Support NeoGAF

[fabricated backlash]

Has anything like this ever happened? You have two of the biggest gaming companies releasing complete comercial turds. Sony with the Vita and Nintendo with the WiiU.

I mean the GC and xBox were no match for the PS2, but they were still somewhat relevant.

I for one am really looking forward to how each of these companies will respond to those situations. I mean, Nintendo will probably just bring back some of their huge IP catalogue, while Sony might hopefully bring in 3rd parties in a huge way.

I don't want either of those plattforms to fail. But it is clear as day that it is on their parent companies to act asap.

 

[PopInnovation]

Sony should be advertising the Vita as a kids first multimedia device; games, camera, music, movies and web browsing. Smaller, easier and cheaper than iPad.

This is actually a really good idea.


But in saying that, like someone above said, ANY marketing even slightly better than what they are doing at this point would be beneficial.

I'm not even sure what segment they are trying to target at the moment? The device is too expensive and complex (imo) for a casual gamer, but then they are pissing off the hardcore gamer with things like only one PSN per memory card (and it's annoying to switch between memory cards). It just seems like they have NO strategy right now.

 

[Medalion]

*looks at OP pictures*

Damn, the Vita is selling like hotcakes!

Can't fool us, we know a great handheld can't fail with all its high-techness!

 

[pelican]

sony better kill this of as quickly as possible.

Great product at the wrong time.

I think you are right. Technically it is great, but it is also the wrong time.

The handheld gaming market is changing, more and more people are happy using their phones or tablets to pass the time while commuting. This makes it a hard sell to convince people to spend £300, plus £50 for a console and memory card. The problem is the Vita is clearly targeted more at the "adult" gamer demographic with disposable income i.e. the owners of the latest iphone, ipad, android phone, or android tablet.

The Vita is the first console I haven't bought Day 1, and I still don't own it. I could go and buy one today without any concern over the price, but I won't. I'm happy with my phone and tablet, plus in reality while I'm quite happy to pay £40 for a PC or "main" console game I won't do so for a portable game to play while on the train or plane.

I can't be the only one who feels the same or the Vita would be a major success.

 

[Seik]

it'll become the atlus/xseed/aksys/nisa system probably.

Bring it.

 

[Tizoc]

When I said 'especially outside of Japan' I meant it.

Ah my bad sorry.
It'd be a real shame if Dragon Quest 8 gets an HD release to WiiU only.

 

[dab0ne]

I think you are right. Technically it is great, but it is also the wrong time.

The handheld gaming market is changing, more and more people are happy using their phones or tablets to pass the time while commuting. This makes it a hard sell to convince people to spend £300, plus £50 for a console and memory card. The problem is the Vita is clearly targeted more at the "adult" gamer demographic with disposable income i.e. the owners of the latest iphone, ipad, android phone, or android tablet.

The Vita is the first console I haven't bought Day 1, and I still don't own it. I could go and buy one today without any concern over the price, but I won't. I'm happy with my phone and tablet, plus in reality while I'm quite happy to pay £40 for a PC or "main" console game I won't do so for a portable game to play while on the train or plane.

I can't be the only one who feels the same or the Vita would be a major success.

Plus no one's heard of it. I tell my friends and family about it and they don't know what it is. They should have called it the PSP2. People know what a PSP is so why change the name? PSP2 would at least market itself with the PSP brand.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

we barely knew ye.

 

[Conor 419]

Feel bad for Pwny, but this is so typical of them to release a stupidly powerful system and hope it sells.

That being said, I feel there's demand for the system, and that a price cut is the best chance it has.

 

[I'M FINISHED!]

So when does the White House petition to save the Vita start?

 

[Nibel]

Let's face it: Vita is dead right now and only some kind of re-launch with fixed prices and exclusive must-have games could help a little bit.

You know what's even worse? If the rumors are true and PS4 will be available in 2013, that means that they'll focus even less on the Vita and put all their money into the PS4.

Will get P4G, EDF, SS etc. for Vita, and I hope that the system will be alive in the next few years. If I can't get many games for it then they should be at least of high quality like P4G.

That Dark Knight quote from Joker when he tells Batman that he has all this power and can't do anything with it - that's him talking about the Vita right there

 

[Ushojax]

I expected the Vita to flop but not to this degree. Less than a year after launch and its already at GameCube circa 2006 levels.

 

[Bumhead]

Stores will stop carrying the Vita in 2013, I've no doubt about it.

There's just too many systems on the market and not enough consumer dollars to justify them all.

It's even worse when you consider the tail older systems retain these days. The arrival of PS4 and 720 isn't going to mean the PS3 and 360 will dissapear. There's still interest in those systems, particularly at the high value proposition they'll inevitably become down the line. That's 4 consoles to sell right off the bat. Then you've got Nintendo retaining the Wii and DS on the market, while trying to increase the profile of the 3DS and with the Wii U out..

Something has got to give.

 

[mxgt]

Frustrates me how Sony have handled the Vita. It's a great piece of hardware with some great games, just a shame they don't seem to care about it.

 

[Toxa]

If the vita dies it's mainly because pretty much everyone wanted to see the vita dead since its announcement.

don't buy it :
vita is expansive
vita had no games ...
all that sorts of crap


The Vita will fulfill its destiny.
A fate announce by the whole gaming community

 

[Principate]

Stores will stop carrying the Vita in 2013, I've no doubt about it.

There's just too many systems on the market and not enough consumer dollars to justify them all.

It's even worse when you consider the tail older systems retain these days. The arrival of PS4 and 720 isn't going to mean the PS3 and 360 will dissapear. There's still interest in those systems, particularly at the high value proposition they'll inevitably become down the line. That's 4 consoles to sell right off the bat. Then you've got Nintendo retaining the Wii and DS on the market, while trying to increase the profile of the 3DS and with the Wii U out..

Something has got to give.

Yeah this sounds about right.

 

[ZenaxPure]

What is weird about this to me is how much space they were giving to the vita anyway. My local walmart (which is pretty big/gets a lot of customers) only has 2 shelves dedicated to the vita. Heck, even the nearby gamestop only has 3 shelves dedicated to the thing, and it's behind the counter at that.

 

[Principate]

If the vita dies it's mainly because pretty much everyone wanted to see the vita dead since its announcement.

don't buy it :
vita is expansive
vita had no games ...
all that sorts of crap


The Vita will fulfill its destiny.
A fate announce by the whole gaming community

Neh if that was the case the wii would have crashed and burned. The vita's doing badly because it's not a good enough value proposition, to the average joes of this world. They want it, and the very least not at that price.

 

[PopInnovation]

Stores will stop carrying the Vita in 2013, I've no doubt about it.

There's just too many systems on the market and not enough consumer dollars to justify them all.

It's even worse when you consider the tail older systems retain these days. The arrival of PS4 and 720 isn't going to mean the PS3 and 360 will dissapear. There's still interest in those systems, particularly at the high value proposition they'll inevitably become down the line. That's 4 consoles to sell right off the bat. Then you've got Nintendo retaining the Wii and DS on the market, while trying to increase the profile of the 3DS and with the Wii U out..

Something has got to give.

Well I don't really think it's about how many systems are out there, but about what Sony do to make the Vita attractive to those who only buy one or two systems. Sony need to answer the question as to why people should buy a Vita over a 3DS - and they are failing horribly at doing that right now.

I find it interesting that people keep mentioning that once PS4 hits, they will focus even less on the Vita. I'm really hoping this isn't the case - I'm hoping it's the opposite. Perhaps the devices will somehow compliment each other, maybe this is what they're waiting for?

Hope, maybe, perhaps... etc.

 

[Bumhead]

Sony should be advertising the Vita as a kids first multimedia device; games, camera, music, movies and web browsing. Smaller, easier and cheaper than iPad.

I think this is a very bad idea, actually.

People can be very quick to dismiss children on this forum, or cast them off as some guaranteed market when everything else has gone wrong. Kid's aren't stupid. If they want a tablet, they'll want a tablet, and a Vita isn't even a remotely passable alternative.

The price point is a false economy as well. A Vita is cheaper than an iPad - although not by much with the mini on the market - but it isn't cheaper than a Nexus 7 or any number of other competing products. And by the time you factor in storage (£30-£40 for 16GB vs 16GB built in, minimum) and the cost of games (£25-40 for Vita games, free/69p/£1.99 etc on iPad), the value proposition of the Vita vs an iPad mini is pathetic.

Kids will see right through it, and that's before you get to the parents who will be spending that money to buy it.

 

[CadetMahoney]

lol @ the "the most insane handheld gaming experience".

It's got Uncharted.

I heard Walmart actually relocated all their Vita games to stores with the highest concentrations of NeoGAF posters nearby.

now this, is just. . .

 

[Principate]

Well I don't really think it's about how many systems are out there, but about what Sony do to make the Vita attractive to those who only buy one or two systems. Sony need to answer the question as to why people should buy a Vita over a 3DS - and they are failing horribly at doing that right now.

I find it interesting that people keep mentioning that once PS4 hits, they will focus even less on the Vita. I'm really hoping this isn't the case - I'm hoping it's the opposite. Perhaps the devices will somehow compliment each other, maybe this is what they're waiting for?

Hope, maybe, perhaps... etc.

Unless they physically combine the two as in bundles I don't see it happening. Typically because the PS4 is expected to be expensive, that things going to be a tough sell anyway in this econimic climate. So people are expecting something is gonna give.

 

[Shadow of the BEAST]

I do imagine it goes beyond kids... which is probably the thing actually: Nintendo's still got a solid stake in the children's market, while anyone older who likes portable gaming is probably more Nintendo leaning anyway as they have the longer, richer portable history and transitioned to the 3DS while the DS could be considered alive. It's a minority that's still willing to grab the Vita or outright prefers it, and wouldn't rather just play higher end games on consoles or use the 3DS for their portable fix.

I dont think 3ds does especially good with older gamers. You just have to look at resident evil revelation. barely sold 350k in europe/us.

the older male or "core" dedicated gaming handheld market is dead. the causal dedicated gaming handheld market is dead.

they are both content with consoles/pc and smartphones.

what is left is the kids market. that is it.

there is no room for vita there.

 

[Bumhead]

Well I don't really think it's about how many systems are out there, but about what Sony do to make the Vita attractive to those who only buy one or two systems. Sony need to answer the question as to why people should buy a Vita over a 3DS - and they are failing horribly at doing that right now.

Sounds like you're reading this situation from the point of view of selling the Vita to the consumer. I'm talking about the point of view of retailers.

Retailers aren't obligated to stock every videogame system just because they exist. They'll stock what makes them money and what justifies the sometimes limited store space. If the Vita isn't selling and isn't worth stocking for retailers, and in an increasingly crowded market that's only going to get busier by this Christmas, they'll drop the Vita faster than you can blink.

 

[Toxa]

Neh if that was the case the wii would have crashed and burned. The vita's doing badly because it's not a good enough value proposition, to the average joes of this world. They want it, and the very least not at that price.

the wii was aiming the casual not the core gamer

 

[Principate]

the wii was aiming the casual not the core gamer

The core gamer was who he was referring to. The core gamer doesn't have the final say, the fact is wasn't you can hardly blame the it failing on people expecting it to fail, when the majority didn't. The didn't really have a negative opinion on it they just didn't hear/didn't see it as a worthwhile purpose, not the same as actively believing it would fail.

 

[AOC83]

I dont think 3ds does especially good with older gamers. You just have to look at resident evil revelation. barely sold 350k in europe/us.

the older male or "core" dedicated gaming handheld market is dead. the causal dedicated gaming handheld market is dead.

they are both content with consoles/pc and smartphones.

what is left is the kids market. that is it.

there is no room for vita there.

That´s exactly the point, the 3DS would be about as dead as the Vita in the west if it weren´t for the < 14 market. Handhelds are mostly a childrens toy in Europe/America and there was only a short period of time(DS/PSP) where this was different.

Everything is now back to normal, there is room for 1 handheld with a sales potential of about 80-100 million (and this happens to be a Nintendo handheld).

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Wait for:

- Gran Turismo
- Price cut
- Redesign

They still have those cards to play.

 

[AOC83]

Wait for:

- Gran Turismo
- Price cut
- Redesign

They still have those cards to play.

The Vita is sold below 250€ pretty much everywhere here in Europe (there were even discounts like 150€+ LBP on Amazon) and it does nothing.

 

[Splint]

Dont worry guys, KILLZONE will save the Vita..

 

[GavinGT]

Wait for:

- Jesus to come back
- Hell to freeze over
- Pigs to fly

 

[Bumhead]

Wait for:

- Gran Turismo
- Price cut
- Redesign

They still have those cards to play.

It doesn't need a redesign, as such. The hardware is fine.

But it does need 8GB bundled in. It does need a price restructure of expansion memory. It does need a drastic price cut of the hardware. Get it down to £129.99 and whatever the dollar conversion of that would be. Have 1 months Plus membership on the box with an app on the OS, seperate from the PSN store, to provide a visible location for Plus downloads, deals and auto renewals. Drop the 3G version.

That's in the short term, and doesn't factor in "must have" new software like a Gran Turismo.

But even then, doing that in my opinion only makes the Vita more appealing to core gamers. If we're at a point where we are already talking about or even seeing stores dropping it, then the horse has already bolted in terms of mass market appeal.

 

[Sanctuary]

This makes me sad. Sony is just letting a piece of hardware with so much fucking potential die a painless death. But look, the 3DS still flourishes and Nintendo is sitting on their asses taking six months to get Animal Crossing translated.

It doesn't make sense. Fuck it.

Dreamcast.

 

[Trike]

whoa look at all those sold games

watch out 3ds

God damn it, it got a laugh out of me.

Edit:

Dreamcast.

Seriously? Vita may die out before it's time, but I don't think it is fair to compare it to the Dreamcast. The Vita compilations rerelease would feature like four games.

 

[Kenshin001]

I think this is a very bad idea, actually.

People can be very quick to dismiss children on this forum, or cast them off as some guaranteed market when everything else has gone wrong. Kid's aren't stupid. If they want a tablet, they'll want a tablet, and a Vita isn't even a remotely passable alternative.

The price point is a false economy as well. A Vita is cheaper than an iPad - although not by much with the mini on the market - but it isn't cheaper than a Nexus 7 or any number of other competing products. And by the time you factor in storage (£30-£40 for 16GB vs 16GB built in, minimum) and the cost of games (£25-40 for Vita games, free/69p/£1.99 etc on iPad), the value proposition of the Vita vs an iPad mini is pathetic.

Kids will see right through it, and that's before you get to the parents who will be spending that money to buy it.

No-one thinks like that though. People just look at the price sticker or buy what's cool. Using your argument no-one would buy the 3DS either since its games cost $35, yet it sold 1.25 million in Dec NPD. The 3DS competes with tablets too. Tablets are too big. The Vita (and 3DS) are a nice size to carry around in a kids backpack/large pocket or use on a train. That's the sort of thing they should be marketing. Older brother/sister can use it too but that shouldn't be the primary focus.

 

[Zoc]

Meh. I've played through two games so far on the Vita (Uncharted and Gravity Rush), and thought they were both really great. There are about six more I want to play, I'm just waiting for them to go on sale or show up on PS Plus.

Sequels for Uncharted and Gravity Rush are both apparently coming, and after I play those and the six others, even if nothing more ever comes out, I'll be satisfied with the system.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Less than a year on the market, already losing retail presence.

Got no chance to stick around this fall if both new consoles hit and need space on the shelves.

 

[Eusis]

I'm guessing the only hope is to very quickly drop the price and create a damn good marketing push for it, probably a remodel to look a bit fresher. Hell, had there been any way to rejuvenate the PSP (bank on 3DS multiplats?) I'd say they should've just rode that until the PS4 came out, THEN prepare for Vita.

But really, with tablets/smartphones filling the high end electronic niche, and consoles filling the high end game experience niche (nevermind PC) there really wasn't much room left but "serious game fans", and that's not really a big enough market.

 

[Oxx]

Has anything like this ever happened? You have two of the biggest gaming companies releasing complete comercial turds. Sony with the Vita and Nintendo with the WiiU.

I mean the GC and xBox were no match for the PS2, but they were still somewhat relevant.

The Gamecube was on very shaky ground in the UK. I seem to recall certain retailers were talking about dropping the console until a price drop in 2003.

And this was after a pre-launch price-cut as well.

 

[fabricated backlash]

The Gamecube was on very shaky ground in the UK. I seem to recall certain retailers were talking about dropping the console until a price drop in 2003.

And this was after a pre-launch price-cut as well.

Yeah but it never went to the point where two out of 3 big competitors had a complete sales turd on their hands no?

 

[Bumhead]

No-one thinks like that though. People just look at the price sticker or buy what's cool. Using your argument no-one would buy the 3DS either since its games cost $35, yet it sold 1.25 million in Dec NPD. The 3DS competes with tablets too. Tablets are too big. The Vita (and 3DS) are a nice size to carry around in a kids backpack/large pocket or use on a train. That's the sort of thing they should be marketing. Older brother/sister can use it too but that shouldn't be the primary focus.

This feels like a post from somebody who has just thawed out of a frozen block for the last 3 years.

Are you suggesting people, even "casuals", view the Vita as a better value proposition than an iPad mini or Nexus 7 on the basis of the initial retail price?

 

[CadetMahoney]

What is weird about this to me is how much space they were giving to the vita anyway.

Don't Sony as a big supplier* have leverage, like "hey, Stock A, so when B comes we'll sort you out something nice". Because it sure isn't based on Vita's performance if market rules where the only influence.

*I don't know.

 

[SirIgbyCeaser]

Woa someone change the sales projections. Anecdotal evidence.

 

[Regulus Tera]

I should get a Vita before it goes out of stock. That OLED screen is pretty sexy.

 

[Kenshin001]

This feels like a post from somebody who has just thawed out of a frozen block for the last 3 years.

Are you suggesting people, even "casuals", view the Vita as a better value proposition than an iPad mini or Nexus 7 on the basis of the initial retail price?

I don't think you get the point I was making and you completely ignored what I said about the 3DS. People who buy an iPad mini are not always the sort of people who buy a Vita or 3DS. The Vita should be marketed as a product that has the same media capabilities as an iPad but is better suited for kids. It's smaller, easier and cheaper. If an iPad breaks it is a big loss. Kids do not weigh up value propositions. Parents want something that will keep the kids occupied while they use their iPads.

 

[elfinke]

Big mistake a lot of people make when looking at a platform's library. The eShop has around 20 3DSWare titles that are worth a look (closer to 70+ counting DSiWare and the VC). In this day and age half a platform's library is digital only. It's also a problem Vita faces.

Ah, this is very true. The buy-it-for-ps3-get-it-for-vita business also weighed on my mind. If I could get a 3DSXL with Mario3D Land for $200 I'd jump in. At the moment it's $50 too much.

 

[kinggroin]

This makes me sad. Sony is just letting a piece of hardware with so much fucking potential die a painless death. But look, the 3DS still flourishes and Nintendo is sitting on their asses taking six months to get Animal Crossing translated.

It doesn't make sense. Fuck it.

Oh quit it. Yes its a shame, but pull your head outta yer ass friend. The 3DS selling better makes sense because its a much more attractive package to more people.

And lets not act like the 3DS doing better means its setting US sales charts on fire either.

 

[Bumhead]

I don't think you get the point I was making and you completely ignored what I said about the 3DS. People who buy an iPad mini are not always the sort of people who buy a Vita or 3DS. The Vita should be marketed as a product that has the same media capabilities as an iPad but is better suited for kids. It's smaller, easier and cheaper. If an iPad breaks it is a big loss. Kids do not weigh up value propositions. Parents want something that will keep the kids occupied while they use their iPads.

But it's not more suitable for kids, and any kid who wants a tablet isn't going to accept being fobbed off with a Vita as an acceptable substitute. If Sony market the Vita as more suitable iPad replacement for children then I think they'll be doing that on the basis of a lie, and an expensive one at that, and I think people will see straight through it.

It's not cheaper to buy a Vita for gaming over an iPad mini. Not even close. I have about 20 games installed on my iPad and the commulative cost is less than the price of one Vita game. And the 16 gigs I have to store them on didn't cost me a penny extra either.

I ignored your point about the 3DS because I didn't feel it was relevant. Nintendo sold 1.25m of them in the US in December? Good numbers, sure. The 3DS is starting to do well on its own strengths. Now, I wonder how many tablets were sold in the US during that same month? Even if you want to break it down to absolute specifics, I wonder how many of those sold tablets currently have games installed on them?

 

[madmackem]

If the vita dies it's mainly because pretty much everyone wanted to see the vita dead since its announcement.

don't buy it :
vita is expansive
vita had no games ...
all that sorts of crap


The Vita will fulfill its destiny.
A fate announce by the whole gaming community

It was very different when they first showed the machine, remember everyone saying damn this machine is going to be $400 etc then they priced it and people thought it was great value. Its a shame how it turned out its a great bit of kit.

 

[EdgeXL]

Didnt help that two of the opening game for the Vita, Wipeout and Unit 13 were litterally the last game those 2 company made before they died.
The Vita killed two companies.

The Vita also murdered BigBig Studios after Little Deviants was finished. It tried to murderer Nihilistic Software after Black Ops: Declassified but the studio was only maimed. It did have to change it's identity though.