Video Games
Sony Finally Gives The PlayStation Vita A Release Date: Coming To The US February 22nd
Oct 21st
Ready for Sony’s next generation PSP, the PlayStation Vita? Well, you’ll have to hold on for a bit longer as Sony has just announced the US release date for their next generation PSP– February 22nd, 2012. Yes, 2012, as in next year.
Now while we know this still sucks, we should note that February is only four months away and let’s face it– most of us have been waiting for a true PSP successor for years now, so what’s a couple more months?
In other Vita news, Sony also announced that the Vita will have built-in apps for Facebook, Foursquare, Skype and Twitter– perfect for those times where you want to use this for more than just awesome gaming. Speaking of games, Sony also mentioned that there are over 100 games in development right now for the Vita, including Vita versions of hit games like Call of Duty, FIFA, Uncharted (the Vita version is called Uncharted Golden Abyss), and Assassins Creed– with even more games to be announced “in the months ahead.”
For those who don’t know, the Vita is Sony’s next version of the PSP (aka the PSP2), and as you’d expect, it’s loaded with impressive features like: a 5 inch OLED touchscreen with a 960×544 resolution (or a pretty amazing screen), quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor (think the full power of your computer in your pocket. This allows for things like PS3 quality graphics on a device you can carry in your pocket), full array of buttons with dual analog sticks (so you also get the full PlaySation controller to go with those PS3 like graphics), front and rear cameras (for things like augmented reality games and Skype), and touch sensitive pad on the back (so you can have more control of the games without having to put your fingers on the screen. The touch sensitive panel on the back spans the length of the front’s 5 inch screen– so you can control from the back by touching where you would want on the screen). In short, it’s pretty incredible.
And as for pricing, the Vita still looks to be $249 for WiFi-only or $299 for WiFi+AT&T 3G, though again who knows, maybe the fact that’s it not coming for another four months will make that price drop even further.
So, you gonna wait it out for this or will you get something like an iPod Touch (which now starts at just $199) this holiday season for your portable gaming needs?
More info: PlayStation Blog
AT&T Announces Xperia Play 4G Release Date: Coming September 18th For $50
Sep 8th
On AT&T and waiting for the gaming beast of a phone also known as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play? Well, in a little over a week your wait will be over. Starting September 18th the AT&T version of the Xperia Play, called the Xperia Play 4G (because it can access AT&T’s faster HSPA+ “4G” network), can be yours for a pretty great price of only $50 with new 2 year contract and data plan.
Like the Verizon Xperia Play released earlier this year, the AT&T Xperia Play 4G comes with some solid specs like a high-res 4 inch screen (so games and everything else you do on your phone looks nice, sharp and clear), 1 GHZ processor (for speed and so that all your games play well too), the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 5 megapixel back camera with second front camera for video chat, and of course a bunch of pre-loaded PlayStation games so you can start playing the slide-out PlayStation keypad the second you get the phone. The pre-loaded games on here are also a bit different from the Verizon Xperia Play, with the AT&T version coming with: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Crash Bandicoot, Sims 3, Madden ’11, Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave, and Tower Bloxx (the last two weren’t pre-loaded on the Verizon version). You can also buy over 150 other PlayStation games from the PlayStation game store (including games like Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Minecraft Pocket Edition)
We found the Xperia Play to be a pretty solid phone when we reviewed the Verizon version a few months back (we found it to be one of the best Verizon phones for back to school) and we were equally impressed with the AT&T version we saw in July (they’re pretty much the exact same phone though AT&T’s comes in blue and has a dock and “music cable” included in the box). And at only $50 with a new 2 year contract and data plan this looks to be a solid deal for anyone looking for a great Android phone on AT&T– and a perfect choice for anyone looking for a great gaming phone.
Back To School Deal of The Day: PS3 Now Only $249
Aug 18th
Sure it’s no free Xbox 360, but if you were looking for a PS3 for your dorm room now is probably the best time to get one. Sony this week has announced that they have dropped the PS3′s price $50, with the 160 GB version now starting at $249 and the 320 GB version coming in at $299. Sure it’s not a huge price drop, but we’ll gladly take it and it’s a pretty solid deal particularly if you don’t plan on buying a new laptop for school (or aren’t buying one at the minimum $690 to get the Xbox 360 deal).
And it’s even better when you think of everything else a PS3 can do beyond gaming, like watch Blu-ray movies, stream videos from Netflix/Hulu Plus/YouTube, go online from your TV, or even watch games with the MLB.TV or new NFL Sunday Ticket apps (which is also coming to the PS3 this season and you don’t need to have DirecTV to use it. The NFL Sunday Ticket app does need you to pay a pretty expensive $339.95 for the season– or $5 more than what DirecTV subscribers pay– but you do get access to 14 out-of-market games per weekend and the Red Zone Channel, all in HD).
If you’re going off to college and want TV but don’t want to pay the crazy cable/satellite fees (or are just looking to save serious money by ditching cable/satellite entirely), the PS3 and its new price look to be perfect for you.
PlayStation Vita Launch Delayed, Not Coming To The US Until Next Year
Aug 5th
If you were looking forward to picking Sony’s super-powered next-gen PSP, the PlayStation Vita, this holiday season we’ve got some bad news for you. Sony has announced that unless you live in Japan you won’t be able to pick up the Vita this year. In other words, all of us here in the US or in Europe will have to wait until “early next year” (when exactly is this “early next year” Sony didn’t say).
For those who don’t know, the Vita is Sony’s next-gen PSP that looks to let you take all the power of the PS3 and take it wherever you go. It’s got some of the most insane specs we’ve seen on a portable device yet, with its 5 inch OLED touchscreen with a crazy 960×544 resolution (or a pretty amazing screen), quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor (think of this as all the power of your computer in your pocket, or games that look like you were playing them at home on your PS3), full array of buttons with dual analog sticks (so you also get the full PlaySation controller to go along with those PS3-like graphics), front and rear cameras (for things like augmented reality games and video chat), and a touch sensitive pad on the front and back (so you can have more control of the games without having to put your fingers on the screen. The touch sensitive panel on the back spans the length of the front’s 5 inch screen– so you can control from the back by touching where you would want on the screen). Yeah, we wish it was coming this year too.
Sony also said that there would be no price cuts on the Vita’s $249 price (or the $299 AT&T 3G version), but who knows, maybe the delay will change their minds.
The Teen Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
Jul 7th
There have been a lot of great phones already this year but the release of the Xperia Play, aka PlayStation Phone, was probably one of the most anticipated. Finally, the mix of a PSP and a phone was here. We finally got to spend some real quality time with Sony Ericsson and Verizon’s long awaited Android/PSP mashup, and well, was it worth the wait?
We’ve got all the info you’re gonna want to know and more, so read on for our full Teen Review of the Xperia Play.
Nintendo Announces The Wii U– This Is The Next Wii
Jun 7th
The Wii U
Wow. That’s really all we can say right now– wow. Nintendo has just taken the wraps off of its successor to the hit Wii, named the Wii U, and to say it looks insane would be like saying Dwayne Wade or Dirk Nowitzki are just “ok” basketball players– a ridiculous understatement.
The focus of the Wii was everyone playing together. The Wii U has that too, just with a new focus on you– the individual gamer (hence the “U”). As rumored this new Wii U is packed with impressive power so you can expect very impressive HD games and a real online gaming platform (similar to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network)– but the big deal here is the new controller.
The Wii U controller
The Wii U comes with a brand new controller with a massive 6.2 inch touchscreen in the middle of it. As rumored it will allow you to stream games right from the TV to the controller so you can play even if the TV itself is off (or if you’re playing multiplayer, without worry someone will be watching your screen the whole game). There is also a camera (for games and things like video chat), and a full array of buttons on the right and left (including triggers on the back) for the full controller experience (and if you have a Wii you can also use those controllers, but it may only be for certain games. Wii games will play fine on here). Full controller plus incredible new touchscreen? Again, this is just insane. Words don’t even do it justice, check out this video of the power of the Wii U:
And just to show how Nintendo is fully back in the hard core gaming market, here are just a few titles announced for Wii U: Arkham City, an Assassin’s Creed game, Dirt, Ghost Recon Online, Tekken, Metro Last Light,Aliens Colonial Marines, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, and Darksiders II, Madden NFL. Yeah, this is a system for all gamers.
Worst part of today’s news? We’ll have to wait until sometime between April 1 and December 31 2012 to get our hands on this.
Sony Announces the PlayStation Vita– The NGP Gets A Name
Jun 6th
Sony fans, it’s finally here– more information on the hotly anticipated NGP/PSP 2. Sony just moments ago took the wraps off some more details on the NGP starting with two very big pieces of info, the official name and the which carrier will offer the built-in 3G on the NGP. The NGP will now be called the PlayStation Vita (or PS Vita for short) and will be available in both WiFi only and WiFi+3G versions with the 3G being provided by AT&T (with a data plan of some sort for using that 3G network).
For those who don’t know, the PlayStation Vita is the next generation of the PSP (which is why we also call it the PSP2). It’s loaded with impressive features like: a 5 inch OLED touchscreen with a crazy 960×544 resolution (or a pretty amazing screen), quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor (Think the full power of your computer in your pocket. This allows for things like PS3 quality graphics on a device you can carry in your pocket), full array of buttons with dual analog sticks (so you also get the full PlaySation controller to go with the PS3 like graphics), front and rear cameras (for things like augmented reality games), touch sensitive pad on the front and back (so you can have more control of the games without having to put your fingers on the screen. The touch sensitive panel on the back spans the length of the front’s 5 inch screen– so you can control from the back by touching where you would want on the screen). In short, it’s pretty incredible.
The Vita will cost an incredible $249.99 for the WiFi model (it’s the same as the 3DS) and $299.99 for the WiFi+3G when it launches “this holiday season.” Sadly AT&T won’t announce the price of data plan for the 3G until a “later date,” and Sony isn’t yet sharing the exact date this holiday season the Vita will launch. But hey, at least we got the name and price!
E3 2011 and Apple’s WWDC Kick Off Later Today– We’ll Have All The Info You Need To Know Right Here
Jun 6th
For those that don’t know, E3 is the big video game event that takes place for a couple of days (this year it’s June 6-9) once a year in LA where all the newest and hottest things in the world of video games are announced. Last year for example, we saw our first peek at Microsoft’s Kinect for the Xbox 360 (and the redesigned, slimmer 360), the PlayStation Move for the PS3, and the Nintendo 3DS. Not to mention info on new video games like the latest in Madden, Gears of War, Halo and Call Of Duty.
This year of course looks to bring things up a notch with Microsoft and Sony taking the stage later today for their E3 keynotes (with Microsoft expected to show off a bunch of new games for Kinect and Sony expected to give a whole lot more info on the NGP/PSP 2. And when we say a “whole lot of info” with Sony we mean it– their event is slated to go for 5 hours!). Nintendo takes the stage on Tuesday and they look to have planned some big announcements of their own.
We’ll have all the info on the big 3′s keynotes covered for you back here. If your interested in following along live, here are the links and times for their respective live streams: Microsoft (today 12:30 PM ET/ 9:30 AM PT); Sony (tonight 8 PM ET/5 PM PT); Nintendo (Tuesday 12 PM ET/ 9 AM PT).
Oh, and in case that wasn’t enough for a crazy tomorrow, we also have Apple’s WWDC keynote (beginning at 1 PM ET) with what promises to bring a whole lot of new info on Apple’s upcoming iOS 5 and OS X Lion operating systems, and more info on Apple’s big new product: iCloud (said to be for storing things like your music, documents etc. on the internet– aka “the cloud” because the data is not just on your one device but available for you to access from anywhere you have internet access. What exactly Apple is going to do with iCloud is sure to be very interesting). And who knows, maybe Apple will surprise everyone with a “one more thing” and announce the next iPhone like they have done at WWDC the past 3 years.
Again, we’re gonna have all of this covered for you tomorrow. You’re definitely gonna wanna check back.
Is This Nintendo’s Wii 2?
May 23rd
Is this the Wii 2?
With the big video game conference E3 only a few weeks away the rumors on what’s next in the video game world are beginning to spread like fire. Obviously we expect to learn a lot more about Sony’s forthcoming NGP (aka the PSP 2– hopefully this will include a price and release date) and what Microsoft has planned for the future of the Xbox 360 and Kinect (which has been surprisingly quiet since its big launch last year. In the past 6 months since its been out we’ve hardly seen any new games that take advantage of its awesome controller free gameplay). In Nintendo’s case however things look to be going a whole ‘nother level with a preview of the next generation of the Wii currently code-named “Project Cafe.” Nintendo has even confirmed that this E3 they will talk about the Wii’s successor.
So what are the latest rumors saying we can expect in the Wii 2? Well, if they are anywhere near true, Nintendo is back in the hard-core gaming market– and in a big way.
Looking For A New PC For College? How About A Free New Xbox 360 To Go With It? (UPDATE: It Will Also Work For High School Students)
May 20th
Thought Apple’s usual back to school deal of a free iPod Touch with a new Mac was a good deal if you were looking for a new computer for college? Well this year we think you’re gonna wanna hear what Microsoft’s offering first. Beginning this Sunday, May 22nd, and running through September 3rd Microsoft will be giving away free 4 GB Xbox 360s with all new PC purchases of $699 or higher. All you gotta do to get this offer is show your Student ID if your buying in a store or a enter your .edu email address if you’re buying online (this is the email address your college gives you once you enroll). What? As we all know school, particularly college, is very stressful and there are many educational benefits to video games.
Sadly this deal looks to be for college students only so anyone looking for a new PC for high school won’t be able to take advantage of this offer (unless of course you have a college bound friend or sibling with the proper ID that’s willing to help you out). We’ve reached out to Microsoft to see if there are any deals for high school students and will update if we hear anything back.
So, what’s it gonna be for your new college computer– Mac and iTouch or PC and Xbox 360?
UPDATE: As Katie pointed out in the comments, this deal will work for high school students as well. If you are buying in a store (like at a Best Buy) all you have to do show your student ID and you should be ok (though to be on the safe side give your local store a call before you go in to make sure they are doing this deal and will accept a high school ID). If you’re buying online (like at Dell.com, HP.com etc.), and you don’t have a .edu email address, you should try chatting with an online sales rep or calling the company’s sales line (the phone numbers are usually listed at the top of the sites) to get the proper account numbers and links for where to buy your new PC and get your free Xbox.
[Thanks Katie!]
Via the Windows Blog
