Is A Perfect Storm Sinking the PlayStation Vita?

[CorruptedDragon]

They definitely have an uphill battle ahead of them. Hard to convince people to make games for a system with the sales Vita has. Sales coming from a lack of good games.

I agree with RM's thoughts, stuff like Sound Shapes and Snapshot are what would get me interested in a vita if they weren't also coming to PS3.

The PS Vita, the Dreamcast/Gamecube of hand helds.

[rm082e]

The PS Vita, the Dreamcast/Gamecube of hand helds.

You're giving it way more credit than it deserves. It's more like the Jaguar of handhelds.

[Badger3920]

They definitely have an uphill battle ahead of them. Hard to convince people to make games for a system with the sales Vita has. Sales coming from a lack of good games.

I agree with RM's thoughts, stuff like Sound Shapes and Snapshot are what would get me interested in a vita if they weren't also coming to PS3.

We've reached an interesting point in gaming history where the amount of power you can pack in a small handheld gaming platform is huge. So the question then begs itself. Why would I play on the handheld if I can just play on my huge TV? Aside from the small amount of people who frequently travel for a living, this is a legitimate question. Then, further, if this thing is going to be so capable and it's going to be so expensive - it has changed the market considerations. Few people will accept paying several hundred dollars for a machine that is basically meant to play puzzle games while on the road. Yet, the company still has to support its main console, so making AAA exclusives for the handheld is out of the question.

This market is just bizarre as all hell, and it's caving in on itself. Get out Sony...

[DaveS1138]

I just don't understand how anyone at Sony "believes" that offering inferior clones of console games and asking almost the same price is going to be a winning strategy for this machine. It didn't work with the PSP and it hasn't worked with the Vita, so what is fueling the confidence in this strategy?

It's not as if Sony are ONLY making inferior clones of console games.....there are other titles covering a selection of game types....

Personally I hope they continue to makes clones of console games. Uncharted was a good game on the Vita and being able to play a full uncharted experience on the road is a hell of an advantage in my book.

I think the problem for the Vita isn't games. There are plenty of good titles covering a broad range of game types. The problem for the Vita is it's price. $250 seems like a good rice point when it was bing compared directly to the 3DS.....but then you find out thats the wi-fi only version and you need another $100 for a memory card and it's a whole different picture.

Sony need to cut the price of the Vita and bundle it with a worthwhile sized memory card.

Its a really great portable games machine......but it's all alone at the very top of the price pile and that's no place to put your product even if it is offering a premium in features over the competition.

Offering PS1 and PS2 classic titles playable on the Vita at a more iPhone App friendly price would be a good move also.

[rm082e]

It's not as if Sony are ONLY making inferior clones of console games.....there are other titles covering a selection of game types....

Then why don't I know about them? I'm as plugged into the gaming scene as any Hardware maker or Publisher can expect their audience to be, and all I've seen of the Vita is 3/4 sized clones of console games. What are the games I've missed that are: 1) Vita exclusive, 2) Original IPs and or concepts, and 3) critically acclaimed?

What have they created that can only be played on Vita that a console guy like me could get excited about?


Edit: I just checked Amazon for Vita games and the only game I forgot about that fits my criteria above is Gravity Rush. That one did look cool.

Personally I hope they continue to makes clones of console games. Uncharted was a good game on the Vita and being able to play a full uncharted experience on the road is a hell of an advantage in my book.

Like most people, I don't go on the road. So that's just a waste for me. I'm not saying they shouldn't have that available for people who do. I certainly want folks like you who do travel to have those games available to you. But they can't expect that type of experience to be the selling hook when most people do not travel regularly.

[DaveS1138]

Then why don't I know about them? I'm as plugged into the gaming scene as any Hardware maker or Publisher can expect their audience to be, and all I've seen of the Vita is 3/4 sized clones of console games. What are the games I've missed that are: 1) Vita exclusive, 2) Original IPs and or concepts, and 3) critically acclaimed?

What have they created that can only be played on Vita that a console guy like me could get excited about?


Edit: I just checked Amazon for Vita games and the only game I forgot about that fits my criteria above is Gravity Rush. That one did look cool.

I cant look on gaming sites at work to make a list but just looking at whats on my Vita right now I have

Unit 13
Resistance : Burning Skies
Motorstorm RC
Fifa Soccer
Escape Plan
Uncharted : Golden Abyss
Gravity Rush
Modnation Racers
Hot Shots Golf : World Invitational
Pure Chess
Wipeout 2048
Mutant Blobs Attack
Metal Gear solid HD

add to that the following PSP games

Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker
Gran Turismo
Grand Theft Auto : Chinatown wars
Killzone Liberation
God of War : Chanins of Olympus
Resistance retribution
Pinball Heroes

Thats a pretty diverse gaming lineup......add to that 12 movies and I would argue its a pretty good portable entertainment package.

Like most people, I don't go on the road. So that's just a waste for me. I'm not saying they shouldn't have that available for people who do. I certainly want folks like you who do travel to have those games available to you. But they can't expect that type of experience to be the selling hook when most people do not travel regularly.

I completely agree with that. I'm cursed with a job involving a fair amount of travel....but at home I fire up the PS3 instead of the Vita.

But that is true of any portable device it is not a Vita problem.....I wouldn't fire up a 3DS or game on my iPhone if I was at home with a PS3 available either. If the only place you game is at home then a portable system is pointless for you since the one thing you dont require is portability.

[rm082e]

I cant look on gaming sites at work to make a list but just looking at whats on my Vita right now I have

Unit 13
Resistance : Burning Skies
Motorstorm RC
Fifa Soccer
Escape Plan
Uncharted : Golden Abyss
Gravity Rush
Modnation Racers
Hot Shots Golf : World Invitational
Pure Chess
Wipeout 2048
Mutant Blobs Attack
Metal Gear solid HD

add to that the following PSP games

Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker
Gran Turismo
Grand Theft Auto : Chinatown wars
Killzone Liberation
God of War : Chanins of Olympus
Resistance retribution
Pinball Heroes

Thats a pretty diverse gaming lineup......add to that 12 movies and I would argue its a pretty good portable entertainment package.

I never said the lineup wasn't diverse, I said it was lacking in good original games. Of the 20 titles you listed, 14 of them are knock-offs of console games - games that are bigger, better, and in most cases cheaper on the PS3. At that, 7 of them are last gen games. So again, the only advantage to the Vita right now is letting you have a similar experience on the road, which isn't really useful to most of us.

But that is true of any portable device it is not a Vita problem.....I wouldn't fire up a 3DS or game on my iPhone if I was at home with a PS3 available either. If the only place you game is at home then a portable system is pointless for you since the one thing you dont require is portability.

Not me. I've played several games on iOS while at home with the consoles just because I wanted the type of experience those games offer. It's something the consoles are not doing because they do not have touch screens. Obviously 95% or more of my gaming time at home is spent on a console, but I'm open to using other platforms if there are interesting and unique experiences to be had.


The Vita seems like it has the hardware, just not the software support for it's unique features. Touchscreen with dual sticks is an idea I really like and want to see explored more.

[twonunpackmule]

Ticket to Ride on iOS is great! Just saying. It's great example of pick up and play.

3DS has Mario Kart and Tennis. Hell, even Mario land is a great short serve game.

Vita isnt exactly portable in that vain.

[CorruptedDragon]

You're giving it way more credit than it deserves. It's more like the Jaguar of handhelds.

Yeah, you're right. Although, maybe it should be the 3DO of hand helds.

I liked my Jag somewhat. AvP, Tempest, Iron Soldier, Raiden.

[hdinred]

I liked my Jag somewhat. AvP, Tempest, Iron Soldier, Raiden.

Yup.. Jag also had a pretty competent version of Rayman too..

[Bane]

Yeah, you're right. Although, maybe it should be the 3DO of hand helds.

Hey! Back the fuck off of 3DO, man It was a great machine with many quality-lol!

Ah, sorry... couldn't even finish that thought. Sigh... one of the worst purchases I've made in my life, probably.

Yup.. Jag also had a pretty competent version of Rayman too..

IIRC I think the Jaguar is where Rayman started.

[CorruptedDragon]

Hey! Back the fuck off of 3DO, man It was a great machine with many quality-lol!

Ah, sorry... couldn't even finish that thought. Sigh... one of the worst purchases I've made in my life, probably.



IIRC I think the Jaguar is where Rayman started.

Correct, Rayman was originally developed on the Jaguar and was said to be an exclusive, but it then soon launched on the playstation and sega saturn.
I always preferred the jaguar version simply because it had no loading times like the ps version.

[chipvideo]

All I can say is that I love my vita. Just wish it had more games. I really want to get some of the ps1 classics like Gaplus(Galaga 3).

[miDnIghtEr]

what?? you dont know what your saying

For all those interested, he's talking about post 139.

[Averry]

We've reached an interesting point in gaming history where the amount of power you can pack in a small handheld gaming platform is huge. So the question then begs itself. Why would I play on the handheld if I can just play on my huge TV? Aside from the small amount of people who frequently travel for a living, this is a legitimate question. Then, further, if this thing is going to be so capable and it's going to be so expensive - it has changed the market considerations. Few people will accept paying several hundred dollars for a machine that is basically meant to play puzzle games while on the road. Yet, the company still has to support its main console, so making AAA exclusives for the handheld is out of the question.

This market is just bizarre as all hell, and it's caving in on itself. Get out Sony...

See, I never wanted console experiences in my hand held. I want hand held experiences. That was always the biggest problem for the PSP and Vita in comparison to the DS and 3DS. Nintendo was able to offer unique experiences, instead of trying to give you "similar" but almost never as good experiences derived from home console games.

So when you realize that, you realize that it's dumb to have a $300 system capable of playing home console games when you can make cheaper hard ware with unique experiences that are geared for mobile. (And lead to longer battery life among other benefits.)