Tags:
Sony, Sony Ericsson, Zeus, Z-System, PlayStation, PSP, gaming, handheld, PlayStation phone, Android
The future of mobile gaming?
The Sony PlayStation phone: very real, or so it seems
The web has been abuzz for a couple of days over leaked shots of what is claimed to be the near-mythical Sony PlayStation phone, outed by US tech site Engadget.
After the initial flurry of activity came the predicted denial, with Sony saying the images were “definitely fake”. But then the company backtracked to safer “no comment” territory, a sure-fire sign that the leak is very real indeed.
So what can we look forward to from the PlayStation phone? Well, again thanks to Engadget, it seems we have one or two of the answers.
First of all, it will run Android – most likely version 3.0 at least (depending on when it’s launched), and the device has been developed under the codename Zeus. It seems the secrecy around the project has been near Apple-esque in its totality, suggesting that the initial cry of “fake” from the Sony spokesperson was actually a genuinely held belief.
As the leaked image reveals, the form factor is a familiar side-sliding touchscreen candybar, but instead of the usual QWERTY keyboard lurking underneath it’s a PSP-like controller surface.
More intriguingly, it also looks like the PlayStation phone will introduce an all-new gaming ecosystem called Z-System. The leaked photo shows a reference to Z-System on the top-left of the screen, and further digging reveals a Z-System.com domain owned by Sony Ericsson, as well as filed trademarks in both the US and Europe detailing “software for interacting or playing with electronic or video games”.
For us, though, the burning question remains – why has it taken Sony until 2010 to get the PlayStation phone ball rolling?
As a mobile phone maker, Sony Ericsson has been going longer than Apple, HTC and even Microsoft, and in the PlayStation itself you’ve got probably the most well known gaming brand on the planet. Surely putting the two together has been a no-brainer for years now, whether using the Z-System, Android or any other platform?
Either way, it seems we have to add another name to 2011’s list of most wanted gadgets.
User comments (6)
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ilovesgadgets28 October 2010
I have the engadget ap on my phone and didn't spot this, well now i've seen it i must say it looks pretty awesome, i mean playstation and Sony ericson...together bound to be a success.
Report as inappropriateAnonymous28 October 2010
It's just a shame Sony have no success stories on Mobile Gaming. The original PSP was floored by the DS. The PSP Go will be a collectors item soon. They launch a few good games but are not commercial successes. and this is going to need some serious disk space if it is going to hold a good number of games. I'd park it between my game gear and the Ngage. I can't see this being a big seller
Report as inappropriateReeco928 October 2010
i think its a fake, i doubt sony are any interested in the phone market
Report as inappropriateSecretPeter30 October 2010
I really don't think it's a fake. Sony are prancing about spouting their "I'm not going to answer your question, but here's a cryptic answer that basically means, yes. Yes we are making a PS phone" thing. Plus, this has already been confirmed/leaked through many trusted sources. So far, it seems it's running Android 2.2, but others have confirmed 3.0. Information confirmed to Engadget (and further posted through their blog site) suggests that the project is called Zeus, and that it'll come with an 8Gb Micro SD and 512Mb/1Gb internal memory. Ars Technica have also apparently received info about this. Still, as MyVoiceinYrHead said, I can't see it being a major success. Further information suggests that a relase is due for early next year, which is when the 3DS will also be hitting our shelves, plus, who really wants a gaming phone (i'm looking directly at Engage)?
Report as inappropriateAnonymous08 November 2010
Yeah, if that was true they were planing to make triple-decker bus.
Report as inappropriatezarif06 December 2010
@Reece09 has the stupidist comment because sony ericson is part of sony. I think its a cool idea but thered have to be alot of space on the phone to have full hd games on it.
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