Calling All Gaming Enthusiasts! Holiday 2012 Playstation 3 Sneak-Peek from Sony

Entertaining and ever-popular, video games always have a place on kids’ holiday wish lists. With a seemingly endless array of choices for games and systems, picking the perfect takes searching and careful consideration.

On July 20^th, Sony offered gaming enthusiasts a preview of their new products for Playstation 3 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Based on what the showcased at this event, I think it’s safe to say that the 2012 holiday lineup features a number of fantastic gifts the whole family can enjoy.

Sony’s 3D Display stood out as one of the highlights of the event. By hooking up a PS3 to a 3D Display TV, players will have the opportunity to game in 3D. In order to see the effects, players must wear special glasses that transform the screen into brilliant and crisp 3D effects.

The 3D glasses also enable players to focus on their own character while playing. To activate this feature, you simply press one of two buttons on the top of the glasses to switch views. This feature proves particularly useful for sports games, for example, while playing a baseball games like MLB The Show 11, players can switch from either the hitter or pitcher view.

Several 3D titles are slated for release later this year. One of the titles designed with multi-player family game in mind is Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, scheduled for release on October 18th. Unlike the other Ratchet and Clank games, this one is especially made for cooperative play. Four players will have the choice between four different characters to play throughout the game, meaning that the family won’t have to constantly pass the controllers around. Translation: less fighting among sibling and more playing.

Sony also introduced titles specifically for the Playstation Move motion controllers. These controllers recognize player’s movement through the Playstation Eye Camera that commands the game. Upcoming Move motion controller games include Carnival Island, in which players virtually mimic carnival classics like skeeball and ring toss, and the aptly named Everybody Dance for multiple players.

Along with new additions to the PS3, Sony presented its new upcoming portable gaming system called the Playstation Vita, scheduled for release around the holiday season. Unlike the PSP, the first portable system from Playstation, the Vita has several additional features including motion sensors, a touchscreen and rear touch pad, and cameras on the front and back. The system will also be connected to Wi-Fi and 3G networks.

Kids will have a blast with the games on the Vita. Reality Fighters, one of the games slated for this system, is a fighting game that allows players to use their own photos to create game avatars. Players can use the camera on the Vita to take pictures of people’s faces, then affix the images to a character’s body. While Reality Fighters is considered a fighting game, it does not depict any graphic violence, making it an entertaining and appropriate gift for kids aged 12 and older.

While it may feel early to begin thinking about holiday shopping, it never hurts to have a few ideas before you begin your annual shopping trip. For more information on Sony’s upcoming Playstation 3 holiday releases, visit Sony.com.

Mom Central