Sony, in its announcement, stated, “On Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems, this rebranding will occur in connection with software updates for these devices.” However, it is not applying these changes to PlayStation Portable accounts for the time being.

Sony PlayStation is facing stiff competition from rivals including Microsoft’s Xbox. It seems like Sony is following Xbox’s lead towards unifying its offerings as an entertainment system. However, Sony needs to do much more than mere rebranding if it is looking to compete with Nintendo and Microsoft. 2011 proved to be a tough year for Sony, as its PlayStation Network was repeatedly hacked and remained inoperational for a considerably long period of time.

RIP PlayStation Network: Long Live Sony Entertainment Network is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

According to the data compiled by NPD, videogame software and hardware market turned over $17.02 billion in 2011. This figure represents 8 percent decline over 2010 figures. However, digital downloads reported 7 percent year over year increase to touch the figure of $7.24 billion in volume.

Apart from top performer Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation also witnessed a good year with 5 percent increase in its sales volume. Nintendo Wii, performed rather poorly with decline in its revenue.

The report also highlighted poor performance of the sector for the month of December, which dragged down the annual figures.  December accounted for only 23 Percent of annual figure, down from last 10 years average of 28 percent share. NDP Group said, “Because of the great slate of content that came to market during the fourth quarter, I had expected December sales to represent a larger portion of total year sales than what occurred.”

Microsoft Xbox 360 Reigns Supreme in Gaming Segment is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

According to 4Gamer, Sony sold only 72,479 units for the week ending on December 25^th.  In comparison, it had sold 324,859 units during the first week of the launch. If the trend continues, then Sony will need to take some drastic steps to salvage its value. The console is yet to be launched in Europe and the US. The likely launch date for these regions is February 22^nd. Though, the console’s retail price has been set at $250, but it looks like Sony will need to sweeten the deal to drive up the volume.

Almost 75 percent drop in sales volume of PlayStation Vita also points out to a bigger problem. After the dismal performance of Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita’s failure shows that era of standalone handheld gaming consoles may be over. The category is facing stiff competition from other handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets.

PlayStation Vita Goes Nintendo 3DS Way: Sales Plummet is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Sony has also priced the new console for UK. You will be able to buy Wi-Fi model for £229.99 whereas 3G model will set you back by £279.99. Sony will be charging £17.99 for 4 GB memory card and £31.99 for 8 GB card. 16 GB card comes with a price tag of £44.99. If you still have some change to lose, then you can go ahead and buy a travel kit for another £25.99.

PlayStation Vita will be available in UK on February 22, 2012. It was launched a couple of days back in Japan and had mixed reviews. While the company was able to sell 300,000 units in 2 days flat, it also had to deal with a slew of complaints about the device. Most of the problems were technical in nature and the company has assured that it is working to remove the snags.

Sony Announces PlayStation Vita Pre-Order Pack for UK is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Overview

We all know that Christmas is just around the corner.  Almost a week away to be more exact!  Apart from partying, eating lots of Turkey and spending time with the family. There will be no doubt that if you’re a gaming fan then Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t have a few rounds on your Xbox 360 or PS3.

Well, if you’re looking to boast about your latest gameplay to all you gaming friends then you might want to invest or get one of your loved ones to buy you Roxio Game Capture to capture all those gaming moments.  Roxio Game Capture includes everything you need to capture your Xbox 360 and PS3 gameplay in realtime while playing in HD. Then easily edit your footage, to keep just the action you want, and share on YouTube and other sharing sites – direct from your PC. Roxio Game Capture is an all-in-one product, including Roxio video-editing software, and a powerful Roxio capture device.

Fortunately for us we managed to get hold of one to review to let all you gaming fans know whether it is one to invest or something which is better left on shop shelves.

Review

Set Up: 3/5

Let’s not beat around the bush, there’s a bit of a split in the gaming community when it comes to this device. Some praise it for its extremely easy set-up whilst others are so frustrated by it that they send it back to the shop. The two main complaints are poor video quality and the PC software making laptops crash. When it comes to video quality it seems that many people struggle to find the correct settings to suit their gaming set-up. This is, for some users, a major flaw in the product. Actually hooking up the wires is very easy, as is installing the software which took a few minutes for and worked first time with no signs of lagging or crashing. The problem is altering the display settings on Xbox/PS3 system and televisions. Ultimately if you have a good quality (preferably HD) TV and you know your composites from your SCARTS and your PALS from your HD then you should be fine. If you’re not so knowledgeable when it comes to picture quality then stay away. This device is designed for serious gamers. The reason it scores low is on set-up is that it is marketed as something gloriously easy to install which is not always the case. The instructions aren’t terrible but neither are they the most illuminating in the  world.

Value for Money: 3/5

The price of the Xbox/PS3 capture device tends to be around the £65-75 region. If you’re serious about capturing your gaming, whether you’re simply a nerd that likes to show off or your headshots or a blogger/reviewer then you’re going to get a lot of use out of the device for under £100 which is quite a reasonable price. Another popular capture device is Dazzle which is slightly more expensive at around £90-£95. So in context £65 is good value for money. If you’re paid for your footage you’ll get the money back in a few reviews time. You can go down the DIY route but this is notoriously difficult and will probably involve ordering a tonne of cables and spending hours digging around forums. One minus for Roxio’s device is that some users may need to buy a composite cable to use the capture function and  this isn’t included.

Features and Design: 5/5

The quality of the box is fantastic. It’s light, strong and actually looks pretty cool. It’s not going to look ugly stacked up next to your game console. The wires on the other hand may, but they are unavoidable and with some careful planning you could set the box up nicely with the wires tucked out of sight. You will of course have to find somewhere for your laptop/computer to sit as you will have the device hooked up to your computer via USB. What’s more, the wires are gold-plated which is a nice touch for a cheap(ish) device. The software ran great for me, even on my bog-standard Windows 7 laptop. There’s enough editing software to suit any capture needs and it is very easy to use. One word of warning though -memory- make sure you have enough to save the files you plan to save.

Gaj-it Verdict: 4/5

A good device but it requires a top-end TV and reasonable knowledge of gaming to truly shine. Some users will find it frustrating and  it may not be quite good enough for professional game reviews/bloggers who need super-high end capture quality.

Roxio Game Capture

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Roxio Game Capture Review is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Rayman: Origins is a nostalgic trip down memory to many gamer’s cherished 16-bit youth; a time where Super Mario and Sonic were king. Origins is special, rare and precious – full of vibrant worlds, which looks to recapture the innocence of gaming.  Rayman Origins sits at a polar opposite to the war torn landscapes and dystopian apocalypses that many games companies are trying to force upon an already saturated consumer.

The current generation will of course be remembered for the Call Of Duty’s and Battlefield’s of this generation, but it will also be remembered for the rebirth of long forgotten 2D generation. If you’ve explored Xbox Live or the Playstation Store recently it’s clear that 2D is making a comeback. Well, now it’s time for an old favourite Rayman to return and instead of being a downloadable affair – Ubisoft – have decided to make Rayman: Origins a full physical retail game, a brave move.

The first thing that you will notice is Rayman: Origins is it is bite the back of your hand beautiful, this is thanks to, in part, the current crop of high-def consoles which means Michel Ancel can finally realise his whimsical vision. Origins is easily one the most an eye-catching, visual indulgences of 2011. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that you could pause the game any point take a picture of it and then hang it on your wall – it’s that stunning. Michel Ancel and his team have created something so stunning in both style and vision that Pixar, and the like, would be happy to put their names to it. It’s jam-packed full of exquisite colours, goofy characters and never deviates from Ancel’s original vision.

During your colourful adventure you’ll come across a magnitude of stages to explore, epic bosses to take down, collectable character skins and plently of hidden gems and treasures. Rayman and his sidekicks Globox and Teensies will help you along the way, and as you enter a new world they will be provided with new abilities or attacks to learn – meaning you can even revisit older levels and complete them again in different ways.

One of the best features of Rayman is the multiplayer: you’ll struggle to find a game this year that can compete with Origins when it comes to local multiplayer action. Unfortunatley there isn’t any online multiplayer, but,  replaying all the levels again in Co-Op becomes a completely different experience. The game uses a simple drop in and drop out system, making it easy for others to join or leave the game any time they want. It’s your choice how you want to play the game, alone or with 3 of your friends. The lack of online multiplayer  is at odds with the current broadband multiplayer world we live in now, but we see this more as not compromising on the original concept, than a major downside.

Alongside the visual delights of this remarkable world there is an incredibly accomplished audio score to accompany your adventures. The music manages to capture the varieties of settings from shadowy, dark forests to demonic caves – it’s never too invasive, or overbearing, but adds more magic in a inspired fashion.

Rayman Origins might look like a child games, but in actual fact it’s devilishly difficult with a solid learning curve throughout the game. It won’t take you to the point of controller-throwing, but will require you to concentrate – especially when you’re trying to get final level bonuses. With intelligent checkpoints and no limits on the number times you can repeat a section, Rayman, sails close to alienating players with it’s difficulty curve, but, thankfully, never strays over this ill-fated line.

The strength of Origins is the way Ubisoft, Ancel and his team have brought his whimsical world together with a incredibly strong platforming foundation to make one of the best games of 2011. It’s entertaining and joy to play with plenty of moments of brilliance and ultimately shows that the developers understood the franchise and concept. Ubisoft have made a 2D platformer every bit as good as Sonic or Super Mario and you shouldn’t hesitate to pick up Rayman: Origins. If you are looking for something with bags of wholesome family fun you can’t go wrong with Rayman: it’s fun, entertaining and jam-packed full of the joys of the 16-bit generation with a stunning 21st century lick of colourful paint.

Rayman: Origins Playstation 3 Review is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Sony also launched a digital user manual for the console. The manual provides details about user accounts, tech specs and trophies. While the console would not be available in the European markets until next year, you can go ahead and devour the digital manual as it is available in English as well. The company has limited each console to one account, so the memory cards used are not exchangeable. If you want to use your console for a different account, you will need to erase all of your details and bring the console back to factory settings. This feature is expected to be one of the main downsides for a otherwise great console.

Contrary to expectations, the console does not support 1080p HD playback, so you can play your videos in a standard resolution. However, the console is able to support 18 languages and offer customizable dictionary and predictive typing.

PlayStation Vita is expected to hit European and US markets in February next year.

Sony PlayStation Vita Launched in Japan: Pre-Orders Sell Out is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

I’m no video-game expert but it’s fair to say that some people are put off by the misconception that motion gaming is a gimmick which is dominated by lame yoga and dance games. The first step to combat that problem is GoldenEye Reloaded. You must have seen the adverts on television? One of the greatest games of all time remodelled especially for the PS Move. What could be cooler than imagining that your PS Move baton is a rocket launcher and blowing the living hell out of a helicopter with it? If James Bond isn’t up your street or your still not convinced by Move then Sony have the perfect advertisement campaign for you.

In order to express the immersive quality of the Move Sony have created bizarre (but very fun) interactive video which shows four different people stuck in a weird PlayStation world fighting the standard video game enemies-  apes and evil chefs. Your job is to choose which weapon to transform your all-mighty PS Move device into. You then get to see the result of your choice which is often hilarious. It’s an effective advert, you’d be lying if you said you didn’t want to be in the mad Playstation world yourself swinging the Move around like a magic wand. But don’t worry if you do fall for the advert, the Move comes with a wrist strap…

We’ve embedded the video below for you pleasure. Have a look and let us know what ‘weapons’ you choose!

Move Into Other Worlds With Playstation Move is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

2011 has been a bumper year for technology; Apple continued their domination of the tablet and smartphone markets; Sony pushed 3D technology with their Playstation 3; Microsoft continued their controller-free gaming revolution with Kinect; Nintendo showed us a glimpse of the future with glasses-free 3D and Android became the world’s most popular smartphone platform. But, what can we expect in 2012? Well it’s already shaping up to be another bumper year. Here’s what we can’t to get wait to get our hands on in 2012.

1. Amazon Kindle Fire

Amazon’s Kindle Fire is already out in the US, but we’re unlikely to see it in the UK until the first quarter 2012. For the price you’ll get a tablet that’s incredibly easy to use and won’t cost a fortune. With a price tag of only $199 and with the inclusion of Amazon’s Prime subscription the online retailer really has come up with a compelling alternative that can compete with Apple’s iPad and any other Android tablets available.

If you took away Amazon’s Prime program the Fire would be a run-of-the-mill tablet that wouldn’t be worth your time or attention. But what Amazon has done is similar to what Apple has done: made content king. The way Prime makes you feel you’re getting a lot more for you money is a stroke of genius. The on-demand, all-you-can-eat, model works like a dream and will be the unique selling point when comparing tablets purchases. Content-wise its the best Android tablet around and if they can replicate the same content deals in the Europe – then Amazon’s Fire could easily overshadow the Kindle and even give Apple a run for its money. It’s affordable, intuitive and simple to use; everything a tablet should be. If you’re looking for a tablet that offers million of possibilities with hundred of thousands of apps then this is not that tablet for you, but if you looking for tablet where traditional digital media content is king then this is the tablet for you.

2. Wii U

The Nintendo Wii was one of the biggest success stories of the last 3 year’s for Nintendo, it revolutionise gaming leading Sony and Microsoft to follow suit with their own movement controls, well, the Wii has suffered from a baron release schedule in 2011 and at E3, Nintendo, announced the successor the Wii U.

The Wii’s successor looks to right a lot of wrongs of its predecessor so we can expect HD capability, 1080p output, 3D support and a completely new type of controller. The Wii U’s main party-piece is a small tablet controller with the usual set of gaming controls as well as fully-fledged touch screen.

Nintendo-quality games, awesome HD graphics, support from lots of third-party games developers, and a handy way to play in any room in your house? Count us in.

3. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

The new quad-core tablet, a successor to the Asus Eee Pad Transformer released in early summer, will be the fastest tablet available, coming with 1200×800 display, Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1 GB Ram, an 8 megapixel rear facing camera, capable of 1080p video capture, a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera and a microSD slot.

The Transformer Prime will come with the current 3.2 version of Android Honeycomb, but Google is promising that the upgrade to 4.0 Ice Cream will be coming to the Prime first.

The device is more expensive than its predecessor, starting at $499 for a 32Gb and $599 for a 64Gb version. The main party piece of the Transformer range is the attachable keyboard, which will cost $149 and comes in two colours: amethyst grey and champagne gold.

Part of the reason why the original Eee Pad was so successful was the price, it remains to be seen whether the quad-core sequel will be as successful considering the $100 price hike over the original.

Although it’s strong on hardware, the $100 increase in price will make it a more difficult to sell given that the entry-level (16GB) iPad is also priced at $499.

Details on UK price and release date hasn’t been confirmed at the time of writing, but it’s expected to land in North America on December 16 and Europe soon after.

4. Windows 8 tablets

There are still a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to Windows 8 tablets, but the information is starting to come out, and there’s no doubt Microsoft is prepared to make a real go of this tablet malarkey.

Windows 8 will use a Metro interface that’s much like Windows Phone 7 for when it’s used on touch devices, with separate Metro apps. It will support ARM processors, such as Tegra 3, as well, which means manufacturers have options for the hardware they include.

Whether the addition of a new touch interface on top of the traditional Windows look will entice developers and customers is hard to say, but it seems to have the manufacturers on board, and we’ll be able to see more when the public beta arrives early next year. If Microsoft pulls it off, it may suddenly become a big mobile player again.

5. Apple’s 2012 tablet

According to reports from Business Insider Apple will release its third generation iPad tablet in February next year. Richard Gardner, an analyst from Citi, believes that the Cupertino tech company will release the iPad 3 with a Retina display and twice the processing power earlier that expected to head off the competition.

Gardner said: “There do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining that would prevent the iPad 3′s launch.” He also predicted that the company’s final iPad sales for the current quarter would be 12 to 13 million units.

Many Macolytes were hoping that Apple would include a Retina display in the iPad 2, but it failed to materilise, leading many to postulate that the iPad 3 would be the true sequel to the iPad 1 and would include a Retina display.

The third generation iPad is expected to have a screen resolution of 2048×1546, compared to the iPad 2’s 1024×768 and to accommodate the new screen tech it’s expected to be thicker than the current ultra-thin iPad 2.

It’s thought that Apple will look to get a early march on its main rival Samsung, who are expected to follow-up to the Galaxy 10.1, with a Galazxy 11.6, which is said to have a 2560×1600 screen resolution and the new quad-core Tegra processor and would be announced in the spring at Mobile World Congress.

Apple is top-dog in the tablet market, with Asus, Motorola, Samsung amongst others all playing catchup with their Android offerings. And now that Amazon has recently enter the race the tablet market is one of the most competitive around.

Apple’s plan could be trying to head off the competition from similarly priced Android tablets, if it did release the iPad 3 sooner than expected it would have the effect of reducing prices for older versions of the iPad, which would encourage consumers attracted to the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet to instead climb aboard the iOS platform at a discount.

Gaj-it’s Top Tech Predictions For 2012 Part 1 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Sony Xperia PLAY has created quite a buzz among the video game creators. EA, specifically has created a number of games for Xperia PLAY. Among the major titles adapted for the smartphone are Need for Speed and Battlefield. Sony Ericsson is currently carrying out a limited time promotional scheme called ‘Get in the Game’ and most of the gaming titles are available for free download under this promotional scheme.  FIFA 12 is also included in the scheme and hence you can download it for free. It is likely to remain free until early 2012.

Xperia PLAY is planning to up its ante and bring new gaming titles on board. Tim Harrison, Head of Content & Strategy with Sony Ericsson, said, “This year, we’ve partnered with EA to bring some of its best titles to Xperia™ PLAY for an unmatched mobile gaming experience. FIFA is a huge franchise that appeals to football fans around the world and a real highlight in a successful autumn and Holiday season of bringing great content to Xperia™ PLAY.”

EA also said that collaboration with Xperia PLAY will “give fans yet another compelling opportunity to play no matter where they are, anytime, anywhere.”

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Gets FIFA 12 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com