Sony PlayStation Vita: What We Know So Far
Sony PlayStation Vita is the next generation of personal or hand-held gaming device coming from Sony that is expected to be released in February 2012 in North America and Europe after an initial launch in Japan in December of 2011. The term Vita is Latin for “Life” and is meant to describe the realism of the games and social aspect of the system. Here is what we know about the PlayStation Vita so far.
Like its predecessor, the user controls include the familiar analog sticks on either end of the device with the D-Pad directional buttons on the left, selection buttons on the right, and the “L” and “R” buttons along the top. The screen will be an impressive OLED touchscreen supporting multiple touch controls in addition to a rear touch screen. Both front-facing and rear-facing cameras with face detection, a microphone, and stereo speakers are also included.
The Vita will be powered by a quad-core processor and it will come complete will a highly sensitive gyroscope and accelerometer which will will be utilized to improve game play. Other high-tech features include support for Bluetooth connections, Wi-Fi connectivity, connection via a 3G network, and an electronic compass. The 3G version will have GPS functionality capable of pinpointing the device location.
Both 3G and non-3G models will be available. The 3G model will be priced higher but will come with additional features that take advantage of this constant connectivity. Because of this, an unlimited mobile broadband service feature is a must to get the most from the 3G model. For 3G connection the Vita will use the AT&T 3G network in the United States while using the Vodafone network in Europe.
At 512 MB, the RAM in the Vita is twice that of the PlayStation Personal. For game storage a new Sony flash memory card will be used to store up to 16 GB of data. This proprietary memory card is different from the current PlayStation Personal memory card which will not be compatible with the Vita.
There are a number of games being developed for the PlayStation Vita including such popular titles as Call of Duty, Metal Gear Solid, Lost Planet and Uncharted. Games that were previously downloaded onto the PlayStation Personal will be fully supported as well, so they will come along for the ride.
For gamers that don’t want to lose their social connections while gaming on the go, PlayStation Vita will include applications that make it easy to stay connected on services like Twitter, Facebook, or even foursquare. Real-time conversations will be possible through Skype. These social applications will be available free of charge to Vita owners.
With cross-game chat, the ability to play friends or opponents at any time around the world, an ability to connect with your home-based PS3, and a full suite of social connection applications included on the PlayStation Vita, utilization of the always-on connection through Wi-Fi or 3G is a great idea to get the most from the system.
Take a look at these Sony PlayStation Vita pictures:
With the North America launch the Vita will cost $249 for the Wi-Fi only version and $299 for the Wi-Fi plus 3G version. With an unlimited mobile broadband plan, the Wi-Fi plus 3G version of the Vita will maintain the always-on connection wherever a user goes on the 3G network, even when Wi-Fi is not available. That means continuous gaming, chat, and social connections are possible even when traveling.
The PlayStation Vita is a step forward from the PlayStation Personal. From what we know so far it looks like a super-charged personal gaming system that will take portable gaming to the next level.
This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find internet service providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your unlimited mobile broadband needs.
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