HTC will be the first manufacturer outside Sony to gain PlayStation certification for its Android phones and tablets, according to reports.

Pocket-lint claims it has been informed by sources that the announcement will come during 2012, possibly as soon as this month's Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona.

The PlayStation certification scheme brings classic PSOne games to Android devices and was planned as a cross-platform initiative.

However, until now only Sony-branded devices like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play have the nod.

Among the PlayStation Certified games already available are Crash Bandicoot, Bruce Lee, Asphalt Adrenaline 6, Splinter Cell: Conviction.

2012 boost for HTC

An announcement would be a major boost to the Taiwanese manufacturer as the 2012 mobile landscape begins to unfold.

The company endured an underwhelming 2011 which it attributed to flooding the market with too many devices and confusing its customer base.

After acquiring Beats Audio in 2011, it looks like the early Android pioneer will have an improved gaming, as well as listening, experience as the year progresses.

HTC itself has not commented on the story.

The PlayStation Vita online store is, at least partly, up and running in the United States.

The console goes on sale in the US and Europe on February 22nd, but those lucky few who've imported a console from Japan can now access the download portal.

Joystiq reports that the store already features five titles as Sony looks to get the infrastructure in tip-top condition for the official launch later this month.

The titles available are: Hot Shots Golf, ModNation Racers, Super Stardust, Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Wipeout 2048.

Online play working too

Joystiq says it was also able to get involved in a Vita vs Vita online battle with Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, so it appears that that aspect of the online portal is up and running too.

If you're one of those Sony loyalists desperate to get your hands on the new PlayStation Portable, check out our newly minted PS Vita review.

Vodafone has revealed more details about its partnership with Sony for the PS Vita which sees the company as the exclusive 3G carrier for the handheld.

TechRadar revealed back in November that Vodafone would be the exclusive 3G network for the PlayStation Vita but at the time nothing was mentioned about pricing.

Now Vodafone has updated its details and revealed just what you will get in the bundle and how much everything will cost.

PS Vita price

The PlayStation Vita 3G will be coming to Vodafone stores for £279. The bundle will include a free 4GB memory card, a PAYG SIM card which when topped up with £5 will get you a free download of WipEout 2048 and 250MB of data lasting up to 30 days.

Other than 3G connectivity, the main difference between the PS Vita 3G and the Wi-Fi only version is that you get in-built GPS so you can track what your friends are up to.

If you would prefer the Wi-Fi version then it is currently, on Amazon for £218.99 – with the PS Vita UK release date set for 22 February.

The TechRadar PS Vita review gave the handheld 4.5 stars and said "as a portable console this is about as good as it gets".

That sounds like we are channelling MasterChef but you get the idea.

The Japanese UMD Passport service that allows PSP users to download versions of their physical UMD games to the PlayStation Vita won't be available in the US.

Sony has confirmed that the service, for which it charges Japanese users a small fee will not be accompanying the PlayStation Vita's 22 February launch.

The company hasn't offered an explanation for the decision, although the effectiveness of the service in Japan is hampered by the lack of support by games publishers. At its launch, big names like Capcom, Konami, Namco and Square Enix were all notably missing from the lineup.

There is no word on what will happen in the UK and Europe, though with the news that the UMD Passport isn't going to the US, we suspect that it won't make it out of Japan at all.

Two pockets, two PlayStations

The news means that PSP owners with huge UMD collections will have to keep hold of their old console to play old favourites.

The decision rewards those who have opted to buy game downloads instead of physical media (where possible) as those downloads will be playable on the PS Vita.

This news follows Sony's announcement that PlayStation Network accounts will be killed off to be rebranded as Sony Entertainment Network.

For more on Sony's new handheld, get eyes-on with Tech Radar's full PS Vita review.

The PS Vita will get a firmware update on 8 February that adds maps and video recording.

Though it's not out in the UK until 22 February, Japanese gamers already have Sony's handheld console firmly in their grasp.

The firmware update will add a maps application that, judging by screen shots, uses Google Maps data to get users where they want to go.

To 3G or not to 3G

However, only the 3G version of the PlayStation Vita will have GPS hardware onboard – something for buyers to weigh up when deciding whether to go for the Wi-Fi-only or 3G variety.

Video recording will be added to the Photos app – rectifying what was a glaring omission in the launch version of the console.

Alongside the update, Sony will be releasing a Mac version of the Content Manager application which is needed to pump digital content to and from the Vita.

Sony has confirmed that PS Vita games will be sold at a discounted price as downloads from the US PlayStation Store.

This system is already in operation in Japan, and with the US market going the same way it's likely that the UK PlayStation store will also be seeing discounted downloads.

The downloads will also be available at the same time as the physical media, so apart from fans of the collector's edition, it could spell the end to the launch day shop queue.

Games on physical media are hardly ever sold at full price, so the download discount may not be that significant, or an overall discount at all.

Buy a code for a cheaper game

The process of buying a game could get a little more complicated, as shops offer discounts for PSN downloads to maintain their lower price against physical media.

For example, US retailer Best Buy is selling discounted download codes that mean the downloads end up around 10 percent cheaper than the shrink-wrapped cards.

How it works in the UK remains to be seen, but going for downloads over physical media is probably safer – those little cards look to be pretty easy to lose.

When the Sony PlayStation Vita launches on 22 February, the line-up of games is set to include Uncharted: Golden Abyss, WipEout 2048 and Motorstorm RC, among others.

Sony is sending a PS Vita to every branch of Game and Gamestation for customers and shop managers to try before its official 22 February release date.

In addition, 150 stores will get a Vita Interactive Display Unit – that's a PlayStation Vita on a bendy arm in Sony speak. So expect to queue if you want to get a preview play under your belt.

"PlayStation Vita is an amazing piece of technology - but the very best way to make people realise this, is by putting it in their hands," said Fergal Gara, Sony Computer Entertainment UK's Vice President and Managing Director.

"The beauty and clarity of the 5 inch OLED screen, the ergonomic design with the dual analogue joysticks, the interaction of the rear touch panel, all come emphatically to life."

Will Vita shake the room for you?

There are yet still other ways to get a taste of Sony's soon-to-be-released handheld as the PS Vita Room which is currently operating in Glasgow, will be moving down to London to open 17 February.

Among the demo games available to testers are WipEout 2048, Uncharted Golden Abyss, Reality Fighters, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Little Deviants and Everybody's Gold.

"With our own Vita Rooms and now, with this opportunity for consumers to sample PS Vita in any of Game or Gamestation's 600 specialist retail stores, the excitement can only continue to build," said Gara.

Nintendo has announced that the controller for its next console, the Nintendo Wii U, will support near field communication (NFC).

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata gave some example of some possible uses for NFC in the Wii U, saying that, "By installing this functionality, it will become possible to create cards and figurines that can electronically read and write data via noncontact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world."

So games like Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, which currently uses a "Portal of Power" peripheral to recognise character figures placed on it, would be able to work without the peripheral, and potentially interact in more sophisticated ways.

The NFC hardware included in the Wii U will be compatible with the widely-used FeliCa and MIFARE standards.

Pay as you play

Iwata went on to say: "Adoption of this functionality will enable various other possibilities such as using it as a means of making micropayments."

Whether these micropayments are made to the Wii U or by the Wii U is unclear, though somehow we can't imagine ourselves waving a Wii U controller around at the supermarket checkout, so using contactless payment cards to pay for downloads could be on its way.

The announcement came alongside the news that the company is launching the Nintendo Network service for 3DS and Wii U which will allow multiple user accounts, full game downloads and more sophisticated gaming interactions than the rather limited Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Find all the latest news about Nintendo's newest console in our Wii U: all the latest details feature.

Nintendo has announced it is launching an online service called Nintendo Network which will be available to 3DS users and then extended to the Wii U when it is launched later this year.

At an investor presentation, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata unveiled the new service, the logo for which had already mysteriously appeared on the Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy game box.

Iwata said the service will include "competitions and communication among users, as well as the sales of digital content," for both the current 3DS handheld console and the soon to be released Wii U.

Multiple user accounts

The Wii U offering will also have support for personal user accounts, compared to the current system where software is tied to a single hardware system rather than the user who bought it.

This differs vastly from the rather limited Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection currently available to the original Wii console, and will allow communication between users for the first time.

Iwata also spoke of "Community" matches for Mario Kart 7.

The Nintendo Network could not only serve up add-on content, but also whole games as well: "this concept was built into the design of the Nintendo 3DS, and we already have the necessary infrastructure," Iwata said.

That same infrastructure is being cooked up for the Wii U, but as yet there is no firm release date for its launch.

Can't wait for the Wii U? Techradar has all the latest details on the Wii U and a Nintendo Wii U hands-on review to scratch that itch.

Details of a new pocket version of the 90s Neo Geo console have leaked.

The new hardware is branded with original Neo Geo maker SNK's logo and its 2GB storage comes preloaded with 20 classic arcade games including the likes of Metal Slug and Fatal Fury.

Games are played on a 4.3-inch screen surrounded by a full complement of gaming controls.

In addition to the obligatory start and select buttons, there's a thumb stick and four game control buttons on the front. There are also four shoulder buttons on the top edge, as well as volume and brightness controls on the bottom edge.

It appears to be well specified on the connections front too, with a 3.5mm headphone socket, AV out socket, MiniUSB and an SD card slot.

iPhone aping

Disappointingly, a metal band around its edge means it bears more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone 4/4S and highlights some fairly unoriginal styling.

Many of the games included are available on the PSP title SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 and as downloads from the PlayStation Store, but 90s nostalgics will surely be keen to get their hands on some "official" hardware to play them.

There's no price or release date from Famicom Plaza – the Japanese gaming blog that released the information – but we wait hopefully for confirmation of the new Neo Geo pocket console from SNK itself.

In the meantime we'll leave you with the full list of included games:

• World Heroes
• Ultimate 11
• Top Player's Golf
• Sengoku
• Nam-1975
• Mutation Nation
• Last Resort
• King of Monsters
• Frenzy
• Cyber Lip
• Fatal Fury Special
• Art of Fighting
• Super Sidekicks
• League Bowling
• Metal Slug
• Magical Lord
• Baseball Stars Professional
• Samurai Shodown
• King of Fighters '94
• Fatal Fury

With the PS Vita just around the corner for non-Japanese audiences, the latest episode of Sony's Access TV for PlayStation owners takes a look at the forthcoming handheld console.

Acess TV's weekly offering, produced by TechRadar's publisher Future, is available on YouTube for free.

"New hardware launches are always the most exciting time in the games industry, and the arrival of PlayStation Vita in the office was a big day," Access TV editor Nathan Ditum told TechRadar.

"We're just beginning to find out what it can do, and we'll have a lot more coverage over the next few weeks."

Naughty Dog

Also included for people's perusal is a look at The Last of Us from Naughty Dog – the people behind the smash hit Uncharted series.

"Naughty Dog's Uncharted series is the biggest on PS3, and it was thrill to visit the studio as the team were announcing their new survival drama, The Last Of Us," added Ditum

"These guys make games like no-one else – listen to the way they discuss performance and story in our interview, and it's clear they're just approaching it from a different direction."

Google has announced that the cloud gaming service OnLive will be installed on its Google TV platform.

The OnLive platform lets users play full console titles via the cloud on a subscription basis, rather than requiring a download or physical media.

All that Google TV owners will need to start gaming is a Universal OnLive Wireless Controller which looks like a console control pad and costs just £39.99 from the OnLive website.

The complete service won't be available straight away, but Google TV users can explore the "viewer" which allows them to watch and use OnLive social features.

Vizio games

Vizio is showcasing the first TVs with the playable OnLive service built in at CES 2012 and will be the first manufacturer to feature the service in its Google TV products.

The service also allows players to try before they buy – spending up to 30 minutes playing almost any of OnLive's 200 games before having to subscribe.

It has already landed on tablets and even the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

With the addition of Google TV, the OnLive service is becoming an even more attractive prospect as users enjoy the benefits of being able to start a game on one device and pick it up later on another – choosing from big name games like LA Noire and Batman: Arkham Asylum.

And OnLive doesn't just deal in games – Tech Radar has just tested OnLive Desktop which gives iPad users a full Windows desktop via its cloud service.

Sony has revealed that it sold an impressive 6.5 million PlayStation consoles and handhelds in the busy Christmas period, including half a million PS Vita consoles despite a Japan-only launch so far.

With the PS Vita due to arrive outside of Japan in February, Sony will have been buoyed by sales of the handheld in its home market and also by decent PS3 figures.

Apparently 3.9 million people globally snapped up a PS3, and 1.7 million more invested in Move motion controllers.

Holiday

"The PS3 system exceeded 3.9 million units worldwide during the holiday sales season, and continues to build momentum and remains on track to reach its annual sales target of 15.0 million hardware units worldwide in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012," said Sony.

Interestingly, Sony also revealed that the PSP - the PS Vita's predecessor - sold creditably, with 1.6 million purchased in the period; not too shoddy for a handheld that is about to be replaced.

"The PSP platform continued its growth, attracting a broader range of users with its enhanced line-up of software titles from 3rd party developers and publishers as well as from [Sony Computer Entertainment]," added the release.

Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo 3DS is far from the flop that many assumed it was, with news that the handheld has sold more than the Wii did in its first nine months of release.

In 2011, Nintendo managed to sell over 12 million units of hardware in the US, with this breaking down as 'more than' 4 million 3DS handhelds, 4.5 million Wiis and around 3.5 million Nintendo DS consoles.

This means that Nintendo has sold over 51 million Wiis in the US since its release. According to Nintendo, however, the 3DS has sold more in the nine months it has been in existence when you compare like for like with the Wii launch.

Massive lineup

"One of the strongest software lineups in our history helped Nintendo have a great holiday season and to close 2011 with a full head of steam," explained Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

"Not only have the new Mario and Zelda titles already broken records, but with strong reviews and satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences, all three are also shaping up to be the latest long-tail titles from Nintendo.

"Couple that with a massive first- and third party lineup in the first part of the year and the prospects for 2012 are extremely promising."

Nintendo will be hoping the 3DS sales boom continues into 2012, given that the PlayStation Vita is about to muscle in on its patch.

Sony has officially announced UK and European prices for PS Vita accessories and games, but also revealed no 32GB memory card will be available at launch.

A launch line-up of 25 games has been unveiled for the US, but not the full final list for PAL regions (Europe, New Zealand and Australia).

We have been offered a price list for the first-party games from Sony itself; and you'll be expected to fork out up to a staggering £55 for some.

Memory hog?

With the pricings comes the news that the largest of the official memory cards (32GB) is not coming to the PAL regions at launch.

"At this time we are not planning to launch with the 32GB Vita Memory Card," said Sony's PS Vita European Product Manager Adam Grant.

That means the options are a 4GB, 8GB or 16GB card for your sparkly new handheld ahead of the PS Vita UK, US and PAL release date of 22 February.

First-Party games:

Uncharted: Golden Abyss - €49.99/£44.99/$69.95 AUD/$89.95 NZD

ModNation Racers: Road Trip - €39.99/£34.99/$54.95 AUD/$69.95 NZD

Everybody's Golf - €39.99/£34.99/$54.95 AUD/$69.95 NZD

WipEout 2048 - €39.99/£34.99/$54.95 AUD/$69.95 NZD

Unit 13 - €39.99/£34.99/$54.95 AUD/$69.95 NZD

Little Deviants - €29.99/£24.99/$39.95 AUD/$54.95 NZD

Reality Fighters - €29.99/£24.99/$39.95 AUD/$54.95 NZD

Memory Cards:

4Gb Memory Card - €19.99/£17.99/$26.95 AUD/$34.95 NZD

8Gb Memory Card - €34.99/£31.99/$44.95 AUD/$59.95 NZD

16Gb Memory Card - €49.99/£44.99/$64.95 AUD/$84.95 NZD

Peripherals:

AC adaptor - €9.99/£8.99/$12.95 AUD/$16.95 NZD

Portable charger - €49.99/£44.99/$64.95 AUD/$84.95 NZD

USB cable - €9.99/£8.99/$12.95 AUD/$16.95 NZD

In-ear headset - €19.99/£17.99/$26.95 AUD/$34.95 NZD

Starter kit - €24.99/ £21.99/$34.95 AUD/$44.95 NZD

Travel kit - €29.99/ £25.99/$39.95 AUD/$49.95 NZD

Sony has revealed the full line-up of games which will be available for the PlayStation Vita console when it launches on 22 February.

There will be 25 games available in total, priced from $10-$50, with Sony calling claiming that "PS Vita will have the biggest and best lineup we've ever launched across the history of PlayStation platforms."

Sony says there are over 100 games in development, but these are the titles that will be available from day one:

SCEA Launch Day Titles
Escape Plan (PSN Only), Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, Hustle Kings (PSN Only), Little Deviants, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Super StarDust Delta (PSN only), UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, wipEout 2048.

Third Party Publisher Launch Day Titles
Army Corps of Hell (Square Enix), Asphalt Injection (Ubisoft), BEN10 GALACTIC RACING (D3 Publisher of America), Blazblue: Continuum Shift EXTEND (Aksys Games Localization), Dungeon Hunter Alliance (Ubisoft), Dynasty Warriors Next (Tecmo Koei America), F1 2011 (Codemasters), EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer (Electronic Arts), Lumines Electronic Symphony (Ubisoft), Michael Jackson The Experience (Ubisoft), Plants vs. Zombies (PSN Only, Sony Online Entertainment LLC) Rayman Origins (Ubisoft), Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen (Namco Bandai Games America), Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN Only, Drinkbox Studios), Touch My Katamari (Namco Bandai Games America), Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 (Capcom Entertainment), Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition (Sega of America).

Memory card bonus

Sony has also revealed that expandable memory cards will be a little less expensive than previously thought.

A 4GB memory card will be $19.99, an 8GB card will be $29.99, 16GB of extra storage will set you back $59,99, while the full 32GB will be a whopping $99.99.

The full list of available accessories and pricing has been posted on the Sony PlayStation blog.

For those counting the days, the PlayStation Vita will go on sale exactly two months from today in the US, Canada and Europe.

Sony has apologised to early PlayStation Vita adopters after this weekend's Japanese launch was blighted by a host of software bugs.

The company enjoyed a strong opening weekend of sales, but users have complained of a host of flaws, causing Sony to issue an immediate software fix.

Among the faults, shown off in videos users have uploaded to YouTube (see below), are complaints of unresponsive touchscreens and complete system freezes.

Other users have reported that the device cannot be shut down during online play and will not power up after it has been charging.

Statement

Sony has issued the statement apologising for the issues with the software update, which has been translated, badly, by Google Translate.

If you can make sense of this, it reads: "Currently, special office and information center PlayStation Vita, has gotten more inquiries contact usually by the time zone we call remained a difficult tie. Apologize for any inconvenience to customers, Sorry.

"PlayStation Vita some of the inquiries have been received about the PlayStation Vita, by you doing your handy and easy, some cases improved. So we offer a Q & A below, before submitting an inquiry, try you for your check, thank you."

The PS Vita UK release date is 22 February, so hopefully Sony can iron out the traditional teething problems before the console reaches these shores.

Sony has released its next-generation handheld, the PS Vita, in Japan with many shops in Tokyo opening early for the launch.

It has been a torrid year for Sony, with hacks and natural disasters eating into its profits, so the company will be hoping that the launch of the PlayStation Vita will be the start of better times.

With the emergence of smartphone gaming, however, the dedicated handheld console market has taken a bit of a bashing.

Earlier in the year, the Nintendo 3DS was released to rave reviews but garnered lukewarm sales – a recent price reduction, though, has seen something of a sales lift.

PS Vita launch

While Nintendo went with the gimmick of 3D to sell its handheld, Sony has gone for power and the backing of a decent roster of games.

To figure out just what is under the hood of the PS Vita, OLED Display has given the handheld a tear down, exposing its innards for all to see.

It seems that the OLED display has been created by Samsung, as has the flexible printed circuit board.

As the Sony PS Vita release date is pegged for February, all we can do for now – unless you have contacts in Japan – is sit and admire the PS Vita, components and all, from afar.

Big budget movies are being pipped to the record-breaking post by triple-A gaming titles as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 swept to $1 billion of sales in its first 16 days of release.

Its vast success has led Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick to put the Call of Duty franchise on a par with Star Wars.

The 16 day rush to $1 billion makes Modern Warfare 3 the fastest-selling entertainment product of all time, which is hardly surprising since Activision claimed the game enjoyed the "biggest entertainment launch ever" in November too.

Sign of the times

After shifting $400 million-worth of games in its first 24 hours of release, the first person shooter made it to $1 billion-worth just fifteen days later.

That's quicker than the previous entertainment record holders, Avatar and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two - both movies made it to $1 billion after 17 days.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is quite happy with the situation, describing Call of Duty's contribution to popular culture as "indelible".

"Call of Duty is now amongst that rarefied group of sustained franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and the National Football League that attract or engage tens of millions of people every year or every new release," he said.

But 2012 is set to be a big year for gaming as the PS Vita and Nintendo Wii U both burst onto the scene – will Modern Warfare 3 be able to hold on to its crown or will the casual gaming army rise up and quash it?

Waiting eagerly for the PS Vita's February launch? Here's everything you need to know about Sony's new handheld console in handy video format:

After initial delays, Nintendo has released a software update for the Nintendo 3DS, enabling new features including 3D video recording.

Nintendo had planned to release the update before the end of November before then pushing it back to 8 December. Now it seems that Christmas has come one day early for 3DS owners as the update is available today.

This software update is fairly sparse when compared to the bumper overhaul the Xbox 360 dashboard update brought this week, but then 3D video recording is something the Xbox 360 definitely won't do. The other new features coming to the 3DS are new game content in StreetPass Mii Plaza, including Find Mii II as well as the transfer of downloaded software and data between Nintendo 3DS systems.

10-minute limit

Unfortunately, the 3D recording does come with a 10-minute limit, but then you probably won't find many people willing to watch a shaky 10 minute continuous take 3D film made on your 3DS.

It's another feature that fits into Nintendo's plan to focus more on casual, women and 50+ gamers. Though even if you've done what Nintendo wants and bought grandma a 3DS for Christmas she might not be shooting 3D videos on a daily basis.

If you're excitedly clutching your 3DS but don't have the update yet, you can check out Nintendo's instructions for how to perform a system update and you'll be filming a 3D present opening epic in no time.