Xperia Play to come out in March

[Metal Militia]

Sony Ericsson officially unveiled the Xperia Play, the device the public has long dubbed the "PlayStation Phone."

The phone will hit the Verizon network in March, boast a 4-inch screen, a slide-out panel with game controller-like buttons and allow for more than five hours of gaming battery life per charge.


Sony Ericsson is still keeping mum on the price. If you're considering this marriage of PSP and smartphone, how much would you pay for it?

http://consumerist.com/2011/02/verizon- ... phone.html

Information from Sony Ericsson's website
http://www.sonyericsson.com/mwcnews/xperia_play/

[AppleQueso]

So sony's going to have TWO handhelds?

Why do I imagine this isn't going to work too well for them?

[Ivo]

So sony's going to have TWO handhelds?

Why do I imagine this isn't going to work too well for them?

I think the correct way to look at this is a Android phone with game-friendly controls that happens to be sort of supported by Sony in terms of software. I'm not sure if they are bringing many "1st party" titles for this Playstation platform (particularly stuff that is not just ports / remakes).

Ivo.

[ZeroAX]

Since it runs Android, this has a chance of selling as a smartphone alone. If Sony prices it right, I can see it being more of a success than the NGP. Heck, if I hadn't bought a smartphone 6 months ago, I would get this.

[FerretGamer]

Since it runs Android, this has a chance of selling as a smartphone alone. If Sony prices it right, I can see it being more of a success than the NGP. Heck, if I hadn't bought a smartphone 6 months ago, I would get this.

Same here. I would be all over this if I hadn't just bought a new smartphone in November.

Of course, I don't see any problems with this and the NGP co-existing. One is a smartphone using Android that happens to support the Playstation Store and can play Android apps and PSone classics. Whereas, the NGP is a cutting edge gaming focused handheld offering experiences on par with the PS3.

Personally, I will always have a handheld game system alongside my smartphone. I have found that using smartphones from the early days of Windows Mobile until now, I could never feel satisfied with the gaming experience. I'll admit there are some slick apps on the "iOS" platform (hence why I have an iPad and iPod Touch,) but for me it will never replicate the full gaming experience.

[irixith]

*sigh*

Really, it's a phone + PSP Go, and suddenly it gets all sorts of love because it's got a phone baked in. Ah well. I wish they'd bring the battery technology from it backwards to the PSP Go, I could do with some extra battery life.

[Ivo]

*sigh*

Really, it's a phone + PSP Go, and suddenly it gets all sorts of love because it's got a phone baked in. Ah well. I wish they'd bring the battery technology from it backwards to the PSP Go, I could do with some extra battery life.

If (I know its a big IF) the price enables it to compete favourably with other Android phones and it has the d-pad etc PLUS some support from Sony thrown in for "free", I do not see why it should not get praise. Under those circumstances it would be like strictly the best Android smartphone to have for gamers.

If I was one to spend money on mobile phones and the price is fair for what it is, I would be all over it. As it is I think I'll get it to use as my phone some years on, when this is cheaper as a phone (my current mobile is probably at *least* a 5 year old model).

Ivo.

[Metal Militia]

I'm really interested in this because I'm due for an upgrade and I have Verizon as well. I've never had a smartphone so this might be my first one if the price is right.

I was thinking about getting a Iphone 4 when they announced that it was coming to Verizon, but I have an Ipod touch 4th generation so don't really see a point.

[Flake]

Hasn't this been done before?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngage

[Ivo]

Hasn't this been done before?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngage

Yes. The point is that not only you have to have a good idea, you have to do it well to succeed. In fact good implementation is probably more important than having a good idea.

Now that touchscreens are pretty standard for mobile phones, I think this Xperia phone can act as a phone as well as a "regular" phone, which I think is a crucial part of implementing the hybrid well. It is less important for it to be able to act as well as a dedicated handheld console I think, as long as it is better at it than the other dedicated phones (which this possibly will be considering the d-pad and shoulder buttons).

The N-Gage tried to do both and could not. If this one nails the phone part, given a good price and specs it cold be the obvious choice for a gamer's phone (even if that gamer has a dedicated handheld device - but possibly it could be the choice for gamer's that have consoles / PC but no handheld as well).

Ivo.