True; it's not the official launch though. Most of the games (and the systems other than the pointless First Edition bundle) are out on the 22nd, so they'll probably do it then.
They're completely optional.
The description at [us.playstation.com] says "The new PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi, powered by AT&T's Mobile Broadband Network, will change the way you game with real-time scores and game ranking news feeds, competitive multiplayer game sessions, and cross-game text messaging with Party. Game at the speed of your mobile life style." I don't know if *all* of the features of the Party app (like voice chat) will be featured over 3G, but it seems to say that at least cross-game text messaging will be supported. It seems like they're being deliberately vague but I don't know why.
It's definitely not for everyone. Personally, my cell phone serves a different purpose than my game system. If I want to browse the web, I will probably use my cell phone, but most of what this device is oriented towards is gaming; I would only use my phone for brief bouts of basic games. I wouldn't play a full title or even a more advanced game on my phone. They see the PS Vita as a partner for the PS3 and to deliver console quality in a handheld system. Some people will prefer their phone for gaming, and that's fine.
As for Near, I think that it's the kind of thing that the people who the PS Vita is oriented towards will like. I like how it's asynchronous so you don't have to actually be in the same place at the same time as another PS Vita owner, unlike my 3DS where I have to be nearby to another owner since there's no GPS or anything. And it's cool to me how you can leave game data like items and weapons, plus ghosts for racing games and high scores and such in the environment for other people to pick up. But it's definitely not for everybody.
Ooh, Elika Bergelson was one of my Intro to Psychology TAs last semester! I remember when she was asking for data for this; I'm glad to see it come to fruition.
Lumines. I know it's just one game, but it's exactly what you're talking about, and definitely worth playing on the Vita over any other system (and in general). There are plenty of titles on the DS that aren't brief snippets of gameplay, as there are on the Vita, but Sony seems to be trying harder with the Vita to try to include console-depth experiences that you can take in little pieces and not have to sit through. Uncharted is split into over 34 chapters that last about 10 to 20 minutes with checkpoints within each chapter. But still, I don't think this is the litmus test for this console's value.
This right here. It seems that they oversaw the development, but I can't find any details on exactly what that includes. It seems -- from what I've heard, seen, read, and played -- to be a middling imitation of the console title.
Neither you nor I said anything about real-time multi-player over 3G, although perhaps it was implied. The page I linked to says exactly what the capabilities are, and many -- but not all -- of the game pages details how the title uses 3G. You're right, it's limited to turn-based play (which is, in the launch titles, things like golf and pool). But chat works (cross-game), as does messaging (both real-time text and real-time voice), web browsing, and the Near service. It might not be enough to justify the monthly cost, but the capabilities are there.
@petethepanda Not all of the third-party games -- but many -- do support online play over 3G, as do the built-in applications. I think all of the first-party games do. I'm looking mostly at this: [us.playstation.com]
They don't do their own ad campaigns; the quality of the ads tends to vary widely depending on the agency they hire. This is by far the best; it was also added to the Clio Hall of Fame.
I didn't have that experience, personally.
I remember experiencing problems before with Chrome on Windows 7 where some Javascript refused to work at all -- particularly on sites like OkCupid that are JS-heavy, where I couldn't send messages, ratings, etc. for some reason. I solved it by switching to Firefox...
I guess the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection for PS3 was supposed to tide gamers over until The Last Guardian comes out, but it just reminded me of how good those titles were (and still are), making the wait seem so much longer...
What platform are you on? I'm using Windows 7 x64 and I don't notice any of those problems with any of the Gawker blogs.
Happy Anna Howard Shaw day to us all!
There's something wonderful about how Totilo's hardware review mentions the result of trying to play online with Kirk, and then Kirk's review of the referenced game mentions the same incident.
Is there a 3G version there, and if so, is it a local carrier? I'm curious to know.
"With both phones and laptops creeping up on the traditional turf of the computer, the Vita feels uncomfortably without a place that makes sense, falling short of either side"
Wasn't this the same criticism that people made of the iPad before it was released? I'm not making a comparison, just an observation -- one that's likely flawed, but worth pointing out.
Wasn't this the same criticism that people made of the iPad before it was released? I'm not making a comparison, just an observation -- one that's likely flawed, but worth pointing out.
This is true; there are also hardware bugs I bet (there always are) but maybe also homebrew exploits that won't work past the first few revisions of software.
I was going to get the First Edition bundle since it came with a game, but I've since changed my mind because:
1. the 3G launch bundle has a memory card twice the size of the one included with the First Edition bundle
2. it comes with a free month of 3G service
3. both bundles come with $15 PSN credit
4. the fact that the 3G bundle is $50 -- plus tax -- less than the First Edition bundle will let me get Uncharted instead -- or whatever else is good -- instead of being stuck with this. Accessories are a non-starter for me.
1. the 3G launch bundle has a memory card twice the size of the one included with the First Edition bundle
2. it comes with a free month of 3G service
3. both bundles come with $15 PSN credit
4. the fact that the 3G bundle is $50 -- plus tax -- less than the First Edition bundle will let me get Uncharted instead -- or whatever else is good -- instead of being stuck with this. Accessories are a non-starter for me.
That's weird, in the United States, the first edition bundle includes the Wi-Fi/3G version of the system.
