Ben-DutkaThe PlayStation Vita enjoyed a big launch in Japan but sales have since trailed off.
That doesn't spell the end – as many of the doomsayers have already stated – but it does prove one thing: the hardcore gamers will have to support the unit. Like, immediately.
Here's the thing: this is not another gadget. This isn't something all the tech freaks are going to stand in line for; it isn't from Apple, it isn't a phone, it isn't a slick flat thing trying to be a PC. It is, quite simply, a handheld gaming device, and a pricey one at that. It's also obviously designed for the avid gamer and not necessarily for kids (in stark contrast to the Nintendo DS), which means major developers and major adult titles should be available on the Vita.
Hence, there's really only one group that can make the Vita a success, and it's the die-hard gamers who love great video games. That's it. You'll never convince the gadget buffs to buy one en masse, you'll never convince parents to buy it for their children as they will invariably choose Nintendo for various reasons, and you'll never convince the hardcore gamers to buy it without games. But that's the good news: with the biggest launch lineup in PlayStation history, the Vita at least has the software out of the gate.
That being said, the gamers still need to respond. They're the ones who need to go, "yeah, I'm gonna buy this because it has games I want to play." It's not about the 3G or anything else; it's a gaming device created for gamers . Now, Sony still has to do their job and deliver the goods, but if they do, it's up to the self-professed lifelong gamers to respond. And if that happens, everything should come together nicely, don't you think?