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Sony patent sketches reveal Wii U-esque controller system, keeps it vague
While Nintendo is darn proud of its attempts to differentiate itself from other console manufacturers with its unusual hardware choices, it looks like Sony also had plenty of touchscreen-toting, TV-connected ideas way back in 2010. These patent sketches explain a handheld device that bares a foggy resemblance to Nintendo's incoming Wii U. The "position-dependent gaming, 3-D controller, and handheld as a remote," would act as the "input to a video game" -- or controller, as we technical types like to call it -- adding in some augmented reality functionality as an overlay to camera input on the device. The PS Vita is already capable of doing most of what's posited above, including the ability to hook up to its older (bigger) brother, the PS3 -- possibly that anonymous box you can see above. If such a mystery device device does appear, at least it looks like Sony's got its bases covered, again.
Sony announces firmware update for PS Vita, maps and video apps coming this week
Sony announced a pretty significant firmware update for the PlayStation Vita today, bringing mapping, video and added Mac support to its new console. Perhaps the most notable feature of the version 1.6 update is its new Map app, featured on the Vita's home screen. The application offers much of the functionality you'd expect to find in similar tools, including walking and driving directions, as well as satellite imagery. Previously capable of taking only static shots, the Vita's camera app will now support video as well, which seems only logical. Alongside this update is a new Content Manager app for Mac OS, which had previously been available for Windows only. The update will begin rolling out on February 8th, but you can get a preview of some screenshots at the source link below.
Sony PS Vita demo hardware drops in at US GameStop locations, lets you go hands-on (update)
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.]
PlayStation Network ID moniter sacked, falls under Sony Entertainment Network umbrella on Feb. 7
Listen up, those of you with PlayStation Network IDs. Sony Computer Entertainment International has announced that, as of February 7th, PSN IDs will change into SEN IDs as a part of its existing Sony Entertainment Network The company has aimed the move at clearly unifying the services of PSN and SEN, such as Music Unlimited. Fret not, however, as Joystiq notes that the change is basically a looks-only affair, meaning your current account information and related services will remain the same. Notably, the moniker refresh won't apply to the PSP, which will curiously remain under the PSN moniker for network services. The news comes as a part of SCEI's updated Terms of Service and privacy policy, both of which take effect on the same day. Those changes, by the way, appear to mainly be regarding location-based services for PS Vita, and parental controls for sub-master accounts. After all of the bad times PSN has been through, partnering up closer to SEN might just be the refreshed outlook on (online) life it needed all along -- and hopefully with less downtime. Hit up the source link below for the full details.Update: We've adjusted the post to clarify that the PlayStation Network will remain named as such, but that PSN IDs have now become SEN IDs.
Shocker: PS Vita downloads cheaper than boxed games
Digital copies of games that you download bypass the time-and-money-consuming manufacturing, logistics and retail processes. It's only natural that we as consumers expect some of that saving to be passed along to our own wallets. There's a fair chunk of evidence to suggest that downloading PS Vita games over PSN will result in a ten percent saving on the boxed edition (that you'd have to drive to a store for, and everything). Of course, it would be unseemly to point out that those few dollars will spell the death-knell for thousands of jobs, so we won't.
PS Vita game downloads cheaper than boxed copies in US
Sony is offering a discount for game-starved shut-ins with PlayStation Vitas, Shacknews has confirmed. It shouldn't come as a surprise, since Sony has been talking about doing such a thing for months now, and has followed a similar pricing scheme -- favoring downloads -- in Japan.There's no exact indication of how much you'll save downloading through PSN compared to purchasing boxed copies, but a NeoGAF thread of supposed Best Buy SKUs suggests it'll be a ten percent discount.
Sony reveals new 3G/WiFi PS Vita bundles: free data, PSN games and memory cards for everyone
Sony's PlayStation Vita hasn't exactly sold like hotcakes over in Japan, so the company has sweetened the pot for the portable's potential Stateside buyers. Those who placed pre-orders will get a couple of extra goodies for their $350. To go with the previously promised limited edition case, 4GB memory card and copy of Little Deviants, you'll also receive 250MB of data from AT&T and a PlayStation Network game gratis as soon as you activate 3G on the device. Furthermore, folks buying a Vita on launch day can look forward to the same free data and PSN game, plus an 8GB memory card in exchange for their $300. So, that enough to get you on the handheld's bandwagon? Sound off in the comments below.
Living la vita hacker: PS3 firmware exploit expands Vita Remote Play options
Those gosh-darned hackers just refuse to get off Sony's lawn, serving up yet another exploit for the outfit's latest baby, the PlayStation Vita. Well, sort of -- the Vita's own code hasn't been breached, but it sure plays nice with PlayStation 3 custom firmware 3.55. The PS3 tweak apparently recognizes the Vita as a mobile phone, which somehow allows it to Remote Play a wider assortment of PS3 games than normal. It's not all unicorns and double rainbows, however, as input lag appears to be an issue -- but it should help tide over enterprising Vita owners until Sony officially expands its list of Remote Play-compatible titles. In the meantime, those on the straight and narrow can console themselves with the Vita's recently updated 3G data plan. Hit the break to see the trick cram Battlefield 3 onto the small screen.
PlayStation Vita gets updated 3G data plan, offers an extra gigabyte for a Lincoln
We can't say we were overly concerned about busting through the Vita's 2GB monthly data threshold when the handheld's 3G variant hits AT&T next month, but the network, it seems, isn't taking any chances. According to the Vita's AT&T page, Ma Bell's making sure you'll never be blocked from nabbing those download-capped PlayStation Minis by upping the previously announced 2GB for $25 plan to 3GB for $30. Surprised? Don't be -- this change just brings Sony's next generation handheld in-line with the network's updated data plans. The Vita's budget-friendly $15 for 250MB option is still ripe for the picking, but that won't get you far if you plan to watch Netflix on the go, will it?
AT&T PlayStation Vita 3G hands-on, races PlayStation 3 on WipeOut (video)
We bought, we played, we reviewed. Now the officially official AT&T-connected Vita is nearing that February release date. We couldn't help but have another play, and you may be glad to hear that it's largely unchanged from our time with the Japanese model. Thankfully there's no network blemishes on the unit -- a Sony spokesperson told us that it's more of a tie-in for data, so there's no hardware changes. We were unable, however, to check to see if these demo devices were carrier-locked like the NTT DoCoMo version. Everything else, including the sumptuous five-inch capacitive display and dual-analog controls are all in attendance. There were also plenty of new games looking likely to launch alongside the US device, including Little Big Planet and WipeOut. We also got demoed a cross-platform race between two PS Vitas and PlayStation. Both our hands-on and a dash of cross-PlayStation gaming awaits after the break. You've saved enough cash for February 22nd, right? Sean Cooper contributed to this post.
Sony racks up over 6.5 million in PlayStation sales over holiday season
Looks like Sony is reaping the benefits of strong holiday sales for its range of consoles coming under the PlayStation umbrella. After introducing the PS Vita early in December, the company managed to shift about 500,000 units in its own backyard, while ageing predecessor, the PSP, continued to sell 1.6 million units worldwide. Not to be outdone, the PS3 nearly broached the 4 million mark, bringing Sony closer to its fiscal year-end goal of 15 million for the five-year old gaming powerhouse. The system's motion control add-on, Move, also moved a considerable 1.7 million units, with the PS2 still puttering along and enjoying "robust sales in emerging countries." Brand equity? Sony's got it in spades.
Netflix coming to PS Vita, aims to launch on day one
Sony's PS Vita won't hit the US market until February, but when it does, it should support Netflix. The confirmation has just come through this evening from Sony's CES press conference, where the company confirmed that Netflix is "working toward" prepping an app for the device in time for its launch. No other specifics were immediately offered, though it certainly gives us another reason to look forward to next month. As always, we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we hear more.
Live from Sony's CES 2012 press conference
It's prime time and Sony is ready to shine as always, ready to show off its latest flood of consumer products for us, and you. Check after the break for our up-to-the-minute liveblog of every TV, camera or other device that's been flown into Las Vegas for our perusal.
PS Vita coming to AT&T next month
The 3G PlayStation Vita is finally coming to the US in February, courtesy of AT&T. Sony's latest handheld gaming platform is being billed by the carrier as a product that is "going to change the gaming industry. Period." Those are mighty bold words but, as we already learned, it's a mighty bold device. You'll be able to sign up for one of two data plans directly from the device -- $15 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB. Of course, that's not terribly surprising since those are the standard contract-free data plans available from Ma-Bell. You'll be able get your 3G Vita fix starting February 22nd. PR is after the break. Update: In an interesting twist Ralph de la Vega said it'll be even better when it "gets LTE." Though, we've heard nothing official about a 4G vita -- so this is either an unintentional leak or a simple slip.
Engadget Distro Issue 21 asks: 'Will the revolution be portable?'
As the unstoppable avalanche of tech news that is CES comes rushing our way, we bring you Distro Issue 21, the very first of the year. This edition brings with it three reviews: Michael Gorman takes on Samsung's Series 7 Chronos laptop, Brad Molen explores what's in Pantech's rather bizarre Pocket and Mat Smith gets his game on with Sony's next-gen portable, the PlayStation Vita. Also in this issue, our supreme leader, Tim Stevens, recommends a way for the FAA to approve devices for in-flight use, Ross Rubin talks the "Three D's of CES TV" and Matt Lees of Official Xbox Magazine answers the Distro Q&A. And, as to our plans at CES, keep it locked here for not one, but two new issues of our fine weekly, packed full of the most important news to come out of this year's show. Distro Issue 21 PDF Distro on the iTunes App Store Distro in the Android Market Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Disaster Report creator working on new IP for Vita and PS3
The creator of Disaster Report 4, Kazuma Kujo, may have suffered a small setback when his game was canceled following the earthquake in Japan last year. But it hasn't turned him off of game development for good: he reports via Twitter that his new studio at developer Granzella is hard at work on a new title for both the PS3 and the PS Vita. Kujo says that the game will be downloadable, though the PSP isn't planned to be supported at this time. It's a completely original IP, he says, but wouldn't tell Twitter followers in what genre it would be. Granzella is working on at least two titles for the PS3 and the Vita, and this is presumably one of them. Kujo also says he'd like to make a war strategy game at some point, similar to the old R-Type Tactics games, and that he knows followers are looking for a Steambot Chronicles sequel in the future as well. Let's just hope production for all of these goes a little smoother than last time.
PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video)
Still mulling whether or not to pick yourself up a PlayStation Vita? Obsessed with retro gaming titles? If you answered "yes" to both, you should probably start socking away a few extra coins, buster. YouTube user frwololo has just upped a video showcasing the Half Byte Loader running the Picodrive emulator on Sony's PS Vita -- the first major proof that this kind of wizardry is indeed a possibility. The nuts and bolts of how it happened are being kept under wraps for now, and he seems certain that Sony's inbuilt security will make the mod unusable as soon as it's released. That said, there's still a lot of hope to be found in the clip just after the break, and c'mon -- who doesn't need a little hope to kick off a year where we're all supposed to perish?
EVE Evolved: All there is to know about DUST 514
Last week, EVE Online developer CCP Games officially started accepting beta signups for its upcoming MMOFPS DUST 514. This first phase of closed beta tests will be open only to active EVE Online subscribers, giving us an early opportunity to contribute feedback to the game's development ahead of console players. I think that's important because it's our universe that the game will take place in -- literally. DUST 514 players will be connecting to EVE Online's supercluster, so gameplay between the two titles will be intimately linked in realtime. With the new game's release date set for the summer 2012, EVE players can expect the next big expansion to focus heavily on planetary control and the DUST 514 link. The past month has been flush with new information on DUST's customisable vehicles, drop suits, infantry weapons and more. We've even had a look under the hood at the server architecture that will keep the planet-bound battles fast and furious without lagging out the EVE players smashing each other to bits in orbit. In this week's EVE Evolved, I gather together all the key information on DUST 514 released this month and discuss what it means for EVE Online players.
The morning after: PlayStation Vita sales go cold during first full week in Japan
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.
PS Vita gets second firmware update, nixes software bugs
There's not many things worse than when your new imported tech toy is hobbled by teething issues. Just over a week since its launch and Sony's great portable hope has been gifted its second firmware update. Version 1.51 can be grabbed through your PC, PS3 or the Vita itself and promises to fix issues with "game progress" -- mentioning launch title Dynasty Warriors: Next in particular. However, gamers have already figured out that playing through the title offline side-steps the software hiccups that this patch hopes to remedy. Early adopters can hit up the system update option to ensure their machines remain in peak condition or hit up the source for the PC link. [Thanks Adam]
