If you’ve picked up PS Vita then you’ve probably been too busy plowing through the dense launch line-up to have spent much time browsing the Settings menu. Luckily, you don’t need to – we’ve spent plenty of time with PlayStation’s new crown jewel and we’ve put together a few favorite tips and tricks we wanted to share. Of course, this is just a start: We want your tips, too!
If you’ve discovered any favorite PS Vita functions, please share them in the comments for all to enjoy this weekend.
1. Order in the court! By now, you’ve probably figured out how to move your game and app bubbles around the Home Menu by pressing and holding one using the front touchscreen, enabling you to drag it around into different frame. You can even change the background color or image by tapping the theme icon in the bottom right of each frame. Get creative and design your own background images (which you can transfer to your PS Vita via PS3) like James Gallagher from the EU PlayStation Blog did here.
2. Let there be light. You can adjust your PS Vita’s OLED screen brightness mid-game without the hassle of jumping into the Settings menu. Just hold the PS button to bring up a quick-access menu that enables you to adjust brightness and your custom music options. Wanna listen to the soundtrack to Armageddon while carving through Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus? Don’t miss a thing, baby.
3. Call for backup. Let’s face it: electronic devices have an uncanny affinity for toilets. We can’t prevent that, but we can help ensure you don’t lose your precious saved game data. Simply connect your PS Vita to your PS3 via the USB cable, open up the Content Manager on your PS Vita, and select the the Back Up option to back up all your PS Vita’s game data and gain a little extra peace of mind.
4. Say cheese! PS Vita comes equipped with a simple but game-changing new feature: The ability to snap screenshots of your in-game exploits. Just press the PS button and Start at the same time: You’ll see a white flash and hear the snap of a camera shutter and the resulting image will be saved and neatly categorized in your Photos gallery. You’ll be able to take screenshots in the vast majority of games, though not every game.
5. Prettier PSP games. PS Vita currently supports more than 275 legacy digital PSP games and more are on the way. You can also improve the way those lower-resolution PSP games look on the PS Vita’s screen by pressing and holding the front touchscreen to bring up a Settings menu where you can activate several options. Checking “bilinear filtering” and “color space” seems to yield consistently smoother results, but experiment with your PSP games to find your favorite combination.
6. Slip into something more comfortable. PS Vita enables you to adopt a custom panel to add a little flair to your PSN presence. To change your PSN panel, navigate to Settings, PSN, Account Information, and Panel to choose from a wide assortment of artwork from first and third-party games.
7. Remote Play renaissance. Ever wish you could log into your PS3 remotely to access a video or initiate a PlayStation Store download? This handy feature isn’t technically new — it was supported on PSP — but thanks to PS Vita’s monstrous OLED screen and more powerful processors, it’s more useful than ever. Protip: Remote Play is compatible with any PSone games you may have on your hard drive, along with a handful of classic PSN games such as PixelJunk Monsters, PixelJunk Eden, and Peggle.
8. Bluetooth bliss. PS Vita supports high-quality stereo Bluetooth for audio output, so if you’ve got a nice pair of Bluetooth headphones (ahem), you can pipe in your game audio without restricting wires. In the Settings menu, touch Network and Bluetooth Settings and you’ll be able to pair your headphones to your new PS Vita. If you get stuck on the pairing code, try “0000.” If that doesn’t work, check the manual that came with your headphones (or look it up online) to find the proper four-digit code. Now enjoy a better life — a life without wires!
9. Silence is golden. Some people like soft jazz, others prefer silence. If you want to turn off PS Vita’s toe-tappin’ menu music, you’ll find the option in Settings > Sound & Display > System Music. While you’re there, you’ll notice an AVLS option. This limits the maximum volume when using headphones — perfect if you share your PS Vita with a little one.
when is ps3 remote play coming?
I read most of these comments. and I have to say that many of you aren’t thinking. If you go back to the psp you’ll see that many of its features came later. Why do all of you believe it should come up a box for everything installed. Well its not that easy. You can’t just say Skype now! And like magic its up and running. Also you are all c
Complaining and under and being able to play them. Sure it would have been great. But only gamers expect old tech to work with new. I have a VCR and tapes. I had to repurchase them all as dvds. Later I had to get blu rays. The same for music album, cassettes, CDs, Digital downloads. What I’m trying to say is that when a new format comes along you have to re-buy.
complaining about Under
Back on topic. I noticed that not only does the Vita allow panels with different design but that it also takes the color of that new panel and adds it to your PS3 Account color palette as long as you’re using that panel. Love my PS Vita however I do have a suggestion. The system music is nice. But I was thinking that if Sony could sell system music like ringtones are with cell phones. Get license from hit artist, movie soundtracks, etc. .99 cent seem a fair price instrumentals and songs $1.
$1.29 for songs. Another idea I had would be an app to directly access the playstation blog. And why not add podcast to the PS store like pulse. Another app to the PlayStation forum. This would add all the PlayStation Vita owners to Sony based properties instead of just increasing Facebook, Twitter and eventually Skype’s numbers. I don’t know what your numbers are like now. But think about it with 1.2 million unit (unofficially) sold. Many of which happy with the Vita and giving positive spin on it. While your at it why not add the 75 million PS3 fan base to the party with their own apps to PS Blog and forums. Why force us to go to PCs, cell phones, tablets and Mp3. Players. We should be finding it easier to use Sony devices to communicate with Sony and its other customers. Well that’s my idea. I’m going to put my android phone down now and play with my vita and PS3.
@ wartech: when i bought warcraft 3, it worked on my iMac. then it also worked on my PC laptop. and my Emac
and my friends gaming rig by another company altogether.
the problem is, people are accustomed to buying a game and being able to continue to use it. consoles need to adapt to what people expect from tech these days.
and most Blue ray plays brd, dvd, and cd. There is a point when a blatant cash grab is a blatant cash grab.
2 Questions –
1. Will there be a YouTube app for the PS Vita?
2. When will the next handful of PSP games be available on the PS Vita? Never had a PSP, patapon 3 always looked interesting…
Thanks in advance.
@Daxxifer yes in gaming backwards compatibility has been the norm when the format stays the same. PCs use disk and CDs the format didn’t change. Even Blu-rays are a similar type of tech making backwards compatibility feasible. The PSP used umds and the Vita uses memory cards they are different formats. The only way to use it is if the Vita had a UMD player which would have changed the cost of the Vita. The change the Vita had is similar to game carts to disc format (CDs,Dvds and Blu rays) it just can’t be backwards compatible. When the happens, you have accept it and re-buy you game if you want it. Just as Beetle, Elvis fans had to since the 60s. Micheal Jackson fans will have to if move from disc and digital downloads to say…a future medium like I don’t know…crystal? Anything is possible. The heart of the matter is that you can still play your UMDs. Just use your PSP. Just as I used my VCR for years until my library of Dvds exceeded my tapes and I re purchased any movies I still wanted. And Holographic crystals come along I do it all over again.
I equally purchase games/stuff on JPN and US regions. Switching accounts is very annoying and requires a second memory card. This is my only gripe about this system. Otherwise great system. I wish you can freely switch between accounts or at least 2 accounts per memory card. :(
1. great handheld gaming machine!!! robust and promissing!! hoping getting full support!!!
2. fix the browsing issues to attract older guys who like playing your..darkest games available in the market while enjoying a cool browsing experience!!!
3. like…+ LilRican had already mentioned it would be ground breaking to be free to opt between the touch feature of this gorgeous screen and the use of physical buttons (cross pad, buttons and sticks) for browsing experience..just like ps3!!
…mobility ,the fact that is comparatively large to handle only with the touch all the time, will make the use of the buttons an oasis and the freedom to opt between touch and physical a..priviledge of a unique gaming tool!!!
Just do not miss this opportunity to be pioneers, with this product!!!
..as for games just keep on playing!!!
Hoping to pass these thoughts …internally!!!
cheers!!!
Hey u guys, i know this might be a noob question, but i need a little help on step 5. on the tips, to change the resolution on psp games. So which front touchscreen do i have to press and hold to bring up the settings menu? Any feedback to this would be helpful thanks!!
For the number 5 tips : you need to hold the front touch screen when the game rolling :) Then you will see the menu appear.
Do you need the same game in order to cross play or do you just need it on the ps3.