PS Vita - aka how I lost most of my weekend

I've been very lucky to have been given a review PS Vita, ahead of its launch here in New Zealand on Feb 23rd.

To be honest, I was surprised when the offer was made to me and I couldn't really say no to it now, could I?

The slimline handheld launches in NZ in a couple of weeks' time, so this is in no way a review - merely a collection of a few early thoughts.

I have to admit I never really got on board with the whole PSP phenomenon when it launched back in 2004 - I was just getting to grips with the PS3 and the fact it could indulge my gaming tendencies and my search of higher quality video formats like Blu Ray to really be invested in it.

So in many ways, the PS Vita is my first exposure to the handheld consoles outside of the flip screen games from Activision from in my youth.

But what an experience it looks like it'll be - and I say that writing this late on Sunday morning having no real  recollection of where the last 36 hours have gone.

The first thing to note is how slender and beautifully designed the console is - despite having a couple of mini analogue sticks out of the front of it which could be cumbersome. But they're not in any shape or form - they look smaller in some ways and that led to some initial worries that it a) wouldn't be easy to play or b) wouldn't be durable enough. Clearly after numerous hours of messing with it, that's not the case.

Crystal clear graphics on the OLED screen and a "bouncy" feel to the bubbles graphics which hit the front menu suggest that it feels very much like a 3D iPphone screen in some ways. It also makes use of the whole touch and pull finger technology of the iPhone  as well as the peeling back of screens to flip between menus. Throw into that mix, a touch pad on the back of the PS VITA which is going to be used on games and in use of the console and there's plenty of use for fingers when it comes to this handheld item.

There's a few games which have been kindly dropped into the review code and I'll come to those another time - but initial thoughts on the PS Vita are that it's going to be very well received by the gaming crowd - and as it incorporates a lot of social ideas as well, there'll be plenty of a community feel to it.

The games which I've tinkered with - including the new Wipeout 2048 and ModNation Racers - Road Trip - are simply visually stunning and endlessly playable. Graphically, they're just stunning and with such clarity of the screen at even a low brightness, you don't have to worry about reflection and sun strike issues which occasionally dog these kinds of small screens. It's very easy to utilise the Wifi aspects of the console and get into the network while you're on the go; meaning you're never disconnected from your gaming life and the latest on offer from the PlayStation Network store.
All of the gaming titles are new versions and not simply ported across from another platform. It gives the PS Vita something new to offer when it comes to the games side of it all as well when it launches on the 23rd of February. Plus throw in a new game for Uncharted, Uncharted Golden Abyss and simply, there's much to keep the most hardy of gamers amused for hours ahead.

The games have been upgraded in terms of how you load them - instead of the UMDs you used to have with PSP, a lot more of this gaming software is going to come in use via either the downloads from the network or via a memory card which slots into the side of the PS Vita (much like a camera memory card) and bingo, you can begin playing.

As I say, more to come (including a bit more of a breakdown of the capacities on offer and some of the games too)....so stay tuned; but the early signs are that the PS Vita will make a significant splash into the marketplace - it's fair to say that having never really embraced the portable gaming market before, this hasn't left my side since I got hold of it last week. It's handy, convenient gaming and with an eye for the social as well, it's clearly going to be something which will proliferate the marketplace.

It's playable, durable, and above all, easy to use - the PS Vita may already have launched in Japan, but in this marketplace, it's going to be a success - after all, PlayStation have fashioned a device which - bar mobile calling - fulfills a lot of the requirements of any gamer on the go. With social platforming, Skype, Twitter, Facebook et al being added on as well, it really will become the go to toy for the next generation.

PS Vita's launch Date is set for 23rd February in New Zealand. Prices are $449.95 for the Wifi Model, $549.95 for the Wifi/3G Model.

You can get more on the PS Vita by going to the official PlayStation site here - and take a look at the PS Vita with the official PlayStation blog below...