Category archives: playstation

 

 

PS Vita gets (another) firmware update, free-to-play Montezuma Blitz available now

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It’s been barely a week since the last one , but Sony’s now begun rolling out firmware version 1.67. It’s another meaty download, weighing in at just under 100MB, although there’s no detail on what it changes — we’re still exploring the update. Following the refresh, you can also pick up the PS Vita’s latest free game, Montezuma Blitz , a Bejewelled -style puzzle game. However, it’s not the first game to be offered up free on the Vita and some pesky in-game purchases taint that freebie status a little. Both the update and game are available to download on your Vita now. PS Vita gets (another) firmware update, free-to-play Montezuma Blitz available now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink The Verge | PlayStation blog | Email this | Comments

 

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

 

Sony's PlayMemories Studio now live on PSN, get your Playstation 3 photo-edit on

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Yesterday’s rumor about Sony launching PlayMemories Studio this week has just become fact. The $15 editing suite has just gone live on the PlayStation Store, enabling plebes to edit, organize and share photos (and video) right on their home console of choice, the PS3. Those with a spare Vita or PSP laying around can also put those to good use through Remote Play functionality. Unsure if Sony’s couch-iPhoto experience is for you? Hit the source for more info on the whole shindig, in addition to details on how to get your creative side on with a gratis thirty day trial. Sony’s PlayMemories Studio now live on PSN, get your Playstation 3 photo-edit on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Playstation Blog | Email this | Comments

 

Sony to add photo editing to PlayStation 3's repertoire this week?

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Limber up those thumbs gaming gurus, because a new challenge may be on its way to your PlayStation 3 console: photo editing. PCWorld is reporting that Sony will be rolling out some new “photo editing software” for the PS3 early this week. Tweaking photos aside, the software’s ultimate purpose will be to provide access to and allow the sharing of digital stills through the company’s PlayMemories Online (and your other Sony portable media devices), which is set to launch later this year. The report states that the software will be on sale here in the US on Tuesday and carry a price tag of $18 — a 30-day trial will also be available. What say you PlayStation Legion? Are you ready to retouch your stills with a D-pad? Sony to add photo editing to PlayStation 3′s repertoire this week? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | PCWorld | 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

 

Nielsen report finds 56 percent of US households have a modern game console, total gaming time up seven percent

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Nielsen is out with its annual survey of video game use in the US today, and it’s found that gaming continues to be on the rise across the board. That includes a seven percent increase in total gaming time compared to the previous year (apparently due largely to increases in mobile and tablet gaming), and an increase in modern console ownership from 50 percent of households to 56 percent; that includes so-called 7th generation consoles like the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It also found the number of cross-platform gamers be on the upswing, with 24 percent responding that they play on two or more of a console, PC, tablet or mobile device (compared to 17 percent previously). Looking at mobile gaming, specifically, Nieslen found that while iOS gaming tended to be distributed fairly evenly across all age groups, Android gaming proved to be far more popular among those aged 25-34 than any other group. A few other tidbits: 65 percent of consoles are located in the living room, online shopping for games is up while other channels continue to decline, and streaming video continues to be a growing secondary use for game consoles (particularly on the Wii, where it accounts for 33 percent of console usage, compared to roughly 15 percent on both the Xbox 360 and PS3). Nielsen report finds 56 percent of US households have a modern game console, total gaming time up seven percent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Nielsen Wire | Email this | Comments

 

Heavy Rain creators produce 'Kara' PS3 tech-demo (video)

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Heavy Rain creator David Cage was showing off Quantic Dream’s new game engine at GDC , which includes an innovative new performance-capture technology the company’s developed. He’s directed a seven-minute original short called Kara , which is the story of a female android as she becomes self-aware. Unlike traditional game production methods, this technology is able to record face and body movements at the same time as recording the actors voice — ensuring natural and consistent performances from the characters. Actress Valorie Curry wore 90 sensors on her face, unlike in, say, Avatar , where the performers wore head-mounted cameras . Cage promises that the short is nothing more than a demo (it was rendered in real-time on a PlayStation 3 ) and none of these elements will appear in his next game. You can catch the impressive-looking footage after the break with one disclaimer: there’s nudity throughout and a reference to adult themes, okay? Continue reading Heavy Rain creators produce ‘Kara’ PS3 tech-demo (video) Heavy Rain creators produce ‘Kara’ PS3 tech-demo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink Yahoo! News | PlayStation.Blog | 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

 

PSA: PlayStation Network goes down for maintenance tomorrow, will last around 15 hours

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We know that it’s become all too easy to assume that the PlayStation Network is getting hacked again whenever it goes down. That said, consider this another heads-up in long line of previous friendly reminders: Since being postponed last Thursday, Sony’s announced that the PSN will go down for “significant maintenance” tomorrow, March 4th starting at 2 3 PM EST until approx 5 AM on Monday, March 5th. Unlike February’s fixin’ , you’ll still be booted offline even if you’ve logged-in with your SEN ID prior to the scheduled maintenance window. This means you won’t be able to hop into a game of Domination on MW3 , along with being restricted from accessing your account, the PlayStation Store, Home etc., as per usual. You can stay glued to PlayStation on twitter to get the official word on when everything’s back up, but may we suggest it could be a good chance for a lazy Sunday stroll? Hey, consider it an excuse to try out Near if you were one of the 1.2 million to snag yourself a PS Vita — oh wait, that requires being logged into the PSN, too. Sigh. PSA: PlayStation Network goes down for maintenance tomorrow, will last around 15 hours originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | PlayStation.Blog (US) | 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