Ben-DutkaSony has made it clear that they want to continue to support the PlayStation Vita. And despite the fact that very few games are even scheduled to release in 2013 thus far, Sony did make a point of mentioning their new handheld during February's PlayStation Meeting.
That is, of course, when the company announced their latest console, the PlayStation 4, which might encourage more consumers to pick up the Vita. PS3/Vita connectivity hasn't really been a huge selling point thus far, but perhaps Sony will do more with PS4/Vita functionality; enough to finally convince gamers to have both gaming machines.
Above all else, the Vita is a gaming machine, and a darn good one at that. It requires support the same way the PS4 does, but if the two simply get better when paired together, then everyone wins, right? There aren't just gaming-related reasons to have both the Vita and PS4, there are multimedia reasons, too. The bottom line is that if you're looking to the future and you want the best of the best, you might really want the Vita/PS4 combo. If you combine the most advanced on-the-go entertainment with the very best in home entertainment, you've got a potent duo. The only question might be whether or not consumers view each product as the best in their particular field. That's subjective, of course.
The mobile gaming explosion has hurt the Vita but hardcore gamers are still willing to pay for the utmost quality. Furthermore, connectivity is huge these days, and if there are multiple popular reasons for pairing the PS4 with the Vita, there's every chance that when the PS4 launches, Vita sales will rise accordingly. At least, one can only hope.
It bloody well better since I've got one lol. And it is superb.
I am pretty sure it will. In fact – and hold on to your hats now folks – but even *I* might be interested in a Vita when the PS4 is here, if the features are cool enough.
Ironically it was the Nvidia Shield who made me realize how cool remote play really can be when I think about it. It enables me to play a game on my PS4 when I am laying in bed. I can easily see myself do that, in coop with my coop-buddy.
Remote play alone would be a fantastic selling point for me. I already have a Vita — I mean it would be a huge selling point for the PS4! It may sound silly or frivolous if you haven't tried it, but I for one love having the option to play Wii U games on the gamepad screen. I can be over in the kitchen talking with my girlfriend as she makes us dinner and running a race on F-Zero via the virtual console. It is SUCH a satisfying experience. If she wants to catch up on some DVR'd shows I don't care about, I can jump through some Super Mario Bros. U levels right beside her. Plenty of games should be saved exclusively for the big screen, of course, but more games than some realize that are immensely enjoyable on a smaller screen too. Being able to toggle between the two options on the fly is a fantastic option.
Yeah, it kinda makes the Vita into an extension of the PS4. That makes it more interesting for me.
Also, what if the Vita also becomes the remote play unit for ATI based PCs, like the Nvidia shield is for the Nvidia based PCs? If so, the Vita all of a sudden becomes a *lot* more interesting for an entirely new market!
Persona 4 Golden and Dead or Alive 5 Plus for the Vita means I don't have time at the moment for a PS4. Sorry!
Only joking… A PS4 and PS Vita combo sound like a fantastic next step!
I will NEVER buy another handheld game again. Just too many good games on consoles, not to mention, big screen tvs and consoles are my true love.
End of Line.
If you are a playstation plus member, you'll have access to a library of awesome and free Vita games (including Wipeout 2048, Uncharted:GA, and Gravity Rush). And, while I agree with you that when I sit down to game, I generally prefer to hit up my backlog on my ps3 (except obviously when I'm traveling), there are some games actually enjoy a bit more on the Vita. For example, while Wipeout 2048 certainly can't be visually compared to Wipeout HD/Fury's, I did find 2048 to feel less clunky or jarring, returning the touch of finesse that the series has typically had.
I really love consoles and big screen tv's too, but my vita always travels with me while my console just can't 😉
It could be a boon to Sony if there was a package deal that included the Vita with the PS4. Say maybe marking the Vita at half price or giving you a voucher for half off since you purchased a PS4.
Actually, Sony's inclusion of the Vita to demonstrate connectivity to the PS4 is what started my consideration of purchasing it. Sony's increasing support of Indie developers furthered my consideration, and Best Buy having a sale on the Black Ops bundle sealed the deal. I purchased my Vita last week, promptly traded in Black Ops, and started enjoying some demos.
I like where Sony is attempting to go – I'm enjoying my Vita now, and I'm looking forward to seeing how much more it's capable of with the PS4.
I think it will, but maybe not on an uberly massive scale. Those who can afford to will definitely invest in the combo.
of course it will!
especially if $ony release a updated version allowing connection to TVs!
still scratching my head why that was removed…..
I sure want a vita, I just can't support two different gaming platforms. It was the same with the psp. oh well.
From the looks of things, it definitely will. As long as Sony isn't faking it again, Vita and PS4 will be bringing something to the table that was SUPPOSED to be here already with the PS3. You know, that awesome selling feature they advertised and everyone loved. I love my Vita, I really do, but I can't even express in words how disappointed I was when I got my early bird next gen handheld only to discover that my #1 reason for buying it was total false advertising and had since been removed from the feature list on the website. Remote Play on the Vita is a joke, it feels like a direct port of the functionality from the PSP… which sucked (but was understandable on the PSP)
PS3 and Vita should have received a firmware update enabling remote play as a standard OS feature, not something the developers have to specifically design their game to support. If Sony couldn't do that, then they should never have teased the functionality in the first place.
A Remote Play feature that works as advertised is a BIG win for me. My family monopolizes the living room TV. If I could chill out in the living room and play games remotely on my Vita while the kids/wife watch their shows I might actually gain some ground on that massive backlog of games on my shelf.
Here's hoping PS4 delivers on the Remote Play promise.
I'm with gumbi: A proper Remote Play feature (that is supported in EVERY GAME, meaning it's an OS thing, not a developer thing) is a definite Insta-Win.
I'm actually more interested in the Vita than the PS4, simply because, due to having small children than must be watched constantly, I don't have the luxury of playing in front of my TV for any real stretch of time. I NEED to be mobile. So the only time I play games these days is on my PSP. The PSP will likely be replaced with the Vita once I can get my hands on Final Fantasy X. But if I can play PS4 games on the Vita over a decent distance, then I won't have a problem picking up the PS4 (once they are games I want to play on it) as well.
My thoughts exactly guys. I was pretty shocked the remote play advertised for Vita was essentially non-existent. But the evidence strongly points toward full/nearly full support for it for PS4. It is a feature that makes both consoles far more attractive (sure would be cool if you could also play Vita games on the big screen, as well!)
Their is something about portable gaming systems that don't do it for me anymore.. but if I was still a little kid and went to the boys and girls club/summer camps/heavy traveler a PSVita will be no exception.
Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 4/5/2013 12:08:47 PM
I have to admit, I'm actually very confused by gamers on this one.
On the one hand, there are people that say they only want games on the big screen. Well, that's nice, but if you're away from home, or away from your console, what then?
On the other, there is the idea that smartphone/tablet gaming is somehow hurting Vita. I can understand why you would say that, but I don't understand why they hurt Vita. Vita is a full gaming experience for full spec, full price games, as well as minis and low price offerings. It's not a casual gamer's device. The vast majority of gaming on smartphones and tablets can easily be described as cheap and casual. Yes, there are premium games on these devices, but they are the exception, not the rule. So when did all the hardcore gamers in the world decide to abandon their real games and play casual ones on smartphones and tablets when they are not at their console?
The Vita and 3DS on the other hand are gaming devices for gaming on the move. The Vita in particular is build for gamers first and foremost. It has all the 'big console' control, high performance CPU/GPU and a gorgeous screen. It true does bring the big console experience to a hand held. I just do not understand why gamers that prefer the 'full' games on a home console, seem to be content to go casual when on the move. Vita literally gives them the same games on the move as their console. Has this message somehow been missed?
With PS4, Sony has the opportunity to completely remake the whole remote play, remote access concept for Vita and PS4. PS3 was limited by their ability to expand the firmware, so it was never going to really integrate well with Vita. But PS4 is built with Vita already out there. PS4 has a lot more room for growth, so there should be plenty of opportunity to really integrate PS vita with PS4 and the future PSN/SEN infrastructure. For that matter, playing games via the GaiKai cloud ought to be within the capability of PSVita as well. There is an opportunity to really weld Vita into the PlayStation business and provide a real PlayStation on the move – if Sony take the opportunity.
If they do, Vita has a long and secure future in the hearts of PlayStation fans.
"There is an opportunity to really weld Vita into the PlayStation business and provide a real PlayStation on the move – if Sony take the opportunity."
couldn't agree more – well said! very hopeful this IS the case – early indications seem to be this is the direction Sony is heading…
yup, the more casuals with smartphones/tablets is taking over, and people with those gadgets are probably not interested in shelling out money for a vita+games+memory cards+accessories.
Most gamers don't differentiate so strictly between hardcore and casual as we often do on this site. And they are not always looking to be the most hardcore. It's not two separate groups, most do both. It's all just gaming, each for their own purposes.
At my workplace *everyone* I work with – even the lone girl between all the developer boys – are gamers. Most of the project managers are. (interestingly none of the guys at marketing, sales and admin are 🙂 )
A few of them are serious hardcore gamers, gamers on a level that goes well beyond just doing a game for the sake of the story. They travel to gatherings to compete. They are members of clans that fight for qualifications to e-sport tournaments. They can spend entire lunches discussing specific classes and their strategies in games. These are gamers on a level that makes me a plain casual gamer in comparison.
Now, to my point: None of them own a dedicated handheld device. Not one, I've asked. We all do however play games on our mobiles/tablets. Fun little games, casual stuff like Draw Something was a huge hit a while back, there was a time everyone did Word Feud. Nowadays we got a turn-based strategy game we play against each other, who knows what will be enjoying in a month or so.
We have great fun with these games during those small pockets of time where there is room to do a turn in a little handheld game: On the toilet, on the subway to or from work, coffee breaks, those moments. Casual? Sure! But so what?
We don't want "console quality gaming" when we are ten minutes on the loo.
So it's not a question of being "casual" or "hardcore" as if they were two opposites. It is just a case of being a gamer. And gamers today, regardless of level, get their small handheld gaming fixes almost for free on the device they always carry with them anyway.
That is, as simple as it is, the entire explanation. And this is also the main problem for Sony. Not the price, not even the games.
Last edited by Beamboom on 4/6/2013 5:02:07 AM