Ben-DutkaYou know, I've been thinking: how we view a product is immensely important. It defines its existence on store shelves.
Now, the pessimists simply see the new PlayStation Vita as just another handheld. A fancy, highly advanced handheld, but a handheld nonetheless.
Therefore, it's immediately put into competition with other mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets that can also play video games. Furthermore, price is even more of an issue, as the consumer would normally expect to pay less for a portable device; at least, "less" in comparison to a full console. Correct?
But what if we're more optimistic and view this unit in a different light? In many ways, one could say this is a portable PlayStation 3. It not only has the power, it also has the features and functions; it has the dual analog sticks and all the buttons found on the Dual Shock controller. Plus, it has recognizable franchises from the PS3 console, not to mention connectivity with Sony's flagship machine. In other words, maybe it's a bad idea to focus on what it is: a portable gaming device. The "portable" part seems to be getting in the way.
I can almost guarantee that the everyday gamer off the street would be more interested in a "portable PS3" (if I called it that) than simply a new portable unit (i.e., the PSP2). The Vita is vastly more capable than any other handheld device on the market and the emphasis is squarely on games, as evidenced by the large launch lineup and the amount of technology involved. A portable PS3? Hell yeah, even I'm more psyched to hear that then "the PSP's successor." The Vita feels a lot like a console in one's hands; the "hand" part might actually be secondary .
By the way, PSXE is primed and ready to deliver full Vita coverage. So keep it here throughout February.
If it was called the 'PS3P' (Playstation 3 Portable) I would have pre ordered mine ASAP, but the lack of information that I am getting here in NZ leaves me to believe that it doesnt have the same potential of greatness as the PS3. Still a mean console none the less
I had a chance to play with it once, and I will tell you it is worth the hype. From what I played (Uncharted: Golden Abyss and WipEout) it has every bit the potential the PS3 has in terms of what devs can do with games, and maybe more in playability what with the rear touch panel, front touch screen, ect. But you can't begin to appreciate it until you hold it in your hands. Believe me, its a great device. You can go online and check some videos on youtube or just google "Playstation Vita" and read about the functions and whatnot.
I loved my PSP. It was like taking a PS2.5 around with me wherever I went. I loved playing PS1 classics wherever and whenever I wanted.
No doubt Vita will be the same, just with trophies, party play and chat, 2 joysticks and a helluva lot more games!!
Sony should change their marketing strategy to something like this…
"Want a PS3 in your pocket? Wanna play and chat with friends wherever you are? Want console quality gaming in the palm of your hands? Want a mix of fun touch screen and challenging button controlled games all on 1 machine?
Sony has the answer for you!"
I can see it now. Kevin Butler VP of epic portable awesomeness.
Last edited by Cesar_ser_4 on 2/10/2012 11:31:44 PM
You make a very good point, Ben. Could that be why the Vita isn't called the PSP2? I wonder if Sony wasn't thinking that themselves…? Anywho I cant wait to read your review on the Vita. Like everything else on PSXE, I'm sure it will be very entertaining.
I don't see why people would have a hard time spending their money on a vita, it's cheaper than a iPad.
An iPad is in effect a complete computer, Cpt Geez. Noone sees them as comparable. It's like comparing a console with a PC.
The Vita isn't for "kids." The DS is.
I'm not so sure of that.
The Vita actually seems to be in good shape in terms of pre-orders.
Well, I can say this, I believe the wifi version will sell better that the 3G version. That's my belief what will happen down the road.
Its being compared to other portable entertainment devices. So yeah it can be compared to an Ipad or Iphone and DS.
It kills em all quality/price wise. 250$ is 70$ more than a DS but 300$ less than an Ipad and the same price than an IPOD touch. But you get WAY more raw power and MUCH better games.
And I fail to see how *no kid in this economy will buy a 250$ handheld* when they buy crappy ipod touch for the same price or even Ipads (lol yes I commonly see 10yrs old with ipads in their hands when they come shopping with their parents) Dont know where you live but in Canada the economy isn't all that bad I guess.
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 2/12/2012 5:37:41 PM
Kind of ironic since we are losing big console talent to portable gaming devices like tablets and phones.
I'll get one some day cuz it's gonna have bioshock, and if there's any open world RPGs like Elder Scrolls or Fallout I'll poop myself.
Still we are in an age of consolidation, that will probably hurt Vita a bit. Unless you're a hardcore gamer on the go, a portable dedicated gaming device is yet another piece of tech no longer needed like the digital camera.
Though I suppose it could make a big splash among school age dudes playing CoD in class.
I myself am baffled by some of the decisions Sony is making with the VITA. The system is capable of all the consolidated features you speak of World. If Sony decided to flip a few switches the VITA could have Phone functionality and if they open the system up to Android as suggested in early rumblings about it then the potential would grow exponentially. Kinda big for a phone but I can see a slimmed down Vita 2 in a few years. But then again, that may be too late. Hopefully Kaz has some visionary plans up his sleeve. Sony needs some spectacular stuff to compete with the convergence of technology that is taking place as we speak. All I know is that the next few years are going to be very interesting.
Hey Vallarta, knock it off.
You don't have it, you don't know anything about it. Posting constantly that the Vita is going to fail because you in your VAST experience (you're what, 15?) says it will isn't really proving anything.
If you insist on bashing the system in every piece we've got when we cover the Vita, you'll be gone…again. Fair warning. Intelligent criticism might be beyond you.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 2/11/2012 12:41:16 AM
"…the vita is uneeded…"
To me it is needed! I can't play my PS3 in my dorm due to my roommate always sleeping; so, with a small portable device that functions similarly to the PS3 is a must-have for me! With remote-play it'll be perfect for me in addition.
There is no way the PSV is unneeded. I used to believe a few weeks ago that it wasn't going to be anything too special, but then I started seeing it in action when it launched in Japan. Now that I know exactly what kind of device it is, I've never been more excited!
I cannot wait to see the progression of the Vita. I for one have a strong optimistic view on the future of the little amazing device. 🙂
I hope it does well, my instincts just tell me the American market is going to be a tough sell on this one past the preorders. Of course a lot of it will hinge on the press coverage, if it gets the hate that the PS3 got that could be the doom of it. If it is embraced AS a portable PS3 then that could help a great deal.
Ben, don't insult my age group by comparing it to him. Not all 15 y.o. are ignorant like him or as you think.
VallartaBoy, please stop saying haters gonna hate already! It got old the first time you said it.
Even as a console in your hands, I expect more in 2012 as a successor to the psp no less. At this point price drop or a new iteration is what I'm waiting for to make me even think of a purchase. With greater feature set, and more plain logic in the execution of the device.
Sounds like someone just had a close encounter with a vita, huh Ben
I like the VITA. I will have one soon with Golden Abyss and I will enjoy owning it to the fullest. That said, I also feel that Sony needs to address a few things.
The name itself "VITA" opens a door suggesting that this device will be a part of the owners LIFE. Kaz said this himself. So where is Sony going with this little engine? As others have stated above, mobile technology is growing to the point where just about everything a human can possibly need can and will be accessible from the palm of their hands. We know it is capable of doing these things. SIM Card=Phone, Quad Core Processor=Whatever Sony wants it to do. So why limit the device? Throw Google in and you can have Android, Chrome and a Suite of Office Apps as well. How many will jump on board with all those bullet points?
Pricing is another factor. For the media and the unit itself. I do feel the price is fair but considering the alternatives VITA is the underdog in this technological landscape. Besides Gaming of course. In this area it is untouched, but some companies are practically giving devices away so Sony has a hill to climb. I hope that the VITA will succeed in every possible way but I feel that Sony will need to open it up some more.
I do somewhat agree that the VITA can be considered a console. It will take the PS brand to new levels and hold the fort till the PS4 arrives. It will also effectively bring the "cross game" communication that many have been looking for for so long to the PSN. The gaming aspect is top notch and will only get better.
What I feel is the biggest hurdle is the infamous Sony marketing strategies. They are pushing in interesting ways but many people do not know much about it. Why does Sony wait so long to start marketing? They should have had commercials on the air at least 2 months from release. A tease here and there then gradually ramp up till launch. Make the public hungry for your product Sony. Make the public as Ben said "OPTIMISTIC!".
Last edited by FatherSun on 2/11/2012 1:09:54 AM
The vita is powerful, no doubt. But the problem is the pricing… I'll get one as soon as the price drops 😀 (also, saving up for some of the good games coming out this year)
I got the chance to test drive a Vita, trying out Uncharted.
I walked away highly impressed….and wanting to steal…er….I mean…..borrow it.
(Mumbles to self)…Damn #^%$*%* tethering device
Last edited by BikerSaint on 2/11/2012 1:27:48 AM
Going to grab one and looking forward to it. Wish it was bundled with a memory card and a game or two. They would then most likely fly off the shelves with a little help from Sony.
I'm totally wanting it to be a console experience not a mobile gaming experience. I want Uncharted, Killzone, Call of Duty, Mass Effect, FIFA and Assassins Creed.
I don't want it to be a phone (I've got one amazingly). Don't want it for playing bite size mobile games either. I want it for the big console experience.
Good stuff!
There is First Edition bundle and launch bundle for the Vita that have that.
if it was marketed as one then yea it would sell better, people just dont play many games out.
most people drive to work, work, drive home, go out, when there not at home consoles they have no reason to own a portable gaming device.
if i dident catch the train to work, and constantly be going away for work i wouldent have one either, just would not need one.
when your at home what would you prefer do?
sit back and play a game on your 50 inch TV?
or sit back and play a game on the tiny 5 inch screen?
i sure know which one id choose!
vita is for going out simple as that!
if you dont game while out of the house, then theres simply no need for you to have one.
This is pretty much where I am. If I'm away from home, I almost never have time to play anything more in-depth than an iPhone game. I know the idea of starting Uncharted or something of that scale and having to quit 6-7 minutes later isn't exactly appealing. And then when I'm at home, I have my PS3.
So, you can call it a portable PS3 or anything you'd like, and I'm sure that would change some people's excitement about it, but at the end of the day, it's still a portable.
If your situation allows for extended downtime while you're away from home, then itd probably be great for you. If your situation doesn't, then there's very little need, a new marketing strategy won't change that.
That's exactly my point, dmiitrie.
If you keep thinking of it as a portable, you're ONLY going to consider playing it when away from home. That's the problem. The reason it would make much more marketing sense to say it's a PS3 in your hands is because more people would view it as a console. Hence, it'd be something they'd want to play at home.
You'd play Uncharted on the Vita at home. Not on a bus. The latter is only something you COULD do, and something you most certainly can't do with the PS3. Calling it a handheld and focusing entirely on that makes it seem like the Vita just won't be touched at home, and while I think that's true for most mobile devices (I won't sit and play games on my phone with the PS3 here), I DON'T think that's true for the Vita.
If somebody is at home why in the world would they choose to game on a 5 inch screen? For bathroom breaks? Let's see…Uncharted on a 5 inch screen vs a huge HDTV. That's a really tough choice.
yah, if u play inside-next to ur PS3 is at, I don't even see getting any value out of the Vita.
Really Ben? You think many people will voluntarily choose to sit at home and play their Vita instead of their PS3? I don't doubt you when you say that it's an impressive machine, or that it'll have great games. But both of those are obviously true of the PS3, which has the added advantage of being hooked up to a large tv.
Don't get me wrong, I can think of specific situations where one would use it at home (ie…wife, kids, roommates, etc are using the tv), but I don't see any of those being so severe that I'd want a new console to remedy them.
Perhaps, I'm being too affected by my biases, but I just don't see how many people would want a Vita without having a string desire to game away from home.
This is where my argument for the VITA to be opened up with other features comes in. I will play with my VITA when I am out but that will be on the occasion that I am on a bus or plane versus driving around. But if the VITA had a full blown GPS app so I can be mount it on my car and also play my music along with my videos then I will be using that bad boy a lot more often when I'm out and about. Let me control my Home Electronics from the VITA and it would be used even more.
As far as playing at home that depends on the game and the situation. I don't always want to fire up the PS3, 3D-HD-TV, 7.1 Surround Sound System all the time. (The power company will love that) And although I have a PS3 in my bedroom sometimes I just want to be lazy and pop the earphones on and play till I pass out. As my wife sleeps I can save the world or listen to a symphony or watch an epic movie or even go online and learn something. VITA will do wonders for insomniacs. Or Cause insomnia. Take your pick.
Last edited by FatherSun on 2/11/2012 2:25:26 PM
I played Final Fantasy IV Collection on the PSP with the PS3 sitting in front of me. Why? Because no such experience exists on the console.
I played Parasite Eve: The 3rd Story in my living room. In fact, I played ALL the PSP games I actually wanted to play at home. And it's only because there was a game on it that had my attention more so than any game for the PS3.
I'm not saying it could replace the PS3, and I'm not saying it's better. I'm just saying the idea that the Vita will only be used when on the go is not only hurting it, it's entirely untrue for many gamers.
thats exactly why so many people are so disappointed it does not have TV out.
id use it a hell of allot more if i could hook it up to my TV.
Well you know Ben, I think they are not marketing it as a *console* because they already have a great one.
They want it to be an *extension* of the ps3. A device that will eventually make it so that you do not have to stop gaming even when you are out of the house! You can still progress in your game, get trophies and kick ass even when your PS3 is not in reach! It's ok that it appeals less to people who don't have time to play portable consoles. These people are not the target. People who got a DS and any1 that has kids at home or travels by subway/bus is the main target.
I really wish it succeeds in NA. Can't wait to pick it up in 3 days!!! Also can't wait to see your review impression.
well, let's see.
Uncharted, Wipeout 2048, LBP, HSG and Call of Duty. We need a commercial featuring Uncharted and then Wipeout with Vita/PS3 online gaming. Showing a game on the PS3 transitioning to the Vita. Finish with Sackboy swinging across from the big screen to the little one. Tag line.
Sony PlayStation Vita – the PS3 that fits in your pocket.
Sony should make a commercial where someone is sitting in the park watching a movie. When it ends they do some online banking while listening to music. Checking scores or weather or even when their bus home will arrive. Then as they ride the bus they open up an app that allows them to adjust the central air and stuff. Then to finish the embark on an adventure of epic proportions. End with Only on VITA!!!!!
I just wish that it was named something else. What the hell was wrong with PSP2, or P2, or something? Vita makes it sound like it's a friggin snack wrap or something. I know what vita means, I just don't like it. I hope the system flourishes as it deserves to, but the state of the economy and the fact that there is so much competition in mainstream gamers eyes (tablets, cell phones, etc.) I just don't see it fairing very well for a few years. It will be a struggle like the PS3 was at the beginning of it's lifespan and will take a while to gain momentum. WIsh it didn't have 2 b this way.
I tried out the Vita at a local GAME store here in the UK. My first impressions were REALLY good. I would suggest anyone on here who tries to bash it, try it first. There are some tempting pre-order bonuses available in stores and online as well.
@Ben:
When do we get our first Vita game reviews please? I'm struggling to choose my pre-order Vita game bundle.
Unless the Vita has some hidden HDMI out that I am unaware of that lets gamers connect it to a huge HDTV then it's still just a portable.
The PSP has one, I'm sure the Vita will as well. It will also come with your choice of ranch or honey mustard, tater tots & a sweet tea. Well, PSP had component out. It would only do 480p though. Dunno about an HDMI, but it will most likely have a video out, or there will be a way to do it wireless. Might need a newer TV for that. I recommend buying a monitor as they are a little more 'future proof' than most TV's. I got a 40'' 1080i LCD Sony monitor at Sears 6 ago for a little over $1000. It had HDMI when most HDTV's were still plasma, humungous in size, and only had component inputs. The guy at the store thought it was only 720p, so I did as well till I got it home and found the pleasant surprise. It still works great and the picture quality is as good or better than most TV's nowadays.
Last edited by fatelementality on 2/11/2012 9:35:44 AM
I don't think the Vita has one, one might come out later but it's not really needed. The screen is large enough so that you don't need to use it on a TV.
Last edited by Clamedeus on 2/11/2012 10:20:37 AM
There is no video out on the Vita. Having a huge HDTV hooked up to your home console makes the experience so much better than what any handheld could ever offer on their tiny displays.
Yes Excelsior, people will spend good money on a handheld unit with an HD OLED screen and then play it in front of the HDTV in their living room crying because they can't connect it, even though the PS3 is sitting right there begging to be played…
There are times when I doubt your logic, this is one of them.
The vita might be able to connect to the tv via firmware. there is a multi use port on the vita that can be used for a number of things. Google the ps vita manual.
I'm saying the handhelds are limted in their appeal by their tiny displays. No I don't think gamers will be in their living rooms crying they can't hook it up to a tv…they will just game on their home consoles with their nice HDTV set ups and ignore the Vita for the most part. I think the market for the Vita is increasingly small and that Sony has made some choices that will hurt it.
Yes, I do think the Vita should have had a video out. No matter how nice that 5 inch screen is it's still just a 5 inch screen. That just kills the level of immersion for me. If I am gaming at home it's going to be right in front of my huge HDTV not hunched over some 5 inch screen.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/11/2012 4:24:39 PM
As I said above, there are experiences on portables you can't get on consoles. It's not like they're taking the same games and saying, "here, play these on a smaller screen."
Sounds to me like you've never really even touched anything the PSP has to offer, Excelsior.
I have played Dissidia Duodecim FF, and the Third Birthday so I'm pretty sure I know what it offers. In fact I almost bought a PSP used that would have came with those two games but I decided against it. I still don't think it comes anywhere near to what consoles can deliver. It's the small screen that kills it for me. If I'm at home I am playing my console. I did not realize how much playing a game on a tiny screen would hurt the experience for me until I had a PSP in my hands. It's just not the same…in fact it's not even close. Handheld gaming just isn't for everybody.
You say that now, but when the next ipad and iphone are released with quad core processors, you may want to rethink that stance. The Vita is something special. Its a handheld machine that plays the video games that i love. but to call it a portable ps3 is drastically playing down what the playstation 3 can do. besides, by the end of the year, smartphones will be more powerful than the vita.
"…smartphones will be more powerful than the vita."
I'm glad you think so. Sorry, I'm not on board with electronic portable deification, as if any of that crap (smartphones, tablets, etc.) does ANYTHING special.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 2/11/2012 3:19:59 PM