88w ago - Today at Sony's Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2011 press conference the PS Vita handheld console has been confirmed to hit Japan on December 17, 2011.

According to Examiner.com via NeoGAF, there will be twenty six PlayStation Vita titles (game logos pictured below) at launch, including Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Sony's Hot Shots Golf & Uncharted: Golden Abyss, with various other titles like Dark Quest, BlazBlue, and Rodeo.

For those curious, PlayStation Vita will sell for 24,980 yen (US $324) for the Wi-Fi version and 29,980 (US $390) for the 3G model, which will be available in partnership with Japan's biggest mobile operator NTTDoCoMo.

In the US, a PS Vita model that connects to the Internet only using Wi-Fi will be priced at US $249, while a version of the gadget featuring 3G connectivity to telecom data services will be priced at US $299. Sony did not reveal when the PS Vita will be heading to North America or Europe yet, however, it is predicted to arrive during Q1 of 2012.

Sony also issued a Press Release stating that a memory card will not...

90w ago - Today Sony has unveiled a new NinoKuni PS3 Slim 'magical gold' bundle pack which will be coming to Japan on November 17 for 33,780 Yen (approximately $439.79 US dollars).

To quote from TechCrunch.com (linked above): "In the package, buyers will find a PS3 in "magical gold" color with a pearly touch, in addition to Ni No Kuni, a fantasy RPG currently in development at Level-5.

The PS3 comes with a 160GB HDD and comes with a Dual Shock controller that's painted like the limited edition console."

Press Release: Tokyo, 1 Sep, 2011- Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) responsible for business operation in Japan, today announced that a "PlayStation 3 NINOKUNI (Tentative title) magical edition" bundle pack will be available for a limited offer on November 17, 2011, concurrently with the release of the NINOKUNI(Tentative title) software title (Level -5).

The bundle pack will include the PlayStation 3 (PS3) computer entertainment system with 160GB HDD and the NINOKUNI(Tentative title) software title, available at a recommended retail price of 33,780 yen (including tax).

Produced by Level-5, in collaboration with Studio Ghibli for animation...

90w ago - Today TQCast.com (linked above) reports that the Sony PlayStation-branded HMZ-T1 Visor 3D Headset will be hitting Japan on November 11, 2011 to complement the previously announced Sony 3D TV display.

The upcoming head-mounted 3D display visor is described as being like a 750-inch screen mounted on your head!

Below are some videos, and the official Press Release as follows:

Press Release: Tokyo, Japan - August 31, 2011 - Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced the launch of Head Mounted Display "Personal 3D Viewer" 'HMZ-T1′, a device that offers a spectacular new style for viewing both 2D and 3D content.

Simply slip the device onto your head to experience the movie theater-like virtual screen (equivalent to a 750-inch screen*2) expand before your eyes.*3

It is equipped with the newly-developed 0.7-inch (diagonal 18.0mm) high definition OLED panel (1280 x 720), which have been realized through Sony's unique expertise in both OLED display and semiconductor silicon drive technologies.

The 'HMZ-T1′ achieves HD picture quality that makes full use of the OLED display's high contrast, color reproducibility, and fast response....

97w ago - Sony's Senior Social Media Manager Jeff Rubenstein has posted up an El Shaddai PS3 video interview today alongside details on the PlayStation 3 title, as follows:

With vibrant colors, buttery-smooth animation, and an uncluttered presentation (no HUD!), El Shaddai is a real head-turner.

The game's premise is as unusual as its visuals are striking. "This is a retelling of the Book of Enoch, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls," Ignition Entertainment's Shane Bettenhausen told me. "It's not meant to be a complete retelling - we've taken some liberties."

Liberties such as mobile phones, designer jeans, and a driving level which would be at home in a TRON or Final Fantasy title. Despite the biblical angle, I wouldn't consider El Shaddai a religious experience any more than I would Bayonetta a treatise on witchcraft. Instead, the source material offers up an interesting story and guides some of the gameplay elements.

"Enoch, as a character in the bible, is immortal," Bettenhausen told me. "He cannot die. So when you die in this game, you always have the chance to come back to life. If you jam on the four buttons that you use to play the game fast enough, you come back to life....

106w ago - Update: PSN is now back online in Japan, and Kaz Harai has made available a video statement with all the related details.

Following news that PSN internal testing is currently underway, today the official PlayStation Japan site has issued an update regarding the PlayStation Network outage alongside details from the official letter Sony sent out to their publishing partners.

To quote, roughly translated: "PlayStation Network” and “Qriocity” and continued failure, I am sorry indeed. As we told the other day with the latest information in regard to future service restart, will be conducted in stages on a regional basis to ensure the safety of our customers.

We are preparing to be able to resume service as soon as possible in Japan, and is now doing the verification stage for ensuring the safety and security, providing more advanced. Server to complete the relocation of more secure facilities, further strengthening the encryption, firewalls and expansion of new customers with peace of mind again on “PlayStation Network” and “Qriocity”...