PS Vita Australian launch dated and priced

Sony's new handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Vita, will hit Australian shores on the 22nd of February next year, according to Michael Ephraim, the Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand.

It will cost $349.95 for the wifi version, and $449.95 for the 3G version.

“PlayStation Vita is a revolutionary device, which will offer the best possible portable gaming experiences available on the market," said Ephraim. “Its impressive feature set is designed to provide the ultimate gaming experiences on the go. This, combined with social connectivity means there will be not only innovative new ways to play, but also new ways to connect with others. We are incredibly excited about the upcoming launch of PlayStation Vita.”

I've got to admit, that's actually pretty tempting. The graphics far outstrip Nintendo's 3DS, but it'll come down to the games available, specifically the launch titles. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

via Kotaku

New Sony OLED VR Goggles deliver a 750 inch screen!

Everyone likes big TVs right? You walk into stores and gaze longingly at the huge 60 inch plasma sitting there in all its hi-def glory.

But now Sony is upping the ante. How about a 750 inch screen? Which occupies less space than your PS3?

Introducing the "Personal 3D Viewer HMZ-T1," a head mounted goggle display that can project both 2D and 3D. The goggles consist of two 0.7-inch OLED screens (one per eye) with a resolution of 1024x720, which will appear as though you're watching a 750 inch screen. It can also support 5.1 surround sound, and has 2 HDMI ports for game consoles, Blu-Ray players, etc.

So you'll basically have a cinema style experience in one small, sweet package. But... you'll be paying for it. The goggles will be released in Japan (typically) on November 11, retailing for $780. Ouch.

To be honest, I'm still tempted. Imagine playing Modern Warfare 3 online with a cinema style display and surround sound. Awesome. Expensive. But awesome.

via Dvice

Sony Releasing Another PSP

Because Sony evidently thought that 4 different models of PSP wasn't enough, they're releasing yet another model minus wi-fi for 99 Euro.
Named the 'PSP E-1000,' it will only retail in Europe, and doesn't have any wi-fi feature. Games can however be downloaded via pc with Media Go, or bought on the regular UMDs.
From Sony:

Value for money is the goal with this new model that will retail at just €99.99 (RRP), accompanied by an exciting range of PSP Essentials titles that will retail at only €9.99 (RRP) and will include Invizimals: The Lost Tribe, EyePet Adventures, FIFA 12 and many more.
While PSP E-1000 does not include Wi-Fi, it will still provides access to the full catalogue of PSP games either on UMD or from PlayStation Store via Media Go. The design is also slightly different, with a Charcoal Black finish – the same as on the slimmer PS3 model – to give more of a matte feel.

 No word yet on a release date, or whether releasing a new PSP model is a good idea with the official successor - the PS Vita - being released at the end of this year. But hey. Maybe they just wanted to beat Nintendo in the 'most-reiterations-of-the-same-console' competition.

via kotaku