It’s taken a very long time for this piece of hardware to make it out of Japan and into our living rooms, but it’s finally here. It’s the device that promises that you’ll be able to stream PS4 games to other TV’s in your house. That you’ll play your library of Vita, PSP and PS1 games on your TV. There’s promise that you’ll be able to access Movies via the PS Store and watch at your own leisure on your TV. It’s a fantastic concept. Sadly it’s only a pipe dream in South Africa. You’ll do very little of that using the PlayStation TV.
The hardware
You might think you have an idea of how small the unit is, but I assure you it’s even more compact than you might think. The above image is the exact size equivalent of the unit (seeing that you’re viewing this on your PC internet browser). It comes in at 65.0 x 105.0 x 13.6 mm (Length x height x thickness) and does not feel like it’s taking any space up on your TV cabinet. In fact, it feels as if the black piece of solid plastic is lost amongst all your electronic toys.
At the back you’ll find an HDMI port, USB port, Ethernet cable port, power supply port, PS Vita memory card slot and the power button. On the front it displays only a small white LED light when the unit is powered on. That’s in essence it. The only way to connect the PlayStation TV to your television set is via an HDMI cable, which is thankfully included in the package (seems Sony have learnt from their past mistakes). The USB port is used to sync to the PS3 or PS4 controller, whereof you can sync up to 4 controllers for multiplayer games. Inside you’ll also find the AC adapter and power cord, as this is not powered by your TV, PS4 or any other powered device. It’s a standalone unit. Once everything has been hooked up, which won’t take you longer than two minutes, it’s time to play with your new toy.
When things get a bit finicky
First things first, if you plan to play any of your downloaded Vita, PSP or PS1 games you’ll have to insert your Vita memory card into the one available slot. If you don’t own the Vita you’ll be glad to hear that it hosts onboard memory, though it’s a mere 1GB. At some point you’ll have to buy one of those over-priced Vita memory cards. The PlayStation TV is quite literally running off slightly tweaked PS Vita software. Switch it on, by pressing the power button, at the back of the unit (No, you can’t power it up using a controller, you have to get up and push a button in an oldschool tradition), and you’ll be asked to complete the initial setup as with all electronics (time, date, region, etc). Sign into your PSN account and that’s that. You’re now looking at the exact replica of the PS Vita on your TV. You’ll see your Friends List, Trophies (which shows as PlayStation TV trophies), Browser, Messages and anything else that you’ll find on the default PS Vita menu. You’ll also have access to the PS Store to buy more games. The only new addition is a ‘Power’ icon to switch it off, though you can hold the PlayStation button in and then switch it off as you would with most PlayStation products these days.
Seeing as the touch controls are now missing (more on the game touch controls later) you’ll be using the D-Pad on your controller to browse your library. My folders, I had created on the Vita originally, broke to pieces and had my games scattered all over the place (and when I stuck it back into my Vita it was still a big mess). So I was moving up and down the menus trying to find everything. Once you open an app or game, that takes you to the menu screen, you can either press the PlayStation button to head back home, or you can press and hold the circle button to close the app. It’s what replaces the swiping of your index finger from the top right on the Vita to the bottom to close anything. Being highly excited to play one of my favourite games on earth I selected Wipeout 2048 and pressed X to load it. This is what I saw right away: THIS APPLICATION CANNOT BE USED WITH THIS SYSTEM. IF THIS APPLICATION IS SUPPORTED BY THE PLAYSTATION TV SYSTEM, UPDATE THE APPLICATION. #heartattacktime
You will play some Vita, PSP and PS1 games
I turned to the internet right away to see if I was doing something wrong and to my surprise found that a very selected number of Vita (and PSP) titles will work on PlayStation TV. Some of those exclude top titles such as Wipeout 2048, Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Tearaway. Here’s the complete list of PS Vita and PSP games that work on the PS TV:
PS Vita Games compatible with PS TV:
Alien Breed
Amazing Spider-Man, The
A-Men
Angry Birds Star Wars
Angry Birds Trilogy
Arcana Heart 3 LOVE MAX!!!!!
Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland
Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland
Atomic Ninjas
Backgammon Blitz
Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate
Ben 10: Galactic Racing
BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extended
Borderlands 2
BreakQuest: Extra Evolution
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse
CastleStorm
Cel Damage HD
Child of Light
Chronovolt
Coconut Dodge Revitalised
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars
CounterSpy
Crimsonland
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Dead Nation
Dead or Alive 5 Plus
Deception IV: Blood Ties
Demon Gaze
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited
Divekick
Doki-Doki Universe
Don’t Starve: Giant Edition
Dragon Fantasy Book I
Dragon Fantasy Book II
Dragon’s Crown
Dustforce
Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable
Entwined
EscapeVektor
Ethan Meteor Hunter
F1 2011
Farming Simulator 14
Fez
FIFA 14
FIFA 14 Spanish
Final Fantasy X HD Remaster
Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster
Floating Cloud God: Saves The Pilgrims in HD
Foosball 2012
Furmins
God of War Collection
Gravity Crash Ultra
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R
HD Adventures of Rotating Octopus Character, The
History: Legends of War: Patton
Hohokum
Hotline Miami
Imaginstruments
Jet Car Stunts
Jet Set Radio
Jetpack Joyride
Joe Danger
King Oddball
Killzone: Mercenary
Knytt Underground
Kung Fu Rabbit
LEGO Batman 2 DC Super Heroes
LEGO Batman 2 DC Super Heroes (French)
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5 – 7
Lego The Hobbit
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
LEGO Movie Videogame, The
Let’s Fish: Hooked On
Limbo
Lone Survivor: Director’s Cut
Luftrausers
Machinarium
Madden NFL 13
Magical Beat
Malicious Rebirth
Mind Zero
MLB 13: The Show
MLB 14: The Show
MotorStorm RC
MouseCraft
Muramasa Rebirth
Need For Speed Most Wanted
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
OMG HD Zombies!
One Piece: Unlimited World Red
Persona 4 Golden
Pinball Arcade
Pinball Heroes: Complete
PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD
PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate
Plants vs. Zombies
Proteus
Pure Chess
Quell Memento
Ragnarok Odyssey
Rainbow Moon
Rayman Origins
Retro City Rampage
Rogue Legacy
Samurai Warriors 4
Sly Cooper – Thieves in Time
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God
Sparkle
Sparkle 2
Spelunky
Star Wars Pinball
Stealth Inc.: A Clone In The Dark
SteamWorld Dig
Stick It To The Man
Superfrog HD
Swapper, The
Thomas was Alone
Titan Attacks!
Toro’s Friend Network
Toukiden The Age of Demons
Treasures of Montezuma Arena
TxK
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Valhalla Knights 3
Velocity®2X
Velocity®Ultra
Walking Dead, The: Season Two – Ep. 1, All That Remains
Walking Dead: The Complete First Season, The
Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
When Vikings Attack!
Worms Revolution Extreme
XBlaze Code: Embryo
Zen Pinball 2
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov’s Revenge
Z-Run
PSP Games compatible with PS TV:
101-in-1 Megamix
2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa
3rd Birthday, The
Ace Combat: Joint Assault
Activision Hits Remixed
Adventures To Go!
Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos
Alpha Mission II
Ape Escape: On The Loose
Ape Quest
Army of Two: The 40th Day
Art of Fighting
Astro Boy: The Video Game
Baseball Stars 2
Baseball Stars Professional
Beaterator
beats
Ben 10: Alien Force
Ben 10: Alien Force – Vilgax Attacks
Ben 10: Protector of Earth
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Cosmic Destruction
Black Rock Shooter: The Game
Blade Dancer Lineage of Light
BlazBlue Portable: Calamity Trigger
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II
Blazing Souls Accelate
Brave Story: New Traveler
Burnout: Dominator
Burnout: Legends
Buzz! Master Quiz
Buzz! Quiz World
Cabela’s African Safari
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts: Ultimate Challenge
Cabela’s North American Adventures
Capcom Classics Collection: Reloaded
Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed
Capcom Puzzle World
Carnage Heart EXA
Cars 2: The Video Game
Chameleon
Cho Aniki Zero
Cladun x2
Cladun: This is an RPG!
Class of Heroes
Con, The
Corpse Party
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
Crimson Gem Saga
Crystal Defenders
CUBE
Dante’s Inferno
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower
Daxter
Dead Head Fred
Dead or Alive Paradise
Despicable Me: The Game
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Disgaea: Infinite
Dissidia 012 [Duodecim] Prologus: Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012 [Duodecim]: Final Fantasy
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
DJ Max Portable 3
Dragoneer’s Aria
Dragon’s Lair
Dungeon Maker Hunting Ground
Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2
Dynasty Warriors: Strike Force
echochrome
echoshift
Elminage Original
End of Serenity
Everyday Shooter
Eye of Judgment Legends, The
F1 2009
Fading Shadows
Fat Princess: Fistfull of Cake
Fatal Fury
Fate/Extra
Fate/Unlimited codes
Field Commander
FIFA 14
Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
flow
Gangs of London
Generation of Chaos: Pandora’s Reflection
Geronimo Stilton in the Kingdom of Fantasy: The Videogame
Geronimo Stilton: Return to the Kingdom of Fantasy: The Videogame
Gladiator Begins
Go! Puzzle
God of War: Chains of Olympus
God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Gods Eater Burst
Gran Turismo
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Gravity Crash
Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
Gungnir
Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom
Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi
Half-Minute Hero
Harvest Moon: Boy and Girl
Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley
Hexyz Force
Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee
Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2
Hot Shots Shorties: Blue Pack
Hot Shots Shorties: Green Pack
Hot Shots Shorties: Red Pack
Hot Shots Shorties: Yellow Pack
Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier
Jeanne D’Arc
Jikandia: The Timeless Land
Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble
Killzone: Liberation
King of Fighters ’94, The
King of Fighters ’95, The
King of Fighters ’96, The
King of Fighters, The: The Orochi Saga
King of Pool
Kingdom of Paradise
Knights in the Nightmare
League Bowling
Legend of Heroes, The: Trails in the Sky
Lego Batman: The Videogame
LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7
Lego Harry Potter Years 1 – 4
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Lemmings
LittleBigPlanet
LocoRoco
Locoroco 2
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival
Lord of the Rings, The: Aragorn’s Quest
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
Magician Lord
Mana Khemia: Student Alliance
Manhunt 2
Me and My Katamari
Medal of Honor: Heroes
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2
MediEvil Resurrection
Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X
Metal Slug
Metal Slug 2
Metal Slug Anthology
Metal Slug XX
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
Midnight Club: Los Angeles Remix
Military History: Commander: Europe at War
Mimana Iyar Chronicle
ModNation Racers
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
Mystic Chronicles
NBA 2K10
NBA 2K11
NBA 2K12
NBA 2K13
Need For Speed: ProStreet
Need For Speed: Shift
Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting
NeoPets PetPet Adventures: The Wand of Wishing
No Heroes Allowed!
Numblast
Parappa the Rapper
Patapon
Patapon 2
Patapon 3
Patchwork Heroes
Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle
Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection
Pinball Heroes
PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe
Piyotama
Pool Hall Pro
Power Stone Collection
PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient
PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient 2
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
Pursuit Force
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice
Puzzle Challenge: Crosswords and More!
Puzzle Guzzle
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Ragnarok Tactics
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
Rapala Trophies
Ratchet And Clank: Size Matters
Reel Fishing: The Great Outdoors
Resistance: Retribution
Ridge Racer
Riviera: The Promised Land
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Showdown Anthology
Samurai Warriors: State of War
Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign
Secret Agent Clank
Secret Saturdays, The: Beasts of the 5th Sun
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable
Shock Troopers
Sims 2, The
Sims 2, The: Castaway
Sims 2, The: Pets
SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 2
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Tactical Strike
Sonic Rivals
Sonic Rivals 2
Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny
Split/Second
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max
Strikers 1945 Plus Portable
Super Pocket Tennis
Super Sidekicks
Super Stardust Portable
Sweet Fuse: At Your Side
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Tekken 6
Tokobot
Tron: Evolution: The Video Game
Ultimate Ghost’s ‘N Goblins
Unchained Blades
Undead Knights
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
Untold Legends: The Warrior’s Code
Valhalla Knights
Valhalla Knights 2
Vertigo
Warriors of the Lost Empire
Warriors Orochi
Warriors Orochi 2
Warriors, The
What Did I do to Deserve This My Lord?
What Did I do to Deserve This My Lord? 2
Wild Arms XF
WipeOut Pulse
World Heroes
WTF: Work Time Fun
Yggdra Union
Ys I & II Chronicles
Ys Seven
Ys: The Oath in Felghana
Z. H. P.: Unlosing Ranger Vs. Darkdeath Evilman
PS One games compatible with PS TV:
2Xtreme
Art Camion Sugorokuden
Backstreet Billiards
Bowling
Breath of Fire IV
Bust-A-Move 4
Castlevania Chronicles
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Retaliation
Cool Boarders
Cool Boarders 2
Cool Boarders 3
Cyber Sled
Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness
Darkstalkers
Darkstalkers 3
Destrega
Destruction Derby
Dino Crisis
Dino Crisis 2
Disney Pixar Bug’s Life, A
Disney Pixar Monsters, Inc.: Scream Team
Disney Pixar Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue!
Disney Pixar Toy Story Racer
Disney’s Emperor’s New Groove, The
Disney’s Hercules
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
Disney’s Little Mermaid II
Disney’s Peter Pan: Return to Never Land
Dragon Beat Legend of Pinball
Evergreen Avenue
Favorite Dear ~Enkan no Monogatari~
Favorite Dear ~Jyunpaku no Yogensha~
Fighting Force
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Origins
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Finger Flashing
First Queen IV
Front Mission 3
Future Cop L.A.P.D.
Gex: Enter the Gecko
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
Herc’s Adventures
Heroine Dream
Heroine Dream 2
Hot Shots Golf 2
International Track & Field
Jet Moto
Jet Moto 2
Jumping Flash!
Jumping Flash! 2
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Legend of Dragoon
Legend of Mana
Lup Salad
Magic Carpet
Mahjong Uranai Fortuna-Tsuki no Megami Tachi
Majong Youchien Tamago-gumi
Makeruna Makendo 2
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor: Underground
Medievil
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
Metal Slug X
Motto Trump Shiyouyo!
Mr. Driller
Neo Planet
Oz no Mahoutsukai ~Another World~ RungRung
Pac-Man World (20th Anniversary)
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve II
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Populous: The Beginning
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
Rally Cross
Rayman
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Reel Fishing
Reel Fishing II
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
Saiyuki: Journey West
Sarara’s Little Shop
Sentimental Graffiti
Sim City 2000
Spec Ops: Airborne Commando
Spec Ops: Covert Assault
Spec Ops: Ranger Elite
Spec Ops: Stealth Patrol
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Syphon Filter
Syphon Filter 2
Syphon Filter 3
Tekken
Tekken 2
Treads of Fate
Tokyo 23-Ku Seifuku Wars
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
Trump Shiyouyo! Fukkoku-ban
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal 2
Vagrant Story
Vehicle Cavalier
Warhawk
Wild Arms
Wild Arms 2
Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
Wipeout
Xenogears
ZanacxZanac
Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Tamago-gumi 2~
Zero Kara no Shogi ~Shogi Youchien Ayumi-gumi~
I decided to give Killzone Mercenery a go, after downloading the initial patch. I must say, it looked pretty decent. I’d say it’s a mix between the PS2 and PS3 in terms of on-screen graphics. There was some screen tearing and you can see the obvious washed effect of the upscaling, but it really did look pretty good for a handheld game running on a 47″ LED TV. A nifty feature that’s been included for games that use touch controls is the opportunity to simulate it using your analogue sticks on the PS3 or PS4 controller. It’s nowhere near as accurate, but at least they gave it some throught. Problem is that in my game of Killzone I could not get it to work and when playing Indie games it just felt clumsy. Why on earth you can’t use the touch pad on your PS4 controller is beyond me. Each and every PSP and PS One game I played worked, so I can’t comment on titles that didn’t work for either of those formats, but it ran without any issues. Next was a test of media-based apps.
Internet killed the Remote Play TV star
As they would have you believe you will not be watching your movies on PlayStation TV. There are no Netflix or Hulu Plus apps to download (Either way, movies aren’t supported in South Africa at this stage). You can’t even use the onboard YouTube app to watch videos. Yes, the YouTube app that comes loaded by default. If you’ve uploaded your own videos to the ‘video player’ you’ll be able to watch that at least, but your online connection means very little. In fact, your online connection in South Africa makes this concept a deal breaker.
Are you thinking of buying this for the PS4 Remote Play functionality? Unless you have a wired network solution in your house you’ll have to think twice before buying it. Currently I’m running off an LTE connection whereby I get between 10MB and 14MB download and upload speeds. I have my PS4 setup downstairs, though I have a booster that pushes between 4MB and 6MB speeds. I could not get my PS4 to talk to the PS TV at all. Remote Play instantly failed at my every attempt. Moving the PS4 next to my PS TV upstairs worked like a charm. But what’s the point? The idea is to play your PS4 games in another room on another TV while you don’t have access to your PS4 in living room.
Conclusion
If you have a wired network solution at home and you’re not planning to play good Vita games, or watching Netflix movies and you’re purely after the PS4 Remote Play functionality then it could be for you. If you’ve never owned a PlayStation product in the past (who are you and where are you hiding?) there are MANY other PlayStation products that will fill that void. If you’re after any of the features I recommend you buy the PS Vita instead. It’s a bit more expensive, but it can do just about anything the PS TV can and you can take it with you on the road.
Sony are trying very hard to become the hub of your house by linking up the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PS TV, Sony Z3 mobile phone and various other products, but this is perhaps one step… well, not too far, just in the wrong direction. I can think of many ways to spend R1500, this is not one.