Sony PS Vita demo hardware drops in at US GameStop locations

February 7th, 2012, 00:08 Posted By: wraggster

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Vita gets functionality update this Wednesday

February 6th, 2012, 23:48 Posted By: wraggster

Sony’s PlayStation Vita will get a hefty functionality update this week ahead of its US and European launch later in the month.
The 1.6 firmware update will, amongst other things, introduce a brand new app to the machine’s home screen – Map.
It works in much the same way as Google Maps and uses the console’s in-built GPS tech to trace a user’s location.
In addition, Vita’s photo app will also be upgraded to include video recording.
Also on the way is a Mac OS version of the PlayStation Content Manager software, which until now has only been available on PC. It allows users to backup their handheld onto their Mac and manage their video and photo content.
Oh, and the Home button will now flash blue when the system is charging as well as changing the PSN branding to SEN.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/vita-...dnesday/090775

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Handy Sony map shows where all UK Vitas are

February 6th, 2012, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster

PlayStation has put together a map to show consumers where they can play Vita.
The new handheld goes on sale on February 22nd, and is available to play in locations up and down the UK, including all GAME and GameStation stores. You can check out the full map here.
It is part of the platform holder's aggressive bid to achieve mass awareness for the new portable. The firm is still in the process of taking its Vita rooms tour across the UK, while ads are starting to appear across the country and on TV.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/handy...tas-are/090776

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FIFA: Is this Vita's killer app?

February 6th, 2012, 23:43 Posted By: wraggster

FIFA Football can be PlayStation Vita’s big system shifter. And that’s not a statement from publisher EA, but a leading video games developer.
Epic Games VP Mark Rein reckons consumers will lap up the title. His comments come after FIFA 12 topped the Chart-Track All Formats Top 40 for seven weeks. FIFA remains a PSP top seller, too.
“You generally don’t find a killer app at the launch of a new console,” Rein told MCV. “But I’m really looking forward to playing FIFA. To me that’s why I buy a portable system.
“With the dual analog sticks and rear touch screen, I think FIFA could be the killer app for PS Vita.”
FIFA Football’s producer Matt Prior added: “FIFA pushes the PS3 to its limits. We’ve brought that experience to a handheld and I think footy fans will appreciate this. Hopefully it’s a big success.
“We can look to integrate the Vita experience with the console. Some potential uses in the future would be being able to continue your career mode or Ultimate Team on the go, then upload your progress at home and continue it on your console. ‘FIFA anywhere’ would be a great experience.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/fifa-...ler-app/090780

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'Vita brings cheer to a dour High Street'

February 6th, 2012, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster

PlayStation Vita can warm up a bitter start to the year for games retail.
The games trade is upbeat about the new hardware launch, with specialists and mainstream outlets ramping up pre-orders, launching micro-sites and preparing midnight launches.
“In a period of market decline it’s a great opportunity to drive sales, and the excitement the launch generates is great for our customers and colleagues,” Sainsbury’s senior games buyer Toby Burton told MCV.
“We’ve been taking pre-orders through our Sainsbury’s Entertainment website for some time now and it’s tracking really well. The great thing is not all customers are pre-ordering the same game, which goes to prove that the launch line-up is more appealing and diverse than your average hardware launch.”
Morrisons’ games buyer Nick Sultanti added: “The Vita launch should bring a welcome cheer to a dour High Street, it’s an amazing bit of kit.”
GAME already has Vita units in all of its stores, while Asda’s head of games Andrew Thompson says the grocer ‘will be open in over 200 stores for a midnight launch’.
“The excitement around this launch shows that handheld gaming remains as popular as ever,” said GAME marketing director Anna-Marie Mason.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/vita-...-street/090781

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Global PSN rebrand this week

February 6th, 2012, 20:07 Posted By: wraggster

Customer data transferred to Sony Entertainment Network

Sony is to ditch the PlayStation Network brand as soon as this week, the company has explained.
The digital platform will be renamed Sony Entertainment Network by Wednesday, and all PSN account holders will have their details transferred over. Firmware updates will be issued to both PS3 and PS Vita systems.

“This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering,” read a company statement.
Sony said the rebrand is part of a wider aim of offering a more diverse range of content across its consumer devices.
Movies, music and games will be “all accessible from one convenient account”.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...rand-this-week

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Is the PlayStation Vita worth £230?

February 4th, 2012, 23:02 Posted By: wraggster

What a difference six months makes. In June last year Sony boss Kaz Hirai proudly took to the stage at E3 to announce that the Vita would retail for $250 (or $299 for the 3G version) - a figure that was generally greeted with enthusiasm by both press and gamers alike. Meanwhile, the considerably less powerful 3DS was floundering at around the same price, just a few months after its launch.Fast forward to January 2012 and the 3DS is flying off shelves following an unprecedented pricing rethink while the Vita has got off to a miserable start in Japan, with numerous internet commentators already starting their 'cut the price' catcalls.So, one month ahead of the machine's global launch, we've enlisted the help of technical intelligence experts UBM TechInsights and taken a screwdriver to Sony's new portable in an attempt to divine two things - whether you're getting good value for money, and whether Sony has left itself any room for an emergency price drop should the Western launch belly-flop.UBM's VP of business intelligence, Jeffrey Brown, tells us that the total bill of materials for the 3G-enabled version of the system comes in at an estimated $159.10 - that's around £102.90. That figure breaks down as follows:

• Display and touchscreens: $50
• Battery: $3.60
• Cameras: $3.50
• Wi-Fi/BT/GPS: $3.50
• NAND: $6.00
• SDRAM: $9.25
• Processor: $16.00
• BB+XCR: $16.25
• Non-electronic: $11.00
• Other: $30.00
• Supporting materials: $10.00

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Official Uncharted: Golden Abyss Vita case announced

February 4th, 2012, 22:57 Posted By: wraggster

An Uncharted: Golden Abyss-branded carry case headlines Thrustmaster's line of officially-licensed PlayStation Vita accessories unveiled today.Priced at £24.99, the shock-resistant foam-lined box is "specially designed to optimize the PS Vita's wireless functions", includes space for six games and features a dog tag embossed into the lid.You can also get exactly the same case but with the Uncharted branding replaced by a plain Vita logo for £19.99.Thrustmaster is also offering a VIP Case, priced at £16.99. "Modeled after glasses cases from leading designer brands", it's felt-lined to protect the console's screen and sports an automatic closing mechanism.All three will be available from the system's 22nd February launch. Check out the snapshots below for a closer look.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...case-announced

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Hirai: Sony could be facing "serious trouble"

February 4th, 2012, 22:54 Posted By: wraggster

Incoming Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has admitted the ailing electronics manufacturer needs to turn things around quickly or it could face serious problems.Speaking in an interview with The Wall Street Journal ahead of the company's troubling quarterly financial report yesterday, Hirai said that returning Sony to profit will be the biggest challenge he's faced in his career to date."I thought turning around the PlayStation business was going to be the toughest challenge of my career, but I guess not," he said."It's one issue after another. I feel like 'Holy s***, now what?'"His strategy for recovery includes instructing staff to stop resting on past glories and start selling customers a superior "user experience"."We really need to buckle down and be realistic. I don't think everybody is on board, but I think people are coming around to the idea that if we don't turn this around, we could be sitting in some serious trouble."Earlier this week Sony announced an enormous £1.3 billion loss for the last financial quarterand expects to report a loss of $2.9 billion for the full year. That will be its fourth consecutive year in the red.The poor performance was blamed on floods in Thailand disrupting the supply chain, the "deterioration in market conditions in developed countries" and "unfavourable foreign exchange".Former PlayStation boss Hirai formally takes over from current Sony CEO Howard Stringer on 1st April.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...erious-trouble

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Sony patented Wii U-esque controller, has pics to prove it

February 4th, 2012, 22:28 Posted By: wraggster

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