PlayStation 4 to release on November 15 in US

Sony announced today at their Gamescom press conference the PlayStation 4 will be available starting November 15 in the North America and November 29 for Europe. President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Andrew House said, “The response that we have received has been nothing short of incredible. You’ve made it clear that you’re excited about this platform with more than one million preorders already worldwide.”

In addition, Sony detailed the 32 countries the PlayStation 4 will launch on November 29 along with the UK, including Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Latin America.

The PlayStation 4 will launch at $399 in North America, and €399 and £349 in Europe.

All those Vita advertisements

With the February 22 launch of Sony’s brand new handheld, the PlayStation Vita, you’d think there would be more advertisements for it. With less than two weeks, I’ve yet to see a single TV, radio, magazine, or internet ad for it. In fact, the only advertisement I have seen is the Taco Bell promotion that gives away a free PlayStation Vita every 15 minutes (they aren’t).

In an interview with the New York Times, John Koller, senior director for Sony’s handheld consoles, said the company is spending $50 million on commercials, billboard, retail details, online banners, and social media including a Twitter campaign themed, “Never Stop Playing,” with the hashtag #gamechanger. Koller says the campaign is focused on brining “the largest platform launch in terms of marketing investment we’ve ever hand.

That would sound great, if their demographic wasn’t so niche. According to Koller, the target audience for the Vita is men in their 20s who play video games eight hours a week for more and own a PlayStation 3 console. The challenge that lies ahead for Sony is to overlap that market with those who already own other mobile or handheld devices, such as the iPhone or Nintendo 3DS, and pull them towards the PlayStation brand.

E3 2011: Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo

The main attraction at E3 is the show floor, where companies show off their newest games, technology, and peripherals. But before the doors open, the big three take the stage at their press conferences to announce their new products and services, and unveil the future of gaming.

Is Sony Living La-Vita-Loca?

Since it was announced, Sony’s newest portable console has only officially been referred to using its code name Next Generation Portable, or NGP. It’s been commonly called the PSP2 by gamers alike, but it looks like the official name for the hand-held device could be the PS Vita.

Games Pundit discovered images of the portable console from an E3 fact sheet clearly showing a logo saying PS Vita. Vita is this case means new life, as in a new life from the old PSP brand.

More evidence suggesting PS Vita will be the new name of the portable console is the website vita.SCEdev.net. SCEdev.net is a domain registered to Sony’s UK branch and links to other product sites for the PS3, PSP, and NGP.

You can expect the official name and more games will be revealed during Sony’s E3 Press Conference on June 6.

Twisted Metal Coming October 4

Information has been scarce since the surprise announcement of Twisted Metal during Sony’s press conference at E3 2010. However, the Eat Sleep Play game was recently featured on last week’s episode of GameTrailers TV with a brand new trailer and revealing a release date of October 4.

This will be the eighth game in the Twisted Metal series, which started back in 1995 on the original PlayStation and quickly become one of the console’s greatest hits. You can watch the full trailer for the game below. Twisted Metal will be available on October 4 for the PlayStation 3.

Sony Announces Next-Gen Portable, Coming This Holiday

Hot on the heels of Nintendo’s 3DS announcement last week, Sony held a press conference yesterday in Japan to announce their newest handheld device. Being referred to by its codename NGP (Next Generation Portable), the device was said to be available this holiday season, though a prices is still undetermined.

Nintendo 3DS available March 27 for $249.99

Nintendo held a press conference today in New York to announce details of their upcoming handheld device, the Nintendo 3DS. The device creates a realistic 3D effect, without the use of glasses, pushing the market in a direction where televisions can some day support the same technology. Sorry Sony. The device also features an analog stick (a first for Nintendo handheld devices), ability to play games and video in 3D, and take advantage of 3D photography. It will come with a 2GB SD card, charging cradle, the ability to transfer data from the Nintendo DSi. The 3D effect is also adjustable, allowing games to be played in both 2D and 3D. The Nintendo 3DS will be available in blue or black and retail for $249.99 starting March 27, 2011. Starting today, it is also available for pre-order at GameStop, Amazon, and other retailers.

Nintendo said that the launch window for the Nintendo 3DS will have over 30 games, leading up to E3 in June. First-party launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS include Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus Uprising, Mario Kart, Paper Mario, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64 3D, and Steel Diver. Third-party highlights include Dead or Alive Dimensions, Madden NFL Football, Rayman 3D, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Ridge Racer 3D, The Sims 3, Splinter Cell 3D, and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition.

Check out Joystiq’s media round-up including videos and screenshots of all the games for Nintendo’s newest handheld console.

DC Universe Online Launch

It’s been more than five years since I played a game by Sony Online Entertainment. My last encounter with SOE was Star Wars Galaxies and their introduction of the New Game Enhancements. I’m not going to get into why, but suffice to say it was less then stellar. So why am I interested in an SOE game now?