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[Bumhead]

Nintendo can do Mario Kart 7 and Luigi's Mansion 2 for the 3DS not the WiiU. How about SCE making GT6 (or any other numbered sequel for their major IPs, Infamous 3 ? LBP 3 anybody?) a Vita exclusive? They are even porting HSG6 back to the PS3. The problem is crystal clear here: SCE itself is not interested in fully investing in handheld. In other word, they just essentially don't want to make the handheld their major platform.

I agree, and I think Nintendo exist in a bubble where they are the only ones who can realistically afford to develop numbered entries in their series' exclusively for handles. For anyone else - platform holders or third parties - I think it's an incredibly dangerous strategy. Some of the biggest third party developers have ducked out of numbering their handheld games over the years, and probably with good reason.

I certainly don't think Gran Turismo Vita should be Gran Turismo 6. Some pun on mobile racing will suffice, I guess, and I still think the game would sell reasonably irrespective.

 

[dani_dc]

For the people comparing Vita sales with the 3DS:

The 3DS sold 1.6x times more in the first quarter alone than the Vita sold in it's first three quarters together.

 

[SkylineRKR]

If Sony kills the PSP, will the independent Japanese developers go to the Vita or back out to the 3DS? I think PSP simply makes more money than Vita does, and both have about the same future left. Give them 1 or 2 years.

Tough choice for Sony.

 

[jimmypython]

It is something that I asked early on when people started bringing it up and I don't think I ever received a response.

Sure some people bought a handheld for playing on the go. There are also gamers who buy a console for its exclusive titles. For them, it is all about the reason to keep the console. If you have two consoles with almost the same game lineup but one of them has more exclusive titles that you need the console to play, then keeping the other console seems meaningless.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Sony didn't release any bundles? I guess the Madden, Assassin's Creed, and upcoming Call of Duty bundles were a figment of my imagination.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Mobiles squeezing dedicated handhelds is a different issue. I'd say it's plainly obvious that they are. Regardless, it still makes perfect sense to mention the 3DS when looking at the Vita, and by extension the dedicated handheld market.

It doesn't make sense to call 3DS dead. There is no comparison that you could make that would take the 3DS' situation and the Vita's and quantify them both as "dead".

Anybody who lumps them together is just dismissing the handheld market entirely for the purpose of excusing Vita for its failures.

 

[GuessMyUserName]

So it shouldn't matter that we enjoy the many games it has? What should matter is how it sells? How does that even make any sense?

... What part of that quote are you responding to?

Ugh, this is one thing that seriously frustrates me how Vita owners keep saying it. Literally nobody is saying you can't enjoy your Vita - in fact I don't know how many times I've seen someone post the exact opposite, "I'm happy you're able to enjoy your system."

I say this as a Vita owner myself with no plans on selling my system and being perfectly content with what I've got with it.

 

[TheSeks]

If Sony kills the PSP, will the independent Japanese developers go to the Vita or back out to the 3DS? I think PSP simply makes more money than Vita does, and both have about the same future left. Give them 1 or 2 years.

Back out to the 3DS. I think a lower resolution and hardware specs = lower dev costs?

Really, the issue with the PSP2 is that there was no dev support from the get-go. Outside of Ass Creed 3: Liberation, what publisher has tried full-force-100%-independent-games on the hardware? Everything is either ports (Little King's Story, LittleBigPlanet, NFS: Most Wanted [granted, this is "tailored to the hardware," but it's still downgraded/"port" argumentive], Persona 4, Disgaea 3...) or mobile games that no one but mobile gamers give a damn about (minis, PS Mobile Suite...).

The "new games" that they have fall into the console line of thinking, which is okay with me but not okay with the masses at large.

And then you get Call of Duty, at the time of it's (okay, waning but...) popularity and Sony/Activistion can't even dedicate an A-team to porting a year old PS3 title to the hardware with a reasonable feature set. They've removed Zombie's mode, FFS.

I enjoy the hardware, and I'm glad I've bought it. But really: Sony needs to announce something NEW because outside of Persona 4 launching this month there's nothing on the horizon that makes me go "yeah, I want to get that on the PSP2" currently and that should be sending alarm bells and hurricane/tornado sirens going off at Sony HQ.

 

[Vlodril]

Maybe these are different people making these claims, but it's quite frustrating looking through the first few pages seeing "I love my Vita, the no games thing is a myth"

Vita is doing poorly at retail in all markets.

These are the things that matter.

This is what i was replying to. Its no fucking conspiracy. Some of us are satisfied with our purchase. Why is that so unfathomable?

 

[Figboy79]

Mobiles squeezing dedicated handhelds is a different issue. I'd say it's plainly obvious that they are. Regardless, it still makes perfect sense to mention the 3DS when looking at the Vita, and by extension the dedicated handheld market.

I agree. Even though I don't own a 3DS (and I more than likely won't buy one), I love that Nintendo is one of the two console manufacturers that is still producing dedicated portable gaming devices. I never quite got the handheld wars mentality of DS vs PSP/3DS vs Vita, as I think they are both in the same boat, as far as their marketshare not being what it once was. Personally, I want both of them to be successful, as they both offer two distinctly different handheld gaming experiences.

I may not like smart phone gaming, but I understand that many, many of you guys do, and I think that market should succeed as well (nevermind that I work at Beeline Interactive/Capcom, so I have a vested interest in smart phone gaming continuing to be successful).

As a gaming enthusiast, I want an enthusiast gaming device on the go. My phone is my phone. I think the only non-phone thing I do with my phone is listen to my music, and I only do that when I don't feel like fishing my Vita or Kindle out of my bag to listen to some music or game. When it comes to gaming on the go, I think the Vita is the best portable gaming device out there. I think it is extremely versatile in terms of it's functionality. It can cover the casual and hardcore bases. I think the 3DS is also a great handheld platform, but I prefer the Vita, personally.

No one on the "Vita is a cool machine" side is denying the importance and impact of smart phone and mobile gaming. I just don't see why it must always be an "either/or" proposition with people on GAF sometimes. I think there is room for all 3. Naturally, one is going to be bigger, and more profitable than the other, but that doesn't mean there is no market for the other options out there.

As I stated before, I think the Vita will carve a small, but sustainable place in the market. I believe a price cut and some aggressive bundles and marketing will at least push it into more people's hands. The software library is certainly quality, and getting better. Cross Play is a boon to the system, more than a hindrance, and 3rd parties will need more wooing, but having Ubisoft and Activision producing a title for it within the first year isn't anything to scoff at (I can't stand Activision, but there's no denying how much people love Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed from Ubi).

I'm in the camp of giving the platform some time to grow. I remember when, in 2006, people were saying that Sony should pull the plug on the PS3 (I'm looking at you, Gabe Newell). Sure, it's consoles, and not handhelds, but I'm not one to kneejerk react and write off something because it doesn't sell a gajilion units year one.

I never shit on the 3DS when it was going through it's growing pains, I'm not going to shit on the Vita during the same.

I'm sure, for many, a $149.99 (USD) - $199.99(USD) Vita, bundled with a memory card, and maybe a downloadable voucher for something like Ratchet: FFA, or some other PSN title, would do a lot to entice people that don't want to drop $250-$300 on it. But I'm not a businessman. I'm a gamer, and my portable gaming device is working for me, and suits my current lifestyle (work and family, with not a lot of gaming time at home, but plenty on the go).

 

[Yopis]

New vita troll thread......just in time for fall releases lol. Love ya gaf.

 

[mrklaw]

The tech is getting close to the point where they could release a vita tablet. Something running android which can switch into vita mode to run vita games. You'd still need physical controls, but that could at least provide an exit strategy for Sony and bring big games to the tablet/smartphone space.

 

[Skyzard]

Wouldn't that be hilarious, though?

Skyzard literally never fails to make the most silly, transparent comments imaginable.

Lol, to some people maybe.

I thought it would be obvious that sinking the vita would be a disaster for Sony*. Some people reasoning with a current opportunity cost...more like credibility and future potential collapse: (as well as losing all their investments and reputation in the portable market). I'm sure people won't fail to remind others about the vita if Sony closed it and started a new one down the line).

==>> PC and consoles are getting better, we all know MOST game devs can't keep up (afford) that level of detail. Handhelds are infinitely more convenient and if they technically catch up ENOUGH to consoles (which for me it already has with the vita) AND people know the situation ie ads - (not just "on the go" but easier around the house too, to game with) then it will pick up to serious levels.
Sony closing down shop early would cut them off from that. Hell I'll be on the frontlines saying REMEMBER THE VITA!! It's not going to happen unless they are losing unbelievable amounts with the vita, which I don't believe. There are now (or soon) just enough games for a marketing campaign to actually be successful..so I'm sitting and waiting.

Of course it will never beat iphone. BUT apple re-introduced handheld gaming to the masses (since gameboy), Sony SHOULD have built on that for the gamers, arguably they still can with the right phrases in their advertising. No one really wants to play DEMANDING games on the go. People do want to play whenever though (much less restricted with a portable). Small things, but lots of cash...can be done no doubt.


* So you have to wonder who would want them to sink it. Doesn't take long to realise it's worried fans of the competition.

 

[VanWinkle]

... What part of that quote are you responding to?

Ugh, this is one thing that seriously frustrates me how Vita owners keep saying it. Literally nobody is saying you can't enjoy your Vita - in fact I don't know how many times I've seen someone post the exact opposite, "I'm happy you're able to enjoy your system."

I say this as a Vita owner myself with no plans on selling my system and being perfectly content with what I've got with it.

Funny how that statement is always followed by a "...but". The "I'm happy you enjoy your system" seems more like a "see, I'm not biased" than a genuine happiness.

I also find it odd how the OP think that if the current situation of the Vita with it's game lineup and sales aren't interesting enough to him, Sony should kill off the system altogether. What would that accomplish, exactly? For those of us who love using our Vitas, it would be terrible. For you, it would be...nothing. You would not be affected by it.

And this argument of "I don't want a console experience; I want handheld-tailored experiences for the Vita." is ridiculous. This is a dead argument. Are you saying that rather than utilizing what the Vita is capable of different than mobile, you want games that your Android phone or iPhone can already do? Quite well, even. Six years ago, it would have made sense to want "handheld-tailored" experiences for your gaming portable, because gaming on your cell phone was atrocious. Now, if you don't want the types of games Vita is capable of doing and should be doing, it's clearly not for you.

 

[GuessMyUserName]

This is what i was replying to. Its no fucking conspiracy. Some of us are satisfied with our purchase. Why is that so unfathomable?

In the discussion of this topic - Sony's future with the Vita - how you feel about the system is completely irrelevant. It's not the way the market sees it, and your anecdotes mean absolutely nothing as far as the health of the platform goes.

That doesn't mean the fact that you enjoy the Vita is objectionable. Nobody's saying it's "unfathomable" to enjoy the Vita, it's just irrelevant to the conversation.

 

[daoster]

This is what i was replying to. Its no fucking conspiracy. Some of us are satisfied with our purchase. Why is that so unfathomable?

But this is a topic discussing the the future of the system. It's great that you're enjoying your purchase (as am I), but what does that have to do with it's future?

 

[Figboy79]

Ofcourse Golf being announced on Ps3 wasn't the main reason I sold my Vita. But it was one of those nails in the coffin. It was one of my most played Vita games and I mostly play games at home. handheld included. Everybody's Golf is a game I enjoy just as much on console. I loved 5.

But I do like handhelds. I could play Lumines for hours. It has its benefits over a console.. lightning fast start up, play everywhere in the house... As I said the likes of GoW and Golf I can enjoy just as much if not more on the console but others like Lumines I enjoy more on handheld. Wipeout was my favourite game even, but I completely finished it so yeah.

I thought about selling my Vita when I was finished with all games I liked. Ragnarok wasn't announced for Europe at all, nor was Persona 4. For the upcoming 5 months or so, there was NOTHING I would consider buying. The Vita was collecting dust. So I sold it to beat an incoming price drop with the intention of perhaps buying a cheap used one back once a price drop would hit, if I had the desire to do so. I might still do it one day, for Persona 4 or something. But as of now I don't miss it. As I also don't care about NFS, AC handheld or Declassified.

On top of that, I also found myself playing on iPhone more than to grab the Vita out of the drawer lately. So are mobile phones a threat? I'd say yes.

Thanks for answering my question!

I understand where you're coming from. I guess, for me, I just don't sell my consoles, even during dry periods. In my many, many decades as a gamer, I guess I've learned that there will always be something announced for my system that will make me wish I had kept it.

I mean, for over 2 years, all I owned on the Xbox 360 was Mass Effect 1, Bioshock, and Fable 2. I'm not a Gears of War or Fable fan. Eventually, I added Fable 3 (which I didn't like, sadly), Alan Wake, Deadly Premonition, and some cool XBLA games to that. If I had sold my 360, I'd have missed out on some good stuff, even if it wasn't a cavalcade of titles. My 360 is currently RROD. Lol. But still, I'm glad I kept it.

In my opinion, I say you should get the products that suit your lifestyle. I have over two dozen games to play on my Vita. I have almost as many games downloaded onto my smart phone, and I never touch them. I just don't find them very compelling, and I'm not into tiny, short bursts of play, since I have extended gaming time.

When I can, I do play my Vita at home, but that's usually if my wife is on the PS3 in the bedroom, playing a game or watching Netflix, and I'll whip out the Vita because I want to play something. That's when having a console experience on a portable is perfect for me. Sometimes, I don't want to play Plants vs Zombies while my wife is hogging the PS3. I can get that fix from a more complicated game on the Vita, whereas many smart phone games are either shallow, or feature piss poor controls where I'd much rather have buttons and the dual analog sticks.

Again, thanks for answering the question!

 

[PrimeRib_]

Back out to the 3DS. I think a lower resolution and hardware specs = lower dev costs?

Really, the issue with the PSP2 is that there was no dev support from the get-go. Outside of Ass Creed 3: Liberation, what publisher has tried full-force-100%-independent-games on the hardware? Everything is either ports (Little King's Story, LittleBigPlanet, NFS: Most Wanted [granted, this is "tailored to the hardware," but it's still downgraded/"port" argumentive], Persona 4, Disgaea 3...) or mobile games that no one but mobile gamers give a damn about (minis, PS Mobile Suite...).

The "new games" that they have fall into the console line of thinking, which is okay with me but not okay with the masses at large.

And then you get Call of Duty, at the time of it's (okay, waning but...) popularity and Sony/Activistion can't even dedicate an A-team to porting a year old PS3 title to the hardware with a reasonable feature set. They've removed Zombie's mode, FFS.

I enjoy the hardware, and I'm glad I've bought it. But really: Sony needs to announce something NEW because outside of Persona 4 launching this month there's nothing on the horizon that makes me go "yeah, I want to get that on the PSP2" currently and that should be sending alarm bells and hurricane/tornado sirens going off at Sony HQ.

The assumption is that less technologically advanced hardware is easier to develop for, in the sense you don't have to commit as many hours to development to maximize the architecture's capabilities. This is where I think Sony's Vita differentiates a bit too much. They went high on the technology scale, but can't seem to convince developers to work towards maximizing the handheld's true potential. It also costs less to have less critically acclaimed devs (Nihilistic) work on Vita-specific reiterations of key franchise games, which muddy the Vita's potential by serving games that are undercooked. Someone mentioned Naughty Dog and I'd agree that this is one such dev that should be developing a Vita-only game to help sell systems. Relying on half-assed 3rd party support is not sufficient, they need to innovate here or die trying.

 

[semiconscious]

But this is a topic discussing the the death of the system...

fixed ...

 

[Schobeleth]

WOOOOO ANOTHER HATE TRAIN THREAD TIME TO HOP ON BOARD FELLAS!

Meanwhile I'm being buried by Vita games. I literally have too many to play.

 

[eighty(one)]

The tech is getting close to the point where they could release a vita tablet. Something running android which can switch into vita mode to run vita games. You'd still need physical controls, but that could at least provide an exit strategy for Sony and bring big games to the tablet/smartphone space.

Android is rootable, therefore is not in Sony's interest for piracy sake.


Anyhow, my thoughts on the many NON Vita owners chanting for Sony to kill the system, isn't that like a self fulfilling prophecy?

 

[kitch9]

New vita troll thread......just in time for fall releases lol. Love ya gaf.

Everyone's an industry expert with insider knowledge apparently.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Back out to the 3DS. I think a lower resolution and hardware specs = lower dev costs?

Really, the issue with the PSP2 is that there was no dev support from the get-go. Outside of Ass Creed 3: Liberation, what publisher has tried full-force-100%-independent-games on the hardware? Everything is either ports (Little King's Story, LittleBigPlanet, NFS: Most Wanted [granted, this is "tailored to the hardware," but it's still downgraded/"port" argumentive], Persona 4, Disgaea 3...) or mobile games that no one but mobile gamers give a damn about (minis, PS Mobile Suite...).

The "new games" that they have fall into the console line of thinking, which is okay with me but not okay with the masses at large.

And then you get Call of Duty, at the time of it's (okay, waning but...) popularity and Sony/Activistion can't even dedicate an A-team to porting a year old PS3 title to the hardware with a reasonable feature set. They've removed Zombie's mode, FFS.

I enjoy the hardware, and I'm glad I've bought it. But really: Sony needs to announce something NEW because outside of Persona 4 launching this month there's nothing on the horizon that makes me go "yeah, I want to get that on the PSP2" currently and that should be sending alarm bells and hurricane/tornado sirens going off at Sony HQ.

The same goes for 3DS. Most western third party games are crap on 3DS. 3DS gets about all its good stuff from Japan, and this is exactly where Vita is doing the worst of all markets. If they can't capture Japan, they can't succeed. I think a handheld needs Japanese software in order to survive. The west doesn't give a fuck unless its about cheap appstore games. Their mindset is what you see on Vita; a watered down quick buck developed CoD. That Sony itself keeps its premier studios from handheld development doesn't help either. They shamelessly killed Resistance.

 

[Leona Lewis]

Depressing situation considering the near-flawless hardware.

It will have been worth the $200 I paid for it if PSO2 ever crawls out of development hell, but it could've been so much more. Pains me every time I remember T5R and think how awesome TTT2 would be on Vita, or fantasize about portable DOA5 or Demon Souls and wince at how close they probably were to existence before 10k started becoming optimistic estimates for Vita's weekly sales in Japan.

Hurts more than the Dreamcast - at least PS2 was mostly a lateral move, but going from Vita to anything else in its class is a painful experience to say the least.

 

[GuessMyUserName]

Funny how that statement is always followed by a "...but". The "I'm happy you enjoy your system" seems more like a "see, I'm not biased" than a genuine happiness.

Of course there's a "but..." in there. Because every time someone comes into to say they love their Vita, it's irrelevant to the topic. It's just a defensive knee-jerk reaction to the idea that the public is not interested in what you like and it adds nothing to the topic.

It's a nice thing that someone enjoys the Vita - BUT that's not what the topic is about and it means nothing as a response. This is not a topic of "How good is the Vita?", for you to put in your thoughts about the system. This is a topic about the Vita's situation in the market and what direction does the platform seem to be headed.

 

[GavinGT]

I thought it would be obvious that sinking the vita would be a disaster for Sony. Some people talking about opportunity cost...more like credibility and future potential collapse: (as well as losing all their investments and reputation in the portable market). I'm sure people won't fail to remind them about the vita if Sony closed it and started a new one down the line).

Those are sunk costs. There's little sense in forgoing future profits to try to recoup past losses. I still don't think you understand what we mean by opportunity cost. Sony has a finite amount of resources, and it's most prudent to invest those resources in the most lucrative fields possible. Continuing to support Vita is tying up a significant portion of their development resources, and those developers would be better utilized making games for PS4. Devoting, say, a third of their development resources to a platform that's selling 100k/month worldwide is backing the wrong horse.

I rag on you because it's clear that you have a firm emotional attachment to these issues. I have no such attachment. I'm just trying to decipher what would be best for Sony, and in so doing I'm anticipating that Sony will see things in a similar light. You ask, "Why would they sink the best handheld gaming device there is?". I ask, "Why should they continue placing poor bets with their company resources?".

 

[Nibel]

WOOOOO ANOTHER HATE TRAIN THREAD TIME TO HOP ON BOARD FELLAS!

Meanwhile I'm being buried by Vita games. I literally have too many to play.

Which ports are you playing son

 

[Skyzard]

Those are sunk costs. There's little sense in forgoing future profits to try to recoup past losses. I still don't think you understand what we mean by opportunity cost. Sony has a finite amount of resources, and it's most prudent to invest those resources in the most lucrative fields possible. Continuing to support Vita is tying up a significant portion of their development resources, and those developers would be better utilized making games for PS4. Devoting, say, a third of their development resources to a platform that's selling 100k/month worldwide is backing the wrong horse.

I rag on you because it's clear that you have a firm emotional attachment to these issues. I have no such attachment. I'm just trying to decipher what would be best for Sony, and in so doing I'm anticipating that Sony will see things in a similar light. You ask, "Why would they sink the best handheld gaming device there is?". I ask, "Why should they continue placing poor bets with their company resources?".

You fail to see the potential that Sony and I clearly do:

There will be a split with consoles and handhelds, only the biggest publishers will be able to survive on consoles they way things are going. The cost of cancelling out the vita to allow more focus on PS4...which is out in years, and its prospect of success hardly as guaranteed as you are making it out to be..and will mean that if there is a split and handheld gaming devices do become more popular then they will be cut-off from that, no credit and nintendo/ms will have it all.

Mobile phones maybe taking most of that market for now, but it is a novelty, and gamers will want something more, something with buttons (and yes..games). It's all there (games being somewhat dependant), just need the ads to get the userbase - to then convince third parties to pick it up and so that it lasts long enough for the world to realise what they're missing. Ads = sales. Especially when the product is solid. Especially good ads, showing a solid product. Some markets need to be told over and over before "IT" (convenience) clicks.

 

[UncleSporky]

So it shouldn't matter that we enjoy the many games it has? What should matter is how it sells? How does that even make any sense?

Why in the world would you interpret "things that matter" as meaning "things that matter above all else in a general sense," as opposed to "things that matter in the context of this discussion?"

What does an individual's enjoyment have to do with how a handheld is performing in global markets, and the decision process a company might have based on that performance?

Of course there's a "but..." in there. Because every time someone comes into to say they love their Vita, it's irrelevant to the topic. It's just a defensive knee-jerk reaction to the idea that the public is not interested in what you like and it adds nothing to the topic.

It's a nice thing that someone enjoys the Vita - BUT that's not what the topic is about and it means nothing as a response. This is not a topic of "How good is the Vita?", for you to put in your thoughts about the system. This is a topic about the Vita's situation in the market and what direction does the platform seem to be headed.

Freaking yes.

 

[Mr. Fix]

Of course there's a "but..." in there. Because every time someone comes into to say they love their Vita, it's irrelevant to the topic. It's just a defensive knee-jerk reaction to the idea that the public is not interested in what you like and it adds nothing to the topic.

It's a nice thing that someone enjoys the Vita - BUT that's not what the topic is about and it means nothing as a response. This is not a topic of "How good is the Vita?", for you to put in your thoughts about the system. This is a topic about the Vita's situation in the market and what direction does the platform seem to be headed.

Thank you.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Holy crap at some of the comments. Apparently being critical of Vita automatically = Troll/Vita is doomed alarmist? If I love the tech of a gaming device, I need to piss away my money at it, even if the library is an anemic mess?

I'm not trying to push buttons, or drag the handheld through mud. I'm just genuinely bewildered by Sony's current approach. By this time of year, we should have been seeing ads everywhere, with compelling, killer-app exclusives that can't be played anywhere else being shown at every opportunity. Instead, the average consumer is barely aware of its existence.

I did forget about the new white color (but it's just one), and the new AC bundle. (Probably because AC doesn't really interest me.) I get that there are some games on the thing, but as of now, the vast majority of these games seem to be either:

• Handheld versions/spin-off's of bigger games that exist on consoles.
• Adequate titles that are OK, but are by no means killer-apps/hardware movers.

For me personally, there are a grand total of three titles that I find genuinely compelling titles:

• Gravity Rush
• Tearaway
• P4 The Golden

Only two of these are new, original, creative efforts that can't be experienced anywhere other than Vita. This is a little insane.

I'm also a little confused as to why the 3DS is even being brought up as justification here. Don't get me wrong (while I have more faith in the 3DS at the moment), it has its fair share of problems and disappointments, but above all else, it's not relevant to what Vita is trying to do on its own terms.

 

[diffusionx]

Those are sunk costs. There's little sense in forgoing future profits to try to recoup past losses. I still don't think you understand what we mean by opportunity cost. Sony has a finite amount of resources, and it's most prudent to invest those resources in the most lucrative fields possible. Continuing to support Vita is tying up a significant portion of their development resources, and those developers would be better utilized making games for PS4. Devoting, say, a third of their development resources to a platform that's selling 100k/month worldwide is backing the wrong horse.

I really doubt the Vita is taking up a third of their development resources right now - maybe a tenth or twentieth. And I think it is just too early to declare the Vita a failure. Software is selling decently well amongst the few who own the system, so people clearly want content for this machine. It's obviously capable hardware.

 

[winjet81]

PSP was dead and buried around 2006... and today, it's still moving units with pretty much zero support form Sony.

Vita's got at least 5-6 years left in its life cycle, which has yet to see any price drops and is obviously going to be an integrated piece in the forthcoming PS4 platform environment.

Much to the chagrin of those who would love to see it fade away, PSV is going to be around for awhile.

 

[Lone_Prodigy]

I saw a TV ad for AC Liberation the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GWt1Jw_JzI

No gameplay footage. A console experience in your hands.

This is how Sony wants to market the Vita.

 

[Man God]

PSP was dead and buried around 2006... and today, it's still moving units with pretty much zero support form Sony.

Vita's got at least 5-6 years left in its life cycle, which has yet to see any price drops and is obviously going to be an integrated piece in the forthcoming PS4 platform environment.

Much to the chagrin of those who would love to see it fade away, PSV is going to be around for awhile.

Why do you say that? I'm honestly curious.

 

[Skyzard]

That was brilliant, Lone_Prodigy.

Now they just need to show people playing it on their beds etc as well

 

[Toki767]

The direction for the Vita seems to be more of an indie game handheld system. PS Mobile is such a missed opportunity because a lot of iOS games would be so much better with buttons.

 

[Ragingnight]

Holy crap at some of the comments. Apparently being critical of Vita automatically = Troll/Vita is doomed alarmist? If I love the tech of a gaming device, I need to piss away my money at it, even if the library is an anemic mess?

I'm not trying to push buttons, or drag the handheld through mud. I'm just genuinely bewildered by Sony's current approach. By this time of year, we should have been seeing ads everywhere, with compelling, killer-app exclusives that can't be played anywhere else being shown at every opportunity. Instead, the average consumer is barely aware of its existence.

I did forget about the new white color (but it's just one), and the new AC bundle. (Probably because AC doesn't really interest me.) I get that there are some games on the thing, but as of now, the vast majority of these games seem to be either:

• Handheld versions/spin-off's of bigger games that exist on consoles.
• Adequate titles that are OK, but are by no means killer-apps/hardware movers.

For me personally, there are a grand total of three titles that I find genuinely compelling titles:

• Gravity Rush
• Tearaway
• P4 The Golden

Only two of these are new, original, creative efforts that can't be experienced anywhere other than Vita. This is a little insane.

I'm also a little confused as to why the 3DS is even being brought up as justification here. Don't get me wrong (while I have more faith in the 3DS at the moment), it has its fair share of problems and disappointments, but above all else, it's not relevant to what Vita is trying to do on its own terms.

Zero Escape should probably be added to that list

 

[Mr. Fix]

I saw a TV ad for AC Liberation the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GWt1Jw_JzI

No gameplay footage. A console experience in your hands.

This is how Sony wants to market the Vita.

This is key. I own a PS3, so I see no need to buy a Vita (damn you subcharted). The same can't really be said for the 3DS. It isn't a portable console.

 

[giancarlo123x]

This thread is just sad, Vita is awesome. Just give it time to bloom. PS3 didn't have the greatest start either but look at it now.

 

[grimshawish]

buried by Vita games

How many you find down there?
Seriously though I don't 100% disagree with what your saying. Why? Because anyone buying a Vita knew the outlook this year and knew (or should have) what sort of system they were getting into.

The reason some Vita owners are worrying is because their looking at the sales and 2013. The outlook of possibly no major game is a pretty horrid one. Thats the issue here, enough games to mean quality games and not leaving it to chance (probability) and just having a system that creates enough demand for games that developers supply them.

Vita has some major issues and the OP isn't wrong in that Sony either get massively behind this thing or let it die.
It will only cost them money to continue this half arsed strategy with no added value.

Invest or don't basically.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Zero Escape should probably be added to that list

Yeah, only reason I didn't include it, is because it's not an exclusive, and I already dipped for it on the 3DS. But it's definitely the direction of where I think Vita should be heading.

 

[Zuly]

I just hope, much like with the PSP, the Vita eventually picks up steam and gets a worthy library of games to own.

 

[BlackJace]

"No, ya'll are crazy, I'm buying so many Vita games, it's fine!"

What the fuck does this have to do with anything? The damn thing isn't selling. This is not a topic about the quality or quantity of the games, nor is it about measuring the quality of the system itself.

Fuck.

 

[grimshawish]

I saw a TV ad for AC Liberation the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GWt1Jw_JzI

No gameplay footage. A console experience in your hands.

This is how Sony wants to market the Vita.

The number of views on that is pretty great.

 

[daoster]

I saw a TV ad for AC Liberation the other day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GWt1Jw_JzI

No gameplay footage. A console experience in your hands.

This is how Sony wants to market the Vita.

That was brilliant, Lone_Prodigy.

Now they just need to show people playing it on their beds etc as well

Again, I believe this is a mistake. Console experience games are great, and is a welcomed addition to the Vita, but that type of experience will not sell Vitas

 

[raven777]

vita needs more games, both quality games and different variety of games.

 

[Skyzard]

Sales don't always reflect appeal or potential. I'm sure there are many gamers just waiting for the right circumstance to pounce.

Again, I believe this is a mistake. Console experience games are great, and is a welcomed addition to the Vita, but that type of experience will not sell Vitas

Of course it would :S It's what the vita was designed for and there are plenty of people that it would be able to target (everyone) - for the convenience. Everyone except people who have very recently bought a new home entertainment console. --- I know what you mean though, it is a mistake to show them playing really demanding games in busy places. It's too stressful for most people imo. Sony really doesn't want to show people playing their vitas at home.

brb (1hr)

 

[PrimeRib_]

You fail to see the potential that Sony and I clearly do.

There will be a split with consoles and handhelds, only the biggest publishers will be able to survive on consoles they way things are going. The cost of cancelling out the vita to allow more focus on PS4...which is out in years, and its prospect of success hardly as guaranteed as you are making it out to be..and will mean that if there is a split and handheld gaming devices do become more popular then they will be cut-off from that, no credit and nintendo/ms will have it all.

Mobile phones maybe taking most of that market for now, but it is a novelty, and gamers will want something more, something with buttons (and yes..games). It's all there (games being somewhat dependant), just need the ads to get the userbase - to then convince third parties to pick it up and so that it lasts long enough for the world to realise what they're missing. Ads = sales. Especially when the product is solid. Especially good ads, showing a solid product. Some markets need to be told over and over before "IT" (convenience) clicks.

Development costs for PS4 and Xbox720 will increase, as devs allot additional time to not just unlock the hardware, but also in perfecting a base level. I don't think sub-30 FPS games will cut it next gen, and this level of performance increase will undoubtedly take more time, to to mention require more focus on art assets and lighting because the ceiling they had to work within before is now gone.

This also means the gap between Vita and its console brother (from PS3>PS4) increases considerably as well, meaning first part devs will see a similar split in terms of resources. There is no denying this will attribute further disparity with the Vita, and devs ability to deliver quality, future AAA titles for it.

 

[DCharlie]

If Sony kills the PSP, will the independent Japanese developers go to the Vita or back out to the 3DS?

PSP is the machine that refuses to die - it is likely to outlive the vita.