Sony Unveils PS Vita: Games line-up and Prices Confirmed...

It has been known to the handheld gaming community as the PSP 2 and the Sony NGP, but Mini Gamers can now reveal that the official name for Sony's newest handheld device is the PS Vita. 

For those of you who aren't yet aware of the PS Vita's technical specifications, the device will contain the following:

 5-inch OLED Touchscreen: For more varied gameplay

Rear Touch Pad: Capacitive Multi-touch

Cameras: rear camera, front camera which will be used for augmented reality gaming.

Sound: Built-in mic, built-in speakers

Sensors: 6-axis motion sensory system (three-axis accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope)

Internet Connectivity: 3G (optional), WiFi , Built-in GPS

Switches/Keys: Volume buttons, SELECT/START button, right/left stick, shoulder buttons, action buttons, directional buttons, power button, PS button

Wireless: Mobile Network Connectivity (3G), IEE 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

The PS Vita is set to revolutionise the way that Playstation fans access and play their games. The CEO of Consumer services and Marketing, Kazuo Hirai, proudly introduced the new console at E3 2011 last night. He said: "Vita means 'life' and the PS Vita blurs the lines between entertainment and real life..." and he claimed that the PS Vita would also lead the way in offering gamers a: "Truly unique social experience."


The PS Vita contains a powerful CPU processor and greater memory, making its graphics closer to the PS3 in comparison. This means that there will now be better interconnectivity between Sony's favourite home console and the new handheld device.  

For example, the PS Vita will now use the 'Cloud Saves' feature usually found on the PS3 console. This means that players can save their game and then connect it up to their PS3 console and continue playing from where they left off.

Several PS Vita games were presented during the ninety-minute Sony conference, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a brand new Uncharted game.  This game was a good example of how the new PS Vita functions could be put to good use.

 For example, the main character, Nathan Drake can now be made to jump simply by tapping on the touchscreen. Players can also make Drake move along several ledges or chasms easily by 'drawing' a safe route for him with their finger.  Enemies can be attacked by using the traditional PSP button system or by tapping on them via the touchscreen. Weapons can also be collected via this method.

Modnation Racers for the PS Vita demonstrated how the multiple touch points on the rear touchpad can be used to customise tracks. In the PS Vita version of the popular racing game, pressing on various points of the touchpad can create mountaneous peaks and place trees, while tapping on the front touchscreen can create lakes or rivers and create bends in the racing track.

Finally, the PS Vita version of Little Big Planet uses the new 'tilt' functions of the motion sensors. Many of the new levels will include areas where the console will need to be tilted in order for the player to proceed.

Furthermore, players can use the new front and rear cameras to take a photo of themselves, which will then be used to create their sackboy/sackgirl character.

The Little Big Planet toolbox has also been enhanced. Players can now draw items such as bridges or steps on the touchscreen  and they will then be added into your own created levels.

These major titles will all be available for the PS Vita at launch, and CEO of Sony Entertainment America, Jack Tretton revealed that there were a lot more quality games in the pipeline: "We currently have more than eighty [PS Vita] game titles in development by top developers including EA, Ubisoft, THQ, Activision and Capcom."

The PS Vita  will debut some time in December 2011, just in time for the Christmas market. There will be two types of the console available at launch, PS Vita with 3G connectivity, which will retail for around £185, and PS Vita with standard Wi-fi connectivity, which will suit tighter budgets by retailing at around £155.

In conclusion, the latest Sony offering is certainly an intriguing little console. It is impossible to tell how well it will be recieved at launch, but with promises of Social Gaming functions and Augmented Reality gaming on top of the main console features, the PS Vita promises to provide gamers with: "An experience you need to see - and feel - to believe..." [Jack Tretton, Sony America CEO]

E3 2011: Nintendo Unveils Portable Wii U controller...

'Innovation' was certainly the watchword for Nintendo at this year's E3 conference. As well as giving us the lowdown on several new 3DS titles, including Mario Kart 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Cave Story 3D, Tekken 3D, amongst others, Nintendo proudly unveiled their plans for a brand new home console, known as the Wii U. (previously called the 'Wii 2').

It might seem odd to be talking about a home console on a blogsite which is usually so devoted to handheld gaming, but the Wii U comes with an extra little twist - The Wii U controller is actually a portable gaming tablet, which allows gamers to play their Wii U games without the need for a TV screen!

The controller features a 6.2 inch touchscreen, dual circle pads, control pad, D-pad, left and right shoulder buttons and a stylus. It also features a gyroscopic sensor, microphone and drawing pad functionality, which are all found on the standard portable Nintendo handhelds such as the DS lite or 3DS.

 The Wii U controller also allows you to play a special library of games specifically included on the controller itself, meaning that people can continue to game whilst in bed, or when watching a TV programme, or anywhere else in the home you can think of. In fact, the only thing that marks the Wii U controller out from another portable gaming device is that it cannot be used outside the home.

However, the CEO and President of Nintendo America, Reggie Fils-Aime, was quick to explain that the Wii U should not be thought of as another portable console like the Nintendo DS or 3DS. Instead, the controller will work in conjunction with the Wii U console and will wirelessly interact with the main console (shown above).

The controller can also be used to enhance standard Wii U gameplay by acting as a magnifying glass. Can't see the enemy when trying to shoot if playing on your TV screen? No problem. Hold the Wii U controller over the TV screen and you'll get a close-up image of your opponent(s) on your controller instead.

Tilt or move the Wii U controller, and you will get a birdseye view of your in-game environments, meaning that you can see your targets, areas or goals (such as the Green in a game of  golf) or other players much more easily than before.

The Wii U controller will also allow you to share Internet information and make video calls to friends and family, providing what Nintendo called: " A tailor-made gaming experience"

It seems as though Nintendo have taken the most popular elements of the Wii and the best elements of the Nintendo 3DS and mixed them together to create something which, according to Fils-Aime is a "Unique, Unifying Utopia," which helps to create "deeper gameplay action".

The similarity between the new Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS consoles were also mentioned during the conference, with the two Wii U game titles - Super Smash Bros Brawl and Lego City Stories simultaneously being announced for the 3DS system as well.

Furthermore, there was talk of a game which would use inter-compatibility between the 3DS and the Wii U sometime in the future, but Nintendo refused to go into details about this at this point, preferring  to emphasise how both consoles were set to revolutionise the current gaming market instead.

The Wii U controller creates an interesting gaming hybrid and brings the gap between home console gaming and handheld gaming closer than ever before.

There are very few details about software for the new console at the moment, which is set to debut some time in 2012. Watch this Space!

Nintendo 3DS eShop and Internet Browser launch: What Can We Expect From Day One?

Nintendo have now released details of the new Software Update that will launch the much-anticipated 3DS eShop and Internet Browser.

The update launches in North America from 6pm tonight, and will become available in Europe from tomorrow. The update promises to equip the Nintendo 3DS with many new features. According to Nintendo, the Software Update will add the following features and enhancements:

• The Nintendo eShop:

The eShop will allow users to download a variety of free and purchasable games and items directly onto their Nintendo 3DS.

Users will also be able to view video trailers, screenshots and background information on the latest 3DS games.

This function will replace the Limited-Time 3D Video which was provided in the last system update.

• Internet Browser:

Users can now browse the web on the Nintendo 3DS. This function also supports Spotpass Updates via thousands of free wi-fi hotspots across Europe, and includes software to allow any future updates to be downloaded automatically.

• System Transfer:

This piece of software allows users to transfer saved game data from older Nintendo handheld consoles directly onto their 3DS.

• Free Game Offer:

To celebrate the new enhancements, Nintendo are offering a free download of 3D Classics Excitebike, which will be available to all existing 3DS customers until the 7th of July 2011.

• Ridge Racer Compatibility Issues:

Nintendo have warned that users of the Ridge Racer 3D game might experience gameplay disruptions once they have installed the software update, but they also promise that a new patch will be made available soon in order to rectify this problem.

All in all, it sounds like the new update will offer some interesting enhancements to this intriguing console.

Nothing has been said about the possibility of 3D films or TV on the 3DS yet (an original promise made by Nintendo prior to the launch of the 3DS in March this year,) but further details about the eShop and browser are expected at E3 2011, which begins in Los Angeles tomorrow. Be sure to check in with Mini Gamers for all the E3 news throughout the three-day conference.

Is Professor Layton and The Specter's Flute Coming To Europe At Last?

*THIS POST HAS SINCE BEEN UPDATED* To read the update, including new trailer info, please click HERE.

Amongst all the excitement about Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle appearing on the 3DS some time later this year, recent questions have emerged surrounding the possible European release of the fourth Professor Layton game - Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute.

Chronologically, Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle is actually the fifth Professor Layton game, so it makes little sense that this title would debut in Europe BEFORE the fourth game in the series, prompting many fans to ask why nothing had been mentioned of Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute outside of Japan.

Now, it seems as though there might be a glimmer of hope for die-hard European Professor Layton fans, as the series developers Level 5 inc have recently filed some important paperwork, which requests an American Tradmark for a game called Professor Layton and the Last Spectre.

For those of you who don't know, Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute is the first of three 'prequel' games in the Professor Layton series, which shows how young Luke Triton becomes the Professor's apprentice.

According to gaming website, CVG.com the trademark request is for a Nintendo DS/DSi game only, which seems to answer the question of whether Professor Layton and the Specter's Flute would also make its debut on the 3DS system.

Although there are no specifics for either an American or UK release date at this time, the trademark request definitely shows that a game is at least being considered for the Western gaming market, and is a major breakthough for Professor Layton enthusiasts, who were concerned that the fourth game in the series would never be released in Europe at all.

The subtitled teaser trailer below shows some of the major cutscenes from the fourth game. It is sure to be spectacular and is well worth a look:

Further details of the game are now expected at E3, which will take place in Los Angeles between the 7th and 9th of June 2011. Be sure to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for all the news from the annual E3 conference as it happens.

Nintendo 3DS: 'Record Returns' Denied By Retailers

Recent claims made by the Sun newspaper that 'thousands' of gamers had returned their 3DS consoles back to the shops after they had experienced several side-effects, have been refuted by retailers.

The article stated that there had been 'record returns' of the new 3DS console after gamers experienced dizziness and nausea after playing the console with the 3D effects enabled. Nevertheless, several video game retailers including GAME and HMV have said that the newspaper's claims are untrue.

GAME has admitted that a few people have requested a refund for the console after experiencing some minor ill-effects, but that these returns figures do not add up to thousands of returns. A spokesperson for GAME said: "We've had less than five people complain that they feel sick and want to return [the 3DS]." [Source:http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-05-nintendo-discredits-3ds-headaches-story]

Meanwhile, HMV has denied any 3DS returns. A representative of HMV said: " we are not aware of any manufacturing fault with the 3DS console - which we have seen huge demand for, and that we have not issued any refunds for it." [ibid.]   

Nintendo have also been quick to defend the 3D technology used in the new console, saying: "The number of calls and emails with queries on Nintendo 3DS is in fact well below the rate experienced during past hardware launches and having spoken with our retail partners there are only a handful of people who have actually gone into stores to request a refund." [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-04-05-retailers-deny-3ds-scare-story]

 The 3DS has proven to be extremely popular with the European gaming community. The console sold 113,000 units in its first two days on sale in the UK, and 303,000 units across Europe combined. Nevertheless, this latest media backlash - whether true or otherwise - is now likely to dent public confidence in the Nintendo handheld.

For those gamers who have experienced side-effects from using the 3DS, however, Nintendo have offered various pieces of health and safety literature that accompany the 3DS console, and which can be summerised in the following way:

• Children aged seven or under should not use the 3D effects on the new console as it could damage their developing eyesight. Parents and guardians should use the 3D Depth Slider to turn off the 3D effect before giving it to a child aged seven or under.

Play the 3DS in a well-lit environment and avoid playing if you feel tired. Take a fifteen minute break after approximately half an hour of playing the 3DS (with 3D enabled). 

• Consult your GP before playing the 3DS if you are prone to epilepsy or seisures when playing video games, or are affected by flashing images.

• Use the 3D depth slider on the side of the console to control how much of the 3D effect is displayed. If the 3D effects make you uncomfortable, slide the depth slider to the lowest possible 3D setting.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Have you experienced any ill-effects whilst using the 3DS with the 3D effect enabled?

 Has The Sun newspaper article put you off of owning a Nintendo 3DS?

Have you tried to return a Nintendo 3DS console to the shop where you bought it? What was your experience?

If you have any comment to make on this subject, please let us know. We'd be delighted to hear your thoughts.

Nintendo 3DS: Is MYST Coming To The 3DS?

The  Nintendo 3DS has proven to be a very popular console since its launch just over a week ago. The 3DS launch games for March/April have been highly publicised throughout the Media, and even some of the games scheduled for later in the year have already appeared on online retail sites such as Game and Amazon etc.

Imagine Mini Gamers surprise therefore when we discovered that a 3DS version of the best-selling MYST game was also scheduled for release at the end of this month. Why had we heard nothing about about this version until now?

In fact, Mini Gamers only found out that the game was being released for the Nintendo 3DS after searching on the Play.com website for new 3DS releases. There is no boxshot at the moment, but the the overall  preorder information on the website clearly states that the 3DS version of this game is scheduled for release on April 22nd 2011.

If you are a gamer, it is likely that you have already heard something about the MYST franchise, which has been re-released countless times in several different formats since its debut on the PC over eighteen years ago. Its more recent incarnations have also included the iPhone and the Nintendo DS.

For those of you to whom MYST is a complete mystery, however, the game puts players in the role of someone called the Stranger, who uses a special book to travel to the island of Myst.

Once in the game, players can then use other special books (which are all written by an explorer named Atrus) to travel to several worlds known only as 'Ages'. Players must help people trapped in the dimensional fissure of MYST's tropical island by finding clues in different locations and solving puzzles.

MYST is probably best described as a completely open-ended point-and-click puzzle adventure, and therefore the game has several endings, depending on the course of action that each player takes.

The original PC game was very popular and was commonly thought by many videogame critics and publications to be "The best-selling PC game of all time" until 2002, when it was finally overtaken by The Sims franchise.

Nevertheless, the Nintendo DS version, which was released in 2007 proved to be a lot less popular. The game was criticised for its lack of a clearly defined plot, which could be one of the reasons why the 3DS version of MYST has so far not been highlighted as an April 3DS release game, however, there is just no way of really knowing why this intriguing and innovative game has been virtually kept secret until now, all we can say at this stage is: its a MYST-ery!

Remember to keep checking in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this game as it develops.






Sources:

http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/simslivinlarge/news_2857556.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/myst/id311941991?mt=8

http://nds.gamezone.com/products/item/myst_nds/

http://www.play.com/Games/DS/4-/18658497/Myst/Product.html?searchtype=DS&searchsource=0&searchstring=Myst+3DS&urlrefer=search&strefer=DS&searchfilters=s%7bMyst+3DS%7d%2bc%7b362%7d%2bc%7b10047%7d%2b

NB: All images displayed in this blog post are taken from the iPhone and PC versions of Myst

Sony Erricsson's Xperia Play Phone Release Delayed By Possible Software 'Bugs' and 'Frieght' issues...

It has been revealed that three of the UK's biggest mobile phone retailers - O2, Three and Vodafone have delayed stocking the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Phone (AKA 'Playstation Phone') on the eve of the phone's European release, citing  'software bugs' and 'Frieght' problems as reasons for the delay.

A recent post on the O2 blog suggested that a number of  software bugs and glitches had been discovered in the Xperia Play handset and that this would delay O2's ability to stock the phone for today's release date.

Stuart Hibberd, Head of Testing at O2 said: "Sometimes we discover bugs and issues on a phone. This is perfectly normal – bugs can appear in every form of software.This is what has happened with the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. We’ve been testing the phone non-stop for weeks and have found some bugs in the software...We’ve been working with Sony Ericsson to get these bugs ironed out, but haven’t been able to get them fixed in time for us to be able to launch the phone on April 1st as we originally planned." [Sourced: http://blog.o2.co.uk/home/2011/03/delay-on-the-xperia-play.html]

Meanwhile, Vodafone and Three have also delayed stocking the phone. In customer statements revealed to the VG247 website, both Vodafone and Three claimed that frieght issues had delayed a small number of their pre-ordered handsets and insisted that they had found no bugs in the phone's software.

Orange is now the only UK retailer to have full stocks of the Xperia Play phone in time for today's launch, although Vodafone claims that the handset will be available at a few of its stores from today as well.

Whether it is due to software glitches or frieght issues, news of the delay is sure to disapoint thousands of customers and is a rather sour note in the phone's European launch. Mini Gamers hopes that all the problems can be rectified very soon.

Nintendo 3DS: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars Review

For those of you who don't know, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is a new turn-based, tactical combat game for the Nintendo 3DS. The characters take it in turns to move and attack various enemies in the battlefield.

The main storyline focuses on a Russian Ultranationalist called Yuri Treskayev who is amassing a secret army of drones in the hot desserts of Kazakhstan. It is up to the 'Ghosts' - an elite special operations fighting force - to stop Treskayev from coming to power.



There are three gameplay modes: Campaign mode is a single-player mode in which players must control a squad of six Ghosts as they complete a series of thirty-seven missions. Completing the required  objectives in each mission earns the player Hit Points (HP) which can then be used to upgrade equipment and weapons.

The other two game modes are Skirmish Missions and Multiplayer. There are twenty Skirmish missions to complete, each one features a fixed team of Ghosts. There are also a total of ten Multiplayer missions which can be played by two or more players.

The six main Ghosts that you control all vary in rank and the type of weapons that they use. The respective soldier ranks of the main Campaign Mode squad are as follows:

Commando: The Commando (Duke) is equipped with an assault rifle and a hi-tech shoulder mounted missile launcher. He is a very agile member of the team and makes use of all the weapons at his disposal very effectively. There are two types of Commando soldiers, anti-vehicle or anti-personnel.

Sniper: The sniper (Haze) is an expert in long range weapons including heavy sniper rifles, which are very good at getting through the enemy armour, or light sniper rifles, which allow Haze to move faster on the battlefield. His secondary weapons include a choice of either AP or EMP grenades.

Gunner: The gunner (Richter) has a high-powered automatic weapon. This causes an excellent amount of  damage to the 'hostiles' and features good return fire, but does slow Richter down overall. Like Haze,  the gunner has a choice of grenades for his secondary weapon.

Medic: The Medic (Saffron) has effective personal defence weapons and a wide choice of medi-kits, including a 'stim kit', which can give injured characters a chance to perform their attack again, or a 'boost kit', which provides extra power points to the rest of the squad.

Recon: The Recon (Banshee) is has a special camouflage system that prevents any direct attacks against her unless she is revealed by an adjacent enemy. Banshee's main weapon is some silenced carbines, and she also has a choice of EMP grenades or knife for secondary weapon.

Engineer: The engineer (Mint) is equipped with an assault rifle as his main weapon. His secondary equipment is either a deployable gun turret or an armed, mobile drone. His main function within the squad is to repair damaged vehicles and drones.

Weapons and characters can be selected by using the stylus or by pressing the 'A' button on the 3DS D-pad. All the main characters have strengths and weaknesses which must be utilised correctly for players to succeed through all the combat missions. However, they may also be joined by other teams occasionally and can issue  specific orders to these squads as well.

The graphics are very good. The cutscenes look fantastic and realistic in 3D. However, the graphics in the actual game are shown from a Birdseye perspective and often look quite small and unclear on-screen.

Overall, this is a brilliant game and will no doubt be a very popular 3DS launch game. The turn-based combat system may not appeal to everyone's taste but it does seems to work very well here.

If you are a fan of tactical combat games then Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars definitely has a lot to offer. Overall rating: 9/10.

Nintendo 3DS: PES 2011 3D Review

The Pro Evolution Soccer  (PES) franchise has often been accused of living in the shadow of fully-licensed football games such as the ever-popular FIFA video games series, nevertheless, the inclusion of PES 2011 3D in the list of Nintendo 3DS launch titles has proven to be a stroke of genius and really allows this fantastic game to shine.

PES 2011 3D has a lot to offer both new and old fans of the series. As well as full football commentary during every game, PES 2011 3D features an impressive list of  6 different stadiums, 10 leagues, 60 national clubs, 170 league clubs.

The game also features three different gamplay modes, including an Exhibition single-player match mode, a Champions League Mode and a Masters League Mode, however, in a change from other games in the series, PES 2011 3D does not feature any Training Modes.

The 3D graphics adds greater depth and realism to the game. It is now easier to become immersed in the action via the new Player's Camera view, which centres the camera directly behind the main player.

Mini Gamers could not believe how lifelike the new 3D AI players seemed to be. They looked much more like their real-life counterparts and moved easily and realistically along the pitch. Parts of the game really felt like we were taking part in a real football match!

The D-pad controls are fairly easy to understand and mostly involve using the directional circle pad to move, and pressing the 'A' button to pass the ball between players and to execute sliding tackles.

Nevertheless, this is where we encountered our first problem - the sliding tackle function did not always work first time and we often found ourselves fouling the other players (and being presented with a 'yellow card' by the referee) when we tried to use it.

Sliding tackles aside however, this really is a very enjoyable game. One of the features that Mini Gamers found most impressive was the camera replays after every goal. They really do show the game from every possible angle and reminded us very much of an actual televised football match.

The PES 2011 3D game is a fantastic addition to the series and the new 3D depth makes the matches really interesting. If you like football games, you will definitely want to give this title a try. Overall rating: 9/10.