I just don't understand why Sony didn't work theirs arses' off and get some of the multiplatform games available for the Vita only. Games like God Eater 2 or FFX HD shouldn't be found anywhere else. That might have helped a lot.
I don't think it's really that simple. When dealing with a third party, sometimes no matter how much effort you want to put in to get a deal, if they see a better business opportunity elsewhere they will take it. There is no reason at all for Square Enix to make FFX HD a Vita exclusive for example, when they know that they would make more money and improve their public image more if it is on the PS3 as well. Why would they favor Sony over themselves? It's the same reason why major third parties in the West have gone full multiplatform now. The days of PS2 super-exclusives are over.
I don't know.
If they could get japanese publishers to support the hardware as Bamco is doing that would be a first.
I'm not saying it will be on par with PSP LTD, just that it could be a plateform healthier than the latest if they manage to deal with it decently (and protect it against piracy), dropping the price in America and PAL with a bit marketing , publishing more japanese titles worldwide, make a good use of the Gaikai's technology, make a bundle with PS4, improve the tools that help porting a PS3 game for Vita and attract more western AAA games like AC Liberations.
It's not impossible, very hard would be more accurate, it's just up to them if they want the hardware to sell 20M or closer to 60M in its lifespan.
Yeah I can see some of this having some impact, but we should not forget that they face different problems in Japan and in the West.
In Japan, the biggest problem they're facing is that the Vita isn't very attractive at all compared to the 3DS. The graphics are better, but heldheld players aren't that picky - as long as the graphics allow for a good degree of 3D gameplay, which was what the DS was missing, they're happy with it. So the PSP and 3DS having much more games and a much larger userbase works against the Vita in a big way.
In the West, handhelds are just on decline, period. Younger gamers are growing up playing games on their phones and tablets, adults don't use public transportation as much, it's easier to play something simple on a phone than to carry another dedicated device around, etc.
It seems to me that no matter what Sony does, they can't ignore the reality that both in Japan and in the West, the different cultural elements are all working against the Vita in a very negative way.
