John-ShepardThe Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is a full-fledged smartphone, but it also carries the PlayStation brand. And don't you forget it.
Sony Ericsson and Major League Gaming (MLG) have announced a partnership that makes the Xperia Play the official mobile handset of the MLG. This move was probably expected but should serve to remind consumers that while it isn't called the "PlayStation Phone," video games remain a big part of this new device. Said Peter Farmer, Sony Ericsson Head of Marketing for North America:
"Sony Ericsson is redefining mobile gaming with Xperia™ PLAY. It's designed to give you everything you need from a fully featured smartphone and the one thing you want– the ultimate mobile gaming experience. We know that Major League Gaming's community of gamers will put that gaming experience to the ultimate test and we're looking forward to connecting with this highly engaged global community."
MLG is the "exclusive sanctioning body for both competitive professional and amateur gaming competition," and currently boasts a community of around 8 million. The 8th season of the Pro Circuit will feature competitions in 6 US cities, and you'll be able to watch the action live online. This season, the MLG is offering over $1 million prices and player stipends; that makes for the biggest season yet.
And to showcase this new partnership with Sony Ericsson, the Pro Circuit will feature "demonstrations, game challenges and giveaways," starting at the opener on April 1 in Dallas. MLG CEO Sundance DiGiovanni says the Xperia Play "is an amazing smartphone and a stellar gaming device bringing the best mobile capabilities to our audience." With Gingerbread 2.3 and over 50 games from various Android publishers, this is one phone that many PlayStation fans should want…
