NEW YORK — Sony is intensifying its push in hand-held gaming with a gadget aimed at hard-core players looking for something with a bit more punch than “Angry Birds,” “Words With Friends” and other smartphone pastimes.
The PlayStation Vita, already available in Japan, debuts in the U.S. and Europe on Wednesday. A basic, Wi-Fi version will retail at $250, while one that can access 3G cellular networks will go for $300 plus monthly service fees from AT&T.
Sony is promoting the device with a $50 million marketing blitz “everywhere gamers are and where the general population is,” said Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Tretton acknowledges it won’t be an easy sell. People have grown accustomed to playing games on hand-held devices that also make phone calls, shoot videos, connect to the Internet, play songs and send text messages.
Challenges aside, Sony hyped the launch of the Vita with a lavish party at Siren Studios in Hollywood last week.
