PlayStation UK Boss calls Vita "the iPod of handheld gaming"
Fergal Gara notes an increase in the number of Vita titles being bought digitally
In an interview with VG247, PlayStation UK Managing Director Fergal Gara said that a digital-only future for the Playstation Vita is not out of the question.
"Compared to PS3, Vita has had a higher percentage of games bought digitally since it was first launched," explained Gara. "It's interesting and it demonstrates how many people look at it as the iPod of handheld gaming. More Vita games are still consumed through physical game cards than they are through digital, but things are increasingly moving the other way. Could be that in future physical games becomes the side we do without."
The rise in multi-purpose tablets and smartphones has been a difficult thorn on the side of the Vita's success, as consumers are finding they don't want a device that's perceived as just playing games. Gara acknowledges that other mobile devices can be a problem for the Vita.
"The truth is that the number of people that want the core experience [that Vita offers] is not as big as the number that simply want any sort of game available on the move and, because the likes of a tablet and smart phone are so multifunctional in their use, they will always be very appealing," said Gara. "Really, I think the reason it hasn't sold more is that it comes down to people thinking: 'Do I need it as well as these other things that are taking my money?'"
The PlayStation 4's success and the Vita Remote Play feature means the Vita itself could see some additional sales, but Sony is cognizant about making sure the portable doesn't get trampled by PS4 hype.
"It's our job to make the message clear to people so that they understand the Vita is a console in its own right and also a great partner to the PS4."
There's not even a proper God of War for Vita!! Just ports of the PSP games.
Being an early adopter sucks!!
I <3 my Vita.
It lacks games, like happened with the PSP at the beginning before it became the cheaper development machine out there and a lot of companies started to work for it; Sony provably aims at the same nowadays. Not to mention remote gaming is working quite decently with the PS4 (cloud be better, but ok in general)
Aside from that, I don't get how can you say that the most powerful handheld console in the market (it's around 90% the power of a PS3) is "underpowered". About the controls... well. I can play such a control demanding game like Blazblue on it like if it were a PS3 controller.
I need to ask, do you actually own one?
There may not be a huge catalogue of games, but there are some real gems in there (so far I've really enjoyed Uncharted, Gravity Rush and Lumines, and I'll probably cave in and buy Tearaway if it doesn't show up free on Plus soon), as well as all the great PS1 and PSP games you can play on it.
The hardware was about as good as you could get in a handheld device (including tablets and phones) at the time it was released, and still holds up well today. Some of the games have almost PS3 quality visuals, to my eye at least.
The controls work just fine, and personally I find it a lot more comfortable to use than any Nintendo handheld I've ever used (the GBA in particular was horrible with any game that made extensive use of the shoulder buttons). The combination of front and back touch controls and gyro with an almost full set of home console-style sticks and buttons (all it's missing are triggers) gives you the best of both worlds and allows for some innovative gameplay in the games that take full advantage of them.
No regrets here, and I've had mine for a couple of months now.
Edited 2 times. Last edit by John Bye on 15th January 2014 2:02pm
It's funny though. 3DS accumulates so much attention and sales because of their 1st party games, while Vita, packed with good 3rd party software, can't seem to attract customers. On the other hand, Wii U's and PS4's strategy seems awfully same while producing completely different results. Since the beginning of September, Nintendo published at least two AAA exclusives monthly for Wii U while Sony showed (quality wise) lackluster launch software. But PS4 still destroys Wii U sales wise.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Lucija Pilic on 15th January 2014 10:03pm
I believe this will happen with the VITA too as soon as it becomes the low production cost machine (Provably in a year or so) The success in Japan had to do with the price cut too. I don't really know what Sony is waiting to do the same around here.
I wish Sony would just get on with it and release a smartphone with built-in VITA - if they can release the VITA TV for less than $100 then surely they can build it into a smartphone? :-)
The other major issue is the price of the memory cards, though they have been trying to reduce it recently. I think they should have made the VITA more expensive and added a hard drive. The obsession with keeping the costs down seems strange, it shouldn't be competing with the DS as it's not really a kids toy. Apple have shown that adults will pay more for a decent, quality device like the iPod and even more if it does everything they want like the iPhone.
Hmmm. I guess if someone figures out a power solution that's portable and not bulky, that HDD/SSD issue will be moot (but I don't think the price of a reworked system with a better battery and huge upgradeable on board storage would be inexpensive)...
not even today that iPod sales have dropped it's anywhere near. wishful thinking.
that's ok. after all despite not many people wanting one it is a very nice piece of hardware.