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Sony announces slimmer Vita

by: Chuck -
More On: PlayStation Vita

Today Sony revealed the first new iteration of the Vita since it debuted almost two years ago.  The new Vita is thinner, lighter, and will feature a longer battery life.  The new unit will also come with a 1GB internal memory card which will delay the need to purchase a separate memory card a bit.

The unit will be available Spring 2014 as part of bundle with Borderlands 2 which will be a nice deal for those who want to play the small screen version of a game that was released two years ago.  

I know it's easy to dump on the Vita but the system does sport a decent collection of games and Sony smartly allowed you to do some cool stuff with the device like Remote Play with the PlayStation 4.  I'm not sure that announcing a product this far ahead of time is the best idea as you're cannibalizing sales of the existing Vita.  Still it's a nice deal for those who want to add the device to their library.

 


Slimmer, Lighter PlayStation®Vita Launching In North America This Spring, Bundled With Borderlands®2



Lineup of Over 100 Games Heading To PlayStation Vita in 2014, Including God of War ® Collection and Minecraft

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC (SCEA) today announced a new slimmer, lighter PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) Wi-Fi model (PCH-2000 series) will be available in North America this Spring. The system will be available in black as part of the Borderlands®2 Limited Edition PlayStation®Vita Bundle, which includes the first-person role-playing shooter hit Borderlands® 2 with six DLC packs and an 8GB PS Vita memory card, all for $199.99 (MSRP).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO)

The new PS Vita model comes with a redesigned architecture that is approximately 20 percent slimmer and 15 percent lighter than the original version, with new rounded edges that makes the system even more comfortable to hold. Incorporating a 1GB internal memory card, the new model makes it possible to enjoy games without purchasing a separate PS Vita memory card*1. The battery life has also been extended to four- to six-hours of game play (from three- to five-hours in the current model) and approximately seven hours of video play (from five hours in the current model). In addition, a high-definition liquid crystal display (LCD) has been adopted for the new system, delivering vivid and crisp visuals that PS Vita games are known for.

"PlayStation Vita is poised for a strong year, and introducing the new model is just the start." said John Koller, vice president of platforms marketing, SCEA. "With an array of great games like MLB 14 The Show and The Walking Dead Season Two adding to PS Vita's huge catalog of games, as well as our strong indie lineup and the ability to play PS4 games through Remote Play, now is the perfect time to be a PS Vita owner. In addition, PlayStation Now will expand the gaming library further by allowing PlayStation 3 titles to be streamed to PS Vita when the service launches later this year."

Borderlands 2, from Gearbox Software, and 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., takes advantage of the PS Vita system's unique features by letting players use the system's front touchscreen and rear touch pad to zoom and pan on maps, manage inventory, inspect items, and more. The sequel to the breakout original shooter-looter follows six new Vault Hunters as they fight to free Pandora from the clutches of the brilliant, charismatic and utterly despicable CEO of the Hyperion Corporation - Handsome Jack. Borderlands 2 for PS Vita includes six downloadable content (DLC) packs: Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, Psycho Character Class, Mechromancer Character Class, Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1 and Collector's Edition Pack.

Content for the PS Vita system is stronger than ever with more than 100 games planned for the system this year, including:

  • God of War®: Collection from SCE Worldwide Studios (WWS)
  • MLB®14 The Show?? from SCE WWS
  • The Sly Collection from SCE WWS
  • Invizimals??: The Alliance from SCE WWS
  • Murasaki Baby?? from SCE WWS
  • FINAL FANTASY® X HD Remaster and FINAL FANTASY® X-2 HD Remaster from SQUARE ENIX
  • Hohokum??from SCE WWS/HoneySlug
  • Helldivers?? from Arrowhead Game Studios/SCE WWS
  • Destiny of Spirits?? from Q Entertainment/SCE WWS
  • No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either! ?? from SCE WWS
  • BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma from Aksys Games
  • The Walking Dead: Season Two and The Wolf Among Us from Telltale Games

Support from independent developers remains strong on the PS Vita system, with upcoming titles including:

  • Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number from Dennaton and Devolver Digital
  • Minecraft from Mojang
  • Metrico from Digital Dreams
  • LUFTRAUSERS from Vlambeer and Devolver Digital
  • Fez from Polytron
  • 1001 Spikes from Nicalis

Since the launch of the PlayStation®4 (PS4) system, the PS Vita system has become the ultimate companion device for the home console with key features like "Remote Play," which allows most PS4 games to be streamed on the PS Vita system at home over a Wi-Fi connection. The PS Vita system will also support PlayStation®Now (PS Now), SCE's streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology. The service will be offered first on the PS4 and PS3 systems this summer, followed by the PS Vita system and most 2014 U.S. models of Sony's BRAVIA TV lineup.

PlayStation®Vita PCH-2000 Series Product Specification*

Platform name

PlayStation®Vita

Model number

PCH-2000 series

CPU

ARM® Cortex??-A9 core ??4 core??

GPU

SGX543MP4+

Main memory

512MB

VRAM

128MB

External Dimensions

Approx. 183.6 x 85.1 x 15.0 mm (width x height x depth) (excludes largest projection)

Weight

Approx. 219g

Screen

5 inches (16:9), 960 x 544, Approx. 16 million colors, LCD

(Touch screen)

Multi touch screen (capacitive type)

Rear touch pad

Multi touch pad (capacitive type)

Cameras

Front camera, Rear camera

Frame rate : 120fps@320x240(QVGA), 60fps@640x480(VGA)

Resolution : Up to 640x480(VGA)

Sound

Built-in stereo speakers

Built-in microphone

Motion sensors

Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), Three-axis electronic compass

Location

Wi-Fi location service support

Keys / Switches

PS button

Power button

Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)

Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)

Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)

Right stick, Left stick

START button, SELECT button

Volume buttons (+/-)

Wireless communications

IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1x1)(Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)

Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR ??A2DP/AVRCP/HSP??

Internal memory card

1GB*2

Slots/Ports

PlayStation®Vita card slot

Memory card slot

Micro USB port (Type B) (for USB data communication, DC IN,

Headset jack (Stereo mini jack) (for Audio [Stereo Out / Mono In])

Power

Built-In Lithium-ion Battery: DC3.7V 2210mAh

AC adaptor: DC 5V

Included

PlayStation®Vita Wi-Fi model PCH-2000 series x 1

USB cable x 1

AC adapter x 1

AC power cord x 1

Printed materials x 1

   
   

*1 Some titles or features may require using a memory card, which is sold separately.

*2 The hard disk drive contains space that is available for users and space that is reserved for the system, therefore the actual space that is free for users is smaller than the total space stated in this document.

* Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

 

About Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) has revolutionized home entertainment since the first PlayStation® console launched in 1995 in the United States, followed by the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system launch in 2000. SCEA continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with the PlayStation®3 (PS3??) computer entertainment system, PSN??, PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) handheld entertainment system, and the recently launched PlayStation®4 (PS4??) computer entertainment system. SCEA also launched PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device mobile platform using Android-based PlayStation® certified devices in October 2012. Recognized as an undisputed industry leader, SCEA markets the PlayStation® family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for PSP, PS3, PS Vita, and PS4 systems in North and South America. Based in San Mateo, California, SCEA serves as headquarters for all North and South American operations.

"PlayStation," "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.

 



 


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