Vita Updates Less Excessive Than PS3

President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida has said that the Vita update process won't be as frustrating as it is on PlayStation 3 and PSP.

Speaking to Game Informer, Yoshida said that:  "It's very annoying when you only have one in your busy life to play a game, and when you to spend 30 minutes out of that one hour to update the hardware.

"So it's not necessarily the frequency of how we update, it's the intrusiveness of the current process we have on PS3 and PSP." While not going into specific plans for the Vita's update system, he stated that Sony is "very aware of the issues, and we'd like to address those issues on PS Vita."




You can read the whole piece via the source link below.

Source: Game Informer

Play Killzone 3 on Your Vita

Earlier this morning, friend of Podcast Beyond and President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida gave a keynote to a large group of Tokyo Game Show attendees. Yoshida, along with a number of other Sony executives, spoke on the Vita and various Vita games in the wake of the official press event yesterday.



During the keynote, Yoshida demonstrated a live Remote Play session where PlayStation 3 content was played remotely on the PlayStation Vita. Besides two brief hitches during the gameplay session, Killzone 3 ran smoothly on Sony's upcoming handheld. The back touchscreen was used to supplement the Vita's lack of two additional trigger buttons. Touching the right side of the rear screen aimed down the weapon's sight, and touching the left side of the rear screen while moving caused Yoshida's character to sprint forward.

Yoshida also spent time discussing some of the Vita's other capabilities, including data sharing via cloud services with the PlayStation 3. ModNation Racers users, for example, can use content on the Vita previously created on the PlayStation 3 version.

This data compatibility also extends into cross-platform play. Yoshida presented an additional live gameplay session in which he played LittleBigPlanet 2 on a Vita while a fellow Sony representative played on the PlayStation 3 version. Together, the two cooperatively completed a King Kong-themed level which incorporated the Vita's touch functionality.

Article Source: IGN by Ryan Clements

9 Minutes of Uncharted on Vita

IGN get a demo of the new ways to travel, sneak, and fight as Drake tries to escape from a burning prison in Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Source: IGN

Playstation Vita: The New Look

TGS (Tokyo Games Show) has been in full swing this week, but the big news was that of Playstation Vita's release date -- Yep, Japanese gamers will start playing on December 17th although there's no word yet on North American or European release dates.

That's not all though, as the TGS Vita looks very altered compared to the E3 Vita...

They're subtle changes, but they're there

At E3 (top), the side was sloped. Not so at TGS (bottom).

Buttons went from bright to dark.

Again, bright to dark.

Source: IGN

What Will Playstation Vita Game Cases Look Like?

Been wondering what cases will be taking up shelf space when Vita is launched?
Well look no further!

Source: NeoGAF

Gamescom: Sony Wrap-Up

These are just a few of the awesome things that went down on the Sony side of Gamescom, personally my favourite if the three...

Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception

Resistance: Burning Skies

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Starhawk

Joe Danger: The Movie

Everybody Dance

Escape Plan

Infamous 2: Festival of Blood Announced

Gamescom Sony Quick News:

• PlayStation 3 Price Drop
  Sony announced that the PS3 will now retail for $249.99, 249.99 Euros and 24,980 Yen. This is effective immediately. Previously, the PS3 sold for $299.99.
  Sony also announced the 320GB PS3 unit will drop from $349 to $299 and a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle is now available at participating retailers across North America. The bundle costs $299 and includes a 320 GB PlayStation 3, a copy of inFAMOUS 2 and a 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus. 


• Vita RAM Won't Be Cut
  Earlier this year, it was reported that Sony would be halving the amount of RAM in the PlayStation Vita from 512MBs to only 256MBs in order to cut down on production costs, which lead to increased concerns about the system's graphics performance. New specs released by Sony today debunk previous reports, confirming that the system's RAM will go untouched, as well as reveal the resolution of the system's built-in cameras.


• A New PSP
  Sony talked a whole bunch about the PlayStation Vita, and then announced a new PSP model. This one will be compatible with the entire PSP catalog but not have a Wi-Fi option. It'll cost 99 Euros. No word on an international release. 
  


• Being Social on the Vita
  There was the traditional talk of Near (the app that lets you look at what people are playing around you and share gifts) , Party (text and voice chat) as well as Live Area (a place to track and comment on news), but Sony also confirmed Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare and Skype will work on the device. There's even a group PSN messaging system.
  


• Ubisoft's Vita Games -- Assassin's Creed, Rayman, Lumines
  Assassin's Creed, Rayman and more are coming the PlayStation Vita. Today at Gamescom, Ubisoft announced six titles for Sony's handheld. They include: Asphalt, Assassin's Creed, Dungeon Hunter Alliance, Lumines, Michael Jackson the Experience and Rayman Origins.
  
  Assassin's Creed will arrive in 2012 with a brand new story featuring brand new characters.
  
  "With its processing power, dual tactile screens and cameras, PS Vita allows creators like Ubisoft new and unique opportunities to develop innovative games," said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer of Ubisoft. "We've got a strong and varied line-up that will offer fun and immersion to all audiences of the PS Vita." 

Video/News Source: IGN

Escape Plan: An experience tailor-made for Vita.

Escape Plan's strongest selling point (other than its stunning looks) is that you truly do get a game that's made with the Vita in mind, a title that couldn't be played on any other console or handheld, whether it be on Xbox, a 3DS, an iPad, or a PlayStation 3. That's not to say it 'couldn't' work, I suppose all that would change is the control scheme, but that's the key; lose the Vita control scheme, and you've lost part of the charm.

Escape Plan is a puzzle game where you must guide two characters -- the short and skinny Lil and the tall and fat Laarg (pronounced "large") -- through various rooms in strange environments, such as a factory, a prison, a garbage dump and a workshop. All done utilising Vita's front touchscreen and back touch pad, all to marvellous effect.

Check out the Gamescom trailer below, and we'll keep you updated on the intriguing Escape Plan.




Source: IGN

PSP and PS3 Cross-Gaming: What Do We Think?

If you saw our post earlier on the PSP to PS3 cross-platform gaming, you've more than likely developed a spark of interest in the premise. But why is it such bad time for Sony to be bringing this kind of feature to their current generation of consoles?

Not that Monster Hunter 3 isn't an epic game, because it is, but with all the PSN trouble Sony's had lately, it's hard not to think they're aiming squarely at well, nobody.

Think about it. You have to buy the PS3 version as well as the PSP re-release, not to mention we suspect, the possibility of a Playstation Plus subscription.

Now, if Sony offered the PS3 game with the PSP version as a free download for Playstation Plus members, and a discounted version for those without, Sony could see more people subscribing to Playstation Plus, as if the cross-over collection began to take off, people would see Playstation Plus as much better value, even if the premise is sadly wasted on the current PSP.


Sure, playing Monster Hunter 3rd on your PS3, then picking up where you left off and playing on your PSP on the train will be pretty fun, but with the NGP is just around the corner, it seems, well, odd.

I don't know about you, but this is the kind of thing I'd much rather do NGP to PS3, not only for the better graphics and more suited controls, but imagine being able to take your online play with you, it'd be such a close knit relationship between the NGP and PS3, that gamers would be more obliged to spend that extra bit of money.

It is of course, too soon to tell just how well this is going to work, but for the time being, I think I'll wait for the NGP before cashing in on cross-platform gaming.

Cal
Editor-in-chief

Sony's Welcome Back Package, Good News?

When Sony announced it's "Welcome Back" package, free games, 30 days free Playstation Plus and Music Unlimited sounded great.

But the reality? Well, they leave a bitter sweet taste.



As Contributing Editor, Dan Bate said "Great, Sony screws everyone over and their apology? A childs game, a game I've never heard of, a game I don't want, and two I've already got...thanks Sony"


Harsh words, maybe, but the fact of the matter is, if you're a Playstation 3 owner, there's a high chance you've got the two "big" names on the list- inFamous and littleBIGplanet.


In my opinion, Sony missed a big play here. Why not give a major title, like Killzone 3? Sure, it'd be a massive pitfall in terms of actual sales, but the fact of the matter is, they need to try and get our respect back, and quite frankly, that's not going to happen with 3 and 2 year old games, that again, most have already got.


Now, I'm not saying Sony should give a £40-50 game away, with a hope enough people will think the same, and start a boycott before May 24, as that's not going to happen, and even if it did- Sony wouldn't do it.


A lot of people are arguing "something is better than nothing" which is completely true, but at the same time, it's hard to ignore the fact that we are actually being given nothing.


Sure, two free games (four if you also own a PSP), 30 days free of Playstation Plus and Music Unlimited, is great in practise, but a month of two services that the "free" version of PSN has proved we don't actually need, and games that are either old, or pretty cack does not qualify as a means to say "We're sorry your personal data was stolen, here, key in your credit card details and have these old games, and 30 day trials of a service you probably have no interest in for free."


If Sony pulls this off without more people kicking up a fuss, then I'll be mighty impressed, for after the horrid state their PR showed during the PSN hack and now this, Sony are going to need as many on their side as they can get (or bribe).

PSN Updates

Whilst we wouldn't recommend settling down for your "Welcome Back" package just yet, but it seems we have a date to hope that the Playstation Network will resume. According to Gamasutra, May 24 is the big day.



If it happens, you'll be able to choose two free games, from Dead Nation, Infamous, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD (if you're American), whilst Europe will get LittleBigPlanet, Infamous, Wipeout HD/Fury, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty and Dead Nation, with PSP users also getting in on the action.


These, and other freebies will be available as soon as the PSN is fully resumed. Now, if only the game line-up could change to good, new titles...


source: Gamasutra

Sony Appologies With Free Games

With all that's happened with the PSN hack, Sony is apologising to it's consumers the best way it knows how; with free games.

Us here in Europe can choose two PS3 games from the choices of-
LittleBigPlanet
Infamous*
Wipeout HD/Fury
Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
Dead Nation*

PSP users will be able to download two games from the choices of-
LittleBigPlanet PSP
ModNation PSP
Pursuit Force
Killzone Liberation*

As well as:

- 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers*

- Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.

- For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.

Sony also state:
- We are working on a Welcome Back offer in PlayStation Home and will share that when it is confirmed.

Users in North America can download two of the following for free-
Dead Nation
inFAMOUS
LittleBigPlanet
Super Stardust HD
Wipeout HD + Fury

PSP users, meanwhile, can chose two from-
LittleBigPlanet
ModNation Racers
Pursuit Force
Kill Liberation

The titles are available for 30 days after the Store is made available, and once they're downloaded, there's yours to keep. It may be too little too late for some users, and quite frankly, the selection is somewhat stale, as the majority of PS3 users will already own the likes of inFamous and littleBIGplanet.

As well as:

-A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.

-30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.

-Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.

-Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.

-Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.

-To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.



source: Playstation Blog EU, Playstation Blog America

Sony Announces PSN Hack "may have obtained credit card details"

An announcent on BBC news has left many PSN users (including us!) predicibly angry at the PSN downtimes, blaming the situation on hackers.

Nick Caplin, the company's head of communications for Europe, said: "We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network".

You can read the full report here, where Caplin goes on to state that "It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained."

More news as we get it.

[thanks, Davy!]

Source: BBC News