Joystiq

3G Vita coming to Canada in October

JC Fletcher — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:30:00 EST

While US gamers have had seven months to choose between the wi-fi and wi-fi/3G models of the PlayStation Vita, there's been but a single option in Canada. Next month, PlayStation fans up north will finally get a chance to discover that the 3G isn't all that useful, when the 3G Vita launches on October 2.

The PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi Launch Bundle will be released for $299.99 in Canada, and will include vouchers for Gravity Rush and Unit 13. Rogers is providing the 3G service, in two plans: 250 MB for $15 a month, or 5 GB for $35.

The 3G service allows you to use the "near" location-based app, browse the web, and connect to social networking apps like Facebook and Flickr when away from a wi-fi signal. It does not allow you to play games online or download games from the PlayStation Store.

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3G Vita coming to Canada in October originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony confirms Zipper Interactive closure

David Hinkle — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:36:00 EST

Today has been a rough one for the games industry. Following massive layoffs at Sega today, Sony has confirmed Zipper Interactive's closure after it was rumored last week.

In a statement given to Game Informer, a Sony representative stated the move was the "result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS." Though the studio has been shuttered, "Zipper titles MAG, SOCOM 4 and Unit 13 will continue to be supported, including the new Daily Challenges in Unit 13."

Sony confirms Zipper Interactive closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Sony shutting down SOCOM dev Zipper Interactive

David Hinkle — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST

Sony may be on the verge of closing down its shooter studio, Zipper Interactive. According to Kotaku sources, there's been "chatter for several days" about an impending closure and the possible cancellation of a current project. Sony has not commented on the situation.

Those with short memories may recall Zipper Interactive for it PS Vita shooter, Unit 13. But the company's roots go much deeper -- Zipper Interactive was founded in 1995 and spent the remainder of the '90s making Windows games. In 2002, Zipper created a little PS2 game for Sony called SOCOM: US Navy Seals and, after spending the next few years pumping out sequels, it was acquired by the publisher in 2006. The developer completed work on the large-scale multiplayer shooter, MAG, in 2010.

Rumor: Sony shutting down SOCOM dev Zipper Interactive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unit 13 review: Fired up, feels okay

Xav de Matos — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Developer Zipper Interactive cut its teeth on the PlayStation 2 with the SOCOM series, becoming legend to military shooter fans with a trio of outstanding titles. In the following generation, however, Zipper hasn't been as consistent. Initially, my time with Unit 13, the dev's new military shooter for Vita, was nothing short of a love affair, but after only a few hours the game quickly lost steam.

Rather than offer a story, Unit 13 presents itself as a set of over 35 missions, which offer a variety of objectives. Some require covert infiltration and some, for instance, must be accomplished within a specific timeframe.

In the beginning, Unit 13 does a great job of pushing its leaderboard mentality, where score is king and it's your runs versus the world, but the entire framework feels meaningless. Orders are barked at you, and you execute them, with little in the way of reasoning other than, "These dudes are bad, so kill them before they do their bad dude things."

Gallery: Unit 13 (PS Vita)

Continue reading Unit 13 review: Fired up, feels okay

Unit 13 review: Fired up, feels okay originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unit 13 launch trailer shoots a lot of bad men

David Hinkle — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:40:00 EST

If video games have taught us anything, it's that dudes who cover their face are the bad guys.

Unit 13 launch trailer shoots a lot of bad men originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unit 13 trailer shows us how to play

David Hinkle — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:45:00 EST

Because pushing all of the buttons at once is a horrible strategy.

Unit 13 trailer shows us how to play originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vita shooter Unit 13 deploys on March 6

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST

Unit 13, Zipper Interactive's pocket-purposed over-the-shoulder shooter, will be released for the Vita on March 6, 2012. This is in line with Zipper Interactive president Brian Soderberg's original prediction for a "right around Vita launch" release window; seeing as the Vita hits US shores on February 22, we suppose that's close enough to still count.

Zipper Interactive is, of course, best known for creating 1998's Top Gun: Hornet's Nest for Windows PC. It's also the studio responsible for 2010's MAG and the SOCOM series, which we're guessing probably factored into Unit 13's development more than any Tom Cruise-based development experience.

Vita shooter Unit 13 deploys on March 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unit 13's debut trailer introduces the usual operatives

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST

When Unit 13 arrives "near" the PlayStation Vita's February 22 launch date, it'll come with a quartet of selectable, familiar operatives. Can you spot the tank?

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Unit 13's debut trailer introduces the usual operatives originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unit 13 is a portable shooter from SOCOM dev, 'right around Vita launch'

Christopher Grant — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:45:00 EST

After the poor reception of SOCOM 4, and some subsequent post-release downsizing, Redmond-based Zipper Interactive is setting its sights a little smaller for its next outing. And by smaller, we mean PlayStation Vita-sized. Unit 13 isn't the thirteenth title in some entirely unknown and impossibly long-running edutainment series; instead, it's the name of Zipper's dual analog-powered portable shooter.

"Fast action, on-the-go gameplay was a key goal for the Unit 13 team," Zipper president Brian Soderberg writes on PlayStation Blog. "Missions come in a variety of sizes and difficulty. Some are smaller bite-sized battles; others are longer, more challenging, multi-objective missions that are a good test for any skilled shooter fan."

Bite-sized gameplay isn't the only thing Zipper adopted from the world of mobile games; the Vita's WiFi and 3G functionality keep "players up to date on leaderboard positions, new 'Daily Challenge' content, new unlocks, shared High Value Target missions, and challenges from friends as they move past you on the leaderboards."

Unit 13 even features co-op with accompanying voice chat, playing into the Vita's console/portable hybrid approach. Perhaps a tad more worrisome: "it's available right around Vita launch," Soderberg says, and this is the first we're hearing of it. We're trying to stay positive here.

Gallery: Unit 13 (PS Vita)

Unit 13 is a portable shooter from SOCOM dev, 'right around Vita launch' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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