PlayStation Suite and PS Store for Android gaming

The Sony NGP isn’t the company’s only gaming announcement; there’s also the PlayStation Suite, a new download store and licensing program that promises to bring PlayStation gaming to Android devices. The PS Suite combines a new PlayStation Store for Android 2.3 devices and above – and which will be initially populated with PSOne classic titles – and a development program for coders to produce their own titles for inclusion in that store.

The NGP will also be able to access the PS Store and use the same games as Android devices. While Sony isn’t announcing any specific titles or handsets that will use it, we’re assuming that the PlayStation Phone aka XPERIA Play will make its official debut at MWC 2011 next month, and be the first Android 2.3 device to get access once it launches.

There’ll also be a PlayStation Certified licensing scheme for hardware manufacturers, which presumably will apply not only to smartphones themselves but to accessories; after all, not all devices will come with the XPERIA Play’s slide-out gaming control pad. More details at MWC 2011.

[via Android Community]

Press Release:

Sony Computer Entertainment to Unveil ‘PlayStation®Suite,’ Delivering the World of PlayStation® to Android™ Based Portable Devices
Simultaneously Launching “PlayStation®Certified” License Program to Provide PlayStation® Content and Development Support for Android™ Based Portable Devices
TOKYO, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled “PlayStation®Suite” (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation® experience to Android™ based portable devices*(1). Through this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.
In the dramatically evolving and diversifying mobile market, the number of users who enjoy games casually on a variety of devices including mobile phones, smart-phones and tablet PCs, has been increasing significantly. By offering “PlayStation quality” content to this rapidly growing market, SCE will not only deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users around the globe, but will also be able to offer game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to these devices.
In providing the PlayStation experience on Android based portable devices, SCE will commence a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers. Through this program, SCE will offer necessary support, including development support as well as logo licensing, to ensure the delivery of PlayStation quality experience across various devices.
On the software front, SCE plans to provide PS Suite content within this calendar year, starting with original PlayStation games*(2) (PS one® classics) that will allow users to enjoy “PlayStation quality” gameplay on their Android based portable devices. SCE also plans to open PlayStation®Store where users will be able to download content in an easy to use environment, directly via the Android based portable devices. Moreover, SCE will provide a new game development environment in an effort to ensure new and compelling content is delivered on PS Suite, which will also offer opportunities for a wider base of developers and publishers to further expand their business on various portable devices.
Newly developed content for PS Suite can also be enjoyed on the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which SCE announced today. Users who have never experienced PlayStation content can get a taste of the PlayStation experience through PS Suite and from there, they can enjoy the ultimate portable entertainment experience that is only possible on NGP.
SCE will vigorously enhance the entertainment world, delivering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.
*(1) Android™ 2.3 or beyond is required.
*(2) PS one game console software title. We will announce the titles when ready

Related:
Sony Unveils Its Next Generation Portable, the NGP

from: http://s11.cc/z1w3

Sony Unveils Its Next Generation Portable, the NGP

PSP2 is codenamed NGP, features large OLED touch screen, 3G, flash memory based games.

 It's real, and it's not named PSP2. Sony took the wraps off of its next generation portable, codename: NGP, at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan last night, promising to deliver an unparalleled interactive portable entertainment experience.

Sony says it will deliver "deep and immersive gaming" on the long-rumored new portable device through a 5-inch OLED touchscreen display (compared to the PSP's 4.2-inch and PSPGo's 3.8-inch), Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, rear multi-touch pad, dual analog sticks, games on flash memory based cards, PlayStation Network and PlayStation Suite (Sony's new Android mobile gaming distribution system), and battery life comparable to current PSPs (anywhere from 4 to 10 hours depending on use).

"When PSP first launched in 2005 in North America it changed the way people thought of portable gaming and raised expectations in regards to the variety and quality of games users expected to access while on the go," Sony America President Jack Tretton said in a statement. "With NGP we carry on this rich history of redefining industry standards and raising the bar for consumer expectations for what portable gaming can deliver."

At the press conference, a number of third-party developers announced their support for the NGP, and live tech demos on the device included Epic Citadel, Metal Gear Solid 4, Yakuza 4, Lost Planet 2, and Dungeon Defenders. Though it was unclear if or when any of those games will become fully developed NGP titles, Sony did reveal a list of game franchises that will appear on the NPG, including:

-- Killzone
-- Uncharted
-- WipEout
-- LittleBigPlanet
-- Call of Duty
-- Resistance
-- Little Deviants
-- Hot Shots Golf
-- Reality Fighters
-- Gravity Daze
-- Smart As
-- Broken
-- Hustle Kings

Sony did not announce the NGP's price, and as for a release date, the company only said it will be ready for launch by the end of 2011.

The spec rundown on the NGP:

CPU: ARM Cortex™-A9 core (4 core)
GPU: SGX543MP4+
External Dimensions: Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth)
Screen 
(Touchscreen): 5-inch (16:9), 960 x 544, approx. 16 million colors, OLED multi-touch screen (capacitive type)
Rear touch pad: Multi-touch pad (capacitive type)
Cameras: Front camera, rear camera
Sound: Built-in stereo speakers, built-in microphone
Sensors: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), three-axis electronic compass
Location: Built-in GPS, Wi-Fi location service support
Keys / Switches: PS button, power button, directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left), action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), shoulder buttons (Right/Left), right stick, left stick, start button, select button, volume buttons (+/-)
Wireless communications: Mobile network connectivity (3G), IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1x1)(Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP)

Video:

from: http://s11.cc/olz6