Sony Corp.

Should You Buy ‘Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair’ for the PlayStation Vita?

by Trevor Rodenberger | Aug 30, 2014 | 0 comments

The original Danganronpa was published by NIS America and originally released here in North America on February 11, 2014. It is easily one of my favorite games of the year (Check out my review here). Shortly after its release, it was announced that its sequel would be coming out a short seven months later.

Just like the original game, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is a visual novel with a murder mystery twist. Unlike the first game where the characters are trapped in a high school, this time all of the characters (again a set of students from Hope’s Peak Academy) are trapped on the tropical Jabberwock Island. Does Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair live up to the high quality of the original? Keep reading to find out!

6 Sony Products Win ‘Best’ at EISA 2014 Awards

by Jonathan Nolan | Aug 19, 2014 | 0 comments

The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) is the largest editorial multimedia organization in Europe, and this year they 6 Sony products were top of the class in their categories to win outright.

Last year Sony won 5 ‘best’ awards, including for the best tablet of the year award. This year the Xperia Z2 Tablet collected the same award, proving in a young category of product innovation, tablets, that Sony has got all the ideas right.

So slim, so classy, so slick – the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is undoubtedly an EISA winner.

Sony has given a secret to why their products succeed, read on to know what it is (and the other winners!)

Leaked Sony IFA Invite Hints At Products to Be Announced

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 18, 2014 | 0 comments

We’ve already learned that on September 3rd, Sony will be kicking off their IFA keynote from 16:15 to 17:00 CEST (7:15 PDT). For those not familiar, the IFA which takes place in Berlin is much like CES with a heavy focus on mobile. As the leaked press invite pictured above suggests, Sony is looking to introduce some new products. We’ve already reported about one of the pictured products from above, the Sony QX30 smartphone lens which was accidentally revealed by the Korean RRA (National Radio Research Agency). Though the picture above is likely from the current QX10, it’s not a stretch to assume that Sony will in fact be announcing a new model. So what else can we expect?

PlayStation App to Get a Complete Redesign

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 18, 2014 | 2 comments

The fact that the PS4 launched with a PlayStation on iOS and Android was a brilliant move by Sony that added a much needed functionality to the PS4. Simply put, typing on PS4 got a whole lot easier and the consoles experience extended beyond the need to be using it in person. You could now chat with friends, shop for games on PSN, and have all be ready by the time you got on your PS4 again. Still, there is no denying that the app itself is extremely basic in design and functionality. Seeing how fluid apps can be today, the PlayStation App mostly reminds me of how PSN was on PS3 when it first launched. Functional, but dated in its design language.

To drive that point home, the app launched on iOS device without support for Retina displays or the iPad which are fairly standard affairs. Sony would eventually update the app for iPad though Retina support is still lacking. Luckily for us, it seems that a redesign is on the way.

Should You Buy ‘Kung Fu Rabbit’ for the PlayStation 3?

by Trevor Rodenberger | Aug 16, 2014 | 2 comments

Kung Fu Rabbit is a platformer that first premiered on iOS and Android devices in 2012. Since then it has released on the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and most recently on the PlayStation Vita. Next week it will come to the PlayStation 3 as a digital title. This title from Neko Entertainment was highly acclaimed and received several awards as a mobile title. Does Kung Fu Rabbit maintain this quality as it jumps to the PlayStation 3? Keep reading to find out!

Look – VAIO is Back

by Jonathan Nolan | Aug 11, 2014 | 20 comments

Look – VAIO is back – without Sony, that is. Remember back in February Sony announced plans to sell it’s VAIO brand of PC computers? Well that new owner has just relaunched itself and VAIOs are back on sale – in Japan only for now. No more Sony logos of course, Japan Industrial Partners will have to make its own mark on consumers hearts to succeed.

The past few years has been a rough one for the PC industry, as it has been particularly challenged by the popularity of smartphones and tablets which have reduced reliance on the traditional home computer. In the PC industry, the changing times has seen few winners, if any, and Sony certainly wasn’t one of them. As VAIO sales were not performing well, Sony released the brand to Japan Industrial Partners.

So what’s happening with the new VAIOs? Read on to find out.

Sony IFA 2014 Keynote Date & Time Revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 11, 2014 | 0 comments

Come September 3rd, Sony will be kicking off their IFA keynote from 16:15 to 17:00 CEST (7:15 PDT). Like CES, IFA is about the latest technology with a heavy emphases on mobile. In the past, Sony has used IFA that’s held in Berlin, Germany to launch their QX10 and QX100 smartphone lenses, Xperia smartphones, and speakers. This year is no different as we’re expected the company to update their QX line and reveal the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. With less than a month to go, IFA couldn’t come fast enough for Sony who despite a surprise Q1 2014 profit, is in need of some good news and products that capture consumer attention.

PlayStation App 1.70.50 Update Goes Live for iOS Devices

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 6, 2014 | 0 comments

Get your favorite iOS device, folks (unless you have auto-updates turned on), because Sony has updated the PlayStation App. The PlayStation App 1.70.50 is set to improve

Stability during use of some features

Coming in at 9.2 MB, the update itself is quite fast with no other apparent changes. Previously, Sony made big changes via PlayStation App 1.70.13 which brought with it native iPad compatibility.

Sony Profits in 1st Quarter 2014 Results

by Jonathan Nolan | Aug 5, 2014 | 0 comments

Sony has posted a net profit of ¥26.8 bn /$261m/ €194m for the first quarter of 2014 (Apr – Jun) with operating revenue up 93% on Q1 FY13. The PS4 led the way with a 95% increase in sales increase for the Game segment with software sales surging y-o-y. The movie-making Pictures segment performed well, owing to success with The Amazing Spider-man 2 and 22 Jump Street.

Financial Services made a loss, a reversal of a normally steady-performer within the broader corporation while Mobile disappointed, with a downward revision of a 2014 target of 50m unit sales to 43m.

Read on to see the full details.

Sony and Panasonic Form Joint Venture to Create Medium Sized OLED Displays

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 4, 2014 | 0 comments

OLED displays continue to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. While every company including Sony has been able to create small displays and incorporate them on camera viewfinders and more prominently on devices like the PlayStation Vita, mass production on large displays remains a challenge. While Sony and others have been able to create large OLED televisions, due to production woes and astronomical costs, none of these sets have come to the market in a meaningful way due to the large price tag they carry. Still, the industry seems to want to make large OLED displays happen while it’s unclear if consumers truly care or if a proper 4K set is enough.

Sony, for its part, has had a turbulent history with OLED productions. In 2012, the company announced a joint venture with Panasonic to combine R&D which never led anywhere. Sony followed up by showcasing a 56-inch OLED TV at CES 2013, but that was the last we heard of the set. Eventually the company did release 30-inch (4,096 x 2,160) and 56-inch (3,840 x 2160) 4K OLED monitors for professionals but rumors followed in early 2014 that they were poised to exit the OLED business.

If that makes your head spin, you’re not alone but Sony is now coming full circle by announcing a new joint venture with Panasonic to once again create OLED displays.

Japanese Govt: Sony ‘Doesn’t Belong’ in Nikkei Index 400

by Jonathan Nolan | Jul 31, 2014 | 10 comments

Sony is about to lose prestige ahead of being ousted from government-backed stocks and the markets are expected to downgrade Sony. The ‘shame’ of this in the domestic culture is expected to play against Sony, furthering the problem.

Culture meets business in an unavoidable way from time to time and the home front can either dramatically support or deflate the fortunes of a popular corporation so strongly tied to the pride of a nation, like Sony Corp. is in Japan. In 2013, much was made of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s famous efforts to lift the nation’s exporting companies by tweaking fiscal policy, often called Abenomics. While some analysts are skeptical of this approach as a short-term magic trick, others note that at least the key economic indicators are clearly responding well.

Now, unfortunately, Sony is apparently about to suffer a fall from grace as it loses a coveted government-supported position which highlights companies with the best operating income, return on equity, and market value. From January 2015, the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 (JPNK400) is expected to dump Sony Corp. from its list of 400 companies with the solid financial grit and stable outlook worthy of investment.

How much will this affect Sony and what will the CEO do about it?

Read on to take a look.

PS4 and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Help Sony Swing a Profit

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 31, 2014 | 2 comments

To say Sony has been having financial troubles this past decade would be putting it lightly. Thanks to stiff competition from Apple and Samsung and shift in consumer taste, Sony has been forced to layoff over 1,000 employees just this year after having laid off 10,000 employees the year prior. The company has also sold off VAIO, their PC division and even spun off Bravia in case their television business completely collapses. Things however aren’t all doom and gloom for the once electronic giant. PlayStation continues to be a loved brand and their latest installment, the PS4, continues to outpace the Xbox One.

Sony Pictures has always been a bright spot for Sony with franchises like Spider-Man, Men in Black, and now the Jump Street series which tend to bring with them big numbers. Thanks to SP and PlayStation, Sony was able to report a surprise Q1 2014 profit in what would have otherwise been another loss for the company.

Sony Settles 2011 PSN Data Breach Class Action Lawsuit for $15 Million

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 25, 2014 | 0 comments

Remember way back in 2011 when the PlayStation Network was compromised and in order to address the security threat, Sony took PSN down for over a month? Once Sony was able to get things back on track again, the company kicked off a ‘Welcome Back’ campaign that offered gamers free games, extended PS+ memberships, and free access to then-called Qriocity. With the PSN data breach, the real threat of identity theft loomed as thousands of gamer information was stolen from Sony servers. To help counter that, Sony partnered with Debix to provide one-year identity-theft protection, free of charge for PSN and Qriocity users.

Despite all this and a personal apology letter from then CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, Sony would eventually face a class action lawsuit by some that believed they were the victim of identity theft. The same people of course decided not to participate with identity-theft protection but the suit would move ahead. Now Sony has finally decided to settle the PSN data breach lawsuit and bring the whole thing to a close for $15 million, but there is more to the story.

‘Now TV’ Comes to PS4 via New App

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 24, 2014 | 2 comments

Sky, one of the largest broadcasters in the UK is officially bringing their ‘Now TV’ app to the PS4. Based on a subscription model like Netflix, Now TV allows PS4 owners to view content from Sky like TV shows, movies, and sporting events. Recently Sky struck an exclusive broadcast agreement with Paramount Pictures that brings with it titles like Anchorman 2 and Noah.

PlayStation Store Update (07-22-14)

by Trevor Rodenberger | Jul 22, 2014 | 1 comment

Welcome to the PlayStation Store update for July 22, 2014. We have a great update this week packed full of new content and sales. PlayStation 4 users can now pre-order all 4 of the titles available in the PLAY 2014 program (see more details here) as well as purchase Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty which the new take on the classic Abe’s Oddysee.

PlayStation 3 users can now purchase Entwined (also available now for the PS Vita) and PlayStation Vita owners can now purchase Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland (also available for PS3). Beyond the PLAY 2014 program, there is also a Super Hero Sale going on with deep discounts on titles in the inFamous and Batman series.

Finally, as you are probably aware PlayStation Plus users now receive all of their free games at the beginning of the month and each week there will be new sales. This week PlayStation Plus users can take advantage of deeper discounts on the Super Hero Sale along with sales on several RPGs including the Persona series.