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VITA: Retail Musings Edition

Went to a GameStop on the 23rd and there were about four people in line for Vita. They didn't look like they were together either. Guy at the register said sales were pretty steady but nothing amazing... looks like a solid launch so far?
 

Poker360

Member
I went to gamestop looking for a demo unit... Apparently none of the 3 gamestops in my city have any demo units and the manager said they probably won't get one for "another year" because they weren't really trying to push sales for it.

Gamestop....


True story.
 

LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
My GS had about 20 pre-orders but the morning I showed up, I was the only one waiting. Fine by me as I wanted to get in and out.

I guess I should note that this was for the FEB and not the Wifi/3G launch on the 22nd. Not sure about the overall numbers or musings yet after the FEB numbers and post launch.
 
My gamestop had a demo unit, and it pretty much confirmed what I already thought, great piece of tech, nothing that really interest me outside of Gravity Rush/Daze which isn't a launch title. I will eventually pick up a vita the hardware is solid enough to warrant a purchase, but there needs to be more compelling software before I invest.
 

matmanx1

Member
My local Gamestop sold about 40 units so far according to the manager. Pretty busy store though that gets a ton of foot traffic.
 

Petrichor

Member
Over the last five or so years I've noticed a trend with these threads:

GAF retail musings: Sony consoles doing well

NPD: Sony consoles not doing very well

So I'll reserve judgement for now.
 

BosSin

Member
I must give Sony credit, they've pretty much improved on most the things people complained about with the PSP

- the analogue nubs sucked: analogue sticks
- one analogue is no good: dual analogue
- the d-pad was mushy and sucky: awesome d-pad
- load times: cartridges

and they've added a whole load of other shit: two touch-interfaces, cameras etc
 

KorrZ

Member
Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.
 

Piggus

Member
I go to a pretty small university and there are quite a few people with Vitas already. Even when I got the FEB there were about 7 or 8 others found by NEAR day one.
 

Takao

Banned
Over the last five or so years I've noticed a trend with these threads:

GAF retail musings: Sony consoles doing well

NPD: Sony consoles not doing very well

So I'll reserve judgement for now.

IIRC the PSPgo musing thread painted a pretty accurate picture, lol.

:(

Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.

Yes, because if it does so badly it needs an emergency price cut you better believe developers will have already begun to abandon ship.
 

Noirulus

Member
Over the last five or so years I've noticed a trend with these threads:

GAF retail musings: Sony consoles doing well

NPD: Sony consoles not doing very well

So I'll reserve judgement for now.

How true. Some of them are pretty accurate but the mileage varies by a lot.
 
Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.

250 seems fair to me for all the tech crammed into this thing. I really want to play with one first though. Anyone know if Best Buy has demo versions out?
 

antonz

Member
Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.

I think its a realistic situation sadly. I think they made a huge mistake software wise. We see people on gaf rushed out and buying 5-9 titles at launch. They should have broken up the launch titles more. Next major title is in like April or May after MLB 12.

They have a 3DS situation coming. Can they afford the price cut though.Wish they had MLB 12 at launch rather than Fifa though. Would have made a hell of alot more sense.
 

BosSin

Member
Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.

I reckon Sony wouldn't have it in them to make the right decision i.e. wouldn't hold my breath for a price drop even if it was doing poorly
 
I must give Sony credit, they've pretty much improved on most the things people complained about with the PSP

- the analogue nubs sucked: analogue sticks
- one analogue is no good: dual analogue
- the d-pad was mushy and sucky: awesome d-pad
- load times: cartridges

and they've added a whole load of other shit: two touch-interfaces, cameras etc

shame they didn't address the no games situation.



i kid man
 

Shiggy

Member
Haven't heard anything about VITA sales yet, is Sony actually promoting the platform in Europe/Germany? I only noticed that it must've launched as my father sent a launch video from a news website to me.
 

Takao

Banned
I think its a realistic situation sadly. I think they made a huge mistake software wise. We see people on gaf rushed out and buying 5-9 titles at launch. They should have broken up the launch titles more. Next major title is in like April or May after MLB 12.

They have a 3DS situation coming. Can they afford the price cut though.Wish they had MLB 12 at launch rather than Fifa though. Would have made a hell of alot more sense.

Unit 13 is March 6.

As for FIFA vs. MLB - they're going to launch on Vita and PS3 simultaneously. PSP was also a dead platform in the US, where as it has something resembling a pulse in Europe. Makes sense to target Europe even a bit.
 
From Wednesday until yesterday all the Gamestops were sold out of Vitas in downtown Toronto. They did receive daily restocks but by midday they would be sold out. Also Futureshop was sold out of Vitas by 6pm on Wednesday evening.

That was my anecdotal experience.
 

Thoraxes

Member
I've seen nobody with a Vita in public, and I ride public transportation in Chicago daily riding with a few thousand+ people on the Metra and CTA, and also still see a ton still in stores.
 

theBishop

Banned
I went to gamestop looking for a demo unit... Apparently none of the 3 gamestops in my city have any demo units and the manager said they probably won't get one for "another year" because they weren't really trying to push sales for it.

Gamestop....


True story.

Digital distribution is scary.
 
When I used NEAR last night there were 6 Vitas picked up within 0.5 km in my low-mid class neighbourhood. More than i expected.
 

Thoraxes

Member
I'm not taking my vita to public. Are you insane? This beauty belongs to me and me only.

lIdmM.jpg


That being said though, I only really use my handheld systems on the Metra. The CTA is too shady and I don't wanna get mugged.
 

SgtCobra

Member
I've seen nobody with a Vita in public

Give it more time, this thing has just been released, believe it or not but I haven't seen someone in public playing with a 3DS yet IRL.

Here where I live they have sold less than 50 units (a store called E-Plaza) I live in a small town which has 4 stores where they sell the Vita, so this doesn't mean that much.
 

whitehawk

Banned
I went to pick up a Vita at an EBGames but they only had pre-order units... :( Wait what? Why do they still have pre-order units 3 days after launch? Who pre-orders a system and doesn't pick it up on day 1? Or even day 2?
 

Baconbitz

Banned
IIRC the PSPgo musing thread painted a pretty accurate picture, lol.

:(



Yes, because if it does so badly it needs an emergency price cut you better believe developers will have already begun to abandon ship.

3DS pricecut and I don't see devs abandoning ship?
 

yencid

Member
there was about 20 people at the midnight launch of my gamestop.

and around my area on Near there are about 200 people now.

I live up on the bronx, around 180th to give you an image.
 

MYE

Member
Almost no one knows about this system in my country.
Pretty shocking considering it is one of the last sonyland territories in the world. Its a small market but Sony fucked up big time.
 

AgentP

Thinks mods influence posters politics. Promoted to QAnon Editor.
I went to pick up a Vita at an EBGames but they only had pre-order units... :( Wait what? Why do they still have pre-order units 3 days after launch? Who pre-orders a system and doesn't pick it up on day 1? Or even day 2?

People who changed their minds, you don't have to pay for it until you pick it up except like a $5 reserve which can be used for something else?
 

Grimmy

Banned
3DS pricecut and I don't see devs abandoning ship?

That's because Nintendo will always have Mario and Mario Kart. Sales will inevitably pick up. They will never have a disaster of a console, so 3rd parties know they won't have to wory about developing for it.

Sony, on the other hand, relies nearly completely on 3rd party, especially for the Vita. If 3rd party abandons the machine, it's dead.

Is it bad that I wish it starts off poorly so it price drops quickly? I want one so bad t.t not for $250 though.

By that time you won't need to buy it at all because there won't be games coming out for it anymore.
 
my gamestop guy was annoyed because he asked if I wanted any games and I said no, I'm just going to download them from the playstation store.
 

Soi-Fong

Member
I've seen nobody with a Vita in public, and I ride public transportation in Chicago daily riding with a few thousand+ people on the Metra and CTA, and also still see a ton still in stores.

Lol Then you havent seen me yet. Haha I've been playing with my Vita nonstop in the Metra. Dont take itoutin the CTA though.
 

Piggus

Member
my gamestop guy was annoyed because he asked if I wanted any games and I said no, I'm just going to download them from the playstation store.

I don't think game stores make much (if any) on console sales. The Play-n-Trade that my friend worked for didn't make anything on system sales and actually lost money in some cases.
 
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