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Analyst: Vita Success Relies On Strong Third-Party Support

The PlayStation Vita was a primary focus of Sony's presentation at last week's Tokyo Game Show, and the advanced portable is starting to garner plenty of attention.

But we wanted to know the analyst take on the Vita's future, so we asked EEDAR's Jesse Divnich about current expectations. Basically, any new piece of hardware requires software to succeed, which is why Sony has 26 titles planned for the Vita's launch, with over 100 on shelves before March (in Japan, at least). But Divnich says first-party support won't be enough; the third-party support needs to kick in big time.

"We still feel positive on the PlayStation Vita, but believe that the long-term success of the platform (or any platform) will come down to strong third-party support. With the Western launch 5 to 6 months away, we anxiously await additional announcements of support from the major third-party publishers and developers.

The first party software we've seen is phenomenal and the Vita will be one of the best, if not first, true HD mobile platform."

Divnich added that he expects the new unit to arrive in North America in February or March, which falls in line with other predictions. For our part, we have high hopes for the Vita; we just hope it can separate itself from the onslaught of mobile gaming via cell phones. Hey, phones can't do stuff like Uncharted: Golden Abyss .

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GuyverLT
GuyverLT
12 years ago

Analyst: Vita Success Relies On Strong Third-Party Support

Wow!!! These analyst sure do have a keen eye for the absolute obvious I mean didn't know this already?????

ZenChichiri
ZenChichiri
12 years ago

Analysts realize that nobody will buy it just for a paper weight because people actually want to play games on it. They r smrt.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
12 years ago

Wow, talk about Deva Vu, this is weird….

All the comments in this thread are actually comments that were made from a much earlier September thread.

Spooky……..


Last edited by BikerSaint on 1/10/2012 10:40:39 PM

Jed
Jed
12 years ago

Maybe you and I just traveled back in time!!!

ryu
ryu
12 years ago

that's just another way of saying

1st party games are gonna be garbage, and they'r right

StubbornScorpio
StubbornScorpio
12 years ago

Hey, what are you doing, you're supposed to stay under that bridge!

ZettaiSeigi
ZettaiSeigi
12 years ago

Do not feed the troll!

Qubex
Qubex
12 years ago

Nonsense!

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

godsman
godsman
12 years ago

Is the 3-5 hour battery life for real? or is that just a rumor?

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
12 years ago

It's real.

Qubex
Qubex
12 years ago

Pity really, that battery longevity is just not good… unfortunately. But you could still have a blast with the Vita if you are willing to find a plug point for it somewhere…

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

Cpt_Geez
Cpt_Geez
12 years ago

@ godsman I read an article the other day that said Sony is making this battery booster for the ps vita. Its suppose to give the vita an extra 8-10 hours more battery life when connected.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
12 years ago

I already posted this in a previous Vita thread, but I'll post it again here too….

You'll be able to change out your Vita battery….

http://www.industrygamers.com/news/playstation-vitas-extended-battery-cures-your-power-woes/

PlayStation Vita's Extended Battery Cures Your Power Woes

Posted September 16, 2011 by M.H. Williams

When Sony released the official specifications for its PlayStation Vita portable, a number of potential owners noted the low battery life. At 3 to 5 hours of playtime, the system is on par with Nintendo's 3DS, which also got raked through the coals for a short battery life.

Well according to SCEA Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida, Sony's already working on a way to fix your problem for a price.

"If you have not noticed we just announced the peripherals for PS Vita as well, and one of the peripherals is the external battery. So if you're flying from New York to San Francisco – or vice versa – you have no concerns if you have an additional external battery" Yoshida told IGN PSP UK.

The extended battery was not on the original list of sixteen peripherals that Sony has already released.

___________
___________
12 years ago

yea its pathetic but at least you can purchase a portable charger with it which effectively doubles its life.
problem though is its ridiculously expensive and its not out till mid 2012.
hopefully energiser or someone else comes too the rescue releasing one earlier and cheaper!

Beamboom
Beamboom
12 years ago

There's supposed to be available an *external*, optional large-capacity battery.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
12 years ago

The internal battery is not replaceable, Sony isn't letting anyone do what was done to the original PSP via the infamous Pandora…

But then again, essentially any external portable charger or battery extender with the correct power adapter will work on it, whether or not Sony brings their own additional battery to the party.

StubbornScorpio
StubbornScorpio
12 years ago

I like to think of third party support as the Chewbacca to the first party Han Solo: it's difficult to fathom success in absence of such a sidekick.


Last edited by StubbornScorpio on 9/19/2011 10:49:27 PM

Dancemachine55
Dancemachine55
12 years ago

Sony designed the Vita with game designers in mind, so unless it gets hacked like the PSP, 3rd party support shouldn't be a problem.

It's already got Ken Levine supporting it, and a CoD game coming, and iPhone indie developers can easily port their games to use on the Vita touch screen and gyro controls.

Really, this device has unlimited potential, and I get the feeling 3rd party developers realise this. If Sony can keep it secure and hack / pirating free, then long-term support is a no brainer.

Miyamoto, Fills-Aime, Iwata: "I sense… a disturbance in the handheld force… a great powerful entity is approaching, more powerful than we could have ever imagined!! I fear we may not be the only ones in power anymore!!"

Warrior Poet
Warrior Poet
12 years ago

I have homebrew on my PSP – I use it to play the GBA/SNES/NES/PS1/PSP games I own. Emulators are great 😉 There are also some good homebrew games, especially shmups, out there. Other functions like a graphic calculator program really do make it more useful.

Unfortunately, homebrew is always used for evil. I'm the only person I know who has any homebrew on his PSP though, so I don't think the piracy is as big as some make it out to be. I do know it's a problem, though.

ZettaiSeigi
ZettaiSeigi
12 years ago

In fairness to the PSP, it was the only handheld console that came close to challenging Nintendo's dominance in that arena. Makes me wonder why people call the PSP a flop when it sold millions of units worldwide.

Qubex
Qubex
12 years ago

A lot of those sales can be attributed to piracy unfortunately. Many people bought Psp's and quickly hacked them. In-fact, my travels across Asia has showed me that every other "shop" in major Asian cities will sell you "hacked" Psp's if you ask for one. If you don't they think you have no knowledge of such things.

Reality is that a lot more developers could have made a lot more software for the Psp, but they didn't because of the piracy issues and the consequence of low sales for the majority of titles.

The JRPG's have done well in Japan, and people have gone out and bought Psp's just to play a particular game… quite an expensive endevour I would say. I am sure similar will happen with Vita in the next 4 to 6 years as Vita matures. One has to ask though what other mobile devices will be out in the next 5 years and the power they will bestow… scary thought now that Nvidias Tegra3 Quad core SoC is on its way…

Nonetheless, Psp did well for what it was, and there/are some very good titles on it… I think it will continue to move units as gamers with cheaper budgets snap up the last of its availability. I also believe there will be a vibrant second hand market for such machines. If you do purchase a modded one you can run some good homebrew on it, especially the emulators, and I think a lot of people do this, even if they don't readily admit it in public…

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"


Last edited by Qubex on 9/19/2011 11:37:28 PM

Warrior Poet
Warrior Poet
12 years ago

This has been Sony's strategy since the PS1, it's no secret. And it works real well too, huh 😉

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
12 years ago

Well it looks as though that's already happening with a ton of Japanese developers announcing games in development, and companies like R*, Irrational, Activision and Ubisoft all signed on for games for the system, and from some of their biggest franchises too (Well, we don't know what R* is doing yet, but I'm assuming that it's San Andreas Stories or perhaps a side story to the next console GTA).

I'd say it'll be a goer, and if Sega announces VC4 for it… DAY 1!

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
12 years ago

I foresee the Vita having no trouble what-so-ever in finding full 3rd party support.

"Hi, my name is Saint & I support this statement"

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
12 years ago

I support Saint in his support. But won't support it myself until I know that there is a VC game coming for it.

FM23
FM23
12 years ago

Is portable gaming truly that important or popular anymore especially to the crowd Sony is targeting…I mean what are people doing outside their house that include portable gaming? I keep hearing people say they need it for train rides or longs trips…I usually just go to sleep or have a conversation with the nearest person during these situations. Besides that, I just don't see the need for portable gaming devices even if this is a phone as well. Remember, I'm speaking for myself, not others.

Only time I care to game is when I'm at my house. If I'm on the go, I'm either socializing or just enjoying the scene in my own world. The Xperia play wasn't a success nor was it supported, but this looks different since it a true PSP part 2…but still…is portable gaming still popular guys?

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
12 years ago

Probably not, but it doesn't really need to be popular. 50 million is an excellent buyrate, and the PSP is sitting at 77. The DS is somewhere about double that. And if there are that many people buying the devices, then I suppose it's popular enough to try out the venture. If it fails, it fails and Sony will know to either try a different tact or not at all.

Beamboom
Beamboom
12 years ago

@Lawless, remember that the psp sales stems from the pre-Android, pre-iPhone age.
Back then I bought a PSP before I got me a ps3 even. Today I am not 100% sure I'll get a Vita at all… I probably will, but it's def not a d1p.

I share FM23's concerns, but I've been proven wrong before. Maybe there is a great demand for Vita. Time will tell.

If I get a Vita it will be because a must-have title is released for it (I've not seen that yet), and then only plan on using it for the larger travels, type 4-5 hour plane flights. Hopefully the batteries will last that long…


Last edited by Beamboom on 9/20/2011 7:30:56 AM

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
12 years ago

You bring up a good point about the smartphones, but I still think that Vita can carve out its own market. It doesn't need to sell out of the gate, but if it can do decently, like the PS3 has, it'll be fine.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
12 years ago

Smartphone gaming is vastly overrated. I have a smartphone, and game on it exactly 0 hours a week now. It's just not a gaming device.

Beamboom
Beamboom
12 years ago

Well, I guess now all we have to do is see who turns out to be right. I shall not be afraid to admit defeat if so happens, but I'm afraid it will sell a decent amount in Japan but will not be a hit amongst the kids in our streets.


Last edited by Beamboom on 9/20/2011 4:27:24 PM

FM23
FM23
12 years ago

It would be much better if all these quality games were being released for our PS3…smartphones have games on the go…not great games, but something to keep us busy. Buying a brand new game for Vita will cost as much as a discounted PS3 game…count me out.

___________
___________
12 years ago

not only for vita thats for everything!
what disappoints me though is only 3 of the launch titles are first party and 2 of them are crappy kids mini games!
golf and littledeviants.
yea there really what i would spend 400 bucks to play!
they need resistance or another big first party series on there.
speaking of big first party series what the hell happened to killzone!?
was positive we would see it at E3 no show.
was even more positive we would see it at gamescom.
again no show!

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
12 years ago

They'll be wanting to show off Burning Skies, rather than risk damaging the sales of it by also advertising what is widely regarded as a better series at the same time in Killzone (something I disagree with, but whatever). Probably the same reason that Activision are mum about CoDVita. Sony probably wants them not to talk about it yet.

As for the line-up, you take what you get. Uncharted and WipEout are enough for day 1, and littledeviants looks very odd, but could be a good tech showcase title.

Beamboom
Beamboom
12 years ago

Wipeout makes Vita a d1p? Really? After playing wipeout on the psp and wipeout on the ps3, you'd buy yet another gaming device just to play wipeout again?

___________
___________
12 years ago

absolutely i would!
i love wipeout!
they need more first party titles though.
if not first party titles, well known franchises.
the assassins creed game would of made the perfect launch title!
hopefully burning skies wont be out too far after release, hopefully by the EU and US launch.
im surprised LBP2 and MNR are not launch titles, they would of been the perfect fit for it!
3 games we NEED for vita though would be a saints row game, GT and this time a propper GT game!
and a burnout game.
id kill to see burnout paradise on the vita, one of my all time favourite games!
loved it so much i bought it on my ps3, 360 and PC!
finished it god knows how many times on each too!
speaking of burnout the new DL game crash is out this week.
now criterions got this out of their system give us a proper sequel to paradise!

firesoul453
firesoul453
12 years ago

littledeviants looks pretty awesome to me

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
12 years ago

I know the main page isn't reading the number of comments; it's just a little bug in our Vita section. We'll fix it. 🙂

Robochic
Robochic
12 years ago

first or third no matter what the vita will be amazing 🙂

SS4
SS4
12 years ago

You know what other system had a great third party support?

The Sega Saturn did, now where did it take them 😛
I still have mine but i got a playstation as well

Temjin001
Temjin001
12 years ago

yeah, I think it's still a ways off. But I fully expect a streamlined disc drive-less model will release at some point by either of the major players, probably by MS first as they're not cross promoting a physical movie format with their hardware.

Russell Burrows
Russell Burrows
12 years ago

IMHO:

Perception rules all.
A 250 Vita versus a 400 xbox, 250 dollar wii or 600 PS3 is a good price.

However in todays enviroment of 199 to 249 PS3, 150 Wii and 199 Xbox consoles a 250 Vita has a bit of a problem.

The Vita will sell at a 250 price point but it will sell more at a 199 price point with a bundled 1GB mem card.

Jed
Jed
12 years ago

@BikerSaint

Ya, I was wondering why none of them made sense.

EDIT: that was supposed to be a reply to the first comment.


Last edited by Jed on 1/11/2012 12:43:34 AM

Jed
Jed
12 years ago

There's no doubt that physical media will remain for AT LEAST the next two console generations. Even the fastest Internet connections today are too slow to download some of the games out there in a decent amount of time. On top of that, how many parents are willing to let their kids go online with their credit cards?

I am one of the crowd that prefers physical media over digital download. I know there's a lot of others on this site that feel the same way. If everything went digital, we would be swapping out hard drives out like memory sticks to play every one of our games this deep into a console generation. Plus the fact that you could never lend, trade, or take games to a friends house really sucks.

The only time I download games is when they're download only or if I find a really good deal (which is rare). I just like having games right here with me, or showing off on my shelf.


Last edited by Jed on 1/11/2012 1:05:32 AM

Qubex
Qubex
12 years ago

Lol, the comments have gone a little screwy… Webmaaaassssstttttteeeeer? Where art thou?

House is correct. Physical media will be with us for a lot longer as Sony sees games bigger than Uncharted 3 being released. If you go the PS4 route which would, in all likelyhood, be able to natively process x2 1080p images (each eye) for 3d stereoscopic gameplay, you will need to stream through a lot of data…

So, yhea, I think discs will be around a lot longer than even I anticipated a few years go… long live the Optical Disk Drive… and all your wonderful game disc collections!

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

firesoul453
firesoul453
12 years ago

yes! I'm glad. I almost hope cartridges make a comeback!

(instant loading) (easily transferable saves) (possibility of adding extra hardware if a game needs it) (No need for installs)

However cartridges would add a lot of cost

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