Despite a troubled European economy, and a major attack by hackers in April, Sony has revealed it is still on track to sell 15 million Playstation 3 consoles worldwide, in the financial year to end-March.

Andrew House, new head of Sony Computer Entertainment, told reporters on Thursday that, if anything, PS3 sales were slightly ahead of target for the financial year to date. House declined to comment on Playstation Vita sales estimates, with the new handheld device due to launch in Japan on Saturday.

SCE made its first profit since the Playstation 3’s 2006 launch during the 2010-2011 financial year, as it managed to sell 14.3 million PS3 units, while squeezing production costs of the console. Worldwide hardware sales of the PS3 console stood at 55.5M as of September 2011, compared to 57.6M worldwide sales of the rival Xbox 360 console. The PS3 has consistently performed better than its closest rival in Asia and Europe, making these regions highly valuable markets for Sony, but it still plays second fiddle to the 360 in the US.

While the PS3 is finally helping SCE to turn a profit, the impending launch of the Playstation Vita will be another big test for the company. Some industry voices doubt the sustainability of dedicated handheld consoles, given the increasingly robust challenge of smartphones and tablets as viable options for gaming on the move.

House still believes that the Vita will find a market though, through its “truly unique gaming experience” that he hopes will attract both hardcore and casual gamers. Vita sales in Japan are expected to be brisk, but Sony may face a tougher challenge when its launches the device in the US and Europe in February 2012.

The Wi-Fi only version of the Playstation Vita will cost $249 when it hits the US, which was the same price attached to the Nintendo 3DS when it launched this March. The Nintendo handheld got off to a slow start and was slashed in price to $169 within five months to help boost sales. Whether the Vita will be seen as a desirable gaming option by consumers, despite its relatively high price tag, remains to be seen.

Source:http://venturebeat.com/2011/12/15/sony-ps3-still-on-track-for-15-million-sales-this-year/

Sony Computer Entertainment may well introduce a firmware update during the life cycle of its new hand-held, PlayStation Vita, which will allow the streaming of all PS3 games over a Wi-Fi connection, claims Eurogamer.

The gaming website doesn’t cite its source, but states that streamed games will be outputted on Vita’s screen at 480p and developers will be able work to that resolution so their games are fully Vita compatible to make the most out of the smaller display.

Due to launch in February, Sony revealed more details about Vita earlier this week, confirming the full launch line-up and discussing its social-networking capabilities while revealing the next stage of its augmented reality gaming push.

Vodaphone was recently announced as the “preferred provider” of 3G connectivity for PS Vita , though gamers can buy a unlocked model and choose their own service provider. The hand-held gaming device is set to roll-out in Europe and North America from February 22, 2012.

Would the ability to stream PS3 games through the hand-held tempt you to pick Vita up at launch? Let us know in the HEXUS.community forums.

Source:http://hexus.net/gaming/news/hardware/32751-play-ps3-games-ps-vita/

Sony says it has sold more than 1 million motion-based Move controllers during the first 30 days the add-on for the PlayStation 3 video-game console was available in the United States.
The apparent high demand for the device could help re-energize sales for video-game industry, which has been in a slump for months. Microsoft is expected to also give the industry a kick Nov. 4, when it is scheduled to release the Kinect, motion-sensing technology for the Xbox 360.

Sony launched the highly anticipated Move Sept. 19 in the United States, and early indications are that the device has been widely accepted by PS3 users, according to Sony.
“Retail demand is incredibly strong and we’re working hard to keep the product in stock,” Jack Tretton chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in a statement.

Keeping enough of the product on store shelves is proving difficult for Sony. Tretton told the Reuters news agency that the company does not expect to have supply in line with demand until February 2011. “We had to go back and increase production twice, we’re absolutely maxed out right now,” Tretton told Reuters.
Now that the Move appears to be heading for success, Sony is hoping game publishers and developers, who have been holding off on releasing games for the device, will jump on the Move bandwagon and start updating popular titles and release new games. Sony says there are a couple of dozen titles currently available for the Move.
Like the controller used in playing games on the Nintendo Wii, the Move is a handheld, wireless wand that a player uses to navigate through a game. Microsoft has taken the technology a step further with the controller-free Kinect, which uses a camera to track a player’s body movements.
The addition of motion-sensing devices to the PS3 and Xbox 360 are expected to boost hardware and software sales through the end of the year. That’s good news for the video-game industry, which saw another month of falling sales in September.
Sales of video-game software and equipment in physical stores dropped 8% year over year to $1.18 billion, according to The NPD Group. Sales of hardware, which includes the PS3, the Xbox 360, the Wii and portable consoles made by Sony and Nintendo, fell 19%. However, game accessory sales rose 13%, driven in large part by the release of the Move.

Source:-http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/peripherals/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227900618&subSection=News

Sony says it has sold more than 1 million motion-based Move controllers during the first 30 days the add-on for the PlayStation 3 video-game console was available in the United States.

The apparent high demand for the device could help re-energize sales for video-game industry, which has been in a slump for months. Microsoft is expected to also give the industry a kick Nov. 4, when it is scheduled to release the Kinect, motion-sensing technology for the Xbox 360.

Sony launched the highly anticipated Move Sept. 19 in the United States, and early indications are that the device has been widely accepted by PS3 users, according to Sony.
“Retail demand is incredibly strong and we’re working hard to keep the product in stock,” Jack Tretton chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in a statement.

Keeping enough of the product on store shelves is proving difficult for Sony. Tretton told the Reuters news agency that the company does not expect to have supply in line with demand until February 2011. “We had to go back and increase production twice, we’re absolutely maxed out right now,” Tretton told Reuters.

Now that the Move appears to be heading for success, Sony is hoping game publishers and developers, who have been holding off on releasing games for the device, will jump on the Move bandwagon and start updating popular titles and release new games. Sony says there are a couple of dozen titles currently available for the Move.

Like the controller used in playing games on the Nintendo Wii, the Move is a handheld, wireless wand that a player uses to navigate through a game. Microsoft has taken the technology a step further with the controller-free Kinect, which uses a camera to track a player’s body movements.

The addition of motion-sensing devices to the PS3 and Xbox 360 are expected to boost hardware and software sales through the end of the year. That’s good news for the video-game industry, which saw another month of falling sales in September.

Sales of video-game software and equipment in physical stores dropped 8% year over year to $1.18 billion, according to The NPD Group. Sales of hardware, which includes the PS3, the Xbox 360, the Wii and portable consoles made by Sony and Nintendo, fell 19%. However, game accessory sales rose 13%, driven in large part by the release of the Move.

Source:http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227900618