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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.
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
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?
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]
PlayStation Vita's North American launch details: 25 games, $10 to $50 apiece
Already pondering that long-awaited trip to Japan in order to snag a PlayStation Vita in advance? Hold your horses, vaquero. Sony has just given anxious US and Canadian gamers reason to look forward to a launch of their own by laying out the official software plan for 2012. We're told that February 22nd will be the day to remember, with a total of 25 titles being available alongside the console. In fact, the company's calling this "the biggest and best lineup [it has] ever launched across the history of PlayStation platforms." Over 100 titles are in development, with the 25 shipping on day one being priced between $9.99 and $49.99; moreover, each one will be available for purchase at retail locations as well as downloadable on the PlayStation Network. Hit the source link below for the full spiel, and keep your eyes peeled for pre-orders to go live in the coming weeks.
Sony PlayStation Vita review (Japanese edition)
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-142174%
Sony denies Vita plagued by screen issues, claims apology was lost in translation
Sony is a little hot under the collar after a recent wave of stories regarding some bugs that allegedly beguiled the first wave of PS Vita owners. As you may recall, reports were pouring in that many customers were experiencing freeze ups and other performance issues with their new handhelds, prompting Sony to issue an apology. Well, it seems as if something got lost in translation. A UK spokesperson for the company told the Guardian that the statement was actually apologizing to customers experiencing difficulty getting through to tech support, not for the screen issues that have been the subject of many a YouTube video. He went on to say that Sony has seen no evidence of widespread problems with the portable gaming device, though, there was firmware update made immediately available to address some bugs.
PlayStation Vita launches in Japan, shifts 321,400 units in two days
Kaz Hirai probably had a sleepless weekend as he and the team waited for the two-day sales figures for Sony's PlayStation Vita. He can probably relax a little, knowing that 321,400 of the things were exchanged for cold, hard cash in the retail outlets of Japan. In comparison, Nintendo's 3DS sold 50,000 more units but sales soon stalled -- only to be rescued with a hefty price cut. Of course, now the company has to ensure that the performance issues that early-adopters have been facing are resolved -- we'd hate to experience the same teething trouble when it arrives over here in February.
Sony issues apology and software update for first batch of Vitas (video)
The PlayStation Vita has just barely hit the market in Japan, and it's already off to a rocky start with consumers. Only a matter of hours after the first unit was sold, users started complaining of software bugs, unresponsive touchscreens and complete system freezes. It's actually quite normal for new consoles to have a rough first few days with their new owners, but the speed at which it went from a few folks complaining of poor performance to a firestorm of furious customers flooding Twitter was quite surprising. Strangely enough, Sony must have been aware that some of these issues still lurked inside their latest portable gaming hardware, as the company has already issued a public apology and a software update. Hopefully most of the kinks will be worked out by the time the handheld hits stateside -- we're not sure how forgiving American gamers will be when faced with the lag you can see in the video after the break.[Thanks, Rodney]
PlayStation Vita gets the teardown treatment, offers a look inside before February release
If you've been poring over the PlayStation Vita's US manual, here's a peek under the hood to fuel your mobile gaming fire. The folks over at PocketNews have popped open Sony's highly anticipated handheld thanks to the official Japanese release over the weekend. We're hoping to have our hands on one shortly for a full review, but until then, hit the gallery below for a look at the inner-workings of the Vita for yourself. %Gallery-142094%
