Sony virtual reality head gear set for 2016 release

SAN FRANCISCO - Sony was at a major game developers' gathering Wednesday showing off a prototype of "Morpheus" virtual reality head gear set for release next year.

The Japanese consumer electronics titan did not disclose how much it planned to charge for the virtual reality (VR) system synced to work with its popular PlayStation 4 video game consoles.

"With the technical specs achieved on the new prototype, we are one step closer to realizing our vision for making amazing VR experiences on PS4, and ultimately to deliver a real sense of presence to players," said Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida.

"We believe that the near-final technology of Morpheus, combined with the power of PS4, will provide a standard for game developers to target as they build on their creative ideas and turn them into VR games and experiences."

Sony is among several companies developing VR head gear and pitching their technology at a Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week.

Facebook-owned Oculus VR and Sony were each headlining Wednesday sessions likely to be packed with game makers.

A crowd was also expected at a session Wednesday featuring the head of the Xbox team at Microsoft, who is likely to tout gaming potential of HoloLens augmented reality visors that the US technology titan is developing.

Future of gaming

Sony billed VR as the future of gaming while introducing the latest prototype from Project Morpheus, which was unveiled in March of last year.

Sony said that, since then, it has been listening to feedback and making enhancements "that will further the capability of Morpheus to deliver a sense of presence and push the boundaries of play."

Prototype improvements included a screen with a larger field of view to remove blur and flicker, along with faster frame rates for smoother visuals, according to Sony.

Sony said it has sold more than 20.2 million PS4 consoles since they hit the market in late 2013.

As GDC got under way this week, Valve and Taiwan-based smartphone maker HTC announced they are working together on Vive virtual reality head gear on track for release by the end of this year.

"Vive creates an exciting opportunity for all developers and content creators, to help us bring virtual reality into the mainstream with an end-to-end solution that completely redefines how we entertain ourselves, communicate with each other, learn and, eventually, how we become more productive," HTC chairwoman Cher Wang said in a release.

"HTC Vive is real, it's here and it'll be ready to go before the start of 2016."

Targeting billions

Oculus chief technology officer John Carmack told a packed room of developers at GDC that the company is working with South Korean consumer electronics colossus Samsung on a next-generation Gear VR device likely to be released late this year.

"We've got a plan now; we've got a date," Carmack said while encouraging game makers to hop of the virtual reality band wagon.

"Oculus is going forward as hard as we can, trying to sell as many units as we can with the next Gear VR."

Carmack said he is most excited about the future of virtual reality that lets users unplug from personal computers and go mobile. He envisioned the future of virtual reality as running on mobile technology, but said the "headset of our dreams" remained years away.

Being acquired by Facebook last year in a $2 billion deal is turning out to be a good thing for the Oculus platform, bringing with it talent, resources and expertise at building infrastructure capable of serving people around the world, according to Carmack.

"I want to see a billion people in virtual reality; Zuck wants to see a billion people in virtual reality," Carmack said, referring to Facebook chief and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.

"There is not a step-by-step plan," he told the game makers. "But, we plan to sell enough units to make it worth your while."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How you can own the limited edition PS4

MANILA - Sony, in celebration of the PlayStation's 20th anniversary, has recently launched a commemorative edition of the PS4 that resembles the colors of the original console.

According to the Japan-based company, only 12,300 units will be sold worldwide -- a number symbolic to the original PlayStation's launch date.

It will sell for P26,999 in the Philippines, which will come packaged in a special commemorative box.

On Thursday, Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong Ltd. in Singapore made an announcement that the company will be holding a special contest for Southeast Asian fans of the gaming console.

Winners of the online contest will receive a special purchase pass to buy the limited edition PS4. It will be held from December 4 to 21, 2014.

To join, participants will need to share any photo of video on Instagram, celebrating the PlayStation's 20th anniversary milestone.

The theme can be any of the following: Your special PlayStation collection; Your Best moment with PlayStation; PlayStation related cosplay; Anything you can think of.

All winners will be determined by the number of likes on Instagram (50 percent) and selected by the company's judging panel according to creative, inspiring and styling factors (50 percent).

Participants will also get a chance to win a PlayStation Plus 3-Year Membership and PlayStation 20th Anniversary Limited Premiums in addition to the purchase pass.

For more details, visit here.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Global sales of Sony PlayStation 4 top 6 million units

TOKYO - Global sales of the PlayStation 4 home gaming console have topped 6 million units in less than four months since its launch, Sony Corp.'s gaming unit said Tuesday.

The figure eclipses the company's original sales target of 5 million units in fiscal 2013 through March 2014 and the pace of PS4 sales has been faster than that of its predecessor PS3, which sold 3.55 million units from its launch in November 2006 through March 2007.

The PS4, which features enhanced connectivity with social networks and mobile phones, is now available in 57 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The latest game console hit the Japanese market on Feb. 22 and sold 370,000 units in the country as of March 2.

"I am absolutely delighted that PS4 is off to such a great start in Japan," Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House said in a statement. "The responses we have received for the PS4 system's integrated social capabilities have been phenomenal, and I could not be more thrilled that gamers are utilizing these unique features to engage, share, play and connect with users around the world."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PlayStation 4 officially arrives in PH

MANILA -- The much-awaited Sony PlayStation 4 is now officially available in the country.


To kickstart a "new era" in Filipino gaming, Sony Philippines launched its next generation console at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati on Tuesday.

“Sony has always been in touch with what the gaming community needs and wants. It is with great pride that we bring the newest PlayStation 4 in the market today,” Sony Philippines president and managing director Yasushi Asaoka said during the launch.

Prices for the PlayStation 4 console start at P24,999 and P26,999 with the camera. The console could also be bought bundled with the "Killzone Shadow Fall" game (P26,899) or "Battlefield" (P27,399).

"PlayStation 4 should be available to all gamers in the Philippines because this is one of the best products of Sony right now," said Larry Secreto, senior director of sales and marketing for Sony Philippines.

Secreto revealed that Sony has already sold around 1,000 units in the country through its pre-order service late last year. He also said the limited stock currently available in the country is "not enough" to meet the demand from Filipino fans.

Despite this, units should still be available with warranty and support in all official Sony centers in the country, as well as partner establishments.

The console has been locally available since December through gaming store Data Blitz.

Last year, Sony announced that it has sold 4.3 million PlayStation 4 units. In comparison, Microsoft sold 3 million units of its XBox One foe 2013.

Sony Philippines considers 2014 to be the perfect time to launch the console in the country, citing recent strong economic growth and the relatively young population.

"The potential is there. We have more young people. The fans are readily available and with the way the economy is growing, Japan really sees a lot of potential here in the Philippines," said Zhorida Lipayon, head of marketing for Sony Philippines.


To complement the PS4 launch, Sony Philippines also officially made available in the country its handheld console PSVita for P11,999 and announced the PSVita TV.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PlayStation 4 now sold in PH

MANILA – The much awaited PlayStation 4 gaming console is now available in the Philippines through the gaming and multimedia store chain DataBlitz.

In a post on its Facebook page on Friday, DataBlitz announced that it is now selling the PlayStation 4 for P24,595.

The gaming console may also be bundled with a PlayStation camera or with the “Killzone Shadow Fall” game, with each package priced at P26,595.

“Greatness comes with the number ‘4’! The PlayStation 4 will be available today at DataBlitz!” DataBlitz said as it uploaded photos of the console on its Facebook page.

“Release of the item may vary in different branches depending on their location and schedule of delivery,” it added.

Sony Philippines recently revealed its pre-order page for the PlayStation 4 ahead of its formal launch in the country on January 14, 2014.

Here, the PlayStation 4 console is priced at P24,999, and P26,999 with the camera. Sony Philippines also offers bundles with the “Killzone Shadow Fall” game (P26,899) and “Battlefield” (P27,399).

Pre-orders may be made until January 10 at selected Sony Philippines stores.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony says PS4 sales exceed 2.1-M units

TOKYO - Sony said Tuesday it has sold more than 2.1 million PlayStation 4 consoles after less than three weeks on the market, as it battles Microsoft and Nintendo for supremacy in the lucrative gaming sector.

The eagerly-awaited PlayStation sold more than one million units in just one day after its November 15 debut in North America and Sony said Tuesday it was on track to hit a worldwide target of 5.0 million units by March.

The latest PlayStation, which will be released in its home market Japan in February, is now being sold in 32 countries.

"PS4 delivered the best launch in PlayStation history with the North American release and we've continued this incredibly successful start in Europe, Australasia and Latin America," Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement.

Sony's latest sales figures come after Microsoft said its new Xbox One console also sold over one million units in 24 hours following its November 22 release.

Rival Nintendo launched its new Wii U console late last year.

Sales have lagged the company's expectations, but Nintendo said in October it was keeping its forecast for the new Wii console at 9.0 million units for the year to March 2014.

A forecast by the research firm Gartner shows game console sales of hardware and software are likely to grow to $44 billion worldwide in 2013 from $37 billion last year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinoys wait in line for Sony PS4 in Las Vegas

NEVADA - The world of gaming technology has an exciting view of the much anticipated launching of Sony Playstation 4 (PS4) for gamers, and among them are Pinoys in Las Vegas.

There's a long queue of people patiently waiting for hours all for one goal: to get the Playstation 4 first hand Thursday when the clock strikes midnight.

PS4 game enthusiasts camped out just outside this store.

"I've seen people line up since yesterday,” said Pinoy gamer, Mark Nuguid.

Nuguid added that pre-orders for PS4 have been sold out for months.

PS4 gamers said that they are expecting a new generation close-to-real life experience kind of game since it took the Sony company seven years before they launched a new home gaming system.

"I'm expecting something a lot better from PS3. Hopefully, it's a better upgrade. Hopefully, it's a lot faster. We are just waiting for something that's like new generation gaming. Something that's really new, probably like 3D graphics like detailed gaming close to real life," said Steven Lee.

Another PS4 gamer Roger Sanchez added, "It's a new generation of gaming so people are trying to see what's the new console, just the new consoles like the game systems if there's a drastic change to it.“

Jorge Garcia, 56, patiently waited and brought his own chair to sit outside the store. He said that it's worth the wait and the price of $399.

"Para siyang real time talaga. Para siyang katabi mo lang. I think this is the best one na talaga," he said.

"I'm expecting something big because we've been waiting here, so I just want it really nice," said Josh Garcia.

According to Sony, the 300 MB update has several features, which include: remote play, second-screen screenshots, and gameplay recording.

PS4 constantly records the last 15 minutes of gameplay, which can be shared on twitter and Facebook by just hitting the share button on the Dualshock 4 controller. Spectating and live streaming gameplay play as you download are some of the other features.

While techies and gaming trades are buzzing about the next generation consoles, the Playstation 4 will be launched in the Southeast Asian countries in December of this year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony's PlayStation 4 goes on sale in US

NEW YORK - The gaming unit of Sony Corp. on Friday launched its PlayStation 4 home gaming console in the United States and Canada ahead of other global markets, aiming to expand sales during the year-end shopping season amid fierce competition with rival consoles like Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One.

The PS4, which features enhanced connectivity with social networks and mobile phones, is the successor of the PlayStation 3 console launched in 2006.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will launch the PS4, priced at $399 in the United States, in Latin America and Europe later this month. It will hit the Japanese market on Feb. 22 priced at 41,979 yen.

The launch of the new gaming device is expected to further intensify competition among console manufacturers like Nintendo Co., which rolled out its Wii U console last year. Microsoft is set to release the successor to its Xbox360 console on Nov. 22.

In the April to September period, Sony incurred an operating loss of 15.6 billion yen in the gaming business. Placing the business as one of the pillars of its operations, the company is aiming to sell 5 million units of the new console this business year through March.

The PS4 is equipped with enhanced processing capability and graphics. The device allows users to upload videos of their game play to social networks in the midst of their games.

The console can also be used to download music and videos, according to Sony.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony to charge fees for multiplayer games on PS4

Sony Corp plans to charge a monthly fee of $9.99 in the United States and 6.99 euros ($9.40) in Europe for playing multiplayer online games on its PlayStation 4 (PS4) console scheduled to debut this month, the Nikkei business daily reported without citing sources.

Multiplayer games can be played for free on PlayStation 3.

Sony plans to charge 500 yen ($5.00) a month for multiplayer games in Japan when the new console debuts in February, the Nikkei said.

Sony plans to make PS4 more attractive by including more social networking functions, such as the ability to chat with fellow players, the business daily reported.

Microsoft Corp's Xbox One will also launch this month.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com