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Showing posts with label Gaming Consoles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaming Consoles. Show all posts

2013 Best Android Tablet for Gaming

1:08 AM Lecor Martineau


The development of new chips that deliver zippier performance, smoother gaming, faster Web surfing, and longer-lasting battery life will soon make their way into new Android tablets. While the chips themselves -- and the high-end tablets that will house them -- have yet to be released, we have it on good authority that they'll deliver on their promise.

Gaming is an increasingly popular way tablet owners are spending time with their devices, and chip makers are paying attention. The gaming experience on Android tablets has improved in just the last year, and it's bound to only get faster, smoother, and prettier (and hopefully even more fun).

As of yet, however, the new chips don't have confirmed release dates, but if you're looking for an Android tablet that can deliver impressive graphics now, we've got you covered. We gathered every high-performance tablet we could find in the CNET Labs and put them to the test. Below are our top seven.

We've listed each tablet with as much pertinent-to-gaming-performance information as we could think of and have listed them here in order, from weakest to strongest based on benchmark scores derived from 3DMark.

3DMark runs a canned demo of a simulated sci-fi game called Ice Storm. The 3DMark scores are determined by three tests: two focusing on GPU speed and another on CPU performance. The tests were run on each tablet a few times, and the chart below represents the highest score for each tablet, with higher scores indicating faster performance.


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's overall sensible design and great performance make it one of the best Samsung tablets to date. The scores represent overall gaming performance, and is heavily GPU-biased, so despite the Note 10.1's faster CPU, its underwhelming GPU performance lands it last on the list.


CPU: 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4 Quad (4412)
GPU: Mali T400MP4 (quad-core)
RAM: 2GB
OS tested: Android 4.1.2


Samsung Galaxy Note 8
As one of the smaller members of the Samsung Galaxy, the Note 8 has one of the best-looking screens on a small tablets. It shares a few similarities with the Note 10.1, including the S Pen and unimpressive GPU performance matched with a well-performing CPU, but the Note 10.1's smaller counterpart edges out its competition with faster gaming scores.


CPU: 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos Dual (4410)
GPU: Mali T400MP4 (quad-core)
RAM: 2GB
OS tested: Android 4.1.2


Google Nexus 7
The Google Nexus 7 is still the best 7-inch tablet with its combination of comfortable design, good overall performance, at a low price. Games run smoothly, but never impressively so.


CPU: 1.2GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3
GPU: ULP GeForce (12-core)
RAM: 1GB
OS tested: Android 4.2.2


Kobo Arc
The Kobo Arc may be an unexpected contender, but its powerful GPU earns it a spot on this list. The PowerVR SGX544 delivers high frame rates in games, but from a design and features standpoint, there are better 7-inch tablet choices on the market.


CPU: 1.5GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4470
GPU: PowerVR SGX544 (single-core)
RAM: 1GB
OS tested: Android 4.1.1


Sony Xperia Tablet S
The Sony Xperia Tablet S's Tegra 3 chip delivers gaming performance near the top of the heap, but a few show-stopping software and hardware bugs prevent it from being a truly great tablet.


CPU: 1.3GHz NVidia Tegra 3
GPU: ULP GeForce (12-core)
RAM: 1GB
OS tested: Android 4.1.1


Asus Transformer Infinity Pad TF700
The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 is one of our favorite Android tablets thanks to its sharp screen, thin and light design, and impressive gaming performance. Tegra 3 is beginning to show its age when dealing with the high 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution, but it's still fast enough to place at No. 2 on our list.


CPU: 1.6GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3
GPU: ULP GeForce (12-core)
RAM: 1GB
OS tested: Android 4.1.1


Google Nexus 10
The Google Nexus 10 tablet takes home the gold with its superior gaming performance. It's the fastest Android tablet we've ever tested and it's the first to house Samsung's Exynos 5250, a Cortex A-15 System-on-Chip with a Mali T-604 GPU. Overall, the tablet is great for all uses, but for gaming, it's the best Android tablet out there.


CPU: 1.7GHz Dual-core Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (5250)
GPU: Mali-T604 (quad-core)
RAM: 2GB
OS tested: Android 4.2.2

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Sony Playstation 4 Rumours

10:26 PM Lecor Martineau


Sony's February 20 event in New York City will likely mark the announcement of the PlayStation 4 and simultaneously usher in the next generation of console gaming. 

Rumors mills are also churning out details confidently declaring that the Xbox 360 successor will also see the light of day before June's big E3 gaming show in Los Angeles. 

Perhaps the biggest news? Both consoles could make their debuts -- gasp -- this year. That's a hyperspeed acceleration in the gaming world, where a console's release is often 12 to 15 months after its initial coming out party.
You'll remember about six-and-a-half years ago Microsoft beat Sony to the punch by pushing out the albeit dead-on-arrival (see: red ring of death) Xbox 360 in November of 2005, while Sony followed suit a year later with the PlayStation 3. In a move akin to posting "first!" in the comments section of a new YouTube video, Sony has made sure the PlayStation 4 gets first crack in 2013.

Whether or not the gaming public is ready to embrace them, these next-generation consoles are coming. On February 20, Sony will cast the first stone in New York City, with an event that most likely give the world its very first glimpse of the next PlayStation.


So what do we already know?

Surprisingly, not a whole lot. Most recent reports point out that the PlayStation 4 will focus on "new playing options." What does that mean? Look for Sony to reinforce the idea of a multiscreen experience, be it through the PlayStation Vita or your tablet and mobile phone. The company has a history of struggling to implement that kind of device relationship -- PlayStation Certified, anyone? -- so it makes sense that the PlayStation 4 might provide a new chance to repair that bond.

Sony has also expressed a desire to instill the PS4 as the living room "nerve center" which opens the door for any number of possibilities. Could the PS4 be the beachhead of Sony's rumored online TV service, or possibly double as a DVR? With the addition of a long list of media apps -- Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Amazon Instant -- PlayStation 3 (and Xbox 360 for that matter) have done an impressive job at gradually monopolizing the living room's attention, so it'll be interesting to see how Sony plans to build upon that.

There's no doubt this next-gen machine will be able to pump out more beautifully rendered textures, calculate complex lighting situations, decipher chaotic physics, and other drool-worthy eye-candy, but will the jump in graphics be as dramatic as the last generation? Maybe not.

Of course it's silly to assume next generation graphics won't impress, but maybe it's a better idea not to put so much stock in the specs of these machines. Even though PlayStation 3 had an entire year of development in hand against Xbox 360, in addition to a clear advantage on paper, even the most discerning eyes couldn't tell much difference between the two systems side by side. In fact, there have been many instances from this generation where Xbox 360 has provided a superior graphical experience on a multiplatform title.

Will PlayStation 4 come with a Blu-ray drive? The safe bet is yes, simply because any desire to abandon physical media has been muddled by the fact that quick and reliable download times are not yet a reality everywhere in the world -- let alone in some areas of the U.S. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal's February 1 story more or less confirmed that going "all cloud" was just too premature for the marketplace. 

There has also been a healthy amount of speculation regarding what we can expect from the PS4's controller. The basic construction of the DualShock controller has been with us for three generations now, so don't be surprised to see some sort of alteration. Touch control dominated the Vita, so will we see touch implementation on the next DualShock? Some have hypothesized the removal of analog sticks altogether, while a few talented members of the gamer enthusiast NeoGAF forums have put together some impressive mock designs that feature a Vita-esque touch screen on the front of a controller. It's not too far fetched -- GameSpot has a story saying the next controller might include an LCD touch screen and biometric sensors. The most recent alleged leak -- and, amazingly, the first one to include any sort of credible photo -- seems to be an evolution of the DualShock with a touch pad on the front.

Then there's the notion of a date and price, which is really anyone's guess at this point. One would have to imagine a tough lesson was learned with the PS3's release and its jaw-dropping launch price of $600 for the 60GB model. I'd guess that Sony will keep the PS4's initial price as close to $400 as possible. Love it or hate it, there's also a chance for a tiered pricing model if there's a plan to release the PS4 in more than one flavor. All signs continue to point to a holiday 2013 release.

We can speculate all week until the big Sony event on February 20, but I think there's a definitive list of features that must be included in the PlayStation 4.


What must the PlayStation 4 do?

The PlayStation 3 has matured into a fantastic gaming system. At first, there weren't many exclusive titles for the system to brag about, but fast-forward nearly six years and it's the PS3 that's the one to beat. Sony must maintain this luxury into the next generation. For all the extracurricular bells and whistles this system will boast, gamers still want to play great games that you can't experience anywhere else. Exclusive games sell systems first.

There are a handful of yet-to-be released PS3 titles that don't even have definitive ship dates. Sure, some of these games may evolve into PS4 software, but there needs to be a seamless and smooth transition into the next generation. If the Vita's migration experience is any indication of what the PS4's will be, we all might be in for a bumpy honeymoon period. It should go without saying, but this PS3 release schedule almost makes backward compatibility an absolute necessity.

Game and system patches need to be streamlined for PlayStation 4. No one should have to wait 25 minutes to play a game. This also brings up the notion of installation the first time a game boots up. Some technological limitations force the need for the caching of data for games to operate appropriately, but I'd love to see this issue addressed in some capacity by the PS4.

It may sound trivial, but the PlayStation 4 is in direct need of an IR port. That's right, a simple infrared port located somewhere on the front of this box so that we can all program our universal remote controls. 

With the price of solid state drives plummeting, I'd love to see a high-capacity SSD jammed inside each PS4. Let's not make it an issue of needing to upgrade every three years. Just include a massive drive out of the gate and be done with it. Or, better yet, sell a "driveless" model for less and let me bring my own SSD. If this console is going to offer fully downloadable games, we're going to need bigtime capacity. If solid state is still too expensive, throw in a 2TB hard disk drive. And please, let's keep the ability for the user to manually upgrade the drives.

What happened to the PS3's USB ports? At launch there were four, now we're left with two (in the PS3 Slim models). Far be it from me to prolong the use of wired accessories, but I think it's fair to request at least four USB 3.0 connections.

The PlayStation 3 has become a solid all-around multimedia player. The PS4 could benefit by having an even more robust set of playback compatibility including  the MKV file format.

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Power A's Moga Mobile Game Controller

5:53 AM Lecor Martineau



If you’re serious about your mobile gaming, odds are you would love to find a high quality and easy-to-use controller to replace the onscreen controls for your favorite games. PowerA has an interesting mobile gaming controller called the Moga that is now in stores and available for purchase. The control reminds more than a little of an aftermarket Xbox 360 controller.

The controller portion has dual analog sticks, shoulder triggers, and four action buttons. It also has a flip up arm designed to secure your Android 2.3 or higher smartphone to the controller for gaming on the go. The device is available in over 7000 stores around the country, including Best Buy, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Amazon, and Gamestop among others.


The company notes that it has hands-on demo stations at Toys “R” Us and in select Best Buy stores allowing users to try the controller out before they purchase. The device also promises to work with some Android tablets. There are already 45 games on the market that support the Moga controller.

Some of the high-end games that support the controller include The Dark Knight Rises HD, N.O.V.A. 3, Sonic CD, Death Rally, and Dungeon Hunter 3. The controller connects to the smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth technology, and the company produces a SDK for mobile game developers to build compatibility into their apps. The controller is available online for $49.99.

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New Nintendo Wii UPad Revealed

11:33 PM Lecor Martineau



Nintendo's new Wii U console will embrace social networking, according to a video presentation released ahead of the E3 video games conference. 

The machine will promote the Miiverse in which users can see what others are playing, share self-created game content and swap gaming tips.


The firm said members would eventually be able to connect to the network via its 3DS handheld, PCs and smartphones.

The Japanese firm posted its first annual loss in April.

Its share price has nearly halved since it first announced the Wii U last year after investors expressed doubts about the potential of the next-generation device. 

The Wii U Game Pad, held by Satoru Iwata, is larger than previous controllers.

The revelations, ahead of the Los Angeles trade show, may be designed to create a new buzz about the product ahead of a more detailed press conference on Tuesday. 


Zombie tips
The presentation, by the firm's global president Satoru Iwata, said that when users turned on their console it would show animated avatars on the television screen flocking towards the most popular games at that time.

However, the focus of the network is on a smaller touchscreen on the Wii U Game Pad.

This can be used to send typed or handwritten messages to other Miiverse members as well as drawings.

A video trailer showed one player using the device to quiz other gamers about how to kill a zombie. The actor then placed the handset next to his television to launch a video chat with another user.

"We believe it can solve the issue of 'alone together'," said Mr Iwata.

"We believe it enables the sharing of more smiles, more laughs and more empathy."

However, Patrick Garratt, founder of gaming website VG247, expressed reservations.

"The social aspects in the presentation show Nintendo realises people now need to be constantly connected through their digital devices, but my concern is that the entire system appears to be closed," he said.

"Without a wholesale embrace of Twitter and Facebook I think you have to ask serious questions about how well Nintendo understands the social networking space."

The presentation also showed changes made to the game pad from the version displayed last year including redesigned thumbsitck controllers, extra buttons and a card slot to add data to the device.


Cyborg swordfights
Video games publisher Konami also opted to release a pre-show announcement video.

It included trailers for the firm's upcoming Metal Gear Rising Revengeance - an action title featuring a cyborg ninja due out "early 2013" - and the latest in its vampire series, Castlevania: Lord of Shadows 2. 


The coming days will bring a plethora of announcements from other firms at the trade show. Close to 200 are hosting exhibits.

Keynote presentations from Microsoft and Sony will be the focus of the event's first day.

Both companies have said they would not debut their next-generation consoles at this year's event. So the focus will instead be on how they will attempt to maintain interest in the seven-year-old Xbox 360 and six-year-old Playstation 3.


Streaming software
News site Examiner.com has reported that Microsoft's announcement might include a new service called Xbox Smart Glass.

It said the product would allow users to control their console remotely via devices running Windows, Windows Phone, Android and iOS systems.


It added that the software would also work the other way, allowing consoles to screen content streamed to them by third-party devices.

Microsoft's presentation is also likely to focus on its Kinect motion and voice recognition sensor, possibly including footage from a recently announced Harry Potter title.


Cloud gaming
There has been speculation that Sony will announce a tie-up or even a takeover of a cloud gaming company. This could allow Playstation owners to continue playing games when they do not have access to their consoles by streaming titles off remote servers to other types of devices.

Trade magazine MCV has reported a deal could involve one of two California-based companies: OnLive or Gaikai.

It noted that Gaikai had sent out a press release promising news that had "the potential to change the future of video games, game consoles and how we play".

Cloud-based gaming services have had limited appeal to date because of issues including compromised picture quality and lag - delayed responses to button presses or joystick moves caused by the fact that commands have to be sent to a remote server.

However, one analyst noted that new technology might be about to solve these problems.

"A few weeks ago we saw Nvidia come out with a cloud GPU [graphics processing unit] product," Brian Blau, research director at Gartner's consumer services group  told the BBC.

"Up until now cloud gaming vendors had to cobble together their own servers and graphics solutions and you can't build those in a way that is easily maintainable and extendable over a long period of time.

"Now all of a sudden you can have standard Nvidia graphics with the same drivers you use on your desktop in a virtualised environment, and it provides a really great production environment for someone who wants to deliver cloud games."

Tech site Engadget has also reported that Sony is expected to cut the price of its Vita handheld console. A similar move helped boost sales of Nintendo's rival 3DS last year.


Familiar franchises
Away from the hardware manufacturers, extensions of existing gaming franchises are likely to dominate this year's show with a raft of sequels, prequels and reboots set to be shown off.

Titles including Halo 4; Assassin's Creed 3; Tomb Raider: Crossroads; Hitman: Absolution; Gears of War: Judgement; Dead Space 3; New Mario Super Bros 2; Disney Epic Mickey 2; God of War: Ascension and Star Wars 1313 are all set to be teased at the event.


However, hopes that the much anticipated Half Life 3 would be finally unveiled have been confounded by PC-developer Valve's announcement that it would not announce any new products despite hosting a booth at the show.

Social games specialist Zynga is also exhibiting at the event - its first appearance. However, it has also signalled it would not launch any new products.

"We don't have a big flashy show presence - it's all business," said the firm's head of partner publishing Rob Dyer.

"We are focused on finding and signing partners to publish on our platform."

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Redesigned Wii U Controller Leaked on Twitter

7:56 PM Lecor Martineau



A revamped version of Nintendo's tablet-esque Wii U controller was leaked to the net recently by a QA tester from LEGO series developer Traveller's Tales.

The tweet revealing an image of the new Wii U controller design has since been removed, but not before the image itself circulated the web, offering ample room to analyze the changes.The most obvious alteration is the controller's sticks, which actually are analog sticks now.


The original controller design shown at last year's E3 featured analog circle pads like those found on Nintendo's 3DS handheld.

The shift to analog sticks is presumably to facilitate clicking the sticks in as buttons, which would facilitate easy adaptation of Xbox 360 and PS3 controls to Nintendo's controller.

However, click-able sticks were never a feature on any past Nintendo controller.

The other big change comes from the start and select buttons, which have moved from under the controller's screen to a much easier to reach location under the controller's primary face buttons.

Two mystery buttons

Perhaps the most intriguing change are two white squares etched into the controller - one underneath the D-pad and another next to the power button.
The squares look like they could be buttons of some sort, though they sit flush with the controller's face and in awkward locations to reach, making them ill-suited to regular use.

One theory is that they toggle between a game that displays on the TV screen and the screen built into the controller.

When Wii U was first introduced one of the proposed uses was for a child to continue playing a game on the Wii U screen while their parents change the channel on the TV.

A button on the controller could be used to switch between those display options.

Another theory is that the squares could mark the location of the Wii U's NFC chips, a feature that would allow the system to read data from cards and figurines similar to last year's breakout hit Skylander's Spyro's Adventure.

What's in a name

The final major alteration is that the new controller design features Nintendo's official Wii U logo. A company putting the system's logo on its controller typically wouldn't be news, if not for the recent rumors that Nintendo was considering a name change.

It's unclear exactly where the name change rumors started, though each rumor pointed to the Wii brand name being weak with core gamers, as well as potential confusion whether Wii U was a new console or simply a new controller to use with the existing Wii.

Nintendo didn't seem to take much heed of the rumors though, with the Wii U name emblazoned on the latest controller design.

With E3 just around the corner, we're about to get a much closer look at the revised Wii U design.

The system is expected to launch in time for the holidays this year, so expect a more thorough breakdown of the final hardware and its launch lineup of games from E3 in June.

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Skype Apps on PS Vita

8:05 PM Lecor Martineau


Later today the PlayStation Vita will receive Skype support. The latest PlayStation Store update will introduce an app that enables players to communicate via voice and video chat. 


The app is available for both the 3G and 3G/Wi-Fi models. The video calls are placed using the Vita's front and rear cameras. You speak through the internal microphone already included with the device. The Vita is also compatible with any Skype-enabled headset. 

You won't actually be able to talk on Skype while gaming or using a different app, though. Instead, you'll have to pause your other activity to make calls. It's also worth noting that not all games or apps will be able to pause. 

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Microsoft Xbox 720: 16-core CPU Gaming Console of the Future

8:53 PM Lecor Martineau



In what could well be the 720th rumour about the Xbox 720, it is thought the upcoming next-gen games console is set to utilise a 16-core CPU.

This is according to Xbox World, which has it on good authority that the Durango dev kits sent out last month – Durango being the Xbox 720's potential codename – are nowhere near as powerful as the finished product.


The final console is said to contain a 16-core IBM Power PC CPU with a graphics processor on par with AMD's Radeon HD 7000-series graphics cards.

It has been previously reported that AMD's kit will be inside both the Xbox 720 and the PS4.


Power hungry

Now, if this is indeed the case – there is some serious power packed into the next-gen Xbox. Possibly too much power just to play games.

Xbox World reckons that the extra power boost could be to do with Kinect 2 – which apparently will suck the life out of four of the cores, due to the pinpoint accuracy that the new motion controller will bring.

Interestingly, although it has been strenuously denied that a next-gen console will be announced by either Sony or Microsoft at this year's E3, XBW believes that many developers are working towards E3, which takes place in June, as a deadline for game demos.

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Microsoft XBox 720's Latest Rumors

8:00 PM Lecor Martineau


New information has come to light with regards to the Xbox 720, which hints that the console will be a power beast when it is released.

According to VG247, which has quoted sources close to the matter, the Xbox 720 is indeed a reality and it will be with us by Christmas 2013.

These multiple sources have gotten together and confirmed to the gaming site that the new console like two PCs taped together, with its graphics cards said to be the equivalent of AMD's 7000 series GPUs.


If this is the case, then AMD have managed to pull of a gaming double whammy as the PlayStation Orbis / PS4 is also said to have AMD architecture inside.

The next-generation Xbox will also have Kinect built-in, according to reports, and it will also be forever connected to the web – which is thought to be an anti-piracy measure.

As for a nickname – it has to have one, given the PS4 is now Orbis – there is a Durango summit in London for devs in February 2012 and it is thought that this is the nickname for the new Xbox.

As with other reports, we are not expected to hear anything about the Xbox 720 this year – so don't go thinking that Microsoft will show off things at the upcoming E3 gaming expo.

It also smacks down the rumour that there's a Lite version of the Xbox 720 coming out in 2013 with a more powerful one to follow. Unless these specs are for the Lite version - if that turns out to be the case, colour us impressed.
It is also expected for the Xbox 720 to have a Blu-ray drive which will come to relief to those who had to deal with multiple DVDs for content-heavy games.

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Sony PlayStation 4 Rumors

11:47 PM Lecor Martineau



The Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 went on the market more than 3 years ago, and there hasn’t been any big console releases since then. If you’re waiting for the PlayStation 4 to be released, then you’ll be excited to know that there will be one, but not so pleased to know that it won’t ship anytime this year.


According to reports, the PlayStation 4 is named “Orbis” and will offer no backwards-compatibility with PlayStation 3 titles. Supposedly, it will also have some sort of anti-used games measure. Users will be able to get the full Orbis games on Blu-ray disc or as a PlayStation Network download, and they’ll be locked to a single PSN account without being able to avoid it by remaining offline. This willthat users are forced to be connected to the PSN to boot up their games.

Also, while gamers are free to trade in Orbis games, those who purchase a secondhand disc will be restricted to a limited trial mode or some sort of content restriction unless they pay a fee to unlock the full title.

If you’re wondering what the specs of the Orbis will be like, the developers are planning for an AMD x64 CPU and an AMD Southern Islands GPU, which allows for a 4096 x 2160 resolution as well as 3D games at 1080p. So far, this is all that we’ve heard about the future console.

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Neo Geo X: Retro-Game Handheld Console

10:24 PM Lecor Martineau


We all love the 80s and 90s, and it’s always great when something from that era comes back alive, isn’t it? What’s coming this time around is a new handheld version of a console, the Neo Geo. It has been confirmed that the Neo Geo X is coming in Q2 of 2012.

Retro games often lose their lustre, you go back 5 or 10 years later with a hope of reigniting that once lost flame, only to be left thinking, meh. It was better before. We are pretty sure that the arrival of the Neo Geo X — which will be shipping with classic Neo Geo titles on board — is going to give you a similar unsatisfied feeling.


The upcoming console will be coming equipped with a 3.5 inch LCD screen, SD card expansion, an A/V output, stereo speakers and a headphone port. Yes, a headphone port. You will be able to enjoy 20 licensed built in games (check out the titles below) and it is said to be priced “in a more affordable manner”, although it is not, unfortunately. In fact, despite what the marketers say, the Neo Geo people are going to be laughing all the way to the bank, if anyone buys it that is.

According to available info, the console has been confirmed for UK and US and it will come with a redonkulous price tag of around £500 (close to $800 USD!). That’s quite a small fortune for taking a trip down memory lane. But we know that some people might find the new handheld priceless. And those people can keep it in the closet next to the unopened Luke Skywalker action figure box while everyone else is playing real games on iPad and Android tablets.

But wait, there’s more. The new Turrican-inspired 2D shooter game named Gunlord is also coming for the Neo Geo and Dreamcast; the cartridge will cost around $570, what, did you think all the games were going to be free?

Of course, some might ask why the developers didn’t make the game for PC. Devin Coldewey over at Techcrunch has all the answers: “For the same reason some people still choose to write their novels on a typewriter, or paint with real brushes, or put their album out on vinyl. ” Or something.

Incase you have thousands of dollars burning a hole in your pocket, probably the same pocket of those Levi red tab jeans you bought in 1987 and are wearing now, then these Neo Geo X games may interest you:

Art Of Fighting, Baseball Stars, Cyber Lip, Fatal Fury, Fatal Fury Special, Football Frenzy, King Of The Monsters, Last Resort, League Bowling, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Mutation Nation, Nam 1975, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Super Sidekicks, The King Of Fighters’94, The Ultimate 11, Top Players Golf, World Heroes.

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Sony PS Vita: Hard-Core Gamers' Best Handheld Console

10:29 PM Lecor Martineau

Sony has not yet released a new PlayStation console as a successor to the PS3, but they have another addition to their PlayStation Portable legacy with the PS Vita. The original PSP has evolved over the years with revamped versions mostly focusing on size updates including the PSP-1000, 2000, and 3000, as well as the PSP Go, which added a sliding-case design further shrinking the device. The Sony PS Vita adds a bunch of new features that will surely be loved by all kinds of gamers.


The PS Vita was released in Japan and parts of Asialast December 2011, but it will not reach Europe and North America until later this month. Firstly, let’s take a quick look at its specs. The new handheld runs on an ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor with 512 MB of system memory and a 4 core SGX543MP4+ graphics processing unit with LiveArea software for its main user interface. It includes a 5-inch OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, two analog sticks, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support. In addition to this, it also features a rear touch pad, two cameras (front and rear), stereo speakers, a microphone, a Sixaxis motion sensing system, a three-axis electronic compass, and built-in GPS only for the 3G version.

The PS Vita is truly the handheld for hard-core gamers. It finally comes with a second analog stick, which I think is long overdue, and it also supports all previous PSP games so compatibility is not an issue. Supposedly, the graphics on this thing are also even better than before with HD resolution, while its faster processor gives gamers the ability to play PS2 titles on-the-go. Unlike its predecessors, the PS Vita will also support both digital download games and physical media ones, while its new touch screen, Sixaxis motion sensor, and microphone will allow support for more types of games and programs.

Sony has announced that the PS Vita will sell for USD$ 249 (approximately Php 10,500) for the Wi-Fi model and USD $299 (approximately Php 12,600) for the 3G version.

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Playstation Vita sales tumble, beaten by original PSP in Japan

6:01 PM Lecor Martineau


If what's happening to Sony's Playstation Vita in Japan is any indication as to how it might fare once it's released in the U.S., Sony might want to consider a backup plan.


Despite strong first week sales of about 325,000, the new portable is dropping off quickly. Only 72,500 units were sold in its second week, followed by third week sales of just 42,600, according to sales tracking group MediaCreate.

That dropped the Vita to a dismal fourth place finish for the week ending January 1, trailing the Nintendo 3DS, Sony Playstation 3, and perhaps most damning, the seven year-old original PSP, which moved 63,000 units over the same period.

The tech-heavy handheld system  is set to launch in the U.S. on February 22 for $249 (a $299 3G model will also be available), the same launch price as Nintendo's once-troubled 3DS. That handheld is now ruling the Japanese charts and performed well in the U.S. in December on the strength of several high-profile software releases. A 3DS price cut in September is also widely credited with spurring sales, though Sony has yet to announce any similar cuts prior to the Vita's stateside launch.

No Vita games were included in the week's Top 20 software chart, either, although Sony chalks that up to the system's reliance on digitally downloadable games, which don't register as retail releases.

Last year wasn't great for the Japanese game industry in general, which experienced an 8% drop in revenue largely due to declining software sales.
Here's the full Japanese hardware sales rundown for the week ending January 1, with the prior week listed in parentheses:

  1. 3DS: 197,952 (482,200)
  2. PS3: 67,199 (75,943)
  3. PSP: 62,746 (101,121)
  4. PS Vita: 42,648 (72,479)
  5. Wii: 33,208 (91,176)
  6. DSi XL: 3,356 (8,470)
  7. Xbox 360: 2,453 (4,245)
  8. DSi: 2,418 (5,894)
  9. PS2: 1,659 (1,582)
  10. DS Lite: 28 (32)
source: games.yahoo.com

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