Everything you need to know about Sony's next handheld.

Sony's next handheld is going to be here before you know it, and that means it's time to bone up on everything PlayStation Vita-related. We've compiled this ever-growing guide to answer all of your burning questions--but feel free to add stuff we missed or ask a question we didn't think of.

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The IGN PlayStation Vita Guide belongs to everyone.

What is the PlayStation Vita?

The PlayStation Vita is Sony's next handheld video game platform. On top of two analog sticks and a sexy widescreen, the PlayStation Vita features a rear touch pad, a front touch screen, all sorts of sensors and cameras.

What does "PlayStation Vita" even mean?

Vita is Latin for life. President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida told IGN Podcast Beyond that the name was chosen because the company envisions Vita being part of its users everyday life. It'll always have some utility for you. Leading up to E3 2011, many called the Vita the PSP2 or its codename, NGP for "Next Generation Portable."

When does the PlayStation Vita come out?

Sony has officially announced that the Vita will be released on December 17 in Japan, and February 22 in North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America. It will be released on January 2011 in The Philippines. You can get it a week earlier if you order the First Edition bundle which includes a Playstation Vita 3G in the US and Playstation Vita Wifi in Canada, with a 4 GB memory card, the game Little Deviants, and an exclusive case

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Vita box.jpg

Will the PS Vita have any Pre-Order Bonuses?



European product manager Adam Grant has revealed on the European PlayStation Blog two pre-order gift packs that will be available when the system launches next February.

The first pack will include a set of "PS Vita Blue" in-ear headphones. The second pack includes a PS Vita wallet "with a hidden compartment for 3 PS Vita cards and 3 PS Vita memory cards." Both packs will also include PSN vouchers for various discounts, avatars and PlayStation Home items.



Sony says the packs are currently only set for Europe but other territories will not get something similar.

How much will the PlayStation Vita cost?

The PlayStation Vita will come in two varieties. The Wi-Fi only model will cost ¥24,980, $249 and €249. The 3G model will cost ¥29,980, $299 and €299, UK wifi: £229.99 and 3G £279.99.

An estimated RRP of $308 and $408 for the Wi-Fi only model and the 3G model respectively has been given for Australia.

How does 3G work with PlayStation Vita?

If you buy a 3G-enabled PlayStation Vita, you'll be able to connect to the Internet from wherever you are--no need for a hotspot. AT&T is the exclusive U.S. 3G provider and will offer two month-by-month plans without a contract. For $14.99, you can get 250MB. For $25, you can get 2GB. The AT&T plans also give users free access to AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots.

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Vodafone have today announced a partnership that will see Vodafone as the preferred provider of 3G connectivity for PlayStation Vita initially in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands, and with Vodafone’s Partner in France (SFR).

In the Philipines, the provider for the Playstation Vita 3G feature will be Globe Telecom.

The PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi model sold in selected countries will come with a Vodafone SIM card so that users can immediately enjoy social gaming experiences on the go. Customers will also be able to buy PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi model direct from Vodafone channels, both online and in store. In addition, customers connecting with Vodafone will receive a PlayStation Network voucher to download WipEout 2048 from PlayStation Store."

Will I be able to have multiple PSN accounts on the Vita?



Players who want to use multiple accounts will have the option of doing so, but each account will need to be bonded to its own memory card. To switch the cards and use the same Vita, you'll need to factory reset the handheld. Check out this video...

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Will I be able to play my PSP games on the PS Vita?



Yes and no. If you're talking about getting yout UMDs on the Vita, the answer is complicated. There's a program called the UMD Passport that allows you to get discounts on digital versions of the PSP games you own, but it's only in Japan. It's not in North America.

If you're talking about digital PSP game you already own, the answer is "yes." Here's how...

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Will I be able to take screenshots on the Vita?

"By pressing the PlayStation and Start buttons together, the Vita snaps a screengrab and saves it to the system's photo gallery (similar to the iPhone/iPad)."

Will games come with paper manuals?



Reportedly, PS Vita games ship without game manuals and instead rely on Online Manuals to inform players. This page is meant to be an archive of web links to all such manuals.

What's the coolest PlayStation Vita game?

It's impossible to answer that as we haven't reviewed any of them, but several titles have caught the attention of various IGN editors. Sound Shapes is a music game that allows you to create songs and then use them to create a platforming level. LittleBigPlanet Vita takes what you know about Sackboy and tosses in a bunch of cool uses for the PlayStation Vita tech. Super Stardust Delta takes the awesome gameplay we love and amplifies it with back touch controls. Meanwhile, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is literally Uncharted in your pocket. Awesome.



What is PlayStation Vita Near

Near is Sony's location-based social network. The program uses PlayStation Vita's Wi-Fi or 3G capabilities to see what people have been playing in the area. Nearby gamers can even "gift" game-related items to fellow players.

What is PlayStation Vita LiveArea?

LiveArea is the PlayStation Vita's new interface--a new version of the XMB. You touch the game or app you want to use, and are then launched into that piece of software. LiveArea will apparently be a part of each PlayStation Vita game and constantly update with information and the activity of other people playing the same game. Little is known about the feature beyond that.

Will the PlayStation Vita be region locked?

Vice President of Sony Worldwide Studios Europe Michael Denny said that--to the best of his knowledge--the PlayStation Vita would be region free. This would allow players to play games from anywhere in the world on their Vitas rather than a Japanese Vita only being able to play Japanese games.

What format are PlayStation Vita games?

PlayStation Vita games will come on flash memory cards--either 2GB or 4GB. Games will also be available via digital downloads. In retail stores games will be priced at $29.99, $39.99, or $49.99 in the U.S. In the U.K. they will be approximately £22.97, $32.97, and £42.97.

What is the battery life of the PlayStation Vita?



The PlayStation Vita's battery lasts around five hours based on what you're using the system for. IGN Tech Tower Scott Lowe has done extensive tests for your reading pleasure.

What are the PlayStation Vita's specs?



Check out the PS Vita specs sheet for the full deets. The short:

CPU

ARM Cortex A9 core

(4 core)

GPU

SGX543MP4+

Width

182.0mmm

Height

83.5mm

Thickness

18.6mm

Screen

OLED 16:9 display

5 inches (diagonally)

960 x 544 resolution

Approx. 16 million colors

Capacitive multi-touch screen

Who will be the Canadian 3G Provider?



While it has not been confirmed yet. There is speculations on the net that the 3G will be supported by Rogers Communication.

Currently, the Xperia Play (Playstation Phone) can only be purchased through Rogers WIreless. This past month, Sony and Rogers teamed up to have a special promotion where any new customers that bought 2 smartphones together would get a Playstation 3 for only $100. This trend would suggest that Rogers will be the provider in Canada to support 3G. Rumour tell that the Canadian 3G version of the PS Vita would come out in april.

Who will be the UK 3G Provider?

When you buy your 3G model from any UK outlet, a Vodafone SIM card will be included in the box.

A £5 top up on your SIM gets you 250mb of data for 30 days.

Currently Vodafone are the only network provide on offer but could be subject to change.

vodafone deal

If you top up £5 on your Vodafone SIM, you will get WipEout 2048 free of charge and if you buy your PlayStation Vita from the Vodafone store for £279, they'll throw in a 4GB memory card as well.

Which system is better, PS Vita or Nintendo 3DS?

The better system depends on your preferences. Each system has their share of advantages and disadvantages, but this wiki can only speak to Vita's advantages. Head on over to IGN Nintendo to find out about 3DS and its games. Or just check out IGN's 3DS Launch Guide:

Will there be support for indie developers?



Yes. Sony is reportedly providing devkits to indie developers free of charge, which should definitely help in that arena.

Does the rear touch pad work in the browser?