Namco Celebrate Vita’s Launch With Touch My Katamari and A Competition
The crazy people at Namco Banadai have decided to help celebrate the Playstation Vita’s launch with a creative competition. Namco are looking for people who aren’t afraid to touch their Katamari in public, take pictures and send them to Namco so we can share their fondness for sticky things with millions of like-minded Katamari lovers all over the world via the miracle of the Internet.
So what do you have to do? Well it’s very simple. Take note of this image of Namco’s very own NAMCO BANDAI UK Community Queen, Hollie Bennett. She’s touched her Katamari so much since starting work here that it comprises all our major releases, half a ton of stationery and loads of Dragon Ball Z figures which had previously started to take over the office.
We want you to build your very own Katamari and touch it every day. We want pictures! We want to see love in your eyes and care in your creations. Touch it. Touch it. Touch it. You know it makes sense. The best picture wins a PS Vita (inc memory card) a copy of Touch My Katamari and a Katamari t-shirt so you’ll never be far away from touching your sticky virtual friend.
The competition closes on 7th March and all images should be sent via email to uk-competition@namcobandaipartners.com or tweeted to @NamcoBandaiUK with the hashtag #itouchmykatamari.
Good luck!
GAME Will not be stocking PS Vita Ubisoft Titles at launch in the UK
The Playstation Vita has officially launched in the UK and already there has been a disruption to its launch. I noticed after attending the Playstation Vita launch event that Game in Oxford Street had no Ubisoft titles listed on the shelves. After returning home I decided to try and find out why there were no Ubisoft titles at launch. The website VG247 has managed to find out some information on the matter, which opens a whole lot of questions.
VG247 Writes:
“At this time we will not be selling the following Ubisoft titles; Lumines Electronic Symphony, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Rayman Origins, Asphalt Injection and Dungeon Hunter Alliance,” the chain said in a statement.
“All customers affected by this decision have been made aware of the situation and we will continue to communicate any updates to customers through our Twitter and Facebook feeds.”
A rep couldn’t confirm a specific reason for not stocking the games. Vita titles from Sony, EA, Codemasters, Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega will be available in GAME stores from midnight.
Ubisoft has declined to comment on the matter.
Concerns regarding GAME were raised after recent troubles with its ability to raise credit insuranceand acquire new stock.
End
It is an odd situation and may cause a lot of disruption to people who have pre-ordered specific bundles. With no comment from Ubisoft the situation is still not clear on why Game have decided not to sell Ubisofts titles.
We will keep you updated if the issue unravels anymore.
Playstation Vita Update Coming Tomorrow, adds Maps app, video recording, and other updates
The PS Vita is only a few hours away from its Midnight Launch. Once you’ve grabbed yours, you’ll definitely want to get it connected to the internet as Sony has a planned update for launch. The firmware update is version 1.61, adding a Maps application to the home screen, allows for video recording in the Photos application, and allows for any ratings you make in the PlayStation Store to appear on Facebook. There’s also the Discoveries screen (within Near) which now lists up to 100 players, as well as the number of times they’ve been seen.
There also has been an update to the Content Manager Assistant app, meaning both Windows and Mac users can download it to copy files across. Sony recommend everyone to update to 1.61, as there are some systemwide performance improvements too.
The latest firmware can be downloaded on the console over Wi-Fi, or can be updated from a PC or Mac with the Content Manager Assistant.
The World Is In Play and Sony wants you to be a part of it
To celebrate the upcoming PS Vita European launch (22nd February), Sony, to kickstart their PS Vita campaign in Europe, have released a new TV ad to show “the immersive, powerful and connected gaming experiences that PS Vita offers.”
When it comes to adverts, Sony are known to not play it straight and instead go the symbolic route and they show no signs of going against that method when it comes to promoting the PS Vita in Europe and while the Japanese PS Vita ads were eyebrow-raising weird, this one has its own weird charm.
The PS Vita ad shows a bunch of people in seemingly mundane places (beach, bus stop, nail salon, a train and an underground station) and at the end of the advert emerge in more exciting places (a war zone, football pitch, A exotic land, a boxing ring and…some flying thing) while spouting stuff about seeing the unexpected and not being alone. Or something along those lines.
Some people are going to think the ad is clever and some will think it’s just nonsense. Personally I’m use to Sony being like this (remember the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 campaign adverts when it came to promoting the system?) so I just shrug my shoulders and move along.
But what do you think of the advert. Check it out below and comment on your thoughts.
Source: PlayStation.Blog
The PlayStation Vita: Playable at a GameStop near You
Excited for the PlayStation Vita? Well you might just be in luck. If you’re lucky enough to have a local GameStop then there will be playable PlayStation Vita demos there to play. The retailer has announced that it now has demo units at over 3,300 of it’s locations, allowing customers to try out several games, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Little Deviants, Modnation Racers: Road Trip, WipeOut: 2048 and more.
Capcom Reveal New UMC3 Vita Gameplay and Images
Capcom have just released a brand new trailer for the upcoming port of Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 for the PS Vita.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 takes the epic battle to all new heights with 12 new characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes, a refined fighting system, eight new stages and new modes. The PS Vita edition of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 builds upon the console experience, complete with all modes from the console version including Heroes & Heralds mode, plus new features designed specifically for the PlayStation Vita.
The PS Vita version features online and local multiplayer, touch screen functionality, NEAR support and everything you would find in the PS3 version. In addition, the PS Vita version includes a Spectator Mode and Replay function that allows players to watch or share exciting matches over wi-fi. PS Vita exclusive Gold Herald color options are also available for the characters. As an integrated option, gamers can use the PS Vita as the “Ultimate Controller” to play the PS3 version of the game.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for the PS Vita is scheduled for release as a launch title for the system when it goes on sale from February 22.
Capcom Officially Confirm Megaman and Pac-man For Street Fighter X Tekken PS Vita & PS3
Capcom have officially announced that Megaman and Pac-man will be joining the Street Fighter X Tekken fight. Last week we reported that Megman and Pac-Man were rumoured to be joining the fight. Now Capcom have confirmed the rumour. For the first time, the version of Mega Man featured on the original Mega Man 1 box art will make the jump from the cover to be a playable character, with Pac-Man taking on all challengers as he rides atop Mokujin.
Mega Man and Pac-Man join the previously announced PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita exclusive characters, Cole from Infamous plus Toro and Kuro.
Street Fighter X Tekken will release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 6 in North America and March 9 across Europe with PlayStation Vita and PC versions to follow.
Rumour: Megaman and Pacman possibly coming to Street Fighter X Tekken PS Vita
It seems Capcom have just made a subtle announcement for the PSVita version of Street Fighter X Tekken.
After the title image for Street Fighter X Tekken appears after the trailer, another short trailer for the PS Vita version is shown. During this short trailer you see two characters who have been blacked out. These two characters look very similar to Megaman and Pacman… Don’t believe me, watch it for yourself. Skip to around 3.00 minutes for the bonus trailer.
Sony Are Not Worried By PS Vita Japanese Launch Sales Figures
As the gap closes on the PlayStation Vita launching in Europe and America on the 22nd February, Sony discusses their current state of sales in Japan.
Since the launch in Japan on December 17th, Sony have reported with Media Create that nearly 325,000 units were sold to gamers in its first week on the shelves. That may seem impressive, however that number has dramatically dropped during the second week of sales, with the console selling about 72,500 unit according to Media Create, and just under 43,000 units by week three.
In a recent interview with GameSpot at CES 2012, Sony director of hardware marketing John Koller said that PS Vita sales in Japan aren’t a concern for the company.
If you look at the word-of-mouth factor, it’s really strong because people are bringing it home and really enjoying it,” he said. “That satisfaction rate is really high. But also in terms of when we funnel in additional hardware units, that’ll dictate how many sales there are and how many sell through.
We’re still in the first couple weeks, and we’re trying to get as many units into market as possible. We’re going to give it some time, but overall those numbers have been to forecast,
Koller also mentioned Sony’s game plan for software releases on the PS Vita. Koller said that there are a few major titles in the works for the PS Vita coming on a consistent basis in the months ahead.
What we really wanted to do, and I think we learned from past, most recent, handheld device launches, is that you don’t want to launch strongly and then go dark for three or four months and have nothing…So in subsequent months for Vita, we have launch, then we have MLB, then we got Mortal Kombat, then Resistance, then Little Big Planet, then Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed.
Do you the sales figures worry you? Let us know in the comment box below if you will be purchasing a PS Vita at launch. You can also lets us know via Twitter.
Source – GameSpot
CES 2012 Gaming Report from the Sony Keynote
While we don’t come to CES necessarily expecting big news in the gaming world, it’s hard not to look to the big reveals of previous years such as the NES and the original Xbox. You can’t help but hope for something big each time the annual CES press conferences come round.
Not to mention that this is Microsofts last year at CES so maybe the stakes are slightly higher this time since they may want to go out on a bang!
Here at Push-Start, we’re focused on the gaming side of CES 2012, so don’t come expecting to find out the latest on 3D Tv’s and HD Camcorders, instead come to read the content that matters to you, the gamer. You’ll find two articles, one for the Sony Keynote, and one for the Microsoft Keynote. Below, you’ll find the Sony wrap up, head over here for the Microsoft one.
Sony Roundup
Many of Sony’s announcements this year CES were, as expected, technology and entertainment focused. New applications and services were at the forefront, especially in reference to the Playstation Vita. So, without further ado, here’s a roundup of what went down at the Keynote for gamers.
Music Unlimited will be arriving for Playstation Vita on Day One. Music Unlimited for the PS Vita will offer a service that combines a number of aspects from other popular music services such as iTunes (iCloud), Spotify and Last FM. Artist recommendations as well as music that is instantly accessible on all platforms will allow users of the PS Vita to access their music library wherever they go, another plus for the 3G version.
Netflix will also be heading to the Playstation Vita in the US (though we expect it to follow to other territories soon as Netflix has just launched in the UK), with Sony again aiming for a day one release. Details are scarce at the moment, though expect a similar service to that on the iPhone and Android Netflix App. It is unconfirmed whether this will require a WiFi connection, or if it will support 3G connections also, as the mobile app currently does.
The Playstation Certified programme was brought to the forefront again with discussion of the new Sony Tablets including the dual screen Sony Tablet P. The scheme brings playstation content to new Sony devices such as Playstation 1 classics. This was seen last year with the Sony Xperia Play device.And that brings Sony’s announcements to a close. Not a huge pull for gamers, but a few important announcements and precedents show that Sony are open for more ‘Apps’ and services for the PS Vita, especially when it comes to entertainment possibilities, it’s certainly looking like the handheld will have a strong feature set when it launches 22nd February.
Not to feel left out, the Playstation 3 will be getting a new Video Editing application called PlayMemories Studio. This tool will allow you to use your controller to edit together photos and video clips. Other features such as YouTube upload are expected, but have not been announced. Hopefully the application will feature an intuitive interface allowing everyone to get to grips with what generally is seen as a complicated process. This service will also be available on the PS Vita, as well as many other connected Sony devices such as their Android phones, Tablets, HD TV’s and even their Vaio Laptop line.
The Playstation Vita can be pre-ordered from a number of retailers, so be sure to get your order in to get yours when it’s released later next month.
