emulator on the PSP, can run games like the Sonic series on the Vita using the official PSP emulator and the Half Byte Loader. It doesn't yet run perfectly and is plagued by stuttering sound, although video performance is very smooth.
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12/31, 4:55pm
PS Vita proof of concept app hack appears
The first steps to get homemade code running on the PS Vita have taken place after Japanese developer teck4, with elaboration by mamosuke, has shown a very early example. The "hello world" app runs in the PlayStation's PSP emulator and uses just hardware controls. While rough, it lets gamers change the color and movement of the "snowfall" in a test scene.
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12/29, 1:25pm
PS Vita content manager app may limit use
A discovery earlier in the week has found that Sony's Content Manager app for the PS Vita may be overzealous in trying to curb the perceived piracy threat. Wololo found that the Windows app for sideloading apps and media wouldn't load if a Vita attached to the PC wasn't using the latest firmware. It also wouldn't run if the PC was offline.
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12/27, 11:35am
Sony has still not acknowledged widescale problems
Sony has released a new update for its just released PlayStation Vita. This is the second update that Sony has issued since the company began shipping the handheld gaming station on December 17. Sony has denied that the updates were necessary because of allegedly widespread problems.
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12/22, 3:30pm
PS Vita games, accessories, cards for US detailed
Sony picked Thursday to outline the launch details for the PlayStation Vita. The handheld gaming system will ship with 25 launch titles, most of which will be third-party games. Another ten games will show in the "launch window" on or near the February 22 launch day.
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12/21, 2:40pm
Widespread PS Vita problem reports untrue: Sony
The PS Vita, which recently launched in Japan, isn't saddled with the widespread number of problems the media is reporting, Sony said Wednesday. The company does admit a small number of users have filed complaints over consoles not powering up or down and touchscreens freezing. The company calls this normal, considering 325,000 units were sold.
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12/20, 3:05pm
SCE VP Shuhei Yoshida talks about PS Vita
The PlayStation Blog has conducted an interview with Sony Computer Entertainment VP and President of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, revealing some insight about the development of the PS Vita handheld console. During the interview, Yoshida admitted that the company shifted focus away from the PSP, the Vita's predecessor, and concentrated on developing games for the PS3. Instead, the company will plan ahead for "constant supply of excellent games" for the PS Vita.
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12/19, 5:20pm
Sony rolls out quick bug fix for PS Vita, apology
The PS Vita has just launched in Japan two days ago and the company is already issuing a software update to fix touchscreen problems, software bugs and system freezes, along with poor performance. The update notice in Japan also apologized to gamers for the inconvenience. Its timing hinted that Sony may have had an idea the system was shipping with software flaws.
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12/17, 3:40am
PS Vita has strong start in Japan
Sony had an upbeat launch for the PlayStation Vita in its home country of Japan. The 7AM launch saw thousands in line with volumes closer to that of an Apple launch, including 600 at Yodobashi Camera in Tokyo's Akihabara district and 300 at Bic Camera in the Ikebukuro district. At the official event at Shibuya Tsutaya, where Sony executives including company president Kaz Hirai were hosts, the first buyer was an unidentified 33 year old northerner.
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12/16, 8:45pm
PS Vita manual arrives ahead of launch
Just as the PlayStation Vita is launching in Japan, Sony has posted the gaming system's manual in English. The guide includes a handful of new revelations, including that it has to get standard-definition video from the PlayStation Store. It can't immediately play 1080p, hinting at an update, nor can it take HD video transferred from the PS3; 720p is the most that can play in normal use.
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12/15, 7:55am
PS Vita Japan launch already spoken for
Sony on Thursday said that it had sold out of the PlayStation Vita in Japanese pre-orders. Not due to go on sale until Saturday, the handheld game system triggered lines that saw its initial batch spoken for. It did have a significant amount of time to sell stock, having started pre-orders on October 15.
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12/05, 5:00pm
PS Vita to have limitations, at least initially
The upcoming PS Vita handheld console from Sony will be limited from web browsing while a game is running in the background. Users will have the ability to check friends' lists, music and Twitter, but can't browse the web while in a game. At the same time, only one PlayStation Network account can be set up on the device at the same time.
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11/28, 1:40pm
Vita memory cards priced from $30 to $120
Video game retailer GameStop has potentially revealed US pricing information for the unique memory cards that the PlayStation Vita will use. The 4GB card will cost $30, an 8GB one $45, 16GB will be $70, and the 32GB version will cost $120. This is somewhat similar to the prices of the cards for the PSP system at GameStop, which are $38 and $51 for the 4GB and 8GB cards, respectively, and $125 for the 32GB version.
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11/26, 4:20am
PS Vita might be usable as PS3 game control
Sony's PlayStation Vita might be used even more as a game controller than the PSP was in the past. A rumor late this week for Eurogamer has the Vita getting a firmware update post-launch that would let the PS3 be used to play "all games." Legacy games would be capped at the PSP's 480x272 output, but games written after the update could use the PS Vita's native 960x544 resolution.
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11/10, 11:10am
PlayStation Suite SDK beta opened to developers
Sony is now offering developers a chance to sign up for consideration on joining its closed beta PlayStation Suite SDK. With it, they will have the ability to develop games for the upcoming PS Vita and Android devices that aren't Sony-branded. The SDK uses the C# programming language and will run on a C# virtual machine.
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11/09, 1:50pm
Flurry shows Apple and Google in control of games
Smartphone OS platforms from Apple and Google now make up the majority of mobile game revenue in the US, Flurry said in a new study. Both year-to-date figures and estimates give Android and iOS a combined 58 percent of money spent on games in 2011. Nintendo would now be a minority by a significant margin, at 36 percent, while Sony's PSP would be just six percent.
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10/27, 1:15pm
PS Vita bundle to pack 4GB card, game on Feb 15
Sony answered concerns over the PlayStation Vita by giving early adopters a special model. The First Edition bundle will come with a 4GB PS Vita card, a special-run case, and the mini-game title Little Deviants. Unusually, it will ship a full week earlier than for regular users, arriving on February 15.
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10/24, 10:45am
PSP goes out in US with FIFA bundle on November 15
Sony gave the PSP one last bundle in the US on Monday to keep sales going until the PlayStation Vita arrives in February. The new pack includes the regular PSP-3000, a UMD-based copy of EA's FIFA 12 for soccer fans, and a code coupon to download a digital version of the Disney/Pixar Cars 2 game. A 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo is in the box as well and provides just enough space to save games for most titles.
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10/20, 9:15pm
Sony lead Hirai sees Apple as curse, help in games
Apple and Google have had a mixed effect on the PlayStation business, Sony Executive Deputy President Kaz Hirai said in an interview at AsiaD. He wouldn't say how much damage had been done but conceded that iOS and Android devices had cut into the overall industry. Sony has both introduced a very cheap PSP and encouraged small downloadable PSP Mini games in an attempt to curb Apple with little success, something which he indirectly touched on in the scope of his response.
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10/18, 8:05pm
Sony commits to PS Vita launch date in Americas
Sony gave good news to gamers and said it would ship the PlayStation Vita outside of Japan on February 22. The US, Canada, Europe, and Latin America will all get the quad-core gaming system on the same day. Prices in the US, and likely Canada, will start at $250 for a Wi-Fi version and bump up to $299 for a model with 3G.
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09/15, 5:00pm
Standard memory could cost only one-third as much
Sony, which recently disclosed that it will miss the holiday selling season in the US for its new PlayStation Vita, has also released some new product information that some of its potential users might find a disappointment. Sony has revealed that those gaming on the Vita may only be able to play for up to five hours before the battery runs down. The company also disclosed that the handheld console's proprietary memory card will sell for a substantial premium over conventional memory such as a generic SDHC card or a Memory Stick.
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08/17, 6:45pm
Sony contradicts earlier rumors
Sony has finally released a list of specs for the upcoming PlayStation Vita handheld, confirming that the device will integrate 512MB of RAM. The specs contradict earlier rumors suggesting the device would only provide 256MB of RAM, though the inaccurate reports focused on comments from an executive from a game studio, Novarama, rather than Sony itself.
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08/16, 6:00pm
PSVita gets free social and VoIP from the start
Sony's Gamescom keynote on Tuesday saw it give future PSVita buyers a slew of social apps for when the console is ready. The handheld will have apps available on or near launch for Facebook, Foursquare, Skype, and Twitter. All will be free in the PlayStation Store.
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08/16, 2:20pm
Sony PSP minus Wi-Fi headed to at least Europe
(Update: E-1000 name and official shots) Sony at its Gamescom keynote unveiled an unusual new PSP model as a going-away version. The new E-1000 will ship without Wi-Fi, but with UMD, and is intended to catch budget users. In Europe, it should cost about 99 euros ($143), or a third less than the 127 euros ($183) of the current edition. Timing wasn't narrowed down.
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08/10, 1:50pm
New Sony PSP bundle due at end of August for $160
Sony just revealed it will release a new PSP bundle on August 30 that includes the portable games console and EA's Madden NFL 12 and Need for Speed Shift. Also included is a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. The bundle will cost $160 when it launches in the US.
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07/29, 5:05pm
Sony may use Samsung CPU for PS Vita processor
Sony may have turned outwards to get a processor for the PlayStation Vita. A claim made by Semiconductor Industry News, caught by Hachimaki, claims that the quad-core, ARM Cortex-A9 chip in the Vita will be made by Samsung. The exact model wasn't given, but it would be on a present-day 45 nanometer chip design rather than something smaller, like 28 nanometers.
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07/14, 8:35pm
NPD June data give Xbox 507K units in huge lead
Microsoft kept up a year-long string of leads with new NPD data giving it the lead in June. About 507,000 Xbox 360s shipped last month, making it not only the top selling game console but giving it a wide lead. The NPD's decision against providing open data made comparisons difficult, but Microsoft in a comment said it sold "nearly twice as many" systems as rivals, with Nintendo's DS or Wii the most likely runner up.
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07/08, 12:30pm
id Software founder sees mobile growing faster
id Software's co-founder John Carmack in an interview posted Friday saw mobile devices overpowering the PS3 and Xbox 360. The Quake and Rage architect was careful to stress that the iPad 2 and other modern tablets or smartphones were a "factor of a couple" slower than an Xbox 360, but the much faster iteration of the devices was guaranteeing they would be faster. He guessed for Industry Gamers that it would take two years and might lead to a shift in TV gaming where the phone handles everything a big console does today.
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07/01, 3:15pm
Users video chat with avatars
Sony is currently demonstrating the facial recognition capabilities of the company's PlayStation Vita gaming handheld. A technology preview at the Game Tools & Middleware Forum 2011 in Tokyo, the gaming company showed how the Vita can track facial movements and use the information to guide avatar movements during a video chat session.
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06/24, 1:25pm
SCEA head says iPhone may not wound PSVita much
SCEA chief Jack Tretton in an interview posted Friday downplayed the possible risks of the iPhone to the PlayStation Vita. The primarily casual gaming on Apple's platform wasn't expected to undermine dedicated gaming. Even though games on the PSP and Vita cost much more than iOS titles, the differences in depth and quality would still have some going to Sony, the executive told Gamasutra.
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06/20, 3:25pm
Ex-SCEA Harrison sees Apple leading games in years
Former SCEA head Phil Harrison predicted in a recent interview that Apple could dictate gaming within a decade. Asked where he saw Apple in ten years, the PlayStation pioneer told Edge there was a "pretty good chance" iOS could "be the games industry." Its sales rates were very rapid, and Apple wasn't tied down by a need to please game retailers that have threatened retaliation should companies like Nintendo and Sony drop physical game sales.
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06/17, 5:40pm
Sony's Tretton says PS Vita could fill in for iPod
Sony's SCEA president Jack Tretton in a conversation Friday hoped that the PlayStation Vita would be as essential for many people as an Android or iOS device. When asked about competing with Apple and Google, he saw it as a matter of making the Vita an essential device. The system had to be so closely linked to entertainment that it became as important as taking a cellphone or a wallet, and he told Forbes that he saw it often filling the role.
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06/09, 5:30pm
Sony PSVita gets detailed FAQ
Sony has quietly rolled out an FAQ for the PSVita that has answered some of the deeper questions surrounding its new handheld. The system will play PSP games but, without a UMD drive or an add-on reader, will have to rely on downloadable games. The console maker was considering "every possibility" to accommodate gamers with an existing library but wouldn't say more.
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