Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony unveils Crystal White PlayStation Vita, limited digital diva edition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/sony-unveils-crystal-white-playstation-vita-limited-digital-div/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/sony-unveils-crystal-white-playstation-vita-limited-digital-div/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/sony-unveils-crystal-white-playstation-vita-limited-digital-div/#comments Image

Remember that line-up of colorful consoles we eyed back at TGS? One of eight of those mock-ups is about to become a reality, at least in Japan. On June 28th, color conscious gamers will be able to pick up a WiFi or 3G Crystal White PlayStation Vita for ¥24,980 and ¥29,980, respectively (that's about $312 and $375 if you're counting in greenbacks). If the absence of color is a bit too bland for you, a limited edition Hatsune Miku handheld will hit shelves two months later, commanding a ¥10,000 ($125) premium for the privilege of plastering Sega's digital diva on your Vita's rear touch panel. On the plus side, Vocoloid's poster girl packs a 4GB memory card and a copy of Next Hatsune Miku: Project Diva to offset the limited edition's larger sticker price. No word yet when or if these Vita variants will hit the western world, but we'll let you now if we hear anything. Until then? Try to satiate yourself with the video after the break.

Continue reading Sony unveils Crystal White PlayStation Vita, limited digital diva edition

Sony unveils Crystal White PlayStation Vita, limited digital diva edition originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crystal WhiteCrystal White PlayStation Vitacrystal white vitaCrystalWhiteCrystalWhitePlaystationVitaCrystalWhiteVitaHatsune MikuHatsuneMikuJapanmemory cardMemoryCardngpplaystationPlaystation VitaPlaystationVitaPS vitaps+vita+colorsps+vita+coloursPsVitapsvitacolorspsvitacoloursSci/TechSegasonyvideovitawhite vitsWhiteVitsTue, 08 May 2012 01:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: 'over 1.2 million units worldwide', 2 million in software]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/sony-updates-ps-vita-sales-figures-over-1-2-million-units-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/sony-updates-ps-vita-sales-figures-over-1-2-million-units-worl/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/sony-updates-ps-vita-sales-figures-over-1-2-million-units-worl/#comments As of recently, the PS Vita has become available in the locales of America, Europe and PAL territories, and now Sony's updated sales figures are in. How does "over 1.2 million units worldwide" sound? Because that's how many systems were purchased as of February 26th. If you'll recall, just two days after its December 19th arrival in Japan, the Vita rushed out of the gate, with Sony citing 321,000 units sold. Sales quickly slowed, however, despite the system making its way across Asia, as that number only rose to 500,000 by the time CES hit in January. Considering that means an additional 700K+ units were moved in less than two months, it seems that Sony's latest handheld isn't doing too shabby. Furthermore, it looks like a healthy amount of early adopters stocked up on games, as Sony also noted that more than two million pieces of software have been sold (out of 25 currently available titles) via retail and the PlayStation Store -- that said, there's no telling how popular those slightly cheaper digital editions have proved. Hit up the press release after the break for all the details, courtesy of the House of Kevin Butler Kaz Hirai.

Continue reading Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: 'over 1.2 million units worldwide', 2 million in software

Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: 'over 1.2 million units worldwide', 2 million in software originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital downloadsDigitalDownloadsgamesgaminghandheldsngpplaystationplaystation storeplaystation vitaPlaystationStorePlaystationVitaps vitaPsVitasalessceasceesoftwaresonySony Computer EntertainmentSonyComputerEntertainmentvideogamesTue, 28 Feb 2012 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq's PlayStation Vita launch guide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/joystiqs-playstation-vita-launch-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/joystiqs-playstation-vita-launch-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/joystiqs-playstation-vita-launch-guide/#comments Vita Launch GuideThe PlayStation Vita launches this week in the form of a "First Edition" bundle. The for-real hardware launch will take place on February 22. We'll be covering the hardware and its games continuously through that period, and rounding it up here for ease of reference.

Continue reading Joystiq's PlayStation Vita launch guide

Joystiq's PlayStation Vita launch guide originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqNGPplaystationPlayStation VitaPlaystationVitaportable gamingPortableGamingPS VitaPS Vita reviewPSPPsVitaPsVitaReviewsonysony playstationsony playstation vitasony ps vitaSonyPlaystationSonyPlaystationVitaSonyPsVitavideoVitaMon, 13 Feb 2012 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/playstation-vita-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/playstation-vita-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/playstation-vita-review/#comments

Look familiar? It should: that's the PlayStation Vita, Sony's up-and-coming challenger to the mobile gaming throne. It's made the rounds a few times before, from E3, to Tokyo Game Show, to San Francisco's Vita Hill Social Club, and it even took an early pass through Engadget's review gauntlet -- courtesy of the Land of the Rising Sun, of course. After a strong start in its homeland (followed by a quick holiday slump), the budding portable hit the books, brushed up on its English and barreled its way back into Engadget's game room, demanding another review. And why not? We're happy to oblige.

And here it is, an extremely familiar looking slab of plastic, glass and electronics that calls itself the North American 3G / WiFi PlayStation Vita. Sony's new region-free tradition ensures that it won't be too different than Japan's native model, but we're diving in for a more detailed look anyway. Read on for a peek at its content management system, backward compatibility, the particulars of its fancy new thumbsticks, the latest firmware update's contribution to the platform and much more.

Gallery: PlayStation Vita review

Continue reading PlayStation Vita review

PlayStation Vita review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NGPplaystationPlayStation VitaPlaystation Vita ReviewPlaystationVitaPlaystationVitaReviewportable gamingPortableGamingPS VitaPS Vita reviewPSPPsVitaPsVitaReviewreviewsonyvideoVitaMon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian gets PlayStation Vita early thanks to faith, good works]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/canadian-gets-playstation-vita-early-thanks-to-faith-good-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/canadian-gets-playstation-vita-early-thanks-to-faith-good-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/10/canadian-gets-playstation-vita-early-thanks-to-faith-good-works/#comments Today's lucky beggar award goes to Graham Innes in Canada, who wrote in to tell us that he found a PlayStation Vita sitting on his doorstep. It wasn't a total surprise, since he'd ordered one from Amazon, but what's weird is just how soon it arrived -- the early-bird First Edition doesn't launch until February 15th and the general release is a whole week after that. We're not sure what Graham did to deserve this, but we do know from our Joystiq buddies that he's not the only one -- Amazon.ca has apparently sent out a few of these premature parcels. If the injustice burns, console yourself with the thought that Graham and his blessed compatriots probably can't access the store to download any games.

Update: Graham emailed again. He has store access. He has games. Joyousness.

Canadian gets PlayStation Vita early thanks to faith, good works originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon.cacanadaearlyearly-birdgames consoleGamesConsolegraham innesGrahamInneshandheldNGPplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaps vitaPSPPsVitasonysony playstation vitasony ps vitaSonyPlaystationVitaSonyPsVitavitaFri, 10 Feb 2012 07:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PS Vita demo hardware drops in at US GameStop locations, lets you go hands-on (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/sony-ps-vita-demo-hardware-drops-in-at-us-gamestop-locations-le/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/sony-ps-vita-demo-hardware-drops-in-at-us-gamestop-locations-le/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/05/sony-ps-vita-demo-hardware-drops-in-at-us-gamestop-locations-le/#comments http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/04/sony-ps-vita-demo-kiosks-at-us-gamestop-locations/
Live within the United State's borders? Fingers itching to spend some quality with Sony's latest portable gaming sensation before the First Edition Bundle lands on February 15th? Good news is here then, since GameStop has equipped "over 3,300" of its retail stores with PlayStation Vita demo kiosks. The rigs will allow you to score some quality hands-on time with many of its upcoming titles, including the likes of Uncharted: Golden Abyss and wipEout2048 -- perfect if you're not sure about reserving one just yet. Hit up the source link below to find a Vita-packing location near you, and don't forget to check out our review of the Japanese variant if you need even more help making up your mind in the meantime. Full press release after the break.

Update: We're hearing from many of you in the comments, noting you're finding Vitas at some GameStop locations locked-up, and for your eyes only. So heads-up: your mileage may vary. We also want to add that according to GameStop's website, it currently has 4,460 stores in US, meaning there's a very solid chance the one near you might not be included in the demo.

Update 2: Also worth note, a few other folks have mentioned that certain BestBuys will also let you get paws on one.

[Thanks for all the feedback, everyone.]

Continue reading Sony PS Vita demo hardware drops in at US GameStop locations, lets you go hands-on (update)

Sony PS Vita demo hardware drops in at US GameStop locations, lets you go hands-on (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demo kioskDemoKioskfirst edition bundleFirstEditionBundlegamestopgaminghands onHandsOnngpplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaportable gamingPortableGamingpreorderps vitaps vita demoPsVitaPsVitaDemoreserveretailsceasonySun, 05 Feb 2012 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[The morning after: PlayStation Vita sales go cold during first full week in Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/the-morning-after-playstation-vita-sales-go-cold-during-first-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/the-morning-after-playstation-vita-sales-go-cold-during-first-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/the-morning-after-playstation-vita-sales-go-cold-during-first-f/#comments It's hard to set much store by early sales performance, particularly after the evergreen 3DS faced such a rocky road. Nevertheless, the Vita's latest stats do look disappointing for such a highly anticipated -- not to mention high-quality -- console: after shifting a remarkable 321,000 units during its first two days on sale in Japan, it could only muster 72,500 in the whole week between December 19th and Christmas Day. In comparison, the PS3 sold 76,000 units during the same period, while the 3DS rang up half a million. This doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of interest, however: there have been stock shortages, and it's also possible that buyers are waiting to make sure that all the launch bugs get cleaned up. As for us, our alarms remain firmly set for February 22nd.

The morning after: PlayStation Vita sales go cold during first full week in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's hard to believe that Sony's venerable first portable has just reached its seventh birthday. The PSP launched in 2004: a year when the Motorola RAZR V3 claimed top phone prizes and tablets were called tablet PCs. Since then, its closest rival has undergone several substantial transformations, but the PSP has remained largely untouched, aside from getting a little slimmer. Sony's hoping its new portable superstar is less evolutionary, more revolutionary. And it may have to be. Mobile gaming is snapping at its heels, with game developers continuing to boost the scale and polish on smartphone offerings. Even Sony has been attempting to get in on the mobile action, with underwhelming results so far.

So here's the PlayStation Vita, attempting to breath new life into the portable gaming market. There's no 3D screen, it doesn't do phone calls (although our test model is the 3G-connected variant) but there is, however, a load of power underneath that 5-inch OLED hood. It looks to be the answer to more "traditional" gamers' prayers, but there are plenty of questions we've been itching to answer. Is a portable gaming console still a valid gaming option? How long will the battery last? What's that rear touchscreen all about? Read on and see how Sony's next-generation portable stacks up.

Gallery: Sony PlayStation Vita review (Japanese edition)

Continue reading Sony PlayStation Vita review (Japanese edition)

Sony PlayStation Vita review (Japanese edition) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NGPplaystationplaystation vitaPlaystation Vita ReviewPlaystationVitaPlaystationVitaReviewportable gamingPortableGamingPS VitaPS Vita reviewPSPPsVitaPsVitaReviewreviewsonyvideoVitaWed, 21 Dec 2011 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita gets a content management app, plays nice with PS3 and PC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/playstation-vita-gets-a-content-management-app-plays-nice-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/playstation-vita-gets-a-content-management-app-plays-nice-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/13/playstation-vita-gets-a-content-management-app-plays-nice-with/#comments Worried your PlayStation Vita is going to be so full of repurchased PSP content that you won't be be able to store it all? Yeah, neither are we -- but if you want another place to keep your Vita's picture, video, music and game content, Sony says your PC and PS3 will do nicely. An application page on the Japanese PlayStation website details a Vita app that lets users transfer data between the three platforms, noting that content can be purchased on the PC or PS3, and then transferred to the Vita for use later. Gamers looking to save scratch on that not-so-optional memory card will be able to use this content sharing feature to get the most out of whatever size storage they can afford. Sure, 4GB of storage the cheapest Vita memory card offers isn't ideal, but at least Sony is throwing you a bone to make it work.

PlayStation Vita gets a content management app, plays nice with PS3 and PC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content managementContentManagementdata transferDataTransfermemorymemory cardMemoryCardminipostngpPlayStationplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaps vitaps3psp 2Psp2psvpsv appsPsvAppsPsVitaremovable storageRemovableStoragesd cardSdCardsonySony PlayStationSonyPlaystationstoragevitavita appsVita Content ManagementVitaAppsVitaContentManagementSun, 13 Nov 2011 00:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PlayStation Vita battery life: as little as three hours on a charge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/sony-playstation-vita-battery-life-as-little-as-three-hours-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/sony-playstation-vita-battery-life-as-little-as-three-hours-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/16/sony-playstation-vita-battery-life-as-little-as-three-hours-on/#comments We've had plenty of QT with the Vita on the floor at TGS, but battery life is hard to judge when you can't take the device away with you. Back at our earlier hands-on in June we were told that longevity should be on a par with first-gen PSPs, which were all rated at 4-6 hours and -- with the PSP-1000 -- achieved around 3.5-5.5 hours in real-world tests. Now though, Sony says the Vita has just enough juice for 3-5 hours' gaming. We need to play this thing to death before we can be sure, but this does sound like a potential 15-25% drop in minimum play time. Do we care at this point? Not particularly. We're too busy salivating over this.

Sony PlayStation Vita battery life: as little as three hours on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifeNGPPlayStationPlayStation VitaPlaystationVitaPSP2shockerSonySony PlayStation VitaSonyPlaystationVitaTGSTGS 2011Tgs2011VitaFri, 16 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony shows off PlayStation Vita's initial setup process and user interface (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sony-shows-off-playstation-vitas-initial-setup-process-and-user/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sony-shows-off-playstation-vitas-initial-setup-process-and-user/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/sony-shows-off-playstation-vitas-initial-setup-process-and-user/#comments
While we're still months away from seeing the PlayStation Vita show up in the stores, Sony continues to tease us with more live demonstrations here at the SCEJ press conference -- what we saw just now was a quick walkthrough of the initial setup procedure, and our first look at the interface in action. Setup is simple and predictable: select your region, create or log into your PSN account, enter your birthday -- pretty standard for today's handheld gaming devices. The UI itself looks primed to make smartphone users feel right at home, spreading a cloud of large, friendly app icons across the Vita's five-inch touchscreen.

Our hosts skipped through a few media applications, showing off a pair of movie trailers and concurrently running the device's music player and photo viewer. We didn't see it live today, but Sony suggested that cross-app multitasking is compatible with games as well, stating that a player could hop out of a game session, pop-into a Twitter app, and then jump right back into the game. We'll give you a more detailed account once we've hit the TGS show-floor. Can't wait? Peek our gallery below, or see Sony's live demo above.

Gallery: PlayStation Vita user interface

Filed under:

Sony shows off PlayStation Vita's initial setup process and user interface (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>interfaceNGPPlayStationPlayStation VitaPlaystationVitaPS VitaPsVitaSCESCEJSonySony Computer EntertainmentSonyComputerEntertainmentTGSTGS 2011Tgs2011tokyoUIvideoVitaWed, 14 Sep 2011 03:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation Vita goes up for pre-order at Best Buy Canada]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/sonys-playstation-vita-goes-up-for-pre-order-at-best-buy-canada/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/sonys-playstation-vita-goes-up-for-pre-order-at-best-buy-canada/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/sonys-playstation-vita-goes-up-for-pre-order-at-best-buy-canada/#comments It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here -- or at least its pre-order page is. Sony's hotly anticipated PlayStation Vita has been on our minds since January, and now it's making its Canadian North American pre-order debut via Best Buy Canada. The product pages for both the WiFi-only and 3G editions list a release date of March 30th -- which lines up with previous reports that the console won't be gracing your stocking this Christmas -- but we'd take that estimate with a heaping fistful of salt. If you're itching to throw down some Canadian dollars, however, feel free to hop on over to the source to secure yours now.

[Thanks, Silverfox]

Sony's PlayStation Vita goes up for pre-order at Best Buy Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolegamesgamingnext generation protableNextGenerationProtableNGPplaystationplaystation portablePlaystationPortableportable gamingPortableGamingPS VitaPSPPsVitaSony NGPsony playstationSony Playstation VitaSony VitaSonyNgpSonyPlaystationSonyPlaystationVitaSonyVitaSat, 06 Aug 2011 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PlayStation Vita handheld will miss Christmas in US and Europe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/sony-playstation-vita-handheld-will-miss-christmas-in-us-and-eur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/sony-playstation-vita-handheld-will-miss-christmas-in-us-and-eur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/sony-playstation-vita-handheld-will-miss-christmas-in-us-and-eur/#comments How can this be? Sony's new handheld console already passed through the FCC and was even leaked on a UK Blockbuster flyer that stated an October release date. Yet apparently these clues count for nothing, because Bloomberg reports Kazuo Hirai as saying that the Vita won't launch in the US and Europe until early next year -- with only Japan getting the device before Christmas. Why would Sony be content to miss out on all that festive trade? We have absolutely no idea, but it looks like we'll have to email Santa a revised wish list.

[Thanks, Jerry]

Sony PlayStation Vita handheld will miss Christmas in US and Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolegaminghandheld consoleHandheldConsolengpPlaystationPlaystation VitaPlaystationVitaps vitapspPsVitaSonySony Playstation VitaSonyPlaystationVitaVitaThu, 04 Aug 2011 05:51:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita out in October, says Blockbuster UK flyer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/playstation-vita-out-in-october-says-blockbuster-uk-flyer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/playstation-vita-out-in-october-says-blockbuster-uk-flyer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/playstation-vita-out-in-october-says-blockbuster-uk-flyer/#comments PlayStation Vita out in October, says Blockbuster UK FlyerBlockbuster may have had its share of trouble here in the States, but that doesn't mean its British brother isn't doing well enough to have (and leak) a big-shot release date or two. According to a flyer brandishing the Blockbuster logo and that good 'ol co.uk extension, the PlayStation Vita will land in the United Kingdom on October 28th. That's ominously close to Halloween -- not that we're suggesting anybody is having pre-holiday PSV boot-shakes, or anything -- and the flyer's fall release prediction squares up nicely with Sony's "end of 2011" launch window. As always, we suggest taking rumors and leaks such as this with a grain of salt -- but considering Sony's sinkable record regarding loose lips, we'd understand a low sodium approach. Hit the break to get a peek at the Blockbuster UK flyer -- ready and waiting for your judgement.

Continue reading PlayStation Vita out in October, says Blockbuster UK flyer

PlayStation Vita out in October, says Blockbuster UK flyer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlockbusterBlockbuster-UKgamingnext generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpplaystationplaystation portableplaystation vitaPlaystation-VitaPlaystationPortablePlaystationVitaps vitapspPsVitarelease daterelease datesrelease-dateReleaseDateReleaseDatessonysony ngpSonyNgpUKVitaMon, 01 Aug 2011 01:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PlayStation Vita's removable memory looks like it's an SD card, but it isn't]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/sony-playstation-vitas-removable-memory-looks-like-an-sd-card/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/sony-playstation-vitas-removable-memory-looks-like-an-sd-card/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/sony-playstation-vitas-removable-memory-looks-like-an-sd-card/#comments Sony's seen fit to tell us many of the PlayStation Vita's specs, how much it'll cost ($249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G), and who gets it (everyone). Amidst all the hullabaloo at E3 2011, however, we missed seeing that Sony was showing off the new handheld's internal memory cards. Good thing an eagle-eyed member of the public snapped a pic of the 4, 8, 16, and 32GB cards on the show floor. They look awfully similar to garden variety SD cards, only there's a little notch in the side confirming they hew to Sony's unfortunate habit of using proprietary storage formats. The cost of the cards remains shrouded in secrecy, but life's more fun when a little mystery's involved, right?

Sony PlayStation Vita's removable memory looks like it's an SD card, but it isn't originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cross-platform gaming is a wonderful idea, but Sony's showing off something even more impressive at E3 this year -- a game that you can starting playing on either PS3 or the PlayStation Vita handheld and immediately transfer to another console. Ruin leverages cloud storage to save your entire hack-and-slash RPG game, right down to the positions and actions of every nearby enemy and the structures you've destroyed. Then, a second or eight after you hit load on another machine, you're right back in the very same fight. Resuming on console or handheld and picking up exactly where you left off -- yep, it's a bona fide continuous client, and we had to give it a try. So, off to Sony's E3 2011 booth we went, to seek out developer Idol Minds.

With both Vita and PS3 connected to a local router, it was both as simple and as mind-blowing as you'd expect -- simply save on one (no matter what you're doing), load on the other, and everything (save certain scripted animations) loads exceptionally quickly. In fact, Idol Minds VP Jeff Litchford said that while show floor conditions necessitated the local router, Ruin's cloud resume functionality would even work over 3G, as the save files are actually fairly small, on the order of 250KB. He couldn't tell us whether you'll have to purchase two copies of the game to make the magic happen (we're hoping not), but he did have some good news on the cloud storage front: it won't cost a thing to save your game data, not even a subscription to PlayStation Plus.

Sean Buckley contributed to this report.

PlayStation Vita title 'Ruin' connects to PS3 for continuous client gameplay, we give it a swing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud storageCloudStoragecontinuous clientContinuousClientcross-platformE3E3 2011E32011hands-onidol mindsIdolMindsngpPlayStationPlayStation 3PlayStation VitaPlaystation3PlaystationVitaps vitaps3PsVitaresumeruinvideovitaWed, 08 Jun 2011 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation Vita: a closer look (update: burning questions answered)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/sonys-playstation-vita-a-closer-look/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/sonys-playstation-vita-a-closer-look/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/sonys-playstation-vita-a-closer-look/#comments
We told you what Sony's PlayStation Vita felt like, but here it is in the glossy plastic flesh -- all five-inches of vibrant OLED display, two cameras, dual analog sticks, twelve buttons, two capacitive digitizers and a D-pad. Check out the gallery below for some close-up shots, and hop on past the break for some video footage of the quad-core handheld in action.

Update: Sony just answered a few burning questions for us -- mainly about those mysterious ports we spotted on the bottom and top. Apparently those top port covers will hold one slot for the official PSVita game cards, and another slot for regular removable media for downloadable content and saves, and the port that's occupying one of those places will be removed. Meanwhile, the large socket at the bottom is a "multiport" that provides power, connectivity and might do video-out. We couldn't get any firm details about the AT&T 3G partnership, by the way, but we're told that there will be a special cellular plan of some sort. As you'd expect, Sony's also not talking battery life, but a developer told us that -- with the exception of graphically intensive titles like Uncharted -- the company's shooting for parity with the original PlayStation Portable.

Gallery: Sony PlayStation Vita hands-on

Continue reading Sony's PlayStation Vita: a closer look (update: burning questions answered)

Sony's PlayStation Vita: a closer look (update: burning questions answered) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3E3 2011E32011hands-onNGPPlayStation VitaPlaystationVitaPS VitaPsVitaSonyvideoVitaTue, 07 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-first-hands-on-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-first-hands-on-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-first-hands-on-impressions/#comments We've seen Sony's PlayStation Vita, and more importantly, what it can do -- but this evening, we touched that Next Generation Portable for the very first time. How does it compare to its single-sticked predecessor? And will we make another Madonna joke? Find out after the break.

Update: Sony wouldn't let us take any pictures or video of the Vita at the time of this post, but we just got some on the E3 show floor.

Continue reading Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions

Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsE3E3 2011E32011hands-onNext Generation PortableNextGenerationPortableNGPPlayStationPlayStation VitaPlaystationVitaPS VitaPsVitaSonyVitaMon, 06 Jun 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-official-3g-available-only-through-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-official-3g-available-only-through-atandt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sonys-playstation-vita-official-3g-available-only-through-atandt/#comments Details about Sony's new handheld have been trickling out for months in the form of spec sheets and fantastic footage of its quad core capabilities. All that, and we still didn't know how much she'd cost or when we could get our grubby paws around one. Thankfully for those tuned in at E3, said mystery is a mystery no more -- the Vita will be listed at $249 for the WiFi-only model, or $299 for the 3G version. Sony's Kaz Hirai confirmed will be available exclusively through AT&T, with both models shipping worldwide toward the end of 2011. For those of you camped out overseas, prices are set for ¥24,980 (WiFi) and ¥29,980 (3G) in Japan, while those closer to that other pond will see tags of €249 and €299.

The device, also known as the PS Vita, offers up six-axis motion sensors, dual analog controls (proper ones, with thumbsticks), front- and rear-facing cameras, an OLED touchscreen, and a touchpad on the back, too. The company showed off a number of top-tier titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a hack-and-slash RPG called Ruin, a new ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and Street Fighter x Tekken, each showing off plenty of motion and touch interactivity... things that we couldn't be more elated to try for ourselves in due time. They're all looking quite good, and honestly a bit more advanced than what the 3DS has delivered so far -- for the same money.

Update: Check out our hands-on impressions from E3!

Gallery: PlayStation Vita

Continue reading Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G

Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newse3e3 2011E32011gamingnext generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpplaystationplaystation portableplaystation vitaPlaystationPortablePlaystationVitaps vitapspPsVitasonysony ngpSonyNgpvitaMon, 06 Jun 2011 21:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/live-from-sonys-e3-2011-keynote/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/live-from-sonys-e3-2011-keynote/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/live-from-sonys-e3-2011-keynote/#comments The world hasn't been kind to Sony as of late, but today is Sony's day to shine -- we're reporting live from E3 2011 this evening, where the company is about to show off its latest toys. There's little doubt we'll hear about that fancy new Next Generation Portable, but what might it be called? And might there be a pair of PlayStation-certified tablets alongside the monster handheld? How about a library full of PSOne titles to make the Xperia Play relevant, or a price drop for Sony's venerable PlayStation 3 console? Find out for yourself right here, in this very post, when our live coverage kicks off at the times below.

2:00PM - Hawaii
5:00PM - Pacific
6:00PM - Mountain
7:00PM - Central
8:00PM - Eastern
1:00AM - London (June 7th)
2:00AM - Paris (June 7th)
4:00AM - Moscow (June 7th)
9:00AM - Tokyo (June 7th)

Continue reading Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote!

Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3E3 2011E32011liveblogNext Generation PortableNextGenerationPortableNGPPlayStationPlayStation 3Playstation3PS3PSP 2PSP2SonyMon, 06 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony files for 'PS Vita' trademark in Europe, intends to do something Next Generation with it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sony-files-for-ps-vita-trademark-in-europe-intends-to-do-some/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sony-files-for-ps-vita-trademark-in-europe-intends-to-do-some/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/sony-files-for-ps-vita-trademark-in-europe-intends-to-do-some/#comments The words "PS Vita" and "PlayStation Vita" have just made their way through the EU Trademarks and Designs Registration Office, courtesy of a set of new applications from none other than Sony Computer Entertainment. The name PS Vita showed up in some source code on an official Sony site late last week, though it's still not certain that it'll be the official branding for the company's Next Generation Portable. "Vita" means "life" in Italian, so a literal translation would be PlayStation Life. For now, all we know is that the NGP will be large and in charge at E3, and the best way to find out how this Vita moniker relates to it will be to tune in to our Sony keynote liveblog later today, which can be found right over here.

Sony files for 'PS Vita' trademark in Europe, intends to do something Next Generation with it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationeueuropeeuropean unionEuropeanUniongaminghandheldipip lawIpLawlawlegallogongpplaystationplaystation vitaPlaystationVitaportablepsps vitaPsVitasonysony ngpSonyNgptrademarkvitaMon, 06 Jun 2011 03:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony NGP soaks up the pre-E3 glitz in official demo videos]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-soaks-up-the-pre-e3-glitz-in-official-demo-videos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-soaks-up-the-pre-e3-glitz-in-official-demo-videos/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-soaks-up-the-pre-e3-glitz-in-official-demo-videos/#comments
With E3 2011 just around the corner, expectations for Nintendo announcements are mighty high, but you can get a glimpse at the heat Sony's packing before another day goes by. The official PlayStation.Blog spat out some footage of the quad-core NGP in action, and it's not just playing last-gen games; rather, there's yet another glimpse at Uncharted, a brand new platformer called Sound Shapes where you build levels with a music sequencer (and which procedurally generates tunes as you play) and a taste of the cross-platform PS3 vs. NGP wireless racing you can expect in Wipeout HD. There's definitely a lot of dual-analog action here, but demonstrators are also taking advantage of that five-inch touchscreen, and Wipeout will apparently use the front-facing camera to beam taunt-filled pictures and video of the victor to the losers in each race.

You'll note that Sony's focusing on software over hardware here, and that's not by accident -- the company's careful to state that we're looking at early dev units. "They're the right size, but they don't possess that final PlayStation-quality fit and finish," says the official blog, "What you'll eventually be able to pick up in a store will look a heck of a lot better." Two more vids after the break.

Continue reading Sony NGP soaks up the pre-E3 glitz in official demo videos

Sony NGP soaks up the pre-E3 glitz in official demo videos originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jonathan MakJonathanMakNext Generation PortableNextGenerationPortableNGPPS vitaPsVitaSonySound ShapesSoundShapesUnchartedvideoWipeoutWipeout HDWipeoutHdThu, 02 Jun 2011 21:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony NGP confirmed to be backwards compatible with downloaded PSP games]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-confirmed-to-be-backwards-compatible-with-downloaded-ps/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-confirmed-to-be-backwards-compatible-with-downloaded-ps/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-confirmed-to-be-backwards-compatible-with-downloaded-ps/#comments There was a bit of confusion over what sort of backwards compatibility the Sony NGP would have when it was announced earlier this year, but it looks like that particular mystery's now been cleared up. Eurogamer reports that the NGP (or whatever it's eventually called) will be indeed compatible with existing PSP games -- of the downloadable variety only, of course. What's more, the site says that it has actually seen Resistance: Retribution demonstrated on the handheld, and that all PSP games are run via a software emulator that will let you turn upscaling on or off to suit your preference -- games will also be able to take advantage of the NGP's dual analog sticks (to control your character's view in Resistance, for instance). As Eurogamer notes, that sounds similar to Sony's remastering effort for PSP titles on the PS3, which also promises to add cross-device playability. Might the NGP also get in on that act? We should know more at E3 next week.

Sony NGP confirmed to be backwards compatible with downloaded PSP games originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backwards compatibilitybackwards compatibleBackwardsCompatibilityBackwardsCompatiblee3e3 2011E32011ngpps vitapspPsVitasonysony ngpSonyNgpupscalingThu, 02 Jun 2011 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony NGP may become 'PS Vita,' give us 100 percent of our RDI of handheld gaming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-may-become-ps-vita-give-us-100-percent-of-our-rdi-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-may-become-ps-vita-give-us-100-percent-of-our-rdi-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-ngp-may-become-ps-vita-give-us-100-percent-of-our-rdi-of/#comments If you're like us, you've been spending most of your time in the lead up to E3 scouring the source code of gaming company sites searching for clues about next week's announcements. We happened to miss Sony's "Vita" namedrop in the code of a post about the "future of handhelds," but one reader managed to catch it before the company removed it completely. The inclusion of the name is the latest in a series of slip ups that lend credence to the notion that the decidedly generic Next Generation Portable title isn't the official name for the company's less investment heavy handheld. There's certainly the possibility that Sony was using the name PS Vita while developing the device internally, though mentions seem to be popping up more and more as we push closer to the big event. Either way, we're certain to get a big dose of vitamin Sony in a matter of days.

Sony NGP may become 'PS Vita,' give us 100 percent of our RDI of handheld gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3gaminggaming portableGamingPortablehandheldsnext generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpplaystationplaystation portablePlaystationPortableportable gamingPortableGamingps vitapspPsVitasonyvideo gamesVideoGamesvitaThu, 02 Jun 2011 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[NGP to be less 'investment heavy,' more 'affordable']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/ngp-to-be-less-investment-heavy-more-affordable/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/ngp-to-be-less-investment-heavy-more-affordable/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/ngp-to-be-less-investment-heavy-more-affordable/#comments
After years of losses in its PS3 division, it's no surprise that Sony's not attempting a fiscal encore. Just the opposite, in fact. Massaru Kato, Sony's Chief Financial Officer, stated recently that the upcoming NGP handheld won't be as "investment heavy" as previous platforms. What does this mean? Sony probably won't pour cash into developing new semiconductors just for its new handheld, and will instead opt to build NGP hardware with off-the-shelf and readily available components. This could translate to competitive pricing versus Nintendo's 3DS (we hope), but it's all quiet on the pricing front at Sony HQ. That's liable to change at E3 next week, but regardless we'd rather not have to wait four years just to hear Yoshida's good news again.

NGP to be less 'investment heavy,' more 'affordable' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gaminghandheld gamingHandheldGaminghandheldsManufacturingMassaru KatoMassaruKatoNext Generation PortableNextGenerationPortableNGPplaystationprofitsonySony NGPSony PlaystationSonyNgpSonyPlaystationvideo gamesVideoGamesMon, 30 May 2011 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real fake: Sony NGP with Xbox 360 livery shows up in China]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/keepin-it-real-fake-sony-ngp-with-xbox-360-livery-shows-up-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/keepin-it-real-fake-sony-ngp-with-xbox-360-livery-shows-up-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/keepin-it-real-fake-sony-ngp-with-xbox-360-livery-shows-up-in/#comments Look away now, Kaz, because it looks like this KIRF NGP is on track to beat the real deal to market. Known as the iReadyGo RG on Chinese forum CNGBA, this shameless rip-off is set to be a near-carbon copy of Sony's upcoming console with the same 5-inch touchscreen, though it isn't clear whether this will also be of OLED nature or of identical resolution. Other differences include the missing touchpad on the back, as well as the buttons' color scheme that's no doubt "inspired" by the Xbox 360 controller. The rest of the rumored specs include a 1GHz Cortex-A8 CPU, 720p camera, HDMI-out, and video playback compatibility for MP4, WMV, AVI, and many more. But what's most interesting is that apparently we'll be seeing some Android love here, and indeed, iReadyGo is currently recruiting six senior Android developers. No word on pricing or availability yet, but we'll probably wait for Sony's quad-core offering, thank you very much. Head past the break for a shot of the RG's glossy back.

[Thanks, rrw]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: Sony NGP with Xbox 360 livery shows up in China

Keepin' it real fake: Sony NGP with Xbox 360 livery shows up in China originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>720pA8AndroidChinaCortex-A8fakegaminghandheldhandheld consolehandheld gamingHandheldConsoleHandheldGamingHDMIiReadyGokeepin it real fakeKeepinItRealFakeKIRFNGPPSPsanzhaishanzhaiSonySony NGPSonyNgpThu, 05 May 2011 02:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Music Unlimited streaming service coming to NGP, will hit Xperia Play this year and PSP 'in a matter of weeks']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/sonys-music-unlimited-streaming-service-coming-to-ngp-will-hit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/sonys-music-unlimited-streaming-service-coming-to-ngp-will-hit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/sonys-music-unlimited-streaming-service-coming-to-ngp-will-hit/#comments It may sound patently obvious at this point, but there's still cause to celebrate -- Sony's streaming subscription music service, Music Unlimited, is headed to both the PlayStation Portable and its pair of divergent spiritual successors the Next Generation Portable and Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play. Eurogamer sat down with Sony Network Entertainment VP Shawn Layden, who spread the news readily, confirming that the service would be activated (at least in the UK) on PlayStation Portable "in a matter of weeks." Meanwhile, Android phones including the infamous PlayStation handset will get Music Unlimited "this year," and SNE "will make it happen" on the NGP as well, presumably sometime after the company reveals when its beast of a portable game station will actually come out. All in the name of taking your tunes with you wherever you happen to travel -- a concept that's getting rather popular right now.

Sony's Music Unlimited streaming service coming to NGP, will hit Xperia Play this year and PSP 'in a matter of weeks' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidaudiomusicmusic unlimitedMusic Unlimited powered by QriocityMusicUnlimitedMusicUnlimitedPoweredByQriocitynext generation portableNextGenerationPortableNGPplaystation portablePlaystationPortablepspQriocityseserviceSonysony ericssonSonyEricssonstreamingstreaming audiostreaming musicStreamingAudioStreamingMusicxperia playXperiaPlayFri, 01 Apr 2011 02:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: every NGP game will be available to download, some might not even make it to physical release]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/sony-every-ngp-game-will-be-available-to-download-some-might-n/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/sony-every-ngp-game-will-be-available-to-download-some-might-n/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/sony-every-ngp-game-will-be-available-to-download-some-might-n/#comments We're filling the time between now and the NGP's holiday season release the best way we know how: by hunting down yet more information about it. Andrew House, the man in charge of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, has delivered the latest tidbit in an interview with MCV, where he states unequivocally that every game on the next PlayStation Portable will be available to buy as a download. Notably, he also expresses Sony's desire to have simultaneous distribution in both digital and physical channels, but that sounds a lot less concrete than his promise that every game will be downloadable. Digital-only games also figure prominently in Andrew's vision of the NGP's future, as he expects them to diversify choice for consumers alongside the big time titles like Uncharted. To learn more about Sony's replacement of UMDs with flash memory and the reasoning behind the PlayStation Suite, follow the source link below for the full interview.

Sony: every NGP game will be available to download, some might not even make it to physical release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew HouseAndrewHousedigitaldistributiondownloaddownloadsfutureinterviewmcvngpplansplaystationplaystation portableplaystation suitePlaystationPortablePlaystationSuiteportable consolePortableConsolepsp 2Psp2quotesceesonysony ngpSonyNgpMon, 21 Mar 2011 08:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony readying NGP for November 11th European release?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/sony-readying-ngp-for-november-11th-european-release/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/sony-readying-ngp-for-november-11th-european-release/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/sony-readying-ngp-for-november-11th-european-release/#comments Sony's Jack Tretton told us the company intended to launch the Next Generation Portable in "at least one territory" by the end of 2011, and now we might know which one -- MCVUK reports that the quad-core, OLED-equipped handheld may arrive in Europe first, and on November 11th specifically. While it's probably a little too early to drop the hammer on a specific date -- even one as rhetorically pleasing as 11/11/11 -- the publication's anonymous sources say that "development deadlines have been set to ensure key Western releases are finished before the end of the summer for deployment in the autumn." Plenty of time to drop euros in your piggy bank.

Sony readying NGP for November 11th European release? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EuropeNext Generation PortableNextGenerationPortableNGPrelease daterelease datesReleaseDateReleaseDatesrumorrumorsSonyFri, 11 Mar 2011 03:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Skyhook brings location-awareness to the Sony NGP, including WiFi-only models]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/skyhook-brings-location-awareness-to-the-sony-ngp-including-wif/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/skyhook-brings-location-awareness-to-the-sony-ngp-including-wif/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/skyhook-brings-location-awareness-to-the-sony-ngp-including-wif/#comments
The news got a bit overshadowed by some augmented reality demos and a little game called Uncharted, but Sony also talked a bit about the NGP's location-aware capabilities at GDC this past week, which we now know will rely on Skyhook's Core Engine system. What's more, that functionality will apparently be included on WiFi-only models in addition to those with 3G, which means that all NGP users will be able to play location-aware games and take advantage of other various social applications. As explained by Sony at GDC, that could include things like the ability to find nearby NGP users and see what they're playing, and even more elaborate things like real-life treasure hunts -- all of which can presumably be switched off if you prefer to keep your mobile gaming habits to yourself.

Continue reading Skyhook brings location-awareness to the Sony NGP, including WiFi-only models

Skyhook brings location-awareness to the Sony NGP, including WiFi-only models originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core engineCoreEnginegdcgdc 2011Gdc2011locationlocation awarelocation-awareLocationAwarengpskyhookskyhook core engineSkyhookCoreEnginesonysony ngpSonyNgpSat, 05 Mar 2011 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[CE-Oh no he didn't!: NGP will be 'dead on arrival,' says ngmoco boss]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-ngp-will-be-dead-on-arrival-says-ngmoco/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-ngp-will-be-dead-on-arrival-says-ngmoco/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-ngp-will-be-dead-on-arrival-says-ngmoco/#comments In all honesty, you would expect the leader of a team concerned exclusively with producing games for smartphone platforms like iOS and Android to be dismissive of a new dedicated handheld console's chances, but it's still jarring to hear such a strident dismissal of the Sony NGP's chances. In an interview at GDC this year -- yes, the same place where we were treated to some very impressive demos of the NGP's performance -- ngmoco CEO Neil Young has expressed his belief that Sony's next PSP will be "dead on arrival." Claiming that the new portable will be incapable of competing with the rich ecosystems and affordable pricing models that smartphones now offer, Young says not even the crazy specs or PS3-like gaming will help the NGP survive. This echoes comments from Satoru Iwata last year saying that Apple, not Sony, is the "enemy of the future" for handheld consoles, though Young does close off on a positive note, saying that he sees brighter prospects for the 3DS thanks to Nintendo's rich collection of own-brand franchises and reserves of fan loyalty. So that's it, folks, better start selling those Sony shares while they're still worth something! Or not, it's up to you.

[Thanks, Dominick]

CE-Oh no he didn't!: NGP will be 'dead on arrival,' says ngmoco boss originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsceoceohnoceohno he didntCeohnoHeDidntdead on arrivalDeadOnArrivaldoagaminggdcgdc 2011Gdc2011handheld gamingHandheldGamingneil youngNeilYoungngmocongpnintendo 3dsNintendo3dsportable consoleportable gamingPortableConsolePortableGamingpsppsp 2Psp2quotequotedsmacksony ngpSonyNgptrash talkTrashTalkThu, 03 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/sonys-ngp-at-gdc-2011-more-video-of-the-quad-core-marvel-in-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/sonys-ngp-at-gdc-2011-more-video-of-the-quad-core-marvel-in-ac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/sonys-ngp-at-gdc-2011-more-video-of-the-quad-core-marvel-in-ac/#comments
The headline just about says it all -- we've got some new footage (as opposed to what we've seen before) of Sony's NGP for all you gamers to drool over. Today at GDC 2011, we saw a live demo of Uncharted, Little Deviants, and the NGP's augmented reality capabilities. We were, once again, impressed by Sony's latest piece of gaming hardware, but don't take our word for it, see for yourself in video footage above and after the break. And, oh-by-the-way, we gleaned a few new tidbits about the handheld powerhouse that developers may want to know -- retail game cartridges will be only 2GB or 4GB in size (notable because the average PS3 title is 9GB), and Sony recommends that devs looking to port PS3 titles to the NGP should simplify their models, shaders and textures to make them work. Now if only Sony would spill the beans about how much the thing'll cost.

Update: We didn't completely care for how our original Uncharted footage looked, so we uploaded a slightly higher-quality version. Enjoy!

Gallery: Sony NGP developer presentation at GDC 2011

Continue reading Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action

Sony's NGP at GDC 2011: more video of the quad-core marvel in action originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolegamesgamingGDCgdc 2011Gdc2011handheldhands-onmobile gamingMobileGamingngppsppsp 2Psp2quad coreQuadCoresonysony ngpsony playstationsony pspsony psp 2SonyNgpSonyPlaystationSonyPspSonyPsp2videoWed, 02 Mar 2011 23:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Imagination Technologies unveils Series 6 PowerVR GPUs -- promises desktop caliber graphics in mobile devices (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/imagination-technologies-unveils-series-6-powervr-gpus-promis/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/imagination-technologies-unveils-series-6-powervr-gpus-promis/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/imagination-technologies-unveils-series-6-powervr-gpus-promis/#comments Imagination Technologies may not be a household name, but they created the PowerVR GPUs that are the gold standard in mobile graphics, and are a part of the ARM SoCs you find in mobile devices like the iPhone 4, Galaxy S, and the Droid 2. Not one to rest on its laurels, the company unveiled its new Series 6 PowerVR chips -- affectionately known as "Rogue" -- that are 20 to 100 times more powerful than its previous handheld offerings. That's right, these GPUs will have the same horsepower as today's desktop computers while needing only a milliwatt of juice to deliver face-melting graphics -- the catch is that this bit of black magic won't be showing up in devices for a few years. Guess we'll just have to settle for the Series 5 chips -- like the quad core beast found in the Sony NGP and the upcoming OMAP 5 platform -- which the company promises will make their way into select smartphones "within three months." Be still, our gaming hearts.

Update: Three months? Hardly, ST-Ericsson has announced a series of new SoC processors, including the Nova 9600 that has "Rogue" baked in. The chip delivers HD video at 120 frames per second and can pull off pro-quality 3D video recording as well. Press release is after the break.

[Thanks, Rich]

Continue reading Imagination Technologies unveils Series 6 PowerVR GPUs -- promises desktop caliber graphics in mobile devices (update)

Imagination Technologies unveils Series 6 PowerVR GPUs -- promises desktop caliber graphics in mobile devices (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Imagination TechnologiesImaginationTechnologiesNgpOmap 5Omap5PowervrPowervr GpuPowervr Series 5Powervr Series 6PowervrGpuPowervrSeries5PowervrSeries6RogueSony NgpSonyNgpFri, 18 Feb 2011 01:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Shuhei Yoshida drops some NGP knowledge: PSP sticking around, PS3 games easy to port]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/sonys-shuhei-yoshida-drops-some-ngp-knowledge-psp-sticking-aro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/sonys-shuhei-yoshida-drops-some-ngp-knowledge-psp-sticking-aro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/sonys-shuhei-yoshida-drops-some-ngp-knowledge-psp-sticking-aro/#comments Details about Sony's next-gen portable Playstation, the NGP, have been scarce since we spoke with SCEA President-CEO Jack Tretton about the new device. However, in an interview in the forthcoming issue of Edge, Shuhei Yoshida --who happens to be president of SCEA Worldwide Studios -- revealed a few more tidbits about Sony's NGP strategy (alas, still no official price). Apparently, the PSP will stick around even after NGP's release because of high demand for the older handheld, not to mention a lower price. For those of you concerned about a dearth of titles upon the NGP's debut -- a la the PS3 -- fear not, as Yoshida stated that porting PS3 games was a goal from the very beginning and the process will be simple (relatively speaking, of course). Combine that with a push to make the NGP's development environment "as easy as possible," and we'll hopefully see plenty of available titles upon the device's release. Oh yeah, Yoshida-san also said that NGP is just the console's codename, and the real name will be announced later this year -- PSP2 just rolls off the tongue, now doesn't it?

Sony's Shuhei Yoshida drops some NGP knowledge: PSP sticking around, PS3 games easy to port originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developmentnext generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpPlayStationplaystation 3Playstation3ps3psppsp 2Psp2sceashuhei yoshidaShuheiYoshidasonysony ngpSonyNgpMon, 14 Feb 2011 17:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: the PlayStation towel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/visualized-the-playstation-towel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/visualized-the-playstation-towel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/04/visualized-the-playstation-towel/#comments And like the Sony NGP, it's touch-friendly on both sides. The officially-licensed, Taito-produced, 28 inches long absorbent cloth comes in three styles and will ship next month for $23.90.

Visualized: the PlayStation towel originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ngpplay stationPlayStationpssonysony ngpSonyNgptaiwantoweltowelsFri, 04 Feb 2011 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Kaz Hirai discusses NGP strategy, longevity, expectations (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/sonys-kaz-hirai-discusses-ngp-strategy-longevity-expectations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/sonys-kaz-hirai-discusses-ngp-strategy-longevity-expectations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/sonys-kaz-hirai-discusses-ngp-strategy-longevity-expectations/#comments Why was the NGP announced so far ahead of its launch? How long does Sony expect the NGP to reign before a refresh is needed? What impact will the NGP have on Nintendo's supremacy in mobile gaming? Each of those questions has been handled by Sony Computer Entertainment's chief Kaz Hirai in a video interview you can now eyeball after the break. In case you want the textual version of his responses, Kaz says the PSP successor was unveiled early in order to allow Sony to get as many third-party developers on board as possible (which is a lot easier when you don't have to worry about them leaking your hardware to Engadget), the new mobile console's lifetime should be no less than what we've come to expect from Sony's home consoles (so at least four or five years), and Sony's weapons for attacking Nintendo's dominance will be the litany of integrated sensors and connectivity options at the NGP's disposal. Kaz is careful to note that Sony is only aiming to improve on the PSP's current install base, but we suspect Sony's unofficial ambitions are far higher than that.

Continue reading Sony's Kaz Hirai discusses NGP strategy, longevity, expectations (video)

Sony's Kaz Hirai discusses NGP strategy, longevity, expectations (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamesgaminghandheld consoleHandheldConsoleinterviewkazkaz hiraiKazHiraikazuo hiraiKazuoHiraimobile gamingMobileGamingnext generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpplaystationplaystation portablePlaystationPortableportable consolePortableConsolepresidentsonySony Computer Entertainmentsony ngpSonyComputerEntertainmentSonyNgpvideoThu, 03 Feb 2011 17:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: A suite segment for PlayStation games]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/switched-on-a-suite-segment-for-playstation-games/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/switched-on-a-suite-segment-for-playstation-games/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/switched-on-a-suite-segment-for-playstation-games/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

One thing that has set Sony apart from its home console rivals has been the extended lifecycles of its hardware. Riding the momentum of a massive install base, both the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 each kept selling strong nearly a decade after their debut, and years after their respective successors were introduced. In fact, as late as 2009, Audiovox began offering a PS2 integrated into an aftermarket ovehead car video system with a 10" screen. Sony could pursue this strategy in home consoles because the PS2 was the runaway unit volume leader of its generation. Not so with the PSP.

When Sony introduced the PlayStation Portable, it entered a portable console market with fierce, entrenched competition from the incumbent Nintendo, and the powerful widescreen handheld was outsold by the Nintendo DS and its later derivatives. Sony couldn't attain the market share it needed to steamroll existing competition.

With Sony's announcements this week, however, the PlayStation purveyors seem to have found a way to take their one-two punch on the road with a strategy that takes the PSP and segments its evolution.

Continue reading Switched On: A suite segment for PlayStation games

Switched On: A suite segment for PlayStation games originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnngpPlayStationPlayStation 2PlayStation SuitePlaystation2PlaystationSuitePSonePSXross rubinRossRubinSonyswitched onSwitchedOnSat, 29 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/sonys-official-ngp-announcement-video-hits-the-web/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/sonys-official-ngp-announcement-video-hits-the-web/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/sonys-official-ngp-announcement-video-hits-the-web/#comments Sure, you followed along with our Tokyo liveblog and breathless posts announcing Sony's Next Generation Portable (codename: NGP, get it?) successor to the PSP. But nothing's quite like viewing a video posted 48-hours after the event to get a true feel for the historic occasion... historic to nerds like us anyway. The power is now in your hands -- use it wisely to watch a thrilling three-part trilogy after the break. More videos at the source link below.

Continue reading Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web

Sony's official NGP announcement video hits the web originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>next generation portableNextGenerationPortablengpplaystationplaystation meeting 2011playstation portablePlaystationMeeting2011PlaystationPortablepsppsp 2psp2sonyvideoSat, 29 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony says NGP will be 'affordable,' won't cost $599, WiFi-only version also coming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/sony-says-ngp-will-be-affordable-wont-cost-599-wifi-only-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/sony-says-ngp-will-be-affordable-wont-cost-599-wifi-only-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/sony-says-ngp-will-be-affordable-wont-cost-599-wifi-only-v/#comments We had quite the interview with Sony's Jack Tretton, but we certainly didn't corner the market on hot new NGP details -- Eurogamer and Game Informer quizzed the company's Andrew House and Shuhei Yoshida, respectively, and came out with some important tidbits about the quad-core gaming handheld, particularly regarding pricing. Though Tretton seemed to suggest we'll see a price somewhere northward of the Nintendo 3DS's $250, Yoshida was quoted as saying "It's not going to be $599," laughing off the idea that the system would cost as much as the PlayStation 3's infamous appraisal at launch, and House said that Sony "will shoot for an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space."

While none were willing to cough up a real ballpark estimate, the SCEE president revealed one way that the cost might come down: pushing out a lesser model, a strategy we've seen before. House said that while all devices come with WiFi, "a separate SKU will have 3G," making us wonder which of the handheld's other groundbreaking features might carry a premium. After all, OLED screens don't come cheap. Find the rest of Eurogamer's excellent interview (including a bit about how Sony will prioritize downloadable content over physical media) at our source link.

Sony says NGP will be 'affordable,' won't cost $599, WiFi-only version also coming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3GAndrew HouseAndrewHouseNGPpricepricingPSP 2PSP2SCEASCEEShuhei YoshidaShuheiYoshidaSonySony NGPSonyNgpWiFiWiFi-onlyFri, 28 Jan 2011 01:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/engadget-interview-sceas-jack-tretton-talks-sony-ngp-announce/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/engadget-interview-sceas-jack-tretton-talks-sony-ngp-announce/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/engadget-interview-sceas-jack-tretton-talks-sony-ngp-announce/#comments Ever since his candid and humorous E3 2009 Sony keynote introduction -- wherein he thanked the audience for showing up despite the big news (PSP Go) having already been leaked -- we've always had something of a soft spot for Jack Tretton. We managed to have a sit-down with the SCEA President-CEO following the company's big Tokyo meeting, a non-working NGP unit in tow. For a brief moment, Tretton "confirmed" that PlayStation Suite games (currently slated for Android devices) would work on PlayStation 3. We asked rather directly, to which he responded, "Yes, they will. Yeah." By the next question, however, he explained that he might've misspoken and wanted to clarify that Suite is only NGP right now. It should come as no surprise, then, that there was no talk of Suite for any other devices, be it Bravia sets or Google TV. Tretton said there was at least one compatible Android device currently on the market but wouldn't elaborate -- given the 2.3 requirement, we're presuming he meant the Nexus S.

We weren't able to get him to budge on the issue of the NGP's price, but we did ask him to opine on the Nintendo 3DS's $250 tag. Instead of offering friendly competitive jabs, he said only, "I think if the quality's there, then the people will find a way to buy it, within reason... I think that if you could create content that consumers see as compelling, they'll find money that they didn't think they had." A bit too reminiscent of former boss Ken Kutaragi's old adages, but hey, it's not like we expected a sub-$300 sticker, anyway. Some other highlights:
  • Tretton wouldn't definitively say whether or not original PSP titles are in Suite's future -- "at this point, it's PlayStation One games, but I think it can go in a number of directions." This runs a bit counter to what Kaz Hirai said earlier in the day, but either he might've misspoken or the translator erred.
  • The controller overlay we saw used as an example at the event was just that -- an example, with no guarantee of future use.
  • That "holiday 2011" launch applies to at least one territory, but Sony was "ambiguous for a reason" (i.e. simultaneous global rollout is a dream but far from a promise.) We probably won't have a clearer image until fall rolls around, sometime after E3.
  • No discussion on battery life, but Sony is "certainly look to improve upon [original PSP]." For what it's worth, that one measured about 4.5 to 7 hours at launch, and Sony eventually sold an extended-life pack.
  • PS Suite will have non-gaming apps.
  • A WiFi-only version? "We haven't made any determination on models yet," which is infinitely more vague than the confirmation of non-3G SKUs from SCEE president Andrew House.
  • Will Sony or a Sony partner make a flagship device to show off the Suite? A, dare we say, PlayStation phone? "Stay tuned" was all Tretton would say, followed by a laugh. Hey, at least we acknowledged the elephant in the room.
Full transcription after the break.

Gallery: Sony NGP detailed hands-on

Continue reading Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3

Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgoogle androidGoogleAndroidinterviewjack trettonJackTrettonnext gen portablenext generation portableNextGenerationPortableNextGenPortablengpplaystation 3playstation suitePlaystation3PlaystationSuiteps suiteps3psppsp 2Psp2PsSuitescesceasonysuitetrettonThu, 27 Jan 2011 16:36:00 EST