PS Vita Review: What's So Good about the Playstation Vita?

It has been a bit of a sombre launch for Sony's latest console, with only two of GAME's stores choosing to open at midnight last night for those a hundred or so gamers who were desperate to get their hands on a PS Vita before the official UK launch.

Nevertheless, despite an apparent lack of interest,  Mini Gamers was determined to get to grips with, what could potentially be a very interesting piece of gaming technology. So, what's so good about the PS Vita?

First Impressions:

The PS Vita is definitely a lot thinner and lighter than its predecessor, with a sleek finish on the outside. We immediately notice several new additions to the usual PSP-type design. Small, round silver power and volume buttons at the top of the console, add to the stylish feel of the console, and a lit up 'Home' button, featuring the Playstation logo is found on the left hand side.

Furthermore, the usual UMD-slot has now been replaced by a nifty cartridge slot. However, unlike the 3DS, whose cartridge slot is open and easily accessible, the PSV's new slot is covered (a bit like a mobile phone's charge slot) and proved quite tricky when we eventually placed our first game cartridge into it. However, after a bit of practice, we were fine.

The initial menu screen seems a lot sharper and brighter than ever before, and features many items which were not available on the PSP. Many of these new features (such as 'Near' and 'Party') are to do with the concept of multiplayer and social online interactions, which is also a heavily-promoted feature in many of the PSV's software titles.

PS Vita Home Screen: LiveArea

The main screen of the PS Vita interface is called: Live Area. From this menu, players can interact in online social forums, check the progress of any current downloads and access games and game information.

The best thing about this area is that it is entirely controlled via touch. For example, to select a game, players only need to tap on any icon with their fingers. To close an open Live Area application, simply peel the displayed 'page' away from the screen. This is both stylishly accomplished and very futuristic.

Welcome Park:

Our first introduction to the new features of the PSV were via the console's Welcome Park, this interactive tutorial proved very useful in showing us all the varied touchscreen or tilt aspects of the new console, and also gave us an opportunity to earn some interesting trophies.

Trophies:

For those of you who haven't got a PS3 console at home, the concept of trophies will be brand new to you. Basically, for every game that you play on the PSV, you will be awarded certain trophies for different achievements. For example, in Everybody's Golf, you can unlock a trophy by simply competing in the Daily International Tournament just once.

This gives added incentive to play PSV games, furthermore, the details of your latest Trophies can then be shared with your fellow PSV gamers via the 'Near' social interaction application if you wish.

AR Cards:

When the Nintendo 3DS first came bundled with its own set of Augmented Reality Cards, we were totally bowled over by the sheer quality of them, that was until we managed to have a look at Sony's PS Vita collection of wide-angled AR Cards.

Although the cards are quite plain in appearence and certainly less colourful then the yellow and black 3DS cards, they can be used with standard PS Vita games such as Reality Fighters (see screenshot above) and also come with its own set of AR Mini Games, which can be downloaded for FREE from the PSN Store.

The first set of  PS Vita AR games are Table Football, Cliff Diving and Fireworks, which is not actually an AR game in and of itself, but can utilise the AR technology to create stunning real-life backdrops for the virtual firework displays.

Sony also intends to create more free AR software for PSV users in the future. This brilliant Youtube trailer shows the range of AR Mini Games which should become available over the next few months:

Downloading:

Our next stop was to check out some PS Vita goodies from the PSN store. Here we also noticed that Sony's promise to have EVERY PS Vita core title available for download was being fulfilled. Every launch title was definitely available for download, as well as some PSN exclusive PS Vita titles like Escape Plan, which was available for download at the stunning price of £9.99!

Nevertheless, Mini Gamers wanted to really test the PS Vita's downloading prowess, so we opted to download a couple of films instead. Normally this would have taken around two hours on a standard
PSP console, so we were pleasantly surprised that it only took around twenty minutes on the PS Vita!

The best thing about the PS Vita's downloading process though, was that we could check the progress of the download in the main LiveArea, but were able to continue playing our new games and exploring the console while the download was taking place. This was never possible on the original PSP console as was a really refreshing aspect of the new handheld.

Software:

Mini Gamers will be looking at some of games available for the PS Vita more closely in the coming days, so we won't dwell on any specifics here, but we do feel the need to mention how sharp and clear the graphics were in the games which we tried. The games appeared to be of Home Console quality rather than that of a mere handheld.

Furthermore, some of the finely-tuned Vita only controls really led to some quality gameplay, such as the ability to trace a pathway for Nathan Drake with our fingers in Uncharted: Golden Abyss, but that's another story...

Conclusions:

The debate over whether the PS Vita is a good or bad console continues, but our first impressions of the device is that it is both gaming-centred and socially-orientated meaning that it creates its own exclusive community where people can now play their favourite handheld games not in isolation, or with a sparse collection of friends,  but together, through a solid worldwide network, online.

The PSV has a lot of good aspects to it, such as a touch screen interface, sharp, quality graphics, fast downloads and multimedia functionality, which are all fantastic qualities for such a tiny handheld to possess, but which are somewhat shared by other handhelds (3DS) and gaming tablets (iPad 3) in the current entertainment market, which may help explain why the PS Vita has not yet managed to achieve dominance in this field.

However, the PSV has been able to offer some great gaming titles during its initial launch, and this has also been enhanced by a fully-working download service and Internet Browser, which was something that the Nintendo 3DS was unable to do for several months after its initial launch.

All in all, the PS Vita is most definitely a next-generation handheld, and it offers a range of fun and interactive ways for PSP fans to play the latest range of top-quality Sony games, without needing to fork out for an expensive PS3 console.  This handheld definitely deserves some respect. Overall rating: 10/10.

PS Vita Minis: What's In Store?

With only a few weeks to go until the launch of Sony's PS Vita console, Mini Gamers decided to take a sneaky little peak at the interesting collection of mini games that will come preloaded on the day of the PS Vita's launch.

The mini game selection has been carefully compiled under the rather sweet title of the PS Vita 'Welcome Park' [*translated from the Japanese, and may be subject to change] and is designed to show off and guide users through different aspects of the PS Vita, as well as challenge gamers in a variety of different tasks.

One of the first games in the Welcome Park, is called Digit Chase. The idea is that players use the PS Vita's rear touchpad, touch and multi-touch functions in order to pop virtual 'bubbles' that will appear on the screen.

This may sound simple, until the bubbles start overlapping and numbered bubbles with the same number start to appear, causing the player to work his/her fingers around the different touch sensors of the console at rapid speed. In addition, the game is timed and keeps track of the players best time.

Once they are through with the bubbles, players are treated to a moving carousel of numbers to try and defeat and another numbers game involving the Rear Touchpad, but we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise... All in all, quite a fun little game.

Sound Loop will appeal to the musicians amongst you - or at least it tries to. Record a sound-clip, using the console's in-built microphone and it will be placed as a little looping orb, which circles the centre of the screen.

Moving the orb around to a different position will affect how often the sound-clip is replayed, and with a bit of practise, the 'looping' effects can be used to create rhythmic beats, similar to those found on a DJ's mixing decks.

Players can choose to change the backing music with the simple tap of a button. We have to say though, this one will probably send even the most hardcore DJ Hero fan a bit 'loopy' by the end of the game. Not a particular favourite.

Snap + Slide is the first of two camera-themed games in the Welcome Park. The objective is simple: Snap an object using the PS Vita's in-built camera, and this game converts the image into a delightful little sliding titles game for players to complete.

Players can choose to use either the front camera or the rear camera in order to obtain a suitable image. Furthermore, the player can decide exactly how many tiled pieces the image will be broken into, thus altering the difficulty of the game. A good reinvention of a classic puzzle game.

Skate Axis helps to introduce the Tilt Sensors, which we predict are set to become an important component of many future PS Vita gaming titles.

Players must control a tiny skateboarding stick figure. The idea is that players must tilt the console to either the left or the right in order to successfully avoid several ball-shaped obstacles that appear to block the skater's path.

Each successful dodge is rewarded with a number of points. This is a fun mini game, and very innovative. Definitely worth a try (or even several tries) in our opinion.

 Hello Face is another game which uses the PS Vita camera functions to its advantage. In this game, players must snap a picture of anything that looks like a face (teddy bear,Smiley-based fridge magnet, etc) and the 'face' will appear on the screen in the shape of a transparent cube, and then the game will add slightly animated features to it, such as large cartoon eyes, and the face will appear with various phrases and quotes, depending on the picture it is based on.

This game is very creative, even if it does border on the 'slightly trippy' side of life. This is definitely another Welcome Park success.

In conclusion, the PS Vita Welcome Park is an interesting and varied collection of games, which will be very useful for all those cash-strapped gamers who cannot afford the main launch games at the moment.

Plus, all of the mini games featured in the Welcome Park have unlockable trophies and rewards, so there is even more reason to replay this set of interactive tutorials.

 So there you have it - details of the various PS Vita mini games that you can expect to find when the console launches in the UK on the 22nd of February 2012. We hope that you have found it useful.

Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blog for more news of this handheld console in the weeks leading up to, and after, the UK launch. We promise you all an in-depth review of this apparent 'Next Generation' console.

PS Vita Gets European Launch Line-Up

Sony have released the official list of PS Vita titles that gamers can expect to see at launch when the new console gets its European debut on the 22nd of February 2012.

Amongst the latest sequels of some of the core Sony franchises such as Everybody's Golf,
Uncharted: Golden Abyss and ModNation Racers: Road Trip, to name but a few, there are also a couple of brand new games on the list which seem worth getting excited about.

These include Escape Plan, a puzzle-platformer in which two odd-looking characters called Lil and Laarg (or little and large - get it?) must escape from a factory in a monochrome world where they are about to be pulped into mush. The game has an air of the macabre about it but definitely has a very unique and intriguing back-story as well as refreshing and somewhat humorous gameplay.

The other new title is simply called Unit 13, and is a Special Ops type game in which players can choose one of six operatives who are then expected to complete thirty-six gruelling action-based missions in nine different locations.

As both games have been constructed from scratch to take advantage of all the console's best features including the dual analog sticks, they promise to be a very good indication of the PS Vita's capabilities and the kind of new games we could be likely to see on the console in the near future.

Does this mean that the European launch of the PS Vita will be a success? It is impossible to tell whether Sony will have definite success with the new console. The PS Vita has already been heavily criticised for its expensive memory card prices and its new NVG game cards system, which have now replaced the UMD system used on older PSP handheld consoles.

Nevertheless, the list of launch game titles definitely seems promising enough at the moment. The full list of first-party launch titles can be seen by CLICKING HERE.

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more details about the launch over the next few months. For more details on the PS Vita's apparent pros and cons, please CLICK HERE.

PS Vita: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - What Do We Know So Far?

With only a few short months before the Playstation Vita emerges onto the Japanese gaming market, Mini Gamers examines the recent spate of news articles concerning Sony's new handheld device, and asks whether the PS Vita is gearing up to be an international success or whether it will all turn out to be a bit of a disappointment...

THE GOOD

The PS Vita (then known only as the 'Sony NGP') was announced on the 27th of January this year after months of speculation about its existence.

Amongst other things revealed about the new console, were its hardware specifications, including an enhanced graphics card, front and rear cameras, a rear touch pad and OLED touchscreen, and dual analog sticks, making it one of the most technological handhelds that Sony has ever produced.

However, Sony then surprised gamers by announcing that the console would be relatively low-priced despite its technological advances, with the 3G wireless version priced around £219, whilst the non-3G version was expected to cost around £187.

More good news came recently. Sony announced that the console would not be region-locked, unlike its main competitor, the Nintendo 3DS, meaning that gamers could purchase PS Vita software cheaply by obtaining it from other countries, including America.

Sony also recently announced that it would be offering previous PSP owners an opportunity for 'cheap downloads' of their previous UMD games onto the new console. According to gaming website, Siliconera, Sony plans to offer gamers downloadable PSP titles at a 'special price' when the console launches in Japan.

 However, it is yet unclear what form this price reduction might take, or whether similar offers will be available next year when the console launches in North America and Europe.

Sony have also provided details of the various launch dates for the PS Vita console release, which have now been confirmed as:

December 17th 2011 

Japan

 February  22nd 2012  

Worldwide release including Australia, America and Europe.

This  means that although Japan will get the Vita in time for Christmas, it won't be too long before the rest of us get to experience this nifty little console for ourselves.

THE BAD

Sony's recent announcements about PS Vita Memory Stick prices came as a shock to many gamers as the lowest prices were almost triple the price of most memory sticks and a lot higher than those memory sticks used in the older PSPs. Nothing really to suit poorer budgets. Details of the PS Vita memory sticks can be found by clicking HERE.

Sony have announced that they will cease production of UMD games for the new console, opting instead for a new game-cartridge system, which they have called NVGs. However, this means that the console will also be incompatible with older PSP games as it will no longer feature a UMD slot.

This means that PSP owners will be forced to either keep their existing PSP consoles as well as buying the new PS Vita in order to continue using the original games, or they will be forced to sell their existing software and then purchase a downloadable version for the PS Vita. Either way, this seems to be quite an off-putting factor for older PSP fans. 

Furthermore, Sony have recently announced that downloads on the 3G model of the PS Vita will now be limited to a disapointing 20MB during the console's initial launch, but Sony has stated that this may vary in the future.

PS VITA: IS THE FUTURE LOOKING 'UGLY'?

   It is yet unclear how the PS Vita will perform in the weeks and months after its release in both Japan or the rest of Europe. The console is vastly superior to the PSP or PSP Go, and, despite one or two minor bad points, the PS Vita does have plenty of  appealing features.

Nevertheless, the PS Vita has come under heavy-fire from critics who say that Sony are simply trying to rival the Nintendo 3DS, which, despite its obvious gaming advances is still struggling to make a good impression in the overall gaming market. Does this mean that the PS Vita is doomed to fail?

According to SCEJ President, Hiroshi Kawano, he does not see 3D smartphones or the Nintendo 3DS as a threat to the success of the PS Vita.

Speaking at the Tokyo Game Show 2011, Kawano claimed the two consoles were radically different, not only in their price and performance, but also in the fact that the PS Vita will contain many more elements aimed at 'Social Gaming', which has become very popular over the past few years.

Furthermore, Kawano claims that 3D smartphones only have gaming as a bonus, rather than as their main focus and therefore, he does not believe that this will be a major competitor for the PS Vita console.

Kawano said: "Gaming is not the main focus of smartphones but merely just a bonus. The PS Vita, on the other hand, is designed for games, with extra features like social networking elements and applications built on top of that... people who want to buy a gaming system will not go out and buy a smartphone for exactly this reason." [Sourced from: http://au.gamespot.com/events/tgs-2011/story.html?sid=6334983]

The PS Vita looks to be shaping up nicely, with several games such as Escape Plan, Gravity Rush, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, and Little Big Planet to name but a few. Nevertheless, one thing is certain - the PS Vita will only succeed if gamers want a console and go out and purchase one. Thus, one question still remains: Is the PS Vita what current gamers really want?

Mini Gamers in interested in what you think about Sony's latest offering. Why not leave us a comment and let us know? We'd love to here your thoughts on the subject.

PS Vita: Memory Card Prices, Battery Life and Region-Free Gaming Confimed...

Sony has confirmed several more interesting details about the release of its upcoming handheld gaming device, the PS Vita.

Details so far include confirmation that the console will indeed be without any region locks, meaning that software from one country can easily be played on a console from another country. According to GameIndustryBiz, Sony Worldwide President, Shuhei Yoshida recently responded to some gamers on the social networking site, Twitter, who asked if the console would be region-free by saying: "Yes, it is." [sourced from: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-09-19-playstation-vita-region-free]

Sony has also listed the prices for its new PS Vita memory cards which range in size from 4GB to 32GB. As usual, the larger the card's capacity, the more expensive it will be. The current prices are as follows:

4GB - £18 ($29)

8GB - £27 ($42)

16GB - £46 ($72)

32GB - £72 ($124)

Unfortunately the Memory Sticks are not as cheap as most gamers were hoping for, but as every current PSP owner knows, large capacity memory sticks are necessary for people who wish to download full-games and entertainment software or other applications from the Playstation Network Store.

Further information was also released about the console's battery life. According to Sony, the PS Vita has around 3-5 hours of battery life once it is fully-charged, which is equivalent to nine hours of music playback and five hours of video playback.

The PS Vita is scheduled for release on the 17th of December 2011. No European release dates have been set, although the console is expected to launch in North-America, Australia and the UK some time in early 2012.

Sony Announces 75 Possible Launch Game Titles For The PS Vita

Sony have reportedly released a list of 75 videogame titles which should become available when its latest handheld console, the PS Vita, launches early next year. However, we also ought to point out that these games are all currently 'work-in-progress' and thus it is possible that some of the games included on the list might change by the actual launch date.

Futhermore, the console is set to launch in Japan in December this year, and it is yet unclear whether some of these games will be exclusively available in the Japanese launch, or whether the same games will also make it to the European release as well.

Nevertheless, the list includes games from a wide range of genres including educational titles, which is unusual on a Sony handheld, and thus it looks as though Sony are determined to cater to as many gamers as possible from day one of the PS Vita launch.

The full list of games is as follows:

SUMIONI (ACQUIRE) - INK ACTION

SRPG (Working Title) (ALPJA) - Simulation RPG

MALICIOUS (tentative) (ALVION) - ACT

No title (AQUAPLUS) - Dungeon PRG

STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN (CAPCOM) - Fighting

Shirotsuku (CAVE) - Simulation

New shooting (CAVE) - shooting

Emergency Escape Adventure Trust or Betrayal (Tentative) (CHUNSOFT) Adventure

DJ MAX TECHNIKA PORTABLE (Working Title) (CYBERFRONT) - DJ SIMULATION

Jurassic HUNTER (Working title) (Digital Works Entertainment) - action

slotter mania (V DORASU) - Slot Simulation

Hello Kitty to issho block crash V (DORASU) - Block Crash

FIFA (working title) (EA) - Sport

MAPLUS PORTABLE NAVI 4 (Working Title) (Edia) - NAVIGATION

RPG (Working Title) (FURYU CORPORATION) - RPG

Ragnarok Odyssey (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action

TBA (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action

TBA (GungHo Online Entertainment) - Action Puzzle

New title (GUST) - New genre

SUDOKU by Nikoli complete edition (HAMSTER) - Corporation Puzzle

Monsters Rising (Tentative Title) (IDEA FACTORY) - Card Game

DRAGON'S CROWN (Ignition Entertainment) - Action RPG

Shin Megami Tensei series (Index Corporation / Atlus) - RPG

Persona4 The GOLDEN (Index Corporation / Atlus) - RP

Pachi-Para Series (IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING) - Pachinko 

No title (KAGA CREATE) - Adventure Game

No title (KAGA CREATE) - Shooting Game

ASPHALT : INJECTION (Konami) - Racing

AR COMBAT DigiQ (Konami) - Simulation

Oh to Maoh to Nananin no himegimi tachi - shin ohsama monogatari- (Konami) - Role Playing

Shinsei Zenkoku Taisen Version (Konami) - Mah-Jong

METAL GEAR SOLID HD EDITION (Konami) - Espionage Action

Baseball (Konami) - Sports

New RPG title (LEVEL-5) - RPG

No title (MAGES) - Adventure Game

Saikyo Todai Shogi (Mainichi Communications) - Table

Marjong Haoh (Mainichi Communications) - Table

New Action RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Action RPG

New Action-Adventure game (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) Action-Adventure game

New Simulation RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Simulation RPG

New Fantasy RPG (Working Title) (Marvelous Entertainment) - Action RPG

Next Education [English Grammar] (Media5 Corporation) - Education

Next Education [Test preparation for certified administrative procedures specialists] (Media5 Corporation) - Education

Next Education [TOEIC TEST] (Media5 Corporation) - Education

Gundam Franchise (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - ACTION

Super Robot Taisen Franchise (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - TBD

Tales of Innocence R (NAMCO BANDAI) - RPG

ANIME ACTION (Working title) (NAMCO BANDAI) - ACTION

Ys -Foliage Ocean in CELCETA (Nihon Falcom Corporation) Action RPG

Daito Giken Official Pachi-Slot Simulator Series (PAON Corporation) - Pachi-Slot Simulator 

No title (POLYGON MAGIC) - Android Communicator

Little Busters! Converted Edition (PROTOTYPE) - Adventure Game

Jumpin' (Working Title) (Railfan Holdings) - Jump action

RPG (Working Title) (Rideon Japan) - RPG

Super Monkey Ball (working title) (SEGA) - Puzzle Game

Ginsei Igo (SilverStarJapan) - Table

Ginsei Shogi Huun Ryuuko Raiden (SilverStarJapan) - Table

Escape (Sony) - Survival Stragtegy

GRAVITY RUSH (Sony) - Action Adventure

Sound Shape (Sony) - Action / Music Creator

STARSTRIKE DELTA (Sony) - Shooting Game

Reality Fighters (Sony) - Fighting

LittleBigPlanet (Sony) - Action

WipEout2048 (Sony) - Racing

FINAL FANTASY X (SQUARE ENIX) - RPG

Sangokuhime (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure

Battlefield of Maidens 2nd (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure

Sengokuhime 3rd (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure

Moe Moe Great War Modern Version ++ (SystemSoft Alpha Corporation) - strategic simulation + adventure

NINJA GAIDEN Ó (Tecmo Koei) - ACTION

LUMINES (Ubisoft) - Music Puzzle

Rayman Origins (Ubisoft) - Action

[Sourced from: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/318872/ps-vitas-70-work-in-progress-titles]

The list may help to promote the PS Vita to users of the original PSP handhelds, who may have been worried about a lack of decent software at launch.

The PS Vita's predecessor, the PSP Go wa criticised by gamers, mainly for two reasons: Firstly, the console did not have enough core titles to sustain interest from the handheld gaming market, and secondly, the PSP Go only featured downloadable games, with no UMD slot, which meant that there were no hard copies of the software available for purchase anywhere.

With Sony's announcement that it will be producing PS Vita games on a new type of memory stick called an 'NVG card', and now a detailed list of possible launch titles, it seems as though Sony is determined to correct past mistakes and make the PS Vita into a truly memorable console. However, only time will tell if the gaming community is ready to accept such a device.

Remember to check in regularly with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this subject as it develops.

PS Vita Will Have Downloadable Games Confirms Sony...

Sony has announced that all games on the new PS Vita handheld will be available in a download format.

Whilst showcasing the latest device at Gamescom 2011 earlier this week, Sony confirmed that the latest addition to Sony's handheld gaming consoles features no UMD slot, and as a result, all PS Vita games will have the ability to be purchased and downloaded directly from the Playstation Network Store.

However, unlike its predecessor, the PSP Go, which was criticised for not having enough downloadable software in the PSN store, ALL PS Vita games will be made available for download from the store upon their release.

Sony also announced that older PSP titles would be available for download onto the new PS Vita console as well, making it fully backwards compatible with previous PSP  downloadable games and software in the Playstation Network Store.

However, for gamers who were worried that they would not be able to purchase their software in a highstreet store, Sony has also revealed that it will now be producing games on a special memory stick, called an NVG Card, which will now replace the old UMD format, which was used on the older PSP handhelds.

It has not been revealed what 'NVG' actually stands for yet, but we can tell you that the cards look like normal memory sticks, but will contain game data and extra space for save information etc.

The NVG Cards will come in two sizes - 2GB for smaller games and 4GB for larger games such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss. These cards will be sold in the highstreet for purchase, which is good news for all those who hate downloads.

There were still no announcements regarding the recommended retail price of the console or its possible European release date(s). Nevertheless Sony did announce that the PS Vita would utilise some free Social Networking applications such as Facebook and Twitter.

Furthermore, the company were also quick to deny recent rumours that the size of memory on the PS Vita had been halved from its original specifications.

Thus, it seems that plans for the PS Vita are shaping-up rather nicely at present. Remember to keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news about this topic as it develops.

PSP Go: Going, Going Gone...

Sony has admitted that it is ceasing production of its PSP Go console, little over a year since it was first introduced into the gaming market.

In a statement given to the Japanese website, AV Watch, Sony claimed that it would soon be stopping production of its PSP Go console in order to more fully focus on the new NGP (Next Generation Portable) console, which is scheduled to be released at the end of this year.

PSP Go

The PSP Go has struggled with poor sales figures ever since its launch in October 2009. It is thought that a number of factors may have contributed to the console's overall poor reception. Nevertheless, the cost of downloading, and the high price of the console itself, has seemed to be its main downfall.

A standard UMD disc not included with PSP Go

Unlike the other PSP consoles, the PSP Go does not use Universal Media Discs (UMDs), allowing users to directly download content onto the device instead. However, this new approach to gaming failed to capture the interests of the modern gaming market.

In a recent article by the gaming website Andriasang, the sales figures for the PSP Go in the first week of April were seen to have dropped to a measly 356 units. Even the original PSP console, (which has also been accused of falling sales figures) managed to sell over 35,478 units in the same week.

PSP 3000 models will still be sold

News of the PSP Go's demise will come as a disappointment to those gamers who have recently taken advantage of certain bundle deals, such as the PSP Go and ten free games offers.

Nevertheless, Sony says that it intends to still honour its service and firmware obligations to owners of PSP Go consoles, and it also says that it will continue to sell models of its PSP 3000 console in the future.

The Sony NGP Prototype - Can this new handheld improve Sony's reputation?

Mini Gamers was a little disappointed to hear of Sony's plans to scrap the PSP Go console, but the news has not come as much of a surprise in the wake of such poor sales.

We can only look forward now to the development of the new Sony NGP console, and we sincerely hope that it can build upon the weaknesses of its less popular counterparts and become a truly great handheld for the future. Watch this space!

Playstation Suite Announced...

Sony have been very busy over the past month or so, as well as announcing their new handheld console - The Sony NGP - Sony have also revealed plans for a new Playstation Suite for use with Android Smartphones and Android-powered tablet PCs.

The Playstation Suite (or PS suite as it is quickly becoming known) will act like a version of the Playstation Network Store and will first feature the original Playstation One game titles, with  new 'Android' store titles becoming available at a later date.

According to gaming website, Engadget, the new Playstation Suite is equipped with a "neutral" framework so that the featured games should eventually be compatible with all mobile phones.

Furthermore, it is reported that the store will come with a Quality Assurance scheme, which has been called PlayStation Certified. In translation, this means that developers who wish to feature their software in the Playstation Suite will have to meet certain standards of quality before they can be certified for inclusion.

Very little is known about the Playstation Suite at this time, but it is has already been developed for the new Sony handheld and is also likely to feature on the new Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (or 'PSP phone').

Although neither Sony Ericsson nor Sony PSP bosses have admitted that the phone is in development,Joystiq.com recently uncovered the following advertisement for the phone on YouTube:

Thus, it seems as though Sony is determined that its new gaming products should target the Mobile Gaming market, which became more prolific throughout 2010. 

Sony CEO, Jack Tretton recently spoke at the Playstation Meeting in Tokyo, saying: "We've always been about, what is the market? What is the opportunity? Seize the opportunity and differentiate yourself," [Source:http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/engadget-interview-sceas-jack-tretton-talks-sony-ngp-announce/]

Whatever your opinion about Sony's plans, the new Playstation Suite is certainly a very interesting idea. Mini Gamers looks forward to following the progress of all Sony's new gadgets as they develop.

Introducing the Sony NGP (AKA 'PSP2')

Sony's new handheld console called The Sony NGP, (which stands for Next Generation Portable,) was revealed at an event called the PlayStation Meeting in Tokyo yesterday.

The launch puts an end to several months of speculation about the possibility of a new console, which the gaming community had nicknamed the PSP2. However, Sony was very reluctant to admit that they had been working on a new design - until now.

The Sony NGP is similar to the original PSP consoles, but boasts a few enhancements including dual analog sticks, front and rear cameras, a five-inch OLED display and Augmented Reality Software as used in the PSP game, Eyepet.

The console is apparently going to focus more on Social Gaming and interactivity. The Sony NGP will feature a capacitive touchscreen for easy access to the console's main features, and will also have a 'live' area where NGP users can communicate with each other. This area will also contain links to the PlayStation Network store.

Some of the games which have been planned for the new console include Killzone and an as yet un-revealed title in the Uncharted series, which has never featured on a handheld console before.

The Sony NGP console is also set to feature 3G connectivity. However,  Sony Europe's CEO, Andrew House has recently admitted to members of the press that only one of the various launch models will actually feature 3G capability. Furthermore, the 3G service will cost the owner each time it is used.

This is a potential 'sour note' in what is actually shaping up to be a very interesting console. The Sony NGP is set to debut in time for Christmas 2011 and is expected to cost between £187-£219. Keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news as it develops.

So that is Sony's new handheld. What do you think?