Sony’s Vita isn’t exactly destroying sales records.  The portable console went on sale in Japan already and reports have flooded in stating that it is anything but the run away hit the company needed.  As a result, and to help bolster sales here in the US, Sony will be rewarding those who preordered the Vita as well as those who stand in line on launch day, February 22nd.

For those that preordered the $350 bundle, Sony will now toss in 250mb of 3G access for anyone that activates the device on AT&T’s network, as well as one free Playstation Network game.  Remember, this is in addition to the included items, which are a 4GB PS Vita memory card, a limited edition case and the Little Deviants game.

And for you folks that plan to stand in line on February 22nd, you’ll be rewarded with a an 8GB PS Vita Memory Card, 250GB of AT&T DataConnect Pass and a PlayStation Network game all for $299.

In more gaming news, Sony officially named the NPG, the replacement to the PSP, the Sony Playstation Vita.  Does anyone else think of the word ‘vitamin’ when they hear this?

In terms of specs you can pretty much expect what we already told you about in January, when Sony unveiled the next gen portable gaming system. It will boast a 960×544 OLED multi-touch screen, a quad core ARM CPU, advanced graphics support, a rear multitouch pad, front and rear cameras, six-axis motion control, GPS, WiFi, shoulder buttons, a right and left stick, 3G connectivity and Bluetooth 2.1.

There is no official word on a launch date, but you can expect it at the end of 2011 (our guess is November for the holiday rush), with a price tag of $249 for the WiFi model and $299 for the 3G/WiFi version.

Sony has already added a ton of videos to YouTube detailing its graphical prowess, and below is the official E3 trailer.

Come Sunday, February 27th, Sony will slash the price of the PSP (PSP-3000) from $169.99 to $129.99.  Additionally, the Entertainment bundles will receive a comparable price cut from $199.99 to 159.99.  No word if the PSPGo will receive a new price, but it’s unlikely.

The reduction in price is probably an indicator that Sony is trying to remain competitive in what has become a fairly fragmented gaming space thanks to the likes of the iPhone, soon to launch Nintendo 3Ds and Android based handsets.  Also, Sony recently announced their next portable gaming device, the NGP, which won’t go on sale until Q4 of this year.

The Sony NGP, otherwise known as Next Generation Portable, packs PS3 power (2Ghz ARM Cortex 9 A9 Quad Core processor) inside a portable form factor.  But, it won’t include 3D capabilities, at least that’s what we know from the announcement last month.  However, it will rock dual analog controllers, a rear multi-touch pad and dual cameras.  Price?  Unknown.

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Finally, we have some official deets on the Playstation Phone, titled the Xperia Play.  Images of the handset/handheld gaming platform leaked out last month, but at the time we didn’t know how it would be sold.  Now, it looks like the handset will be available this Spring via Verizon Wireless for a yet to be announced price. Will it be another Nokia Ngage like failure or a massive success that will bolster the Android platform to iPhone gaming like status?  That has yet to be realized, but let’s take a look at the specs in the mean while.

Under the hood will be a 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7 backed by a built-in Andreno 205 GPU.  This should make for some solid game play, but lets not overlook the dedicated controls, something the iPhone and other Android handsets lack.  It measures 119 x 62 x 16 mm and weighs 175 grams.  The phone itself will support up to 400mb of storage, though a microSD card slot is present for up to 32GB – it will include an 8GB microSD.  It will ship with Android 2.3 and 5 titles (Asphalt Adrenaline 6, Bruce Lee, Star Battalion, The Sims 3, and Tetris) preinstalled and a “legendary” PlayStation title.  Upon launch more than 50 additional titles from the top developers will be available for purchase via the Android app store.

Now, about those gaming controls.  There are two shoulder buttons, a directional pad and the all too familiar Sony Playstation square, circle, triangle and X buttons.  Ah, but what about analog?  Fear not.  In the center are two two analog touch inputs for joystick action.

While the jury is still out on the success of the Xperia Play, it is at the very least an indicator of Sony’s growing willingness to adapt with the times.  Though that isn’t to say they haven’t given up on building their own stand alone platforms as we saw with the recent release of the NGP.

Wow, the NGP is to the PSP what Tarzan is to Jane, speaking in strict terms of horsepower, and without all the hidden jungle sex. With multiple touchpads, four times the resolution and dual analog sticks, you’d expect it to race past any other handheld, and it will – considering its quad-core Cortex-A9 processor and, on top of that, a quad-core Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU.

Saying quad-core twice in the same sentence? Didn’t think I’d have to do that until next year at the very least.

And as all good things come to those who wait, such as the doubling of technology – although it’s so predictable there’s little waiting involved these days – the NGP won’t see the light of day until the holiday season, at which time many other super-phones and consoles and tablets will be duking it out harder than Tarzan and Robocop after a couple beers in the octagon.

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Looking to buy that someone a PSPGo this holiday?  Good news, because Sony just announced that they’ll cut the price of the handheld gaming system by 20%.  That means it will soon cost $199 (was $249) in the US and 16,800 yen (was 26,800 yen) in Japan.   The price cut is supposed to take effect this month.

According to Reuters, Sony has sold 61 million PSPs (of all flavors) since its launch in 2004.

Sony’s still pimping the original PSP in commercials, despite it being half a decade old, so it seems like a successor should be coming soon. We thought it might’ve been announced at E3, but that didn’t happen. So we were surprised to hear that at this year’s Gamescom Conference in Germany, lots of rumors have been popping up that the PSP2 will have touchscreen controls on its back. It makes sense if you think about it — they would make for a more comfortable holding experience, and offer different touch gameplay than smartphones. I’m betting we’ll see something by the end of the year, to be released in 2011. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering — that image is an old artists’s concept, don’t get too excited.

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If you’re looking for a new gaming bundle to satisfy your insatiable retail shopping thirst, you need not look any further.  Sony’s “Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Entertainment Pack” is now available for $199.99.  You’ll get a Spirited Green PSP-3000 system, the game, Playstation Network movie voucher and a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo card.  Keep in mind E3 is kicking off next week and Sony is sure to introduce something new.

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The PSP hasn’t exactly been Sony’s pride and joy since its release back in 2005. Despite portable installments of their biggest franchises, like God of War, Sony hasn’t had much success with the device, even after churning out multiple revisions to the hardware. Which makes it interesting that site MCV has been tipped that two major publishers are significantly ramping up their marketing budgets for the PSP brand this upcoming holiday season (Q4). Last year’s PSP Go was a dud, so it doesn’t make sense that they’d put a ton of money into an ad campaign for it. All signs point to the PSP2, which would probably be an HD device that would be a direct competitor against Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS. If Sony is making the PSP2, then it will probably be announced at this year’s E3. So, are you excited yet?

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In all its synergistic glory, Sony Japan has announced their new Walkman W Series featuring the Metal Gear Solid Edition.  The NWD-W253 will go on sale in Japan starting May 22nd for the price of $110, with the MGS version at $130.

The MP3 players are waterproof with a 4GB capacity, a mini USB port, and compatibility with ATRAC/MP3/WMA/AAC and Linear PCM (WAV) formats.  The MGS edition will come with six songs from the games’ (Peace Walker for the PSP) official soundtrack.  I think it looks cooler on Snake than it would on me.

Anybody into this?

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One of the most popular Sony franchises, God of War: Ghost of Sparta has just been announced for the PSP.  Not having really played any God of War with the exception of the God of War 3 demo for PS3, I know that these games have a reputation for quality gameplay and stellar production values.

The follow up to the Chains of Olympus PSP game, Ghost of Sparta will effectively tell the tale of how Kratos actually becomes the God of War.  Finally!  The new game will feature 25% more explorable territory, an all new weapons system, and bigger boss battles.

Expect more details to emerge soon, and Ghost of Sparta will probably see some show time and this year’s E3.

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Those of you that don’t have that certain AUX input on your monitor or are looking to play Xbox 360 on your laptop, your day has come.  The dudes over at VCM have created an innovative USB to component adapter to effectively let you plug your Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PS3, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and even PSP 2000/3000 into your computer.

A true USB 2.0 plug and play, the Vbox2 only works for PC and not Mac or Linux.  No word yet on pricing or availability but I’m sure there will be some gamers out there that will be pumped to get one.

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I played the demo for Peace Walker over the holidays and was impressed by the graphics and tight as hell production quality.  Today, two MGSPW bundle rumors have made it to the blog front lines and they will be pricey.

Japanese reports have indicated that the 1st bundle will contain a copy of the game on UMD, a camo-painted PSP 3000, hand strap, cleaning cloth, and carrying pouch for the price of $296.  The second bundle includes everything the 1st has with the addition of a set of dog tags, a “fancy” PSP stand, and an informational booklet at a higher price of $407!?

Depending on whether or not my currency calculator converted 250 Quid correctly, that seems like a ton of money for a bundle like this!  Christburgers!

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As we all know, you usually get a bang for your buck when you buy a PSP game.  Not like portable games of the past, PSP games are full fledged  titles with all the trimmings of their console counterparts.

FIFA 10 for the PSP is exactly that.  A true portable sports simulation, FIFA 10 really impressed me with its array of features and reactive gameplay.  While not perfect, I really can’t think of a better soccer game for the PSP.  It has been a good year for FIFA fans.

Presentation:

Not much has changed here and it will be instantly familiar for anyone who has ever played an EA sports game.  Typical EA sheen is deployed effortlessly here and that is never a bad thing.  One thing you will notice is that it sometimes takes a bit more time to navigate through menus and screens due to loading.  I am using a PSP from 2005 with updated firmware, so this may not be as evident for those using newer machines.

A myriad of options and game modes are present from the start and there is literally a ton of stuff to do.  From playing Club specific challenges to the deep customization and options presented in manager mode, you will be playing this game for a very long time.

The level of immersion is well presented through accurate stadium models, play-by-play commentary, and an incredible amount of leagues and teams.  As in the console version, FIFA 10 will bewilder you with its attention to detail and finesse.  Scouting reports keep you up to date with your opposing teams tactics and star players while simultaneously teaching you some basic strategy about the upcoming game.

To say it simply, the presentation is unflinchingly awesome, especially for a PSP game.  Employing an “if it ain’t broke” type of attitude, EA has no problems maintaining a polished level of production.

Graphics:

Excellent.  From on field play to cut scenes, nothing about FIFA 10 is hard on the eyes.  What you’ve come to expect out of a PSP game is evident here.  Player models are detailed an colorful, and stadium and camera angles look and feel great too.

Weather effects are fully intact and there are many times a day in which affect the lighting of the stadium.  The only thing I noticed was some slowdown that occurred when the action got hectic around the goal.  Other than that, the game performed well graphically in every other occasion.  The player substitution animations could have been faster but no big deal.

Sound:

The sound in FIFA 10 is decent but not stellar.  The World Music stylings is the type of bad music that you’ll find your self humming the song you hate the most.  Pretty annoying on most counts.  The on-field and crowd noise is competent but nothing truly standout but sounds good through or without earphones.

The best part is easily the play-by-play commentary.  Robust and accurate, I didn’t notice any hitches in regards to the voice overs.  Sound in general on the PSP is one of those things that really depends where you’re using it.  If you aren’t using the earphones, the sound on the PSP is easily lost to surrounding noises.  FIFA 10 is luckily one of those games that you can play with the sound turned off.

All in all, the sound isn’t a huge driving factor in the “fun-ness” of FIFA 10 but it does add a dollop of immersion into the mix.

Gameplay:

The selling point of FIFA 10.  It’s just a blast to play.  The control scheme is both accessible and advanced, and while it’s easy to pick up and play, learning the advanced moves and techniques will take some time.

Pitch navigation is handled through the 8-way directional player controls and felt optimal and reactive.  Sometimes passes don’t have the same accuracy time to time, but I just chalked it up to an errant pass on the players part.

The hardest thing I found in regards to the control scheme was trying to learn the special deke and footwork moves.  Exceptionally difficult.  To this day I think I only know two of them.  Many of them work like Street Fighter 2 moves, requiring up to 3 directional press in addition to pressing the left shoulder button to activate.  It’s just way too hard when coupled with dealing with defenders and pitch advancement.  Unfortunately I don’t have a solution for my gripe, but I would have been more satisfied if there were less moves that were easier to do.

Other than that, I loved the controls.  It’s great fun to play quick games on the go and the ease of overall playability will be well received by players new to the game.

Replay Value:

FIFA 10, like most other EA Sports games, has vast amounts of replay value.  Between all the game modes and the sheer amount of fun to be had trying to score awesome goals, FIFA 10 is a soccer game that you will keep you entertained long after you thought it would.

Be A Pro Mode is cool, but Manager and Season modes are better.  Online play is cool if you have a dedicated opponent and lag time and drop out wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Sports game like this don’t really require yearly patronage unless you are excessively devout, so FIFA 10 could easily last for for the next several years.  Not so good for EA’s wallet, but a testament to the quality of game they produce.

Final Endings:

If you need an easy portable sports game to get into and like soccer games in general, then FIFA 10 is your game.  Promising hours of entertaining sports gaming, FIFA 10 is well worth the asking price.  While not revolutionary in terms of portable gaming, any shortcoming is easily overlooked as soon as you hit the pitch.

Pros:

• Presentation
• Gameplay
• Replay Value

Cons:

• Special moves too hard to use
• Frame rate drops and slow down

Buy FIFA 10 for the PSP here for

For all intense and purposes the PSPGo has been considered a down right failure in the video game hardware business.  This is further evidenced by a somewhat dismal launch in the console’s country of origin this past Sunday, which saw a total of 28,275 units sold on day one.  Compare that to the DSi which moved 170,000 units or the PSP-3000 that sold 140,000 units (the latter has a more comparable price point for all your nay sayers).

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With the Metal Gear Solid franchise being one of Sony’s most important exclusive’s, it’s to no surprise that they would collide on the Japanese launch of the PSP Go.  After a tepid US release, Sony is hoping that MGS will breath some extra life into the PSP Go with a download-only demo of Peace Walker when the portable system debuts on November 1st.

The demo will be in Japanese and will essentially be the same demo found at TGS 2009 with the inclusion of some new cut scenes, control options, and a new map.  Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is scheduled for a 2010 release.

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For those of you that subscribe to the NetFlix-esque video game rental service, the GameFly GameCenter app is now available for free in the App Store.  More than just access to your queue, the GameFly GameCenter has a news feed, tons of user reviews, and instantly accessible “most popular” games list.

I’d go as far as to say that that even if you don’t belong to GameFly (it’s hard to get new releases but buying used games is the cheapest around), the app is still a cool alternative to the IGN app in terms of user reviews and news.

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Apparently the highest rated DS game ever, Chinatown Wars is making it’s way over to the PSP on October 2oth.  Receiving added graphic polish in terms of textures and lighting, the bulk of the features found on the DS will make the translation to the PSP.

What I don’t see making it, obviously, is all the touch screen elements that made the DS version so unique and innovative such as scratch tickets and dumpster diving.  What I would really like to see is GTA: San Andreas make it to the PSP. Check out the debut trailer down below:

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Hate it or love it, the PSPGo is now available for consumer purchase.  Amazon has it is in black and white for $249 a pop.  It supports 16GB of storage, Bluetooth and 3.8-inch LCD screen.  Whether or not we’ll see the same free game offer that has supposedly been extended to EU gamers is anyone’s guess, but at the very least you can score PSPGo compatible movies from select Blu-ray titles.

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In a move that is entirely all things Sony,  some featured Blu-Ray releases will contain a free digital copy for your PSP.  The catch is that you will need a PS3 to do the transfer.

For example, Sony Films will be releasing the Blu-Ray version of Godzilla on November 3rd that will be bundled with a separate DVD-ROM that provides access to the digital copy.  From there you just jam the disc into your PS3 and download the digital version of the Godzilla.  After that all you have to do is transfer it to your PSP via USB and you are good to go.

Essentially you will have all this Sony stuff to make this a worthwhile deal.  But do you really care anyway?  If you are going out and actually buying Godzilla on Blu-Ray do you really need to watch it again on your PSP?

Again, another nice move by Sony but will it go largely unnoticed?

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