Sony Unveils First PlayStation Phone

KRK-TR writes "Sony Ericsson has unveiled the first 'PlayStation phone,' called the Xperia Play. The device resembles a regular smart phone but has gaming buttons that slide out from beneath the screen." Eurogamer got some hands-on time with the device, and they had this to say: "The recessed digital controls are precise and responsive but have a hard, microswitch-style 'click' to them which contrasts with the soft, springy touch of a PSP or a Dual Shock pad. There are left and right shoulder buttons recessed into the handset – you need to find these with the tips of your index fingers, rather than the joints as you're used to. The most interesting inputs are the twin circular touch-pads between the buttons. These effectively replace the on-screen virtual analogue sticks that blight so many smartphone games – and they do the job well. ... Despite the nominal similarity to PSPgo, it doesn't bear any family resemblance to or design hallmarks of SCE products, and indeed is only passingly identifiable as a Sony Ericsson phone. It's very much an anonymous Android handset with the added novelty of game controls."

Terrible name

[imthesponge]

"Xperia Play"? Are you serious? It sounds like some Chinese knockoff.

Re:Terrible name

[Narishma]

I don't see what's wrong with the name. It's part of the Xperia series of Android phones, and Play is obviously for Playstation as it supports the Playstation Suite framework.

Disappointed :(

[Zelgadiss]

You have no idea how disappointed I was when I found out it couldn't play PSP games - that I thought it would be able to based on it's name.