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PSN to be renamed Sony Entertainment Network

Tyler Lee — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:56:00 +0000

In order to bring all of Sony's digital entertainment closer together for its customers, Sony will be rebranding the PlayStation Network as the Sony Entertainment Network (or SEN) on February 8th. When this happens, all accounts on the PSN and PS Vita will be changed. However, users will not have to change their IDs or anything of the sort. The Sony Entertainment Network encompasses not only the PlayStation Network, but also Sony's music and video downloads as well. With this, Sony is now one step closer to allowing all users to access their digital media with one account. "This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account," Sony explained in a statement last month. Also last month, Sony stated that SEN will serve as the backbone as all of the company's consumer entertainment devices. With a new president and CEO as well as a new network for consumers, change does seem to be in the air at Sony. It will be interesting to see what else is in store for the electronics juggernaut in the future. [Source: Gamasutra]

Kaz Hirai takes the top job at Sony as new President and CEO

Tyler Lee — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:50:07 +0000

The former Chairman of Sony Corp., Kaz Hirai has been named their new CEO and President, effective April 1st. The current President and CEO Howard Stringer will be named Chairman of the Board of Directors as of June 2012. Kaz had this to say:

As challenging as times are for Sony now, were it not for the strong leadership of Sir Howard Stringer these past seven years, we would have been in a much more difficult position. I am grateful to Sir Howard and to the Board for their confidence in me, and I look forward to working with everyone at Sony more closely than ever before to build a strong future for our customers, shareholders, partners and employees. The path we must take is clear: to drive the growth of our core electronics businesses - primarily digital imaging, smart mobile and game; to turn around the television business; and to accelerate the innovation that enables us to create new business domains.

The foundations are now firmly in place for the new management team and me to fully leverage Sony’s diverse electronics product portfolio, in conjunction with our rich entertainment assets and growing array of networked services, to engage with our customers around the world in new and exciting ways.

[Source: Game Informer]

Designer Wanted “thinner” PS Vita

Tyler Lee — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:13:12 +0000

It appears that sometimes even the designers aren't entirely happy with their devices final product. In an interview with CVG last month, PS Vita (and Sony Walkman) designer Takashi Sogabe expressed his disappointment with the Vita's size along with his desire to possibly make the device thinner later down the line.

Speaking not only about the PS Vita, we always have a battle between engineers and designers. The original design of the PS Vita, for example, was very much thinner than the current retail product," he said. "From a designer's point of view, thinner is better-looking, but the engineers wanted to put all the features in. Maybe it will become thinner in the future, but the engineers would have to come up with a means to do that. The main effort for me was to make this product happen. The buttons and analogue sticks were perhaps not in the best position from a design point of view, but we felt they were the best solution from a publisher's point of view.

He also voiced how he had originally wanted to craft the PS Vita out of metal and not plastic.

As a designer, I wanted to use metal rather than plastic," he added, "but because there are a lot of antennae in the body, we couldn't use metal.

Despite Sogabe's slight disappointments at the final product, from what our editor-in-chief Joe Garcia told us in the recent episode of PS Uni Underground Radio, the PS Vita is a comfortable and capable devise and we are looking forward to the approaching launch date. How about you? [Source: CVG]

New PS Vita AT&T Data Plans

Tyler Lee — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:49:52 +0000

A couple of weeks ago AT&T announced the data plans that would be used for the 3G version of Sony's upcoming handheld the PS Vita. Gamers had the option of paying $15 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB. It appears that these plans have changed and now Sony is giving PS Vita purchasers other options. The landing page for the $299 3G model shows the higher priced plan being $30 for 3GB, $5 higher for an extra gigabyte The other data plan remains the same. The PS Vita is due out here in the states February 22.

GAME CEO says consumers seek more hardware innovation

Miles Jolliffe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:05:15 +0000

New hardware is needed to replenish the game’s industry, according to the CEO of UK retailer GAME. Ian Shepard claims the industry, with its consumers, is “ready for more innovation,” following a 17.6% slump in sales for the retailer over the Christmas period. “The weakness in the overall numbers was partly driven by the economy and consumer confidence issues. It was also driven by where we are in the hardware cycle,” he told MCV. “The hardware market was much more negative than the software market. That tells you the industry and the consumer is ready for more innovation there. “Whether it is in the handheld space with 3DS and Vita or in the home space with Wii U – all of that will excite the consumer in coming back to the games market again.” Sony is of course launching its latest handheld, the PlayStation Vita, across North America and Europe next month, and has been rumoured to be gearing up for the unveiling of its next home console in the coming months – something the firm has denied.

Twisted Metal will require online pass

Miles Jolliffe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:33 +0000

It’s been confirmed that Eat Sleep Play’s Twisted Metal reboot will include an online pass. QA Lead Justin Trease confirmed the game’s multiplayer will require its own version of the infamous pass with a simple and straight-forward “yes” when speaking to TheGamersHub. Online passes are now included with new copies of top titles from publishers including Sony, EA and Ubisoft. Those purchasing second-hand copies more often than not have to purchase a new pass, which usually costs $10. David Jaffe, a co-founder of the studio, last month revealed he hopes the game avoids being bogged-down by the system. He said: “I’d actually prefer that we don’t do it, even though it’s probably good business, only because we have such a mountain to climb in terms of gaining people’s good faith, especially in Europe, and really letting people know that this is a title that’s worth getting excited about.”

Modern Warfare PS4? Infinity Ward hiring for “next-generation technologies”

Miles Jolliffe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:50:45 +0000

Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward may be gearing up for work on a next-generation Call of Duty, if a new job listing is anything to go by. The post, in search of a new senior animator, requests an applicant “preferably with experience in game development and an interest in working with next-generation technologies.” Additional details aren’t offered, but some think it may offer further indication that Sony, along with Microsoft, will be unveiling new home consoles in the near future. Then again, CoD publisher Actvision has previously said it will be supporting Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console. Right now, it’s all chatter. Thanks, GameSpot.

PlayStation Vita Japanese sales numbers drop under 20,000 in fourth week

Miles Jolliffe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:44:34 +0000

PlayStation Vita’s Japanese launch started off well, with close to 325,000 units sold in its first week. That hasn’t been the case in recent weeks, though, with sales figures dropping to just over 72,000 in its second week and fewer than 43,000 in the third. When it comes to week four sales, the word bleak comes to mind. According to Japanese data collector Media Create, Sony’s latest handheld managed to sell just 18, 361 units. Its predecessor, the PSP, managed to sell over 4,100 units more. Concerning times for the portable powerhouse? Maybe. Many have dismissed any worry surrounding the plummeting sales figures, but should it continue, there may be a problem. Let’s see what happens when Vita launches in North America and across Europe on February 22. Thanks, Adriasang.

Hirai: Console relying on digital distribution “just not possible”

Miles Jolliffe — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:06:53 +0000

A console relying only on digital distribution is “just not impossible,” Sony’s Kaz Hirai has claimed. Speaking to Bloomberg at CES 2012 in Las Vegas, the SCE chairman heavily indicated the firm’s next home console will be disc-based. "It's very important that we continue to have a dedicated home-based console," he said. "Relying solely on networks to deliver content is unfortunately just not possible. It's still very difficult to have consumers download 50GB of data or more." The PS3 first launched in 2006, but Sony has been keen to reiterate a 10-year lifespan amid reports its next console will be unveiled sometime in the next six months.

Little Deviants dev Bigbig Studios shut down, Cambridge division restructured

Joe Garcia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:32:01 +0000

We couldn't get through the day without some bad news -- it seems that Sony have shut down Bigbig Studios, developers of PS Vita launch title Little Deviants and PSP games such as MotorStorm: Arctic Edge and Pursuit Force. Sony said that the closing will allow them to focus "on other Studios that are currently working on exciting new projects." Also facing changes is Sony's Cambridge division, which will now partner with Killzone Guerilla Games. They will likely work on bringing Killzone games to the PS Vita, but unfortunately they will be doing so in a downsized capacity. The studio was responsible for the well-received PSP port of LittleBigPlanet. Unfortunate news, to say the least. Here's wishing them the best in finding new work. Source: GamesRadar, Develop