Since this is my first article for this site, I feel that I should explain who I am before getting into my reasoning.  I am a 26-year-old PC gamer, and have been primarily gaming on PCs since Quake 2 came out, desperately trying to connect to any server that would have me on my 56k connection.

In terms of the kind of PC gamer I am, I would say that I am “that guy.”  I will always say that a keyboard and mouse is the best controller, and will always moan and groan when you tell me you purchased the latest Call of Duty title for your Xbox or PS3.  Playing first person shooters with thumb sticks is like trying to hit a home run with a broken piece of plywood.  It just doesn’t work. That being said, I absolutely cannot wait for new consoles to come out.  Why?

Graphics Are All Dated

The Xbox 360 and PS3 are pretty long in the tooth as far as hardware goes, and although it’s impressive to see what developers can still do with the hardware they are still severely limited by it.  The cores in my current PC processor are taking turns napping and my video card is now in a coma because of developers holding back to make their titles multi-platform.  There have been a few exceptions recently (Skyrim, Battlefield 3), but even those 2 aren’t really pushing the envelope.

New Control Methods

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of consoles.  That being said, I’ve always wanted to use my precious keyboard and mouse and play Halo, Resistance, or whatever other console exclusive shooter is out.  Yes, I am completely aware that there are products that allow you to do this, but I really think that it should be a native thing.  Screw balance.  There are ranking systems now.  Let the people who want to play with controllers hover in the low levels while the people who want to seriously play get up to the intermediate/expert levels.  Will this ever happen?  Probably not.  But one can dream.

Consoles ARE Better for Some Things

When I want to play competitively, which is most of the time, I’ll boot up my PC.  If I want to sit back and relax and maybe take some story in, I’ll boot up my 360 or PS3.  Cinematic storylines are a better experience on a console than on a PC mainly because of my home theatre setup.  Bigger screen, bigger speakers, more to take in. While you CAN do this with a PC, it just doesn’t feel the same to me.

Although I am a PC gamer, I am realistic.  I know that consoles are the future and that they do bring in a lot more revenue than PC games.  Whether or not I will be able to keep using my keyboard and mouse for years to come will be up to the gaming industry.

Follow Ryan Chua @THEREALCHUA

The Xperia ION is a new flagship phone for Sony who purchased their cell phone division fully from Ericsson last year. It’s Sony’s first 4G LTE phone and is exclusive to AT&T. It packs a massive 4.6 inch 1280×720 HD display, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB or RAM, 16 GB of build-in storage, a powerful 12 Megapixel camera with LED flash plus 1080p HD video capture. It will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Sony’s UI customizations but will be upgradable to Android 4.0 ICS in the future. This phone I really like here from Sony. Pushing power and high camera specs with LTE data speeds should equal success here. Check out our hands-on demo.

We will be hosting a live blog even for Sony’s CES 2012 press event. Sony looks be going in the direction of connected devices and streaming entertainment with Smart TVs and electronics. There is sure to be some android related stuff as well from their mobile division now fully owned by Sony. We should get more details on the US launch of the PS Vita as well. Bookmark this page here for the live blog event starting at 5 PM PST on Jan 9th.

It’s been awhile since we have seen or heard from Google TV. The initial tries with the Sony Internet TV Player and the Logitech Revue failed to meet expectations. Now Google is looking to give it a second go with the latest Google TV update that brings Android 3.1 Honeycomb. The new update also brings a new a new interface that brings TV & Movies to the center stage. There is also better navigation between your content putting live tv, movies, streaming and internet content all in one place. There is also now access to the Android Market for apps to expand capabilities.  The update will roll out to the Sony Internet TV Player first then the Logitech Revue later on. Check out the demo videos below to get a quick glimpse at what’s new in Google TV.

*

Here is our first impressions, unboxing and hands-on of Sony’s first android tablet the S1. The S1 is the first Android 3.0 tablet from Sony and feature a 9.4 inch touch screen display, 1.0 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 Processor, 16 GB of storage, 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording, VGA front-facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, PlayStation Certified and runs Android 3.1 honeycomb with some custom overlays made by Sony. Check out our unboxing hands-on and first impressions video below.

Press Release:

Sony Announces Optimally Designed “Sony Tablet” with Android 3.0 that Complements Network Services for an Immersive Entertainment Experience

-Also strengthening VAIO in expanding PC markets-

Sony Corporation (“Sony”), announces “Sony Tablet” that delivers the perfect combination of hardware, content and network with seamless usability for a high-quality, engaging entertainment experience. Based on decades of engineering heritage, Sony is developing two tablets with unprecedented design, including S1 (codename) which is optimized for rich media entertainment and S2 (codename) which is ideal for mobile communication and entertainment. “Sony Tablet” will become available in the global market starting in fall 2011.
“Sony Tablet” is equipped with the latest Android 3.0 which is designed for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. Both tablets are WiFi and WAN (3G/4G) compatible and users can not only browse the internet or check e-mail but they can also smoothly access digital content including videos, games and books through Sony’s premium network services and more, on-the-go at any time.

S1 has a 9.4-inch display for enjoying the web and rich content on a large screen. Its off-center of gravity design realizes stability and ease of grip as well as a sense of stability and lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.
S2 has two 5.5-inch displays that can be folded for easy portability. In contrast to existing tablets, its unprecedented dual screen presentation and usability allows its displays to be combined and used as a large screen or for different functions such as playing video on one screen while showing control buttons on the other.
“‘Sony Tablet’ delivers an entertainment experience where users can enjoy cloud-based services on-the-go at any time. We’re aiming to create a new lifestyle by integrating consumer hardware, including ‘Sony Tablet’ with content and network,” said Kunimasa Suzuki, Corporate Executive, SVP, and Deputy President of Consumer Products & Services Group.
“Android 3.0 is a new version of the Android platform with a new holographic user interface that is designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets. I’m excited about “Sony Tablet” as it will further spur the development of applications and network offerings which users are looking for.” said Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President, Mobile, Google Inc.
Also, in the mobile computing category, the market for PCs which realize high productivity is expected to steadily grow, particularly in emerging markets. Therefore, Sony will also remain committed to strengthening its VAIO brand and introduce increasingly compelling products which offer new value propositions to the market.
“Sony Tablet” features.

Designed for portability and intuitive gripping

With its off-center of gravity form factor, the 9.4-inch S1 offers stability and a sense of lightness, offering comfortable use for hours.
The dual screen S2 comes with two 5.5-inch displays which can be used together as one large screen to browse websites and more. They can also be used for different functions as users can watch a video on one screen and input commands on the other, or check email on one screen and use the other as a soft keyboard.

Seamless Usability and Performance

Through Sony’s knowhow for combining hardware and software, “Sony Tablet” realizes optimal usability and performance. Because of Sony’s rapid response technologies, users can perform smooth, quick touch-screen operations and enjoy fast and efficient website loading. The keyboard arrangement is also optimized for the large screen, making email and SNS communication a breeze.

Rich entertainment experiences through various network services

Through Qriocity¹ music and video services, users can enjoy rich video and music content. Also, through PlayStation®Suite, users can immerse themselves in high quality first generation PlayStation® titles. Additionally, users can easily download ebook content from Reader™Store² and use both tablets as digital reading devices. The integration with various services allows users to take their entertainment experiences on-the-go. Furthermore, “Sony Tablet” is equipped with functionality that organizes content for easy access.

Remote access functionality with AV devices

Through “Sony Tablet”, users can control home entertainment devices as well as enjoy content in new ways. S1 uses infrared technology and works as universal remote controls for a variety of AV devices starting with. Users can perform functions like turning on their TVs, changing the channel and adjusting the volume. Also, through DLNA functionality on “Sony Tablet”, users can “throw” personal content to large screen televisions or music to wireless speakers.

In 2010, Sony launched a network platform called “Qriocity” which connects many of Sony’s network-enabled devices, and has been expanding its services into global markets. Also, Sony Computer Entertainment has been providing various contents and services for PlayStation users through PlayStation®Network, which now has over 75 million registered accounts (as of March 20, 2011) worldwide.

Simultaneously, Sony will continue to announce various devices which leverage these services. Starting in early 2011, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the next-generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP) while Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications brought “Xperia™PLAY” to the market. Sony is introducing “Sony Tablet” to deliver an entertainment experience which integrates hardware with network services that deliver rich content.

With the establishment of Consumer Products and Services Group in April 2011, Sony will focus on accelerating the development of innovative next generation products and aim to deliver a new lifestyle by strengthening the integration of hardware and network services.

1 In markets where service is available
2 In markets where service is available
“Sony Tablet”, “Qriocity”, “Reader” are trademarks of Sony Corporation
VAIO, are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation
PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Xperia is a trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB.
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Sony will release the HMZ-T1 3D head-mounted visor in Japan on November 11th.  If  you remember we saw the prototype back at CES 2011 and now they are official and releasing in Japan. The design has changed a bit from when we say it the first time but the specs look to be the same s before. It comes with two 0.7 inch 1280×720 OLED display that gives the user experience of viewing a 750 inch display about 66 feet away. It also has 5.1 surround sound coming out of the integrated headphones as well as the processing unit that has HDMI input and output so you can take the visor off to watch regular TV. It’s priced at 60,000 yen which is about $783 in the US. Check the video from CES 2011 and PR Below.

Via Engadget

Source: Sony Japan

Press Release:

Introducing World’s First*1 3D Compatible Head Mounted Display Equipped With High Definition OLED Panel
- Offering a new 3D-viewing style with movie theater-like virtual screen*2 experience –
Head Mounted Display "Personal 3D Viewer" (HMZ-T1)
Head Mounted Display "Personal 3D Viewer" (HMZ-T1)
Tokyo, Japan – August 31, 2011 – Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced the launch of Head Mounted Display "Personal 3D Viewer" ‘HMZ-T1′, a device that offers a spectacular new style for viewing both 2D and 3D content. Simply slip the device onto your head to experience the movie theater-like virtual screen (equivalent to a 750-inch screen*2) expand before your eyes.*3
It is equipped with the newly-developed 0.7-inch (diagonal 18.0mm) high definition OLED panel (1280 x 720), which have been realized through Sony’s unique expertise in both OLED display and semiconductor silicon drive technologies. The ‘HMZ-T1′ achieves HD picture quality that makes full use of the OLED display’s high contrast, color reproducibility, and fast response. In addition, the device adopts the ‘Dual Panel 3D Method’ which consists of separate panels for the left and right eye in order to display independent HD picture quality to each eye, which realize 3D vision. The viewer can enjoy natural and bright 3D picture quality that is crosstalk-free. Furthermore, we have achieved a wide horizontal viewing angle of 45 degrees by incorporating an optical lens that thoroughly suppresses unwanted elements such as aberration and distortion. Viewers can now enjoy watching video on a movie theater-like big-screen (750-inch virtual screen, virtual viewing distance approx. 20m)*2. Sony has also adopted its original virtual surround signal processing technology. Combined with the high-resolution 3D picture quality, viewers will be able to fully enjoy powerful acoustics equivalent to a maximum of 5.1ch through the left and right headphones alone.
Sony group has offered a wide range of 3D products and 3D content production systems, from industrial 3D filming and editing equipment and movie theater systems through to its "BRAVIA" LCD TVs, home projectors, Blu-ray™ Disc devices, Personal Computer VAIO and "PlayStation 3" while its "Handycam" and "Cyber-shot" cameras even enable people to film 3D video themselves. And now, this new 3D viewing style provided by ‘HMZ-T1′ will enable users to enjoy the movie theater-like experience whilst relaxing on their living room sofa, thus further expanding Sony’s 3D world.
Main Features
(1)
The high definition OLED panel delivers HD picture quality.
(2)
The ‘Dual Panel 3D Method’ delivers natural and bright 3D picture quality that is crosstalk-free.
(3)
Optical lens which realize wide 45-degree horizontal viewing angle (750-inch virtual screen, virtual viewing distance approx. 20m)*2 which is equivalent to a movie theater screen, while the shielding construction creates a deep feeling of immersion.
(4)
’5.1ch Virtual Surround Technology (Virtualphones Technology)’ for realistic and expressive sound.
*1
As a 3D-compatible Head Mounted Display for consumer product (announced on August 31, 2011).
*2
Virtual screen size experience may vary between individuals.
*3
This device must be connected to the supplied processor unit via supplied cable, and the processor unit must be connected to a playback device such as a Blu-ray disc™ device via the HDMI cable.
Main Features (Details)
(1) High definition OLED panel delivers high picture quality
It realized 0.7-inch, high definition OLED panel (1280 x 720), through Sony’s unique expertise in both OLED display and semiconductor silicon drive technology. The display’s high contrast, color reproducibility, and fast response give added depth, allowing the viewer to enjoy smooth and high picture quality. For more information about high definition OLED panel
High contrast： The self-illuminating OLED panels achieve a powerfully high contrast that transcends the limits of measuring equipment. The display’s ability to render true ultra-deep black tones results in beautiful and stunningly crisp contrasted images, even for bright light such as fireworks or twinkling city lights against the night sky.
Color reproducibility： Sony developed a new signal processing circuit in order to maximize the features of OLED, particularly the bright, highly-pure colors and smooth gradation expression. Sony’s own proprietary ‘Super Bit Mapping Video (SBMV) technology’ has been incorporated to convert the 8-bit video of terrestrial digital broadcasts and Blu-ray discs™ for reproduction as a gradation expression equivalent to 14-bits. Even the faintest color differences are faithfully reproduced.
Fast response： The OLED panel illuminates as soon as electrical current is passed through it, giving it superior fast response (response time: less than 0.01ms) for video. This enables the panel to display smooth, natural video, even for fast-moving activities such as sports and games, without any blurry afterimages.
Interchangeable lens camera "α77" and "α65", as well as "NEX-7" are equipped with 0.5-inch (diagonal 12.7mm) and XGA electronic viewfinder (EVF). (Announced on August 24, 2011)
(2) The ‘Dual Panel 3D Method’ delivers natural and bright 3D picture quality that is crosstalk-free
Displaying 3D images using a single screen generally requires either the Frame Sequential (FS) method, in which the screens for left and right are switched rapidly, or the Line by Line (LBL) method, in which the video for left and right is displayed alternately on the scan line. The FS method tends to generate crosstalk phenomenon, which occurs when the left and right video frames do not switch completely, resulting in mixed images. Under the LBL method, the number of pixels is halved.
‘HMZ-T1′ adopts the ‘Dual Panel 3D method,’ which utilizes separate panels for the left and right eyes, each with its own dedicated 3D video. Therefore, it does not generate crosstalk. Furthermore, as the HD quality video is displayed separately on each of the panels, viewers can now enjoy high resolution 3D video that is natural, bright and extremely pure, to an extent that had not been possible until now.
(3) Optical lens which realize wide 45-degree horizontal viewing angle equivalent to a movie theater screen, while the shielding construction creates a deep feeling of immersion.
From Sony’s optical lens technology developed through the projector, the adopted optical lens realize the wide 45-degree horizontal viewing angle, which enables the viewer to enjoy a movie theater-like atmosphere with wide vision experience of 750-inch virtual screen (virtual viewing distance 20m)*2. In addition, it realizes low aberration and distortion which reproduce the primary movie theater picture quality. The viewer can easily read small subtitles whilst experiencing the intensity of 3D as the video images expand before their eyes.
The design of this device is such that it covers the maximum possible field of vision (approx. 200 degrees), surpassing the video viewing range of 45 degrees. Any information unrelated to viewing is isolated, resulting in a feeling of deep immersion. The supplied light shield (shade plate) can intercept the light from below, which further enhances the feeling of immersion for the viewer.
(4) Equipped with ’5.1ch Virtual Surround Technology (Virtualphones Technology)’ to enjoy realistic and expressive sound
‘HMZ-T1′ incorporates Sony’s unique expertise in surround signal processing technology ’5.1ch Virtual Surround Technology (Virtualphones Technology)’, which is developed especially for headphones. "Virtualphones Technology (VPT)" creates a sound field that naturally reproduces the sound to make it seem as though the sound source is emanating from speakers placed all around the viewer (including front and back). The viewer can enjoy sound equivalent to a maximum 5.1ch multi-channel audio, thus further enhancing the spatial effects of 3D, whilst simultaneously experiencing a very realistic feeling of actually being there.
Equipped with 4 surround modes
It is equipped with 4 surround modes which one can select depending on the content. Aside from ‘Standard’ mode, the user can also select from ‘Cinema’ for authentic movie theater-like acoustics, ‘Game’ for reproducing a clear sense of direction, which can be vital for game-playing, and ‘Music’ for those times when the viewer simply wants to enjoy the original sound, such as might be heard in a recording studio.
Other Features
1. Convenient operation
The device’s control key (located behind the front) is used to control the volume and basic operations (such as playback, pause, fast forward, rewind, previous chapter, next chapter) of any connected devices with HDMI CEC control function. Settings for the picture quality and audio quality can also be performed via menu screen.
2. Convenient functions
It is equipped with a wearable sensor, which automatically turn off the panel if the viewer is not wearing the product. It is a convenient function and environment friendly. If the viewer is not wearing the product for a fixed period of time, it will automatically switch to standby mode.
3. Processor Unit for connection to other devices
Head Mounted Unit (left) Processor Unit (right)
Head Mounted Unit (left)
Processor Unit (right)
The processor unit is equipped with one socket for HDMI output and another for through output. The built-in HDMI output switcher enables both the Head Mounted Display and a television to be connected to the processor unit at any given time, thereby allowing the user to switch between devices for their desired output destination.
Furthermore, the processor unit and the HMD can be connected together with a single cable, which integrates the audio and video signals with the power source.
Health Consideration
Age restrictions
Considering the protection of the growth and development, we ask children (age 15 and younger) to refrain from using this product.
Cautionary matters when using the device
In any rough or unstable environment with a propensity for travel sickness to occur (such as in a vehicle), we ask our customers to refrain from using the device.

Hardware & Design

The version we are reviewing here is the Verizon one and Sony Ericsson is known for solid hardware and the Xperia Play keeps that tradition alive. The 4 inch display with preinstall screen guard is crisp and great to view. Games and video have correct and vivid colors. The physical menu buttons is not common on android phones but fit well on here and don’t feel cheap or flimsy. It’s a thicker phone but has light weight to it while not feeling cheap. The big feature of this phone is the slide out PlayStation certified controller. It’s a full controller with touch sensitive analog sticks. The controller feels great in the hand and I didn’t get hand cramps while playing games. The buttons have a nice click to them and don’t feel too small.

The Xperia Play comes with a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and a front facing VGA camera. The phone doesn’t record HD video which is disappointing considering that this is more in the high-end range of phones. The still images are pretty good and Sony Ericsson is known for putting solid cameras in their phones.

Inside there is a 1.0 Ghz single core processor with an Adreno 205 GPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, pre-installed 8 GB SD card and 3G data speeds. Strange choice not to have 4G LTE on this out of the gate especially with online gaming and game downloads that you may want to do on the road.   The design reminds me of a PSP Go but a lot more comfortable to hold and the hardware specs while a bit behind with todays dual core smartphones is good.

Software & Usability

The phone is running a stock version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Performance is smooth with no lag when swiping between desktops or loading apps. There is very little customizations made by Son with just a few widgets they have included and when you slide the keyboard up you will get the Xperia Play game menu. They have included 6 games to start:  Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, Madden NFL 11 and Crash Bandicoot. The games do need a download before they are playable and all preloaded and new games are Wi-Fi download only. There is no PSN support for this device which just plain makes no sense. You have a PlayStation phone but no connection to PSN in any way. It’s a huge loss of opportunity there. Games looks good and closet o PS One games. Some games do look better than others but the all about the same range.

While the games come in good there isn’t any custom music or video player. Since this is stock android you are left to grab this on your own. Now for some this is great you get a clean phone and can customize it fully to your liking. However there are others that just simply want these features easy and accessible and don’t want to go through that whole process.

Battery life is typical android with needed to charge after a full day of usage. For gaming on simpler games will give you longer playtime than game with more advanced graphics. A mix between the two can give you about 3-4 hours of gameplay but either way you will need to charge the phone daily and be close to the charger if you are a heavy user.

Overall

The idea of the Xperia Play is capture some of the mobile gaming market that has become big thanks to smartphones like the iPhone which the Xperia Play is competing against. Now the device does do what it says in bringing you a full feature gaming experience which is better than your going to get on any mobile phone today but its missing out on some of the other things such as music and video. Since its stock on the Verizon version your left to grab those apps that will be the solutions for those yourself.  I know the AT&T version will have Timescape UI and for some Android purist they won’t like this but It should fair better against the iPhone including its music and video player from Sony’s Timescape UI  to make it easier for those who are not the most tech savvy.

Sony’s dual screen android tablet the S2 will be coming to AT&T.  Official word came out today that the S2 dual screen Sony tablet will be using 4G data from AT&T with HSPA+. There isn’t much else know about it other than it will run Android 3.x honeycomb and will have two touch screens. No pricing or release date information either.

Press Release:

AT&T to Connect “Sony Tablet” S2 on Nation’s Fastest Mobile Broadband Network
DALLAS, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* today announced that AT&T will be the exclusive U.S. mobile broadband provider for the “Sony Tablet” S2 (codename), a dual screen, multi-functional tablet ideal for mobile communication and entertainment, that Sony Corporation plans to launch later this year.
“We’re pleased to be working with AT&T on yet another unique mobile device,” said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of Networked Technology and Services Division at Sony Electronics. “AT&T provides the speed and coverage that are integral to the different features and functions of our tablet. We value our relationship as they share our commitment to growing the ‘Sony Tablet’ S2 and the tablet market overall.”
The “Sony Tablet” S2 will be 4G** capable and Wi-Fi compatible. With a qualifying data plan, users of the “Sony Tablet” S2 will have access to AT&T’s mobile broadband network and unlimited access to AT&T’s more than 20,000 hot spots nationwide. With both 4G and Wi-Fi, users can browse the Internet, access digital content including videos, games, and check e-mail, while on the go, nearly anytime.
“With its unprecedented, completely portable form factor, the ‘Sony Tablet’ S2 offers tablet enthusiasts a convenient and unique entertainment experience,” said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T emerging devices. “Users will be treated to exceptional graphics and the touch-screen capabilities will enable a fast and efficient website experience.”
AT&T will offer monthly data plans for the “Sony Tablet” S2. Distribution and pricing will be announced at launch.
For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G compatible device. Learn more at att.com/network.
***Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

Via Engadget

Sony isn’t going to be left out of the game as they are brining the Sony S1 and S2. The Sony S1 will be an Android 3.x power tablet running a dual core Nvidia Tegra  2 processor. The screen size will be 9.4 inchs and will have Wi-Fi + 3G and 4G ability. Now what’s interesting is the news of the PlayStation Suite being included into this as well. It makes sense with the Tegra 2 processor for Sony to use their PlayStation brand to push some games out to it.  Notebook Italia gets some video of this S1 with PlayStation Suite in action.

Via BGR

Source Notebook Italia

Sony today announced at their E3 2011 press seen their next portable handle console the PS Vita.  The PS Vita is the official name of the codenamed NGP system. The PS Vita is a quad-core system with a 5 OLED touch screen display, dual analog thumb sticks d-pad, standard PlayStation button, six-axis motion controls, front and rear facing cameras and a touchpad on the back.  Top-tier original titles will be coming to the system such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Ruin, Street Fighter X Tekken and well-known favorites such as LittleBigPlanet and ModNationa Racers.

The system will come in both Wi-Fi and 3G models with the 3G version being sold by AT&T exclusively. The wi-fi model will sell for $249.99 US and the 3G model will go for $299 US with expected release time at the end of 2011. We will definitely get some hands on time on the show floor tomorrow with the PS Vita. Share your thoughts and check out the press releases below.

Press Release 1:

Sony Computer Entertainment Announces “PlayStation®Vita” as the Official Name for Next Generation Portable Entertainment System

Wi-Fi Model: 24,980 Yen (including tax), $249 and euro 249
3G/Wi-Fi Model: 29,980 Yen (including tax), $299 and euro 299

Realizes Unparalleled Interactive Network Entertainment

TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE)today announced PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) (PCH-1000 series) as the official platform name for the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP). Wi-Fi model will be available for 24,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $249 in US and euro 249 in Europe, 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for 29,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $299 in US and euro 299 in Europe and successively launch in global market starting the end of 2011.
“Vita,” which means “Life” in Latin, was chosen as the most appropriate name for the next generation portable entertainment system as it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCE is aiming to transform every aspect of user’s daily life into an entertainment experience.
PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new game play experiences never before seen on any device, allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” finger motions. Also PS Vita features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience, such as shooters, action games, and fighting games. Exciting and attractive new titles*1 are scheduled to be released from SCE Worldwide Studios, including “GRAVITY DAZE,” “Uncharted Golden Abyss,” “Little Deviants,” “Hot Shots Golf,” “Reality Fighter,” “Hustle Kings,” “ModNation Racers,” “Wipeout 2048″ and “Super Stardust Delta,” as well as from a broad range of third party game developers and publishers, which will deliver value only possible on PS Vita.
Also, by having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, PS Vita will enable infinite possibilities for users to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with friends wherever they are. On January 27, 2011, SCE announced the first PS Vita application, “near,” which will come pre-installed. It will let users discover what games PS Vita users in the vicinity are or were recently playing, as well as let users share their game information. “near” also enables location-based gaming features such as “gifting,” in which a user can access virtual game-related items that other users are sharing, through checking in at geographic locations that others have also visited. The virtual items can include content unlocked from games, such as character costumes, weapons, and treasures. Sharing these items between users adds a unique dimension to the portable gaming experience on PS Vita while enhancing the social connectivity among the PS Vita community.
Additionally, PS Vita will come pre-installed with a newly developed application called “Party.” “Party” is an innovative application for a portable entertainment system which enables users to enjoy voice chat or text chat not only during online gaming, but also when users are playing different games or using different applications such as internet browser. Through “Party,” which offers a new form of social networking, and “near,” which enables users to share their game information with other users anywhere, anytime, users can dramatically expand the boundaries of interactive communication.
Also a tutorial application called “Welcome Park,” developed specifically to guide every user about PS Vita’s brand new user interface such as the front touch display and the multi-touch pad on the rear, will come pre-installed. By playing “Welcome Park,” users can easily become accustomed to the three dimension-like finger motions used on PS Vita.
SCE will vigorously promote PS Vita towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and work towards expanding the portable gaming market.*1 Some title names are tentative. Titles may differ by countries and regions.

Press Release 2:

Sony Computer Entertainment America Unveils Exciting Details About Next Generation Hardware and Exclusive Software

SCEA Continues Long-Standing Tradition of Delivering Groundbreaking Technology and Unrivaled Content at the 2011 E3 Media & Business Summit

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. (SCEA) today announced at its annual press conference at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles, Calif., a stunning line-up of PlayStation® products, services and exclusive content that will change the way consumers experience their favorite games and entertainment at home and on-the-go.
“We are dedicated to providing our consumers with the types of entertainment offerings that have made PlayStation a definitive leader in the gaming and portable entertainment industries for more than 15 years,” said Jack Tretton, CEO and President of SCEA. “With the official North American unveiling of PlayStation®Vita as well as the introduction of an extensive line-up of software, hardware and services, the PlayStation platform has never been stronger or more exciting for our customers. We believe that 2011 will be a defining year as we usher in a new era of portable gaming and drive widespread adoption of 3D through our content and hardware offerings.”
Introducing PlayStation®Vita
In March 2005, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system defined new standards in portable entertainment and provided game enthusiasts worldwide with a new way to experience games outside of their living room. The PSP system broke through traditional boundaries then and has gone on to sell more than 70 million units since its launch. In January, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) announced a new portable device for a new generation of gamers — the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP).
Today, SCE announced PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) as the official platform name for NGP. A Wi-Fi model will be available for 24,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $249 MSRP in US and euro 249 in Europe, while a 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for 29,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $299 MSRP in US and euro 299 in Europe. PS Vita will launch in the global market starting at the end of 2011.
Derived from the Latin word “Vita,” which means “Life,” this next generation portable entertainment system enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context.
The PS Vita system incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, the PS Vita system offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” finger motions. Also the PS Vita system features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.
In addition to the PS Vita system pricing, SCEA also revealed today that AT&T, which powers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, will be the exclusive service provider in the United States for the PS Vita system. The speed and coverage of AT&T’s mobile broadband network will ensure that PS Vita system users will remain connected to content and each other on the go.
On the content front, SCEA showcased a robust collection of software titles developed exclusively for the PS Vita system. Featured titles including UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss™, LittleBigPlanet™ and Ruin (working title) utilize the platform’s groundbreaking technology to make unprecedented immersive, interactive and social game play available on-the-go. UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss takes full advantage of PS Vita’s stunning OLED screen to deliver vibrant cinematic visuals and combines input from the front-touch screen and dual-analog sticks to create the most intuitive 3rd person shooter experience available on a portable system. Also making use of PS Vita’s unique feature set, LittleBigPlanet allows users to Play, Create and Share like never before with the system’s front touch screen and rear touch pad as well as its front and rear cameras. Finally, Ruin brings the ultimate social action RPG experience and also delivers interoperable compatibility for players to save their game on the PS Vita system and continue on at home using the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. Adding to this selection of innovative games, SCEA unveiled a collection of PS Vita titles that will be available including wipEout®, ModNation™ Racers, Reality Fighter (working title), Super Stardust™ Delta, Sound Shapes, Hot Shots Golf®, Hustle Kings™ and more.
Additionally, conference attendees received a look at Capcom’s STREET FIGHTER® x TEKKEN® for the PS Vita system which will feature Cole MacGrath as a playable character from the popular PS3 franchise, inFAMOUS™.
PlayStation®3 system
Currently in its fifth year, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system continues to experience tremendous momentum, recently surpassing 50 million units sold worldwide. To-date, more than 2,300 games have been made available for PS3 including 108 stereoscopic 3D titles and 184 PlayStation®Move titles, and that momentum continues into 2012. Expanding PS3 system’s industry-leading catalog of stereoscopic 3D games, SCEA presented a selection of new entries from fan-favorite series featuring full stereoscopic 3D support including UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception™, Resistance®3 and God of War®: Origins Collection. SCEA also announced the return of one of PlayStation’s most beloved franchises, Sly Cooper®: Thieves in Time™, which will treat players to an all-new adventure in stereoscopic 3D featuring classic characters, Sly, Murray and Bentley. In addition, SCEA introduced new titles utilizing the innovative PlayStation Move controller to deliver unique motion gaming experiences such as Everybody Dance™, Carnival Island (working title), and Medievil Moves: Deadmund’s Quest™.
In addition to an unprecedented line-up of first-party titles, third-party support for the PS3 system has never been stronger. Content shown at the conference includes the highly-anticipated first-person shooter BioShock Infinite from 2K and Irrational Games which will support the PlayStation Move motion controller, and will also include the original BioShock on the PS3 Blu-ray disc.
Additional exclusive content that will only be found on the PS3 system was announced for titles including Saint’s Row: The Third from THQ, Electronic Arts’ SSX™, Need for Speed™ The Run, and Battlefield 3™. For Battlefield 3, the PS3 version promises to be bigger than any other as Electronic Arts will be using the extra storage capacity of the Blu-ray to add a second game to the disc, Battlefield 1943, one of the most popular games available on PlayStation®Network.
Innovations in stereoscopic 3D
As a leader in 3D entertainment and gaming, SCEA kicked off the 2011 press conference at E3 on the world’s largest 3D screen – showcasing a breadth of first- and third-party titles coming this year in 3D that is unmatched.
SCE today also announced the upcoming availability of the new PlayStation branded 3D Display. The 24-inch full HD LCD display will give PS3 users easy, affordable access to stereoscopic 3D entertainment. Available this fall, the 3D Display comes bundled with 3D Glasses, an HDMI cable and the highly anticipated Resistance 3 title from Insomniac Games for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) at an attractive recommended retail price (MSRP) of US$499.99. The 3D Glasses will also be sold separately, concurrently with the 3D Display launch for MSRP of US$69.99.
Designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience, the 3D Display comes equipped with a special two-player feature, which allows two players playing a multi-player game to see individual, unique, full-screen images of gameplay using the bundled 3D Glasses and supported software title.
PlayStation®Network
With more than 77 million accounts worldwide, PlayStation®Network continues to be one of the largest networked entertainment platforms in the world and is the premier destination for games, TV and movies, sports and music entertainment. Today, SCEA announced that coming this fall , BestBuy’s CinemaNow video service will be accessible to PS3 owners, providing consumers with access to more than 12,000 of their favorite TV episodes and movies for rental or purchase.
Publisher support for PlayStation Network continues to remain strong as CCP introduced a new PlayStation Network exclusive title, Dust 514®, which will feature PlayStation Move support and also be made available for the PS Vita system. Another exciting game coming exclusively to the PS3 system and PlayStation Network in 2012 is Star Trek™ from Paramount Digital Entertainment. The game, which continues the adventure that director and producer J.J. Abrams envisioned with Star Trek™ (2009), boasts a story filled with action- packed combat and will be fully PlayStation Move enabled. Paramount Digital Entertainment will also offer an exclusive prequel to the game only on PlayStation Network.

Photo Via: Joystiq