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[mrklaw]

Shit, looks like online passes aren't region free. I was hopeful because yesterday mingol tried to go online with my US account but the servers were undergoing maintenance.

Just tried again and its telling me that I need an online play ticket. So although I downloaded it when signed in with a Japanese psn account, its not working now

So multiplayer games that use online pass codes aren't region free, even if you buy physical cards

 

[dallow_bg]

No thread for the final confirmed launch titles?

I'm going to gift you a Steam game of your choice come Feb 22 if this turns out to be true!

This is pretty much what I wanted from the system.

One card with US/JP content, and I'd just switch accounts/reset system to use content of my choice.

 

[Jinfash]

So multiplayer games that use online pass codes aren't region free, even if you buy physical cards

APOCALYPSE NOW.

 

[Hasemo]

Sold umvc3@Traders for 3000 yen (it cost me 4300). Considering the fact that used game prices are pretty bad (when selling them), I'd say it wasn't a bad deal. Afair Tsutaya doesn't buy used Vita games yet, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

 

[Litflynt912]

Sold umvc3@Traders for 3000 yen (it cost me 4300). Considering the fact that used game prices are pretty bad (when selling them), I'd say it wasn't a bad deal. Afair Tsutaya doesn't buy used Vita games yet, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

sucks you didn't like it....at least you didn't take a bath on the trade in....

 

[bobbytkc]

Shit, looks like online passes aren't region free. I was hopeful because yesterday mingol tried to go online with my US account but the servers were undergoing maintenance.

Just tried again and its telling me that I need an online play ticket. So although I downloaded it when signed in with a Japanese psn account, its not working now

So multiplayer games that use online pass codes aren't region free, even if you buy physical cards

I think maybe we should wait for the US stores to be up before we can make that judgment. It may be that it was seeking verification from the US store, since it is a US account, but it couldn't because it does not exist.

 

[Hasemo]

sucks you didn't like it....at least you didn't take a bath on the trade in....

The game itself is good, but it's next toimpossible to play with random people from Japan online, as it's not really popular here.

 

[mrklaw]

I think maybe we should wait for the US stores to be up before we can make that judgment. It may be that it was seeking verification from the US store, since it is a US account, but it couldn't because it does not exist.

I doubt it. Game would most likely be accessing its own servers but couldn't 'see' the online pass ticket as I was on the wrong account.

but it is possible i guess


How do other games handle online? Is it only Sony using the passes?

 

[ULTROS!]

Do the Vita trophies show up in your PS3 account and vice versa (PS3 trophies show up at your Vita account)?

 

[Hasemo]

Do the Vita trophies show up in your PS3 account and vice versa (PS3 trophies show up at your Vita account)?

You can check your PS3 trophies in a separate tab on Vita. Don't know how it is the other way round.

Wow, I'm impressed - Disgaea 3 Return has an actual manual. Nice. Also, I've got the mini-soundtrack CD with it.

 

[ELAN]

EETimes has a good Vita teardown here:

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4233573/Inside-Sony-s-Vita--IBM--Toshiba--Avago

Main board front:

CPU die shot:

Curious notes:

- Contrary to previous reports, Samsung isn't manufacturing the CPU - Sony's old friends at IBM and Toshiba are

- The 512MB of main memory is split across three modules - one 256MB mobile DDR2-S4 module, and two 128MB mobile DDR2 modules. Wonder why this setup? Is the latter cheaper - maybe the RAM the OS uses, while the 'S4' is for the game? Don't know anything about these memory types but seems curious.

edit - cleaner link here: http://www.ubmtechinsights.com/teardowns/sony-playstation-vita-teardown/ The text there seems to contradict the memory info above, but their slide doesn't...so a bit confusing.

Where is the GPU and it's 128MB VRAM ?

 

[x3sphere]

Do the Vita trophies show up in your PS3 account and vice versa (PS3 trophies show up at your Vita account)?

On the Vita, you can view trophies from both systems. On PS3 it does not show Vita trophies, though any trophies earned are reflected in the total trophy count.

Presumably, Sony will add in the capability to view Vita trophies on PS3 with a firmware update... not sure why it wasn't added in 4.0 though.

 

[I'm an expert]

I doubt it. Game would most likely be accessing its own servers but couldn't 'see' the online pass ticket as I was on the wrong account.

but it is possible i guess


How do other games handle online? Is it only Sony using the passes?

Online passes are region free, in the sense that once you enter it into the games' native PSN account you can access online on any other account. My friends and I all play the Japanese versions of Battlefield 3 or Uncharted or whatever else online on non-J accounts. I would say it's best to wait until the proper regional PSNs are up for Vita. Are you a new gamer in Japan?

 

[Lupin3]

The game itself is good, but it's next toimpossible to play with random people from Japan online, as it's not really popular here.

That is weird. I keep finding matches. Played three in a row just now.

 

[Hasemo]

That is weird. I keep finding matches. Played three in a row just now.

The fact that I'm behind a dorm router may have something to do with it - I can play only with people with that one NAT after all.

 

[fudgey_lumpkins]

Online passes are region free, in the sense that once you enter it into the games' native PSN account you can access online on any other account. My friends and I all play the Japanese versions of Battlefield 3 or Uncharted or whatever else online on non-J accounts. I would say it's best to wait until the proper regional PSNs are up for Vita. Are you a new gamer in Japan?

That's because you are using a PS3 which stores multiple accounts. If you remove your Japanese account from your PS3 but keep your online pass, it won't connect.

 

[mrklaw]

Online passes are region free, in the sense that once you enter it into the games' native PSN account you can access online on any other account. My friends and I all play the Japanese versions of Battlefield 3 or Uncharted or whatever else online on non-J accounts. I would say it's best to wait until the proper regional PSNs are up for Vita. Are you a new gamer in Japan?

Vita is single account only though.

 

[x3sphere]

Hmm just to test... I tried downloading some PSP demos from my JPN account, connected Vita to PS3 but they don't show up for transferring.

Do only full games work?

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

EETimes has a good Vita teardown here:

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4233573/Inside-Sony-s-Vita--IBM--Toshiba--Avago

Main board front:

CPU die shot:

Curious notes:

- Contrary to previous reports, Samsung isn't manufacturing the CPU - Sony's old friends at IBM and Toshiba are

- The 512MB of main memory is split across three modules - one 256MB mobile DDR2-S4 module, and two 128MB mobile DDR2 modules. Wonder why this setup? Is the latter cheaper - maybe the RAM the OS uses, while the 'S4' is for the game? Don't know anything about these memory types but seems curious.

edit - cleaner link here: http://www.ubmtechinsights.com/teardowns/sony-playstation-vita-teardown/ The text there seems to contradict the memory info above, but their slide doesn't...so a bit confusing.

How much do these things cost? Can someone break it down?

 

[Hasemo]

Hmm just to test... I tried downloading some PSP demos from my JPN account, connected Vita to PS3 but they don't show up for transferring.

Do only full games work?

Probably as you can download them from Vita Store and I don't see any PSP demos there.

 

[gofreak]

Where is the GPU and it's 128MB VRAM ?

They say it's on the front of the main board, but they don't highlight it... Maybe it is under the shielding they haven't removed to the left of the CPU?

 

[Sintoid]

According to Andriasang Download on Vita went better than expected
Source
I hope someday we will know what does this means in numbers ^_^

 

[Hasemo]

I have a weird problem with charging via the USB. I have the USB charge option ON, but the home button isn't lit when the console is connected to my PC.

 

[Takao]

According to Andriasang Download on Vita went better than expected
Source
I hope someday we will know what does this means in numbers ^_^

We probably won't. Sony has companies sign NDAs regarding PSN sales in the public.

 

[dallow_bg]

I have a weird problem with charging via the USB. I have the USB charge option ON, but the home button isn't lit when the console is connected to my PC.

Apparently it doesn't.

 

[Hasemo]

Apparently it doesn't.

But demonoid says it does! (plus if it didn't putting that option there would be kind of useless)

 

[x3sphere]

Hah, tried the Near app and it found someone else playing the Vita 3 miles from me. Wasn't expecting it to find anyone nearby considering I'm in the US. The app is pretty neat... I like it better than StreetPass.

 

[darkwing]

Hah, tried the Near app and it found someone else playing the Vita 3 miles from me. Wasn't expecting it to find anyone nearby considering I'm in the US. The app is pretty neat... I like it better than StreetPass.

mind blown!

 

[Hasemo]

But demonoid says it does! (plus if it didn't putting that option there would be kind of useless)

Ok, question answered. To charge the system using a PC etc. you have to shut it down (no standby mode).

 

[I'm an expert]

Vita is single account only though.

Hm, and formatting to switch accounts probably destroys the online pass associated with the system when PSN checks. Do you have to redownload the online pass file when you switch back to your J-account? There might be a way to keep the system file on the memory card when switching accounts (that convoluted way dcharlie outlined?) and then you could access it when you're on a non-J-account? But unless they changed something with Vita online passes themselves, they technically should be totally region free like PS3 ones.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

We probably won't. Sony has companies sign NDAs regarding PSN sales in the public.

That´s so fucking dumb. We will know when these companies report their quarterly results. We know how much software sold from NPD and MC, and European results from Nintendo investor relation thingy. We will know how much digital will be sold one way or another.

 

[dallow_bg]

But demonoid says it does! (plus if it didn't putting that option there would be kind of useless)

Ok, question answered. To charge the system using a PC etc. you have to shut it down (no standby mode).

Oh, I meant that it doesn't glow orange with USB but does charge.
Does it glow when the system is off then?

 

[Takao]

That´s so fucking dumb. We will know when these companies report their quarterly results. We know how much software sold from NPD and MC, and European results from Nintendo investor relation thingy. We will know how much digital will be sold one way or another.

No we probably won't find those numbers in the quarterly reports. Those usually reference shipped numbers. How do you ship a PSN copy? There's also the fact that the NPD, and Chart Trak don't publicly release numbers either.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

No we probably won't find those numbers in the quarterly reports. Those usually reference shipped numbers. How do you ship a PSN copy? There's also the fact that the NPD, and Chart Trak don't publicly release numbers either.

No, they refer to the overall numbers. Capcom did it with Peace Walker iirc.

 

[Hasemo]

Oh, I meant that it doesn't glow orange with USB but does charge.
Does it glow when the system is off then?

Nah, it doesn't - the battery in the top right corner of the screen isn't sparking and stuff.
Yeah, when it's off the light glows.

 

[Number45]

Do we know if game data and saves are separated on the console the same (or similar) as they are on PS3? So that I can delete the game data (install, patches etc.) but maintain saves for the game.

Also, do we know if cloud saves will extend to Vita? I guess we won't know this until closer to EU/US launch as I don't think JPN has PS+ do they?

 

[Takao]

No, they refer to the overall numbers. Capcom did it with Peace Walker iirc.

I don't think Konami did that, but rather released a generic Metal Gear franchise sales total for the quarter.

 

[Lupin3]

Ok, question answered. To charge the system using a PC etc. you have to shut it down (no standby mode).

Thanks! This really confused me as well! Have been using the charger until now.

 

[Hasemo]

Thanks! This really confused me as well! Have been using the charger until now.

Same here, found the info in that Vita online manual. But still, why didn't they enable normal charging? It baffles me.

 

[goonergaz]

Or you can simply have a card, an account, and let them play the games without caring about accounts, only caring about not overwriting the save slots.

More or less like all people do in 3DS, in DS, in PSP, in GBA, etc...

sorry I like (as my kids do) earning their own trophies

 

[goonergaz]

Shit, looks like online passes aren't region free. I was hopeful because yesterday mingol tried to go online with my US account but the servers were undergoing maintenance.

Just tried again and its telling me that I need an online play ticket. So although I downloaded it when signed in with a Japanese psn account, its not working now

So multiplayer games that use online pass codes aren't region free, even if you buy physical cards

this is getting worrying for me, I will want 5 accounts on 1 PSV - it looks like I can use one big card (but have to install multiple versions of games - 1 for each account that wants to play it) and I will have to pay for an online pass for each user :S

I am becoming incredibly disapointed with the PSVita, I was really excited - expecting a mini-PS3 experience - but why they have screwed that about is beyond me...well, it can only be to make money on over-priced proprietry mem cards and such-like. The 'freedom' from these restrictions is what I love about PS3

I think I should go into hiding for a month or so until the dust has settled.

 

[dallow_bg]

New fishing game incoming.

http://andriasang.com/comzha/fish_on_vita/

 

[Number45]

The 'freedom' from these restrictions is what I love about PS3

Freedom didn't work out too well for Sony unfortunately.

 

[mrklaw]

Hm, and formatting to switch accounts probably destroys the online pass associated with the system when PSN checks. Do you have to redownload the online pass file when you switch back to your J-account? There might be a way to keep the system file on the memory card when switching accounts (that convoluted way dcharlie outlined?) and then you could access it when you're on a non-J-account? But unless they changed something with Vita online passes themselves, they technically should be totally region free like PS3 ones.

Resetting the vita shouldn't destroy anything, you just can't use it until you switch back to the purchasing account

 

[DangerousDave]

sorry I like (as my kids do) earning their own trophies

Well, you can learn them to cooperate to fulfill their goals (platinum the games), or spend a lot of money with 5 different cards and maybe 5 copies of each game (and, of course, DLC and any digital game), because it seems that the game card get attached to the account and you wont' get trophies of that game in other account unless you format the game card.

 

[Callibretto]

asian/hk psn store should be up now/soon, people should really experiment about this different account/region/card format thing fully.

 

[Gacha-pin]

asian/hk psn store should be up now/soon, people should really experiment about this different account/region/card format thing fully.

Can you give me a HK$200 psn card

 

[Binabik15]

But, but, but the most important thing is to use the Motion Aim in the game no matter how you might feel about it in the beginning. It almost completely negated any problems with shooting, as tilting the console makes aiming precise and fast. Takes a while to get used to, but when your brain learns it, you will do headshots in no time. On Normal difficulty I had 270 kills without dying, so that says something about the Motion Aim system, (or the enemy accuracy on normal). Tilting is good, but people on local trains must have thought I'm a looney as I tilted the console waaaay sideways sometimes. On public transports the Motion Aiming is a bit more difficult as you have to keep the console steady, but not definitely not impossible.

First, thanks for your impressions.


Second, I guess people will bitch and moan about tilting until it's pulled from the game, just like they did with Sixaxis grenades :/

 

[Number45]

Second, I guess people will bitch and moan about tilting until it's pulled from the game, just like they did with Sixaxis grenades :/

I don't see why they wouldn't give people the option of choosing which method they want to use.

 

[krumble]

Turned on near in Central London at work and it said there were 18 people "near"
pretty impressed - though for all I know they could be Sony employees or developers etc