PS Vita

PS Vita

Gamers across Europe can now buy the new PS Vita the latest incarnation of the Sony PlayStation which is Italian for “life” and it certainly looks like the PS Vita has a new lease of life compared to its predecessor the PSP. The PS Vita is  available as two different versions, one with Wi-Fi and the other slightly more expensive version is equipped with Wi-Fi and 3G.

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The PlayStation Vita has an array of incredible features and an impressive specification including a beefy quad-core processor, 5” OLED (organic light-emitting diode) multi-touch screen, 2 analogue sticks and Bluetooth technology. Battery life could be a bit of a problem but it is reckoned that 3 to 4 hours of game time is possible between charges which should be more than enough for a sensible gamer. The PS Vita has been designed to embrace the upsurge in use of social networks and supports a number of SN applications in particular Twitter and Facebook.

PS Vita Styling

The PS Vita at first glance appears to be a pumped up version of the PSP but with its smooth black shell you can’t help to be somewhat impressed. Although larger than a PSP it is possible to store it in your pocket although it is more likely that users will carry it in a case or bag which will also protect the potentially vulnerable analogue sticks. There are already a huge number of PS Vita accessories available. On the plus side the PS Vita is fairly light with the Wi-Fi version weighing in at 260g and the Wi-Fi and 3G version only 20g heavier.

PS Vita Controls & Connections

On the front as well as the two analogue sticks the PS Vita has a front facing camera, a 4-way directional pad, the PS button, the usual start and select buttons and the traditional PS face buttons. On the top are of the PS are the two shoulder buttons, a power-on button, volume controls and two covered slots. One of the slots is an accessory slot and the more important one is where the games are installed. The bottom of the PS Vita is home to a headphone socket, a port for data transfer and charging and a memory card slot. The 3G Vita model also has a SIM card slot. The rear of the PS Vita looks similar to the front but has a track-pad which apparently is required for certain games and the rear-facing camera.

PS Vita Game Play

With the impressive hardware it’s packing the PS Vita presents no problems with game play and the graphics are handled brilliantly even during heavy action. The control buttons are all ergonomically well placed and should make playing PS Vita games a breeze for anyone unless they have very large or very small hands. The Vita has been criticised for being larger than its competitors but this is where it scores over them as it is much easier to grip and stay in control during games.

PS Vita Touch Screen

The PS Vita’s touch screen is a good size at 5 inches and it provides sharp and vibrant images as well as being very responsive and positive when touched. Like most modern TVs the screen also offers a wide view angle for any spectators looking in the action. Having the rear touch screen allows gamers to use the functionality without obscuring the front screen during action. To see can see the PS Vita Touch Screen in action in this video.

PS Vita Software, Apps & Games

Like iPhones and Androids the Vita will offer a variety of apps as well as a web browser but no more than one game can be running at the same time and it is not possible to browse the internet whilst a game is running either. Apps will be available from the Sony PlayStation Store. PS Vita Games will be provided on PlayStation Vita Cards similar to an SD card or they can be downloaded via the PS Store and are to be priced around the £30.00 mark. Check out our PS Vita Videos page to see videos of a couple of the games in action. As the PS Vita doesn’t come fitted with on-board storage it will be necessary to pick up a memory card to be able to play certain games and store photos, etc. These cards are also bespoke to the PS Vita and can be purchased online from £15.00