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Sony: Indies, third-party games are Vita's focus moving forward

Bundy

Banned
The 3DS was the best selling console in the US in 2013:

http://kotaku.com/nintendo-3ds-was-top-selling-system-of-2013-because-it-1503082139

The 3DS was the best selling console in the UK in 2013:

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/the_3ds_was_the_uks_top_selling_games_system_in_2013

As well as being the best selling console in Japan in 2013. Not bad for a dying category.
Exactly! Not bad for a dying category.
Doesn't chance the fact that handhelds are dying out.
 

baekshi

Banned
There was enough: "Stock", "ads" and "talk about games" during the launch period + one of the best launch lineups ever.
Didn't help! Gaming handhelds are dying.


Just to name a few:
Freedom Wars
Invizimals
Big Fest

Sorry!


See above! And these are only PSVITA-only games.
There are more 1st Party PS4/PS3/PSVITA cross-platform games from Sony.
.
No one is going to buy a $250-300 handheld at launch and $100 Memory Cards, not even if 3DS.


Few? That's pretty much everything lol

Gravity Rush 2 was never confirmed PS Vita nor it was confirmed as it will be sequel.

Oreshika doesn't have a release date, its likely 2015 but why that matters if I can import it this years....

Exactly! Not bad for a dying category.
Doesn't chance the fact that handhelds are dying out.
This means consoles are also dying....thanks for confirming. Think parent sony needs to kill all of SCE.
 

TheRook

Member
My point is that 3rd parties aren't stepping up to the plate because Sony isn't, which is what you said in your post.

You're right that it was the Square games (and monster hunter) that mostly carried the PSP. Those games aren't there with the Vita (see Type 0 as a prime example) because Sony isn't taking the initiative to foster a user base (I'm not disagreeing with you on that, you're 100% correct on that).

Sony needs to give 3rd parties a reason to support the vita and they aren't.

I believe that the way Sony has been handling the Vita had made it seem undesirable to develop for, which is why 3rd party devs (outside of Japan) haven't really taking a chance really with it. Because of that, I feel that is the reason why Sony is heavily depending on Indie games is to fill that void.

Right now is a very weird time for the Vita because it just got a revision that makes it more appealing, same with the price drop (it's as cheap as the PSP was during the end of it's life cycle), and it's getting support from some publishers. Now seems like the opportune time to market the hardware but at E3...there was about 1 minute or so dedicated to talking about the Vita...The Playstation TV may also be doomed to fail if they continue on this road...and that thing is actually one of the best idea's they have come up with in a while.

I agree that Sony needs to give 3rd parties a reason to make games on the platform but, I'm not sure on what genre of games or on how they should go about it....
 
No one is going to buy a $250-300 handheld at launch and $100 Memory Cards, not even 3DS.


Few? That's pretty much everything lol

Gravity Rush 2 was never confirmed PS Vita nor it was confirmed as it will be sequel.

Oreshika doesn't have a release date, its likely 2015 but why that matters if I can import it this years....

Oreshika, Tokyo New World Record, Grim Fandango, Stranger in Sword City, and Galak-Z are the games I'm looking forward to the most.

I think there's a lot to look forward to, it's the public messaging from SCEA on Vita that is upsetting.
 
So it's likely going to be the first Playstation console I don't own :\

Well, I might buy one second hand years from now for $50 for Tearaway and Gravity Rush but.... yeah.
 

Bundy

Banned
No one is going to buy a $250-300 handheld at launch and $100 Memory Cards, not even if 3DS.


Few? That's pretty much everything lol
Freedom Wars
Invizimals
Oreshika 2
Murasaki Baby
Big Fest
Gravity Rush 2


It is? Just a few I could quickly name. Not really "Sony doesn't support VITA with 1st Party Games" right?

Gravity Rush 2 was never confirmed PS Vita nor it was confirmed as it will be sequel.
Still a new Gravity Rush. Doesn't matter if it's GR2 or Gravity Rush: "insertSubtitle".
First one is on PSVITA so a sequel on the PSVITA is likely? Don't you say?

Oreshika doesn't have a release date, its likely 2015 but why that matters if I can import it this years....
Well, if it is a 2015, then great. Another 2015 title :)

This means consoles are also dying....thanks for confirming. Think parent sony needs to kill all of SCE.
Comparing current home console hardware sales with last gen..... nope.
Not dying at all :)
 

Acrylic7

Member
lol
How about investing in Software that is made for the system that isn't mediocre. Spinoffs and average games dont sell hardware.
Also that memory card nonsense is stupid and has probably cut your sales in half. Half I say!
 

Takao

Banned
Freedom Wars
Invizimals
Oreshika 2
Murasaki Baby
Big Fest
Gravity Rush 2


It is? Just a few I could quickly name. Not really "Sony doesn't support VITA with 1st Party Games" right?

Outside of one game that hasn't been announced for Vita, none of those titles are actually first party. They're all outsourced to independently-owned studios.
 

Ravage

Member
This is the correct move for Sony. They tried the high production-value approach with Uncharted and Killzone and the market simply isn't there for titles with that sort of price point. With a relatively small install-base they can't even take the commodity approach as seen on iOS and try and recoup high dev cost with a bargain basement price structure.

Agreed, this is the most sensible move they can make right now. I like the system a lot but it's clear as day that there's no future in sticking with its original vision under the current market condition.

Killzone Merc bomba proves two things: (a) the current install base is too small to justify the risk of high production cost and more importantly (b) the target demographic i.e. gamers who appreciates good production values, are no longer interested in a handheld console in a post-iPhone world. Tbh the second point was pretty much cemented when the results of Vita first year sales were out. The impressive launch lineup did absolutely nothing.

At this point of time, the only possible system seller has to be something completely revolutionary. And coupled with production cost reality, the only way that is gonna happen is by bringing lots of indie developers into the ecosystem.

On a personal note, i'm mostly interested in niche 3rd party titles and (fortunately) will still be getting them.
 

coldone

Member
Agreed, this is the most sensible move they can make right now. I like the system a lot but it's clear as day that there's no future in sticking with its original vision under the current market condition.

Killzone Merc bomba proves two things: (a) the current install base is too small to justify the risk of high production cost and more importantly (b) the target demographic i.e. gamers who appreciates good production values, are no longer interested in a handheld console in a post-iPhone world. Tbh the second point was pretty much cemented when the results of Vita first year sales were out. The impressive launch lineup did absolutely nothing.

No one seems to blame Sony for its mistakes

- Hiring cheap studios to make COD, BL2 etc
- Forcing a $100 memory card

SCEA is the main culprit behind vita's failure. Not even a single game that came them had a 8+ meta critic average. Resistance, COD, Unit13, God of War, BL2, Jak
 

baekshi

Banned
Freedom Wars
Invizimals
Oreshika 2
Murasaki Baby


It is? Just a few I could quickly name. Not really "Sony doesn't support VITA with 1st Party Games" right?
Then why don't you name them for me if more actually exists that aren't F2P (unless you like f2p crap go ahead and tell me these are biggest titles vita has).

At this point new Gravity Daze can be for PS4 and games can always go to another platform.

For me, that is a 2014 title - and how is that "another" when it would literally be the only one.

Outside of one game that hasn't been announced for Vita, none of those titles are actually first party. They're all outsourced to independently-owned studios.
Pretty much this also.
 

SeanTSC

Member
Porting God of War or other Sony 1st party games really didn't help the PSP all that well, it was really those games made by Square and other popular games and bundles that sold the system (StarWars Battlefront comes to mind).

Part of Sony's issue is that they are trying to make Console experiences on the handheld, and thats the reason why the Vita is left being a sidekick to the PS4 rather than it standing on it's own.

I get that games like God Eater 2 aren't going to be system sellers to the masses who may want a Vita but Sony not actually getting behind their system and saying "Yo, we got games that are pretty awesome on this platform, check them out!" is not helping either.

Like I said before, It's Sony's fault for the Vita having to rely solely on Japan's 3rd parties and Indie titles because they are not giving other publishers a reason to develop games on the Vita because the way they are marketing the thing.

The Vita and PS TV will not get games like a new Rachet and Clank or the like because they are telling their studios and 3rd parties to focus on making PS4 games and leaving Remote play an option for Vita.

Yeah, exactly. Almost every single game I have on the Vita is basically just playing a console game on a small screen and I would really much rather play them on my TV. The ONLY reason that I buy them on the Vita is because they are exclusive to it and I can't get them elsewhere.

They haven't really made compelling mobile/handheld software, just console games that are shrunken down and I don't think that's much of device seller. If the PlayStation TV and the Vita were released at the same time (and most of the software I cared about worked on the PS TV) I'd have bought the PS TV and never have touched the Vita at all.

Pretty much none of the games that I have on the Vita are games that you can really play on the go. They're games you have to sit down and really put time into. Also, since I'm not part of the train/bus commuter culture, I can't really play on the go to begin with. Either I'm driving or someone else is driving and playing in a car pretty much fucking sucks.
 

klee123

Member
To be honest, I never really bought that many first party games for the PSP and same with the Vita....

If this means SCEJA commissioning more third party Japanese titles on the Vita, then that's fine by me.

Since console development is practically almost dead in Japan, SCEJ needs to focus on the first party development for the PS4.
 
Outside of one game that hasn't been announced for Vita, none of those titles are actually first party. They're all outsourced to independently-owned studios.

well I don't really care if the team who made it is first party or outsourced or not, the important thing is that it got made.

I mean, if Sony announce Dark Cloud 3 for Vita made by Level5, does that not count as support as well? or new Hot Shot Golf for Vita, since it's made claphandz and not someone from Sony first party.
 

Jindrael

Banned
Yeah, exactly. Almost every single game I have on the Vita is basically just playing a console game on a small screen and I would really much rather play them on my TV. The ONLY reason that I buy them on the Vita is because they are exclusive to it and I can't get them elsewhere.

They haven't really made compelling mobile/handheld software, just console games that are shrunken down and I don't think that's much of device seller. If the PlayStation TV and the Vita were released at the same time (and most of the software I cared about worked on the PS TV) I'd have bought the PS TV and never have touched the Vita at all.

Pretty much none of the games that I have on the Vita are games that you can really play on the go. They're games you have to sit down and really put time into. Also, since I'm not part of the train/bus commuter culture, I can't really play on the go to begin with. Either I'm driving or someone else is driving and playing in a car pretty much fucking sucks.

I can understand this way of thinking and of course I can understand your reasoning as well.
What I can't understand is that in my opinion the 3DS is the same but somehow works.
What games are "real" handheld games for the 3DS because I really don't see more of them on that platform.
Do people make one or Pokemon battles on-the-go and just stop then?
Do they fight 3-4 random encounter in Bravely Default and just stop?
Do they go through a few battles in EO?
And let's not talk about Monster Hunter ....
Most games on 3DS aren't really for on-the-go aswell at least I don't see it but of course someone can enlighten me on this one.

Vitas focus on Indie games lends itself a lot more for on-the-go gaming.
But then people don't want indies for the Vita because apparently everyone is screaming for first-party support with big titles.
But those apparently don't sell good aswell when they come out (see Tearaway).

In my opinion there really isn't much anymore that can "save" the Vita for the masses, I personally don't think cutting down on the memory card prices would change much.
I'm not saying that I don't like the Vita, on the contrary, it's is by far this year my must played console and might even edge out PC at the moment.
I love this handheld to death and hate to not see it success like it in my opinion deserves but I'm also realistic.
 

LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
It's been something which has delivered for me and I own tons of games on both PC and Sony platforms. I occasionally pick up the JRPG and the steady flow of cross buy games. I can't say it's meant to ignite sales but the platform is far from bad. I'm doing more on Vita than I've done on any other hand held ever.
 

SeanTSC

Member
Most games on 3DS aren't really for on-the-go aswell at least I don't see it but of course someone can enlighten me on this one.

I feel the exact same way about my 3DS games. I can't think of one that I wouldn't rather play on my WiiU and on my HDTV. Most of my 3DS games are big JRPGs and stuff that I sit down and take time to play. Even my Zelda games and Pokemon.

So yeah, to me it again just sells on software, not it begin a mobile platform.
 

HowZatOZ

Banned
I really want to get a PlayStation Vita now that I have a handful of good games thanks to PS Plus, but the price disparity is just ridiculous in Australia. EB are the only ones who stock the handheld anymore, and their asking price is $188 for a pre-owned one, where as I bought the 2DS for a whopping $140 that included Pokemon X.

I'll probably end up just getting a PlayStation TV, will let me play Vita games and stream PS4 to elsewhere.
 

TheRook

Member
Yeah, exactly. Almost every single game I have on the Vita is basically just playing a console game on a small screen and I would really much rather play them on my TV. The ONLY reason that I buy them on the Vita is because they are exclusive to it and I can't get them elsewhere.

They haven't really made compelling mobile/handheld software, just console games that are shrunken down and I don't think that's much of device seller. If the PlayStation TV and the Vita were released at the same time (and most of the software I cared about worked on the PS TV) I'd have bought the PS TV and never have touched the Vita at all.

Pretty much none of the games that I have on the Vita are games that you can really play on the go. They're games you have to sit down and really put time into. Also, since I'm not part of the train/bus commuter culture, I can't really play on the go to begin with. Either I'm driving or someone else is driving and playing in a car pretty much fucking sucks.
The Playstation/Vita TV is a work of art in a way. If you compare it to other microconsoles or even set-top boxes, it's a pretty cool device that plays games people actually give a shit about.

For the same price point as the Ouya, Amazon fire TV, and Apple TV. The Vita TV is a gaming focused version of those devices. While it can't stream TV and doesn't have a whole hell of alot of other Streaming Services outside of the basic Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon instant video services, it does have Sony's entertainment library which is ok for those who like it. The real appeal is that you can game on it, and play PS1, PSP, and select Vita games on the console with your TV. These game imo are going to be more appealing than your normal Google Play and App Store games, and playing them with a familiar controller only makes it that much better. With the addition of Playstation live to allow Vita owners to stream select PS3 games might entice people to get one.

The real downsides to the Vita TV are the following.
-Not every Vita game natively works on PS:TV.
-Still has the issue with overpriced memory card/sticks.
-Limited appeal

Still though, I think the Vita TV is a cooler device than the previously mentioned, and it's really tempting to non-vita owners too because they can finally play some of those vita games without spending $200 on the handheld but a more easier to swallow $99.
 
I feel the exact same way about my 3DS games. I can't think of one that I wouldn't rather play on my WiiU and on my HDTV. Most of my 3DS games are big JRPGs and stuff that I sit down and take time to play. Even my Zelda games and Pokemon.

So yeah, to me it again just sells on software, not it begin a mobile platform.

one thing I appreciate from Nintendo handheld games are that they're different style from the console counterpart.

there are 3d zelda, mario and metroid games, and then their 2d games are distinctly different. pokemon rpg stays on handheld and console got the spinoff with different playstyle.

Sony on the other hand, God of War, Killzone, and Uncharted portable play very similarly to their console version. with differences is mainly on the story and less scale, which is what give me the feeling that I didn't gain much from the shift to handheld and actually playing a lesser game because of it.

I kept thinking they should differentiate their handheld version by giving different gameplay/genre for a start. Killzone Liberation style of top down view need to come back, Uncharted could have been more focused on adventure and puzzle solving or something, GoW maybe a 2d metroidvania,
 

SeanTSC

Member
one thing I appreciate from Nintendo handheld games are that they're different style from the console counterpart.

there are 3d zelda, mario and metroid games, and then their 2d games are distinctly different. pokemon rpg stays on handheld and console got the spinoff with different playstyle.


Sony on the other hand, God of War, Killzone, and Uncharted portable play very similarly to their console version. with differences is mainly on the story and less scale, which is what give me the feeling that I didn't gain much from the shift to handheld and actually playing a lesser game because of it.

I kept thinking they should differentiate their handheld version by giving different gameplay/genre for a start. Killzone Liberation style of top down view need to come back, Uncharted could have been more focused on adventure and puzzle solving or something, GoW maybe a 2d metroidvania,

I'd still rather play 2D RPGs, Marios, Metroids, and Zeldas on my TV. Just like I did when I was a kid with my NES and SNES. They're still all just console games shrunk down on a little screen, not really "mobile" games.
 

TheRook

Member
I'd still rather play 2D RPGs, Marios, Metroids, and Zeldas on my TV. Just like I did when I was a kid with my NES and SNES. They're still all just console games shrunk down on a little screen, not really "mobile" games.

Then in your definition do you believe is a "mobile" game? -Curious
 

Takao

Banned
well I don't really care if the team who made it is first party or outsourced or not, the important thing is that it got made.

I mean, if Sony announce Dark Cloud 3 for Vita made by Level5, does that not count as support as well? or new Hot Shot Golf for Vita, since it's made claphandz and not someone from Sony first party.

What's the likelihood of either of those actually being announced given SCE's overall outlook on the platform?

The only reason I bring up that distinction is because those projects cost Sony nothing more than money. They don't control those studios, so it's either that project or something else for someone else. They control their internal studios, and the lack of internal projects tells us they don't care.
 

UberTag

Member
Why? All the games I want are being localized, since smaller publishers actually care about Vita.
Most of the good Vita games coming out of Japan are being localised, even Sony's first-party titles.
For the most part this is factually correct. Certainly if you look at the games that have been released thus far in 2014 in Japan, the only notable title that isn't a licensing nightmare that isn't being localized is Puyo Puyo Tetris. And that game's import-friendly.

Even so, we are missing some notable holdouts. Phantasy Star Online 2 is effectively in limbo. Bandai Namco still isn't budging on God Eater 2. XSEED and Falcom are terminally behind on localizing the Kiseki franchise (last week's Ao no Kiseki Evolution will be localized sometime after the year 2020). And we may wind up adding Corpse Party: Blood Drive to that localization wish list next month.
 

SeanTSC

Member
Then in your definition do you believe is a "mobile" game? -Curious

I honestly don't know. I just don't actually have any that feel like something really meant to play outside my home. Whatever I've bought so far from both Nintendo and Sony, none of them is it.

I have quite a few games for how long I've owned the systems. I bought both of them just last year. All of my games though are pretty much RPGs (SMT, Bravely Default, some DS games like The World Ends with You and Radiant Historia, Demon Gaze, Mind Zero, etc), Zelda games, Pokemon, Batman AO Blackgate, PS+ games, etc.

None of them have felt like anything but little console games. So yeah, I don't know how to describe a "mobile" game since I've yet to feel like I've really played one on either the 3DS or the Vita.
 

Maedhros

Member
For the most part this is factually correct. Certainly if you look at the games that have been released thus far in 2014 in Japan, the only notable title that isn't a licensing nightmare that isn't being localized is Puyo Puyo Tetris. And that game's import-friendly.

Even so, we are missing some notable holdouts. Phantasy Star Online 2 is effectively in limbo. Bandai Namco still isn't budging on God Eater 2. XSEED and Falcom are terminally behind on localizing the Kiseki franchise (last week's Ao no Kiseki Evolution will be localized sometime after the year 2020). And we may wind up adding Corpse Party: Blood Drive to that localization wish list next month.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is still coming, the PC/consoles version at least.

No way Corpse Party won't come over.

Kiseki series... well... =(
 
What's the likelihood of either of those actually being announced given SCE's overall outlook on the platform?

The only reason I bring up that distinction is because those projects cost Sony nothing more than money. They don't control those studios, so it's either that project or something else for someone else. They control their internal studios, and the lack of internal projects tells us they don't care.

considering vita sells better than ps4 in japan right now, I'm sure Sony will still be making Vita games, although may not be made by their first party dev and more outsource work
 
Yeah, exactly. Almost every single game I have on the Vita is basically just playing a console game on a small screen and I would really much rather play them on my TV. The ONLY reason that I buy them on the Vita is because they are exclusive to it and I can't get them elsewhere.
If this was actually true, the Vita would be doing better. Sony said when the Vita was announced that we would get console-quality titles on the go. That is what I expected, that is why I bought a Vita. For games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone: Mercenary. Those are the kind of titles that would make a Vita worth owning if there were more of them. If Injustice: Gods Among Us came out at the same time on the Vita as it did on the PS3, I would have only bought the Vita version.

The Vita is lacking on the ports and console-series sequels, which sell. On the PSP my favorite games were SOCOM: Fire Team Bravo 2 (which had a huge online community), Star Wars: Battlefront II, GTA: Liberty/Vice City Stories, and Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. I even loved the port of the King Kong game too. I wanted a Vita to play the same sort of stuff. Instead we get D-level developers making shovelware like Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Resistance: Burning Skies instead of competent ports or new versions of console games.

I would have killed to have a proper Ace Combat, Call of Duty, whatever on the Vita. Big-name ports and sequels are what the Vita should be getting. Mortal Kombat 9, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Killzone: Mercenary, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Borderlands 2, I want more of this. I want to see a full Call of Duty, Battlefield, Assassin's Creed, Bethesda RPG, Bioware RPG, SOCOM, inFAMOUS, Ace Combat, Rockstar title, so on and so forth. Unfortunately, due to lack of an install base we won't be getting them. The Vita is a RemotePlay device first and foremost now.
 

Metallix87

Member
You should realize that people buy Sony handheld not from the same reason people buy Nintendo handheld best selling games on PSP and Vita are console like games,Tearaway is not a console like games but it sold poorly,Loco Roco and Patapon was not console like games but they sold a little.

People aren't buying Sony handhelds, though. At least not in large enough numbers for Sony to justify continued first party support.

As for Tearaway, as I've said before, it's a beautiful game, but very poorly designed. Only the last hour or so is any good, when the platforming is truly refined.
 
I'd still rather play 2D RPGs, Marios, Metroids, and Zeldas on my TV. Just like I did when I was a kid with my NES and SNES. They're still all just console games shrunk down on a little screen, not really "mobile" games.

what I meant to say is that I don't believe the distinction between mobile games and console games matters that much. the reason 3ds sells is not because they had more mobile oriented titles. no, the reason they sell is because to play those 2d rpg, mario, metroid and zeldas, you had to buy the hardware.

it sells because it had exclusive games with unique gameplay experience that can't be had in any other systems.

Sony's misteps is that Vita had exclusive games, but with gameplay experience that are better on other platforms. their market shrink from people that simply like games, to people that prefer their games on handheld device.
 

TheRook

Member
I honestly don't know. I just don't actually have any that feel like something really meant to play outside my home. Whatever I've bought so far from both Nintendo and Sony, none of them is it.

I have quite a few games for how long I've owned the systems. I bought both of them just last year. All of my games though are pretty much RPGs (SMT, Bravely Default, some DS games like The World Ends with You and Radiant Historia, Demon Gaze, Mind Zero, etc), Zelda games, Pokemon, Batman AO Blackgate, PS+ games, etc.

None of them have felt like anything but little console games. So yeah, I don't know how to describe a "mobile" game since I've yet to feel like I've really played one on either the 3DS or the Vita.

I can't really say much to that. In my honest opinion, handheld games should be short or open experiences I can stop at any point and save my progress and pick up and continue at the drop of a hat. I own alot of the games you mentioned and I think they are wonderful handheld games, I see where your coming from because im assuming your a old skool gamer who played alot on the SNES and or Genesis and are used to playing games on a TV and such. Here is where I think our opinions differ though~

The handheld platform itself has no real definitive way in distinguishing it's self from console games. Alot of the games I play on handhelds at one time were a console game or were made for that handheld in mind. Specifically speaking 6th gen Pokemon and Gravity Rush were games that in my opinion took what both platforms had to offer gave the player a truly unique experience your really not going to find anywhere else but on that handheld.

While some handheld games will feel like watered down ports of console games, alot of the really good games are ones designed for that platform and they really standout from the rest. It's just that those games are usually few and far between.
 

Kings fan

Member
:l

Glorified indie / half assed port machine.


What a shame compared to the psp last generation. Doesn't even come close.

This is where you realize Nintendo makes the right decision with their consoles. Games are cheaper to develope due to lower hardware requirements and reach a wider audience because lower price of entry. More 1st party games pumped out due to less resources needed.

Ironically the Vita, as beautiful and powerful machine it is, settling for the indies bullshit that Sony has been milking out on the PS4.

I don't give a fuck about indies. I buy PlayStation for PlayStation games, not pc indie games. What a joke. Won't be able to play many stellar games on my PS4 till next year and practically nothing to look forward to on my vita moving forward.
 

jeremy1456

Junior Member
Sony has never respected their fans in regards to the handheld sector.

They release nice pieces of hardware, barely support and advertise it, and then act surprised when it doesn't sell well.
 

SeanTSC

Member
If this was actually true, the Vita would be doing better. Sony said when the Vita was announced that we would get console-quality titles on the go. That is what I expected, that is why I bought a Vita. For games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone: Mercenary. Those are the kind of titles that would make a Vita worth owning if there were more of them. If Injustice: Gods Among Us came out at the same time on the Vita as it did on the PS3, I would have only bought the Vita version.

The Vita is lacking on the ports and console-series sequels, which sell. On the PSP my favorite games were SOCOM: Fire Team Bravo 2 (which had a huge online community), Star Wars: Battlefront II, GTA: Liberty/Vice City Stories, and Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. I even loved the port of the King Kong game too. I wanted a Vita to play the same sort of stuff. Instead we get D-level developers making shovelware like Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Resistance: Burning Skies instead of competent ports or new versions of console games.

I would have killed to have a proper Ace Combat, Call of Duty, whatever on the Vita. Big-name ports and sequels are what the Vita should be getting. Mortal Kombat 9, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Killzone: Mercenary, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Borderlands 2, I want more of this. I want to see a full Call of Duty, Battlefield, Assassin's Creed, Bethesda RPG, Bioware RPG, SOCOM, inFAMOUS, Ace Combat, Rockstar title, so on and so forth. Unfortunately, due to lack of an install base we won't be getting them. The Vita is a RemotePlay device first and foremost now.

It is true, I only buy games on the Vita because they're exclusive to it.

But I'm going to be honest, the games I buy and love are basically complete shit in most people's minds. Conception 2 is not a system mover to anyone but an extremely niche audience. As another gaffer put it, I bought a lot of "Japanese fap-bait conversions".

Here's a list of my Vita purchases:

Conception 2, Mind Zero, Demon Gaze, Hyperdimension Neptunia: Producing Perfection, Batman Arkham Origins: Black Gate, Muramasa Rebirth, Danganronpa, Persona 4 Golden. Then there's also my PS+ games and PS1 classics. I'm also going to buy Danganronpa 2, Sword Art Online, Tales of Hearts R, and a couple other things I can't remember off the top of my head this year.

Most of that crap *is* all pretty much console games, but really damned niche ones for most of them. And Danganronpa is just a visual novel. Though I will give Danganronpa and HDN:pP credit to them being games that actually felt like stuff I should be playing on the Vita.

And here's my 3DS/DS games: Pokemon X, Radiant Historia, The World Ends With You, Etrian Odyssey Untold, Fire Emblem Awakening, SMT Devil Survivor Overlocked, SMT4, SMT Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, Dragon Quest IX, Dragon Quest VI, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Bravely Default. Also buying Persona Q when it comes out.

Again, all basically games that could be console games and games and I only bought a 3DS to play them, not because the 3DS is special or because I want a mobile platform. I loved playing Zelda: A Link to the Past on my big clunky CRT TV as a kid and I'd love to play a big, high resolution 2D art Zelda in that style on my 60" Plasma as an adult.

Now as to the list of games you'd like to see - I don't want to see a single one of those games on the Vita or 3DS. I want to play all of those series on my PS4. I want to play all the Vita games I've bought on my PS4 or HDTV. Bioware wasting dev time and money on a full fledged RPG for the Vita? Fuck that noise. It'd be just another console game shrunk down to the small screen and something I'd just play on the Vita TV, not the Vita itself.

You have no fucking idea how happy I am that Final Fantasy Type-0 is getting a PS4 port. I am filled with ecstatic GLEE over that.
 

shem935

Banned
Sony come on. You noticed the trend of these big, made to actually play on a tv, games from the first party were not selling well, and that the smaller titles were actually able to make a return on the small investment. You are a big company and want to make the bets with little risk and chance for a big reward. So just take all (yes all) the first party studios and let them each hire 10ish people that could form Naughty Dog Vita, Suckerpunch Vita etc. and spread the risk of making vita games out to all of the first parties. Provide them with a Unity license (cheap, easy to use). They make SMALL games that take a year to year and a half Max to take from conception to finish. This could create a steady deluge of cheap to produce titles that could actually be something special if each of these studios contributed ideas they may not be able to put into a big Ps4 game. They don't need to be 10 million-20million dollar extravaganzas. You yoshida admitted this in the interview that those games aren't suited to a portable experience. Make each cost 1 million ish max and spread the big AAA investment out to these teams. Same budget, more games, better suited to the handheld space, less risk.


I dunno just wanted to toss an idea out. Whatever the indie, port station is acceptable but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth from the disappointment of less first party games and what could have been an amazing handheld.
 

SeanTSC

Member
I can't really say much to that. In my honest opinion, handheld games should be short or open experiences I can stop at any point and save my progress and pick up and continue at the drop of a hat. I own alot of the games you mentioned and I think they are wonderful handheld games, I see where your coming from because im assuming your a old skool gamer who played alot on the SNES and or Genesis and are used to playing games on a TV and such. Here is where I think our opinions differ though~

The handheld platform itself has no real definitive way in distinguishing it's self from console games. Alot of the games I play on handhelds at one time were a console game or were made for that handheld in mind. Specifically speaking 6th gen Pokemon and Gravity Rush were games that in my opinion took what both platforms had to offer gave the player a truly unique experience your really not going to find anywhere else but on that handheld.

While some handheld games will feel like watered down ports of console games, alot of the really good games are ones designed for that platform and they really standout from the rest. It's just that those games are usually few and far between.

Entirely fair that it's my own mindset and upbringing. I was like 4 years old and I think the Christmas of 87 when I got my first console, the NES. And I have been a hardcore console gamer ever since then. That shit is ingrained into me and will likely never leave.
 

LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
That's rough... If I had a Vita I would be pretty mad at this

I've had a Vita since day 1 and I've never felt a lack of stuff to play on top of the steady sales. I actually double dipped on HSG for PS3 back on a sale and was waiting for the Vita version that I bought at retail and then sold to go on sale so stuff like that really extends and adds to what I can do.

Then I got Terraria for Vita and played that with my imported world and character for the first time. It's pretty awesome.

But despite some of the game either being on PC or late ports, I'm always going to look out for those on Vita as they always have some other benefit like cross buy or cross save as well just having them portable.
 
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