The launch of Sony's PlayStation Vita, handheld-gaming successor to the PlayStation Portable, was postponed Wednesday until Feb. 22 next year. It had been scheduled to launch before the end of this year.
Sony Computer Entertainment America said its next-generation mobile gaming machine will launch at major retailers in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe in February. Announced last January, PS Vita integrates advanced hardware components such as a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, a dedicated graphics processing chip and a 5-inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) multi-touch display sporting a resolution of 960x544 pixels. The handheld device sports dual analog sticks, dual cameras, and a front and rear touchpad.
Sony's goal is to give gaming aficionados an expanded universe of game play options as well as "new ways to connect with the world around them," said Sony CEO Jack Tretton Wednesday at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.
Sony has more than 100 PS Vita game titles in development globally that span many genres.
"I've had the chance to spend some time with several of these titles, and I think you'll be blown away by how each takes advantage of the technology packed into PS Vita to deliver amazing gaming experiences," Tretton wrote in a blog Wednesday.
Two Models Coming
PS Vita also will integrate a range of social-networking capabilities. The company said last August that Vita users will have the option to download free social-networking apps to their machines from Facebook, FourSquare, Skype and Twitter.
"With PS Vita, you can enjoy the best handheld-gaming experience available and stay connected to the people and interests you care about," Tretton wrote.
Two models of PS Vita are set for introduction next February in the United States. The 3G/Wi-Fi version, with built-in GPS capabilities and SIM card slot, will have a suggested retail price of $300, while a second version offering Wi-Fi exclusively will be priced at $250.
Both PS Vita models integrate a gyroscope, an accelerometer and an electronic compass, and with all three components having three-axis sensing capabilities. On the downside, the new machine's two cameras offer a maximum resolution of just 640x480 pixels.
Pricing Concerns
Last summer industry observers expressed concern that a high price tag for PS Vita would hinder the handheld gadget's ability to gain widespread popularity. More recently, analysts have noted that Apple's new iPhone 4S also can double as a mobile gaming platform.
Still, no smartphone has been launched to date that integrates a quad-core processor running in tandem with an advanced graphics processor chip. Sony is betting that the device's $250-$300 price range won't deter dedicated gaming enthusiasts yearning for the handheld equivalent of Sony's popular PlayStation 3 console.
Sony's original plan was to launch PS Vita in North America during this year's holiday shopping season. However, the postponement to February may have an upside since Apple's iPhone 4S and Amazon's new Kindle Fire have clearly dominated the holiday gift news headlines so far.
Despite postponing the device's global launch, Sony will release PS Vita prior to Christmas in Japan. Though U.S. gaming enthusiasts must wait until February, Sony may end up generating more media buzz for its new handheld gaming machine by launching the Vita during a period when competition for the attention of U.S. consumers is less frantic.
Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20111019/bs_nf/80666
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