Sony Corp.

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition adds another dimension

by Jenni Petot | Apr 11, 2010 | 1 comment

Batman: Arkham Asylum was one of my favorite games released in 2009. It took many by surprise with how amazing this caped crusader game was. To expand on the success of the game, Warner Bros. Interactive is releasing a game of the year edition May 11th for PS3 and Xbox 360.

What’s different about this game? For the most part it will be the same game as when it was first released in August 2009. The story revolves around Batman escorting the Joker back to Arkham Asylum. The Joker, of course, has a plan in motion and takes control over Arkham where the Dark Knight encounters thugs, Bane, Scarecrow and others.The graphics are incredible and gameplay is so fun using Batman’s abilities and gadgets like grappling between gargoyles and exploding gel. Having watched behind the scenes, I learned that the developers really did their homework on Batman and pleased fans like myself with characters, gameplay and story. It’s easy to say that I absolutely love this game.

Here’s a big change: you can now play the game entirely in 3D. The game will come with two pairs of Trioviz 3D glasses. Now, these are the old school red and blue lens glasses which may throw some color off but it’s still cool none the less. Early reviews say the game works on normal and HDTVs and the 3D looks impressive, especially when throwing batarangs.

In addition to 3D, the Game of the Year Edition includes challenge maps standard that were previously downloadable content. Four more challenge maps were also added with online leader boards, while the Joker challenge maps are still a PS3 exclusive.

I am very curious to try the 3D feature in this edition even if it doesn’t look as amazing as 3D games do on the new Sony Bravia 3D TVs. If you haven’t yet played this game, I highly recommend it! Then you can get excited as I am for Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 to come out. Release date is pending, but is expected in Q4 2010 or early 2011.

Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package Gets PS3 Release Date

by Jenni Petot | Apr 10, 2010 | 1 comment

Who Else Wants to Swim?

The temporary Microsoft exclusive of Modern Warfare 2‘s Stimulus Package got an official release date from Activation of May 4, 2010. The new map pack is priced at $14.99 and includes three new maps along without two favorites from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Crash and Overgrown. The new maps are: Bailout, a multilevel apartment complex; Storm, a cozy industrial setting loaded with machinery and Salvage, a snow-covered junkyard. Personally I’ll be getting the stimulus package day one. See you on the battlefield.

Playstation Move is the official name of PS3 Motion Controller

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 10, 2010 | 9 comments

There you have it. During today’s GDC 2010 we learned that the PlayStation 3 motion controller is now named the PlayStation Move. Even Socom 4 and LittleBigPlanet will play with it. Pretty cool.

Sony Introduces New HandyCam NXCAM with E-Mount system

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 3, 2010 | 6 comments

Although not to be released until the first half of 2011, which means there is still room for potential tweaks, Sony has introduced their new Super 35mm equivalent CMOS HD camcorder. The camera is targeted for high-end digital cinema production that uses the “E-mount” lens system, specifically the NXCAM series. Currently, Sony’s own NEX-3, NEX-5 and HandyCam NEX-VG10 also utilize the E-mount lenses. This gives the user flexibility to interchange between different cameras while using the same lens. The NXCAM can record video in AVCHD 1080p ((60P/30P/24P or 50p/25p) or in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264. No word yet on pricing, but it’s not meant for the faint of heart, so don’t expect a small price tag.

Official Press Release

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 25, 2009 | 4 comments

In memory of the king of pop.

Sony To Also Distribute Spielberg’s Tintin

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 9, 2009 | 5 comments

Sony Pictures and Paramount Studios will both be handling Steven Spielberg’s 3D movie, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. The movie is slated for a 2011 release. Sony Pictures will internationally release the movie during the months of October and November, followed by November 23 by Paramount in the United States. Here is a synopsis of the film:

Jamie Bell stars as the title character, Tintin, an intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham. From a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, and featuring a supporting cast of Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.

The film is the first of a planned series of 3D performance capture movies based on the character. Peter Jackson is scheduled to direct the second film, and a third film has been announced, but no director is yet attached.

As SlashFilms puts it, “The early international release makes sense as the property is a lot more popular overseas. The reception from European audiences and critics will be a nice transition for American audiences who aren’t as familiar with the character.”

Sony Alpha A500 Coming?

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 8, 2009 | 5 comments

If the above screenshot is any indication, Sony is looking to add to their ever expanding lineup of DSLRs with a new 500 model. With Sony’s current Alpha series, Sony is able to cover a wide range of consumer needs, from the more consumer oriented, to the professional. One weak point in the current lineup is the lack of any DSRL with HD Video. Could the Alpha 500 be that model? More so, does the Alpha 500 even exist or is this screenshot from SonyStyles Canada page really a mistake or just a place holder? Time will tell, my dear Watson…

[Via Photorumors]

LOL: Difference Between Sony and Nintendo During E3

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 3, 2009 | 2 comments

This was a post/picture I believe I either found on Kotaku or Gizmodo….(same company anyways) that made me chuckle and wish I was at E3.

Updated: Sony Ericsson Picks Up MicroSD, Ditches Own Memory Stick Micro

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 2, 2009 | 12 comments

In some of the latest Sony Ericsson models, we have seen the lack of Sonys own Memory Stick Micro, their version or competition to the MicroSD that many cellphones use. This holds true in their upcoming K850 and the newly announced Satio and came to us as odd but we figured, it was due to the development methods and partners with those models. Will today, all that is cleared up as Sony Ericssons Global Marketing Director Fortuné Alexander, stated that the company is “moving in that direction” when asked about dropping the Memory Stick Micro line in favor of the MicroSD.

As a user of Sony products, it’s not fun to see the company give up on their on smaller formats, but from a business practice, I’m beyond glad. A problem Sony is currently having is that they are fighting far too many battles. If there is an electronic device or format, Sony has a version. Many times, (looking at you BetaMax and Mini Disc Players), they were indeed superior but because the company is do divided up, they cannot poor in the real amount of resources needed to fend and advance that product/brand or format. With one less format to worry about, it means that the costs of their devices can potentially come down as the tap into a universal format and in hopes, also make more money, because they can sell a MicroSD to lets say 400 million phones versus a Memory Stick Micro to only 20 million phones (all numbers being made up). Maybe Sony is indeed serious about moving to a more open format.

Update:

So here is an odd twist to the story that makes no sense. It seems that Sony is indeed ditching their M2 for MicroSD and so one would assume that this would be a company wide policy but in fact, during the E3 announcement of the new PSP Go, the unit will be using…you guessed it, Sony’s Memory Stick Micro. Now, I understand that products will be in different development cycles and such but one would assume that ditching M2 would be a company wide policy and that the PSP Go would also adopt MicroSD as they are extremely similar in size.

[Via Engadget]

Sony Still Losing 10% On Each Playstation 3

by Sohrab Osati | Jun 1, 2009 | 6 comments

Sony CFO Nobuyuki Oneda noted during Sony’s earning report that even though with huge surge of the PS3 over the last 2 years, Sony is still losing 10% on every PS3 sold, meaning roughly $40. So even with price cuts and cutting down of internal parts (like the PS2 emotion engine,two USB ports from four and no more card reader), Sony is indeed losing money and this makes us think, if the rumored PS3 price cut comes true during E3, will Sony continue to lose more? Or will the new PS3 model with a smaller Cell processor (the eventual 45mm) and blu-ray player with lower costs help Sony offset their losses on each unit and actually make money, if these cost cutting methods can be made.

Sony To Release Bigger eReader to Compete With Kindle DX?

by Sohrab Osati | May 29, 2009 | 59 comments

Although Amazon is the creator of the Kindle, like most companies, it doesn’t actually make all the parts. In this case, PVI is the company behind the e-paper and is the sole creator of it. During an interview with DigiTimes, they company started that they believe Sony will release a bigger eReader to compete with the Kindle. If anything, I’m surprised that they haven’t yet as they were first to this market. The second which is a bit of a downer now is that color e-paper wont be out till 2010, versus their original goal of 2009.

Sony Ericsson Satio To Launch In October

by Sohrab Osati | May 28, 2009 | 17 comments

Earlier this year, during the Mobile World Congress, Sony Ericsson showed off a new phone, code named at the time Idou. Well, today comes news that the Idou will be called the Satio and will launch sometime in October. Some key features of this phone include:

640 x 350, 3.5-inch touch screen
12.1 Megapixels (take that Palm Pre and iPhone combined)
Dual-Band HSPA
Xenon Flash
MicroSD expansion with an 8GB in the box (Is Sony looking to get rid of the Memory Stick Micro?)

Look for this unit in October then in Black, Silver or Bordeaux. No price point yet though. As always, hit the MagicGate for more shots. (reminds me of my Cybershot T-300)

[Via SEMC Blog]

MagicGate!

Facial Recognition From Sony Ericsson, Plays Your Moods Song

by Sohrab Osati | May 28, 2009 | 13 comments

A new patent was recently discovered from Sony Ericsson that while listening to our music, your device will change the song depending on your mood. The example is based on the idea that while you hold your Smart Phone, through the camera, a picture of your face will be taken, scanned and pending on your mood, a corresponding song will play. Of course as all patents go, I wouldn’t give this a second thought for something like this could be many years out or something that may just never work.

[Via Slashgear]

Sony Vaio P Ditches Vista, Hugs XP

by Sohrab Osati | May 26, 2009 | 3 comments

Well it seems like 3 years into the launch and everybody is still trying to find a way to ditch Vista. Originally launching with Windows Vista, the Sony Vaio netbook P series will now rock Windows XP (Home) when it relaunches under VGN-P50. Also new will be a standard 2.0GHZ Atom Z550 processor, as apposed to the previous 1.33GHZ. You can now also select up to a 256GB SSD (Sold State Drive). Prices will be kept at the traditional $900. Look for a Japanese June 6th launch. No word on the US but I’m assuming were not far behind.

I must say, I’d love to get one of these units because between being on my full setup at the house and being on the go with the iPhone that has my Twitter and WordPress Apps, it would be nice to have something in between to work on this site with thats small and is super portable. So if your bored one day Sony and have a spare Vaio P sitting around it, Id love to get my hands on one, plus, it would make a great PR gesture! So….Just Contact Us ya?

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player Hits Best Buy

by Sohrab Osati | May 26, 2009 | 10 comments

A tipster to Engadget has a photo of a local Best Buy that has the new Sony BDP-S360 for $299. Hit our previous coverage of the BDP-S360 to see all the new features this machine has to offer. Also, for those who don’t need to get their unit today, Amazon has the same player listed for $249, plus free shipping and no tax. Not bad huh?

[Via Engadget]