[electroplankton]

In the meanwhile...

Consumer Affairs Agency has formally announced its view that "Complete Gacha" sales methods are illegal.

http://andriasang.com/con12k/complete_gacha_illegal/

Consequences of this? They have to find other way to monetize, it seems.

[magash]

With the recent announcement of Sly 4 being a title for both the PS3 and VITA could it be that Sony's strategy for the VITA is to just port certain PS3 titles?

[magash]

In the meanwhile... http://andriasang.com/con12k/complete_gacha_illegal/ Consequences of this? They have to find other way to monetize, it seems.

Holy shit this is megaton.

Starting July 1, game makers who use Complete Gacha will face penalties. Further details will be posted to the Consumer Affairs Agency's official site later today. It seems that social game makers saw this verdict coming, as most of the major players, including Mobage, GREE, Konami and Namco Bandai, announced plans last week to halt the use of Complete Gacha.

I wonder what other model GREE et al will make use of next

[DR2K]

With the recent announcement of Sly 4 being a title for both the PS3 and VITA could it be that Sony's strategy for the VITA is to just port certain PS3 titles?

If support the Vita takes anything away from PS3 then it's just not worth it. The way Sony has been marketing it is as a PS3 that might go outside with you. So putting PS3 games on it makes sense.

[magash]

If support the Vita takes anything away from PS3 then it's just not worth it. The way Sony has been marketing it is as a PS3 that might go outside with you. So putting PS3 games on it makes sense.

My main beef with the whole "ps3 lite on the go" strategy that shaped the development of the psvita is that it does nothing to differentiate the vita from other gaming devices content wise. Another thing is it might devalue the ps3 games because of the difference in price between the vita and ps3.

[electroplankton]

Well, it's a good thing for PSVita owners to have more games; then, I do think that the vast majority of PSVita owners already has a PS3, so portings are not a great deal.

Btw, for games such as Sly and LittleBigPlanet Karting, the exclusivity on PSVita would be perfect: Sony's line-up tailored on its handheld device; Sly is not famous nowadays, it could have become a nice mascotte to promote the device, as well as the kart game (not in Japan of course).

[michaelius]

My main beef with the whole "ps3 lite on the go" strategy that shaped the development of the psvita is that it does nothing to differentiate the vita from other gaming devices content wise. Another thing is it might devalue the ps3 games because of the difference in price between the vita and ps3.

At the same time it's cheaper and faster way of adding more games to PSV catalogue to make sure people have something to play.

And it's also a great thing for consumers - you want to play platformers on PS3 you buy it there, you prefer them on handhelds you get it on PSV.

Also it's still Playstation exclusive - you need to own Sony console to play it ;)

[Celine]

With the recent announcement of Sly 4 being a title for both the PS3 and VITA could it be that Sony's strategy for the VITA is to just port certain PS3 titles?

Worked great for PSP ...
But I suppose getting ports is better than no games.

[test_account]

Yet all 10 Vita games combined won't come close to matching NSMB2.

In sales, most likely.

[EhrgeizVII]

Well, it's a good thing for PSVita owners to have more games; then, I do think that the vast majority of PSVita owners already has a PS3, so portings are not a great deal. Btw, for games such as Sly and LittleBigPlanet Karting, the exclusivity on PSVita would be perfect: Sony's line-up tailored on its handheld device; Sly is not famous nowadays, it could have become a nice mascotte to promote the device, as well as the kart game (not in Japan of course).

That's what I thought. LBP Karting and Sly are perfect for the PSV. Should've been Vita exclusive to help sell the device with games that people can ONLY play on the handheld.

[michaelius]

That's what I thought. LBP Karting and Sly are perfect for the PSV. Should've been Vita exclusive to help sell the device with games that people can ONLY play on the handheld.

Like Mario Kart or Smash ? ;)

[Celine]

Like Mario Kart or Smash ? ;)

Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii aren't the same thing despite being the same series and not being outsourced.

[Mutanthands]

With the recent announcement of Sly 4 being a title for both the PS3 and VITA could it be that Sony's strategy for the VITA is to just port certain PS3 titles?

As part of a strategy that includes mobile friendly games, more PSN content, and Playstation Suite content, great. As the only strategy? Not going to help.

[electroplankton]

Like Mario Kart or Smash ? ;)

It's the first step to differentiate the line-up of PSVita from its home counterpart.

[UncleSporky]

Holy shit this is megaton. I wonder what other model GREE et al will make use of next

Eh, not really.

Only "complete gacha" is considered illegal (and does this agency get to decide what's legal and illegal, or could a company press the issue in court?). "Complete gacha" is specifically the idea that you have to buy a bunch of already-rare random things to combine into one ultra-rare thing. Gacha itself, the idea of paying to get random prizes including some really rare ones, is still fine.

So they can just ratchet up the rarity of items and achieve the same result legally - instead of a 1/10 chance of getting a piece of the puzzle, you've got a 1/10,000 chance of getting the completed puzzle.

[Road]

Dengeki Sales, May 07 - 13, 2012 (Week 19)

01. (01) [WII] Mario Party 9 (Nintendo) - 39,679 / 344,439 (-73%)
02. (03) [3DS] Fire Emblem: Awakening (Nintendo) - 17,768 / 372,154 (-61%)
03. (02) [PS3] Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (Capcom) - 15,244 / 328,634 (-73%)
04. (__) [PS3] Starhawk (SCE) - 12,576 / 12,576
05. (04) [3DS] Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo) - 9,884 / 1,572,705 (-61%)
06. (07) [3DS] Monster Hunter Tri G (Capcom) - 9,368 / 1,457,866 (-52%)
07. (05) [3DS] Kid Icarus: Uprising (Nintendo) - 7,989 / 281,757 (-62%)
08. (06) [3DS] Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo) - 7,926 / 1,698,988 (-61%)
09. (10) [PSP] Conception: Please Have My Babies! (Spike Chunsoft) - 5,406 / 44,300 (-50%)
10. (09) [PSP] Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 (Konami) - 4,828 / 135,552 (-57%)
11. (08) [3DS] Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Nintendo) - 4,711 / 177,156 (-65%)
12. (11) [3DS] Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (Square Enix) - 4,326 / 298,626 (-57%)
13. (14) [WII] Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo) - 3,675 / ? (-56%)
14. (21) [PS3] Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 (Konami) - 3,524 / ?
15. (16) [3DS] Harvest Moon: The Land of Origin (Marvelous AQL) - 3,421 / ? (-53%)
16. (17) [PSP] Monster Hunter Freedom 3 [PSP the Best] (Capcom) - 3,450 / ? (-51%)
17. (26) [PSP] Steins;Gate: Hiyoku Renri no Darling (5pb.) - 3,295 / ?
18. (13) [3DS] Dynasty Warriors VS (Koei Tecmo) - 3,132 / 27,810 (-64%)
19. (15) [WII] Wii Party (Nintendo) - 3,106 / ? (-59%)
20. (20) [PSP] Super Robot Taisen Z 2nd: Saisei-hen (Bandai Namco) - 3,039 / 325,810 (-54%)


*ST: Sell-through => estimated copies shipped.


http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/486/486592/
http://megalodon.jp/2012-0518-2057-0...g/ranking.html


Dengeki Sales: Week 18, 2012 (Apr 30 - May 06)

Previous Dengeki Posts (Thanks Cap. Smoker!)
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012

[RBH]

3DS dropped more significantly than Vita to be honest.

haha

[Chris1964]

Media Create Sales: Week 19, 2012 (May 07 - May 13)

01./01. [WII] Mario Party 9 <ETC> (Nintendo) {2012.04.26} (¥5.800) - 37.353 / 334.821 (-74%)
02./03. [3DS] Fire Emblem: Awakening <SLG> (Nintendo) {2012.04.19} (¥4.800) - 16.530 / 361.790 (-61%)
03./02. [PS3] Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City <ACT> (Capcom) {2012.04.26} (¥6.990) - 14.553 / 319.505 (-72%)
04./00. [PS3] Starhawk <ACT> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2012.05.10} (¥5.980) - 12.873 / NEW <59,14%>
05./04. [3DS] Super Mario 3D Land # <ACT> (Nintendo) {2011.11.03} (¥4.800) - 11.260 / 1.574.788 (-61%)
06./07. [3DS] Monster Hunter 3G # <ACT> (Capcom) {2011.12.10} (¥5.800) - 9.105 / 1.442.475 (-45%)
07./05. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 <RCE> (Nintendo) {2011.12.01} (¥4.800) - 9.045 / 1.704.350 (-60%)
08./06. [3DS] Kid Icarus: Uprising <ACT> (Nintendo) {2012.03.22} (¥5.800) - 7.636 / 269.519 (-59%)
09./08. [3DS] Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games <SPT> (Nintendo) {2012.03.01} (¥4.800) - 4.933 / 162.270 (-64%)
10./09. [PSP] Conception: Please Give Birth to My Child! <RPG> (Spike Chunsoft) {2012.04.26} (¥6.279) - 4.600 / 44.639 (-55%)
11./10. [WII] Wii Sports Resort with Wii Remote Plus # <SPT> (Nintendo) {2010.11.11} (¥5.800) - 4.416 / 939.971 (-56%)
12./11. [PSP] Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 <SPT> (Konami) {2012.03.29} (¥5.980) - 4.041 / 132.450 (-59%)
13./15. [WII] Wii Party # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2010.07.08} (¥4.800) - 3.408 / 2.348.884 (-60%)
14./16. [PS3] Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 <SPT> (Konami) {2012.03.29} (¥7.980) - 3.342 / 156.276 (-51%)
15./14. [3DS] Dynasty Warriors Vs. <ACT> (Koei Tecmo) {2012.04.26} (¥6.090) - 3.231 / 27.423 (-62%)
16./12. [3DS] Kingdom Hearts 3D -Dream Drop Distance- # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2012.03.29} (¥6.090) - 3.204 / 311.688 (-66%)
17./24. [PSP] Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP the Best) <ACT> (Capcom) {2011.09.22} (¥2.990) - 3.104 / 252.765
18./19. [3DS] Harvest Moon: The Land of Origin <SLG> (Marvelous AQL) {2012.02.23} (¥5.040) - 3.040 / 182.188 (-53%)
19./18. [PSP] 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Saisei-hen <SLG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.04.05} (¥7.330) - 2.959 / 331.392 (-55%)
20./13. [NDS] Pokemon Conquest <SLG> (Pokemon Co.) {2012.03.17} (¥5.800) - 2.819 / 320.885 (-69%)
21./26. [WII] Just Dance Wii <ACT> (Nintendo) {2011.10.13} (¥5.800)
22./23. [3DS] Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog / Shiba / Toy Poodle & New Friends <ETC> (Nintendo) {2011.02.26} (¥4.800)
23./17. [WII] Mario Kart Wii <RCE> (Nintendo) {2008.04.10} (¥5.800)
24./21. [3DS] Cho-ricchi! Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.04.19} (¥5.040)
25./30. [NDS] Pokemon Black / White # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2010.09.18} (¥4.800)
26./22. [WII] Kirby's Return to Dream Land <ACT> (Nintendo) {2011.10.27} (¥5.800)
27./24. [PSP] Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP the Best) <ACT> (Capcom) {2011.09.22} (¥2.990)
28./20. [WII] Go Vacation <ETC> (Bandai Namco Games) {2011.10.20} (¥5.800)
29./27. [PSV] Ciel Nosurge: Ushinawareta Hoshi e Sasagu Uta # <ETC> (Gust) {2012.04.26} (¥5.040)
30./37. [PS3] Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition <RCE> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2012.02.02} (¥4.980)
31./32. [3DS] Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai # <ACT> (Sega) {2012.03.08} (¥6.090)
32./38. [PS3] Final Fantasy XIII-2 # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2011.12.15} (¥7.980)
33./00. [PS3] Battlefield 3 <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2011.11.02} (¥7.665)
34./34. [WII] Family Fishing # <SPT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2011.08.04} (¥5.040)
35./29. [NDS] Detective Conan: Prelude from the Past <ADV> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.04.19} (¥5.040)
36./42. [PS3] Winning Post 7 2012 <SLG> (Koei Tecmo) {2012.03.15} (¥7.560)
37./00. [PS3] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Dubbed Edition <ACT> (Square Enix) {2011.12.22} (¥7.980)
38./39. [PSP] Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar Classics) <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2011.07.21} (¥2.500)
39./33. [WII] Super Smash Bros. Brawl <FTG> (Nintendo) {2008.01.31} (¥6.800)
40./49. [3DS] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy <ACT> (Square Enix) {2012.02.16} (¥6.090)
41./00. [NDS] Battle & Get! Pokemon Typing DS <ACT> (Pokemon Co.) {2011.04.21} (¥5.800)
42./31. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Definitive Edition # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2011.11.23} (¥5.040)
43./47. [PS3] Devil May Cry HD Collection <ACT> (Capcom) {2012.03.22} (¥4.990)
44./40. [PSP] Black Panther 2: Yakuza Ashura Chapter <ADV> (Sega) {2012.03.22} (¥6.279)
45./28. [WII] New Super Mario Bros. Wii <ACT> (Nintendo) {2009.12.03} (¥5.800)
46./00. [PSP] God Eater: Burst (PSP the Best) <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2011.09.15} (¥2.800)
47./00. [PS3] Call of Duty: Black Ops - Dubbed Edition (Bargain Edition) <ACT> (Square Enix) {2011.09.01} (¥3.990)
48./00. [PS3] World Soccer Winning Eleven 2012 <SPT> (Konami) {2011.10.06} (¥7.980)
49./00. [PS3] Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition (PlayStation 3 the Best) <ADV> (Capcom) {2010.11.11} (¥2.990)
50./41. [3DS] One Piece: Unlimited Cruise SP <ADV> (Bandai Namco Games) {2011.05.26} (¥6.090)

Top 50

3DS - 14
PS3 - 12
WII - 11
PSP - 8
NDS - 4
PSV - 1

SOFTWARE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|System | This Week  | Last Week  | Last Year  |     YTD    |  Last YTD  |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  ALL  |    381.000 |    836.000 |    430.000 | 16.930.000 | 17.111.000 |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

HARDWARE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|System | This Week  | Last Week  | Last Year  |     YTD    |  Last YTD  |     LTD     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  3DS  |     46.425 |     91.868 |     18.324 |  1.673.691 |    996.019 |   5.955.834 |
|  PS3  |     12.996 |     23.478 |     13.789 |    531.735 |    504.979 |   8.168.120 |
| PSP # |     12.247 |     20.033 |     34.826 |    372.460 |    919.165 |  19.101.844 |
|  PSV  |      6.340 |     10.583 |            |    257.113 |            |     697.099 |
|  WII  |      6.073 |     15.789 |      6.336 |    212.190 |    272.725 |  12.375.411 |
|  PS2  |      1.212 |      1.611 |      1.319 |     22.696 |     32.158 |  21.796.803 |
| NDS # |      1.206 |      1.911 |     10.858 |     37.467 |    423.907 |  32.845.953 |
|  360  |      1.023 |      1.420 |      2.763 |     28.365 |     47.774 |   1.564.410 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  ALL  |     87.522 |    166.693 |     88.215 |  3.135.717 |  3.196.727 | 102.505.474 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| DSiLL |        819 |      1.097 |      5.358 |     21.467 |    218.930 |   2.315.786 |
|  DSi  |        387 |        814 |      5.292 |     16.000 |    186.921 |   5.850.050 |
|  PSP  |     12.247 |     20.033 |     34.655 |    372.460 |    904.158 |  18.925.857 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[BurntPork]

47./00. [PS3] Call of Duty: Black Ops - Dubbed Edition (Bargain Edition) <ACT> (Square Enix) {2011.09.01} (¥3.990)

What

I thought this was Japan.

[michaelius]

Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii aren't the same thing despite being the same series and not being outsourced.

In the same way Vita Resistance/Uncharte/Wipeout aren't the same as PS3 versions.

[Road]

Famitsu Sales: Week 19, 2012 (Apr 30 - May 06)

Weird stuff: Famitsu says "Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu" for the SNES has sold 422k on this week's blurb. But in their 1996 top 100 they have it at 429,763.

[UncleSporky]

In the same way Vita Resistance/Uncharte/Wipeout aren't the same as PS3 versions.

Right. But the two new Vita games are the same thing as the PS3 versions, thus making them redundant.

System sellers (if such things exist) need to be unique and they need to have time to stand on their own legs. If Mario Kart on Wii and 3DS were the same game and came out around the same time, that wouldn't have been very effective for either system, especially since one has a much larger install base.

[lunchwithyuzo]

In the same way Vita Resistance/Uncharte/Wipeout aren't the same as PS3 versions.

Only Wipeout would be "in the same way". The others got farmed off.

[Brazil]

What I thought this was Japan.

One would think you missed the last 4 years of Japanese sales-age.

[BurntPork]

One would think you missed the last 5 years of Japanese sales-age.

But it's a year and a half old.

[Zoe]

But it's a year and a half old.

Must have been a sale or the other games really just sold that low.

[lunchwithyuzo]

Even for Smash Bros, we know the 3DS and Wii U versions will be uniquely differentiated games. Sakurai implied the 3DS version being more one player/campaign/character building oriented, Wii U more for competitive multiplayer.

Actually, has Nintendo ever released an identical console/handheld game simultaneously? Maybe Tetris 2 or some other puzzler back in the GB/NES days?

I wonder if Lego City Stories will be the same across both?

[Father_Brain]

PS3/Vita multiplatform is fine for a title like Warrior's Lair or MLB that wouldn't likely sell too many Vitas anyway, or for something like Sly Cooper that was originally only for PS3 and wasn't realistically going to be a Vita exclusive. If it's announced for something like Soul Sacrifice or Media Molecule's Vita title, though... that'd be a very, very bad sign about Sony's strategy.

[Brazil]

But it's a year and a half old.

Let's see...

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 209.720
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - 395.815
Call of Duty: Black Ops - 383.382
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - 391.276

Over many reprints and with loooong legs.

[electroplankton]

Even for Smash Bros, we know the 3DS and Wii U versions will be uniquely differentiated games. Sakurai implied the 3DS version being more one player/campaign/character building oriented, Wii U more for competitive multiplayer. Actually, has Nintendo ever released an identical console/handheld game simultaneously? Maybe Tetris 2 or some other puzzler back in the GB/NES days? I wonder if Lego City Stories will be the same across both?

As far as I remember... Nope.
Even a game like Big Brain Academy was pretty differentiated between DS and Wii.

Square Enix released the same game on both platforms, though: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Echose of Time.

[Chris1964]

Weird stuff: Famitsu says "Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu" for the SNES has sold 422k on this week's blurb. But in their 1996 top 100 they have it at 429,763.

I noticed it but since it's Famitsu most likely someone mixed 2 with 9

[RamzaIsCool]

Must have been a sale or the other games really just sold that low.

Doesn't take much these days to get into the top 50. I think there are triple digits selling games there. Oh look I even see a PSV game. :( :( :(

[Celine]

In the same way Vita Resistance/Uncharte/Wipeout aren't the same as PS3 versions.

Indeed and consumers are buying PSV for those games (how many is another matter).

Only Wipeout would be "in the same way". The others got farmed off.

Farming out per se isn't a problem if quality is there.
Main difference between let's say Mario Kart and the three Sony exclusives cited above is that MK is likely to outsell those three together by a large margin.
It's selling (hardware too) power is far bigger.

[UncleSporky]

PS3/Vita multiplatform is fine for a title like Warrior's Lair or MLB that wouldn't likely sell too many Vitas anyway, or for something like Sly Cooper that was originally only for PS3 and wasn't realistically going to be a Vita exclusive. If it's announced for something like Soul Sacrifice or Media Molecule's Vita title, though... that'd be a very, very bad sign about Sony's strategy.

There's nothing wrong with offering a game on multiple platforms, it makes it more available to fans and it's bound to generate some sales. Good thing overall. Any complaints should be directed at the fact that they could/should be doing more for Vita, by making the games exclusive, launching them during barren times for either platform, etc.

[Celine]

But it's a year and a half old.

It's a budget re-release in a week where the top game sold 37K.

[Aostia]

There's nothing wrong with offering a game on multiple platforms, it makes it more available to fans and it's bound to generate some sales. Good thing overall. Any complaints should be directed at the fact that they could/should be doing more for Vita, by making the games exclusive, launching them during barren times for either platform, etc.

I agree, there is nothing wrong, except for Vita's success I think.

[mclem]

Eh, not really. Only "complete gacha" is considered illegal (and does this agency get to decide what's legal and illegal, or could a company press the issue in court?). "Complete gacha" is specifically the idea that you have to buy a bunch of already-rare random things to combine into one ultra-rare thing. Gacha itself, the idea of paying to get random prizes including some really rare ones, is still fine. So they can just ratchet up the rarity of items and achieve the same result legally - instead of a 1/10 chance of getting a piece of the puzzle, you've got a 1/10,000 chance of getting the completed puzzle.

I don't quite understand why there's a distinction. Both have the same chance of getting the rare item. I assume the difference is that once you've got *one* part, you're tempted to go for the others - but I don't quite get why that's illegal.

[Father_Brain]

There's nothing wrong with offering a game on multiple platforms, it makes it more available to fans and it's bound to generate some sales. Good thing overall. Any complaints should be directed at the fact that they could/should be doing more for Vita, by making the games exclusive, launching them during barren times for either platform, etc.

You seem to be contradicting yourself there.

Anyway, my point is that handhelds have almost invariably been driven primarily by exclusive software and experiences. Vita is never going to be turned around if Sony starts treating it as an extension of PS3 at the expense of differentiating it.

[faridmon]

It seems that Sony hasn’t learned anything from the PSPs downfall in its early years. Ports from consoles won't work and seeing that Sly game announced to be a multiplatform produced a disappointing sigh. The announcement may be good for people who want to play Sly on the move, but it seems to be that Sony doesn't have any alternative plan out there and simply decided just to throw in this announcement to make amends.
I really hope this is not a long term plan and decide to announce some original games that could not be made anywhere, after all, the PSP succeeded and one of the reason was that niche games was made on the platform. Sony should advertise the system as an alternative one and not one that just reeks of PS3 on the Go mentality.
in other words: Announce Wild Arms 3 and Dark Cloud 3 on the system damn it!

[electroplankton]

I don't quite understand why there's a distinction. Both have the same chance of getting the rare item. I assume the difference is that once you've got *one* part, you're tempted to go for the others - but I don't quite get why that's illegal.

As far as I know, the problem of complete gatcha is that some items and prizes are available only through that; hence you have to collect, let's say, 4 or 5 rare objects through gatcha to have a single final item which is not available elsewhere. The cost to find every object is quite high.

[Spiegel]

It seems that Sony hasn’t learned anything from the PSPs downfall in its early years. Ports from consoles won't work and seeing that Sly game announced to be a multiplatform produced a disappointing sigh. The announcement may be good for people who want to play Sly on the move, but it seems to be that Sony doesn't have any alternative plan out there and simply decided just to throw in this announcement to make amends. I really hope this is not a long term plan and decide to announce some original games that could not be made anywhere, after all, the PSP succeeded and one of the reason was that niche games was made on the platform. Sony should advertise the system as an alternative one and not one that just reeks of PS3 on the Go mentality. in other words: Announce Wild Arms 3 and Dark Cloud 3 on the system damn it!

Sly developers have been hinting about a vita version since last E3 so I doubt this is 'Sony not having any alternative plan out there and deciding to throw in this announcement to make ammends'.

I'm not against Vita getting Sly and Sony Smash and LBP Kart day and date with the PS3 if there's also many original games planned. And I can't see why anyone would think othwerwise.

On the other hand, I agree in that SCE should be developing new high quality IPs for Vita, which is what SCEJ seems to be doing, surprisingly.

[electroplankton]

Sly developers have been hinting about a vita version since last E3 so I doubt this is 'Sony not having any alternative plan out there and deciding to throw in this announcement to make ammends'. I'm not against Vita getting Sly and Sony Smash and LBP Kart day and date with the PS3 if there's also many original games planned. And I can't see why anyone would think othwerwise.

So, why didn't Sony announce Vita version of those games ALONG WITH PS3 version?

[faridmon]

Sly developers have been hinting about a vita version since last E3 so I doubt this is 'Sony not having any alternative plan out there and deciding to throw in this announcement to make ammends'. I'm not against Vita getting Sly and Sony Smash and LBP Kart day and date with the PS3 if there's also many original games planned. And I can't see why anyone would think othwerwise.

Then they would have just announced it along with the PS3 version or shortly afterwards not, almost year ago. This sudden announcement is baffling and hinting about the Vita version sounds like a statement of '' We are not announcing anything right now and not disregarding anything''

Don't get me wrong, I am not against it. In fact I am sort of happy as this one of those games that would suit Vita more so than the PS3. But the fact that announcements for the platform is rare these days and all of the sudden, this got out, makes me a bit cynical. That is all.

[Spiegel]

So, why didn't Sony announce Vita version of those games ALONG WITH PS3 version?

Then they would have just announced it along with the PS3 version or shortly afterwards not, almost year ago. This sudden announcement is baffling and hinting about the Vita version sounds like a statement of '' We are not announcing anything right now and not disregarding anything'' Don't get me wrong, I am not against it. In fact I am sort of happy as this one of those games that would suit Vita more so than the PS3. But the fact that announcements for the platform is rare these days and all of the sudden, this got out, makes me a bit cynical. That is all.

There can be lots of reasons. Vita is a new hardware and maybe they weren't sure that they could get the vita version in time for release. Also by being a new hardware there are timming issues, like unveiling games too early, and Sony already had too many first party games announced.

Also companies make nonsensical decisions all the time


This is what the president of Sanzaru games said last E3 when asked about Sly Vita:

"Can't really say anything about that sort of stuff just yet," he said with a grin, "But please stay tuned."

[mclem]

As far as I know, the problem of complete gatcha is that some items and prizes are available only through that; hence you have to collect, let's say, 4 or 5 rare objects through gatcha to have a single final item which is not available elsewhere. The cost to find every object is quite high.

Even so, it's possible to arrange it such that the expected cost to get the item with normal gatcha is the same as the expected cost to get the item with complete gatcha; that's why I don't understand why the normal version is fine.

[BurntPork]

It's a budget re-release in a week where the top game sold 37K.

Oh, didn't know that.

[UncleSporky]

You seem to be contradicting yourself there. Anyway, my point is that handhelds have almost invariably been driven primarily by exclusive software and experiences. Vita is never going to be turned around if Sony starts treating it as an extension of PS3 at the expense of differentiating it.

Not at all. I'm saying if the choice is between PS3/Vita release and PS3 release, then PS3/Vita is preferable, more availability and more sales is always a good thing. If the choice is between PS3/Vita release and Vita release and Sony is confident that it's system seller material, Vita is preferable. Good exclusives are needed to get the system out of its slump.

Which is basically what you've said too.

[Kenka]

40./49. [3DS] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy <ACT> (Square Enix) {2012.02.16} (¥6.090)

[UncleSporky]

Even so, it's possible to arrange it such that the expected cost to get the item with normal gatcha is the same as the expected cost to get the item with complete gatcha; that's why I don't understand why the normal version is fine.

It's the mind games. If you can plainly see that you've got a one in a million chance of winning something, you might not invest so much into it. When that's hidden behind layers of seemingly-easy collection, it becomes more difficult to see. And by the time you realize it's a big scam, you've invested so much that it's hard to walk away.

[michaelius]

Not at all. I'm saying if the choice is between PS3/Vita release and PS3 release, then PS3/Vita is preferable, more availability and more sales is always a good thing. If the choice is between PS3/Vita release and Vita release and Sony is confident that it's system seller material, Vita is preferable. Good exclusives are needed to get the system out of its slump. Which is basically what you've said too.

Well yeah but that's more or less what Sony is doing ?

They have totaly unique Vita exclusive games: Gravity Daze, Soul Sacrafice
They have Vita exclusive parts of Sony franchises: Uncharted GA, Wipeout, Resistance, Hot shots, LBP etc.
They have Vita/PS3 same games: MRC, The show, Sly, Warriors Lair ?