Today in Tokyo, Sony Computer Entertainment is holding PlayStation Meeting 2011. Details on the meeting have been scarce, but media from around the world are in attendance at the Park Prince Tokyo Tower Hotel.We’ll be liveblogging the proceedings starting at 3pm Japan time (10pm Pacific/1am Eastern), so stay tuned below!
Sony is holding a PlayStation Meeting 2011 event at 1AM Eastern that is expected to have details of the PSP2. It should represent a leap in performance and bring in touchscreen and possibly 3G technology that could have it challenge the iPod touch for mobile gaming. Please visit our live coverage page where we'll provide updates from the Tokyo-based event as they become available.
1:56 - The NGP is the first to connect to mobile [cellular] networks. First game portable to do so. A "near" app lets players see what games people are talking about near where you are through GPS. People can tell what you're playing on the train, for example.
1:56 - LiveArea is actually the main screen for the NGP. Communications and a live feed that shows friend info, including comments. Links to the PlayStation Store.
1:53 - Hirai talking gestures: touch, grab, trace, push or pull objects. Live area: an online interface for every game that will have info about other games and publishers in the PlayStation store. (Trophies are seen here).
1:51 - Yoshida plays Little Deviants: controlling characters with the back touchpad. The area is the same five inches as the screen, so it's a one-for-one map to what's happening. You can use two fingers for multi-touch input.
1:46 - Muneki Shimeda, Sony software development now up. NGP's design is nicknamed the "super oval design."
1:45 - Pulls off a stealth kill with the touchscreen. Very much like the PS3 game in levels of detail.
1:44 - Backside touchpad works for climbing a vine; you can also tilt the device to swing Drake.
1:42 - Playing Uncharted: you can use the sticks to control Nathan Drake, but you can also touch the screen to move him.
1:42 - The OLED is much bigger than the 3.5 inch screens in smartphones [read: iPhone]. You can hold it at different angles and it still looks beautiful. Micro analog sticks for control. Dual Shock experience on a handheld.
1:40 - Hot Shots Golf, Gravity Daze, Killzone, Hustle Kings, Reality Fighters, Smart As, Broken, Little Big Planet, Little Deviants, Wipeout, Resistance, even Uncharted are coming.
1:38 - Graphics are 'PS3 quality.' Like the world of game in your hands, Yoshida said. Demos of some upcoming titles being developed. (Note: there's a white version on stage).
1:36 - Flash memory based, 3G and Wi-Fi. Out this holiday. Shuhei Yoshida (worldwide studios lead) up to show how the NGP works.
1:34 - Hirai back up to show what the experience is like: the new PSP is up. Dual analog sticks, 5-inch OLED display, 3G and GPS, front and rear touchpads, three-axis compass.
1:30 - So far, Next Generation Portable is the codename. Five points: 1. location-based gaming. Mini trailer showing a person accessing a glowing ball that turns into a map. Possible ranking system showed. "The power is now in your hands."
1:28 - Games will be available this calendar year on Android. Now: the next-generation portable. Interactive, truly interactive.
1:26 - PlayStation Store is coming to Android devices. It'll have PS1-level games: Cool Boarders 2, Syphon Filter, Medievil and Wild Arms shown in the store, among others.
1:23 - A hardware neutral game framework designed to attract as many developers as possible.
1:22 - PlayStation Certified program: ensures PlayStation quality across various devices. Users have a choice among preferred hardware.
1:21 - Announcing PlayStation Suite. It's our first cross-platform experience beyond the PSP border. Will make content available on Android smartphones and tablets.
1:20 - We as a platform holder must address that. At the time we revealed the PSP, cellphones weren't capable of playing PSP-level games. But that has changed. The question is, how do we deliver the PlayStation experience and grow our business? It's our mission to help the content creators in this room.
1:19 - Portable gaming has undergone a radical change since the original PSP. Nobody could have imagined it then [except perhaps Apple - ed.]. Then, you needed to carry a dedicated gaming console, but today the casual gaming experience can be accessed through a smartphone.
1:17 - 69 million PSN accounts as of January 25. Cross-platform, too. Portable gaming has different value. Whereever you play, it creates a new sensation as the game unfolds in your hands.
1:15 - PSN adds greater value to the PS3. Over 80% of users are connected. Entertainment extended beyond the living room. Over 1.4 billion downloads.
1:15 - The PS3 has Blu-ray, HDMI, 3D and the PlayStation Network.
1:13 - Hirai says Sony is proud that the PlayStation has a position in the center of the living room. We want the player to take entertainment with them.
1:12 - The video rolled was called "Cyber Society;" somewhat vague and clearly from awhile back.
1:11 - Reality becomes data; new way to view information.
1:10 - Sony has partnerships with Epic Games and others. Showing a clip from E3 2005 to outline the future Sony saw at the time, showing how live information could be linked with data.
1:09 - Kaz Hirai (SCEI head) is up. He's nervous because it's been a long time since the last PlayStation Meeting.
1:07 - The event is finally starting.
1:03 - As is often the case at events, running slightly late.
12:56 - Almost ready. Jack Tretton is rumored to be on site, which wouldn't be surprising as he's the president of SCEA.
12:47 - Epic also has a seat reserved, so we may see an Unreal Engine game like an Unreal Tournament, Bulletstorm or even Infinity Blade title for the PSP2.
12:22 - Word is that Capcom veteran Jun Takeuchi and Konami's Hideo Kojima are at the show. They might not necessarily have new Resident Evil or Metal Gear games, but they're distinct possibilities.
