Mom's Minute

Sony's PlayStation Vita is available for sale in the U.S. on February 22, 2012

The handheld console, PlayStation Vita was released in Japan in on December 17, 2011 and is now available for sale in the U.S. as of February 22, 2012.

The PS Vita had strong initial sales in Japan of 325,000 units during its first week of release, which fell to 72,249 during its second week. Of course these are Japan's figures, and may not mirror the projected U.S. sales.

Here's what you can expect from the PS Vita:

--Advanced display -- PS Vita has innovative technology which provides an organic light-emitting display purported to be brighter, thinner, and with a higher contrast than other handheld video game systems.

--Joysticks -- PS Vita is the first handheld to have a pair of joysticks, one for each thumb, similar to the PS 3.  Players may also use the touchscreen and rear touchpads for game interactions.

--Cameras -- Cameras are on the front and back of the PS Vita which allow you to transport your characters to your real surroundings. With games such as "Wipeout", your picture is taken as you play, and shows up on the screen of other players.

--Connectivity -- There is a Wi-Fi only model and one that adds 3G connectivity from AT&T with monthly charges of $15 to $30. Updates can be posted on face book.  When playing some games, you can start playing the game on your PS3, and continue the game on the PS Vita. One such game is MLB 12: The Show which is due out March 6, 2012.

--Mobility in Play -- The PS Vita has a motion sensor and acceleromoter that lets you add movement to your games.  For example, when playing Uncharted 3, you may tilt the PS Vita to balance Nathan Drake, or move it forward or backwards to execute rope swings.

--GPS -- With the GPS feature, you can connect with nearby players for special rewards.

--Memory Cards -- For more memory, cards are available at an additional cost.

--Games -- There are over 100 games in development with 26 games currently available. Some of the current games available for the system includes Uncharted:  Golden Abyss, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Wipeout 2048, Rayman Origins, Super Stardust Delta, FIFA Soccer and Escape Plan.  Coming this fall is Call of Duty and a music game (Sound Shapes), with no release date yet.

The PS Vita sells for $249.99 for the Wi-Fi model, and $299.99 for the 3G/Wi-Fi Model.

Sony is offering at launch a PS Vita Bundle for $299.99 which includes the 3G/Wi-Fi system, as well as an 8GB memory card, an AT&T data connection pass and a PSN game. The bundles are available while supplies last.

Game designers were brought into the development of the PS Vita before the features were decided. According to Sony's Executive Shuhei Yoshida, the aim of the PS Vita "is to provide the gaming experience you cannot get on a smartphone."