[Totobeni]

Well there is definitely a huge problem here,the 3DS in it's first year even with the bad sales and lack of games still got tons of new game announcements each month, Vita didn't, even in the weekly famitsu thread it's very rare to see new Vita game,and that tell a lot on Vita future, it's just not looking good..

Sony itself is weird too,They announced GOW:A for PS3 and the new GTTV game is also for PS3, not sure if they gave up already or they save their games for a relaunch or something.

[ShinUltramanJ]

A game isn't exclusive if it can be played on a different system.

The whole reason I brought up GTA (along with Final Fantasy and MGS) was to give an example of Sony going after big name third party franchises for PSP. At the time GTA LCS was released it WAS exclusive to PSP. There were no other announced versions, so here was Sony getting one of the biggest third party franchises on their portable, and I think it helped very little.

It certainly didn't move enough units to please Rockstar hence the reason they decided to port the game over to PS2. Was it originally intended to appear on PS2? I really don't think so, but just like RE4, when the target system failed to get the sales they ported to PS2.

[DCharlie]

Vita didn't, even in the weekly famitsu thread it's very rare to see new Vita game,and that tell a lot on Vita future, it's just not looking good..

week on week, there's been a ton of Vita coverage in Famitsu. Not that it's helped the situation, i just want to clarify that there's a difference between what we see in the Famitsu thread and what is -actually in- famitsu.

A game isn't exclusive if it can be played on a different system.

please remove Monster Hunter from the "holy trinity" then, right?

regarding "exclusives" it's not as simple as that.

[donny2112]

Was it originally intended to appear on PS2? I really don't think so,

I'd be honestly shocked if Rockstar had not brought up the idea of porting GTA:LCS to PS2 well before the PSP release.

but just like RE4, when the target system failed to get the sales they ported to PS2.

So you're saying the GameCube version should've sold more copies than it did months before it was released on GameCube. Seems reasonable.

The PS2 version was to satisfy investors who couldn't let such a marquee title be sent to exclusivity on the GameCube. That and I think Mikami had lost a lot of pull with Capcom by that point, too. Therefore, his desire to avoid PS2 was not important enough to cater to.


Regardless, if you're proposing that GTA:LCS was ported to PS2 due to lack of sufficient sales on PSP, then that situation is not analogous, at all, to the RE4 GCN/PS2 situation.

[nolookjones]

Regardless, if you're proposing that GTA:LCS was ported to PS2 due to lack of sufficient sales on PSP, then that situation is not analogous, at all, to the RE4 GCN/PS2 situation.

I'm sure Rockstar always had plans for a PS2 version...they need a vita rockstar announcement soon...

Sony should have to announce something new with every firmware update...

[Ponn01]

With the PSP library and good launch titles i'm really not in need of new games. Disgaea 3 and Gravity Rush are really enough till the eventual E3 announcements.

The launch and post launch by Sony has just been abysmal though. It's like they don't realize they just launched a new system. The Vita store has been bsrren, still no PS plus integration and the PSP seems to have better integration with the PS3 then Vita, which should have been designed and had all that built into it.

Seriously, get some hype videos up on the Vita store, get some PS plus support, more remote play support, give me a freaking reason to go to the PSN store on my Vita every week, get some ebooks/comic store up on this thing, stop pretending the Vita doesn't exist and replaying the same, ONLY commercial you made for the damn thing.

[DiscoJer]

Regardless, if you're proposing that GTA:LCS was ported to PS2 due to lack of sufficient sales on PSP, then that situation is not analogous, at all, to the RE4 GCN/PS2 situation.

What's worse, is they cost themselves a lot of sales IMHO because when VCS came out on the PSP, not nearly as many people bought it because they knew that it would be on the PS2 a few months later for half the price.

That's really one thing that has hurt the PSP (and Vita) I think - the same games on it costing much more compared to other platforms. The Ubisoft/Gameloft games for instance, or Plants vs Zombies.

[staticneuron]

Sony are criticized for both of these things because they're both problems. Nintendo have, for whatever reason, done very well in straddling the handheld/console divide. (Arguably, this is because they're actually much better at supporting handhelds than consoles in the first place.) They start by picking franchises that are well-suited to handheld games; they have them developed by the same teams that make the console titles, with similar budgets and standards of quality; they release them far away from the console equivalents so the same game doesn't compete with itself on two platforms; and they adapt the gameplay to better fit the handheld model. You can see this in franchises like Mario (where new DS/3DS entries are just as much "real Mario games"), or Fire Emblem (which is more a handheld than console franchise at this point), or Zelda (where the visually impressive and "realistic" entries head to consoles while the simpler entries hit handhelds.) Sony has never applied a similar strategy, in part because they have more franchises that don't adapt well to handhelds and in part because they don't want to "waste" their best devs' efforts on portable titles, and that's what people are criticizing.

It's all about perception. So when we get into conversations like this when referring to first party franchises, what does it matter if the same team works on the title, if the end result is still good? Nintendo's tokyo EAD is broken into 8 different teams/groups. 5 of those teams are responsible for different mario titles released on the Wii, the DS and the 3DS. Can you tell me which teams did what off the top of your head?

Uncharted for the vita was not done by ND but was deved by bend studio. Their history speaks for their quality but simply because they aren't the team that started the uncharted franchise they aren't a good enough to create an entry?

I find most of these arguments somewhat disingenuous and when regarding PSP titles designed for handheld play simply ill informed. There are over 700 titles released for the PSP and while I will agree the first two years did the console no favors, for the rest of the time on the market, many titles came out that worked well for portable play but were new instead of popular and familiar.

The God of War games are a perfect example of this. It's not that they're bad, it's just that the only portable adaptation is that they're very slight and lacking in content compared to the console titles.

Can you please be more specific. I didn't play both games, I only played Chains of olympus but I personally thought it was a great game for the PSP, the ratings were high, What exactly did you find lacking of the title or titles?

[Agent X]

Sony are criticized for both of these things because they're both problems.

Sorry, I don't see it that way. I tend to take things on a case-by-case basis, rather than pigeonhole everything into simplified terms.

Just looking at the PSP (for historical perspective, since Vita hasn't been out long enough to have a large number of examples), there are numerous instances where the original developer of a franchise handled the PSP game, and numerous others where they were handed off to other developers (sometimes first-party, sometimes third-party).

For games done by the original developers, some have turned out very well, and others not so well.

For games handed off to other developers, some have turned out very well, and others not so well.

Nintendo have, for whatever reason, done very well in straddling the handheld/console divide. (Arguably, this is because they're actually much better at supporting handhelds than consoles in the first place.) They start by picking franchises that are well-suited to handheld games; they have them developed by the same teams that make the console titles, with similar budgets and standards of quality; they release them far away from the console equivalents so the same game doesn't compete with itself on two platforms; and they adapt the gameplay to better fit the handheld model.

Good point, but I'd say Sony has done the same on many occasions. They did this with Wipeout and Twisted Metal at the PSP launch (and again with Wipeout at the Vita launch), as well as with Syphon Filter about a year after PSP launch. All of those games were critically praised, especially in the cases of Wipeout and Syphon Filter which hit their low points on their PS2 entries a couple of years prior.

For games that weren't done by the original developers, but handed off to quality developers, look at the God of War, LittleBigPlanet, and Resistance games on PSP. All of these were great games, and all successfully captured the look and feel of the PS2/PS3 games while also working within the portable format.

Also, don't do this "some people" routine. If you want to talk about the actual points people are making, do that; don't start yelping about being mistreated by invisible fans. Making snarky claims about hypocrisy is especially frowned upon unless you can point to the same person actually arguing two opposing positions rather than just ascribing both to a vague, unidentified group of people.

You're right, I shouldn't have pulled "some people" here, but I have seen many conflicting comments, and just haven't had time to look them all up. But I'll try to avoid this.

My point is that Sony has put their "A-teams" on mainline games on PSP, some of which turned out very well--and at the same time they've also tried to concoct new, original games for portable play (LocoRoco, Patapon, Pursuit Force). I don't consider teams that are primarily working on portable games to be automatically reduced to "B-teams" solely out of virtue of their games being portable games, but I have seen people jump to that conclusion (for example, posts 133 & 134 in this thread). Sony takes flak for not putting their so called "A-teams" on mainline entries on handhelds, but in instances where they've done it, this is somehow regarded as a demotion to the team (not by fans, but by detractors). You can't have it both ways. You might not want Sony to treat their portables as second-class systems, but you also can't broadly label studios who excel and/or specialize in portable development as "second-class developers" just because they're dedicated to portables.

[Jaded Alyx]

I really don't think so, but just like RE4, when the target system failed to get the sales they ported to PS2.

Noooooo.

The PS2 version was announced before the GameCube version even released. Hence the uproar.

[charlequin]

It's all about perception.

The "perception" is that this is how Sony's handheld efforts compare to Nintendo's. Whether or not this perception is entirely warranted, it exists and it exists for a reason. If the goal is to drive Vita sales, Sony needs to be actively accelerating away from this problem to make the system into one with "must-have" (not just "must-have for a handheld") titles.

Uncharted for the vita was not done by ND but was deved by bend studio. Their history speaks for their quality but simply because they aren't the team that started the uncharted franchise they aren't a good enough to create an entry?

Not when the franchise you're talking about is Uncharted and the level of quality you're aiming to deliver on is that of Uncharted 2, no, it's not. (This is putting aside that having to do B-list Uncharted keeps Bend from working on franchises that their talents are better suited to.)

many titles came out that worked well for portable play but were new instead of popular and familiar.

The PSP has a fantastic library, it's just that after the first GTA and GOW releases it never got anything else with meaningful Western appeal or very much significant support from Sony themselves.

Can you please be more specific.

The PSP games are both extremely short, with far less unique content (stages, bosses, etc.) than the PS2/PS3 games.

Good point, but I'd say Sony has done the same on many occasions.

You're right to identify that there are a number of counter-examples here. Wipeout and Syphon FIlter on PSP are definitely examples of doing things right (and I also feel that both Patapon and Locoroco are serious efforts to create new, original content on the system that's suited to it.)

[Leona Lewis]

You're right to identify that there are a number of counter-examples here. Wipeout and Syphon FIlter on PSP are definitely examples of doing things right (and I also feel that both Patapon and Locoroco are serious efforts to create new, original content on the system that's suited to it.)

Yes.

Syphon Filter: DM was the first PSP game that really blew me away. It was so full-featured and was doing things most online console games at the time weren't bothering with, let alone handhelds.

I still remember my first time doing 8-player Team Deathmatch with voice chat in that huge, seamless Shanty Town map. And the single player was incredibly well-structured, with bite-sized but satisfying missions and creative tasks (fond memories of that taser).

How I wish Sony Bend could finally have their moment to shine :-(

[saichi]

GT PSP was a disaster but that's no reason to think a properly focused handheld GT cannot set the world alight.

It could but that's what everyone thought GT PSP was supposed to be. So what made GT PSP into a disaster? Was it not because it seems PD is not putting enough effort into the game and putting all the effort into GT5 instead? Based on the experience, how can we expect another GT portable game not be half-assed?

week on week, there's been a ton of Vita coverage in Famitsu. Not that it's helped the situation, i just want to clarify that there's a difference between what we see in the Famitsu thread and what is -actually in- famitsu.

I haven't heard a notable game announced in Famitsu for a while since most of them not going to sell 50K in Japan and most likely not being released in the west.

Just looking at the PSP (for historical perspective, since Vita hasn't been out long enough to have a large number of examples), there are numerous instances where the original developer of a franchise handled the PSP game, and numerous others where they were handed off to other developers (sometimes first-party, sometimes third-party). For games done by the original developers, some have turned out very well, and others not so well. For games handed off to other developers, some have turned out very well, and others not so well.

This actually highlighted the other issue Sony has - they haven't been able to create a blockbuster new title since GT. Uncharted and God of War have become pretty big IP but never reach the blockbuster level that can significantly drive hardware sales. In addition, as mentioned above, Sony screwed up on their first portable attempt of their biggest IP. No wonder the perception is that Sony doesn't put their best effort on their handheld.

[staticneuron]

The "perception" is that this is how Sony's handheld efforts compare to Nintendo's. Whether or not this perception is entirely warranted, it exists and it exists for a reason. If the goal is to drive Vita sales, Sony needs to be actively accelerating away from this problem to make the system into one with "must-have" (not just "must-have for a handheld") titles.

well.....

You're right to identify that there are a number of counter-examples here. Wipeout and Syphon FIlter on PSP are definitely examples of doing things right (and I also feel that both Patapon and Locoroco are serious efforts to create new, original content on the system that's suited to it.)

This brings up interesting issues. I didn't catch this at first but it seems as if it is expected for Sony to carry the weight instead of supplement. Sony has never really operated that way for any of its consoles, so why would it be expected for the handhelds.

Also the Syphon Filter and even the new IP (I love locoroco) doesn't seem to be among the million sellers for the system. To be more to the point' all of them either have graced consoles before or is a spin off of a popular console franchise.

How should Sony and third party companies react when they see that. If you are aware of the numerous new IP for the PSP, how do you think this plays out when they look at the numbers. I am sure none of the companies will abandon new IP but they are certainly going to develop games that seemingly did well in the last gen, which makes what alot of what people are complaining about seemingly in this thread, will get worse. What is going to be interesting is if it will "work" this time around. If western developed games and shooters lead the pack for Vita, I imagine we will see a similar situation again.

[Leona Lewis]

Well, one issue is that Sony utterly failed to advertise gems like Syphon Filter and Loco Roco. Million sellers don't just sell themselves, they have the full faith and support of the publisher behind them.

Instead we got spazzed out squirrels making nut puns :-|

[OldJadedGamer]

please remove Monster Hunter from the "holy trinity" then, right? regarding "exclusives" it's not as simple as that.

Does it appear on another system? Exclusives are that simple actually. MGS4 is an exclusive, GTA for the PSP is not.

[theBishop]

Yes. Syphon Filter: DM was the first PSP game that really blew me away. It was so full-featured and was doing things most online console games at the time weren't bothering with, let alone handhelds. I still remember my first time doing 8-player Team Deathmatch with voice chat in that huge, seamless Shanty Town map. And the single player was incredibly well-structured, with bite-sized but satisfying missions and creative tasks (fond memories of that taser). How I wish Sony Bend could finally have their moment to shine :-(

Was Uncharted Golden Abyss not their moment to shine? The game is a breakthrough.

Both Syphon Filter games are great too. I hope we finally get one with dual analog control.

[F#A#Oo]

I was offered a Vita wifi, 2 games (Wipeout+Lumines), memory 16gb and case for £200...

I know it's a good offer but somehow it didn't feel like a value purchase...I just cant think of much I wanna play in 2012 onwards...

[sajj316]

Well, one issue is that Sony utterly failed to advertise gems like Syphon Filter and Loco Roco. Million sellers don't just sell themselves, they have the full faith and support of the publisher behind them. Instead we got spazzed out squirrels making nut puns :-|

Can't advertise without a decent advertising budget. Games like Syphon or Loco got the short end of advertising dollars. It got worse with the PS3 launch one would assume.

[lunchwithyuzo]

Nintendo's studios are built up abit differently than Sony's studios. They have one giant studios, now in two locations I believe, where only two or three out of 9 assembly lines (I believe it's only seven assembly lines now) are able to make a game-engine, while the other works on assets, and prepearing the game, then they move the game-team wich have been working with lesser toolsets or outdated engines, up to the coders in the main-assembly lines, to polish the projects and engines. It may be different today, because it's a few years since I heard how it were to work as a coder in Nintendo. But in the end I think EAD3 is working on Zelda, while EAD2 is working on Wii Play and Animal Crossing, and EAD1 is working on Mario Kart. The bad thing with this strategy, is that I figure it's hard to pitch a new franchise other than Mario or Zelda, while you're using the tools for the next Mario or Zelda games - especially now when they too will need to increase their budgets for HD-games. The good thing is that the next Mario-game get's really good. :-/

This really only applies to the Kyoto EAD groups btw, Nintendo's other internal divisions (SPD, NST, EAD Tokyo) have more defined and delineated teams rather than project leads with shared staff. This also doesn't account for all the other external 1st party Nintendo developers like HAL, Intelligent Ststems, Monolith Soft, Retro Studios, NdCube, etc, etc.

Also, SCE Japan Studio has a similar structure to EAD (project leads with a large pool of shared staff). It's really not uncommon in Japan, Namco and Level-5 are structured the same way too.

[charlequin]

This brings up interesting issues. I didn't catch this at first but it seems as if it is expected for Sony to carry the weight instead of supplement

Of course they are, it's their system. Other than Sony, nobody else has a good reason to work to make the system succeed -- in fact, third-party publishers have a strong incentive to avoid the system entirely if it can't support hits for them all on its own.

It's true that Sony didn't have to worry about how they were going to get people to develop for their systems in the past, but that mostly just demonstrates exactly how shitty the situation they're in with the Vita is.

[DangerousDave]

Vita is not dead anymore, because it has now Sir Awesomealot!

It's a sample game of PSSuite. But you kill enemies throwing beer jars. BEER JARS.

[FoxHimself]

Nintendo's studios are built up abit differently than Sony's studios. They have one giant studios, now in two locations I believe, where only two or three out of 9 assembly lines (I believe it's only seven assembly lines now) are able to make a game-engine, while the other works on assets, and prepearing the game, then they move the game-team wich have been working with lesser toolsets or outdated engines, up to the coders in the main-assembly lines, to polish the projects and engines.

Nintendo has like ten internal studios and ten external first party studios along with almost 30 "second party" ones. I don't think your explanation is correct.

[CadetMahoney]

It's true that Sony didn't have to worry about how they were going to get people to develop for their systems in the past, but that mostly just demonstrates exactly how shitty the situation they're in with the Vita is.

I just hope they don't start announcing games that will release so far away from release at E3.

[Sammy Samusu]

Tomorrow by this time we may be questioning the existence of this thread.

[AceBandage]

Tomorrow by this time we may be questioning the existence of this thread.

What's tomorrow?

[Sammy Samusu]

What's tomorrow?

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

[AceBandage]

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

I see...

[Diablos54]

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

Why would that have an effect on this thread? Unless it's RE7 exclusive to Vita or MH4 now exclusive betrayal...

[Dark_AnNiaLatOr]

Why would that have an effect on this thread? Unless it's RE7 exclusive to Vita or MH4 now exclusive betrayal...

MH4 exclusive would be the penultimate of all betrayals and something that is completely unexpected.

[cyborg009]

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

I bet 5 bucks it's not for the vita......

[Leona Lewis]

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

Oh God...

-_-

(Please don't do this guys)

[DangerousDave]

CAPCOM UNEXPECTED GAME ®

Capcom, in this generation, put all their cards with Microsoft (several exclusives and main development of HD, with crappy ports on PS3) and Nintendo (tons of DS and 3DS exclusivities, a lot of Wii support and switch of Monster Hunter). So this Capcom announcement probably will be another nail in Vita's coffin, instead of any hope for Vita.

[Luigiv]

What's tomorrow?

ANZAC day.

[AceBandage]

ANZAC day.

Fuck! I forgot to get my tree!

[Sammy Samusu]

Why would that have an effect on this thread? Unless it's RE7 exclusive to Vita or MH4 now exclusive betrayal...

I know one game is not enough, but a big announcement would certainly be welcome at this point, and maybe a sign of things yet to come.

I mean, look at Dreamcast and Game Cube, the pure definition of bomba, and yet both had great exclusive third-party games. Vita is definitely getting some love, sooner or later.

EDIT: By the way, I just noticed... 150k views? uhdfudhdfewyugr *death*

[BigDug13]

Vita is not dead anymore, because it has now Sir Awesomealot! It's a sample game of PSSuite. But you kill enemies throwing beer jars. BEER JARS.

Are those pictures of an iPad game?

[Diablos54]

I know one game is not enough, but a big announcement would certainly be welcome at this point, and maybe a sign of things yet to come.

But what could Capcom put out on the Vita which would be considered 'a big announcement'? And why announce it now?

So when is someone going to make a '... will save Vita!' list? We need one quickly.

[Kintaro]

But what could Capcom put out on the Vita which would be considered 'a big announcement'? And why announce it now? So when is someone going to make a '... will save Vita!' list? We need one quickly.

Shit, I would take several Capcom announcements seriously if they handled them right. They would be all old games now though.

Marvel Super Heroes Collection, Mega Man Collection, Mega Man X Collection, Ghouls/Ghosts and Goblins Collection, Arcade Collection (D&D, etc), Shenmu e 1-2.... etc.

[Ponn01]

But what could Capcom put out on the Vita which would be considered 'a big announcement'? And why announce it now? So when is someone going to make a '... will save Vita!' list? We need one quickly.

New Breath of Fire would be pretty sweet. Or new Darkstalkers since Capcom is giving Vita fighting game love. Completely out of leftfield but awesome new U.N. Squadron game.

Probably MH related though.

[Jigsaw]

But what could Capcom put out on the Vita which would be considered 'a big announcement'? And why announce it now?

they have annual monster hunter releases for japan,i doubt mh4 will make it in 2012,so if that's 2013 what will they have for this year?mh vita....or mh triDS g+

[AceBandage]

they have annual monster hunter releases for japan,i doubt mh4 will make it in 2012,so if that's 2013 what will they have for this year?mh vita....or mh triDS g+

TriG+ seems to be the most likely option.
To coincide with the Western release.

[Sammy Samusu]

But what could Capcom put out on the Vita which would be considered 'a big announcement'? And why announce it now? So when is someone going to make a '... will save Vita!' list? We need one quickly.

Now = Pre-E3?

If so, don't forget about Resident Evil 6, Black Ops 2, New Super Mario Bros 2, Epic Mickey 2, etc.

I'm personally expecting a Resident Evil game, maybe Revelations port or Outbreak Portable (big Resident Evil coverage, series 20th anniversary).

Like I said, one game won't save Vita (not even Monster Hunter 9, the series is already on the 3DS), but anything is better than nothing, and it would encourage gamers (and developers) to have more faith on Vita.

they have annual monster hunter releases for japan,i doubt mh4 will make it in 2012,so if that's 2013 what will they have for this year?mh vita....or mh triDS g+

That's how I used to think, but then someone mentioned MH4 as an early 2013 game. Doesn't make sense to release a big Monster Hunter game in Q4 2012 and another one in Q1 2013.

[Diablos54]

Shit, I would take several Capcom announcements seriously if they handled them right. They would be all old games now though. Marvel Super Heroes Collection, Mega Man Collection, Mega Man X Collection, Ghouls/Ghosts and Goblins Collection, Arcade Collection (D&D, etc), Shenmu e 1-2.... etc.

New Breath of Fire would be pretty sweet. Or new Darkstalkers since Capcom is giving Vita fighting game love. Completely out of leftfield but awesome new U.N. Squadron game. Probably MH related though.

All good games, but only MH4 or maybe MH3P+ would be a 'big announcement'. And I don't see MH4 happening, 4+ in a year or two maybe, but by then it'll be too late to make too much of an impact sales wise for the Vita.

[Ponn01]

All good games, but only MH4 or maybe MH3P+ would be a 'big announcement'. And I don't see MH4 happening, 4+ in a year or two maybe, but by then it'll be too late to make too much of an impact sales wise for the Vita.

If you were only going to accept MH as an answer say so and save people from bother replying.

Pack in all your other studios Capcom, MH is your only big worthwhile game anymore.

[impact]

If you were only going to accept MH as an answer say so and save people from bother replying. Pack in all your other studios Capcom, MH is your only big worthwhile game anymore.

Japan: yes
USA: (lol)

[Man God]

If you were only going to accept MH as an answer say so and save people from bother replying. Pack in all your other studios Capcom, MH is your only big worthwhile game anymore.

It's their only proven portable success that would be considered a blockbuster.

[KageMaru]

Sony itself is weird too,They announced GOW:A for PS3 and the new GTTV game is also for PS3, not sure if they gave up already or they save their games for a relaunch or something.

IMO it's more likely they are getting a couple announcements out of the way before E3 hits and they focus a good deal of attention to vita.

Shit, I would take several Capcom announcements seriously if they handled them right. They would be all old games now though. Marvel Super Heroes Collection, Mega Man Collection, Mega Man X Collection, Ghouls/Ghosts and Goblins Collection, Arcade Collection (D&D, etc), Shenmu e 1-2.... etc.

That would be Sega =P

I'd buy a vita if shenmue 1-3 were announced though.

[Ponn01]

It's their only proven portable success that would be considered a blockbuster.

So why bother trying anything else then right? Unfortunately way too many publishers and developers think this way.

Personally I would find a portable Vita version of U.N. Squadron reboot to be awesome and I have a feeling alot of others would agree with me. But whatever, its not MH so don't bother Capcom.

[Mango Positive]

I'm sure the Vita and the 3DS are getting all kinds of wonderful games that I won't be able to play, but when my brain said "you should get a portable game system" my first and only thought was that I should get a new iPad. I'm fairly satisfied with the decision too. This is a major obstacle for portable gaming machines... having competition that will play games, be a synth, and read or edit office documents stored on the cloud. Big 3 handheld gaming is, IMO, dead.