PSVita (Successor to PSP, was PSP2 then NGP)

[dataDave]

wifi model and a memory card will do. i think i'll get everybodys golf and ridge racer from the online store. two games i'll never get tired of, so they can live on the machine.

I'm afraid of repeating history by doing that, with Ridge anyway, and it being the only game I play in six years.

I only got my Xperia Play relatively recently so I will be sticking with that for a good while yet, in fact forever until I see another phone with a gamepad.

We won one of these a few months back from the cinema lucky draw... and I'm trying to work out what's so good about it. Can you recommend me any good games? Or at least tell me what to do with it what my conventional phone doesn't?

[25.05.2005]

We won one of these a few months back from the cinema lucky draw... and I'm trying to work out what's so good about it. Can you recommend me any good games? Or at least tell me what to do with it what my conventional phone doesn't?

Apart from having an awesome gamepad it doesn't do anything any other phone would...(it has access to 'official' PS1 games but you are better off just using the stand alone emulator).

For me, being a fan of emulators this is what I use it for. Everything up to and including PS1/N64 works great. Combine that with a 32GB memory card and you've got a library of thousands to play through. So far my stand out experience was completing original Ocarina of Time on the N64 (something I hadn't done since I purchased it all those years ago). Neo Geo, Capcom, MAME, Snes, MegaDrive, Nes, GBA, GBC etc etc it's all there.

I find it near impossible to properly enjoy these on any other phone without a gamepad. Touch screens just don't work in my opinion for emulation, or at the very least offer a seriously unsatisfying experience.

Although I'm not a huge fan of the modern era of handheld gaming there are loads of Xperia Play titles that use the gamepad well...All the Gameloft games like Asphalt, Backstab, Rainbow 6 (great online with the pad) etc. EA have the amazing Dead Space, Battlefield, Need for Speed...there's Minecraft if you are into that, pus there are loads of standard Android games that both use the pad and don't. Sony also securing plenty of exclusives (at least for a while) to the Xperia Play.

Is it the best 'phone'? No, there are phones with better cameras, slimmer/lighter frames & overall offer a better user experience as a phone only. But, I'm a gamer FIRST! I only have room in my pocket for 1 device. I own a PSP, a DS, and of course a phone...I cannot carry all this around. Xperia Play effectively puts all that into one despite not being a master of any specific trade. True, it isn't the best phone but does it offer a pleasing Android experience - yes. It's completely great as it is, and it will be able to upgrade to the latest Android when it comes out.

Overall, as a gamer, it is the best phone I have ever owned and I will never get rid of it unless another phone with a gamepad comes out.

[dataDave]

OK mate, cheers for all that info. I didn't know about the emulation capabilities. I'll have to look into that and get it sorted unless it involves being dodgy with the handset as my GF has taken ownership of it for her Angry Birds/Cut The Rope gumpf.

I do agree with you on the game pad, it's quite clinical.

[randombs]

It sounds awesome. Stuck with my iPhone but it completely slipped my mind that the Play could be a decent emulation device. I'm the opposite - I hardly game while travelling so when I do, I just take the PSP. If I did game more, I'd be checking out one of these right now.

[25.05.2005]

It's only like ?150-?180 now, which for a brand new smarthphone is a decent price.

[ItsThere]

Thinking about getting one of these on pay as you go... Any ideas for good places?

[randombs]

It's only like ?150-?180 now, which for a brand new smarthphone is a decent price.

Sounds like a bloody bargain to me!

[GluedOnBeard]

Before you commit see the screen in store, it really lets it down and was one of the reasons I just got an iphone instead.

[25.05.2005]

Thinking about getting one of these on pay as you go... Any ideas for good places?

Ebuyer currently have it unlocked for ?199.99 but it was only ?179.99 a few days ago. Was also ?199.99 at Expansys and PLAY.

Argos had it for ?179.99.

Phoneiacs and MobilePhoneDirect had it for under ?170 unlocked.

O2 had it on O2 PAYG for both the black and white versions for ?150.

Think T-Mobile had it for a little more than ?150, also on T-Mobile PAYG.

Not sure if any of these deals are still active though.


In my opinion, unless you want the white on or are happy to be on O2 or T-Mobile, this is the best deal that I can find still active:

http://www.foniacs.co.uk/sony-ericsson-xperia-play-black-sim-free.html

Before you commit see the screen in store, it really lets it down and was one of the reasons I just got an iphone instead.

It's not that bad but would agree, it is nowhere near as good as other screens. In fact, at times, I don't think it is as my original Iphone 2G. Like I said, it's a master of no trade (apart from the gaming pad) and often has you asking the question..."why Sony"...

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-10-21-some-vita-titles-require-memory-card

For all download releases and the 6 games listed in the link a memory card is a necessity. For some that will be deal breaker as for a decent size it starts to lift the combined price well into the 2x3DS bracket. Poor show Sony

[Rossco]

I don't understand. If they are just "memory cards" then why would anyone need a 32GB one!? Or is it for storing other things like video and music too?

[Dogg Thang]

Why proprietary? Why? Why Sony? UMDs, Minidiscs, some other stuff. When will you learn? About that lesson probably buried in there somewhere if any of that is connected. Which it might not be. Still... why?

[charlesr]

They've already dropped Memory Stick in Sony Erricson phones for microSD, so why the turnaround here? Weirdness.

[Bort]

They have competition in the mobile phone space.

They make their money (initially) on back end items. DS3, memory cards, * has no games.

[Dogg Thang]

Fitting that proprietary mobile memory cards should be called back end items...