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[AranhaHunter]

The interview is better from Takao's link from another thread:

www.ricedigital.co.uk/free-to-play-and-first-party-titles-scej-president-outlines-vitas-future/

SCEJ's Hiroshi Kawano on why the Vita price cut is now, free to play, and a disheartening approach to first party software.

For Kawano, only one of those issues could be resolved directly by SCEJ – and that was the price drop – the amount and types of title available was in the hands of developers and publishers.

Good ol SCEJ, can't develop RPGs or other JP centric games in house eh? I really don't think SCEJ will ever develop AAA games in house the way SCEA and SCEE does. Even partnership with the likes of Marvelous (for SS) and FROM (for DS) are few and far between.

The Soul Sacrifice demo for example has been downloaded by 1 in 5 poeple with a PS Vita so these are very strong titles. The price reduction is to coincide with these releases.

Suggests over 200k people in Japan downloaded the demo. If the demo was good, got people interested, and its multiplayer is addictive, then it means it'll have decent sales

Kawano explained that being one year since launch, Sony have found that people are using their Vitas for a very long time once they’ve bought it. They turn it on an average of three times a day – with lots of connectivity to PSN. So with that in mind, lots of revenue can be recouped via PSN, such is the high level of activity.

Losing money per vita hardware sold now. Hoping to recoup the price from PSN sales.

Kawano felt that releasing 100 titles in 1 year after release was not lower than Sony expected. However, the problem is more to do with the fact that the titles people want to see haven’t been released – and expects this will be resolved this year. Since the two reasons people aren’t buying Vita are price and volume and type of titles – Sony needs to continue talking to game companies, to try to keep releasing titles people want – something Kawano states they are actively doing.

Oh yeah? You're gonna show me Bioshock this year and announce GTA, GT, Battlefield, Gears, Elder Scroll, COD, DQ, MGS, RE, and other games I want to play? I doubt it. I actually have a feeling Killzone is their big Fall title this year for the west and FFX HD port is their big Fall title for Japan.

Many people feel that the lack of First Party games like Gran Turismo could be an issue – but Kawano feels this is not entirely true. Explaining that first party games tend to do better on home console rather than handheld – but Sony are trying to promote cross platform play where games can be played on both formats.

Really encouraging words there, Kawano. No GT, your biggest IP. Not only that, but you're not developing any new IPs to take advantage of the vita. And sony is kinda promoting cross platform play, Killzone Mercenaries should be cross playable with Killzone 3 on some maps/objectives.

He went on to say that, on Playstation, it’s traditionally been third party games that prove the attraction – not the first party games that take the lead.

Yep, SCEJ is NEVER developing AAA game experiences like SCEA and SCEE. Sad, but true.

Not everything will shift to free to play. Big titles have have big price tags attached – some games deserve different prices. It important to have flexibility in price. PlayStation must always challenge – to try new things.

Yeah, a game like Smart As should be $10, at the very most, off PSN, not $30 at retail.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

You're releasing a new console this year

You should probably focus more on that instead on a zombie handheld

Disagree.

 

[DCX]

Wow, I could not disagree more. How big can it get before it's no longer a handheld?!

Agreed. The same could be said about tablets and phones. Five inch phones and 10" tablets should be the max.

When you release a phone that needs a secondary phone to make calls there is a problem.

DCX

 

[daxgame]

"maybe we’re a little behind the numbers we originally pictured"

ahahahah oh lord

 

[liger05]

"maybe we’re a little behind the numbers we originally pictured"

ahahahah oh lord

lol

 

[KalBalboa]

You're releasing a new console this year

You should probably focus more on that instead on a zombie handheld

What's your point, exactly? That Sony shouldn't support the Vita whatsoever? They've been known to have two or three simultaneous platforms selling at once, you know.

Considering the Vita is a year old and has software still hitting it, I can't begin to understand where you're coming from on this.

 

[grimshawish]

Problem is every week the don't have the software to sell the console; the 3DS is getting more and more games.

He is right in what he says so at least Sony isn't entirely blind.

 

[EVIL]

:lol

I hope the event today is all about the Orbis, not the Vita.

it will be about the ps3, vita, and orbis.

Just like all Playstation meetings, its about the Playstation brand, not a single device. They do spend most time on a device they are revealing, like the vita in 2011.

 

[AranhaHunter]

When was the last few big, non indie game announced for vita?

Vita is getting a lot of indie announcements and games lately, which is welcome, but no big, system selling games.

 

[coldfoot]

Wow, I could not disagree more. How big can it get before it's no longer a handheld?!

A handheld is a device that doesn't make any money unless it has phone functionality.
A tablet is a device that has the potential to make lots of money, especially one with gaming controls.

 

[HueyFreeman]

it will be about the ps3, vita, and orbis.

Just like all Playstation meetings, its about the Playstation brand, not a single device. They do spend most time on a device they are revealing, like the vita in 2011.

It's kind of an annoying feature of their press conferences actually. Given they recently retired the PS2 too, I imagine it will get mentioned. Still, head shaking and what not.

But where's the mystery here? The vita's not selling well, Sony's dropping the price. Did this question really need to be asked by Edge?

 

[Sipowicz]

What's your point, exactly? That Sony shouldn't support the Vita whatsoever? They've been known to have two or three simultaneous platforms selling at once, you know.

Vita isn't selling, or rather it is selling at sub-dreamcast levels

better to focus on a platform that has a chance of selling well for both business reasons and the fact they will reach more consumers

dedicating resources to the vita will be nice for the tiny number of people who actually bought one. but for those of us smart enough to avoid the vita it's just annoying, and we outnumber vita owners by a lot

 

[Mael]

Many people feel that the lack of First Party games like Gran Turismo could be an issue – but Kawano feels this is not entirely true. Explaining that first party games tend to do better on home console rather than handheld – but Sony are trying to promote cross platform play where games can be played on both formats.

Well pack it up, Vita is officially done, if Sony can't be arsed to develop games why should 3rd parties pick up the slack?
They probably don't even see it as anything but a fancy perpheral to their home console.

 

[Pachterballs]

Vita isn't selling, or rather it is selling at sub-dreamcast levels

better to focus on a platform that has a chance of selling well for both business reasons and the fact they will reach more consumers

dedicating resources to the vita will be nice for the tiny number of people who actually bought one. but for those of us smart enough to avoid the vita it's just annoying, and we outnumber vita owners by a lot

vita 35k
wiiU 55k

maybe nintendo should focus on 3DS.

there's your logic.

 

[FlutterPuffs]

Love the Vita, and bought it knowing that it could be dead by the end of this year. Still having a portable psx/psp/ occassional Vita games should be worth it.

I wouldn't write off Sony's chance though. They managed to make the PS3 a success after the disastrous first 2 years so here's hoping they could do the same thing. It's an extremely slim chance, but it's still there.

 

[BadWolf]

You're releasing a new console this year

You should probably focus more on that instead on a zombie handheld

Have you seen the Japanese charts? Handhelds have taken over there, for that reason alone I can see them continue to try and make the Vita work.

They don't have to beat the 3DS, they just have to sell enough to carve out a niche for the system so that it can exist side by side with it.

 

[Dragon]

There can be two life forms, no need to choose one.

Now now, false dichotomies are very common on the internet!!

 

[metalslimer]

vita 35k
wiiU 55k

maybe nintendo should focus on 3DS.

there's your logic.

No if the Vita was half of the entire Sony conglomerate's business it would be the same logic. As it stands no one in the mainstream media would even notice if Vita disappeared.

 

[Laguna]

Kawano is the head of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. I suggest you take a look at the sales of recent home consoles in that region.

Why? It sells worse than the 7 year old PS3 and WiiU and this in the handheld loving Japan.

 

[KalBalboa]

Vita isn't selling, or rather it is selling at sub-dreamcast levels

better to focus on a platform that has a chance of selling well for both business reasons and the fact they will reach more consumers

dedicating resources to the vita will be nice for the tiny number of people who actually bought one. but for those of us smart enough to avoid the vita it's just annoying, and we outnumber vita owners by a lot

Maybe they'd like to sell some more Vitas. When a product is floundering you act.

And, again, Sony can handle multiple products.

 

[Axiology]

Jesus Christ, enough with these weird price moves, Sony...

 

[Pachterballs]

well, the upcoming mediacreate will be interesting. The sony vita price drop might do wonders for vita... and ... no amount of nintendo direct now can fix wiiU's situation in the short term.

 

[Maedhros]

When was the last few big, non indie game announced for vita?

Vita is getting a lot of indie announcements and games lately, which is welcome, but no big, system selling games.

Binding of Isaac, Hotline Miami, Lone Survivor...

Supposedly, there's more to come soon.

 

[metalslimer]

well, the upcoming mediacreate will be interesting. The sony vita price drop might do wonders for vita... and ... no amount of nintendo direct now can fix wiiU's situation in the short term.

Er...what does Wii U have to do with this topic?

 

[BadWolf]

well, the upcoming mediacreate will be interesting. The sony vita price drop might do wonders for vita... and ... no amount of nintendo direct now can fix wiiU's situation in the short term.

Very curious to see how the price drop and the release of Soul Sacrifice will effect the sales. The the new 32 memory card bundle was also a very smart move.

 

[Mael]

I love how people are acting like Joe Gamer enter a store and see a Vita look at the price of the mem cards and decide that it's just not for him but if only that was cheaper he would have bought one and told all his friends how awesome it is and now all his friends would be Vita addicts somehow.

 

[Sipowicz]

vita 35k
wiiU 55k

maybe nintendo should focus on 3DS.

there's your logic.

depends if nintendo can pull it back (i seriously doubt they can). sony can not

but yes focusing on successful products might be a sound strategy. maybe if sony took heed of it they wouldn't be circling the drain or closing developers left and right

 

[Pachterballs]

I love how people are acting like Joe Gamer enter a store and see a Vita look at the price of the mem cards and decide that it's just not for him but if only that was cheaper he would have bought one and told all his friends how awesome it is and now all his friends would be Vita addicts somehow.

um, did you miss all the wtf is wrong with the price gouging "mem card" prices posts? Console pricing dropping is one thing but they also really need to drop the price on the mem cards.

a vita w PS+ is incredible.

 

[Jackano]

We have the new price down; now it’s time for software.

Simply hilarious. More than one year on the market and FINALLY it's time for software!
Well, you can rejoice vita owners, for sony it's now time to give you games. Because it was not until now!

 

[deviljho]

They should announce their own version of X and show rough game footage

 

[Pachterballs]

depends if nintendo can pull it back (i seriously doubt they can). sony can not

but yes focusing on successful products might be a sound strategy. maybe if sony took heed of it they wouldn't be circling the drain or closing developers left and right

what does closing developers have to do with vita? A lot of them were on consoles.

they however did produce titles for PS3 and that platform, yes did have 3rd party games.

They don't have vita games, and yes, because all their 1st+2nd parties are doing PS4. So some 3rd parties are doing games targeted at the japanese market. I think that's what it needs. I think the price drop will definitley help it.

depends if nintendo can pull it back (i seriously doubt they can). sony can not

um, what.. so they're both doomed

 

[DaBoss]

What an offense, we don't know what's coming beyond Q1. That puts a lot of confidence...

 

[Joe White]

The other points are completely irrelevant until you correct the first two.

That is true.

 

[Mael]

um, did you miss all the wtf is wrong with the price gouging "mem card" prices posts? Console pricing dropping is one thing but they also really need to drop the price on the mem cards.

The hardware makers are making a killing on accessories, the memcard prices doesn't feel so much more egregious to me than all the BS we had to suffer for the whole gen.
If someone saw a game they REALLY want to play on Vita, I doubt they'll care that much on the price of the mem cards considering the price of admission to begin with.

a vita w PS+ is incredible.

I like owning the games I pay for thank you very much.

 

[Pachterballs]

Simply hilarious. More than one year on the market and FINALLY it's time for software!
Well, you can rejoice vita owners, for sony it's now time to give you games. Because it was not until now!

there's plenty of software. You'd know it if you owned a vita. You can have a pretty kickarse portable device with JSR+Sly4+hotlinemiami+all sorts of shit on it, just by getting it. Its grossly underrated.

And all those games on 1 high capacity memcard too.

What an offense, we don't know what's coming beyond Q1. That puts a lot of confidence...

what?

 

[coldfoot]

You know, Sony wouldn't be losing money on the Vita hardware if only they made it a phone and sold it with a contract.

 

[hwy_61]

A handheld is a device that doesn't make any money unless it has phone functionality.
A tablet is a device that has the potential to make lots of money, especially one with gaming controls.

IPod touch? 3DS?

Also, you need to reevaluate your definition of tablets, last I checked, iPads are the only tablet ruling the market, and it doesn't come with gaming controls.

 

[saichi]

Maybe they'd like to sell some more Vitas. When a product is floundering you act.

And, again, Sony can handle multiple products.

what were they doing in 2012?

 

[Mael]

what were they doing in 2012?

They probably saw the way Nintendo reacted and thought that there's no way they're doing the same.
Heck look at how humiliating the whole price cut ordeal went for Nintendo (pay cuts and public apologies after all as well as free gifts).
I mean they probably didn't want that to happen and had to carry on for the year.
IDK but I'm trying.

 

[DaBoss]

what?

Games. We don't know any games beyond Q1. That means it isn't a good offense they have.

 

[Lord Ghirahim]

I'd rather have an explanation for the memory card prices. No space = no impulse buying.

 

[DCX]

I hope the vita survives..I love it

DCX

 

[coldfoot]

IPod touch? 3DS?

The first one is marketed as a media player, hence the iPod name. And it's a product that's been stagnant or declining at Apple. The 3DS isn't really making money outside of Japan. Certainly not enough to save Nintendo.

Also, you need to reevaluate your definition of tablets, last I checked, iPads are the only tablet ruling the market, and it doesn't come with gaming controls.

That's because it has the apps and came out first. No one has seriously attempted to make a gaming tablet yet with the requisite quality software to go along with it. The iPad is the closest match.

 

[tmarques]

How hackable is the Vita at this point?

 

[Byakuya769]

Funny then that they've yet to demonstrate this ability. Even Nintendo has trouble getting the hang of it really.

Wii and DS? SNES and Gameboy?

What metrics are people working off of? Total domination in both spheres or complete and total failure?

 

[Mael]

How hackable is the Vita at this point?

That's probably the missing link on why the Vita is doing so much worse than the psp,
not even hackers care about hacking the thing to get freebees.
Heck that's why people didn't buy any psp software to begin with, Vita probably sell as much software anyway, which would indicate that mass piracy was never the problem of the psp but merely that the offer wasn't interesting enough to warrant a purchase.

 

[Sipowicz]

um, what.. so they're both doomed

yes. that sounds about right

 

[Pachterballs]

That's probably the missing link on why the Vita is doing so much worse than the psp,
not even hackers care about hacking the thing to get freebees.
Heck that's why people didn't buy any psp software to begin with, Vita probably sell as much software anyway, which would indicate that mass piracy was never the problem of the psp but merely that the offer wasn't interesting enough to warrant a purchase.

or it could be that ps3+vita are both kind of unhackable.

?

that's my impression anyhow.

 

[Mael]

or it could be that ps3+vita are both kind of unhackable.

?

that's my impression anyhow.

ps3...we saw how well that went.
Still the Vita not being hacked is probably why it won't do psp numbers anyway.
Unless all these people that bought psp ground it to dust to put in their meal or something.

 

[ProfessorMoran]

http://www.edge-online.com/news/scej-boss-explains-vita-price-cut/



not dead yet duckroll...

+ of course, he conveniently sidesteps the monhun issue

It really needs the pick-up-and-play types of game, my wife downloaded sunflowers and I spent the bulk of my time with the vita with it, same as alien blob attacks, it's games like those, the ones you can just sit and play for 10-15 minutes a pop, those are the ones that really make sense, as much as I like games like Uncharted and I absolutely love Gravity Daze, they're too involved, well Gravity Daze less so as the missions are more compact, it's just the nature of the beast, you can't have handheld games with massive hour-long campaigns, it makes it hard to just pick it up again after not playing for awhile.

Lowering the price should make a decent impact and build a bit of momentum but the main problem is type of content available, when faced with buying a game on the PS3 and the same one on the vita, the PS3 will almost always win out.