Sony is teasing blurry images of the PlayStation 4 the day before the Xbox 720 event.

It was bound to happen. The day before Microsoft reveals the Xbox 720, Sony is out to remind us that their console is still on its way. The images may be blurry, but the photographer claims it’s because he was taking the pictures with a PlayStation Vita. That isn’t a very comforting thing to admit during the reveal of the next generation console: that it’s possible to take bad pictures with the same company’s product.

The reveal of the PlayStation 4 shows us that, much like its predecessors with numbers, it’s black and boxy in design. Of course, system war veterans will undoubtedly remind us all that it’s not what the system looks like or what its technical capabilities are that sells a console; it’s the games you can play on it.

Anyway, now Microsoft will be under even more pressure to reveal their console design shortly after the Xbox 720 event, if not during. The fans will be skeptical if they don’t at least show a preliminary design tomorrow.

The images of the PlayStation 4 may be blurry, but close-ups show buttons, the logo, vents, and the like indicating pieces of what we’ll see in its full glory at E3 2013. Speculation states that the PlayStation 4 will be much smaller than the PlayStation 3, and easy to fit in any entertainment center. Considering the hulk of a machine that the first Xbox was, this could be a major reversal in the trend of consoles to date. We can’t be sure of the actual size without at least the controller to compare it to, but the ensuing rumor is that Sony’s next generation machine may be similar in size to the Dreamcast and GameCube.

The video doesn’t tell us much, other than that the console is finished and ready to reveal at June’s E3 2013.

What do you think of Sony’s teaser of what the PlayStation 4 actually looks like?

PlayStation 4: Sony Teases Blurry System Pics The Day Before Xbox 720 Event [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Angry Birds movie talks heated up on Wednesday when Sony announced via press release that it would be teaming up with Rovio to bring a film version of the popular video game to the big screen by July 1, 2016.

“Every studio in town would love to add Angry Birds to their slate,” said Sony boss Amy Pascal. “There are few titles out there that bring this kind of excitement, brand awareness and built-in audience to the table. We’re thrilled to be distributing this film and we hope this is just the beginning of what will be a long relationship with Rovio as we look for ways to work on future projects together.”

The game franchise has dabbled in films before with Angry Birds Star Wars and Angry Birds Rio games, but, until today, it was always the movies coming to the Birds, and not the other way around.

Empire noted on Wednesday that at this time, Sony doesn’t have a voice team, a script, a director, or even a plot, but it can’t be too hard to figure, right?

Just add in some green porkies, mix with a variety of battering birdies, blend with 3D animation, and boom, you’ve got yourself a blockbuster.

Of course, there is a danger that the franchise might be played out by the time an Angry Birds movie comes along, but we doubt it. The series is so ingrained in popular culture at this point with plush toys, “real-world” games, and constantly updated variations featuring hundreds of hours of gameplay.

As long as it doesn’t turn out like this, it should be fine:

Actually, on second thought, that would be absolutely awesome.

Anyhow, if you just can’t wait until 2016, the little bombers have an animated series already, so make sure you check it out.

What do you think of Sony and Rovio pairing for an Angry Birds movie?

‘Angry Birds’ Movie On The Way From Sony is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony on Monday officially revealed its new waterproof smartphone. The Sony Xperia ZR phone can be dropped in up to five feet of water and remain submerged for 30 minutes before going dead.

The smartphone offers a nice set of features that includes a 13-megapixel camera that can be used to shoot videos and take photos while under water. Sony has even created a lock screen access option so photos can be taken in every state.

Adding to the Sony Xperia ZR’s camera setup in Sony’s Exmore RS for mobile image sensor, which brings with it HDR (High Dynamic Range) for both photographs and videos. Sony also offers burst mode, which allows users to snap an unlimited series of photographs at 15 frames per second.

Speaking about the company’s newest smartphone  Xperia Marketing director Calum MacDougall says:

“The Xperia ZR pushes the boundaries on where and how consumers can use the full potential of their smartphone. By combining Sony’s leading camera technology with the highest level of water-resistance, you will never miss another moment.”

The Sony Xperia ZR is powered by a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GHz processor. The smartphone also features a 4.6-inch HD Reality screen that is powered by Sony’s Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology.

The ZR also comes equipped with 4G LTE technology, which takes advantage of the Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.

The Sony Xperia ZR is expected to make its debut this quarter, although Sony has not provided a specific release date or pricing for the device.

Are you going to take a closer look at the waterproof Sony Xperia ZR when it makes its official debut?

Sony Debuts Waterproof Xperia ZR Phone is a post from: The Inquisitr

Breaking Bad, the Spanish version, was announced by Univision on Friday, and to here Sony tell it, you could have knocked them over with a feather.

A Sony representative, who chose to remain unnamed when speaking with The Wrap, said that a Spanish language pilot of the popular AMC show had been produced, but “it’s not in development with them or anything like that.”

The rep said that Sony had placed a call to Univision to express their disappointment at the announcement. The details of that conversation were not immediately available, nor has Univision released an explanation at the time of this story.

The Univision series will be called Metastasis, and will presumably follow the same plot line of Breaking Bad, in which a high school chemistry teacher finds out he has terminal cancer and then teams with a former student to cook and sell meth as sort of a last means of support for his family.

The American version will launch the second half of its fifth and final season on July 15. It stars Bryan Cranston as Walter White, the teacher, and Aaron Paul as his protege.

If you have yet to check this thing out, take it from someone who just watched the first four seasons on Netflix in a two-week time period last month: it’s must-see television.

If my Spanish was a little better, it would be particularly interesting to see how the dynamics change with Metastasis, or whichever adaptation ends up winning the blessing of Sony.

According to a conference call earlier today, a Univision rep told Slate that the show would be “customized in a culturally relevant manner,” while using original Spanish-language scripts, and “stars our community knows.”

Until then, here’s a preview of season five. Word of warning: do NOT watch if you’re still waiting to start the show:

Fans of the show need not cry too much over the cancellation. Spinoff talks are already underway with popular secondary character Saul Goodman being discussed as a frontrunner.

You can also pick up the DVDs or catch reruns on the Sundance Channel.

What are your thoughts on a Spanish-language version of Breaking Bad, and which character would you like to see get a spinoff when the series comes to a close later this year?

‘Breaking Bad’ Spanish Version Announced By Univision, That’s News To Sony is a post from: The Inquisitr

The PS4 was never a candidate for always online requirements.

With all the talk about whether the Microsoft Xbox 720 would have an always online requirement or not, Sony wants to make it very clear that potential console purchasers know their story.

It seems that rumors that the next Xbox will need to have a constant Internet connection have been largely debunked. Rumors have been persistent enough that its likely to scare some gamers away from the next gen console.

Rumors did start to crop up that the Playstation 4 might also need Internet connection for gaming purposes. The company has come out with a statement meant to put that talk to rest before it really gets rolling.

Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Worldwide Studios said that his company never took that option into account. The main reason that the company didn’t look at this isn’t because they thought gamers would hate it.

The PS4 didn’t get the feature because Sony understands that there are people who love to play video games who live in areas where web access is spotty at best.

“It makes sense for people to have internet connections to play online games, but for offline games there are many countries that we saw do not really have robust internet… We didn’t even consider that.” Yoshida said in a recent interview with Game Informer.

The Playstation 4 looks to have the best of both worlds because of this decision. There are plenty of features that encourage online social interaction.

But if you want to be completely offline then you can do that as well. Microsoft should take a page from their competitor in how it should have handled the always online talk.

Instead, the Xbox maker has been rather shifty about what it offers and what it doesn’t. That has only fueled the fire.

Are you more likely to buy the PS4 because it does not have always online requirements?

PS4: Sony Never Considered Always Online For Next Gen Console is a post from: The Inquisitr

PlayStation 4′s Share feature won’t let you share everything.

When Sony pulled their big reveal in February of the PlayStation 4 by showing off its DualShock 4 controller, one of the features they boasted was the Share button. It would allow you to share screenshots, replay videos, and the like to the PlayStation Network and various social media sites. However, there will be limitations as to what you can share, according to SCE Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida.

Shuhei Yoshida said, “There will be parts of a game that the maker does not want people to be able to see. For example, on Vita, developers can in certain scenes disable the feature that lets users take a screenshot, and (the Share function) will have a similar mechanism. The creator may not want to make video of the final boss sharable, for instance.”

This makes sense, as it could potentially ruin the experience of newcomers by revealing spoilers before the game is even played. Would Final Fantasy VII fans have spent so much time trying to get a certain character leveled up if they knew the character was going to die halfway through the game? Most likely not, and it might ruin the experience at that.

However, for the sake of walkthroughs and YouTube‘s now famous “Let’s Play” videos, it wouldn’t make for a pleasant experience trying to show other players how to beat a certain boss, only to find the feature disabled at that point. Posting “Spoilers” apparently isn’t enough for Sony and their developers when using the PlayStation 4 Share feature.

Of course this isn’t going to stop determined gamers from doing it anyway, as there are other ways to share gameplay videos. It will just cost them more to do it.

Is Sony being too controlling about the video game console with the DualShock 4 controller‘s Share button, or should we not be allowed to share those potentially game spoiling moments? Do you think the limit they’re putting on the PlayStation 4′s capabilities is going too far?

PlayStation 4 Share Feature Won’t Let You Share Everything is a post from: The Inquisitr

Soul Sacrifice has boosted the sales of the PlayStation Vita.

PlayStation Vita sales have grown in Japan lately, and the recently released Soul Sacrifice is the biggest reason. Since the game’s debut on March 8, the game has sold about 200,000 units in just over a month. Keiji Inafune, the game’s developer, has already announced that a sequel is being discussed.

Keiji Inafune has gone on record as saying, “Soul Sacrifice is something I specifically designed for the Vita using the hardware’s specific features. To drive Vita sales even more, I have an idea for a Soul Sacrifice sequel. I’m actually approaching [Sony Computer Entertainment] regarding this project.”

The PlayStation Vita had been struggling with sales previously, even resorting to dropping the price of its portable console. Thanks to Soul Sacrifice, Sony is now seeing green for a while. In a way, this proves beyond a doubt that it’s not what the console can do, but what games you have available to play on it. Hopefully, Sony and Microsoft can both remember that in the next generation.

While Soul Sacrifice helped boost the sales of the PlayStation Vita, Sony is still hoping for more games to do the same. Soul Sacrifice is a third person game that rings a little bit of the Monster Hunter games. You can play as an in-your-face melee character, a spellcaster, or a powerhouse muscle-bound tank. This four-player co-op game has you gaining experience and bonus points for winning battles, though you can sacrifice allies and limbs to cast more powerful spells.

With original and fun games like Soul Sacrifice in the wings, any failing console may actually have hope for a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps Nintendo will figure it out before it’s too late. The Wii U has been failing at every step, and Nintendo seriously needs an ace in the hole to get it out of the mess it’s stuck in. Every console needs games like this.

How do you feel about Soul Sacrifice being the reason the PlayStation Vita is selling more?

PlayStation Vita Sales Boosted By ‘Soul Sacrifice’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Beyond: Two Souls is getting a special debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. The game will get a special screening on Saturday night at 6:45 EST. The two hour screening will show a 35 minute scene followed by a Q&A with the cast of the game as well as the official trailer.

One of Hollywood’s most loved young actresses, Ellen Page has a starring role in this particular game and the game makers have managed to make her character look quite a bit like the real person.

Quantic Dreams is well known for putting together truly interesting and original games like Heavy Rain and there is quite a bit of anticipation for this particular title.

On the Sony Playstation blog, the company said that it is taking great pains to make sure that none of the major spoilers will be revealed in the 35 minute scene that will be aired tomorrow.

The panel that will follow the official trailer and the 35 minute scene will include Page, the game’s writer and director David Cage and supporting cast members Kadeem Hardison and Eric Winter.

Sadly we won’t get to hear from Willem Dafoe but he does apparently voice  a character in the much anticipated game. The scenes and the trailer will be put up on a live stream that you can access through UStream.

The actual panel won’t be put on the same stream but you will be able to watch the panel from the comfort and safety of your computer room if you go to the Playstation blog. That site will live stream the actual panel discussion.

There still isn’t a ton known about what the story for this particular game is, so there should be a fairly large group of people trying to get on and see what this title is all about.

Beyond: Two Souls is due out exclusively on the PS3 this fall.

‘Beyond: Two Souls’ Getting Hour Long Stream At Tribeca Film Festival is a post from: The Inquisitr

Binoculars that shoot HD video aren’t new, but Sony’s new DEV-50V binoculars are smaller, smarter, and they shoot better HD video than previous options.

Sony’s new binoculars have auto focus and image stabilization even if you’re not recording what you see. When you want to save a moment the DEV-50V records full AVCHD 2.0 video with stereo sound. Its built-in camera also shoots 20.4 megapixel still photos.

“With the DEV-50V, you can observe wildlife in a way no other binoculars can achieve,” said Hidenori Toyoda, director of the camcorder business at Sony Electronics. “Couple that with its ability to capture impressive photos and video, and you have an innovative device that outperforms the competition on all levels.”

Unlike traditional binoculars, you’re not looking through parallell telescopic lenses. Instead, Sony has engineered it’s new binoculars to deliver 3D close ups through two electronic viewfinders. The digital zoom/magnification range is from 0.8x to 25x.

“Separate images for left and right eyes are captured by a matched pair of precision G Lens optics by Sony with “Exmor R” CMOS sensors and powerful BIONZ processors, offering a true stereoscopic view of the world as well as a 3D mode that records scenes in thrilling 3D video for playback on virtually any 3D-compatible TV.”

You can record video in 2D as close to a subject as a half an inch away and in 3D when your at least 32-inches away from what you’re shooting.

By switching from magnifying glass to electronics, Sony is able to deliver what they call “Hyper Gain” making it easier to see things in extremely low light.

Video can be shared by attaching the binoculars to a TV via HDMI or by transferring images and video via USB.

Internal GPS geo-tags both video and images.

An interchangeable, rechargeable battery pack provides three hours of recording time in 2D.

Sony’s DEV-50V HD recording binoculars go on sale in June for $2000.

Sony Introduces HD Video Recording Binoculars is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony just announced a new Cyber-Shot digital camera that they’re describing as the world’s “smallest and lightest camera with 30X optical zoom.” The Cyber-shot HX50V camera has a 20.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor, and it’s body is only 4.4″ x 2.6″ x 1.2″.

If you’re a parent wanting to get up close photos of your kid playing sports or performing in a school play, this camera is worth a look.

Today’s smartphones do a pretty good job with digital zoom, but even in great light smartphones can’t give you the same crisp shot of a real lens with real zoom.

The difference between a digital and optical zoom is that digital zooming is artificial. Digital zoom is just software that gets you closer to the action. Optical zooming is done with a physical lens and moving glass. When you zoom in digitally the image degrades the more you zoom. That doesn’t happen with an optical zoom.

Sony says the image stabilization technology they’ve built into the Cyber-shot HX50V is twice as effective as last year’s technology. Autofocus is twice as fast.

One of the neatest things about the new Cyber-shot is that it has Wi-Fi and can wirelessly transfer photos and videos to a connected smartphone or tablet where they can immediately be shared with friends and family online. Built-in Wi-Fi also makes it possible to use a smartphone as a remote control if you install Sony’s free PlayMemories app for iOS and Android.

In addition to photos, the Cyber-shot HX50V shoots HD video with SteadyShot image stabilization.

For most users the automatic settings will be all you need. If you’re more serious about controlling how your photos look, you can go manual with the dedicated exposure compensation dail and the P/A/S/M dial.

As someone who shoots video professionally, one of the weaknesses of pocket cameras is that very few provide a way to attach an external mic. The HX50V has a Multi Interface Shoe that not only lets you attach an external mic, but also an electronic viewfinder and a flash.

Sony’s new camera will go on sale in May for around $450.

Sony Announces Cyber-Shot HX50V With 30X Optical Zoom is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ratchet and Clank is getting a movie in theaters by 2015.

Insomniac Games has confirmed that a movie based on their popular platform action adventure game Ratchet and Clank has been slated for a 2015 release. Let us hope they can somehow break the curse of videogame based movies, or this could be dead on arrival.

Videogames and movies have rarely mixed well. Super Mario Bros., while being a highly successful videogame franchise that has kept Nintendo afloat many times, turned out to be a terrible movie. Tomb Raider started out with a silver screen adaptation starring Angelina Jolie, and the first film was watchable for entertainment value if nothing else. The sequel wasn’t worth the price of admission. The same can be said for Mortal Kombat. The only movie series based on a videogame, and that’s putting it loosely, that’s ever been successful was Resident Evil. Most of the time, videogames that get turned into movies don’t turn out well at all.

Having been turned down by Sony, Insomniac Games has turned to Blockage Entertainment and Rainmaker Entertainment to convert their game series into a feature film. Sony has commented on the reason they turned it down, “the movie business is crazy at times.”

Insomniac Games community lead James Stevenson said in a statement:

“One of the biggest questions we’ve gotten in the last few years is ‘When are you going to make a Ratchet [and] Clank movie?’ The truth is, we’ve wanted to do a movie for a long time! Ratchet [and] Clank‘s action, humor and galaxy-spanning adventures have really been the basis for a fantastic game series, and we think it’d translate perfectly to the big screen.”

While some of us wonder who exactly was asking for a Ratchet and Clank movie, we can only wait for the movie to hit theaters before the final verdict is in.

Do you think we should have a Ratchet and Clank movie?

‘Ratchet And Clank’ Movie In The Works is a post from: The Inquisitr

Heavy Rain might not be a AAA game but the title has managed to bring in the kind of money that would make even developers for those game stand up and take notice.

If you haven’t heard of this particular title, you probably aren’t alone. There weren’t a ton of television advertisements done for this game the way there was for Tomb Raider or BioShock Infinite. That doesn’t mean that the game didn’t find a foothold in the gaming community.

Quantic Dream, the team behind the game says that at the end of March, the title had managed to pull in well over $100 million in gross revenues. co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere said that the success of his game should tell developers that they should “stop thinking that innovation rhymes with unprofitable.”

Heavy Rain is said to have cost about $21.8 million to make. Sony’s marketing budget took up another $30 million which means that even if you project the game to have raked in money on the low end of $100 million it still made the company quite a bit of money.

The willingness of Sony to go through with and stick behind the game is probably one of the reasons that Quantic Dream has decided to stay loyal to the Playstation. When the studio releases Beyond: Two Souls in October, that game will only be getting released through Sony.

That decision was despite the fact that there were plenty of other platforms that wanted quite badly to have the new game in their arsenal. Yet another Quantic game, Singularity is expected to be the studio’s first Sony Playstation 4 game when that next generation console is finally released sometime this fall.

Not only did the numbers for Quantic Dream’s first big game look good in the money side, but the studio says that it ranked in the top 10 in sales for the year it was released.

Have you played Heavy Rain yet?

‘Heavy Rain’ Has Raked In More Than $100 Million In Revenue is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jak and Daxter are headed to the PS Vita this June. The game had previously been announced as coming the Playstation based handheld device but there wasn’t an official date attached at the time.

The HD collection is one of the most popular collections in Sony’s seemingly long history of video games and there has been quite a demand for all of the games that are wrapped up in the series.

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak 2 and Jak 3 are all going to be released on the Vita as one for the low low price of just $29.99. While that price tag might not be dirt cheap, considering that you are able to get three separate games it certainly is a deal that will make hard core fans pretty happy.

Along with the old reliable games, there will also be a couple of new trophies that you can unlock. Sony says that there will be at least three trophies that weren’t included with the titles when they were released on the PS3 in February of last year.

The first rumors of the series coming to the PS Vita were started when a listing was discovered on the ESRB website. There hadn’t been anything close to a confirmation that the games were actually coming since then.

There has been quite a bit of talk that Sony wants to try and jumpstart popularity for the handheld by releasing some of their most beloved titles on the platform this year.

The company has talked quite a bit about wanting to release a ton of games for the Vita in 2013 because they believe it has been under utilized since it first hit the market.

The Jak and Daxter collection certainly fit the bill as a series of games that people might enjoy being able to play again on their handheld device.

‘Jak And Daxter Collection’ Coming To PS Vita This June is a post from: The Inquisitr

LulzSec hacker Cody “Recursion” Kretsinger has been sentenced to one year in prison after he was found guilty of hacking the PlayStation Network in 2011. The hacker’s successful breach of Sony’s lax security led to a one month period in which Sony PlayStation network users had no access to the service.

Kretsinger continued to attack the PSN on several more occasions after the service was restored for Sony customers.

Eventually, the US Government helped hunt down and round up various members of the LulzSec hacking initiative.

This week, Kretsinger was sentenced to one year in jail based on one count of conspiracy and unauthorized impairment of a protected computer.

After serving one year in prison, Cody will then be forced into a home arrest scenario.

Federal officials allowed Kretsinger to enter a plea bargain to lower his time spent behind bars. As part of the plea deal, Kretsinger admitted to hacking into the Sony Pictures’ database and then sharing information he obtained with other members of the LulzSec team.

Along with jail time and his home arrest, Kretsinger must perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Federal prosecutors during the trial claimed that the LulzSec hacker caused $600,000 in damages for Sony Studios.

Kretsinger is the last original LulzSec member to be charged. The group fell apart after its leader Sabu joined the FBI in outing the groups members. Since LulzSec’s fall, the hacktivist group Anonymous has picked up much of the slack. While Anonymous occasionally attacks businesses, its main targets have been governments and hate groups including the Westboro Baptist Church.

Do you think one year in prison, 1,000 hours of community service, and home arrest is a suitable judgement given Cody Kretsinger’s involvement with LulzSec?

LulzSec Hacker Gets 1 Year In Prison For Sony Breach is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony has said they don’t want the PlayStation 4 to launch like the Xbox 360 did.

Do you remember when the Xbox 360 launched? A majority of the games were first-person shooters, and that’s exactly what Sony doesn’t want for the PlayStation 4. Sony wants the next generation console to launch with more variety, and more fun.

For about a year or two, nearly every big game on the Xbox 360 was a first-person shooter, and some of us claim that as the reason we stuck by our old-school Xbox and PlayStation 2 consoles, or opted for the Wii. We didn’t want our big choices being Halo, Call of Duty, or Splinter Cell.

When Sony showed off the PlayStation 4 at the February 20 reveal, they intentionally didn’t show the obvious big names first. Knack, from their own Studio Japan, was the first reveal, which even though it didn’t show off the system’s potential, it did stray from the mainstream lineup of first-person shooters that other consoles focused too much of their early life on. Knack is being billed as Crash Bandicoot for the PlayStation 4, showcasing variety before the usual suspects of Killzone and InFamous.

The PlayStation 4 mega-company has said, “We [at Sony] were like yeah[,] we hate to see all the PS4 games being FPS or action-adventure of very photorealistic, you know[,] big-budget blockbuster games. And you know[,] people like these games but these are not the only kinds of games that people can have fun with.”

It’s nice to see the big wigs at Sony are at least aware that gamers want to have fun. And they know that fun requires more than just mind-blowing graphics and a big gun. Sometimes you gotta put down the gun and just get silly. PlayStation 4 is being aimed at a wider audience than other consoles. Now if they could just allow backwards compatibility, that would be great.

What do you think of Sony’s desire of not wanting the PlayStation 4 to launch like the Xbox 360?

PlayStation 4: Sony Doesn’t Want Another Xbox 360 Launch is a post from: The Inquisitr

Today at NAB in Las Vegas Sony unveiled the world’s first 4K Media Player and a video distribution service.

With a name only Sony could love, the FMP-X1 will be available this summer bundled with 10 feature films and video shorts in true 4K resolution for $699. In the fall of 2013, users of the same 4K Media Player will be given access to a fee-based video distribution service offering a library of 4K titles from Sony Pictures Entertainment and other notable production houses.

The feature films included with purchase of the 4K Media Player are Bad Teacher, Battle: Los Angeles, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Karate Kid (2010), Salt, Taxi Driver, That’s My Boy, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Other Guys and Total Recall (2012).

While 4K TV has it’s detractors, more pixels are never a bad thing. When paired with a 4K display, Sony’s new media player will deliver HDTV that is four times clearer then 1080p.

Remember what it was like when you bought your first HDTV, and then visited someone who still had a standard definition television? It was like looking at mud. Once our eyes see high resolution video, it’s very difficult to tolerate lower quality.

A major advantage that 4K brings to video producers is the ability to deliver better 3-D, and eventually 3-D without glasses.

In order to use Sony’s new 4K media player and distribution service, you’ll need a 4K capable display. Sony’s got you covered there too. Today Sony also announced pricing and availability for two of its new 4K TVs.

XBR-55X900A (55-inch) and XBR-65X900A (65-inch) 4K Ultra HD LED TVs will cost $4,999 and $6,999 respectively and are available for order online and at retail beginning April 21, 2013.

“These new models will be arriving in homes just before the summer and are sure to bring the enhanced viewing experience of 4K TV to a whole new audience,” said Mike Lucas , senior vice president, Sony Electronics Home Division. “Our TVs deliver a vibrant and natural picture that is four-times clearer than high definition. As for content, these new sets enhance all of the video people are watching today, and this summer our 4K media player,  followed in fall by the video distribution service will demonstrate how Sony continues to lead in bringing the 4K entertainment experience to viewers.”

Starting today, if you live near as Sony Store, you can see 4K TVs on display featuring true 4K and upscaled video.

Sony Announces World’s First 4K Media Player is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Last of Us has released a new developer diary video and this particular creation is all about showing off the wastelands that the world has become. The video illustrates that these particular wastelands aren’t barren and grey.

Because of the unique zombies and monsters that are featured in the game, the wreckage that the world has become is actually quite colorful. The video shows just how the developers conceived of the world and put it together for the upcoming game.

The Last of Us has zombies that are not your average ordinary rotting zombies. These are people that have basically been taken over and mutated by a kind of fungus that has also covered the planet.

Because the fungus has different colors and is … vegetation the world is made to actually look quite pretty if you want to overlook the fact that it is also completely overgrown.

The game developers have been releasing a ton of video about the game since they announced that it would be out later this year. Some of those videos have been trailers and teasers and others have been developer diaries like the one recently released.

One of the earlier developer videos focused on the different kinds of enemies you will run across in this game, while this one basically covers the terrain you will run over.

Neil Druckmann, creative director talks in the video about what Naughty Dog and Sony were looking to do with the world the way it has been destroyed in this game. “It [the game] has some pretty dark themes but they are juxtaposed against an aesthetic that we find very beautiful.” Druckmann said.

Druckmann added that he thought that there was something really beautiful about nature reclaiming the world once people are gone.

Check out the new video for The Last of Us titled “Wasteland Beautiful” and tell us what you think.

‘The Last Of Us’ Developer Video Shows Beautiful Wasteland [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lego Batman 2 is finally coming to the Wii U. There had been talk about the title finally getting enhanced and being made into a Wii U title, and now there appears to be an official date.

While the title was originally given the vaguest of vague “coming this spring” titles, most of the major retailers who will actually be selling the game seem to agree that May 21 is when Wii U owners can actually go ahead and purchase it.

This is fairly good news for a gaming system that is in desperate need of good news. While the consoles sales have started to pick up, those sales numbers still haven’t been anything that would allow them to compete with the big boys.

Microsoft and Sony are the kings of console gaming and Nintendo is pulling up the rear despite having the newest console.

They distance between those two companies and Nintendo is likely only going to get bigger when the next gen consoles are on the market.

Lego Batman 2 is one of those games that could help bridge the gap between the consoles at least for a little while. This isn’t a game like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, a game that is exclusive to Nintendo but at least it won’t be available on other devices and not the Wii U.

One of the reasons that this particular game has taken so long to get to the Wii U is because there actually needs to be some enhancing in order to play right on this particular game system.

The game will be made so that it can be played on the off-screen game pad, be able to respond to touch screen controls and will have a couple of new maps.

Do you think that the release of Lego Batman 2 on the Nintendo Wii U will help its sales?

‘Lego Batman 2′ Coming to Wii U In May is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite the fact that we still don’t know a whole lot about the PlayStation 4, video game retailer GameStop is already predicting that the PlayStation 4 will be a huge hit — so much so that Sony’s new console may be hard to find when the holiday shopping season is upon us.

GameStop president Tony Bartel said as much in a recent earnings call, as reported by GamesIndustry International (via vg247). During the call, Bartel said that its customers were already showing a strong interest in the console and that the company expects that demand for the PlayStation 4 could exceed supply.

“We do believe demand will far outpace supply within the launch window, although we have been given no official numbers by Sony,” Bartel said.

The company also cited results from polls, which GameStop claims show that 34 percent of its customers already intend to purchase the PlayStation 4.

Although 2012 wasn’t without its fair share of hits, the year was down overall in sales; retailers and publishers alike reported lower-than-expected sales across the board, and the disappointing year was punctuated by the launch of Nintendo’s Wii U console.

Nintendo has been struggling to convince consumers to pick up the Wii U, according to sales data released after the launch. For GameStop, however, the console did relatively well. One analyst queried the company about the Wii U’s sales, to which Bartel replied:

“The Wii U actually exceeded our expectations at launch. We were actually out of stock early on in the launch period. However, it has been disappointing since the beginning of the year.”

GameStop Expects Strong PlayStation 4 Sales As The Wii U Continues To Disappoint is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rain is coming to the Playstation Network later this year and the game developers just released a trailer with a couple of minutes of the game play to wet our appetites.

The game was originally announced at the 2012 Gamescom but the game’s developers are finally showing off what is going to make this game so great. There are some really interesting tricks with graphics in this particular game, because the two main characters are actually invisible.

The rain in the game actually gives the characters shape and when it isn’t raining you won’t be able to actually see the characters or the villains.

Rain is the story of a young boy who is chasing the silouhette of a little girl. It is only later that you realize that you, too are invisible to the world unless there is a downpour of rain to show your shape.

The Playstation Blog has actually posted some shots of the game that will actually allow you to move your cursor over the pictures and see how the shapes in the game suddenly show up when they are getting hit by the falling water.

The Playstation C.A.M.P team has put this game together and they are best known for working on games like Tokyo Jungle and echochrome. The game is obviously exclusive to Playstation and could up end being one of those titles that gets people coming to this console specifically because of these types of creations.

The gameplay trailer is actually as much as seven minutes of actual play from the game so you will get a real and true feel about just what the game looks like when it is in action.

Sony has certainly put some serious effort behind getting this game in front of interested eyes. We’ll see if that pays off when it is finally released.

Check out the gameplay trailer for Rain below.

‘Rain’ Gives First Look At Gameplay Footage is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jak & Daxter has long been a well beloved game series for the Sony Playstation. If a listing on the video game ratings agency Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) the game series appears to be heading to the PS Vita in the near future.

Whenever a game is listed as coming or on a particular gaming platform it will have a category rating with this agency. The PS Vita rating just popped up recently.

The game series’ creators, Naughty Dog (also responsible for the Uncharted series) haven’t officially announced that the game is coming to the handheld.

As a general rule, there doesn’t need to be an official announcement for the ESRB to have the inside skinny on something like this.

A game company can file the paperwork that will get them rated on a specific platform long before they announce to the public.

Jak & Daxter started out on the Playstation 2 but were moved over to the Playstation 3 last year, along with an HD redesign.

While there seems to be very little to keep the series going onto the Playstation 4, it only makes sense to move the series over to the handheld genre.

Assuming that the ESRB isn’t somehow mistaken, the entire series will be moving over to the handheld device. It wasn’t that long ago that Sony announced that more than 100 games would be coming to the Vita.

Is it possible that these are three of the games the company was talking about.

Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II: Renegade and Jak 3 would all be moved over to the Vita if this report is to be believed.

If there is going to be an official porting of this entire series from the PS3 over to the Vita you would think the developers or Sony would be making the announcement in the coming days.

Will you play the Jak & Daxter series on the Sony PS Vita?

‘Jak & Daxter’ Series Coming To PS Vita is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony says that they are going to be launching as many as 100 games for the Vita by the end of 2o13. This particular announcement comes while some people wonder just how committed to the handheld console the company is.

While Sony has always used the handheld as sort of a complement to the PS3, it appears the company is going to be making moves to make it the device more of a standalone device. While they make that move, they are also seeing sales for the device dropping.

In Japan the Vita saw a price drop and in the United States there were at least a few quick sales. Sony seems to be taking the approach that if they can offer up more games that their handheld will eventually be able to stand on its own.

The Vita will be getting 100 titles in 2013 as a way to reverse the negative opinions that people have about the device. PlayStation’s Director of Product Planning and Platform Software Innovation Don Mesa made it clear that the games wouldn’t be all smaller titles either

Mesa made the comment that there will be some big titles coming as well. Mesa also talked about the numbers when it comes to usage and sales. Mesa said that a third of the games sold for the device are digital. He feels that means that users are finding it more attractive and easier to simply download games.

Mesa also said that people who play the handheld are playing it quite a bit. He said that the average number of hours the user plays can be more than 18.7 per week.

While there will be big budget games on the horizon, there will be well known indies as well. Thomas Was Alone, Lone Survivor, Frozen Synapse and others will be featured this year.

Does Sony’s announcement make the Vita more attractive to you?

Sony Says 100 Games Coming To Vita This Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Microsoft is warning that several new pages that are all offering to allow people to “test the next Xbox” are fake and are looking to scam people. The excitement surrounding the next Xbox, the Xbox 720 has been building ever since rumors started swirling around the console.

The Sony Playstation 4 has already had its official revel and while the next generation Xbox hasn’t been officially unveiled most insiders believe both gaming systems will be out on the market in time for the Holiday shopping season.

Microsoft has actually had to follow in the footsteps of Sony by issuing out warnings that these new testing sites are a fraud. It appears that as long as there is a massive amount of excitement over these new gaming systems, someone will be looking to illegally cash in.

One of the most recognizable personalities surrounding the Xbox, Larry Hyrb had to take to Twitter to try and warn people off. Better known as “Major Nelson” Hyrb tweeted that “All sign-up pages for testing the “next Xbox” are FAKE. Do not give them your information.”

Hyrb added, “it’s a scam.” The major problem for gamers is that these sites are actually looking for pertinent information and they tend to be collecting just enough that experienced hackers will be able to gain far more information just from the small amount people do give up.

At first glance, the websites all look nice and official and are pulled down and put back up again the minute authorities are alerted to the problem.

Confirmed: All sign-up pages for testing the “next Xbox” are FAKE. Do not give them your information – it’s a scam.

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) March 13, 2013

Because the Xbox 720 has not been officially revealed there is probably a little more excitement for people to get their hands on it and see what it can do. Rumors are swirling that the device will have to be constantly connected to the Internet. Other rumors say the console will not be backwards compatible.

Microsoft is working hard to make sure people understand that they are not, in fact offering up free tests for the Xbox 720.

Microsoft Warns ‘Test Next Xbox’ Pages Are Scam is a post from: The Inquisitr

PS Vita 3G has gotten a price cut in most of the Sony stores in the United States. Sony has had problems getting the Vita to sell at anywhere near the numbers they had hoped and it appears they have now given the go ahead to cut prices to two different versions of the Vita that have 3G capabilities.

The price drop seems to be in direct contradiction to what Sony had said last month when they dropped the price of the Vita in Japan. At that time, all of the company’s handheld gaming device got a $50 price drop in Japan only. Sony followed that move up by announcing that there would be no similar move in the United States.

Assuming that this price drop has been sanctioned by Sony, and it seems likely it has considering the scale in which it is being carried out, it appears the company had a change of heart. In most stores (though apparently not all), the Vita 3G + WiFi bundle has been dropped in price by $50, from $299 to $249.

PS Vita has even been spotted with $199 price tags in some stores. It is the different price point that has confused deal hunters. The fact that this doesn’t appear to be an announced sale and something Sony is doing under the radar has also caused some confusion.

Some store employees have said that the Vitas with 3G capabilities are being discontinued and that Sony stores are trying to get rid of their inventory in response. Other employees say that the sale is temporary and will be ending this Sunday.

A dropping of the price would seem to make sense, since reports indicate that Sony saw an explosion in popularity of their handheld after they cut the price.

Are PS Vita 3Gs in your area suddenly being discounted?

PS Vita 3G Gets Price Cut In Most Sony Stores is a post from: The Inquisitr

God of War: Ascension is going to have one of the first trophies you can earn renamed in an upcoming patch. The name of the patch at the moment is titled “Bros before Hos” and once the patch is released the new name for it will be “Bros before Foes.”

The newest God of War game has been drumming up plenty of attention in the months leading up to its release with an ad campaign that even included its own Super Bowl spot. Most of the attention for the game has been carefully crafted and steered to be of the positive.

Players of the game understand that there is going to be quite a bit of violence when it comes to this series so the violence that leads up to the trophy isn’t exactly why there has been controversy surrounding the issue either.

God of War: Ascension has managed to combine just the “right” kind of violence along along with the trophy title to stir up a bit of a hornet’s nest.

In order to win the “Bros before Hos” trophy, the game’s anti-hero Kratos must beat a Fury, – one of three female enemies that appear in the game – to death.

Considering that you basically winning an award for beating a woman to death, the title of that award has had more than a few people call the trophy misogynistic.

The developers of the game, Sony Santa Monica have released a statement that addresses the patch and the uproar it caused.

In Sony’s statement, the company acknowledges that “The text was offensive to some members of our community and impacted their enjoyment of the game.” This new patch will be immediately downloadable once players get the game and will simply need to be downloaded once they insert the title into an Internet connected Playstation 3.

God of War: Ascension games that are not being used in PS3′s that have an Internet connection will of course still be sporting the offending trophy.

God Of War: Ascension Controversial Trophy Getting Altered In New Patch is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Sony Xperia Transfer platform has received a major update. The system is now capable of more competently moving Apple iPhone users over to the Sony Xperia smartphone setup with Google Android.

The Japanese electronics firm is hoping that Xperia Transfer software will convince Apple users to give Google Android a closer look. The program works by allowing Apple users to transfer their devices contacts, files, and other data with little effort.

On the Sony Xperia Transfer page, the company explains that the new software can copy contacts, calendar entries, notes, bookmarks, and more.

Sony has made the new software available for most of its newer handset lines including the Xperia Z Line. Also compatible are the Xperia V, Xperia VC, Xperia TC, Xperia T, and Xperia TL.

At this point, it appears that Sony will do whatever is necessary to carve out a bigger niche for itself in the smartphone market.

In its most recent quarterly statement, Sony did show a steep 94.4 percent increase in its sales and operating revenue.

If you are not familiar with the Sony Xperia Transfer program, here is a video the company uploaded two months ago:

While Google Android is the most popular mobile OS internationally, convincing Apple iOS users to jump ship is not a simple task. At the same time, Samsung Galaxy users have settled into the Galaxy world with their sights pinpoint focused on the next and best from Samsung.

With billions of dollars to be earned quarterly in the smartphone business and the market still largely defined by two competitors, we are likely to see a lot more from Sony as it builds on its early successes in the mobile space.

Are you willing to jump from the iPhone platform to the Sony Xperia line of devices with the help of the Xperia Transfer platform?

Sony Xperia Transfer Platform Updated, Targets iPhone Users is a post from: The Inquisitr

Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 games are expected to cost about $10 more than the current generation console games cost. That prognostication was made at a SXSW panel by Wedbush Securities Research Analyst Michael Pachter.

While it might seem like a bit of a no-brainer than next generation games are going to be costing a little bit more than what we currently pay, the question has been posed to game developers who have been very non-commital on the issue.

Last month, when Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen was asked flat out whether he felt that the next generation game would be more expensive, he said that traditionally new console games have gone up at the start of the cycle but that they eventually come back down.

During that interview, Jorgensen specifically mentioned a $69 price tag, without it being brought up. That seemed to hint that the company had at least been looking at a $10 boost since most new current generation games carry an MSRP of $59.99.

Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 game developers will face a bit of a conundrum if they are tasked with raising prices on those games. SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton had commented that he believed that Sony would price their games along the lines of the traditional pricing point.

Tretton seemed like he was being very careful to not say that the next generation games would actually carry a $59.99 so there is room for interpretation. Game companies aren’t going to actively tamp down the excitement over their systems by announcing that their games are going to be even more expensive.

At #SXSW panel @michaelpachter says PS4 and next Xbox games will likely cost 70 dollars, 10 dollars more than current gen.

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 9, 2013

That could be why those who are looking to budget for their next generation game purchases would be better suited to listen to those who don’t have a dog in the hunt.

If Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 games have an MSRP of $69.99 will you still buy them?

Playstation 4 And Xbox 720 Games Likely To Cost More Than Current Gen Games is a post from: The Inquisitr

An Xbox event may be looming in the wake of the Sony PlayStation 4 show.

Gamers across the US joined in viewing one of the biggest online events of the year thus far. No, it wasn’t LittleKuriboh’s (Martin Billany of YouTube) “Cardgames for Charity” auction last year, it was the PlayStation 4 event.

According to a new domain registered yesterday, Microsoft could be preparing its own answer to the PlayStation 4 event. According to GameSpot, XboxEvent.com was registered by US Techs, recently renamed as Eventcore, a company that provides “advanced, customized solutions in the event management industry.”

US Techs had also registered the domain XboxE312.com, the site used for Microsoft’s 2013 Hosting Summit, adding more speculation to the possibly looming Xbox event, according to IGN. At the bottom of the page rests the words that appear to add legitimacy to the claim:

“this site is hosted for Microsoft by U.S. Techs”

It is yet unknown exactly what this domain (XboxEvent.com) will actually be used for. However, being registered so hot on the heels of Sony’s internet event on Wednesday, it seems to be pointing to Microsoft attempting to keep up with the Joneses, or “the Sonys,” if you will.

Reports from CVG and The Verge tell us that industry sources suggest April as the most likely time frame for a possible Xbox event. A Microsoft spokesperson offered the following statement regarding the XboxEvent.com domain registration:

“Microsoft often acquires various domain names as part of its ongoing business strategy, but beyond that we have no comment.”

Xbox fans everywhere are likely hoping that Sony revealed too much too soon.

What do you think? Does the newly registered domain mean the Xbox event is coming soon after the PlayStation 4 show?

The Console Wars, Begun They Have: Microsoft May Announce New Xbox At April Event tcrn.ch/WfGLON by @johnbiggs

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) February 22, 2013

Xbox Event: Imminent After PlayStation 4 Show? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony’s Playstation Vita will not receive a price cut in the US.

Although the handheld system is getting a price reduction in Japan, apparently those living Stateside won’t receive the same bargain. CNET reports that Sony has decided to keep the Vita’s price right where it is for the time being.

Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida abruptly addressed rumors that the company’s device would get a reduction in North America. Instead of beating around the bush, Yoshida gave a very short and pointed response to recent inquiries.

He explained to Polygon:

“Not it will not.”

Although he was quick to shut down rumors of a Playstation Vita price cut in the US, Yoshida did offer an explanation as to why it wasn’t going to happen.

The Sony Worldwide Studios president added:

“One answer could be when you compare the pricing across regions, because of the yen. In Japan, the system had been priced the highest. We had been selling for 25,000 yen; that’s more than $250 when you compare the exchange rates.”

The decision to drop the price of the handheld system was made on a market-by-market basis. At the moment, it would seem Sony is perfectly happy with the retail price of the machine.

The Inquisitr previously reported that the price of the PS Vita will drop around $50 in Japan. Although some websites believed that North America would receive a similar discount, this apparently is no longer the case.

For the moment, it would seem prospective PS Vita owners will still have to shell around $300 to bring the system home. Amazon currently offers the Playstation Vita 3G Wi-Fi Bundle for $299.99. If you want a game to play with it, then you’ll need an extra $40.

Are you disappointed that Sony isn’t interesting in cutting the price of the Playstation Vita in North America?

Playstation Vita Won’t Get Price Cut In The US is a post from: The Inquisitr

When the Sony PS4 finally goes on sale, customers with PS1, PS2, and PS3 systems will not be able to put in their favorite legacy games and enjoy them.

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida confirmed to Engadget on Thursday that the new Playstation 4 console is NOT backwards compatible.

However, the company is examining backwards compatibility options for “some” games by providing service for older games via the PS Cloud service.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the PlayStation 4 will utilize technology Sony acquired from its $380 million acquisition of Gaikai to provide PS Cloud service.

The move away from backwards compatibility has already angered game sellers, specifically GameStop, which derives much of its profits from used game sales.

The PS Cloud service will offer many other functions for Sony PS4 gamers, including access to a new “share” button which allows players to instantaneously share their gameplay with friends.

According to Gaikai CEO David Perry:

“With that one button, you can broadcast from your game, live 100% real-time to your friends.”

Friends will also be able to comment on your gameplay live, and users will be able to hand over control of the game to other gamers.

It is still unclear how the PS Cloud will allow for backward compatibility. If that compatibility requires users to pay for a new service, it could anger people who have already paid for their PS3 games.

There will be one big advantage for the PS Cloud, according to Playstation Lifestyle:

“You can start playing games immediately off of the PSN store, there’s no need to wait for it to download. “Try it for free, share it if you like it, buy it only if you fall in love with it.”

Do you find it strange that the Sony PS4 doesn’t allow for backwards compatibility at least for PS3 games?

Sony PS4 Won’t Be Backwards Compatible, PS Cloud Service Might Solve That Problem is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony has announced that gamers will not be required to have an “always on” internet connection when they pick up the PS4 this holiday season.

Although rumors suggested that the PS4 and Xbox 720 would require owners to have a dedicated internet connection, this is apparently not the case. According to Digital Spy UK, the company has stated gamers won’t need to leave their internet connection on all of the time.

Sony Worldwide Studios’ Shuhei Yoshida said new games will work even if the internet connection is disconnected. However, he added that gamers might “want to keep it connected.”

He explained to Eurogamer:

“The system has the low-power mode – I don’t know the official term – that the main system is shut down but the subsystem is awake. Downloading or updating or you can wake it up using either the tablet, smartphone or PS Vita.”

Although the PS4 will be big on the social front — gamers can reportedly share video and screenshots with the push of a few buttons — Yoshida understands that not everyone will want to use this feature.

He explained:

“Social is big for us, but we understand there are some people who are anti-social! So if you don’t want to connect to anyone else, you can do that.”

The Inquisitr previously reported that the Xbox 720 may require gamers to have a dedicated internet connection. Since some people have data caps and restrictions, this could ultimately prove to be a problem for would-be buyers.

If this rumor turns out to be true, then some people could find themselves gravitating towards Sony’s new machine. The Playstation 4 and its many bells and whistles were recently unveiled during a news conference in New York City on Wednesday (February 20).

Are you looking forward to the PS4? Are you glad the console won’t require an “always on” internet connection?

PS4 Won’t Require ‘Always On’ Internet Connection is a post from: The Inquisitr

The PlayStation 4 Event happened today at 6pm EST, and here are some of the highlights of the event.

First off, the photos released this week on The Inquisitr were accurate as to what the DualShock 4 controller actually looks like. It features a touchpad at the top face of the controller, centered above the analog sticks. However, we’ve shown you that already.

What you might not have seen already is the camera. According to ARS Technica, the PlayStation 4 camera tracks the players’ movements much like the Xbox Kinect, but it also tracks the controller and other objects in 3D space for an enhanced player experience.

It was also revealed today that the PlayStation 4 is what Sony was aiming for with the PlayStation 3, but with the sudden rush to release a console and compete with Microsoft, they had to make do with what they could make available. PlayStation 4 is what Sony wanted in the first place.

The PlayStation 4 is an advanced, x86-based (32-bit) personal computer, meaning that it should be easier to develop for, solving a major issue game developers faced with the PlayStation 3. Sony is emphasizing ease over specs, following the trend of mobile technology instead of pushing for power.  But fear not, true believers, this console is packed with the power you’re craving.

The PlayStation 4 give you the freedom of background downloading, something that some of the more powerful PCs do. However, it allows you to play the game before it’s even done downloading. That is something PCs have never done. According to TechCrunch, if you have your doubts about the game, you can just try the demo via the Gaikai Cloud.

The online personality of the player has been upgraded to actual video, allowing you to say goodbye to avatars and digital characters in lieu of showing the gaming public your true face. You’ll also be able to watch friends or “celebrities” play, something Twitter has touched on previously. Imagine the look on your friends’ faces as you “Pwn” them in real-time. Now stop imagining, because it’s going to happen.

You can also play your PlayStation 4 games with your PlayStation Vita. This will enable you to go mobile with your games wherever you can get a WiFi signal.

One major downside that may irk some PlayStation fans is that there will be no native PlayStation 3 backward compatibility. However, you can play them using your PlayStation Vita with Remote Play, according to GameSpot.

Every developer you’ve probably ever heard of is developing titles for the PlayStation 4, including the major players such as Capcom, Activision, Square, Sega, and Lucasarts.

The PlayStation 4 is set to launch in November at $429 and $529, which is a steep price, but it should come as no surprise to console launch veterans.

Are you excited about the PlayStation 4 details revealed at the live event?

PlayStation 4: More than just a pixel powerhouse cnnmon.ie/ZsdPJG

— CNNMoney.com (@CNNMoney) February 21, 2013

PlayStation 4 Live Coverage Highlights is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Sony PlayStation 4 premiere will be broadcast over the internet live from New York by Ustream, from 6pm EST on February 20. Sony has not officially said the PlayStation Meeting will be about the PlayStation 4, but the last time Sony held such an event in January 2011 they announced the future release of the PlayStation Vita.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the PlayStation rumor roundup has the PS4 being released in either late 2013 or early 2014. Besides better graphics hardware, the rumors also say that a new PlayStation 4 controller will incorporate a touchscreen, cameras, and something similar to the existing Move. Some say used games will be unplayable, but cloud gaming could provide backwards compatibility. A PlayStation 3 price drop is also expected to follow today’s announcement.

P.J. McNealy, CEO and founder of Digital World Research, told The Huffington Post what the PlayStation Meeting is all about:

“Their focus is on establishing a beachhead for the next generation of consoles, and that’s what February 20 is all about. The reality is they have been playing catch-up.”

Nintendo has failed to get gamers interested in the Wii U. Tablets and smartphones already account for around 10 percent of the $80 billion gaming market. It’s also possible that augmented reality games provided through smartglasses like the Google Glass may someday surpass the popularity of traditional gaming consoles like the PlayStation 4. In short, today Sony has to give gamers a real reason to look forward to the PlayStation 4.

PC World says there are five things the game industry expects to see from the PlayStation Meeting: cloud gaming via the recently purchased Gaikai service, paid subscriptions for the PlayStation Network (it’s currently free for basic usage), expert disc lockdown (purchased games will be tied to your user account similar to Steam), a touchpad controller, and a November launch with the PlayStation 4 costing $430 for the cheapest version.

What new gaming features do you think Sony will announce for the PlayStation 4?

Sony PlayStation 4 Meeting Today At 6PM EST Via Ustream is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Sony Playstation 4 is expected to be announced on February 20, 2013. In anticipation of that release, we have collected some of the most widely spread rumors pertaining to the devices features, pricing, release date, and more.

Sony will show off its new gaming console at 5pm Central time via us.playstation.com/meeting2013.

Sony Playstation 4 Naming Convention

So what can we expect? The most likely rumor to be true is that the system will be named the Sony Playstation 4 / PS4. Sony users have gotten so use to the naming convention that changing it now would be silly. However, the names “Orbis” and “Thebes” have also surfaced as possible names. We already known that the internal codename for the Sony PS4 was “Thebes.” We also know that gaming consoles across the board almost never sticks with its production names; for example, the Katana became the Sega Dreamcast and the Dolphin later became the Xbox 360.

Release Date

No clue on this one. The best guess from various outlets is that Sony will push out the PS4 right at the start of the holiday buying season. This strategy would probably be best. By choking supply based on extremely high demand, Sony can lead with large sales to reel in customers who don’t want to be left out for months to come.

Kotaku recently spoke with a reliable source who claimed the console could launch in the US by late 2013 and then delay shipments to the UK until early 2014.

Another source says Sony will stagger supply across all regions.

The Hardware

With every new Sony Playstation release, we have witnessed better graphics, faster processors, and overall better multimedia integration. The Sony PS4 will be no different.

AMD is expected to provide Sony with its competent CPU and GPU hardware. AMD has become more competent in recent years in terms of combining CPU and graphic elements to produce streamlined products.

According to reports, the new Playstation 4 will run 1080P support at 60fps, possibly with 3D support.

To process its high power needs, Sony is believe to be taking advantage of an 8-core 1.6GHz processor that complements a 7-series GPU hardware setup. According to reports, the GPU will be based around the AMD Radeon HD 7850 (pictured below).

Also helping power the PS4 will be 4GB RAM that is placed in a single GDDR5 setup for better speed and reliability.

Blue-Ray is expected to stay in place since Sony helped usher in the technology and can now include it with very little overall cost additions.

Used Game and Second Hand Game Support

In 2012, Sony filed US Patent Application 20130007892, which describes “a game playing system [including] a use permission tag provided for use in a game disk for a user of a game, a disk drive, and a reproduction device for reproducing the game.”

That patent filing if used for the Playstation 4 could potentially mean that second hand games will not be available for resale, a move that GameStop has railed against because of the damage it would cause to their business, which earns most of its top revenue from used game purchasing and sales. The new patent filing could also mean legacy games will not work on the new PS4 gaming console.

Users may fight back against such a system if announced. For example, a broken console would tie the users game to their broken system, forcing them to purchase another copy of the game they already own. Unless this issue is dealt with, Sony could face some serious backlash.

Sony Dual Shock Controller

As we recently reported, the Sony Dual-Shock controller is expected to remain largely the same. The biggest rumored change is a new touchpad on the front of the controller and redesigned L2 and R2 buttons. The trackpad would also move the start and select buttons.

A second PS4 controller debuted one day after the original “leak” and showcases a similar topside touchpad along with a 3.5mm jack.

Here is a closer look at the second PS4 controller to be leaked in the last week (notice the difference in trackpad size and design):

Sony PS3 gamers are very comfortable with the Dual Shock controller, and changing it completely would be foolish at this time.

Another rumor claims that the PS4 controller will feature the dual-camera HD EyeToy bundle to provide gamers with improved motion-sensitive controls along with traditional gaming controller options.

How the PS4 Will Connect To Multimedia

The Sony Playstation 4 will feature HDMI connectivity. We are 100 percent prepared to confirm this option. With 1080P a must have feature and 3D support likely, the company needs to include HDMI if it plans to impress video-friendly gamers who demand the best connectivity for what is sure to be a kick-butt AMD GPU.

Sony is also expected to include Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port.

The team at BGR recently claimed that Sony would even include 4K video resolution support, which it recently rolled out via Ultra HDTVs (UHDTV). Should that support be included, it would mean HDMI 1.4 support for the PS4 gaming console.

Sony PS4 Pricing

Your guess is at good as ours. Rumors have pointed to a $400 launch price. Just keep in mind that the PS3 gaming console was rumored to cost Sony $900 to make and then sold for around $600 at launch time. The Sony PS3 was a loss leader, and the Sony PS4 is likely to also lose the company money upon initial sale.

Keep in mind that Sony now has more ways than ever to capitalize on future returns. When the PS3 launched, Sony was hoping to earn back its revenue through game licenses. Now the company earns gaming revenue, video streaming revenue, download revenue, and other forms of cash generating schemes thanks to the connectivity users now seek.

From a historical standpoint, we are probably look at a device priced between $350 to $600. If the gaming console is released in time for Christmas, Sony may have no problem capitalizing on the high end of those price points.

The official launch of the Sony Playstation 4 will be upon us in 27 hours. Until then, we only have rumors and our hopes for cutting edge technology to hold onto.

In the meantime, Sony is trying to reach out to our nostalgic leanings with this “Evolution of the Playstation” new teaser video:

Sony Playstation 4 Rumor Round-Up is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony’s PS Vita is finally going to get a price cut. If you are someone who was looking to buy the Playstation Vita but was holding out until it was a bit more affordable, don’t pop the champagne cork just yet. Yahoo! News is reporting that Sony did announce a $50 drop in price for the Vita.

The problem for North American gamers is that the price drop is only good for Japan at this point. As a general rule, companies tend to cut the price of their existing products right before a new product hits the market. There is quite a bit of speculation that a full reveal of the Sony Playstation 4 could come as later this week.

The PS Vita is one of the most powerful and expensive hand held gaming devices on the market today. One of the things that makes it so attractive is that it is powerful enough to act almost like a console. Sony has taken great pains to make sure the Vita works alongside the PS3 as opposed to competing against the console for gamers.

So will Sony eventually announce a price drop in North America as well? It would seem likely that they would want to make sure that gamers are pairing up their PS Vitas with their PS4s when they finally become available. IGN.com made this same assumption, reaching out to Sony with questions about when we could expect a price drop announcement for the US.

Sony responded with a very short and sweet answer: “We have nothing to announce at this point in time.”

Should the Playstation Vita get a price drop, IGN believes that it could actually be dropped to $199. That would mean an identical $50 drop on the price here as they did in Japan.

If the PS Vita sees a price drop, would you be more likely to buy it?

Sony: PS Vita Getting Pricecut in Japan, No Word On US is a post from: The Inquisitr

The PlayStation 4 will likely introduce cloud gaming to the mainstream. Cloud gaming is the streaming of high definition video games in real-time to an internet accessible device, including PCs, consoles, and smartphones.

PlayStation 4 prototype controllers already show that the PS4 will feature a touchpad. In order to compete with Microsoft’s Kinect Sony is also expected to incorporate Move-like features into the PlayStation 4 controllers. In July 2012, Sony bought out the largest cloud gaming service provider Gaikai for $380 million. This announcement had many tech experts in the gaming industry wondering if the PlayStation 4 would feature cloud gaming.

The Wall Street Journal reports that an inside source within Sony says that cloud gaming will definitely be part of the PlayStation 4 plan to be announced on February 20:

“The new technology, to be unveiled Wednesday along with the new console, will allow users to play games delivered over the Internet, these people said. The streaming service, they added, is designed to use current PlayStation 3 titles on the new console; the new device is also expected to play new games stored on optical discs.”

CBS points out that this idea has been expected since Sony bought Gaikai. They also think that mobile devices will somehow be incorporated into PlayStation 4 cloud gaming:

“Imagine playing a core PlayStation…[game] on your console, then picking the game up exactly where you left off on your cell phone or tablet.”

From a technical perspective, limiting the cloud gaming functionality to PlayStation 3 titles makes sense. The Cell processor in the PS3 was developed by Sony, IBM, and Toshiba. But apparently the PlayStation 4 will be moving over to an AMD processor, making backwards compatibility via the emulation of PS3 games on the PlayStation 4 very difficult.

In addition, many PS3 games are not natively rendered at high definition 1080p resolutions. Instead, they are often rendered at a lower resolution, sometimes lower than 720p, and then upscaled by the hardware to 1080p. The bandwidth difference for cloud gaming between even 720p and 1080p is over two times the amount of data per second. PlayStation 4 games, on the other hand, will likely all be natively rendered at 1080p or even Ultra HD resolutions.

If Sony charges money for the Playstation 4 cloud gaming capabilities would you be willing to pay for a subscription?

PlayStation 4 Cloud Gaming Streams Video Games In Realtime is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony and Square Enix released video of their latest Final Fantasy remake earlier today. The remake of Final Fantasy X was originally announced at the Tokyo Game Show in 2011, and little evidence of the title’s development has surfaced until now. According to Famitsu, this video was unveiled at the Vita Heaven event that took place earlier today.

The short clip shows a model of Tidus standing in his combat stance without a weapon in hand. The camera pans around the model with Yuna and two of her summoned aeons, Bahamut and Yojimbo, visible in the background. The camera then shifts to Yuna, who is also standing in her combat stance without a weapon in hand. The camera zooms into her face to show off details up close before the video fades away.

Square Enix is pushing the Final Fantasy remake as an HD version of the original game, but the PlayStation Vita is actually incapable of displaying content in a genuine high resolution display. Sony’s handheld has a display resolution of 960 by 540, otherwise known as qHD, a resolution with one forth the pixels of a 1080p display. This is not a substantial jump from the PlayStation 2′s VGA display, the resolution of 640 by 480 at which the original Final Fantasy X was displayed.

The game is also slated for release on the PlayStation 4, a system capable of displaying content at both 720p and 1080p, so gamers may still see an HD remake of the popular 2001 title. However, only the PlayStation Vita version is displayed in the video.

The video is available online but only in 360p. Therefore, this standard definition video does not display the game’s content with graphical fidelity. This video serves more as proof that the Final Fantasy remake is still being developed.

Final Fantasy Remake For Vita Resurfaces is a post from: The Inquisitr

Playstation 4 controller prototypes are becoming a daily occurrence. Yesterday our very own David Cornell revealed a leaked prototype with a new topside touchpad, and today we have another new PS4 controller to report.

Spotted by a forum user at GameTrailers, the new controller features a similar topside trackpad while adding what appears to be a 3.5mm audio jack that is situated on the side of the controller. The audio jack is located just below the PS button.

The biggest difference between today’s new Playstation 4 controller and yesterday’s appears to be a large touchpad and the new audio jack.

The team at IGN indicated yesterday that the first revealed controller was in fact the real deal. Sony, in the meantime, is not commenting on the controller situation.

Sony will likely unveil its new Playstation 4 gaming console during next weeks PlayStation 2013 event.

Whenever a new gaming console nears, its official reveal many real and doctored leaks show up on the radar.

With Sony hoping to draw a big crowd for next weeks announcement, there is the very real possibility that the gaming manufacturer is allowing real details to leak. However, the question remains — which controller is the real deal?

Here’s yesterday’s Sony PS4 controller leak for comparison:

What new features will the new Sony Playstation need to grab your attention? Do you like today’s or yesterday’s prototype more?

Playstation 4 Controller: Yet Another Prototype Revealed [Photo] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Samsung Galaxy brand has started to overshadow the Android brand. A Gartner report highlights how Apple and Samsung together dominate 52 percent of worldwide market sales.

“The success of Apple and Samsung is based on the strength of their brands as much as their actual products,” said Anshul Gupta, a principal research analyst at Gartner.  “Their direct competitors, including those with comparable products, struggle to achieve the same brand appreciation among consumers, who, in a tough economic environment, go for cheaper products over brand.”

Samsung has risen to the top position in regards to both smartphone and overall mobile phone sales. Samsung sold 384.6 million mobile phones in 2012, with 53.5 percent of those being smartphones.

“With Samsung commanding over 42.5 percent of the Android market globally, and the next vendor at just 6 percent share, the Android brand is being overshadowed by Samsung brand with the Galaxy name nearly a synonym for Android phones in consumers’ mind share,” Gupta said.

Samsung’s success is built on the overall success of Android. Over 140,000,000 Android phones were sold in the fourth quarter of 2012, leaving Android with 69.7 percent of the smartphone market. This is nearly double the number of Android devices shipped in the same time last year and a large jump from Android’s then-51.3 percent share of the market. iOS is currently the second most popular mobile operating system at 20.9 percent. It has dropped only slightly from 23.6 percent last year. This means that Android went from doubling to tripling iOS sales in under a year.

Of the over 140 million Android devices shipped in the fourth quarter of 2012, roughly 64.5 million were Samsung devices. The popularity of Samsung’s brand has given it an advantage that competitors currently cannot match.  However, the competition is expected to improve throughout 2013. Google’s Nexus line has drawn fans with each passing year. Sony and Nokia are improving their product line, and Huawei announced two phones at this year’s Computer Electronics Show aimed at growing the company’s brand perception as a premium product. Huawei wants to put on a strong showing in international markets including the United States where Samsung overshadows the competition.

Samsung Galaxy Brand Overshadows Android is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bad news for those of you who were looking forward to picking up The Last of Us on May 7: Sony and Naughty Dog confirmed today that the game has been pushed back from its intended release date, and will now see a worldwide release on June 14.

It’s not the best news, but Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann assured fans in a post on the PlayStation Blog that the decision was a necessary one in order to bring the game up to the studio’s high standards for quality.

“As we entered the final phase of development for The Last of Us, we came to realize just how massive Joel and Ellie’s journey is. But instead of cutting corners or compromising our vision, we came to the tough decision that the game deserved a few extra weeks to ensure every detail of The Last of Us was up to Naughty Dog’s internal high standards,” Druckmann wrote.

“As a team we pride ourselves on setting a very high quality bar for every aspect of our games – gameplay, story, art, design, technology and more. We want to make sure The Last of Us raises that bar even further – for ourselves, and most importantly, for you, our fans.”

The wait is pretty short, fortunately, so that certainly helps in softening the blow.

If this is the first you’ve heard of The Last of Us, the game is a new series from Naughty Dog, the studio behind the hit Uncharted franchise. The game takes place in a city overrun by nature after a fungus kills much of the population, leaving those left behind to fight over essential items.

Players take on the role of Joel, a headstrong gun-for-hire who is hired to escort 14-year-old Ellie out of a quarantine zone. With the AI in control of Ellie, the duo will have to fight their way through infected humans and other survivors as they make a trek across the US.

To see how The Last of Us plays, you can check out the E3 2012 gameplay demo below.

‘The Last of Us’ Sees A Small Delay is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although gamers in the US and Japan might get their hands on the PS4 later this year, Sony’s new console may not arrive in the UK until 2014.

The company is reportedly set to unveil the new console on February 20. While no release dates for the machine have been announced as of this writing, Expert Reviews explains that gamers living in Europe may get the PS4 later than everyone else.

The same anonymous source that hinted at a possible delay also revealed Sony’s plans for the console’s release here in the US. Speaking to the folks at Edge, the individual stated the company intends to drop the machine onto retail shelves in time for the holiday season.

Also included in the conversation was information regarding some of the PS4′s new features. In addition to featuring built-in motion controls, the system is also rumored to come with a touch-screen interface not unlike the one packaged with the Nintendo Wii U.

According to MCV, the revamped Playstation 4 controller will feature a “Share” button that will allow players to upload a plethora of information to various social media sites. In addition to posting screenshots, gamers can share up to 15 minutes worth of gameplay video that is recorded by the console itself.

Also getting a fresh coat of paint is the Playstation Eye. The device will reportedly get an upgrade when the machine debuts later this year. The Eye will continue to be compatible with the Playstation Move.

None of this information has been confirmed by Sony as of this writing. Chances are the company will keep most of the juicy details regarding its new console under lock and key until the unveiling on February 20 at a New York press screening.

Are you looking forward to the Sony PS4? Will you pick up the new system when it arrives this Christmas?

Sony PS4 May Not Arrive In The UK Until 2014 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony MiniDisc players are going the way of VHS and audio tapes.

The electronics manufacturer has been producing MiniDisc’s for more than 20 years, thanks mostly to a Japanese market that has developed a loyal following with the dated recording technology.

While Sony MiniDisc’s were meant to replace audio cassettes, their sales never quite reached those same levels.

MiniDisc’s from the company offer a proprietary magneto-optical disc encased in a plastic enclosure with a sliding mechanism to protect the disc. The disc’s were in fact setup in much the same way that 3.5-inch floppy discs were constructed.

Sony MiniDisc’s originally allowed for 74 minutes of recording, levels that with better compression were eventually pushed to 80 minutes.

The company’s technology was quickly overshadowed when three years into production the compact disc (CD) format began allowing customers to burn their own discs at home.

Despite tough competition from CDs, Sony managed to sell more than 27 million MiniDisc players over the last 20 years, accounting for millions of dollars in MiniDisc sales.

The only major player still making MiniDisc’s is Onkyo, although how long that production run will continue is anyone’s guess.

In today’s age of cloud computing systems, it may only be a matter of time before digital recording and data connectivity help push DVD’s and Blu-ray discs out of the market. A recent study found that sales of DVD’s and Blu-ray discs fell by three percent throughout 2012.

Are you sad to see the Sony MiniDisc era come to an end, or have we developed far superior products over the last 20 years?

Sony MiniDisc Production Coming To An End is a post from: The Inquisitr

A PlayStation 4 announcement might be coming down the pipe on February 20, 2013. Sony has been tight-lipped about its future plans for the gaming console, but a PlayStation blog entitled “See The Future” is teasing PlayStation fans with a Sony event set for February 20. Gaming industry journalists have been sent invites to attend the 6 pm EST event in New York.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the PlayStation 4 has been renamed from code-name “Thebes” rather than“Orbis.” If the rumors are true, the PS4 could be delayed through the spring 2014 or fall 2014. But it’s possible that, on February 20, we might get an actual release date for the Playstation 4.

Although no official statements have been made by Sony, the PlayStation 4 hardware rumors have the system pegged as being significantly more powerful than the forthcoming Xbox 720, with the former capable of 1.84 teraflops and the latter “only” 1.23 teraflops. The newest PlayStation 4 rumors from NowGamer report Sony and Microsoft’s consoles would sport 3.2 teraflops and 4.2 teraflops, respectively, which reverses the speculative hardware winner.

The Examiner points out why these high-flying PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 specifications are unlikely to be true:

“The HD 7660D has 614.4 Gigaflops of power, while the whole chip has 736 Gigaflops. That’s a country mile behind the 3.2 Teraflop figure that’s doing the rounds. Plenty more evidence suggests the 3.2 Teraflop figure simply isn’t anywhere close to reality. There’s no way an APU could contain a graphics core of that power while also packing in a processing module too: the power requirements don’t add up, and the heat generated would be too much for a console to bear. Another major concern is cost. Sony might price the PS4 highly for the console market, but that level of GPU is way out of its league.”

Game culture blog Kotaku spotted this Tweet by Sony President Shuhei Yoshida:

!?

— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) January 31, 2013

ABC reports that Sony has been using Twitter as part of its marketing campaign for the February 20 event:

“According to a Topsy.com report, Sony’s suggested hashtag for the event, #PlayStation2013, saw a spike of over 3,000 tweets in its first two hours. The push didn’t trend nationally, though it may spike up again on the day of the event.”

The February 20 teaser video was posted on YouTube as #PlayStation2013. The video really does not give any further details about what Sony is planning, but the amorphous visuals are pretty.

What would you like Sony to announce on February 20: the PlayStation 4 or something else?

PlayStation 4 Announcement On February 20 By Sony? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lady Gaga has lost several millions of views on YouTube after the site cleared out what were considered “fake statistics” built by bots and hackers. Some lesser known YouTube channel owners have used bots as a way to beef up their view counts, but Lady Gaga is not one of them.

Lady Gaga is a well-known celebrity who uses other unconventional means to gain fame. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, she wore a gun bra for her first concert after the Sandy Hook shooting.

Lady Gaga encountered the sudden drop one month after the Sony and Universal YouTube pages were stripped of 2 billion YouTube views. YouTube decided that videos migrated to their VEVO pages were “dead videos.” A small portion of the loss is the result of what YouTube calls “de-spamming the data.”  Most of what affected Sony and Universal was a result of Sony, Universal, and EMI‘s decision to bet on VEVO.

VEVO is owned by Sony and Universal Music Group. According to the Huffington Post, other artists affected by YouTube‘s bot sweeps include Beyonce and Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson has no need of YouTube to maintain his fan base, but that’s beside the point.

According to E! Online, the decision was made last month. A YouTube spokesperson told Billboard at the time:

“This was not a bug or a security breach. This was an enforcement of our viewcount policy.”

Of course, YouTube has been diligent in removing “copied” videos since the beginning, with a massive public outcry when copyright infringement became the bane of a lot of lesser channels trying to cheat for more views.

It had been popular on YouTube to upload official music videos to public-owned channels back then, even though the videos were sometimes illegally downloaded to begin with. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, copyright infringement due to illegal downloading is a major issue in the United States. YouTube‘s taking down of videos and channels was a direct attempt to eliminate the issue.

In July 2011, around the time when copyright policies had started to relax a bit more, Lady Gaga’s YouTube account was suspended and promptly restored. Google, who bought YouTube in its early days, declined to comment when a notice on her channel read that it was guilty of “multiple or severe violations of YouTube‘s copyright policy.”

Do you think Lady Gaga’s loss of millions of views on YouTube will affect her fame that dramatically?

Lady Gaga Loses Millions Of YouTube Views is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 hardware specifications have been leaked. Although no official statements have been made by either Microsoft or Sony, everyone is expecting for both gaming console manufacturers to announce their prospective next generation consoles at this year’s Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3).

So far the hardware specification rumors have both Intel and Nvidia being left out in the cold in favor of main rival AMD, which purchased graphics chip developer ATI several years ago. It’s possible this choice was based upon AMD being capable of providing both the CPU and GPU architecture at a more competitive price when compared to buying from two separate companies like in the past.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Xbox 720 could be delayed over some confusion on how the consoles are progressing which may lead to supply chain issues. The website also reveals that the Xbox device is now code-named “Kryptos” and not “Durango.” The Playstation 4 has also be renamed from code-name “Thebes” rather than“Orbis.” If the rumors are true, the PS4 could be delayed through the spring 2014 or fall 2014 while the Xbox 720 could be delayed between fall 2013 to 2014.

According to Eurogamer, both the Xbox 720 and Playstation 4 will be powered by an eight-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz built using AMD’s Jaguar architecture. This type of CPU is typically used for low-power notebooks but will have double the number of cores found in portables as well as a few other customizations.

We are further told that Sony’s PlayStation 4 will ship with AMD Radeon HD graphics. Specifically, we can expect to see the Radeon 7970M clocked at 800MHz with 18 Graphics Core Next compute units. This is expected to produce 1.84 teraflops, according to data recently published by VG24/7. At this time the GPU of the Microsoft Xbox 720 is unknown but sources at CES claim the graphics architecture is only capable of outputting 1.23 teraflops.

The Playstation 4 will also feature 4GB of high speed DDR5 memory combined with a slower 512MB for use by the operating system (as a comparison, today’s console have a total memory pool of only 512MB). In contrast, the Xbox 360 is providing 8GB in total but this will be running at slower DDR3 speeds. Microsoft is expected to use something similar to eDRAM technology connected to the GPU to offset the slower bandwidth provided by DDR3 memory.

As an example for what this hardware can do, we can demonstrate Battlefield 3 on a PC that is configured similarly to how the next-gen consoles will be:

But that is unlikely to represent actual games. Most PC games nowadays are simply ports of console games and thus the graphics are dumbed down from they could potentially achieve.

So what do all these hardware specifications mean? It’s possible Microsoft is choosing to adopt the business approach that Nintendo took with the Wii and the Wii-U. In the past, video game consoles were sold at steep discounts as a loss leader. This means that the cost to manufacture the console hardware was much higher than the retail price given to customers. Sony and Microsoft would eat the initial loss of the hardware sales but then make it back over time with game sales. As time went on the cost to produce the consoles would go down and they eventually started making money off of hardware sales. Nintendo, on the other hand, made money from the start with the hardware sales of both the Wii and Wii-U because technologically those consoles were not nearly as advanced, or expensive.

Playstation 4 And Xbox 720 Hardware Specifications Leaked is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony showcased their 84″ KD-84X9005 Simulview capable TV at the 2013 CES.

SimulView gaming is a feature on the KD-84X9005 TV that  presents two separate Full HD pictures. Each player watches their own independent screen through light easy to wear glasses that don’t need batteries.

When the Simulview technology first came out, it was on a small 24″ screen. Even though two players could play a multiplayer game without actually splitting up the screen, a lot of people wanted to see the technology on a bigger scale.

In order to satisfy their customers’ requests, Sony has come out with an 84″ screen. This Simulview capable screen was amazing. I got the chance to play Gran Turismo 5 with another person at CES and we each saw our own view.

According to Playstation Lifestyle, the KD-84X9005 also has full 3D capabilities. Not only that, instead of having a resolution of 1080P, it boasts a 4K resolution.

That’s 8 million individual pixels (3,840 x 2,160).

The KD-84X9005 also has a 50W front-facing, 2-way, 10-Unit speaker system with S-Force Front Surround 3D that simulates 5.1 sound, and a newly-developed XCA8-4K chip that upscales HD.

Sony is a leader in 4K digital cinematography and projection.

According to Sony.com, as of June 2012, there were over 13,000 Sony 4K digital cinema theaters — nearly 75% of all 4K theaters worldwide use Sony 4K digital cinema projectors.

Now, Sony brings the full 4K digital experience into the home with this tv’s stunning picture quality, whether you’re watching native 4K video or lower resolution video clips.

The price of the KD-84X9005 is set to be around $24,999

CES 2013: Sony Showcases 84″ KD-84X9005 Simulview Capable TV is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Sony Xperia line of smartphone devices are about to become a bit more interesting. According to a rumor from the Chinese-language site ePrice, the company will debut a new device at CES 2013, and it will feature some impressive specs.

Rumored for the Sony Xperia device is a 5-inch display that will output video at a super crisp 1080p resolution. It is also rumored that Sony will debut the device with an ultra-fast quad-core processor that will power it’s Google Android-based OS.

The report suggests that the Sony Xperia Z L36h will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with Adreno 320 GPU. The phone will also be powered by 2GB of RAM, and extra memory will be expandable via microSD card slot.

Sony will also pack quite the punch with a 13-megapixel backside-illuminated camera.

The new Sony Xperia is meant to compete directly with the LG Nexus 4 and the HTC Droid DNA.

ePrice suggests that the Sony Xperia could launch as early as January 15, just days after CES 2013 draws to a close.

The Inquisitr will be attending CES 2013 where we’ll keep an eye out for the new Sony Xperia and various other pieces of mobile technology including Samsung’s rumored “unbreakable displays” and other mobile products sure to impress.

Here is a supposed picture of the Sony Xperia Z L36h:

Would you be willing to make a Sony Xperia smartphone your first choice if it includes a 13-megapixel camera, quad-core processor, and 1080p video output?

Sony Xperia To Debut At CES 2013 With 1080P Display, Quad-Core Processor [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr

God of War: Ascension is slated to begin rolling out starting March 12, 2013, but you won’t have to wait nearly that long to get your hands on the game’s multi-player — provided you have a PlayStation Plus membership, that is.

Over on the PlayStation Blog, Sony revealed that God of War: Ascension will be getting a multiplayer beta starting January 8, 2013. The beta won’t be invite-only, but you will need to make sure that you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, as previously mentioned.

The God of War: Ascension will feature the “Desert of Lost Souls” map, which we’ve previously seen by way of trailers of and preview coverage. As you fight amongst each other, you’ll also have to worry about the map’s resident Titan, Polyphemus.

Here’s more information on what you can expect out of the God of War: Ascension beta, as detailed on the PlayStation Blog:

“So the burning-in-Hades question is, what will you play in our Multiplayer Beta? A visceral, larger than life, online combat experience for starters. We are kicking off the Beta with our signature Team Favor of the Gods mode and the yet-to-be-seen Favor of the Gods mode, which plays like Team Favor of the Gods, but without the teams.

“In both modes, you’ll fight to reach the requisite number of favor points from the Gods, earning points via kills, bonus brutal kills, opening chests, capturing domination points, and, if you’re skillful enough, performing executions using the Spear of Olympus.”

To go along with the multiplayer beta reveal, Sony released a new trailer for the game. You can check that out below.

Are you interested in trying God of War: Ascension‘s multiplayer, or are you more interested in singleplayer?

‘God of War: Ascension’ Multiplayer Beta Kicks Off In January, Exclusive To Plus is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Nintendo Wii U is experiencing huge sales thanks to very little new competition, and now a new report suggests that the Microsoft Xbox 720 and Playstation 4 (PS4) will give Nintendo a dominate role through 2013.

According to the report by tech blog SemiAccurate, the Xbox 720 could be delayed over some confusion on how the consoles are progressing which may lead to supply chain issues. The website also reveals that the Xbox device is now code-named “Kryptos” and not “Durango.” The Playstation 4 has also be renamed from code-name “Thebes” rather than“Orbis.”

Rumors are pointing to a 28-nanometer AMD chipset for the PS4, a chipset that will be manufactured by either IBM or Global Foundries.

If the rumors are true, the PS4 could be delayed through the spring 2014 or fall 2014 while the Xbox 720 could be delayed between fall 2013 to 2014.

The Xbox 720 was believed to to be progressing along nicely. Last month Xbox World claimed that Microsoft had already integrated Blu-ray disc support, Kinect 2.0, directional audio, and TV output and input controls. The report also pointed to a new “innovative controller” and augmented reality glasses support.

The Xbox 720 is also believed to feature a magnesium alloy shell.

The PS4 is nothing to yawn at either with a reported 16GB of RAM and 256GB storage, although other details outside of speculation have yet to be revealed, and Sony tends to be tight-lipped about devices until they are ready for sale.

Both Sony and Microsoft are expected to debut the Xbox 720 and Playstation 4 at E3 2013 this coming June.

Xbox 720 And Playstation 4 Possibly Delayed Until 2014 is a post from: The Inquisitr

In a time ruled by USB drives, solid-state drivers, cloud storage options, and Blu-ray discs, it might surprise some of our readers to learn that Sony continues to manufacture good old-fashioned tape recorders. Now the company has announced plans to discontinue the relics of the past.

Sony announced plans this week to discontinue the production of its  TCM-400, TCM-410, and TCM-450 cassette recorders in “early” 2013.

Sony in 2012 discontinued the sale of its Walkman line of portable cassette and DVD players, citing low demand in an era ruled by smartphones, tablets, and other more convenient portable options.

The portable tape recorder may be going the way of black & white TV sets, but the company still sells portable boomboxes with CD and tape deck combos.

While vinyl record players continue to make a resurgence, cassette tapes have not enjoyed the same level of success, yet billions of cassette tapes still exist, millions of which are probably mixtapes made by lovestruck teenagers.

If the life cycle of devices continues on its current path, the next device to enter the digital graveyard will be DVDs, and, with Blu-ray players now often selling for under $50, that life cycle end is looking more apparent every single day.

Have you managed to hold onto your old cassette tapes even years after they stopped being relevant?

Sony Finally Discontinuing Tape Recorders In 2013 is a post from: The Inquisitr