Sony is going to launch its next-generation handheld gaming console, the PlayStation Vita, in Japan on December 17 and initially there will be 26 games available for the PS Vita. Sony’s press conference marked the official kick-off of TGS and details about the new Vita handheld took center stage at the PlayStation presser.
There was an exhibition on Tokyo Game Show 2011 in Japan where they announced about next handheld gaming console the PS Vita and they included a lineup of titles and accessories to be available at the launch date, which is set for December 17 in Japan. PS Vita, expected to be a strong competitor to Nintendo’s 3DS gaming console and this will reportedly bypass the holiday shopping season in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world. The PS Vita is equipped with an organic light-emitting diode touch-screen display and this is particularly suitable for high-definition graphics.
“This new device is packed with every possible function, and that’s why we confidently call it the ultimate entertainment system,” said Hiroshi Kawano, head of Sony’s Japanese game unit, at a press conference.
Some PS Vita software titles may require the use of separately sold memory card for saving game’s saved data while some software titles are capable of saving it on to the PS Vita card itself and it appears that a memory card will be required to play some titles purchased online and such accessories won’t come cheap, being priced at US$28 – US$123 depending on capacity. Sony has also listed first-party accessories to be available on the date of launch. These include memory cards of 4, 8, 16 and 32 GB and USB cable, AC adapter, cradle, in-ear headset, protective film, pouch, carrying pouch (black), card case, case, and wrist strap and travel pouch with cleaning cloth. The new device is the latest step in Sony’s drive to push its content through its game consoles, smart phones and tablet computers amid competition from App store and Apple’s iTunes and hardware rivals such as Nintendo.
Now a days Handheld gaming consoles are facing serious competition as people increasingly play games and watch entertainment designed for tablet computers, smart phones and social networks. More than 100 games are currently in development for the handheld, Sony said only 26 will launch with the handset. One thing is for sure about PS Vita that it’s going to need several killer apps to keep the multipurpose smartphone hordes at bay.
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