Having bought a Sony PSP, I wasn't really ready to leap forward with Sony for their Vita launch. I didn't see this platform exceeding the PSP's success, so I waited on the sidelines. As time passed, Sony released the Playstation TV micro concole that had an odd feature - a Vita game slot.
Originally intended to stream or download Playstatoin titles, the PSTV didn't catch on with gamers and the price fell substantially. Being a fan of quirky gaming accessories, I decided to buy one with the thought of using it to play the compatible Vita games and to see what else it would do.
Sony PlayStation TV, PS TV - Technical Specifications
PlayStation TV (aka - PS TV), known in Japan and other parts of Asia as the PlayStation Vita TV or PS Vita TV, is a microconsole, and a non-handheld variant of the PlayStation Vita handheld game console. It was released in Japan on November 14, 2013, North America on October 14, 2014, and Europe and Australasia on November 14, 2014.
In Japan, PlayStation TV was the name given to PlayStation 3 retail kiosks from 2006 to 2014, which consisted of a PS3 unit, a LCD monitor and a number of controllers.
Instead of featuring a display screen, the console connects to a television via HDMI. Users can play using a DualShock 3 controller (with functionality for DualShock 4 controllers added with the 3.10 firmware update released on 25 March 2014), although due to the difference in features between the controller and the handheld, certain games are not compatible with PS Vita TV, such as those that are dependent on the system's microphone, camera, or gyroscopic features. The device is said to be compatible with over 100 Vita games, as well as various digital PlayStation Portable, PlayStation, and PC Engine titles, along with a selection of PlayStation 3 titles streamed from the PlayStation Now service. The device is technically referred to by Sony as the VTE-1000 series, to distinguish it from the handheld PCH-1000/2000 series PS Vita models.
According to Muneki Shimada, Sony Director of the Second Division of Software Development, the original PCH-1000 series PlayStation Vita already includes an upscaler that supports up to 1080i resolution, however it was decided that the idea for video output for the original Vita was to be scrapped in favor for releasing the PlayStation Vita TV as a separate device for television connectivity. The in-built scaler has been removed from the PCH-2000 series PlayStation Vita model.
The system supports Remote Play compatibility with the PlayStation 4, allowing players to stream games from the PlayStation 4 to a separate TV connected to PS Vita TV, and also allows users to stream content from video services such as Hulu and Niconico, as well as access the PlayStation Store. PS4 Remote Play functionality for the PS Vita TV gained full support with the release of the 1.70 PS4 firmware update. The device includes the software features of the PS Vita, such as the Web browser and email client. There are future plans for media server and DLNA support for remote video streaming and image/audio file transfer.
The console measures 6.5 cm by 10.5 cm, about the size of a pack of playing cards.
Reception
PC World called the device an acknowledgement of the failure of the PS Vita, saying Sony had ceded that space to the Nintendo 3DS. IGN, meanwhile, said the console "may be one of Sony's most exciting new products and could provide a critical edge for the PS4."
Various commentators have compared the device to set-top boxes - including media streaming devices (such as Apple TV and Chromecast) and other microconsoles, such as the Ouya. Time said the console could compete well against set-top box competitors with a quality library of games. At launch however, the game library was limited to a subset of PS Vita games, which negatively impacted early reviews.
The PlayStation TV, along with the PlayStation 4, won the 2014 Good Design Award from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.
The PlayStation TV sold 42,172 units during its debut week of release in Japan. The PlayStation TV was heavily marketed alongside God Eater 2 which was released on the same day as the device, and placed at the top of the Japanese software sales charts for that week.