Hasta La Gadget!

As if it weren’t already expected enough, PlayStation Vita TV is almost certainly headed to territories outside of Japan. “During the presentation yesterday, the European / American users showed a very strong response, more than we expected, and there has been a strong inquiry / request / demand that they want the product,” SVP and Division President of Business Division 1 at Sony Computer Entertainment Masayasu Ito told Engadget in an interview today. “Of course we are thinking of launching in the EU and US, but in terms of timing we have to watch the timing and watch the environment carefully,” he added.

That echoes statements made by Sony, who told us “We are considering every opportunity, but have nothing to announce at this time” a few weeks back. What Ito expanded on, though, was how the system might change before heading to other regions. “If we have to add further services or not. It’s not that we have decided, but cloud gaming services, how can we work on that? So we are looking at each of the possible items before launching in Europe or the United States,” he told us. Interesting indeed, especially considering the upcoming Gaikai game streaming functionality for PlayStation game consoles. It sounds like the rest of the world won’t see Vita TV this year, but rest assured, it’s almost certainly on the way.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Sony

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After appearances in early FCC leaks and a quick preview this weekend, Sony has officially announced its next Google TV device, the BRAVIA Smart Stick. We already knew the MHL and USB connected dongle would only work with Sony’s 2013 or later HDTVs, and its functionally similar to the company’s previous Google TV boxes so what’s left? Sony has revealed that the NSZ-GU1 carries a $149.99 pricetag and a bit more about the product’s strategy. This stick doesn’t replace the TV’s built-in smart features, the UI is built so it “seamlessly integrates Google and Sony’s own BRAVIA apps, allowing viewers to stay in a single menu to launch any of their apps.” That also means owners don’t have to switch inputs to access live TV thanks to the HDMI passthrough, and should offer quick access to BRAVIA apps not on Google TV like Hulu Plus. The downside? Its limited compatibility means it’s no Apple TV or Roku alternative, and until software updates arrive it’s not a replacement for Google’s popular and cheap Chromecast HDMI dongle. If you have / plan to buy a new Sony HDTV and are interested in living the GTV lifestyle, you should find it at Sony Stores and “select retailers”, although we couldn’t locate one online (yet) after a brief search.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony, Google

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Source: Sony Blog

Back at Gamescom 2013, Sony made it known that select cross-generational games, like Call of Duty: Ghosts, purchased for the PlayStation 3 would be upgradeable for its forthcoming PS4. At the time, Sony kept general pricing details for the program under wraps, although Activision did announce its qualifying CoD title would set PS4 users back $10 bucks for the next-gen upgrade privilege. Now, Sony’s coming clean with the full spate of its limited run upgrade program, adding Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, Battlefield 4 and Watch Dogs to the list — all for $10.

So how does it work? Well, for those gamers that insist on purchasing a physical copy of any of the above games, they’ll receive a redeemable pack-in code which they can enter into the PlayStation Network for a digital copy of the PS4 version. That’s not all though. In order to unlock that next-gen copy, the physical disc has to be in the console to activate it. The process is much simpler for those that opt for the all-digital route, as a PS3 purchase made on PSN will automatically qualify gamers for the discount, at which point the game will be available for download. You have to hand it Sony: with news of this expanded upgrade program and the PS4’s Gaikai-powered PS3 backwards compatibility, it seems the company’s well learned from the lessons of the previous gen’s past.

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Source: PlayStation Blog

Amazon Studios clearly isn’t messing about. One of the more notable series in its original round of pilots is getting a bit more star power. Comedians Amy Sedaris, Wanda Sykes and Sex and the City alum Cynthia Nixon are set to join the cast of Alpha House, which already includes the likes of John Goodman. The Garry Trudeau-penned show is shaping up to be the largest of Amazon’s first round of five green lit series. The show will premier through the company’s streaming service later this year.

Billy Steele contributed Photoshopped magic to this report.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Amazon

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Just like the PlayStation Portable before it, the PlayStation Vita comes in iterations. There’s the standard, original Vita, and then there’s the new, even nicer version. Sony unveiled that new iteration recently at a Japanese event, and we got our first hands-on with it today at Tokyo Game Show 2013. So, what’s different? Not too much. As it turns out, it’s still a Vita.

The good news is that it’s a far lighter, more comfy version of the Vita you already know and (maybe) love. Rounded edges make holding the Vita distinctly less abrasive — the sharper angles on the original Vita were pretty from a design perspective, but not so much from an ergonomic standpoint. The buttons have been rejiggered as well, with a solid click for each (the start / select / PS Home buttons are also all now circles instead of ovals). And hey, the micro-USB port for charging is an unbelievably welcome addition. Gone are the days of your proprietary Vita charging cable (though there’s still a port for it as well, should you refuse to change).

And that’s not the only ergonomic improvement: the new Vita is dramatically lighter than its predecessor, making it all the easier to take on-the-go. We’re told that its battery life is also much improved, but we’ve yet to see that play out in real life, so we’ll reserve judgment for now.

Update: We’ve added video just below walking through the new Vita — please excuse us, as we called the new Vita’s LCD screen an LED in the video. Chock it up to jet lag!%Gallery-slideshow89586%

Check out all our Tokyo Game Show 2013 coverage right here at our hub!

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Software, HD, Sony

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