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reading so many bad reviews

so i been keeping up with reviews with this phone
http://www.businessinsider.com/xperia-play-review-2011-6
i see nothing but bad reviews for this phone =/ people are saying this phone is weak and handhelds that are out now are more powerful..... i dont see how the psp has a 333mhz cpu 64mb of ram and the ds 133mhz cpu with 16mb of ram
i dont see how this phone is not powerful compared to these? i really like this phone alot better then my epic 4g, ya the screen was pretty but now i dont really noticed it anymore as im use to the play screen, and the speed of my epic was only fast because it was rooted with all bloat ware removed and had CIQ and everything else removed for speed

the reviewers dont like it because there are dual core tegra units out already and this phone is a single core snapdragon with an adreno gpu, sure its not as powerful as the new phones coming out but its plenty enough for the games being thrown at it and to handle psone titles.
i honestly dont care what the reviewers say, i love this phone, its very fast and does everything i need in a nice way, its way better than my old iphone 3g, i love the gamepad, the touch surface takes a while to get used to but its decent as opposed to having to smudge my screen with my fingers

I don't know if you're asking a question or anything, but my Play runs faster than my DInc2 review unit and MUCH better/faster than my Fascinate. I think many people are mad that it didn't come with future-proof dual-cores or even 4G. But as a regular phone with basically stock Gingerbread on Verizon, it runs great and outperforms any phones I've reviewed or owned. The only real slowdown you might notice is multi-tasking, but for me it's really only been on low battery plus lots of apps/games running in the background. Sure, they skipped over any extraordinary features besides the controller, but that's why you get this phone really and it is solidly constructed and plays very well.
That being said, I would love root and custom roms/kernels to make this a beast.

That website likes to bash sony, not going to take him seriously. He should be able comparing the gaming experience between phones.. Not the psp... That's what this was made for... Play some first person shooters not Maiden... And then come to all negative conclusions. Never read a more biased review in my life.
It can play all the games coming out right now... Mainstream is not dual core yet... How many computer games require quad i7s, just because it's out and exists, doesnt mean you need it right away.
Sent from my R800a using XDA App

i mean i wish they waited and put at least the 1.2ghz cpu in or the 220 adreno gpu but oh well it has the power to play ps1 games and if sony really wants to make money code psp games to this and throw in some PSN access

Almost all my ifriends who have seen this phone love it.
I love this phone.
Games run fine.
Why play a game on a powerhouse when you still have to comtrol it by touchscreen?
Touchscreen controls are the worst thing to happen to most games. (except angry birds )
If you want a gaming phone, buy this. If you dont want a gaming phone, buy something else.
If sexplay 2 is out when my 2 year contract is up i will easily upgradeg to it. Dont think i could ever go back to a touchscreen only phone now.

Even engadget is suggesting a xperia play 2 indirectly
Sent from my R800i using XDA Premium App

Most reviewers don't focus on what this phone is, I've seen a website compare it to a 3DS it's not trying to revolutionise hand held gaming.
It's a mobile phone with a gaming controller and I love it.
Sent from my R800i using XDA Premium App

If you enjoy game playing, then this is the sickest thing in the world, so they can all shutup

The bad reviews should not be surprising at all. The Xperia Play is a phone for a pretty niche market even for handheld gaming. Android games are nothing to write home about in terms of quality (please don't mention Gameloft games... I think they're horrible for the most part).
The real boon of this phone has been emulators and the battery life. Coming from a Galaxy S where I had to make sure to not use the screen too often or it wouldn't make it through the day, the Play is amazing. Emulators speak for themselves. In my time commuting I've completed Chrono Trigger, Super Metroid, a few Mario games, and Zelda Minish Cap. Every single one of these is head and shoulders above every single Android title on the market right now.

Deoxlar said:
Never read a more biased review in my life.
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You should check out anything Sony on IGN. Talk about biased.

I have to agree with some comments on here, the phone is aimed at a pretty niche market and there are more powerful phones already out.
However, I can say that I played a good amount of Android games before and on the Xperia Play I can say you can actually play those games accurately. I don't know how people can struggle with on screen game pads for emulators or even regular games, I never bothered to download any emulators on my previous phone because I knew it wouldn't be enjoyable. The only game I ever completed was Angry Birds because of the basic controls, anything that needed accuracy was impossible.
Anyone that has seen me playing my phone always asks what phone it is. Even non-gaming coworkers are intrigued by it.

This PLAY is awesome.. but unfortunately, i got a defective one.. Only can enjoy games with emu's, and can not update it to 2.3.3 firmware, also can not enjoy gameloft games or any other HD games as it would crash the android OS till the touch screen, power button, wifi, bluetooth, gamepad touch, sdcard not function if i play those games for too long. Have to remove battery to make PLAY works normal again.
Luckily, firmware 2.3.2 (UK version) still makes a bit friendship with my PLAY.. although the android OS crash after playing gameloft or hd games for too long, the touch screen would still work so that i could reboot my PLAY using quickboot app (thanks to deoxlar for recommending the app to solve my removing battery issue after the OS crash)

To be honest I have not seen even one positive review about the Play, the reviewers seem far too concerned about the latest dual core devices even though the Play runs every current game and app the same and thats not even including the gamepad that defines the Play.
It's like none of the reviewers have ever played a game on a mobile device ever, amazing how bad some of those reviewers are, how they got jobs I will never know.
And yeah, the Play is by far the best gaming phone out there thanks to the game pad, no other phone comes close, as a phone it lacks a few features and the hardware may seem a bit dated compared to the very latest phones on the market but make no mistake, this is a fantastic mobile gaming device.
Just a shame SE totally failed at advertising and securing some "must have" games for the device.

Reviews I've seen by gamers love the phone. Those that aren't gamers don't like it because it doesn't come with some word printed on the spec sheet. I've yet to see any performance problems so I'm personally glad it doesn't waste battery life for performance I can't see. But I gave up having to have the latest buzz word item right away many years ago.
In the same way that the handhelds haven't replaced my consoles and the same way the consoles haven't replace my computer, the Play isn't replacing the handelds. The Play certainly replaced my phone and I will never willingly go back to a phone without a game pad on it.
As for the comparisons to the handhelds, why would somebody think I'd carry my 3DS or PSP with me wherever I go like I do with my phone? Who are these people that do this or think this is reasonable?

Screw that son of a hamburger(his name is else hamburger lol )
I am an LG optimus and HTC hd 7 user and im really happy with this phone
Sent from my R800i using XDA Premium App

Sigh, most people who have reviewed this phone review it with the crappy pre-installed games. I have hardly played the pre-installed games to busy with emulators and now Samurai II: Vengeance (friggin awesome game ).
I could care less if the hardware feels dated or is not "dual-core" since every game ive tried on the xplay has played extremely well (apart from some Fpse games) but once the xplay gets overclocked (or even if it is not overclocked) im guessing most games for the next two years the xplay will still be better than the touch screen alternatives.

I guess the best reviews are the ones made from people who own the phone. And from what I read on this forum in other place, people are, generally, extremely satisfied. I have one, too and I'm happy as well!
These reviewers say "wait for PS Vita or buy a 3DS". That doesn't make much sense, since I won't carry on my pocket any of these devices, and my phone I carry everywhere I go.

I mainly agree with Clyzm, the bad reviews come because it is a niche product. It destroys any other phone for emulating games, but non-gaming reviewers will not attend to that; it has surprisingly good rear camera and GPS performance, but a reviewer won't spend much time with those features, and the most important thing, its price is outrageous through official channels. In Spain it costs €650 out of contract (ca. $1000). Its brother, the Arc, costs €540; a Samsung Galaxy S II costs €580 and a HTC Sensation fetches €600 (and it's selling way less than the SGS II).
I researched quite a bit and found mine cheap (€400) on eBay Germany: your average consumer is less likely to research as much. If I had paid a thousand bucks for this phone, it'd be already back in the store. This phone does deliver a very good performance where it should: but it lacks a lot of oomph to command such high prices.

Logseman said:
I mainly agree with Clyzm, the bad reviews come because it is a niche product. It destroys any other phone for emulating games, but non-gaming reviewers will not attend to that; it has surprisingly good rear camera and GPS performance, but a reviewer won't spend much time with those features, and the most important thing, its price is outrageous through official channels. In Spain it costs €650 out of contract (ca. $1000). Its brother, the Arc, costs €540; a Samsung Galaxy S II costs €580 and a HTC Sensation fetches €600 (and it's selling way less than the SGS II).
I researched quite a bit and found mine cheap (€400) on eBay Germany: your average consumer is less likely to research as much. If I had paid a thousand bucks for this phone, it'd be already back in the store. This phone does deliver a very good performance where it should: but it lacks a lot of oomph to command such high prices.
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near $1k over there is crazy, you guys are getting the shaft in europe, you can get an unlocked one for around $550 on ebay, i got mine for around $100 on contract but it would have been around $600 if i got one without a contract

[Q] Is the Xperia Play worth Getting?

I am very hesitant in getting that phone, I've heard alot of good things and alot of bad things
I've seen specs and I've seen reviews, but I want to know people's personal opinion as they have the phone for full everyday use and not just reviewing it.
Is it worth it?

My advice do not go for it,you have better options for the same price.even if you are into gaming do not go for it...you can wait for NGP later and get dual core mobile now like galaxy s2/sensation/optimus 2x

I say go for it 4 sure. If you're like me who loves Zelda OOT, buy it! There is nothing like sitting on the subway while kids are playing their angry birds on their iphone while you sit there with your play and play Zelda or tekken 2 It's totally worth it!
everyday phone? Oh yeah! It works great!
Don't listen to that guy talking about dual core. You don't need it on a phone!! seriously, WHY would you need dual core? Everything i've tried on my play works like a charm!

jassired said:
My advice do not go for it,you have better options for the same price.even if you are into gaming do not go for it...you can wait for NGP later and get dual core mobile now like galaxy s2/sensation/optimus 2x
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Yeah, get a dual core mobile now so you can play the exact same games you can play on the Xperia Play, only with worse controls and worse battery life.
Then get an NGP later so you can carry around two devices for ultimate portability!

hairdewx said:
Yeah, get a dual core mobile now so you can play the exact same games you can play on the Xperia Play, only with worse controls and worse battery life.
Then get an NGP later so you can carry around two devices for ultimate portability!
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that was exactly what i meant haaha +1

^^^ I'm being sarcastic in my last post, in case the OP didn't catch that.
I'm very happy with my Play as a gaming phone and everyday phone. My wife has a Droid 3, and there isn't much difference at all, if any, in app performance and daily phone use. I have much better battery life as well. She has a better camera Maybe eventually apps will start taking advantage of multiple cores, but it's going to be a while.
You can't play this game on a touch screen very well...

Yourmama said:
I am very hesitant in getting that phone, I've heard alot of good things and alot of bad things
I've seen specs and I've seen reviews, but I want to know people's personal opinion as they have the phone for full everyday use and not just reviewing it.
Is it worth it?
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It is very simple. How much do you value playing both Android-native and emulated games against the rest of features in a phone? If you really want to play games in a phone, this is your device.
If you don't value playing games over dual core CPUs, slick designs, gorgeous screens and feature-rich cameras, you're not the target for this device. It has a very specific niche, which Sony Ericsson has spent millions in digging out. It's a love-it-or-hate-it product, with little middle ground.
Oh, and it has an astonishingly precise GPS.

There are bad points about this phone but show me a perfect phone.
The best 2 things about this phone are obviously the control pad for 1 and the battery life, which has amazed me so far.
The only thing that I find annoying is the lack of decent games taking advantage of what is a great phone.
But I have to say I have started using emulators and they are quality, n64oid and fpse especially.
So to sum up its a great mix up between a gaming device and a smart phone. It is let down on the development side.
It all just depends on what you want if you like gaming I dont think you will be let down in purchasing this phone
Thats my two pennies anyway
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

I have an xperia play and a few of my mates have dual core phones (SGS2, Optimus x2 e.t.c). I would not swap the Xplay for any of them.
As hairdewx has shown if you plan on playing anything with FPSE or emulators it is pointless on anything other than an xplay. The emulators alones let you play thousands of games with proper controls (makes it a 1000x better)
The speakers are the best on any phone. And the battery life is amazing to say this is a gaming device. Just using it as a normal phone it is as good as the rest.
I would recommend you get this phone. I think it will be hard for me to upgrade to a newer phone @ the end of my contract, unless it has proper gaming controls . (Xplay 2 hopefully)

Thanks guys I don't know I just might get it the only setback was the lack of an HD screen and the core issue but seems that the people who have the phone are enjoying it, I will see

Just wanted to give a perspective from someone who just bought the phone yesterday.
Waiting in the Verizon store I got the chance to mess with a few other phones. I actually played a couple games on some as well and just took an overall look. So to start lets forget the coolness of the control pad, and also that IMO playing games with motion/touch controls aside from something designed for it like Angry Birds absolutely sucks. Its why I seriously have not been into mobile gaming until now and I'm a big gamer. Just can't stand those controls.
Most of these new 4G dual core phones are huge. Seriously I was playing with one of the new 4G phones and the damn thing was like a doormat it was so big. Meanwhile the Xperia Play dimensionally is almost identical to my OG Droid, but space wise is designed better so that the 4" screen pushes to almost the edges of the device which uses space very well. Fits in my pocket WAY better than those 4G devices with a screen thats only 0.3" smaller.
Next up is speed. The OS is just as responsive on the Play as any of the 4G devices, I'm honestly not sure how much a dual core processor can help on a cellphone especially for normal every day tasks, with an OS that while multitasking, is not like a PC where you can physically have 2+ windows on screen at once. The way Android prioritizes memory, if you are using multiple apps at once, I just don't see there being a possibility of an everyday advantage. Needless to say, touch them side by side, there is NO difference in speed. Which brings me to games. I played a couple on the newer devices, they looked and played the same as on the Play, no faster, no better graphics, no nothing.
Finally would be features, ok so the camera is ok but not as good, 4G where available, is REALLY fast so thats nice as well and if you're in an area its common, and you have a need for that kind of speed, well then its something you should consider. And HDMI out, not on the Play. I personally have no use for it but if you do then theres another loss. So this comes to opinion - IMO the camera is good enough, it does the job, its a cell phone not a Canon. 4G? I live in the NY metro area basically where 4G service should be mostly available but its spotty, meanwhile WiFi is everywhere, and everywhere I'd sit and use it I have WiFi (my home, my folks house, my firehouse etc), when I travel I book hotels that have free WiFi, also my ISP provides open WiFi in many areas. Also I have no shame I use peoples open WiFi signals if I have to, so honestly I don't miss the speed there. 3G really isn't THAT bad either, however its a compromise, and I'm sure outside of this area it could be a problem for some. Then HDMI out, I bet I'd try it out for a novelty but I'd probably never use it. I have a PS3, I watch movies on my big screen from that or my PC with HDMI out.
And 2 things I've said above become an advantage for the Play, no 4G and no Dual core = better battery life.
So all in all I don't for a second regret the purchase, you get 95% of the performance of a 4G phone, with the advantage of better battery life, and the completely awesome built in control pad. If you want to game, its a no brainer.

When I saw the title of the thread I opened it to give my opinion about this phone. But when I read the previous answers, all that I wanted to say had already been said, so I gave up writing a big text because I don't have anything new to say!
Then I'll only say that it's an awesome phone, buy it without any fear, you won't regret it.

_terror_ said:
If you're like me who loves Zelda OOT, buy it! There is nothing like sitting on the subway while kids are playing their angry birds on their iphone while you sit there with your play and play Zelda or tekken 2 It's totally worth it!
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WTF! did you get a stable enough N64 emu (not to mention enough ram to run the rom) I have a GBA SNES NES GameGear and Genesis, but i cant find a good (preferably free at least till applanets back up) 64emu anywhere....and how are you running tekken two though all the psx emus crash cause of sony releasing this phone....oh and as long as you plan to plug the thing in everynight for like 8 hours (although 2.3.3 update fixes that a small amount if you dont game or browse or call or well pretty much emulate any sort of energy from it) than dont buy this phone really takes a commitment, i hate that i bought it then found out motorolla is releasing the droid 3(name changes between SP's) with HDMI out 1Ghz process 8mp cam rear and ii believie dont quote 3.2 front (might have been 2.3 or somewhere goin on memory of specs) THAT IS THE PHONE YOU WANT IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING but release does depend on SP Bell got it first! havent folllowed up on it much just pisses me off that i bought a damn sony product over a 3ds.......oh and sorry if i repeated anyfacts

It is my favorite device. I just put in 2 hours of Beyond the Beyond without any awful on screen controls or bluetooth shenanigans.
Sound quality is spectacular too, as is the battery life.
The only thing that could use some improvement is the camera.
If you enjoy games more than just casually and really enjoy emulation, there is no other real option IMHO.
Sent from my R800at using Tapatalk

KronikonE said:
WTF! did you get a stable enough N64 emu (not to mention enough ram to run the rom) I have a GBA SNES NES GameGear and Genesis, but i cant find a good (preferably free at least till applanets back up) 64emu anywhere....and how are you running tekken two though all the psx emus crash cause of sony releasing this phone....oh and as long as you plan to plug the thing in everynight for like 8 hours (although 2.3.3 update fixes that a small amount if you dont game or browse or call or well pretty much emulate any sort of energy from it) than dont buy this phone really takes a commitment, i hate that i bought it then found out motorolla is releasing the droid 3(name changes between SP's) with HDMI out 1Ghz process 8mp cam rear and ii believie dont quote 3.2 front (might have been 2.3 or somewhere goin on memory of specs) THAT IS THE PHONE YOU WANT IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING but release does depend on SP Bell got it first! havent folllowed up on it much just pisses me off that i bought a damn sony product over a 3ds.......oh and sorry if i repeated anyfacts
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N64oid v2 runs alot of roms pretty perfect now, and fpse eats tekken alive, infact i havent found one ps1 rom it dosent run pefectly

jdsemler said:
Sound quality is spectacular too, as is the battery life.
The only thing that could use some improvement is the camera.
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K Sound Agreed, Battery however i would like to know what miracle device you are using to keep it powered cause even with the 2.3.3 update which i wont le improved battery life significantly, i dont find its able to keep up with the demand especially noticable when streaming data i.e. skyFM or TuneInRadio(awsome app by the way for a phone with no FM reciever any radio station you could imagine....from all 7 contenent...yes there is a sat radio station based in antarctica for the 12 people that are ever there at one time, sheesh im Canadian and i say no thanks to that lol sorry off topic tired and ranting), and camera is decent quality 5.0mp front is only1.2 so self portraits are a little grainy i find, but none the less i have to agreee it could use more features to the actual cam its self

AndroHero said:
N64oid v2 runs alot of roms pretty perfect now, and fpse eats tekken alive, infact i havent found one ps1 rom it dosent run pefectly
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didnt know N64oid v2 was out thanks!, and as for the ps one emu i think i might just steal whatever games they release seeing as i pretty much bought a psone in a phone seems a little redundant to download a program on top of that....just cant wait to see if they find a way to release FFVII and VIII to the phone

Just get an android phone you like
to the guy who started this thread truely you just want an android phone PERIOD with it dominating over 50% of the smart phone generation other companies are trying to figure a way to eat a piece of googles pie....ie rumors which are now apparently confimed (which i havent seen first hand knowledge) but the iPhone 5(BOOO) is set to release with BBM installed, and we all know android with get it first probably for free with some sort if ad support....its like comparing a PS3 to Xbox360 its just not necessary 360 wins in every department like android.(minus blueray but you can obvi get a cheap one of those now to make up for it)

Anyone interested
found a decent site on app creation for android....vogella.de/articles/Android/article.html
sorry bout not making it a link apparently i havent posted enough for our Naziesq forum rules

KronikonE said:
to the guy who started this thread truely you just want an android phone PERIOD with it dominating over 50% of the smart phone generation other companies are trying to figure a way to eat a piece of googles pie....ie rumors which are now apparently confimed (which i havent seen first hand knowledge) but the iPhone 5(BOOO) is set to release with BBM installed, and we all know android with get it first probably for free with some sort if ad support....its like comparing a PS3 to Xbox360 its just not necessary 360 wins in every department like android.(minus blueray but you can obvi get a cheap one of those now to make up for it)
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Haven't you pissed on this guy's thread enough? Then you come into a forum with people who are obvious playstation and Sony fans and say the Xbox360 "wins in every department" which is so untrue its not even funny but I'm not getting into that flame war here.
You don't seem to like the phone much, and you don't seem to like PS much, door is to the left, go buy another phone then.

Thinking about getting an Xperia Play... any reason not to?

I'm on verizon and I have an upgrade available next tuesday and am looking at using it as soon as possible(totally frustrated with old phone.) Originally, I was thinking I would like the Droid Bionic, and since its release date is so close to my upgrade date, it seemed like that would be the route to go. However, I recently started doing some research on where I could find the best prices for a phone, and found the discounts on Amazon to be excellent! At this point, I can't imagine the Bionic costing anything less than $300, maybe 250 on amazon, but the Xperia Play is being offered for FREE!! The $300 price tag is a little hard to stomach, and I'm thinking if I get the play now, I can wait for the 2nd generation of LTE devices without the battery concerns.
I'll admit that I hadn't really considered the device before because I didn't think I'd be much of a gamer on a cell phone. I play games now, but they are mostly like angry birds, words with friends, robo defense, and other simple games without a real need of a dedicated controller. The phone being free, however, compelled me to do a bit more research.
Now, after reading nearly every review and watching nearly every video on the play, I am seeing more and more things I like about the device. I even went to the verizon retail store and played around with one (and some of the other contenders) for awhile. There are a few things I like about the Play, and some others that are of a little concern, and I was hoping that some of these questions could be answered by someone who has used the device for a period of time.
Some Good points:
I really like the feel of the phone, it feels different and "unique" even when closed compared to the endless range of black slabs out there. Being a guy who doesn't need to cram the phone into a pair of skinny jeans, I don't find it too bulky to handle.
Is this comfortable for everyday usage, though? Does the phone feel solid in the hands without all the security devices on it like in the store? Are the buttons workable? I wouldn't say I have exceptionally large hands, but they aren't small either, will I find it awkward to press those small front buttons or the unlock/power button?
Seeing a vanilla build of gingerbread was very, very nice. It reminded me of handling the nexus S and how impressed I was when I first saw it after using HTC Sense for nearly 2 years. Is there any real functionality lost because of this? Also: Since It is a vanilla build, I would assume OTA upgrades may be easier to obtain(sort of like the original droid) Does anyone know of Sony's plans to continue support for this (Maybe up through ICS)? I have been stuck with 2.1 for what seems like forever, and don't want this to be a problem in 2 years when I'm trying to download an app that isn't supported in older versions of Android. I'm not opposed to rooting, but I think that manufacturer support says something about what a company thinks of its products.
OMG THE SCREEN!!! I don't know about anyone else, but to my eyes, that is just about the best looking screen I have ever seen, even compared side to side to the qHD display on the Droid X2 I prefered the display on the Play hands-down. However, I am wondering if the front coating is durable. I don't think I would want to put a screen protector between my eyes and that gorgeous LCD.
In general:
Is the phone responsive for everyday tasks? (Gmail, Calender, Texting, Phone Calls, Internet Browsing, Music playback, Youtube, Facebook, Maps, Weather, News Widgets (such as pulse)) I use these all daily quite frequently and it can sometimes take up to 30 seconds just to open up my messaging app after receiving a notification of a new message. I doubt any more modern phone could be this bad, but any hint of slowdown now could be a bad omen of what is to come. I'm not too concerned with multitasking except for maybe loading a webpage while I switch over to messaging to answer a text, or for running an update service for weather notifications in the background.
Is it easy to type on compared to other phones in the 4 inch class? Does the shape or design of the phone impede this in any way? It was kind of hard to tell in the store due to the security devices in place.
With the usage described above (checking email, facebook, news, weather, etc. approximately once per hour, with about 30-45 minutes of phone calls, 20-30 texts, and less than an hour of gaming a day) would it be reasonable to expect this phone to last all day on a single charge? I currently have a large extended battery for my phone and it would be nice to not have that extra bulk. If this isn't reasonable, are there extended batteries/covers available for the play?
Is the lack of internal storage a problem, or is it possible to install apps to sd? (and is the speed acceptable if done so)
Any general bugs/glitches that should be known before deciding on this phone?
Anything that the phone might be a little zippier at if it had a dual core processor (besides more graphically intense games)?
How is the call quality/ability to hold a signal? This has been stated in a few reviews, but I am hoping the that issue has been fixed as of now (specifically the phone reverting to 1x in an EVDO area) I am in the city so signal strength shouldn't be an issue, but the ability to hold 3G definitely is.
How is the camera? I'm not looking for an SLR replacement, just something that will take snapshots where you can tell what something is without excessive noise/blotchiness. Is the front camera as horrible as they say? No one seems to post examples of pictures taken with that. Also, there is some confusion as to the HD recording capabilities of the phone. From what I have gathered, it is possible, but there are several steps involved. What are these steps?
Any possibility of Netflix support in the future?
In general, are you owners happy with your decision, and is it one you would repeat if you had to do it today (given the advantage of the Play being at least $130 cheaper than my next consideration, the Droid X2)
Sorry this post has been kind of long winded, I think I have addressed most of my concerns about the device in question that have not been answered by reviews from months ago (possibly prior to some software bug fixes)
Thank you in advance for your help!

The phone feels pretty solid for everyday use, and the curves make it easy to hold in a pocket.
If your worrying about a screen protector, SURPRISE. Theres already one on there.
I've never had any problems with the apps for everyday use. They open quickly, and pulse works quite well.
Some people find battery an issue, I dont. In between trains I do about 2 hours of gaming, check email every 2 hours, post Twitter updates, and still have half a charge by the end of the day.
The camera isent as great as other phones, but it works.
For Netflix support, you can find the .apk someone on the XDA site, and it works perfectly.

Get it if your into gaming on the touchpad.... Otherwise I don't see why you should.
For a phone that has nearly the same specs as the galaxy s, it runs a lot smoother. There are no lag issues, it has ran everything I've thrown at it smoothly.
Sent from my XPlay using XDA App.

I m using the PLAY too, and I found my HD2 with android runs a bit smoother.
the SE software is improving thou, it has been 2 updates, and the speed actually increase after each update.
Only get it if you want to have a game pad or the NAVIGATION pad (up down left right)
i love using the play with navigation pad.
I cant find any other current android phone with navigation pad other than the play.
Deoxlar said:
Get it if your into gaming on the touchpad.... Otherwise I don't see why you should.
For a phone that has nearly the same specs as the galaxy s, it runs a lot smoother. There are no lag issues, it has ran everything I've thrown at it smoothly.
Sent from my XPlay using XDA App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'd say it's worth it.
The only real thing that might keep people from taking it seriously is the fact that it's not a dual-core phone. When you actually see it's performance though, you notice immediately and forever after that it's silky smooth even on a single-core.
It's replaced damn near everything I use; and, most importantly: manages to be great at gaming without being mediocre at anything else.

I'm definitely interested in gaming on the gaming pad, as I can say pretty definitively that the reason I don't play too many games on my phone is because the controls are cumbersome or feel like the games are "dumbed down" to be able to be played with lackluster controls.
I have seen the performance a good single core phone can have (including that of the Play), but am kind of wondering, is it a little too late in the game to even be considering anything other than a dual core phone (I'm having this same delemia over possibly going with the Droid charge) I skimped a little on my first android phone, and because of my experience with that, I am scared that something I get that isn't top of the line now will be utter crap in 18 months - 2 years time.
The combination of acceptable (or great, according to some) performance, the game pad, and the price (in that order) make this appealing.

Sony Tablet S or P coming this month

I just got mine yesterday and I definately recommend getting one.
Feels solid, awesome games and its gonna get better soon as Playstation are soon to announce PSP games for the Xperia Play.
GO GET IT!!!

ps3taker said:
Sony Tablet S or P coming this month
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But these are tablets, is there any chance of a device with a form factor similar to the play coming anytime soon?

I got the xperia play around a month ago maybe 3 weeks ago. The phone is very solid its super fast i have not had any slow down with the phone to this date so dont worry about the core cpu's yet.
The phone is awesome, its amazing for gaming and if your still not into that its still an awesome phone i would say its the best single core phone you can buy.
The only thing i am disappointed about with the phone is the **** wi-fi radio it has terrible signal, it keeps me connected most of the time but around my house i usually only have 2 bars but with my brother's iphone and my old android phone i would be having 3 - 4 bars.

clewis said:
I got the xperia play around a month ago maybe 3 weeks ago. The phone is very solid its super fast i have not had any slow down with the phone to this date so dont worry about the core cpu's yet.
The phone is awesome, its amazing for gaming and if your still not into that its still an awesome phone i would say its the best single core phone you can buy.
The only thing i am disappointed about with the phone is the **** wi-fi radio it has terrible signal, it keeps me connected most of the time but around my house i usually only have 2 bars but with my brother's iphone and my old android phone i would be having 3 - 4 bars.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i have the same issue, Galaxy S II has full reception and my Xperia only gets around 2-3 bars although it does keep reception. Thinking Sony might update the modem driver with the next update *fingers crossed*

Yea, the wifi is definitely weaker then most devices. I went out to buy a netgear range booster router and it fixed my problem though.... I can't believe how good netgear routers are...
Sent from my XPlay using XDA App.

the only reason i can think to make you buy the phone is the gaming pad. that is all. you will never get a better gaming experience on any other latest phone like Galaxy X II or Droid. i mean never
its a gaming phone and target for gamer. i strongly suggest you look for other phone if you not into gaming. i just dont want you to regret it when you bought it.
regarding the wifi, the signal reception is working great if i point the device to the router directly
just my opinion..

Like other have said, if you game on your phone get it. If not, get something else. All the rest is just waving your hands.
It is a solid android phone with a game pad. Nothing more, nothing less. If you never slide your game pad out, why carry it around? If you do slide it out, supported games (including emulators) are a completely different experience to every other phone. I cringe thinking about what Minecraft would be like if I had my thumbs all over the screen.

before i go rambling about my previous phones, all i can say is:
GO FOR IT
putting that aside, i was previously using a hd2 running android via the sd. i also had a htc desire issued by the office. i was content with both phones until the office decided to get rid of the desire. apparently, marketing was able to strike up a good deal with the network provider and thus issued us a bunch of iphone 4s. with the desire gone, i was thus left with my hd2 to run android. the problem was, i wanted a purely dedicated android device given that i would most likely never visit windows again. don't get me wrong, the hd2 is fantastic as it's reputed to be the most versatile (and hackable) phone. i've been reading up on the xperia arc as it has nice reviews. however, i was attracted to the xperia play even more because of in my opinion it's taken the lead in the "swiss army" fight amongst phones. i'm not a true gamer but i have enjoyed playing ps1 back in the days. with that, the play allows me to revisit those days and once again play with my fav games.
secondly, the phone itself is fantastic overall. the interface is fluid, i've experienced no hangs or freezes (not counting the psx game that doesn't run with fpse). battery is awesome and i really love the loudness of the media player. this was one of my gripes when i was still using my hd2: the volume needed to step up a notch or 2. i got myself the white xperia play and people in the office are really loving it.
i've already rooted my unit. as i have home and contents insurance i'm not worried about damaging my play. but say i did run into a situation which results in my phone being bricked/damaged/etc. i would most likely get my insurance company to replace it with the same. unless i find the other phones such as the evo or sensation coming up with a gamepad AND something else that the xperia play doesn't have, i'm definitely sticking to this phone for quite a long time.

Actually, if you are not into gaming.... After you get the phone and see the games available... You will be!
Sent from my XPlay using XDA App.

why this huge price-cut?

this is starting to get absurd.
At first i thought that it was just Expansys who went crazy and lowered the price THAT much, i figured they made a mistake ordering hundreds of the device and couldn't sell them so had to resort to drop to ridiculous prices or whatever the heck can happen when an (non)internet shop make mistakes.
But now it's like 3-4 other internet shops are going for more or less that price, never heard before of a 500 euro smartphone sold by so many shops at less than half price like this.
Nothing just happen without a reason, there's always at last 1 reason why this phone got his price slashed like this, and thinking about it, ok it didn't sold THAT much but it had some kind of a cult following... and being honest, this handset has practically the same hardware as the Arc, beside the exmor-whatever camera, but not only that, just check at whatever other android phone of more or less 200 euros, the Play clearly is way, way better than them...
Again, i wonder what's the meaning behind this insane price cut.
I'm currently an X10 user and i love it, but being a huge retro-gaming geek, i'm selling it for 180 euros (and friends of mine says it's cheap) and bought a 240 euro Xperia play waiting for it to arrive (damned expansys delayed shipping to next week).
Hope i did the right thing and this SEXplay will not crumble and turn into dust in the first 5 days of usage or sad things like that.

i don't know but i bought my phone May this year for 5000HKD (around 650USD) and now that it is released in my country they sell it for around 450USD at Sony Ericsson concept shops. i don't know the reason for the very low price but heck isn't that great?
i still go for the reason that it didn't sell well that's why they're selling it for a very low price.. besides, they need consumers to buy it fast because of the imminent release of the PlayStation Suite which will further increase their sales..

Well, most of the good games are just boring Gameloft ports.
The SexPlay is a great phone, with basically zero exclusive software support for it.
If you buy this phone for anything else other than emulation, you are basically wasting your time imho.

Like you did?
dsswoosh said:
Well, most of the good games are just boring Gameloft ports.
The SexPlay is a great phone, with basically zero exclusive software support for it.
If you buy this phone for anything else other than emulation, you are basically wasting your time imho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the XDA App to post this, what did you use?

Cat_On_Droid said:
Like you did?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt buy it for anything else other than emulation whilst being bored at work. (I use it as my main phone too ofc).
The free EA games are boring imo. As are most Gameloft games. The only other game i REALLY enjoy is the online texas poker.
The DPad is really nice to use whilst browsing the internet. The analog joysticks are not for me, i personally dont enjoy using them.
The reason why im mostly disapointed with the SexPlay is because there is no MAME emulator that has working save states. Without save states, mame is useless to me at work.
So yea, i have had a good time with the SexPlay, but im now of the opinion that i wont be buying another game phone. Especially not now that i have just bought a brand new laptop and can play proper mame at work on a nice big 17.5 inch screen with my xbox control pad.
I do wish the SexPlay continued success though, its just that it has outlived my pocket and i am eagerly awaiting my next phone upgrade. Glad that i only got an 18 month contract because it runs out in less than a year now.
Ive also had lots of prpoblems with my SexPlay -
1) Poor signal
2) No data signal
3) Volume button fell out
4) Back button doesnt work properly
5) Right shoulder button gone loose
6) Touchscreen goes dowhaddle whack crazy at times
7) Accelerometer doesnt work properly, steers to the left all the time
8) Compass doesnt work properly
And above all........I found out here in Britain we have a network called GiffGaff that runs off the O2 network, and for £10 / month on a PAYG deal you get TRULY unlimited data at "H" speeds.
I bought this simcard to see how it performs, and lets just say i have used close to 50gig this month leaving torrents downloading on my phone...............(wished id never even bought a contract, GiffGaff prices are probably the best in the World).

For me, poor signal and dead signal were cured in 2.3.4 update.
I agree with you xplay is limited, but it was my first smartphone and my expectations were dead low.
I used the XDA App to post this, what did you use?

Apparently there is going to be a Playstation store available for all ps certified devices. And they decided to drop the price so they could make a killing on apps i'm guessing

dsswoosh said:
Well, most of the good games are just boring Gameloft ports.
The SexPlay is a great phone, with basically zero exclusive software support for it.
If you buy this phone for anything else other than emulation, you are basically wasting your time imho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean until the Playstation Suite launches. I'm quite excited about how that's going to change things. Main reason I decided to go for the XPlay. That and the promise of more PS1 and possibly PSP titles on the way. But the future is looking good for the Xplay if the PS Suite does what Sony says it will.
There's also plenty of good non-gameloft games on the market that have been optimised for the XPlay already.

Am I the only one who likes Xperia PLAY for Xperia PLAY games?
I love my classics, and like to be a nostalgia drunken at times... but for the most part, playing something that actually takes advantage of the hardware (especially that big, beautiful 854x480 screen) is much more appealing than some game I've already played that will either be dis-proportioned, or letterboxed.

i dont know but i dont enjoy emulation at all..

TLRtheory said:
Am I the only one who likes Xperia PLAY for Xperia PLAY games?
I love my classics, and like to be a nostalgia drunken at times... but for the most part, playing something that actually takes advantage of the hardware (especially that big, beautiful 854x480 screen) is much more appealing than some game I've already played that will either be dis-proportioned, or letterboxed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love a lot of the exclusive games but the analog stick control is such a miserable experience for me....regular market apps like pew pew respond better for me
Sent from my R800x using XDA App

VZW Online FREE
Cat_On_Droid said:
For me, poor signal and dead signal were cured in 2.3.4 update.
I agree with you xplay is limited, but it was my first smartphone and my expectations were dead low.
I used the XDA App to post this, what did you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am thinking of getting this as an early upgrade for one of my lines.
If it comes with 2.3.4 installed allready, will I be able to root it?
I just got a DInc II and rooted it the Friday before the 2.3.4 update was forcefeeding around.
LUCKY.
This looks like a great emulator unit.
I hope this price sticks....

These price cuts make me a bit sad like.
I mean, I knew it would come...but it is kinda soon.
I paid £280 for my XPlay, now I can get it for between £180-£200 from very reputable dealers.
Sad.
That being said...yeah, the phone isn't perfect but I do love it.
I like the occasional 'new' game but most are really shallow (looking at you GameLoft), so I stick with what I got the phone for...the thousands of game available emulated.
Emulation has always been and always be my favourite thing, that's why this phone is perfect for me despite the obvious flaws.

agree with the bulk of you.
The only reason i'm getting this phone is because of emulation.
Hell i never ever even took a look at the gameloft or any other android game out there... i think i just played angry birds twice in my life.
I currently have an X10 and i absolutely love it, don't give a crap about dual core or stuff like that, my x10 goes fast and does everything i need it for; except for one thing, that is emulation.
I'd be the happiest person alive to have everything i had with my X10 plus a solid pad and the chance to pop it up any time and delight myself with some good-ol' super mario world
Right now there's another thing that concernes me about the play, dsswoosh was talking about buttons blowing in pieces or malfunctioning... that would suck. One thing i loved about my X10 are the marvelous hardware buttons (hate the softouch ones), that after almost a year of abuse they still work like new..

cac2us said:
I am thinking of getting this as an early upgrade for one of my lines.
If it comes with 2.3.4 installed allready, will I be able to root it?
I just got a DInc II and rooted it the Friday before the 2.3.4 update was forcefeeding around.
LUCKY.
This looks like a great emulator unit.
I hope this price sticks....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17808767#post17808767

That this phone's strength lies in how well it can emulate anything below Dreamcast is undeniable. I bought it for 400 euro five months ago, now I could buy it for 220 or so... But the loads and loads of games that I've been able to revive and enjoy, and the fun of tinkering around with a new piece of kit (I've been lucky to have been helpful for some devs here), are just priceless.

pelly_jelly said:
Right now there's another thing that concernes me about the play, dsswoosh was talking about buttons blowing in pieces or malfunctioning... that would suck. One thing i loved about my X10 are the marvelous hardware buttons (hate the softouch ones), that after almost a year of abuse they still work like new..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) The volume button fell out, but i fixed it with a dab of solvent cement. Other people have reported it falling out aswell.
2) The back button has a fault where when you press it, sometimes it activates, 2 or 3 or even 4 times. This can be highly annoying. If you have 4 tabs opened in a browser and it activates 4 times, they all shut down and the browser exits
The O button can be used as back, so its not a gamebreaker, jut annoying.
3) My right shoulder button has lost springiness and sags a bit. Again, not a gamebreaker, just annoying.
The actual game buttons all work great and are solid after months of use.

TLRtheory said:
Am I the only one who likes Xperia PLAY for Xperia PLAY games?
I love my classics, and like to be a nostalgia drunken at times... but for the most part, playing something that actually takes advantage of the hardware (especially that big, beautiful 854x480 screen) is much more appealing than some game I've already played that will either be dis-proportioned, or letterboxed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup! I hardly play any retro games on my Play, too busy with modern xperia play optimized games!

For me, its all about emulation. Look at the options before the play : wiz gp2x / canoo : the linex devices that had piecemeal developer support and were a touch complicated to configure/set up. OpenPandora, great if you can wait 1.5 years for delivery, but a bit bulky. <-- I actually received mine about 1 week before the play arrived, now it sits collection dust as I have everything running better on the Xplay.

i traded in my xperia neo for a play,2months ago,been happy so far with the device although i must also admit that the signal handover is total crap..if it goes from 3g to edge it does have 2 seconds of "no service",when you are in a call,the call is dropped..other devices have a much smoother handover,but that was the same with xperia neo..my old iPhone 3g never dropped the signal when it changed the frequencies..
and the price cut i think its just because the play is a niche product,there are far too many people that would love to have a xperia play but consider themself "too old" or too "serious" to carry around a phone with handheld controls( or even the girlfriend says:lol what do you want with this toyphone.-) i hope that this playstation suite has something to offer because all this gameloft clone games and the rest,meh,nothing for me personally with two exceptions:hyperlight is great and reckless getaway
as far as it comes to gaming,i`m a retro gamer,i play only the oldschool games,mainly NEO GEO,i do love the CAVE vertical shooters but theres the problem there are too small on the play because when you switch it to TATE mode,you cant control with the gamepad,when you leave it landscape its too small,so thats a pity..but thats the reason i still keep an old CRT monitor.-)
when i was 12 years old,everyone got a SNES.a friend called me,he was some real anime and manga addict and got a NEO GEO out of an import store,he called me:hey come over,i got a new gaming system etc..i was blasted by the detailed sprites,the huge characters but i thought:"hey thats cool but i`ll stick to my SNES" but after that afternoon seeing the neo geo in action by a friend,i came home playing my loved SNES and thought:**** that,that`s just horrible graphics,i need that NEO GEO thing,it was literally no fun anymore to play SNES.so i traded in my snes with 40games for a neo geo with two games -robo army and sengoku2 .-) later i traded in the neo geo with 6 games for a japanese ps1,14days after it was released in japan..
..and everything that comes after ps1 isn`t exciting to me,in my opinion we are now in the worst decade of gaming ever:arcade is dead-touch gaming took it over,tiny dumb games with "accelerated controls" "movements" or even whole consoles like the Wii,xbox kinect,ps move,all this garbage..and it`s all about the "story" nowadays(who cares,these games are like a book,once you played it theres no point in playing them again,that`s why these ridiculous trophies and gamescore was invented..)or graphics(never liked 3d so much as 2d only exception was the ps1 because it was fresh but i felt after getting a ps2 years later that 3d is just not the way i love games).
and for playing these old games which need a console,a tv and a huge ass controller(neo geo arcade stick anyone?) on a phone in my pocket,everywhere,everytime is just priceless for me,the phone aspect is "soso" but when it comes to gaming,the play just rocks for retro lovers
i think with the price cut many people will buy it as a handheld only..basically its a steal and a no brainer for everyone who is into retro gaming,sure i can hookup a controller to my laptop but theres no way i would do that in spare 30minutes of time or in a train .-) with the xperia play its just slide open,press play,much faster and it`s so great to see all this games on a smaller display they look right,they feel right and they play right even 15-20years later..

[Discussion] Xperia Play's Future

Much has happened since we got our phones - awesome time, news, updates, hopes. But those things started to fade away and XPlay started to slowly be left behind. I consider we should draw a line up until now and reflect to what might happen afterwards. I'll list a few talking topics in which we should ask ourselves some questions.
1. About the ICS update
The ICS update promise and then denial surely was a great dissapointment for us all. I, for myself, somehow did manage to lose interest in the phone, the main reason being this old version. I wanted something new, something interesting for the phone so I can enjoy it even more. Although ICS was cancelled on purpose, I still feel that the main reason was laziness. Moving on...
2. Future GB updates. When?
So after the ICS dissapointment, we were promised the phone would receive some new GB updates to make up for it. But when? After 2 years when nobody is gonna use the phone anymore? I want GB 2.3.7, I want the new XPlay launcher seen on ICS beta, but not after the device will be long forgotten.
3. The future of XPlay. Is it bright?
Considering the two aspects above, who would want to buy XPlay anymore these days? Would actual XPlay owners consider keeping the device any longer? Until when? Consider the subsections below:
Xperia Play 2 not to be expected
Fewer XPlay optimised games by the day
No ICS, no new updates
Ouya to influence Android optimised games?
4. XPlay users past 6 monhs or one year
I would like to hear the current feedback of the device from other "veterans". From my perspective, it was an awesome year, although I'm starting to get a little bored by the device. Luckily, no buttons are scratched or fell off, although I could say my case isn't looking that good (it's scratched).
Let's discuss about this matters and see what is to be done with XPlay from now on.

I think it's been abandoned. I would upgrade to a different device when your contract allows it to.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk 2

5. As a gaming device. I don't think it has future since the modern games (batman - spiderman - Asphelt 7) run with a huge lag, future games will not run.

Xperia-Play said:
5. As a gaming device. I don't think it has future since the modern games (batman - spiderman - Asphelt 7) run with a huge lag, future games will not run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant speak for Spiderman/batman but Asphalt 7 plays smooth on mine...... then again I am running at 1.2ghz and supercharged. I will snag batman/spiderman some time later and test out

Geeve said:
who would want to buy XPlay anymore these days? Would actual XPlay owners consider keeping the device any longer? Until when?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The people who will want it will be the only people who wanted it in the first place, Gamers. The problem is you're thinking of the Xperia Play as mostly a phone. I don't know about anyone else, but the main reason I bought this phone was because I wanted something that could emulate all the old retro consoles after my PSP broke. The fact that I needed a new phone and the Play was cheap as hell was just a very nice bonus.
However, on the other hand, this is a phone, and it is running Android. And seeing as it's running Android, who the hell was expecting to use it as a phone for a long time in the first place?
I'm already looking for a new phone(The Play is too slow, the keyboard is ****ed now that it's summer, and I can't play and text all day from the same device at the same time) but i'm definately keeping the Play, it will always have a place as a dedicated emulation console.

Having owned mine for over a year it has not aged well in comparison to some handsets! But yeah when my contract is up looking to see what Samsung have on offer! But will be keeping my Play! Simply as an emulation engine! Even if it died! Still think I would pick up another along side a new handset! Just carnt beat the REAL controls!
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk 2

The Alpha Gamer said:
The people who will want it will be the only people who wanted it in the first place, Gamers. The problem is you're thinking of the Xperia Play as mostly a phone. I don't know about anyone else, but the main reason I bought this phone was because I wanted something that could emulate all the old retro consoles after my PSP broke. The fact that I needed a new phone and the Play was cheap as hell was just a very nice bonus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ Actually that's my main reason aswel for buying the XPlay. I'm just saying how the majority of the consumers think nowadays.

This may sound odd but I'm getting a brand new XP tomorrow. For a hefty price too. Went through several ones, always regretted selling them. Don't ask me why I do this,it's some kind of a disorder probably But the last one was the worst - immediately after I sold it new games started appearing on the Store - Lara Croft, Dead Trigger, Broken Sword, FF 3. Well they are not 'new' but are sort of new to Android. I don't care if the support is waning (I don't see it that way) it's still a pretty decent device/smartphone and the emulation possibilities are awesome. I especially like how many PS1 games I could try on it, while my former PS Vita was still waiting for PS1 support. So, er, I hope one year from now they still make most Android games compatible with this awesome device. I am of the opinion that it must have sold more units than the PS Vita (so far), so it should be worth it to the developers.

I have now got myself a Samsung Galaxy S3 since my upgrade was due. Funny thing is that even though the S3 is much more powerful than the play, and has a much nicer screen, plus ICS on it is great, I don`t feel quite the love I have for my Play.
I have tried playing games using on screen controls and hate it so much! The S3 is great for other games such as Asphalt 7, Super Monkey ball, Broken Sword, Demolition Inc etc, but any games requiring a gamepad just don`t do it for me on the S3, I miss the feel of a true gamepad, the touch of real buttons, the feeling of a real directional pad.
My S3 is now king of media, net and games designed for touch screen, but when it comes to the crunch and I feel like playing some genesis, snes, N64 etc games my Play will always be with me, it will always rule for beat `em ups too.

As long as onlive is around, there should never be a reason to ditch the play.
I'll take emulation and onlive over any android game any day of the week.

Have had mine since launch, but didn't find the XDA scene til like January.
But yeah, it's failed. Especially the Verizon one. They updated it twice, and ****ing broke it in the 3rd update. Go die Verizon.

The custom ICS roms are the only thing making this phone bearable, was really upset when games like Mass Effect weren't optimized for this phone. But I was kinda disappointed from the start due to the average processing power for a phone that was meant for gaming. And the promised updates are still not here.

The Alpha Gamer said:
The people who will want it will be the only people who wanted it in the first place, Gamers. The problem is you're thinking of the Xperia Play as mostly a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto. People wanna pretend that the lack of ICS is the ultimate omen of disaster for the Xperia Play when there's so much more truth slipping under the radar.
I bought the Xperia Play because it was the only phone on the market that had real gaming potential, and actually worked with a large amount of this-generation games (as opposed to everything else that fails from having sub-par touch controls, or fails because it's only good for emulation). For that purpose, it's been great. Sales are another story, but through some form of paradox, Xperia Play managed to get software support that's far above and beyond what we would expect with so many (non-owners) claiming it's commercially failed. It's software support has actually been so strong and diverse that I constantly question if I really needed to buy the PlayStation Vita I got some months back.
When it was revealed that ICS wasn't coming to Xperia Play, it seemed all too easy to jump on the bandwagon instead of actually paying attention. And those who actually pay attention have already realized that, from a gaming standpoint, Xperia Play's capable of getting all of ICS'es major features without dealing with the general higher memory consumption and crippled game compatibility that we've already seen in action on ICS beta & unofficial ICS roms.
Sure we'd be able to prance around clamoring about having 'the new thing' but pay attention and you realize we still have the cream ofvthe crop for tactile smartphone gaming. I'm still getting buttery smooth performance on stock 2.3.4, and as the person whose taken it upon myself to actively database Xperia Play's game releases, I can say with 100% confidence that the release schedule has not slowed down one bit. The phone's never demonstrated any level of falling behind or becoming too slow to handle any benchmark game thrown at it.
Furthermore, we've got to a point in which software options allow us to manually add controls to games, so all of the 150+ charted developers could hypothetically ditch the Xperia Play and we'd still be able to play future games.
Not to say anyone is right or wrong, but it's all about perception; if you want to believe Xperia Play's a sinking ship, there's a good chance that's something you've psychologically drilled into your mentality beyond a point of negotiation...and likewise the people who are copiously attentive to Xperia Play's news are swamped in more quality material than they can handle...and more importantly, they realize that ICS (or a lack thereof) isn't gonna stop their fresh, new Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Sent from my R800a using xda app-developers app

if you need ICS 404 on Play
i recommended CM9 Stable
My friend flash this rom it's work
Tounchpad is work too
but i still use Gb becuase i don't backup my phone

I just went from g2 to the xp. I don't know if any phone will be next or if there will be something in the future to replace the xp.
Sent from my R800at using Tapatalk 2

eventhough the SGS3's awesomely attractively big screen almost always makes me drool whenever i see it displayed in various malls, i'm not ditching the play anytime soon.. i just cant live with touhscreen gaming no matter how powerful a phone is..
you're a gamer and no physical gamepad? then your phone's lame..

narflynn619 said:
eventhough the SGS3's awesomely attractively big screen almost always makes me drool whenever i see it displayed in various malls, i'm not ditching the play anytime soon.. i just cant live with touhscreen gaming no matter how powerful a phone is..
you're a gamer and no physical gamepad? then your phone's lame..
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The SIII is a great phone, but you are right though. Games made for proper controls just don`t feel right on it, this is the same for any device that does not have true physical controls. It is for this reason I got the SIII, it`s great for media and photo`s etc, but my Play stays by my side for dedicated gaming.

narflynn619 said:
eventhough the SGS3's awesomely attractively big screen almost always makes me drool whenever i see it displayed in various malls, i'm not ditching the play anytime soon.. i just cant live with touhscreen gaming no matter how powerful a phone is..
you're a gamer and no physical gamepad? then your phone's lame..
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Yep, that's about the way I feel too.
I've ogled the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S2 (and all it's variants), SIII, HTC Rezound, Nexus as well as quite a few others. All wonderful, wonderful phones!!
... and when I use them, it's quite amazing to see bigger, better screens with larger resolutions and all the wonders that come with NFC. Can't say I'm too fond of how "soft-hardware" keys have become the norm because that makes a rested thumb near the home key exit me out of a game, but there's a lotta beastly phones out there.
Yeah, I'll admit to getting to a point where I'd wanting them (mostly due to my previous lifestyle where I'd go through about 5 phones a year). But then we get to fluidity/smoothness and I notice my Xperia Play's already got that handled... while also having that bonus of a built-in gamepad. There's all kinds of external controller support to be found throughout various Android devices, but a not a single one that can touch how much developer support Xperia Play has under it's belt.
Ideally, that's the only needs Xperia Play needs to fulfill... games and developer support. ICS would've been nice and all just so we didn't get loads of (non-Xperia Play owner) troll communities going on about how we were "dropped," but realistically, the decision to oust Xperia Play from getting ICS proved a level of consideration and integrity that Sony typically does not exhibit...
...and when you look at the general consensus, we all see the recurring theme that all these awesome ICS roms are always followed by the people "in the know" telling us that GB is the best choice for Xperia Play owners who actually care about gaming.

You gave everyone a nice read again TLR. Nice one!
BTW, mind if I asked, you're on stock ROM right? Any fancy tweaks on your phone? Like OC? Just curious.

narflynn619 said:
BTW, mind if I asked, you're on stock ROM right? Any fancy tweaks on your phone? Like OC? Just curious.
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Yep, as of a couple days ago, I'm officially off TrueAncestor and back on stock 2.3.4 (no disrespect for Jikkyu - he's the man for that rom and all, but it was crippling my memory and eating my battery life alive)... and to be totally honest, I don't know the first thing about tweaks
I did root and debloat it, but that's about it unless we count "child's play"-level stuff like pushing a SystemUI that has toggles.