Sony announces firmware update for PS Vita, maps and video apps coming this week originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Listen up, those of you with PlayStation Network IDs. Sony Computer Entertainment International has announced that, as of February 7th, the PSN will fold into its existing Sony Entertainment Network. The company has aimed the move at clearly unifying the services of PSN and SEN, such as Music Unlimited. Fret not, however, as Joystiq notes that the change is basically a looks-only affair, meaning your current account information and related services will remain the same. Notably, the moniker refresh won’t apply to the PSP, which will curiously remain under the PSN moniker for network services. The news comes as a part of SCEI’s updated Terms of Service and privacy policy, both of which take effect on the same day. Those changes, by the way, appear to mainly be regarding location-based services for PS Vita, and parental controls for sub-master accounts. After all of the bad times PSN has been through, its upcoming SEN identity might just be the new outlook on (online) life it needed all along — and hopefully with less downtime. Hit up the source link below for the full details.

PlayStation Network moniker sacked, falls under Sony Entertainment Network umbrella on Feb. 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new mobile gaming startup that’s yet to release a single game isn’t the sort of thing we’d normally cover ’round here, but the story behind Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure is anything but ordinary. The man behind the company is the co-creator of the Xbox, Seamus Blackley, and he’s brought with him eleven industry veterans that he calls “the dream team from Atari,” including the likes of Van Burnham, Ed Logg, Rich Adam, Tim Skelly, Owen Rubin, and Ed Rotberg. While those names may not be familiar to everyone, you’ll surely recognize some of the games they were responsible for: Asteroids, Centipede, Gauntlet, Missile Command, Battlezone, S.T.U.N. Runner, Major Havoc and Space Duel, to name a few.

Speaking with VentureBeat, Blackley describes mobile devices as “the new arcade” and 99 cent games as the “new quarter,” adding that he’s aiming to carry on where Atari left off, “focusing on innovation in gameplay.” To help with that, the company has secured backing from THQ, which has reportedly agreed to an initial slate of ten games, seven of which are now in development (with only the iPhone and iPad mentioned as supported platforms so far). Unfortunately, details remain light beyond that, with Blackley only offering late summer or fall as an estimated release date for the first titles. In the meantime, you can find more of the backstory at the links below (THQ’s press release can also be found after the break).

Continue reading Xbox co-creator brings together Atari ‘dream team’ for mobile gaming startup

Xbox co-creator brings together Atari ‘dream team’ for mobile gaming startup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA is no stranger to apps, but the space agency is branching out further into some new territory with its two latest offerings: a pair of educational games. The first is Sector 33, an air traffic control simulator for iOS devices that certainly won’t be confused with Flight Control, but which NASA hopes will help teach math and possibly get folks interested in aviation. Those who prefer their games a bit more casual can also now try out NASA’s very first multiplayer Facebook game, Space Race Blast Off, which tests folks’ knowledge of various space-related topics (and is considerably more challenging than it first appears). Additional details and the games themselves can be found at the source links below.

[Thanks, Mo]

NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our friends at Joystiq are members of a privileged club of which we are not. We’ve both downloaded and installed the mobile version of Steam — now available as a free beta download for Android and iOS — but where they found Mac and PC games for sale, along with the ability to chat with friends, browse profiles and read gaming news, we were greeted with red text that states our accounts are not part of the beta. Damn our luck! For those interested to give Valve’s handiwork a spin, it seems that downloading and installing the app puts you in the queue for a future invite. Won’t you join us in the line?

Steam beta journeys to Android and iOS, for select invitees originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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