Sony Brings Gaming To Android - Competition To Marketplace

Sony is all in with mobile gaming. Not only will it release it own mobile gaming device based on Android OS, Xperia Play "Playstation Phone", it is offering a coding environment for developers to create games for this Sony app. And it will require devices running the latest Android OS, 2.3.

How will this change things?

We're not exactly sure at this moment but this is very exciting news. Sony also introduced their next generation PSP, NGP "next-generation portable", that promises PS3 like graphics and gaming, we have to assume that this Android app will be a very different thing all together.

Still, having access to a library of PSP games is great news for Android gamers. These are games from top tier developers that have yet to commit to Android, or for that matter, Apple's iOS devices.

Sony only would commit to 2011 but would not say when that would be. This is likely a good move for Sony but for Android gaming, we might see a shift away from Marketplace if developers believe they can deliver quality gamings through Sony's setup than through Google.

Here are some key points from Sony's press release:

• Gaming and gamers have diversified. This explains why Sony is deliver a Playstation gaming environment on Android while developing PSP2 in tangent.
• Will offer a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers.
• Classic Playstation games will be offered - Woohoo!
• There will be a Playstation Store
• Will have SDK for developers to create games and sell through the PS Store
• Will require Android 2.3 and beyond.

On a level of a mobile warrior, this news from Sony is great. We're talking about increased competition for our wallets. It'll be interesting to see Sony's device competitors like Motorola, Samsung, LG, and HTC open up and install Sony's Playstation app.

Furthermore, this really has Nintendo, and maybe Apple, scramble back to the drawing board to come up with an answer. So stay tuned. I get the feeling well get more answers at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June.

More at Android Community.

How Microsoft, Nintendo, And Sony Will Bring Portable Gaming to Mobile Computing Market

Some quick thoughts about mobile gaming in the age of app stores, casual gaming, and diminished support for portable gaming consoles, is it time to give thought to how Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will go on. I see a merger of platforms, birth of new ones, and a salad of old tech mixed with the new.

Which is better?

More at Onxo.

Sony And Android Versus Windows Phone With XBox Live

You may have heard by now that Windows Phone 7 (WP7) will be connected to Microsoft's successful Xbox Live experience in a mobile manner.

Of course, Sony is also looking to merge its PSP brand with Android. That is to say that its PSP experience will run on top of Android.

Here's the difference and I'll let you decide what's good or not for Android. Microsoft owns WP7 as well as the Xbox Live brands. That means it controls the whole ecosystem. Anyone who wants to make devices for it will need to participate in the whole ecosystem to some extent. And who would want to have WP7 san the Xbox Live experience?

On the other hand, I see Sony's move to Android as a bet it all sort of maneuver. PSP is a recognized brand. I don't see Sony gaining much from this other than that folks can run PSP games as well as Android games. That would be terrific.

But what of developers who don't have access to the PSP catalog at all? Will they lose out? If you're EA or another developer, would you want to bring your game over to Android but only have it run on Sony's own devices but no on HTC, Droids, or the variants of Galaxy S? Or will you choose to develop it specifically for the Android and be sure that it runs on all devices?

Sony certainly brings a lot of energy to the platform and Google would like nothing more than to have a powerhouse like Sony, both as a gaming and hardware developer. But it might leave a few others feeling like they're second class.

What Does Xperia Plus PSP Mean? Possibly The Endgame

Android is pretty buff these days. It's doing very well and probably on its way to dominate the mobile market. Not this year. Maybe not even next year. But eventually it will. However, today's news that Sony may be on the verge of releasing an Android device and merge it with its powerful (yes, second to Nintendo's DSi but well-known) PSP brand, Sony have have something on its hand to crawl back to the top of the mobile market.

So why haven't Sony done this before and why now?

Timing of course. And Android's maturity as a mobile OS is on the level, if not better, of other platforms. Furthermore, Sony is hurting pretty badly in the mobile realm without really a flagship device that has capture the hearts and imaginations of users the way Droid and Samsung's Galaxy S has. Plus, PSP, while a pretty viable platform in its own right, really hasn't lit a fire in the portable gaming market, consistently trailing incumbent, Nintendo.

But by merging the PSP brand with Android, Sony is betting that it might be the right combination to catapult it to the top. Heck, as well as Droid is doing, it hasn't come close to the numbers iPhone puts up in sales. But a PSP/Android phone might be able to achieve that level of success and even take back some gaming market-share from Apple.

Furthermore, Sony isn't likely to be content with just the games in the Marketplace. I've got a feeling that top tier games will follow. Don't be surprise if Sony and Google work together to create a little boutique place just for Sony in the store. Yeah, Google is in this to win and with Sony on its side, Google will have more arsenal against other mobile platforms.

Imagine all the riches of the PSP on the Android, even if it's just for Sony's Android device. Heck, Sony might even be interested in licensing the ability to place PSP branded games to other Android hardware makers. Imagine God of War, Final Fantasy, and SOCOM on the Android!

Right now, we don't know when we're going to be seeing this new PSP phone. However, as patient as I've been waiting for T-Mobile to introduce its HSPA+ phones, I can be persuaded to wait a bit longer if Sony's gaming partnership with Google is as good as I think it can be.

Of course, this isn't necessarily a guarantee of success. Sony is basically taking a great game. In the past, I've speculated that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo will get their gaming platform into the phone market. It's finally happen, at least with Sony. And it is a gamble. If this doesn't work, it can really tarnish the PSP and Playstation brand.

Sony is basically going all in. I hope this gamble pays off.

More at Engadget.