Sony has just released its second handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Vita. This has been one of the most anticipated launches in the gaming world and I personally couldn't wait to get my hands on one.

On launch day I was probably one of the first to get one in the city, but unfortunately they're not good to go right out of the box. You will have to buy a memory card, which are priced from $20 to $100. The Vita comes with only a charger/USB cable and a bunch of booklets.

At first glance, the Vita looks very similar to the earlier PlayStation Portable, also known as the PSP. A closer look will reveal that the Vita is a lot bigger than the PSP. The Vita has a five inch OLED touch-screen, an innovative touch-sensitive area on the back of the device and a long anticipated feature: dual analog sticks just like console controllers have. These features will surely close the gap between home and portable gaming, which is exactly what Sony intended for the Vita to accomplish. The Vita and the PlayStation 3 can share a game in the sense that one can play a game on the PS3, sync with the Vita and continue playing with it from where you left off.

The PlayStation Vita features an entirely new user interface, which can be compared to the Nintendo Wii's channel setup. The Vita's home screen has around 10 of these 'buttons' on each page, and more can be downloaded at the PlayStation Store. A cool feature of the touch-screen is that instead of traditional methods of closing a page, you actually peel it away like a sticker.

Something I found surprising is that the device takes cartridges like a Nintendo portable gaming system. The cartridges are flash memory and come preloaded with games. One can also download the game from the PlayStation Store, but without a built in hard drive, space is very limited.

The PlayStation Vita is almost too big to fit into a pocket and is definitely too bulky to be carried comfortably. Compared to the iPhone 4S, it is about 50 per cent heavier, and it is a lot bigger in overall size. I would recommend the carrying case for those who plan to use it regularly on the go. The carrying case actually doubles as a stand for convenient video viewing.

After playing with this thing for about a week, I would probably have to say I have mixed feelings about it. It is an extremely powerful gaming system, packed with features and future potential. The PSP did not compare to it in that sense, but even the PSP was a little big for portable gaming and the Vita is just a lot bigger than that. I would have to recommend the Vita for those who plan to use it at home or those who don't mind the extra hassle of carrying it. Personally I am happy with my Vita, and I look forward to seeing my favourite console games 'Vitalized.'

Specs
CPU: 4-core processor
Storage Capacity: PS Vita memory card in 4, 8, 16 or 43 GB
Memory: 512 MB RAM
Graphics: 4-core