PlayStation TV

PlayStation TV


Top: Logo used in Asia
Bottom: Logo used outside Asia

The PlayStation TV console
Developer Sony Computer Entertainment
Manufacturer Sony Computer Entertainment
Product family PlayStation
Type Microconsole
Generation Eighth generation
Release date
Introductory price

¥9,480 (Japan)[5]
$99 (North America)[6]
€99 (Europe)[4]

Discontinued
Media PS Vita Card, digital distribution
Operating system PlayStation Vita system software
CPU Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore[1]
Memory 512 MB RAM, 128 MB VRAM
Storage 1GB internal, expandable via PS Vita memory card (4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB)[1]
Display HDMI out (720p, 1080i, 480p)[1]
Graphics Quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4+[1]
Sound 2 channel LPCM[1]
Controller input DualShock 3, DualShock 4,[1] PlayStation Vita
Connectivity IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HID[12]), Ethernet LAN (10 BASE-T, 100 BASE-TX)[1]
Power DC 5V in (max 2.8W)[1]
Online services PlayStation Network
Dimensions 65.0 × 105.0 × 13.6 mm[1]
Weight 110 grams[1]
Website www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/playstationtv

PlayStation TV (abbreviated to PS TV), known in Japan and other parts of Asia as the PlayStation Vita TV or PS Vita TV, is a microconsole,[13][14][15] and a non-handheld variant of the PlayStation Vita handheld game console. It was released in Japan on November 14, 2013,[1] North America on October 14, 2014, and Europe and Australasia on November 14, 2014.[4]

Controlled with either the DualShock 3 or DualShock 4 controllers, the PS TV is capable of playing many PlayStation Vita games and applications, either through physical cartridges or downloaded through the PlayStation Store. However, not all content is compatible with the device, since certain features in the PS Vita such as the gyroscope and microphone are not available on the PS TV. Nevertheless, the PS TV is able to emulate touch input for both the Vita's front and rear touchpads using the DS3/DS4 controller.

In Japan, "PlayStation TV" was the name given to PlayStation 3 retail kiosks from 2006 to 2014, which consisted of a PS3 unit, an LCD monitor and a number of controllers.[16]

History

Release

The system was released in Japan on November 14, 2013. The device on its own sold for 9,954 yen tax inclusive (about US$100), whilst a bundle version with an 8 GB memory card and DualShock 3 controller retailed for 14,994 yen (about US$150).[17]

Andrew House, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, explains that Sony hopes to use the PS Vita TV to penetrate the Chinese gaming market, where video game consoles have previously been prohibited.[18] The PS Vita TV was released in five other Southeast Asian countries and the special region of Hong Kong on January 16, 2014.[2] At E3 2014, the system was announced for North America and Europe, under the name PlayStation TV, for release in Q3 2014.[19] Final release dates for the western release were announced at Gamescom 2014.[4]

System software update 3.15 was released on April 30, 2014, which enabled PS4 remote play functionality for the PS Vita TV. As of October 2014 the system can be used with PlayStation Network accounts originating from outside of the original launch territories of Japan and Asia following the release of system software firmware version 3.30 update, which also renames the PS Vita TV system to PS TV within the system menus.

Open beta trials for PlayStation Now functionality on the PS TV began on October 14, 2014 in North America,[20] the same day that PS TV was released there. By the end of March, in Europe, Sony has dropped the price of PlayStation TV by 40% with the new price of €59.99. That same week the sales has increased 1272%.[21]

On February 28, 2016, Engadget reported that Sony has stopped shipping the PlayStation TV in Japan.[11]

Features

Ports on the PlayStation Vita TV

Instead of featuring a display screen, the console connects to a television via HDMI. Users can play using a DualShock 3 controller[22] (with functionality for DualShock 4 controllers added with the 3.10 firmware update released on 25 March 2014[23]), although due to the difference in features between the controller and the handheld, certain games are not compatible with PS Vita TV, such as those that are dependent on the system's microphone, camera, or gyroscopic features.[1] The device is said to be compatible with over 100 PS Vita games,[24] as well as various digital PlayStation Portable, PlayStation, and PC Engine titles, along with a selection of PlayStation 3 titles streamed from the PlayStation Now service.[25] The device is technically referred to by Sony as the VTE-1000 series, to distinguish it from the handheld PCH-1000/2000 series PS Vita models.[26]

According to Muneki Shimada, Sony Director of the Second Division of Software Development, the original PCH-1000 series PlayStation Vita already includes an upscaler that supports up to 1080i resolution, however it was decided that the idea for video output for the original Vita was to be scrapped in favor for releasing the PlayStation Vita TV as a separate device for television connectivity. The in-built scaler has been removed from the PCH-2000 series PlayStation Vita model.[27]

The system supports Remote Play compatibility with the PlayStation 4, allowing players to stream games from the PlayStation 4 to a separate TV connected to PS Vita TV, and also allows users to stream content from video services such as Hulu and Niconico, as well as access the PlayStation Store. PS4 Remote Play functionality for the PS Vita TV gained full support with the release of the 1.70 PS4 firmware update.[28][29] The device includes the software features of the PS Vita, such as the Web browser and email client.[30] There are future plans for media server and DLNA support for remote video streaming and image/audio file transfer.[31]

The console measures 6.5 cm by 10.5 cm, about the size of a pack of playing cards.[32]

It is charged with (and ships with) the same model/type of charger used for the original PSP.

Whitelist hack

Because of the PlayStation TV's lack of the Vita's touchscreen, rear touchpad, microphone, camera and motion sensors, Sony blacklisted a large number of games that used these features. These included Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified, Gravity Rush, and Tearaway. If a player inserted a Vita game card that was not on the whitelist and attempted to open it, it would fail to load. The decision to blacklist certain Vita games was not well received by players. Many of them felt some of the Vita's most popular titles were included on the blacklist.[33][34] Others argued that most of the games didn't need to be blacklisted, as games such as WipEout 2048 only used the Vita's touchscreen for the menu and would be accessable using the DualShock controller's touch-pointer emulation.[35] Other games not on the whitelist were ports of PlayStation 3 titles, such as Assassin's Creed III: Liberation and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.[36][37] Even re-releases of PlayStation 2 classics, such as Jak and Daxter Collection, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Ratchet & Clank Trilogy, and The Sly Collection, were not whitelisted.[38][39][40][41]

On September 24, 2015, a member of the website HackInformer.com called Mr.Gas released an exploit for players to overwrite the whitelist and load any game on the PlayStation TV.[42][43] Using this exploit, players would create a new Gmail account, link it to Mozilla Thunderbird, and then send themselves the exploit files. The Gmail account they created would then be synced with the PS TV's email app, and the exploit file attachments then opened. If done correctly, games previously not supported would open up on the PS TV as though they were being played on the Vita. While some games like Unchanted: Golden Abyss suffered from the PS TV's lack of Vita features,[44] the vast majority of the blacklisted games turned out of to be perfectly playable with the Whitelist exploit enabled.[45]

Mr.Gas's Whitelist hack was well received by PlayStation Vita fans.[35][46][47] However, Sony responded to this exploit by releasing firmware update 3.55, which prevented players from installing it[48][49] and disabled the exploit if they updated the Live Area after updating the firmware.[50] However, Sony continued to sell the PlayStation TV with older firmware, which gave new owners the chance to install the exploit. The hack works on firmware between 3.00 and 3.52, but the latest firmware is required to access the PlayStation Network on the Vita or PS TV. HackInformer.com released a tutorial explaining how to link the PlayStation TV to the PlayStation 3 on lower firmware, so that players could transfer PSN Vita content from the PS3 to the PS TV without updating to the latest firmware.[51][52]

Reception

PC World called the device an amazing invention, praising the opportunity to play Vita and PSP games on the big screen. IGN said the console "may be one of Sony's most exciting new products and could provide a critical edge for the PS4."[30]

Various commentators have compared the device to set-top boxes—including media streaming devices (such as Apple TV and Chromecast) and other microconsoles, such as the Ouya.[32] Time said the console could compete well against set-top box competitors with a quality library of games.[53] At launch however, the game library was limited to a subset of PS Vita games, which negatively impacted early reviews.[54]

The PlayStation TV, along with the PlayStation 4, won the 2014 Good Design Award from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.[55]

The PlayStation TV sold 42,172 units during its debut week of release in Japan.[56] The PlayStation TV was heavily marketed alongside God Eater 2 which was released on the same day as the device,[57] and placed at the top of the Japanese software sales charts for that week.[56]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2013-09-09, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INTRODUCES PLAYSTATION(R) VITA TV (Corporate Release), Sony Computer Entertainment
  2. 1 2 3 2013-11-07, PlayStation Vita TV Leaves Japan For Other Asian Regions In January 2014, Siliconera
  3. ↑ 임진모 (November 6, 2013). "신형 PS비타-PS비타 TV, 국내 발매일과 가격 발표". GameMeca.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 2014-08-12, Gamescom 2014: PlayStation TV Launches in October, Bringing PS4 Remote Play to Your TV, Gamespot
  5. ↑ 2013-09-09, PS Vita TV Release Date: Sony Announces PlayStation Vita TV Console At 2013 SCEJA Press Conference, International Business Times
  6. ↑ 2014-10-14, PlayStation TV launches in North America for $99, Mind Of The Geek
  7. ↑ PlayStation®Vita TV (PS Vita TV), Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (Web archive)
  8. ↑ 2014-06-11, Sony reveals PlayStation TV UK price, T3
  9. ↑ 2014-06-10, The PlayStation TV Is Coming To Australia, Gizmodo Australia
  10. ↑ Hunter, Shaun. "PlayStation TV Heading to New Zealand". NZGamer.com. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  11. 1 2 Fingas, Jon. "Sony stops shipping PlayStation TV in Japan". Engadget. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  12. ↑ 2014-10-07, PlayStation TV: The Ultimate FAQ, Sony Computer Entertainment America
  13. ↑ Kain, Erik. "Sony Announces $100 'PlayStation Vita TV' Micro-Console". Forbes. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  14. ↑ Gilbert, Ben (2013-09-18). "Hands-on with the PlayStation Vita TV, Sony's $100 microconsole (update: video!)". EnGadget.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  15. ↑ "News: Sony announces PS Vita TV microconsole". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  16. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (October 26, 2006). "Sony's PlayStation TV". IGN. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  17. ↑ Peckham, Matt (2013-09-09). "Sony’s ‘Casual’ PS Vita Impresses, but the Vita TV Box Heralds Bigger Things". TechLand.Time.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  18. ↑ 2013-09-12, Sony not planning to release PlayStation Vita TV in US or Europe 'at this point', Videogamer
  19. ↑ Leo Hurley, 2014-06-10, PS Vita TV Coming to Europe in Autumn, Kotaku
  20. ↑ 2014-10-07, PlayStation Now open beta coming to PS Vita, PlayStation TV next week, Gematsu
  21. ↑ Scammell, David (2015-03-29). "PlayStation TV sales up 1,272% on Amazon since price cut". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  22. ↑ "PS Vita TV - Release date, price, and specs". GamesRadar.com. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  23. ↑ 2014-03-25, PS Vita、PS Vita TVのシステムソフトウェア バージョン3.10が提供開始、カレンダー機能追加など盛りだくさん！, Famitsu
  24. ↑ PS Vita TV であそべる PS Vita ゲーム, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. (WebCite archive)
  25. ↑ Reisinger, Don (2013-09-12). "PlayStation 3 titles could be headed to the PS Vita TV". CNet.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  26. ↑ 商品情報, PlayStation Japan
  27. ↑ 2013-09-19, PlayStation Vita/Vita TV 開発者インタビュー, AV Watch
  28. ↑ 2014-04-17, PS4“システムソフトウェア バージョン1.70”の内容が公開、ニコニコ生放送や各配信サービス内の動画アーカイブへの対応、HDCP信号オフなど, Famitsu
  29. ↑ 2014-04-17, PS4がバージョン1.70へのアップデートでニコ生HD配信などに対応！, Weekly ASCII
  30. 1 2 "Why PS Vita TV Could Be a Game Changer". IGN. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  31. ↑ 2014-10-07, The ultimate PlayStation TV FAQ, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
  32. 1 2 Yannick LeJacq (2013-09-09). "Sony unveils PS Vita TV set-top box for $100". NBCNews.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  33. ↑ http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/what-is-ps-tv-10-things-to-know-about-playstation-tv
  34. ↑ http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/1/11137662/playstation-tv-vita-failure-discontinued
  35. 1 2 http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-how-to-exploit-playstation-tv-to-run-all-vita-titles
  36. ↑ http://www.fatducktech.com/reviews/playstation-tv-australian-review/
  37. ↑ http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/620272-playstation-vita/70538886
  38. ↑ http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/718564-metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain/72173941
  39. ↑ http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PlayStation-Vita-Support/Why-can-t-I-use-Ratchet-and-Clank-Trilogy-on-my-Playstation-TV/td-p/44833058
  40. ↑ http://gizmodo.com/playstation-tv-isnt-what-you-want-it-to-be-1646323968
  41. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/vita/comments/2qnjjv/jak_and_daxter_collection_for_playstation_tv/
  42. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/2015/09/24/mr-gas-releases-methode-to-write-to-the-vita-filesystem-pstv-whitelist-patch/
  43. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/PlayStationGuide/PSV/INFO_PSTV_WHITELIST.html
  44. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6TggxyGalI
  45. ↑ http://www.thegamescabin.com/gravity-rush-plays-brilliantly-on-playstation-tv-so-do-other-unsupported-games/
  46. ↑ http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/09/hackers-restore-playstation-tv-compatibility-blocked-by-sony/
  47. ↑ http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/215022-sony-playstation-tv-hacked-to-restore-vita-compatibility
  48. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/PlayStationGuide/PSV/INFO_MAILWRITER.html
  49. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/PlayStationGuide/PSV/RESULT_PSTV_355.html
  50. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/2016/01/26/playstation-tv-and-white-list-hack-still-work-on-fw-3-57/
  51. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/2015/10/29/tutorial-activate-vitaplaystation-tv-lower-firmware/
  52. ↑ http://hackinformer.com/PlayStationGuide/PSV/olderfirmwareguide.html
  53. ↑ Peckham, Matt (2013-09-09). "Sony’s ‘Casual’ PS Vita Impresses, but the Vita TV Box Heralds Bigger Things". Techland.Time.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  54. ↑ "VitaTV review". Wololo.net. 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  55. ↑ 2014-10-01, News: PS4 & PS Vita TV Win “Good Design” Japanese Award, The Games Cabin
  56. 1 2 2013-11-20, Media Create Sales: 11/11/13 – 11/17/13, Gematsu
  57. ↑ 2013-11-14, 「GOD EATER 2」×PlayStation Vita TV合同発売日記念ステージ開催！ 「GE2」出荷50万本突破!!, GAME Watch

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