Vita dev kit to cost 1,900 plus VAT
Console will eventually support free-to-play and non-gaming apps
Sony has revealed that the dev kits for the PlayStation Vita will sell for €1,900 plus VAT.
Speaking at GDC Europe yesterday, as reported by Develop, SCEE's George Bain said there is also no cost to join the PS Vita Develop Program.
"There's just that cost of the dev kit. If you're a small developer, we happy to talk to you about this. It will help if you have a games portfolio. There's no reason we won't speak with smaller studios about joining up."
According to Bain, prototype dev kits for Vita can be free. Sony's Pub Fund - which helps smaller developers fund their games in return for exclusivity - is receiving up to 15 pitches a week. Although currently limited to games, it's expected that non-gaming apps will eventually come to Vita, as well as free-to-play models.
The Vita launches this year in Japan and before the end of March in Europe and the US priced at $249 for the WiFi model and $299 for the 3G version.
Some developers including Heavy Iron and Crytek have been critical of the high price of the console, and suggested that it's launching in a portable market that has fundamentally changed since the introduction of smartphones and tablets.
Yesterday the Vita took centre stage at Sony's Gamescom press conference, with new games including Resistance: Burning Skies, Reality Fighters, Escape Plan and LittleBigPlanet on display.
Plus I feel they have really listened to what a gamer want. For the gamer's gamer wantign to have portable gaming, looks like PSV has good tactility with two joysticks for folks with opposable thumbs, and more importantly a solid first party line up of games + PSN titles. What more do you want?
Smart phones and tablets are usually expensive toys for people with money or people who have other uses for them aside from gaming. They are not just used for gaming, they are used for collage studies, business, research and other things. College students can benefit in many ways with a portable device that allows them to do research, homework and live presentations like a tablet or laptop. In a sense spending that kind of money is an investment, for some greater purpose... but for gaming? Com'on... 600$ just to play Angry birds anyone?
Ive never bought an iPhone or tablet. im not interested in those products Im ok with any phone that allows unlimited calling and text messaging which i usually get for free on a 2 year contract. For people who just want to play games, for a dedicated gaming machine its expensive. I own a laptop for work not for games. I am happy with my PS3, Wii, DS and PSP... i never purchase a console in its first day, I always wait. Same for most games.
And most smart phones usually come with a 2 year contract and when people do that its usually to be able to communicate not to play games. I wonder how many businesses can exist now without a mobile phone. To me a smart phone is a PHONE, they just happen to evolve to a point where you can use games on them. To me a phone is an utility much like water and electricity service.
On top of that if you wanna get games each game is at least 40$ thats also a cost you might want to add to a portable gaming machine.
Apple offers a differant range of iPODs, not everyone is willing to shell out 200$ or 300$ just to listen to music. And Im ok with an iPOD shuffle and there are plenty of cheaper devices that allow me to listen to music on the go.
I remember apple commenting about releasing a version of the iPHONE that was jailbroken and would allow people to use it on any phone service. It was worth over 700$. And how many people that have a hard time paying a mortgage or utility bills have gotten that? i dont know how that ended up, but I dont know anyone who has an iPHONE that has paid the full amount for it. They usually come with a two year contract.
So maybe if people use a PS Vita for, work, college, business or education, maybe it would be worth it... but a guy like me... I just wanna play games. However i do consider the price of VITA high, I dont consider it rediculouse, I think its a great gaming piece of hardware that I myself am considering purchasing. However Im getting a 3DS first the price drop Nintendo issued warrants my choice.
Edited 3 times. Last edit by Rick Lopez on 17th August 2011 6:33pm
Re: PSV price - the price is fine for "gamers": its a reasonably low price, and as long as there are games - it should sell well.
But the point re: non-gamers, is they *already* have a iPhone/Smartphone/iTouch - the market is flooded. So the PSV has to prove to these owners its worth having their existing device AND a PSV (also considering the PSV is not a phone).
One danger, is that if you see similar games to what the PSV offers either already out, or coming out on smartphones - its going to be hard to entice people to get one. Its all about the software.