Sony has announced that the PlayStation Vita has had its firmware updated to version 1.52. As with the previous PlayStation Vita firmware update this one just fixes a few behind the scene bugs but doesn’t add any additional functionality to the system. However, a few users have reported that the update fixes a version 1.51 bug where the 3G system would not recognize your SIM card.
Oddword: Mucnh’s Oddysee will be releasing Q2 to the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita. Not much is at all is known about this game other than that above logo where it shows Munch’s updated character model.
Online gaming publication MCV was recently given the chance to interview PlayStation’s European president and CEO Jim Ryan and ask him a broad range of questions. Ryan was asked whether or not the PlayStation Vita’s slow start in Japan was a bad omen for the American and European launch next month. Here’s what he had to say:
One of the things we have learnt over a long period of time, is that whether it is PS1, PS2, PSP or PS3, it is dangerous to the point of impossible to take any experience from the Japanese market and try and extrapolate it, and propose upon what will happen in Europe or North America.
Not withstanding the fact that it is just way too early to make any conclusions. The markets are now just so different, I actually think they are diverging to a greater extent than they were different in the past – if that’s even possible. It is impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions of the Japanese launch in the context of what will happen in Europe. We are more focused on our stakeholder reaction, whether that is specialist press or the reaction from retail. The key task of allocating the supply that we have to the considerable demand, and just ensuring everything is in place for February 22nd.
PlayStation Vita sales in Japan have emerged and they are not looking good as Sony’s latest portable trails significantly behind the Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and the Wii. It’s not all bad news for Sony as sales for the console have risen by a meagre 0.06%. Here’s the Japanese hardware charts:
Japanese hardware charts
During Sony’s CES Press Conference on Monday evening, Sony’s Head of Consumer Products Kaz Hirai announced that Sony has managed to sell over half a million PlayStation Vita consoles since its launch on December 17. The PlayStation Vita is to launch in the West on February 22.
At their CES Press Conference, Sony announces that its Cloud based music service ‘Music Unlimited’ will be a Day One App for the PlayStation Vita. Sony also announced that Netflix is working hard at making their App available on launch day as well.
Today at CES 2012, AT&T made the announcement that they will be making available the PlayStation Vita on February 22 in two data forms, 250MB of data for $15 a month or 2GB of data for $25 a month. It is also very important to note that these monthly data plans are not contractual, so you can cancel whenever you would like without penalty. AT&T also makes a very bold statement.
This device is going to change the gaming industry. Period.
Sony’s UK marketing manager Mark Bowles has told online gaming publication MCV that the company is ready for its biggest marketing campaign ever with PlayStation Vita. The PlayStation Vita launch in February be supported by the biggest campaign Sony has ever created, and the campaign will continue to run throughout 2012.
“The PS Vita launch will be supported by the biggest campaign we’ve ever executed, and this level of activity will continue throughout 2012, reflecting our confidence in, and commitment to the platform long term.”
“Our campaign will target gamers primarily, but also the new generation of tech enthusiasts and entertainment consumers who are used to playing games on their smartphones or tablets. What sets Vita apart is its ability to deliver PS3 quality gaming, in addition to the range of globally recognised triple-A software titles, which simply isn’t possible or aren’t available on any other existing portable.”
Japanese publication The Nikkei is reporting that Kaz Hirai will be promoted and will take over the role as president of Sony, while Howard Stringer is expected to remain chairman and CEO of the company. Hirai could become Sony president as soon as April.
Tecmo Koei announces that Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus will release across North America and Europe on February 22, 2012, launch day for the PlayStation Vita in the Western Hemisphere.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is a port of the PlayStation 3 game with enhanced PlayStation Vita features, including using the rear track pad to launch new attacks, using the gyro sensor to target enemies and enabling the player to switch between first and third person views. Yosuke Hayashi is very confident with the port of Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus.
“We’re confident that gamers, both our fans and those new to the series, will find Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus to be a thrilling and challenging experience that lives up to the spirit of what the series is best known for while offering a host of new and portable gameplay mechanics.”
