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Sony Previews US$250/US$300 PS Vita, US$500 3D TV

The videogame software and console developer Sony Computer Entertainment previewed the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) — the successor to the PSP handheld system — and a US$499.99 3D television during its pre-E3 press conference on Monday.

Along with the previously reported release date of the end of 2011, Sony added that it is partnering with AT&T as the exclusive mobile carrier for the PS Vita for the United States. Sony will release a Wi-Fi-only PS Vita for US$249.99, and a 3G/Wi-Fi variant for US$299.99.

The PlayStation Vita, which means "life" in Latin, comes equipped with multiple new features including a 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED), front and rear cameras and touch panels, GPS, SixAxis tilt functionality and two analog sticks to complete traditional PlayStation controls.

A number of game highlights followed to demonstrate PS Vita's gameplay including:

• Uncharted: Golden Abyss shows off the high quality that the handheld system can achieve graphically while demonstrating touch-screen combat.
• ModNation Racers puts to good use the front and rear touch pads in manipulating terrain when creating race tracks.
• Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono formally announced Street Fighter X Tekken, being developed on the PS Vita with exclusive fighter Cole MacGrath of InFamous

Sony also announced that it will release a 24-inch 3D display this fall for US$499.99. The display will bundle 3D Glasses, an HDMI cable, and the Resistance 3 game from Insomniac Games for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) console.

The press conference confirmed that the classic game franchises ICO and God of War will be ported to the PlayStation 3 this fall.