PlayStation Vita

Fun Bits Heats Up Vita Digital Sales With Escape Plan

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 28, 2012 | 1 comment

Independent Studio Fun Bits has been having a lot of success lately with Escape Plan, their first PlayStation Vita title. Escape Plan has been the top downloaded game on the Vita PSN store for the last three weeks; surpassing downloads of even the Vita’s flagship title, Sony Bend’s Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

It’s really quite surprising to see many downloadable Vita titles making waves on the PSN charts. Escape Plan even placed fourth most downloaded game on the store; more than Shank 2, NFL Blitz, Angry Birds and even Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition.

Other Vita titles to crack the PSN top downloaded list are Super Stardust Delta and Super Stardust Delta: Interstellar Bundle.

The top 10 downloaded Vita games of March are:

Escape Plan
Super Stardust Delta
Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Plants vs. Zombies Vita
Rayman Origins Vita
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
Hustle Kings Vita
Dynasty Warriors Next

First Look: LittleBigPlanet Karting

by Chris Quibol | Mar 23, 2012 | 1 comment

In somewhat of a surprise announcement, Sony recently released the first trailer to LittleBigPlanet Karting, a charming Playstation 3 kart racer based in the LittleBigPlanet universe set to release sometime this year. Sony announced that United Front Games, developers of Playstation-exclusive kart racer ModNation Racers, will be handling LBP Karting’s development, while Media Molecule will continue to focus on main franchise LBP titles.

The short trailer showcases the traditional LittleBigPlanet aesthetic, along with splitscreen multiplayer races and battles, kart customization, and a glimpse into the different gameplay styles the game looks to offer. From initial trailer impressions, the game, expectedly, seems very similar to ModNation Racers; however, how different the two games will be remains to be seen.

According to Senior Producer at United Front Game James Grieve, the creation system looks to keep many of the same tools from the traditional LBP games while also adding to it to accommodate for the 3D and kart racing elements. Still, Grieves told the Playstation Blog that fans of the creation tools from the older games should feel comfortable with the creation in LBP Karting.

“Our goal with LBP Karting has been fairly simple – provide a fast-paced experience that captures the best of classic karting gameplay, married with the unbridled creativity of LBP. This new adventure will be accessible to players of all ages and have all of the variety necessary to satisfy both the hardcore and more casual players.

This is an LBP game, so we could never talk about it without mentioning the Create tools. LBP Karting is set in an entirely 3D world that will enable players to create rich and varied gameplay experiences. Tons of familiar LBP gadgets will be present, along with a new toolbox specifically tailored to allow for building in LBP Karting’s 3D world. Along with fan-favorite racing and battle modes, players will be able to modify the rules of the game itself to create completely new modes and challenges. All of this is wrapped up in a community experience that should have LBP fans feeling right at home.”

LBP Karting is one of two LittleBigPlanet releases set for this year, the other being LittleBigPlanet in development for the Playstation Vita, which is being developed by Tarsier and Double Eleven Studios. Be sure to keep an eye out for both titles as development passes.

Hit the jump to check out the LittleBigPlanet Karting trailer for yourself.

PlayStation Vita Awarded The Red Dot Award (Innovative Product Design)

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 23, 2012 | 7 comments

Just recently, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. was awarded the Red Dot Award for innovative product design by Design Zentrum Nordrhei Westfalen in Germany. Up against stiff competition, (4,500 entries from 58 countries in fact) and judged by an independent jury of technology experts, The PlayStation Vita won one of the most prestigous awards for its innovative design, quality, and technology.
SCE was also awarded Red Dot Awards for their designs for products like the Wireless Stereo Headset for the PS3, the Wireless Keyboard for PS3, and the PS3 3D Display. Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. was ecstatic and amazed by the judges decision.

“To be recognized for our commitment to product design by leading industry experts is a fantastic achievement for SCE”, Said House, “We are particularly thrilled with the reaction and expectation to the recently launched PS Vita in North America, and Europe, the ultimate portable entertainment system, especially the introduction of innovative new ways to play and interact. Winning a red dot award for product design further establishes PS Vita as the must-have portable entertainment system across the world.”

The Red Dot Design Award or the “red dot” is known internationally as it signifies a product’s excellence in design. Winners are offered multiple presentation opportunities in order to set themselves apart from their competition through proven quality (as judged by the red dot adjudication panel) and not just through aggressive pricing and marketing strategies. Winners also get their products exhibited in various design museums in Germany, Singapore, and other countries as well as worldwide technology touring shows.

So the next time you play your PlayStation Vita, know that it has been recognized for its excellent quality, its bench-marking technology, and its innovative design by tech experts from all over the world.

Editorial: Why Sony Needs To Make SOCOM: Tactical Strike 2 For the PS Vita (poll)

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 16, 2012 | 3 comments

Slant Six Games has created some of the best tactical shooters on the PSP with the SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo series. The developer not only got around the “one thumbstick” control limitation of the system, but they have even built a large and dedicated online following throughout their games. SOCOM: Tactical Strike was a departure for the series and one that Slant Six and Sony took big a gamble on; the end result was a successful blend of Full Spectrum Warrior tactical gameplay with the mission and action-focused SOCOM style.

It gave players a slower-paced campaign that allowed for in-depth planning and strategy, perfect for all armchair strategists. However strategic and fun it was, because of its niche gameplay, Tactical Strike was quickly forgotten by the gaming media, and gamers by extension.

Given the processing power and control possibilities offered by the PlayStation Vita as well as Slant Six Games’ experience with creating AAA-quality portable games, SOCOM: Tactical Strike 2 could perhaps bring a more streamlined and accessible tactical action game that brings could potentially revive the action-strategy genre on handhelds.

After the jump, we show you how SOCOM: Tactical Strike could benefit from the PS Vita. While there, don’t forget to share with us your thoughts.

PlayStation Vita Memory Card Overview (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 15, 2012 | 24 comments

While you will ultimately be the judge on whether you wish to download a game like Uncharted: Golden Abyss digitally or physically, Sony has done their best to make both methods as seamless as possible. Those who opt for the digital version simply need to visit PSN and search for the game where two clicks later will have Sony beaming down Nathan Drake to your portable console from the cloud. Others like me who may have opted for the physical version will surely want to know where they can insert their small flash card.

Our video after the jump goes over the PS Vita’s three different input areas which includes a sim card slot for PS Vita 3G owners, a place for your memory card, and finally, the game card.

Playstation Store Update (03-13-12)

by Chris Quibol | Mar 14, 2012 | 19 comments

This week’s Playstation Store update has something for everybody. While Playstation Plus members have been able to experience the wonder that is Journey for the past week, now everyone can experience the critically acclaimed indie game from developer thatgamecompany. Playstation also kicked off their annual “Spring Fever” sales event, with 30-50 percent off full downloads of games from the Call of Duty series, available for a limited time. On the PS Vita front, augmented reality game Reality Fighters and popular racing franchise Ridge Racer are now available for full download. If you’re lacking on money this week, check out the PS3 demo for Shoot Many Robots, a four-player run-n-gun shooter from Ubisoft.

Hit the jump for this week’s full update.

Editorial: Why the PS Vita Benefits from Having Both Physical and Digital Downloads

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 14, 2012 | 5 comments

The PlayStation Vita is a hybrid console, one that marries the best of the old portables like Sony’s own PSP and takes cue from the likes of Apple and the AppStore juggernaut. While some may have criticized Sony for not going all digital with the PlayStation Vita, I retort that and say why? Unlike the PSP which for the most part was purely based on physical media, seeing how Sony could never properly ensure the digital availability of UMD games on PSN, the PlayStation Vita has had no problem offering all physical games on PSN on the same day. In fact, PS Vita owners can also download PSP and soon, PSone games on their Vita as well, giving them a vast library to choose from. Furthermore, Sony has also discounted priced of games on PSN, versus their physical counterpart. These steps have aligned the PS Vita much more with Apple and their take on content delivery which has the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad download new content, only in a digital form.

Still, Sony realizes that for various reasons like slower network connections and the lack of ability for those around you to easily gift you, there is still a need for physical media as well. Chances are that for your grandma and aunt, it will be much easier to stroll to Target or Best Buy and grab you a PS Vita game then to have a PSN account and gift you (much like you would in iTunes) which currently doesn’t even give such an option. In fact, unlike digital distribution which exists only in the cloud, Sony and developers can ensure market awareness of their games by having their titles available in retail locations. Those with vast libraries will also attest to the the benefit of being able to lend and borrow games from friends, something that isn’t available with games bought on PSN.

So while the idea of physical media might be dead to some and the likely hood that the PS Vita being the last portable console with physical media as an option very high, it’s still a winning strategy for Sony to support both avenues and let the consumer decide what they favor best. If you prefer to download Uncharted: Golden Abyss digitally and have it get magically pushed to your PS Vita, then Sony is able to deliver while those who wish to wakeup to their Christmas or birthday gift wrapped with such a title will not be disappointed.

Let’s talk, after the jump.

‘Metal Gear Solid HD Collection’ Coming To PlayStation Vita

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 12, 2012 | 0 comments

The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is finally coming to PlayStation Vita this summer, Konami announced earlier this week. However, don’t get your hopes up too much as the Vita collection is a bit slimmer than its PS3 counterpart; as it has been confirmed that Peace Walker will not be part of the bundle.

What the collection does have are two of the best games of the last console generation: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Those familiar with the games will be happy to know that both MGS 2 and MGS 3 will be coming in their Substance/Subsistence forms meaning extra content, extra videos, and the often-requested free-camera mode for Snake Eater.

In addition, the MGS HD Collection will also feature the return of the original MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2, Hideo Kojima’s 8-bit stealth classic creations. Finally, Konami also said that the Vita version will feature optimized controls that take advantage of the console’s touchscreen capabilities, as well as the ability to “transfar” save data between the PS3 version and the Vita version.

Those disappointed by Peace Walker’s disappearance from the collection will be happy to know that MGS: Peace Walker (PSP Version) does indeed work with the PlayStation Vita. Though it’s not on the Vita PSN Store, players can purchase it from the PS3 Store and install it into their Vita.

PS Vita Gets ‘Phantasy Star Online 2’ in 2013, PC Cross-play Compatible

by Chris Quibol | Mar 10, 2012 | 0 comments

Last year, Sega announced that Phantasy Star Online 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the extremely popular MMO dungeon crawler, would be coming only for Windows PCs, much to the dismay of the series’ longtime console fans. However, last week Sega producer Satoshi Sakai announced that PSO 2 would also be coming to the PS Vita sometime next year.

The Vita version of the game will be hosted on the same servers as the PC version and will run using the same data so that players can use one persistent character on the Vita and the PC, as well as play with people from both versions of the game.

Besides obvious new additions like jumping and third-person targeting, not much else is known about PSO 2, but from the looks of the most recent trailer, the game looks to recapture the same addictive qualities of the original released on the Sega Dreamcast back in 2000.

Hit the jump to check out the full Vita reveal trailer.

PlayStation Vita Supports A Lot More PSP Games Than Originally Announced

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 7, 2012 | 1 comment

(Originally published on JTMGames)

Many of you PSP-Go owners will love this one. It seems that the PlayStation Vita is capable of playing a LOT more than the 275 PSP games that were said to be compatible with the system at launch. Even though there’s a limited amount of purchasable PSP games from the PSN Store, users have been able to play many of the games they’ve purchased in the past and that aren’t listed on the Vita PSN store at all.

Many PSP owners like myself who’ve purchased and downloaded games from the PlayStation Network in the past have been able to install games using the Content Manager app found on the Vita. So far I’ve been able to install Guilty Gear Judgement, LittleBigPlanet PSP, Flow, and Echochrome. Unfortunately Killzone: Liberation is not supported at this time.

To install these games, players will have to:

On their PS3, go to their downloaded items list. From there, re-download the PSP Games they’ve purchased before onto their PS3 system.
Once download is complete, connect the PS Vita to the PS3 using the Vita’s USB charging cable (which came with the product).
Using the Vita, access the Content Manager App, click on start. Choose – Copy Content – PS3 System to PS Vita System.
Choose Applications (PSP/Other) – Click on “Applications Downloaded on the PS3 System”
Once there, a list of PSP Games should be listed for copying. Players can choose which ones they want copied or choose select all to copy all games to their PS Vita system.
Once games are chosen, click on the “Copy” button found on the lower right of the screen.
(Supported PSP Games will be copied to the Vita)

Stay tuned to this article in the next few days as I will update it with PSP games that are found to be compatible with the PlayStation Vita system, other than the 275 games that have been announced by Sony.

Supported PSP Games (That Aren’t On the Vita PS Store)

Guilty Gear Judgement
Echochrome
Echoshift
Everyday Shooter
Flow
GTA Chinatown Wars
Gran Turismo PSP
LittleBigPlanet
LocoRoco
LocoRoco 2
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
ModNation Racers
Valkyria Chronicles II

MotorStorm: RC Free On PS Vita For A Limited Time

by Jan Hutchings | Mar 6, 2012 | 8 comments

Already a game that has received critical praise since it’s release in the UK, MotorStorm RC is coming to the PlayStation Network later today; and it’s going to be FREE to download for Vita owners. Thanks to Sony’s partnership with car-maker Scion, the PlayStation Vita version of MotorStorm: RC will be free for a limited time, with no additional purchases necessary.

This is a big coup for Vita owners as MotorStorm: RC is one of the more awaited launch titles on the system. In addition to being free, RC for the Vita will also feature the Scion as an extra drivable vehicle in-game.

The game will feature four different locations each representing past environments from past games in the series. Players will be able to drive their RC cars in the classic Monument Valley from the first Motorstorm; blast through the jungles, waters, and magma, of Pacific Island from Rift; race through icy courses from the PSP’s Arctic Edge; and survive through the destroyed urban cityscape from Apocalypse.

Players will be able to control uniquely customizable RC cars including buggies, superminis, rally cars, muscle cars, trucks, supercars, big rigs and the all-powerful monster truck; with more to come in the way of DLC’s in the near future.

Note that there is also a PlayStation 3 release for MotorStorm: RC but will cost players a fairly cheap $9.99. After the jump, your comments and a trailer for MotorStorm: RC.

Upcoming PS3-Exclusive ‘Dust 514’ Now Free-to-Play, Vita Version a ‘Companion App’

by Chris Quibol | Mar 6, 2012 | 0 comments

Upcoming PS3-exclusive MMO first-person shooter Dust 514 doesn’t have a release date quite yet, but it is going to be free to download and play. Developer CCP recently announced to Eurogamer that their massively online first-person shooter set in the Eve Online universe will be free to download on PSN.

Originally slated to have a price somewhere from $10 to $20, instead CCP is offering the game for free, with in-game purchases being the primary source of funding. However, executive producer Brandon Laurino is adamant in his stance that those purchases won’t be necessary in order to be successful.

“It’s very important as we take steps into this topic to unambiguously state that it is not a pay to win game. There is no micro-transaction that you can do that gives you an unfair advantage over someone who hasn’t paid anything. It’s the classic micro-transaction dynamic of, ‘I can pay and get this item,’ or, ‘I can invest my time and get this item.’ But neither of those options will give me an unfair advantage over the other.”

Players will be able to buy currency bundles anywhere from $1 to $100, which can go towards the purchase of things like cosmetic changes, character re-specs, and variants of weapons that are supposedly not stronger than their freely available counterparts. While maps won’t be available for purchase, Laurino told Eurogamer that all of the maps would be available for players who choose not to spend money.

Hit the jump for information on the Vita version of Dust 514.

Should You Buy the PlayStation Vita Cradle? (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 5, 2012 | 20 comments

I’m a sucker for docks when it comes to purchasing new gadgets like my iPad or PlayStation Vita. In my mind, there is something very Feng Shui about devices having their own place on my desk and even better when the dock is capable of charging and synchronizing the gadget with a Mac or PC. Enter the PlayStation Vita Cradle from Sony. This simple and sleek dock is designed to give people like me, who hate having cords laying around on their desks, some sanity. Priced appropriately at $19.99, the PlayStation Vita Cradle is a very minimalistic dock with no lights and no buttons. Instead, the metallic brush finished dock opts to display a PlayStation logo on the front with a USB 2.0 and line out on the back.

The dock itself serves a few different purposes, with the most simple one being the capability to watch movies on your PS Vita at just the right angle. In order to get more milage from your dock, you’ll then have to plug in the USB cable and power brick which came with your PS Vita. Once plugged into an outlet, the PlayStation Vita Cradle can then elegantly power your Vita, perfect for having it next to your bed and or in an office setting. Still, my favorite feature is to skip out on the power brick all together and opt for using only the PS Vita’s USB cable. When the PlayStation Vita’s Cradle is plugged into your Mac or PC with a USB cable (which came with your Vita), you can now charge your device and synchronize content back and forth with the Content Manager Assistant program from Sony. Milage from that program will vary but that’s for another article. While on the topic of the dock itself, Sony also took into consideration the weight and size of the Vita and has appropriately weighted down the dock, giving it a solid feel.

PlayStation Vita Augmented Reality Overview (video)

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 1, 2012 | 17 comments

One of the frequently overlooked features of the PlayStation Vita that Sony hopes to expand over time is its augmented reality capabilities. The PlayStation Vita, which comes equipped with a front and rear facing camera, is powerful enough to be able to capture a given environment in real time and allow it to be utilized in a game. An example of this is the launch title, Little Deviants, which takes advantage of the front facing camera and has you moving your PS Vita around in the air to shoot at flying ships.

Fighting games are another genre that seem to be taking advantage of this technology, allowing you to have immerse your characters in the world that is facing you and giving you real life backdrops, because they are indeed real. To introduce PS Vita owners to this tech, Sony has made three augmented reality titles available for free on the PlayStation Network. Fireworks, Cliff Divers, and Table Soccer all utilize the augmented reality cards that came inside of each PlayStation Vita. Our video will highlight Fireworks and its use of this technology.

Sony: “Vita Cards Necessary To Fight Piracy”

by Jan Hutchings | Feb 27, 2012 | 20 comments

In a recent interview with Gamasutra, Scott Rohde, Senior VP of Worldwide Studios organization said that Vita cards are in fact necessary to help fight piracy. Remember, quality PSP games were few and far between and those that were of AAA quality were easily pirated. These were two of the biggest reasons were why Sony handheld had a hard time in retail.

With the Vita, Rohde said Sony needed technology that would help them secure their games and their IP’s against rampant piracy. This new proprietary format includes custom security that Sony believes will help protect them against pirates in the long haul.

“That was front and center in the early specs of this machine. We needed to have something that would combat piracy from day one, and that’s why the cards that you can purchase for the games are in their own proprietary format. And these days, so many people say the word “proprietary” is a bad word, but it’s something that we felt was completely necessary to make sure that people could not pirate these games. I mean, it’s a custom security solution on each one of these cartridges. That is something that we are confident will protect us from piracy for the long term.”

With the Vita releasing worldwide today, it will only be a matter of time before we see if Sony’s investment on this new proprietary format will indeed protect their games from piracy.