A couple of days ago, while you lot were busy enjoying the Jubilee, we mentioned that PlayStation Suite was to be renamed “PlayStation Mobile” and games will no longer be restricted to Sony kit. We also told you that HTC was to be one of the first to join the PlayStation Certified licence programme, with the HTC One X, One S and One V getting in on the action straight out of the gate.
But let’s take a step back a minute. Was it just last year that we were holding the “future of mobile gaming” in our hands? The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY seemed to be everything a gamer could want. Good games, great graphics, dedicated controls .. oh, and a phone too. Skip forward just over a year and who’d have thought that Sony would be showing slides like this at the E3 event ?
What happened ? Well, if you want to discuss it more, just dive into our forum. You can watch the announcement in the video below (from IGN.com or get the full press release below..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNwiCZKK0cI
Sony Computer Entertainment Announces HTC As Part Of The PlayStation™Certified License Program
PLAYSTATION®SUITE RENAMED “PLAYSTATION®MOBILE”
Further Proliferate The PlayStation® Experience Across Mobile Devices
TOKYO, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced HTC Corporation (HTC) will join the PlayStation™Certified license program(*1). By collaborating with HTC, a global designer of smartphones and the world’s first company to launch Android-powered devices, SCE aims to deliver the PlayStation® experience to even more users around the world.
“HTC is focused on delivering innovative mobile experiences for people everywhere and SCE’s immersive world of gaming will bring compelling entertainment to HTC One customers across the globe,” said Kouji Kodera, Chief Product Officer, HTC Corporation.
In addition to third party developers and publishers as well as a wide range of content developers who have agreed to develop content for PlayStation®Suite, SCE Worldwide Studios is developing attractive games. SCE is positioned to proliferate the world of PlayStation across mobile devices with the progress of content development and the expansion of PlayStation Certified devices. In conjunction with this development, SCE will rename PlayStation Suite to PlayStation®Mobile, and position it as a new platform.
SCE will further accelerate the expansion of PlayStation Certified devices and continue to collaborate with content developers to drive the delivery of compelling entertainment experiences through PlayStation Mobile.
About PlayStation®Mobile
PlayStation®Mobile marries fun, engaging PlayStation-style gaming with the convenience of PlayStation™Certified mobile devices and offers mobile users a superlative store navigation and purchase experience. It allows a wide range of developers to produce PlayStation-like game experiences in an easy, time-efficient development environment. PlayStation Mobile content is also compatible with PlayStation®Vita.(*1) The license program to expand PS Mobile, dedicated for portable hardware manufacturers. SCE will not only license logos but also provide necessary development support. As of June 5, 2012, the line-up of PlayStation™Certified devices include the HTC One series of smartphones, HTC One™ X, HTC One™ S, and HTC One™ V. Content developed with official version of PlayStation®Mobile SDK will be available on those devices later this year, also Xperia™ arc, Xperia™ acro, Xperia™ PLAY, Xperia™ acro HD, Xperia™ S, Xperia™ ion, Xperia™ acro S from Sony Mobile Communications AB, and “Sony Tablet” S and “Sony Tablet” P from Sony Corporation. Model name may vary by region. Sales model may vary by area.. Software Development Kit is a set of development tools and software libraries. Developers are able to obtain this SDK by signing a license agreement with SCE.
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develop and markets the PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since they launched PlayStation in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Suite, a cross platform and cross device initiative. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division companies, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide.PlayStation, PS3, PS2 and PSP are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xperia is a trademark or a registered trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. “Sony Tablet” is a trademark of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
This news was extremely disappointing. I’m not going to go over the problems with the play again (I have filled the internet with my ramblings) but the idea is solid. In fact the idea is so solid I hate the idea of buying a normal slate phone.
I just wish Sony (or HTC…or anybody) would give it another shot but this time do it right. Take the GS3 or the HTC one’s raw specs and slap a good gamepad on there. Sure you may have to make it with a smaller display to reduce bulk and you certainly couldn’t make it without a microSD slot or removable battery but you shouldn’t do that anyway…HTC!.
Mobile gaming is getting better all the time which is great to see and a gamepad would bring those games to another level entirely. However, if I never played a single Android market game on my phone I have all the games I could ever want with the amazing emulators out there.
Please someone do it again this year. Do it before I crack and buy one of the new phones out there that run circles around my play in every other area.