The company also touched on a number of family friendly games for the device, including Petz and Rock Band Unplugged.
Sony today made official what it called “the worst-kept secret of E3,” the PSP Go. The device is the latest iteration of the company’s popular handheld gaming console, the Play Station Portable. The new device is slimmer and offers a number of new features, includeing 16GB of internal flash memory, built-in Wi-Fi, and Integrated Bluetooth.
The company is also introducing Media Go, which will replace the Media Manager as a PC-accessible store.
The device will be available on October 21st for $249.99. Sony was careful to stress the fact that the device will not be replacing the PSP 3000. The company has expressed its commitment to both devices, as well as to UMD, despite the fact that the new device will no longer support that media platform.
Sony today kicked off its E3 2009 media event at the Shrine Auditorium today by highlighting the PlayStation 2, the company’s nine-year-old console, which is nearing the end of the 10-year life cycle, the company projected. Still, despite the age of the system and the introduction of its successor, the PlayStation 3, CEO Jack Tretton announced that the console will see 100 new titles introduced this year alone.
Said Tretton of the $99 console, “We’re committed to the PS2 for as long as users see value in it.”
Nintendo today unveiled a strange new controller during its E3 press conference. According to the company, the Wii Vitality Sensor device is something of a spiritual successor to the popular Brain Age and Wii Fit games.
The device, which sits on the player’s finger, attempt to “visualize something else that is otherwise invisible,” such as excitement and nervousness. According to Nintendo, “It will initially sense the user’s pulse and a number of other signals being transmitted by their bodies, and will then provide information to the users about the body’s inner world.” No more details on the device were given.
Sony just announced the rumored new motion controller for the PS3 — the prototype looks like a wand with a color-changing ball on top. It’s designed to work in conjunction with the PlayStation Eye, with the wand overlaid on-screen with a weapon or tool. Unlike Microsoft’s Project Natal, Sony says they’ve learned “some experiences need buttons,” which is why there’s still a controller involved. The system is said to be “sub-millimeter” precise, and it was demoed drawing and playing a shooter — it’s sort of the middle ground between Natal and Wii Motion Plus. Sony says it’ll launch in the spring of 2010, but we don’t know what pricing will be like yet.
Update: Video added after the break!
Gallery: PS3 Motion Controller
Continue reading Sony announces new PS3 motion controller
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Sony announces new PS3 motion controller originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
We’ve teamed up with Joystiq for live coverage of E3, and Sony’s keynote is rounding out the big three. The event is scheduled to start at around 2PM ET / 11AM PT.
10:27AM PT: We’re live at the Shrine Auditorium, waiting to take our seats and begin the ritualistic dance we both know as a “liveblog.” Will there be a PS3 price cut? Will it be “PSP Go!” or “PSP D’oh!”? We don’t know yet, but you will as we cover Sony’s presser live. Follow along with your bingo card and make your Sony predictions in comments!
Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Sony’s E3 2009 keynote
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Engadget & Joystiq live from Sony’s E3 2009 keynote originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Just as expected, Sony just announced the PSP Go at E3 just now — Haz Kirai called it the “worst kept secret at E3.” The slider handheld has a 3.8-inch LCD, built-in Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage, all in a case 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP-1000 — a weight savings we’re guessing is directly attributable to the loss of the UMD drive. That’s right, the Go doesn’t have a UMD drive — games will instead load in through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over PlayStation Network. That’s not the end of the classic PSP, though — Sony says it will “live on.” New PSP titles will be distributed through both UMD at retail and online simultaneously — Sony’s beefing up the desktop client and renaming it Media Go for easier access and syncing with Playstation Network media, but you’ll be able to get PSN content directly from the Go as well. The PSP’s music features have also been beefed up with a new auto-playlist feature called Sense Me, which sounds a lot like Pandora or iTunes Genius playlists, and there’s a new video delivery service being rolled out.
Don’t expect the loss of UMD to lower the price, though: the Go will be $249 when it launches on October 1 in North America and Europe and November 1 in Japan. Sony’s showing demo videos with both black and white versions, but that’s not confirmed yet — we’ll let you know.
Update: Check the full PR here.
Update 2: Sony has just blasted out the detailed specifications. Here are the highlights:
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Sony PSP Go announced — $249, no UMD originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Segway rolls its way into Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The PSP Go! is official and it looks great. Check out the features of what could potentially be a Nintendo DS—and iPod Touch—killer, along with the Playstation and Media Go store.
Technical features
• 3.8-inch LCD screen.
• Sliding control pad.
• 16GB internal flash storage.
• Wi-Fi.
• Bluetooth.
• M2 Memory Stick Micro port.
• No second analog joystick.
• No UMD drive.
• Sense Me application will allow you to playback music based on moods.
• Available in black and white models.
Physical features
• 50% smaller than the original PSP.
• 40% lighter than the original PSP.
Game and media distribution
• All PSP titles going forward will be digitally distributed through the PlayStation Store, but also on UMD for the regular PSP.
• The video delivery service will offer more than 9400 TV shows—Showtime, Anime Network, Manga, UFC, HDNet, E!, G4, Magnolia…—and 1900 movies.
• On the PC there will be an application called Media Go, which will access the PS Store—I guess this will be the equivalent of the iTunes Store.
Availability and pricing
• The PSP Go! will be available for $249 and 249 euros
• Launch date: October 1st in Europe and North America. November 1st in Japan.
• PSP toolkits will be reduced 80% in price for developers.
PSP(R)go PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) Evolves to Match the Digital Lifestyle
With an Ultra-Portable Design and Digital Content Focus, PSPgo to Hit the Worldwide Market This Fall, Further Enhancing the User Experience Along with PSP-3000
LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today unveiled PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go (PSP-N1000), a new evolution of PSP handheld entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo will become available in stores on October 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a recommended retail price (RRP) of US$249 and euro 249, and on November 1, 2009, in Japan at a RRP of 26,800 yen (including tax). With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, the company will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that’s right for them.
PSPgo is ideal for today’s on-the move consumers who prefer not to carry around disc-based content and are looking for on-demand entertainment. With the steady expansion of broadband network infrastructure, the number of users who download and enjoy digital entertainment content has been increasing remarkably. To address this growing trend, PSPgo replaces the UMD drive*1 with 16GB of flash memory to store a variety of digital entertainment content, offering users unlimited possibilities of portable digital entertainment delivered through PlayStation®Network. PSPgo, smaller and lighter than ever with a sophisticated design featuring an easy sliding display panel, is truly pocket-sized and can be taken everywhere. PSPgo will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White*2, two of the most popular colors since the launch of the PSP system in 2004. Along with PSP-3000, PSPgo will further enhance the unmatched portable gaming and entertainment experience by offering users more opportunity to enjoy their favorite entertainment content such as games, videos, music and photos anytime, anywhere.
In order to meet the needs of the growing number of PlayStation®Network users looking for digital entertainment content, SCE along with third party developers and publishers will continue to enhance the content line-up within PlayStation®Store for the launch of PSPgo, scheduled this fall. More and more new and attractive titles will become available for download from PlayStation®Store as well as on UMD. This broad content offering across all genres includes new games, free-demos, PS one® classics for PSP, add-on items for game titles, and trailers.
In addition to accessing PlayStation Store directly from PSP using the built-in wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) feature or through the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, users will also be able to access and download a variety of entertainment content via their PCs using Media Go*3, a new software application. Media Go will enable users to access and download entertainment content on PlayStation Store via their PCs as well to easily manage PSP content on PCs, including games, videos, photos, and music. This easy to use software application will be available on a CD-ROM bundled with PSPgo.
Also this fall, a new music application specific to PSP that uses the “SensMe™ channels”*4 music recommendation feature, developed by Sony, also becomes available for download on PSP. With this music application, users will be able to enjoy their favorite music stored on their PSP through a rich user interface, designed exclusively for PSP. “SensMe channels” is a mood based music recommendation system that categorizes music content into channels such as “Relax,” “Dance” and “Upbeat,” and recommends music playlists for users.
Other features are:
> Easy Sliding Display Panel and Original Applications
PSPgo offers a variety of exciting entertainment options by taking
advantage of the sliding panel. When the panel is open, users will be
able to enjoy various entertainment content with the familiar button
control as PSP-3000, when closed, original applications for PSPgo, such
as a clock and calendar is displayed on the screen. Users can also
enjoy video and music when the panel is closed.> Game sleep function
PSPgo has unique features such as game sleep function which enables
users to operate XMB(TM) (XrossMediaBar) while pausing gameplay
temporarily.> Bluetooth(R) function
Bluetooth function will also allow users to connect Bluetooth
standard peripherals such as head-phones and head-set *5 as well
as PS3 wireless controller (DUALSHOCK(R)3 and SIXAXIS(R)) *6 to be
used when watching video content on TVs via PSP at home*7.> Peripheral line-up
One of the products within PSPgo’s peripheral line-up is a new
Cradle (PSP-N340) *7 that will become available in stores worldwide
concurrently with the release of PSPgo. This new Cradle enables users
to charge the PSPgo battery and also enjoy watching video and listening
to music. Also included in the peripheral line-up are video-out port
cables that enable users to enjoy games and videos on their TVs at home.
Dunaway then introduced the latest game featuring its perennial favorite character, Mario. New Super Mario Brothers for the Wii is a
throwback to the platform gaming that defined early entries in the series. New Super Mario Brothers lets up to four players play at once, the camera constantly zooming in and out to fit all in the frame at the same time. The game is due out for the 2009 holiday season.
Nintendo also updated its popular fitness game with Wii Fitness Plus, which features six new strength and yoga activities, 15 new balance games, and a first-person Mario-like jumping game. Wii Fit Plus is due in fall of this year as a standalone game or bundled with the Wii Fitt board.
The WiiMote also got an update, in the form of the Wii Motion Plus (above), an add-on to the controller that gives users more precision control over the device. The gaming suite Wii Sports Resort will be the first game to take advantage of the device.
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