Sony Corp has breathed new life into its handheld Vita and announced a tie-up with author J.K. Rowling that could bring Harry Potter fans into the world of console games.
The Japanese console maker indicated on Monday it could be years before it comes up with a new version of its PlayStation, but at the world’s biggest video game expo, E3, it had plenty to keep gamers busy this coming holiday season.
Sony unveiled a second-screen function for the Vita that keeps it in step with Nintendo’s new tablet-controller-equipped console, Wii U. It also presented a Harry Potter-inspired book game called Wonderbook: Book of Spells that turns the Move motion controller into a magic wand.
Photo: AFP
Jack Tretton, the president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, suggested it might be a few more years before a new PlayStation platform is due.
He told a packed Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena that Sony’s six-year-old machine “continues to shatter expectations” and give game makers “the industry’s most powerful palate.”
“Back to the original PlayStation, we always thought in 10-year product life cycles,” he said in an interview after Sony’s E3 news conference.
“I think you’re seeing those generations be longer and longer because the technology is so great, it’s difficult to surpass it,” Tretton said.
A few games did appear to defy expectations even on the ageing console.
Beyond, which Sony showcased to open its 75-minute presentation, depicts Juno star Ellen Page in much more vivid, authentic animated acting scenes than its predecessor Heavy Rain, which was also from story-based game studio Quantic Dream.
Nintendo Co Ltd’s Wii is five years old. Microsoft Corp’s Xbox 360 is six years old. Only Nintendo is coming out with a new console this year.
All three console makers sought to use mobile devices with another screen in tandem with their consoles.
Sony unveiled plans to bolster the Vita’s use with PlayStation 3 consoles by making use of its front and back touch screens and giving different players different perspectives in the same game. The new game PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale allows PS Vita players to fight PlayStation 3 players at the same time.
Sony has sold 1.8 million PS Vitas since the handheld was launched four months ago.
The use of a second screen with a controller mimics plans by Nintendo Co to sell a tablet-like touchscreen controller with its Wii U.
It also resembles Microsoft Corp’s SmartGlass feature, unveiled earlier on Monday, which makes use of smartphones to control video content.
Sony’s dark horse announcement was its partnership with author Rowling.
Wonderbook: Book of Spells turns its PlayStation Move motion controller into a magic wand and comes with a book of spells.
Gamers wave the wand in prescribed patterns and learn how to cast spells that make fire, unlock gates and move through new stories written by Rowling.
“Wonderbook: Book of Spells is the closest a Muggle can come to a real spellbook,” Rowling said in a statement.
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