Messaging system is old news.

But nice icons... wonder where the video icon is...

Tebulot said ...

Magius said ...

@Teb I don't think that Sony has concluded a deal with anyone yet, but since cellular devices cannot be provider locked in SA you can probably buy one sans contract and use whichever SIM you want in it. I suspect that Sony won't do a deal similar to the AT&T deal in the US with one of our providers precisely because they cannot lock it to one provider. What may happen is that the networks may do this in the same way as a cell deal where you pay in say R1k, but are then locked into monthly subs for 2 years. To me that would make the Vita more affordable.
@Waylander I am sure it isn't given that the PS3 and PSP aren't.

Ok. But how big will a PSP game be to download? Dragging one down with 3G seems a MAYOR hassle (judging by my PS3 experience)
Seems a better idea to get the wi-fi one and ADSL...

Convo moved as requested.

I agree Teb, but for the more social aspects such as ad hoc gaming etc, you would need a 3G connection as SA doesn't have the same Wi-Fi availability that the overseas markets have. I would get teh 3G model is affordable and DL games at home on my ADSL line, while using the 3G for all the other stuff.

ya i would do the same

Here are some details as well as images of some packaging :

Sony announced the PlayStation Vita will launch in North America and Europe on Feb 22, 2012, the price of the 3G+WiFi version will be $299 (€299) and the Wi-Fi version will be $249 (€249). The machine features a 5" OLED display, Quad-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, 512MB RAM, Dual Analog Sticks, Dual Cameras, front and rear touch panels, and built-in social media connection to Facebook, Foursquare, Skype and Twitter.

Specifications for PlayStation Vita:

CPU: ARM Cortex-A9 core (4 core)

GPU: SGX543MP4+

External Dimensions: Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth)

Screens: Front touchscreen: 5 inches (16:9), 960 x 544, approx. 16 million colours, OLED multi touch screen, capacitive type.

Rear touch pad: Multi touch pad, capacitive type.

Cameras: Front camera, Rear camera

- Frame rate: 120fps@320x240(QVGA), 60fps@640x480(VGA).
- Resolution: Up to 640x480(VGA)

Sound: Built-in stereo speakers, microphone

Sensors: Six-axis, Three-axis electronic compass,

Location: Built-in GPS (3G+Wi-Fi model only), Wi-Fi location service support

Keys / Switches:
- PS button
- Power button
- Directional buttons
- Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
- Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
- Right stick, Left stick
- START button, SELECT button, Volume buttons (+/-)

Wireless communications:
- Mobile network connectivity (3G+Wi-Fi model only)
- IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1x1)(Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP)

Slots / Ports:
- PS Vita card slot
- Memory card slot
- SIM card slot (3G+Wi-Fi model only)
- Multi-use port (for USB data communication, DC IN, Audio [Stereo Out / Mono In], Serial data communication.
- Headset jack (Stereo mini jack) (for Audio [Stereo Out / Mono In])
- Accessory port

Power: Built-in Lithium-ion Battery, AC adaptor

Supported AV content:
- Music: MP3 MPEG - 1/2 Audio Layer 3, MP4 (MPEG-4 AAC), WAVE (Linear PCM).
- Videos: MPEG-4 Simple Profile (AAC). H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Hi/Main/Baseline Profile (AAC).
- Photos: JPEG (Exif 2.2.1), TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG.

Estimated retail in SA is still R 3 499.00 for the 3G / wifi edition. Dont forget SA has ridiculous import taxes on electronics and components with LCD/ LED screens...

Hmmm R3500 will probably be out of my price range for awhile, will have tow wait for it to come down a-little

Im just disappointed that it does not support more video codecs out the box,,, and that I have not gotten around to preordering it yet lol

Hmm, I wonder if I'll still be getting the 3g model, my experiences with 3g online gaming hasn't been that great. And I'm sure as hell not buying it to surf the web.
What do you guys think?

hmmm i'm also a bit undecided on the 3G model, i don't think it will work too well for gaming and the rates are ridiculous. even on my phone i use wifi.

I think im going to get the 3G model, can get that uncapped MTN now for like R289.00 per month or something, or there is the 10 gig from 8ta which my dad has and i must say I'm impressed with their 3G which is only R200 per month.

As sinn said we lack wireless networks in SA, even if i dont always game with it online it'll be nice to have internet access on it, but then mind you always have my phone.

The other alternative is if your phone is capable (iOS and Android) use it's wireless hotspot feature, but yeah as Ragna says the rates then are killer.

Bad COCOnut said ...

Hmm, I wonder if I'll still be getting the 3g model, my experiences with 3g online gaming hasn't been that great. And I'm sure as hell not buying it to surf the web.
What do you guys think?

RagnaXBL said ...

hmmm i'm also a bit undecided on the 3G model, i don't think it will work too well for gaming and the rates are ridiculous. even on my phone i use wifi.

The 3G is not really for online gaming, though some devs may tweak their netcode to use it. The 3G is just for the users to have a constant and immediate access to the network features available on the PSV, like FB, Twitter, NEAR, PSN.

Additionally, having the 3G version will allow for better GPS capability.


I was going to get the 3G version myself at first, but I already have a smartphone and the 3G supplier in Japan for the PSV, Docomo, is not who I am with.

What I am trying to say is that I do not need access to 3G at this time. I just need the PSV to play games atm. But who knows, I will see if I can preorder the PSV this weekend (pay day!!!) but if not its no deal breaker: there is no game on launch that I would buy to keep anyway. Maybe Hot Shots Golf...

That price is scary. But I'm still steadily saving up for this. The framerates of the cameras are great, but i am a little bit dissappointed about their resolution. I also read that you NEED to buy a memory card in order to play certain games (like Uncharted). I wonder how much those would end up costing here?


Also, in other Vita news-
I couldn't help but lol at this double facepalm moment for Sony Computer Entertainment Taiwan. PlayStation Vita + Rainie Yang = Big Mess

Charmi said ...

The framerates of the cameras are great, but i am a little bit dissappointed about their resolution. I also read that you NEED to buy a memory card in order to play certain games (like Uncharted). I wonder how much those would end up costing here?

Well its camera is strong enough to get the 3 various AR techniques to work so thats fine. No point upping the price on hardware with a feature that is not exactly going to make or break the device. Something stronger would have been great, true.

I do not see where the hassle comes from in regards to a memory card. How many people actually played their PSP without a memory stick? The idea that the game may not be able to boot without the card is a little problematic, sure, but not having a memory card in your PSV (PSP even) at all times makes little sense to me.

I must admitt i find it a-little odd that the PSV requires a memory stick when the game is pretty much on a memory stick.

But Sinn is right, i will have a big ass memory stick waiting for it

Woofels said ...

I must admitt i find it a-little odd that the PSV requires a memory stick when the game is pretty much on a memory stick.

I think the explanation is as follows: launch games come on either 2 or 4gb cards. Some games are pretty much taking up all the space, so there is no space available for DLC/ saves to be downloaded onto that card. Therefore, a memory stick is required for that data.

I do not think its a problem, especially if you decide to go the download route with download items being priced cheaper than the card counterparts.

^^

Yea but the game itself should still be able to be played independent of DLC, updates and stuff like that.

Either way as i said it's irrelevant to me, as i agree it should have a memory stick and ill also be going the downloadable route for the games.

^Oh that is what you meant. My mistake. Yeah I know what you are saying. It may be some piracy protection mechanism in place. Strange, but like you said, not a deal breaker by any means.

UMD Passport Program Lets Players Purchase Discounted PSN Games For Vita

http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/11/umd-passport-program-lets-players-purchase-discounted-psn-games-for-vita/

PlayStation Vita is backwards compatible with PSP games, but Sony’s new handheld does not have a UMD drive. If you want to run Corpse Party, Final Fantasy Type-0 or Monster Hunter Freedom Unite you’ll need to have a PSN version.

Sony has a solution for PSP owners with a UMD library who plan to upgrade to PlayStation Vita. Their UMD Passport program will allow users to download discounted versions of the same game via PlayStation Network. Starting on December 17, PSP owners will be able to download an UMD registration application for PSP. Run the application and you can register UMD games one title at a time. After you register games you can add them to your PlayStation Network account. Log on to the PlayStation Store with the same account and you will be able to download the same game at a discounted price.

How cheap? It varies from title to title, but games Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable costs 1,500 yen while Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days is 500 yen. Upgrading Onore no Shizuru Michi wo Yuke a stylized version of Cursor*10 is free. Sony Computer Entertainment America have not announced a similar program for North America. PSP games are region free and its unclear if importers will be able to utilize the UMD Passport program with Japanese PSN accounts.

Mmmmm still not optimal but better than nothing

But isn't that like paying for something you already bought again?