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Of course there's a Ridge Racer game for PlayStation Vita
Namco Bandai didn't have much to show at Sony's post-keynote gathering of playable games, but an interactive "trailer" running on the PlayStation Vita was expressly designed to show the publisher's commitment to the handheld. As always, Namco's courtship of new hardware begins with Ridge Racer. There's not much game to speak of at the moment, as the nondescript trailer consisted of little more than a camera swooping over an extravagant 3D car. Swiping across the screen, poking the rear touchpad and tapping the shoulder buttons introduced some visual effects and altered the soundtrack, but this served no real purpose other than to impart assurance that Namco knows exactly what the PSV can do. A Namco representative wouldn't commit to a Vita launch debut for the game, but readily acknowledged Ridge Racer's day-one traditions. After all, a new platform just doesn't seem real until Namco plays its part.
Blazblue Continuum Shift 2 being 'considered' for Vita launch
We managed to endure Sony's deafening gathering in the LA Memorial Sports Arena just long enough to spot a PlayStation Vita version of Blazblue: Continuum Shift 2. An Aksys representative tells us it might end up with the subtitle of Continuum Shift 2 +. The 2D fighter is likely to be a launch title for Sony's new handheld, though Aksys has yet to finalize a release date. Compared to the recently released 3DS and PSP games, the Vita version of Blazblue boasts sharp HD sprites and beautiful, vivid colors, thanks to the system's OLED screen. Aside from some slowdown we encountered in a Ragna vs. Noel fight, it looks to be an excellent reproduction of the console versions (and will reflect their latest balancing updates). As an added bonus, the smaller screen obscures some of the jagged edges exhibited by the game's large sprites. The Vita's flat, segmented d-pad played nicely with Blazblue's fast-paced combat, and an Aksys representative said that the development team is thinking of using the rear touchpad for something. Don't force it, guys!
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath and Munch's Oddysee coming to PlayStation Vita
Despite being omitted from the grand list of PlayStation Vita developers, Just Add Water hit the Twitters to confirm Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee will both be on the Vita. Additionally, each game will support cross-platform cloud save functionality.
Vita sizzle reel teases lineup, shows mystery game 'Dragon's Crown'
Sony flashed footage of a lot of upcoming PlayStation Vita games during its presentation tonight, including some things that remain unannounced. For example, Shinobido 2, a new ninja stealth game in the style of Tenchu, from original Tenchu developer Acquire. And soon after that is "Dragon's Crown," an unannounced, 2D side-scroller that can only be from Muramasa developer Vanillaware. Or someone biting Vanillaware's style big time. We would guess it's Vanillaware, because the title shows up in a trademark by Ignition, who published Muramasa.
Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions
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.
Let your eyeballs touch this LittleBigPlanet PlayStation Vita E3 trailer
On stage at Sony's E3 2011 press conference, LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation Vita was revealed. Sony Worldwide Studios VP Scott Rohde unveiled the newest handheld installment in the franchise, which will support touchscreen controls, tilt controls and rear touchscreen controls. He also promised an expanded toolbox for budding creators and mentioned the PlayStation Vita's duel cameras, though he didn't confirm to what extent the latter would be used. Hit the jump for the announcement trailer.
There's an Uncharted: Golden Abyss video at the end of this short post
The Uncharted series wowed us on two fronts this evening. After the break, courtesy of a kind stream-capturing YouTuber, check out the tinier of the two prongs, Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PlayStation Vita.
Sony press conference wrapup: PS Vita rears its touchscreened head
So close, and yet -- no! Just close. Very close to achieving a rare E3 prediction Bingo, as seen in the marked-out card above. There was certainly no shortage of news between the pricing and naming of the PS Vita and a metric ton of Uncharted demos -- but man, if we'd gotten a new PS3 bundle, we would have been made in the shade. Check out the full wrapup after the jump!
Here is a list of your PlayStation Vita developers
Eager to toot its horn on the vast third-party support the PlayStation Vita will apparently enjoy, Sony fired off a list of developers in a press email earlier today. The Japanese developers currently dwarf the North American studios who have signed up, but it's understandable: Sony has been doing well in Japan with the PSP for some time now, there's more confidence in the platform there. Anywho, hit the jump for the full list and give us your best guesses on what they're working on in the comments section!
ModNation Racers modded into Vita game
Among the litany of PlayStation franchises you'll get to experience on the PlayStation Vita is the kart racer ModNation Racers. The Vita version includes touchscreen creation controls -- and a ton of user-generated content! Like 2 million+ items. Because all the content created by users for the PS3 version of the game will be available for the Vita version on day one.
Ruin to bring social-action-RPG hybrid to PS Vita and PS3
Sony has announced a fairly neat sounding application for the PS Vita's beefy social networking features -- it's a "social-action-RPG" called Vita, which sees players create their own hero and lair, and siege the lairs of their friends (and rivals!) The top-down, Diablo-style lootfest will also have a PS3 version, which allows players to transfer (transfarr?) their saves between the two versions at-will.
Street Fighter x Tekken coming to Vita, with Infamous's Cole McGrath [update: Cole 'exclusive to SCE platforms']
A press release detailing the PlayStation Vita lineup includes a surprise: Street Fighter x Tekken ... on the go! Okay, not surprised enough? The Vita version of the crossover fighter "will feature Cole MacGrath as a playable character from the popular PS3 franchise, inFAMOUS." But he's not from Street Fighter or Tekken! Shenanigans. Update: Capcom announced that Cole will be "a playable character exclusive to SCE platforms," so looks like he's on PS3 too!%Gallery-125555%
PlayStation Vita launches globally by end of 2011, starting at $249
Before Kaz Hirai or any other Sony officials announced the actual price of the recently renamed PlayStation Vita, the company's PR wing tipped us off to the price and release date: PlayStation Vita will launch worldwide starting "by the end of 2011," and will arrive in two models starting at $249. SCE detailed the two separate PSV models as a 3G/Wi-Fi version running $299/€299/¥29,980, and a Wi-Fi-only model for $249/ €249/¥24,980. The release is unclear as to which territory will receive it first. Sony excuses the bizarre name by explaining its Latin roots, saying "Vita" was specifically chosen for its meaning of "life." Apparently Sony believes mobile gaming is life? We're trying here, but it's ... it's kind of a bizarre name.
Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G
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-125550%
PlayStation Vita features voice chat via 'Party'
aHey, cross-game chat is coming to PlayStation ... Vita! It's called "Party," and according to a quick explanation by Kaz Hirai, it allows people to talk to each other through the PlayStation Vita system even while playing different games, using either a headset or the microphone built into the Vita device. We're not used to that name yet. "Vita." Will we ever be?
NGP officially named 'PlayStation Vita'
It's not exactly the world's best kept secret, is it? Sony's next handheld officially became the "PlayStation Vita" this afternoon at the company's E3 2011 press conference. And you can stop pronouncing it "Vite-Uh," as Sony Computer Entertainment head Kaz Hirai repeatedly pronounced it "Veeta." Hazaa! We'll have a ton of hands-on coverage with PlayStation Vita's games as the week progresses, but we'd love to hear your reaction to the new name right now in the comments.
BioShock universe game coming to NGP
You guys read that headline? Cause that's what we know. The illusive Ken Levine just said that there's a "pet project" that Irrational's been kicking around for a while that will live on NGP. And it's BioShock-related. That's all we know. But like, isn't that enough to pique your interest? It's enough for us. Man, when did you guys get so jaded?
Dust 514 is a PS3 exclusive
A CCP spokesperson took to the stage during the Sony E3 2011 press conference to confirm that the upcoming MMO Dust 514 would be a PlayStation exclusive. Along with a release on the console, CCP and Sony will be extending the universe with a dedicated space in PlayStation Home, Move support on the PS3 and some kind of extension of the game on NGP. Dust 514 will launch next summer (though Jack Tretton says spring of 2012). A closed beta will launch exclusively on PlayStation Network at the end of this year.
Sony files for 'PS Vita' trademark in Europe, intends to do something Next Generation with it
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 'PS Vita' logo appears on EU trademark registry filing
On friday, while no one was peeking, Sony Computer Entertainment was quietly filing to trademark the name "PS Vita" and a logo in Europe. But NeoGAF forum user B.D. noticed, and pointed out the Trademarks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union (breath) filing this morning, which again hints at the repeatedly rumored final name of Sony's codenamed handheld, the NGP. Additionally, Sony Computer Entertainment filed for the name "PlayStation Vita." Unfortunately, none of the listings specifically spell out what exactly the trademark is for -- each of the three listings denotes a wide range of potential applications, including gaming (and specifically handheld gaming). It's likely we'll find out what's what tomorrow evening, when Sony's E3 2011 presser kicks off, and the company is expected to put a final name on its upcoming handheld.
