Category archives: playstation vita

 

 

PlayStation Vita 1.66 firmware update rolling out now, minor UI tweaks in tow

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Shortly after unleashing (and quickly pulling back) the PS Vita’s v1.65 firmware update, Sony’s rapidly rolling out a followup release. Version 1.66 brings with it a few UI tweaks, including tidbits such as the addition of a progress bar during app installs, notification alerts now only popping up for three seconds, plus the option to tap Retry / Cancel when running into troubles during location search. Games like Unit 13 and Gravity Daze will also see “functional improvements,” while the Near app is getting a direct link to the PlayStation Store , making it easier to grab apps that other folks are toying with. The refresh is up for grabs now, so be sure to hit that System Software on your quad-core beast, or head over to the source below if you’re in need of some guidance. PlayStation Vita 1.66 firmware update rolling out now, minor UI tweaks in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Sixth Axis | PlayStation Blog Europe | Email this | Comments

 

Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft: three very different takes on portable gaming at GDC 2012

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Tim Cook says the darnedest things. Why, just last week Apple’s head honcho suggested that iPad users are ditching their home consoles in favor of Cupertino’s favorite slate. Bold words, ones that can’t be sitting well with the gaming industry’s big three. Steady thy rifle, hardcore gamer, Cook has a point: the console wars have shifted irreversibly . Gone are the days of bickering over somewhat similar 16-bit consoles and their supposed lack of “blast-processing”; today’s gaming armies wage war with wildly different artillery. In the pursuit of your mobile gaming dollar, Nintendo toed a traditional line with a new twist. Sony, on the other hand, seems to have bundled every input method it could get its mitts on into its next-generation portable. Microsoft, however, puts the “mobile” in mobile gaming, echoing Apple’s own approach with an Xbox Live platform that eschews dedicated hardware to float across Windows Phone devices as a “feature.” Take a step back, and suddenly it seems like the major players of consumer gaming aren’t even driving on the same track. This war isn’t about the “most powerful” console anymore; it’s about creating the right experience for today’s gamer. We ducked under the unspoken truce of last week’s Game Developer Conference to get a bead on Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony’s portable gaming strategies. Read on to see what they’re doing to differentiate themselves from the competition. Continue reading Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft: three very different takes on portable gaming at GDC 2012 Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft: three very different takes on portable gaming at GDC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

Sony shows off PlayStation Vita's augmented reality chops at GDC, leaves the AR marker cards at home

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The PlayStation Vita’s current augmented reality mini-games may be anchored to a handful of marker cards, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Front and center at Sony’s GDC booth was “Magnet,” a developer tech demo that shows off the next generation handheld’s markerless chops. The application maps out the texture and patterns to create its own marker, which would allow developers to create more natural AR experiences that won’t burden players with the hassle of carrying around marker cards. Sony says the tech demo won’t be evolving into a full game, but hopes it will inspire developers to build something new and exciting for the handheld. Although staff on hand couldn’t say for sure that this is an off-shoot of Sony’s SmartAR technology , we think it looks awfully familiar. Sony shows off PlayStation Vita’s augmented reality chops at GDC, leaves the AR marker cards at home originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

Music Unlimited app arrives on PlayStation Vita, Android version gets offline play

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Listening to music isn’t the best reason to take the plunge with the PS Vita . However, a new feature’s a new feature, and Sony’s very happy to tell you that its own subscription-based Music Unlimited service has arrived on UK devices, courtesy of its own dedicated app. Now you’ve had your fill of the games, Twitter and Facebook apps, it must be time to integrate with Sony’s verticals and hand over more cash. The Android app has also been updated to include offline playback to songs added to your playlists — like another certain streaming music service. You can grab the latest version at the source below. Music Unlimited app arrives on PlayStation Vita, Android version gets offline play originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink PushSquare , Sony Entertainment Network | PlayStation Access (Twitter) , Music Unlimited (Google Play) | Email this | Comments

 

PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video)

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…And here’s the catch: the game you need is Motorstorm Arctic Edge (or ‘Raging Ice’ in Japan), and it appears to have already been pulled from the PS Store. Besides, it was never compatible with US-registered Vitas in the first place. Nevertheless, if you happen to have bought this old PSP title for your Vita already, then this may just work. Hacker Wololo claims that later today he’ll release Vita Half Byte Loader files, which will give you a “limited PSP homebrew experience” on your lovely new handheld — and indeed we’ve already seen it playing Sega Genesis titles. The hack supposedly uses an exploit in this particular Motorstorm title — but since Sony is already on VHBL’s tracks, who knows if it’ll really work or how long it’ll last? Video evidence after the break. [Thanks, Patrick] Continue reading PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video) PS Vita homebrew loader arrives today, but only if you have this hard-to-get game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Wololo (1) , (2) | Email this | Comments

 

PS Vita Facebook app officially resurfaces, available for download (again)

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If you were lucky enough to snag the free Facebook app for the PS Vita last week while it was briefly available , you probably found its performance balky, at best. Shortly thereafter, Sony unsurprisingly pulled it from the PlayStation Store , noting issues stemming from Facebook’s side of town. Well, good news just came in from Sony’s PlayStation Twitter account — Zuckerberg’s app is “fully restored” and ready for your downloading pleasure. Facebook’s relationship with Vita OS will, hopefully, be less “complicated” this time around, but let us know how it’s working for you in the comments. PS Vita Facebook app officially resurfaces, available for download (again) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | PlayStation (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

 

Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: 'over 1.2 million units worldwide', 2 million in software

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As of recently, the PS Vita has become available in the locales of America, Europe and PAL territories, and now Sony’s updated sales figures are in. How does “over 1.2 million units worldwide” sound? Because that’s how many systems were purchased as of February 26th. If you’ll recall, just two days after its December 19th arrival in Japan, the Vita rushed out of the gate, with Sony citing 321,000 units sold . Sales quickly slowed, however, despite the system making its way across Asia, as that number only rose to 500,000 by the time CES hit in January. Considering that means an additional 700K+ units were moved in less than two months, it seems that Sony’s latest handheld isn’t doing too shabby. Furthermore, it looks like a healthy amount of early adopters stocked up on games, as Sony also noted that more than two million pieces of software have been sold (out of 25 currently available titles) via retail and the PlayStation Store — that said, there’s no telling how popular those slightly cheaper digital editions have proved. Hit up the press release after the break for all the details, courtesy of the House of Kevin Butler Kaz Hirai. Continue reading Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: ‘over 1.2 million units worldwide’, 2 million in software Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: ‘over 1.2 million units worldwide’, 2 million in software originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink Joystiq | | Email this | Comments

 

SCEA Senior VP hints Hulu may be headed to PS Vita

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By now, we’re sure you have that shiny new PlayStation Vita all unboxed and have logged several hours on the thing playing games, Tweeting and watching vids on Netflix. But, if those apps we told you about earlier weren’t enough to fulfill your entertainment needs, you’ll be happy to know there could be more in stock for you. SCEA Senior VP Guy Longworth may have spilled the beans when he told The Hollywood Reporter “we have a partnership with Netflix and Hulu; this is a new way for them to distribute content.” An interesting statement given the fact there’s no Hulu app available now that Vita has launched. Good news is, the previously unknown hook-up indicates we may be be able to catch some episodes of Gossip Girl at some point in the future on our monstrous quad-core handheld . SCEA Senior VP hints Hulu may be headed to PS Vita originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink DualShockers | The Hollywood Reporter | Email this | Comments

 

Video: PlayStation Vita's AR game trio

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With the retail launch of the Vita hardware comes the arrival of three augmented reality games, using a set of six cards that look an awful lot like the ESP test cards Dr. Venkman used in Ghostbusters. I downloaded them all from the PlayStation Store today, carefully set up a camera between my face and Vita (keeping the table in view) and demonstrated all three. Of the three, Fireworks is the definite standout. And by “standout” I mean “one I could foresee playing a second time.” [Music: "Shanghai Moon" by USK ] Video: PlayStation Vita’s AR game trio originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Joystiq | Email this | Comments

 

'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr

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Did you just brave the lines of a midnight launch party and snag yourself a PS Vita in the US? Good news ye early adopters, Sony’s PlayStation.Blog.US has just announced that select free apps will be available today as part of today’s PlayStation Store update. Currently, you’ll find Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr, but there’s still nary of trace of Facebook or Foursquare among the bunch (nor any official word on release dates for that matter). We gave each app a download and quick spin prior to them being officially listed, and everything’s running fairly smooth so far. Disappointingly, Vita’s 20MB cap on 3G data is totally in effect on Netflix, as switching to our cellular connection denied us any access to the service. We’re giving the apps some extended use to bring you our initial impressions shortly, but for now, you’ll find more info at the source link below. ‘Select’ PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | PlayStation.Blog (US) | Email this | Comments