The Sony NGP may have a significantly more impressive spec sheet than its PSP predecessor, but there’s still confusion as to whether all versions of the console will have integrated 3G connectivity. While it’s on the spec sheet alongside WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, SCEE president Andrew House told Eurogamer that there will be 3G and non-3G versions of the NGP.
“The first thing to clarify, which I’m not sure the presentation did a perfect job of doing today, is that all of the devices will have Wi-Fi capability” he explained, while “a separate SKU will have 3G.” That would certainly help keep the cost of what – given the high-res OLED display and quad-core CPU – is likely to be a reasonably expensive handheld down, as well as give buyers wary of a 3G contract a way to avoid that.
However, confusing matters is an ITMedia tweet suggesting that all of the Japanese NGP versions will indeed have 3G. Now, it could be that Sony plans to only offer 3G SKUs there – perhaps with some sort of bundled data package – or it could be a mistake. We’ll hopefully find out more before the NGP launches later in 2011.
It’s obviously the day for unannounced smartphones to get caught in the wild. After a duo of HTC devices were spotted, it’s the turn of Sony Ericsson’s well-leaked XPERIA Play – aka the PlayStation Phone – which is currently considered a lock-in for MWC 2011 next month. A SlashGear tipster sent in this shot of Sony Ericsson’s gaming handheld being thumbed on the Tube.
According to the tipster, the XPERIA Play was being publicly manhandled in London; they were too coy to interrupt and ask for some playtime of their own, but they did snap a sneaky photo of the sliding smartphone. The handset has a 4-inch 854 x 480 resolution touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread; we’ve also heard separately that it will launch on Orange UK, though we don’t know if it will be a carrier exclusive or not.
After today’s Sony NGP launch, meanwhile, we also know that the XPERIA Play – while seemingly not getting PlayStation branding – will get access to the PlayStation Suite, Sony’s new gaming platform and PS Store for titles that run on Android phones. That’s expected to be populated with PSOne classics initially, though Sony is also inviting Android game developers to have their titles certified and included in the on-device download store.
Like the idea of Sony’s NGP but not the closed ecosystem? Pandora is now offering its open-source Pandora console for general sale, promising a seven day turnaround on the $499.99 clamshell. Your money gets you a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard, dual analog sticks, an ARM Cortex A8 CPU and PowerVR SGX graphics.
The NGP may have a quad-core, Cortex A9 heart and a larger, higher resolution display, but the difference is that you can buy the Pandora now whereas Sony’s machine isn’t expected until the end of the year. There’s a lot more flexibility in the Pandora too, assuming you’re the sort of person who likes tinkering with open-source software.
Therein, of course, lies the main difference between Pandora and more mainstream consoles from Nintendo and Sony: the target audience. The NGP is more powerful and the 3DS supports 3D, but neither offer the out-of-the-box flexibility of their compact rival.
I’m not sure if they’re trying to distance themselves from the PSP, but Sony’s next-generation portable gaming device has officially been unveiled and instead of referring to it as the PSP2 or the PSP-somethingorother, it’s currently known as the NGP, or ‘next-generation portable’. And since Sony is still convinced that specs and horsepower are what wins the handheld gaming wars, the NGP is certainly packed to the gills.
It’s powered by a quad core ARM Cortex A9 processor and a quad core PowerVR SGX534MP4+ GPU, and features an impressive 5-inch, 960×544 pixel resolution OLED display. The single flat analog nub of the original PSPs has been replaced with 2 more substantial analog sticks, presumably making it feel more like Sony’s DualShock controllers, but taking a cue from Nintendo not only is that fancy new display touch-friendly, but there’s also a similar sized touchpad on the back allowing you to enjoy touch-based games without blocking the screen with your fingers.
There also seems to be more of a push for social gaming with a new Xbox Live-esque feature called LiveArea which uses the NGP’s 3G, wifi and GPS to find people to play with and share your scores and achievements. And if you’re a big fan of the PlayStation Move, you’ll be happy to hear the NGP packs the same accelerator and gyroscope technology. Sony also announced a batch of titles that will be available for the NGP including portable versions of hits like Call of Duty, Uncharted, Hot Shots Golf, Killzone and Wipeout, plus a slew of developers who are already on board. But what’s most surprising is that the unnamed NGP is actually slated to be available this holiday season. So, anyone still care about that PlayStation phone now?
Sony isn’t all about the NGP this morning; the company has also pushed out a new firmware update for the PS3. Described as a “minor update”, PS3 System Software v3.56 adds a security patch to the console but also reportedly blocks third-party firmware from being used.
Sony’s console has seen an embarrassing jailbreak by hacker Geohot and others, which resulted in a legal case to limit availability of the security-cracking tools. This firmware update appears to be the next stage in Sony’s damage control.
If you can be sure of anything, it’s that Sony will be pushing the NGP with its own particular brand of “wacky” trailers and adverts ahead of the next-generation console’s release. The first example has arrived, and the poor NGP itself is little to be found; instead there’s plenty of “inspiring” messages like “play life” and the suggestion that NGP gamers will be terribly social.
Video after the cut
To be fair, that’s a possibility given the NGP’s “Near” system; part of the PlayStation Network, it will keep an eye out via WiFi b/g/n for any other NGP consoles in the immediate area, and show you what titles they’ve been playing and other stats. Whether that’s quite the same as having the whole world in your hands remains to be seen.
With Nintendo crowing about its 30+ title expectations for the 3DS launch, you couldn’t expect Sony not to do some gloating of its own about the studios signed up to work on Sony NGP titles. Altogether there are 82 companies worldwide committed to the new quad-core console, including big names like Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft and Rockstar games.
Japan, unsurprisingly, has the most participation, with a full 48 companies already onboard. North America and Europe/PAL bring 16 and 18 to the table respectively. There’s nothing like a full list of titles at the moment, but Sony did wheel out Little Big Planet, Killzone, Uncharted and Resistance at their NGP launch event.
Of course, that’s just the list as of January 27 2011, and with the NGP not expected to reach the market until the end of the year we’re expecting to see more developers jump on board – not just with the NGP but with Sony’s new PlayStation Store for Android devices. Given that should allow a single title to work on both the NGP and Android 2.3+ smartphones/tablets, it’s likely to significantly boost the amount of available content as canny developers make best use of their time.
JAPAN:
ACQUIRE Corp.
ALVION Inc.
AQ INTERACTIVE INC.
ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co.,Ltd.
ARIKA CO.,LTD.
ARTDINK CORPORATION
ASCII MEDIA WORKS Inc.
CAPCOM CO., LTD.
CHUN SOFT CO., Ltd
Codemasters Software Company Limited
Crafts & Meister Co.,Ltd.
CyberConnect2 Co.,Ltd.
D3 PUBLISHER Inc.
Dimps Corporation
Edia Co., Ltd.
ENTERBRAIN, INC.
FromSoftware, Inc
Gameloft K.K.
Genki Co.,Ltd.
Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.
GungHo Online Entertainment,Inc
GUST CO.,LTD.
HAMSTER Corporation
HUDSON SOFT CO., LTD.
IDEA FACTORY CO., LTD.
Index Corporation(Atlus)
IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INC.
KADOKAWA GAMES,LTD.
Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd.
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
LEVEL-5 Inc. Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
media5 Corporation
NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
Nihon Falcom Corporation
Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
NOWPRODUCTION, CO.,LTD
Q Entertainment Inc.
SEGA CORPORATION
SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION
Spike Co.,Ltd
SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.
SystemSoft Alpha Corp.
TECMO KOEI GAMES CO., LTD.
TOMY Company,Ltd.
TOSE CO., LTD.
Ubisoft K.K.
YUKE’S Co., Ltd.
NORTH AMERICA:
Activision, Inc.
Capybara Games
Demiurge Studios
Epic Games Inc.
Far Sight Studios
Frima
High Voltage Software
Kung Fu Factory
Paramount Digital Entertainment
PopCap Games
Powerhead Games
Trendy Entertainment
Ubisoft®
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
2K Games
2K Sports
EUROPE/PAL:
Avalanche Studios
Climax Studios Ltd
Codemasters Software Company Ltd
Eurocom Developments Ltd
Eutechnyx Ltd
Exient Ltd
Firemint PTY Ltd
Gameloft SA
Gusto Games Ltd
Home Entertainment Suppliers PTY Ltd
Impromptu Software Ltd
Rebellion®
Rockstar Games
Sidhe Interactive
Sumo Digital Ltd
Team 17 Software Ltd
Ubisoft Entertainment SA
Zen Studios Ltd
The Sony NGP isn’t the company’s only gaming announcement; there’s also the PlayStation Suite, a new download store and licensing program that promises to bring PlayStation gaming to Android devices. The PS Suite combines a new PlayStation Store for Android 2.3 devices and above – and which will be initially populated with PSOne classic titles – and a development program for coders to produce their own titles for inclusion in that store.
The NGP will also be able to access the PS Store and use the same games as Android devices. While Sony isn’t announcing any specific titles or handsets that will use it, we’re assuming that the PlayStation Phone aka XPERIA Play will make its official debut at MWC 2011 next month, and be the first Android 2.3 device to get access once it launches.
There’ll also be a PlayStation Certified licensing scheme for hardware manufacturers, which presumably will apply not only to smartphones themselves but to accessories; after all, not all devices will come with the XPERIA Play’s slide-out gaming control pad. More details at MWC 2011.
Sony Computer Entertainment to Unveil ‘PlayStation®Suite,’ Delivering the World of PlayStation® to Android™ Based Portable Devices
Simultaneously Launching “PlayStation®Certified” License Program to Provide PlayStation® Content and Development Support for Android™ Based Portable Devices
TOKYO, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled “PlayStation®Suite” (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation® experience to Android™ based portable devices*(1). Through this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.
In the dramatically evolving and diversifying mobile market, the number of users who enjoy games casually on a variety of devices including mobile phones, smart-phones and tablet PCs, has been increasing significantly. By offering “PlayStation quality” content to this rapidly growing market, SCE will not only deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users around the globe, but will also be able to offer game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to these devices.
In providing the PlayStation experience on Android based portable devices, SCE will commence a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers. Through this program, SCE will offer necessary support, including development support as well as logo licensing, to ensure the delivery of PlayStation quality experience across various devices.
On the software front, SCE plans to provide PS Suite content within this calendar year, starting with original PlayStation games*(2) (PS one® classics) that will allow users to enjoy “PlayStation quality” gameplay on their Android based portable devices. SCE also plans to open PlayStation®Store where users will be able to download content in an easy to use environment, directly via the Android based portable devices. Moreover, SCE will provide a new game development environment in an effort to ensure new and compelling content is delivered on PS Suite, which will also offer opportunities for a wider base of developers and publishers to further expand their business on various portable devices.
Newly developed content for PS Suite can also be enjoyed on the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which SCE announced today. Users who have never experienced PlayStation content can get a taste of the PlayStation experience through PS Suite and from there, they can enjoy the ultimate portable entertainment experience that is only possible on NGP.
SCE will vigorously enhance the entertainment world, delivering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.
*(1) Android™ 2.3 or beyond is required.
*(2) PS one game console software title. We will announce the titles when ready.
As expected, Sony has outed its “PSP2“, currently codenamed the Sony next generation portable entertainment system or NGP, and expected to go on sale at the end of 2011. Based on a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor and Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU, the NGP has a 5-inch OLED 960 x 544 multitouch-capable touchscreen on the front and a multitouch pad on the back, for what Sony describes as “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” gestures in gameplay.
There are also two cameras, one front and one rear, and a suite of sensors including six-axis motion-sensing (pairing gyroscope and accelerometer), a three-axis digital compass, GPS and WiFi. There’s also 3G, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headphones. Sony is now using a flash memory card to store games, but there’ll also be access to the new PlayStation Suite, also announced today, which offers titles for the NGP and for Android smartphones.
As with the 3DS‘ StreetPass feature, the Sony NGP will use a new service called Near, part of the PlayStation Network, to flag up gamers in the vicinity and show what they’re playing now or having been playing recently. There’ll also be wireless multiplayer support. Each NGP game will LiveArea access, with a log of activity and other information.
The whole thing measures in at 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5 mm and has dual analog sticks, the usual directional buttons, action buttons and shoulder controls. No word on pricing; that won’t be revealed until closer to launch at the end of the year.
Press Release:
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
ITS NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Ultimate Portable Entertainment System Makes Its Debut This Year,
Further Expanding the PlayStation® Business in the Portable Gaming Market
Tokyo, January 27, 2011– Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced its next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which delivers the ultimate portable entertainment experience. NGP will make its debut at the end of the year 2011.
NGP is designed to offer unparalleled interactive entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation®. This new system offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context, made possible by leveraging SCE’s experience from both PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®3 (PS3®) entertainment systems.
Deep and immersive gaming is at the core of PlayStation’s DNA, and NGP is the latest embodiment of this vision. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, NGP will enable infinite possibilities for users to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with friends wherever they are. Within the device are a range of features that provide a genuinely cutting-edge, next generation ultimate portable entertainment experience.
?Stunning OLED and Revolutionary User Interface
NGP incorporates a beautiful multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display. A high-performance CPU / GPU combined with OLED enables rich, visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system, for both games and other digital entertainment content. The new system also incorporates a unique multi-touch pad on the rear, and together with the front touch display, NGP offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” moves of the fingers.
?Super Oval Design and Dual Analog Sticks
While succeeding the basic design philosophy of PSP, NGP adopts the Super Oval Design form factor, created to fit comfortably in users’ hands. For the first time, a portable entertainment system will feature two analog sticks, which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.
?LiveArea™
Every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called “LiveArea™” where users can share the fun and excitement with other players. Users will have access to the latest information of games provided from SCE and 3rd party developers and publishers through PlayStation®Network. Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an “Activity” log that is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.
?Near
SCE will also provide location-based services on NGP as part of the basic features utilizing PlayStation Network. The new application called “Near,” developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently. Users can meet their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.
?New Game Medium
NGP adopts a new game medium, a small flash memory based card, dedicated for NGP software titles. Taking advantage of the flash memory feature, this innovative card can store the full software titles plus add-on game content or the game save data directly on to the card. By adopting flash memory based card, SCE will be able to provide game cards with higher capacity in the future, allowing developers to store more game data to deliver rich and immersive games.
NGP will also come equipped with two cameras on its front and rear, as well as three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass, all of which are designed to enable users to enjoy the world of entertainment that is linked with real life experiences.
PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), announced today, will also closely coordinate with NGP. The newly developed and released game content for Android™ based portable devices can also be enjoyed on NGP. As a result, users will have access to not only the most leading-edge content, but also some of the more casual experiences that typify the mobile market place.
SCE will vigorously promote NGP towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and deploy various measures to further expand the portable gaming market.
Oh yes. After all the unbearable teasing since we unveiled the first ever photos of the PlayStation Phone, we’ve finally managed to get hold of the real deal for an in-depth preview. Honestly, we couldn’t wait any longer with this thing floating around in China; we’d otherwise have to wait until MWC, where we expect the phone to be launched as the “Xperia Play” (and we shall refer to this name henceforth). Before you pop the cork for us, do bear in mind that what we’re seeing here is subject to changes, so don’t be alarmed by any missing features or exposed cables in our preview. When you’re ready, head right past the break to find out what Sony Ericsson’s cooking up.
