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Is Support For VITA already dying? [Use the new thread]

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Nintendo is so smalltime that they had no choice but to reveal those first party exclusives to keep their system alive, Sony can afford a few surprises here and there.

Remember, Nintendo had stockholders backing-out around this time last year.

They may be "smalltime" but at the very least they announced some promising titles people actually care about. It also doesn´t make much sense holding back if your system is selling as bad as Vita right now, especially "Vita Heaven" (obviously they felt the need to react due to their lackluster performance) lead some people into thinking they actually don´t have much up their sleeve. That´s not exactly a very brilliant way to establish a new system.
 
I don't know about Monster Hunter (hopefully one is coming), but it would help if Namco released another Gods Eater game. God Eater Burst was a good, if flawed, game that appealed to a lot of Monster Hunter fans. It did good numbers in Japan.

And anyway I think it's easy to reach back and look at past franchises that helped move units, regardless of the platform being examined. But what about totally new break out hits? Gravity Rush was great but it seems like it failed to spark a lot of interest in Japan... well, enough to sell Monster Hunter numbers.

Maybe all that is needed is for a developer to come up with a concept that can only be achieved adequately on the Vita ... considering the Vita's unique combination of hardware features like the front & back touch surface, dual analogue, dual cameras, etc., there's a lot that can be accomplished on it that can't on other platforms.
 
I just bought a Vita yesterday so I hope support isn't dying.

After getting home with it yesterday evening I couldn't put it down until bedtime. I think it's an amazing piece of hardware and I'll be sad if it doesn't catch on.

I'm planning on picking up Gravity Rush, MGS HD collection, and Persona 4 whenever they all hit America. Here's to hoping.
 
All it needed was Monster Hunter, that's it, that's fucking it. Instant PSP level success.

Capcom could have asked for a share of hardware sales and Sony would still have to cave.


Once the system crashes at any point in time, people will over-think and complicate what Sony did wrong and what Nintendo did right.

No MH, no success. Period.

Neh there's several factors as the why the Vita is doing so badly it's MH is one of them but's not the main. Even if it had a multiplat Monhun it will still be doing pretty carp in japan just not as badly. For starters there's the $250 plus memory card price tag, which a multiplat Mon alone wouldn't get people in droves to buy it especially if it doesn't makes good use of the systems specs (which would be expensive for Capcom). Then you have the lack of true backwards compatibility to and the majority f Japanese buyers most probably bought retail versions of their PSP games which means the Vita is essentially competing against the PSP which has a far high install base, library and third party support. Then you have the demographic issues as who the PS Vita is aimed at is not the same people who bought the PSP and the fact it launch with mostly western orientated games didn't help that.

Basically the Japanese launch of the Vita was a clusterfuck.
 
The Vita is all about the games, with the right games released this can be an awesome system, i hope to see more old school simple games but with better gameplay and visual looking(Sunset riders, Shinobi 2, Bad dudes, Final fight, more).
 
Nintendo is so smalltime that they had no choice but to reveal those first party exclusives to keep their system alive, Sony can afford a few surprises here and there.

Remember, Nintendo had stockholders backing-out around this time last year.

Nintendo... smalltime?
 
This is what Sony released way back in 2011 for third party support:

Japan:

Arika Co.,Ltd.
Crafts & Meister Co.,Ltd.
Cyberconnect2 Co.,Ltd.
Enterbrain, Inc.
Fromsoftware, Inc.
Genki Co.,Ltd.
Grasshopper Manufacture, Inc.
Hamster Corporation
Idea Factory Co., Ltd.
Snk Playmore Corporation
Tomy Company,Ltd.
Tose Co., Ltd.
Yuke’s Co., Ltd.

North America:

Epic Games Inc.
Frima Studio
High Voltage Software
Paramount Digital Entertainment
Powerhead Games

Europe:

Avalanche Studios
Climax Studios Ltd
Eurocom Developments Ltd
Eutechnyx Ltd
Gusto Games Ltd
Home Entertainment Suppliers PTY Ltd
Impromptu Software Ltd
Rebellion
Rockstar Games

Games are coming.
Removed the devs who have already released or announced Vita projects in the interim (or "died" like Hudson and IREM). These lists tend not to mean much though, before Virtual Boy launched Nintendo released a list including over 40 Japanese companies producing content for it, including names like Capcom, Konami, Namco, Taito, Square and Enix.
 
All it needed was Monster Hunter, that's it, that's fucking it. Instant PSP level success.

Capcom could have asked for a share of hardware sales and Sony would still have to cave.


Once the system crashes at any point in time, people will over-think and complicate what Sony did wrong and what Nintendo did right.

No MH, no success. Period.

Sony has been very outspoken about "not buying" exclusivity. But considering Monster Hunter was the driving lifeforce of the PSP, Im fucking flabbergasted Sony let it go. I wouldve just paid up at least for timed exclusivity.

They seem confident, but they're just adding more obstacles to hinder their succes.
 
If Sony had any 2012 games worth showing, they would already have done so, just like Nintendo did. We knew about 3D Land, Mario Kart, Kid Icarus, etc well before E3. I would imagine most of the Vita titles we see at E3 will be fore 2013 onwards.

Why would Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, and Bioshock be shown off on some website?
 
Thread is depressing for what is essentially my favorite handheld of all time T___T

I'm hoping for an awesome E3, 'cause the hardware is awesome as fuck from what I've seen. I really want a Vita, but the lack of games I give a shit about makes it completely pointless.

Uncharted is the only exclusive I want. I was hyped for Modnation Races before the no online multiplayer news hit, now I'd be pissed to receive it as a gift. Ninja Gaiden would be cool, but I've already played it. Final Fantasy Tactics on it gives me warm tingly feelings that I have to suppress because that seems like the most irrational thing ever since I've played and bought that game a few times already.

So yeah, hope for an awesome E3.

Why would Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, and Bioshock be shown off on some website?

Original versions of these shown at e3 with real details and release windows, and I'll buy a fucking Vita. Throw in a Metal Gear and Final Fantasy (not the X up-res) and I'll buy two.
 
'Limited ambitions'?

I'm sure it has the same 'ambitions' as any other system, it's just unlikely to achieve the unit sales we typically saw from new handhelds prior to the explosion of iOS / Android gaming. I would hope Sony were aware of that prior to launch.

I think 3rd parties will support anything they can make a profit on. For now, that includes the Vita. Who knows if that will be the case this time next year.

Do we know that includes the Vita? Maybe for ports if the optimisation effort isn't too long, but sales seem to have started badly and fallen off a cliff. Is the install base there for third parties? That's what I'm getting at.

In what way are they 'shooting for the moon'?

Sub-par hardware, sub-par online, software droughts, bugger all except the 2 Mario titles worth looking at. If that's 'shooting for the moon' then I'll stick to the systems with their feet on the floor. The software sales aren't much to shout about either, for 3rd parties.

Neither of these new handhelds deserves any real degree of success. The 3DS is mediocrity in a plastic shell and the Vita is the victim of piss-poor planning and a failure to follow the market.

Shooting for the moon in terms of how they've handled the machine post the botched, premature launch. The massive price cut, the all-hands-on-deck development of the two Mario games, the Monster Hunter deal, etc.

To bring in the punters, you need the software and to get the software you need the punters for them to sell to. It's a catch 22. But it's one that Nintendo can fix by having in house, system-selling software. Sony, sadly, don't have the franchises that draw like that. They'll always rely on third parties.
 
But Uncharted isn't a system seller. It never was, and neither is LBP.

Right, but multiple titles together have ALWAYS sold Sony systems. Outside of GT, they've never had ONE title that made people go out and buy PS systems. It has always been about the big selection of titles they have under their "umbrella".
 
Do we know that includes the Vita? Maybe for ports if the optimisation effort isn't too long, but sales seem to have started badly and fallen off a cliff. Is the install base there for third parties? That's what I'm getting at.
I see. It's certainly shaky. The PSP didn't exactly provide solid foundations even if it sold respectfully for a non-Ninty handheld. I think it'll limp by on 360 / PS3 downports and iPad / Android up-ports until it eventually finds its own feet. That's pure speculation though. It wouldn't surprise me too much to see the system go belly up after two years.

Shooting for the moon in terms of how they've handled the machine post the botched, premature launch. The massive price cut, the all-hands-on-deck development of the two Mario games, the Monster Hunter deal, etc.

To bring in the punters, you need the software and to get the software you need the punters for them to sell to. It's a catch 22. But it's one that Nintendo can fix by having in house, system-selling software. Sony, sadly, don't have the franchises that draw like that. They'll always rely on third parties.
Ah yes, I agree they've rebounded extremely well. I was thinking a little too narrow, only the hardware itself. What they have done to turn the hardware around has been great and I think they're probably pleased with the results, all things considered.
 
Here's a big difference. Nintendo was attempting to sell the 3DS in their typical way, with a profit. But $250 is too much. So now Nintendo is selling this console the same way those other companies always sell their consoles...at a loss.

But Sony already is selling at a loss at $250. So where do they go from here? Drop the price and take massive losses?

Too much technology for too much price. It's a super impressive piece of tech, but it's not really priced competitively because it's built beyond any other handheld before it. It's built to give you a near perfect current gen console experience in your hands.

The question is, is there a market for a really expensive console experience in your hands?
 
Right, but multiple titles together have ALWAYS sold Sony systems. Outside of GT, they've never had ONE title that made people go out and buy PS systems. It has always been about the big selection of titles they have under their "umbrella".
That's exactly how I feel. Sony systems have always offered a huge selection of great titles from both first and third parties. Their first party games are all very strong and tend to release in much greater numbers than those of Nintendo. I feel as if Sony delivered a whole slew of great titles on day 1 with more support in the future.
 
only a few months after release? lol

Happened to both the 3DS and original iPhone. Even the PS3 saw a price cut at like 7 months after launch.

Has there ever been a system in history that had no software after the launch period?

Bit of a joke of course... but there was one:

supergrafx1c.jpg
 
Right, but multiple titles together have ALWAYS sold Sony systems. Outside of GT, they've never had ONE title that made people go out and buy PS systems. It has always been about the big selection of titles they have under their "umbrella".
While true, I also think there have been intances of singular games that really rise to the top and drive the platforms above and beyond in the consumer conscuiosness (FFVII on PS1, GTA3 on PS2, MHP2G on PSP in Japan).
 
Exactly. Monster Hunter won't instantly make the Vita a worldwide success the way some think. It'll help boost sales in Japan, and that's about it.

Japan was always seen as the lock for the Vita though, western countries were always going to be more of an uphill battle.
 
to the people calling doom and gloom to the system, do we even know if they're selling the thing at a loss? if so how much?

IF they are selling it a a loss wouldn't they be making the money back by selling one of those memory cards?

I mean average joe buys the damn thing and an 8gb MC plus a game and that's it, sony's now making a lot of money right?

Making money? Sure. Making a "lot" of money? Not really. You have to take into account marketing and R&D costs. I doubt Vita has made very much of a net profit for Sony, if any at all.
 
Japan was always seen as the lock for the Vita though, western countries were always going to be more of an uphill battle.
Nevermind that Japanese support is inordinately more significant than just it's own market implies. Leading Japanese support still has worldwide ramifications, particularly in the field of dedicated handhelds.

Monster Hunter's own direct impact on Vita might have been localized to Japan, but the effects of that (greater success -> greater support) would certainly impact the platform worldwide.
 
What is a cause of concern for Vita is to have a fantastic Fifa game at launch, praised by all reviewers... and still struggle in Europe. Fifa is one of the top 3 franchises we have here.
 
Asking if support for a system is dying because there are not that many releases the month after release is like saying Christmas is dying because sales are down in February.
 
Asking if support for a system is dying because there are not that many releases the month after release is like saying Christmas is dying because there isn't any one buying Christmas presents in February.

Yea, this.

Was curious as to why this thread was so large. E3 will be fun :)
 
What is a cause of concern for Vita is to have a fantastic Fifa game at launch, praised by all reviewers... and still struggle in Europe. Fifa is one of the top 3 franchises we have here.

How does being number 1 or 2 on first week charts and overall Vita charts be struggling?
 
Holy FUCK! I just had the greatest idea. Journey... for VITA! D:

3G online play, NEAR let's you see the location of your companion. Imagine walking up to them on the street and meeting them IRL...

EDIT:

How does being number 1 or 2 on first week charts and overall Vita charts be struggling?

It was your avatar, BTW, that made me think of that. :P
 
How does being number 1 or 2 on first week charts and overall Vita charts be struggling?

Fifa is a sales monster on consoles, yet it didn't translate in massive Vita systems sales.

So if the software is not the problem, nor is the hardware, you have to question is the price is not to be blamed. I believe it is. More than new or better games, Vita needs a price cut to approach the impulse buy line.
 
Fifa is a sales monster on consoles, yet it didn't translate in massive Vita systems sales.

So if the software is not the problem, nor is the hardware, you have to question is the price is not to be blamed. I believe it is. More than new or better games, Vita needs a price cut to approach the impulse buy line.

I don't know how you can draw the line between 360/PS3 userbase and a launch hardware with a launch title.

Because FIFA sells, let's say hypothetically, 10 million on consoles, that doesn't mean 10 million people will automatically buy Vita for FIFA. Doesn't work like that.
 
Never would have thunk it but I got a brand new still sealed in box vita 3G/wifi today including lumines and Rayman and 8gb and 4gb memory card for $230... Gotta love craiglslist

What prompted me it buy is finding out that the vita has a VERY good DAC in it (wolfson) (digital analog converter)..... A dac worthy of "audiophiles"

Once there is a decent software to load and organize music, it'll be a nice little music player :)

Only plan on getting little big planet in the future... And maybe some really highly rated ones once in a while like 9.5/10

It's a shame that I wasn't able to use the AT&T free trial and game since that expired yesterday



Only problem is, the line-out volume is so low as to be almost useless :(

Really frustrated at that. I connect the Vita to my home cinema for Super Stardust (love that soundtrack) and it takes some real driving to get any volume out of it.

That's why I'm gonna be using a headphone amp. Like fiio e6 or e11. Good to know the cradle has line out sound (Lod)

I got e17 which can finallllly be ordered today after being back ordered everywhere.... Check out the reviews . I recommend getting from micca store

Has a wolfson dac as well which will be better than most laptop maybe even desktop sound cards. USB dac :D

The wolfson dac in my galaxy s / nexus s phones made a audiophile of sorts out of me.. It is also the dac inside older (best sounding) iPods like 5th gen iPod and 5.5th gen. FYI the wolfson isn't used in galaxy s2
 
As for the wait for E3 talk, I want to ask my question again... at the first E3 after launch, what big games were announced for the PSP besides GTA? I can't remember any big first party announcements.
 
It's worth mentioning in terms of new announcements 3DS had a fairly awful E3 2011 after it had recently launched. Then again it's E3 2010 pretty much blew every post-PS2 platform out of the water for prelaunch announcements, so it was resting on that somewhat as well.
 
I don't know how you can draw the line between 360/PS3 userbase and a launch hardware with a launch title.

Because FIFA sells, let's say hypothetically, 10 million on consoles, that doesn't mean 10 million people will automatically buy Vita for FIFA. Doesn't work like that.

Fifa on Vita offers a console-like experience. Fifa is the hottest console game in Europe along with CoD, and it should be moving Vita hardware. You say it's normal and not caused by vita's price, fine, but what do you blame then to explain Vita sales, bad marketing? Competition?
 
lol, Sony was pimping GT4 PSP pretty hard back in the day. We had more than a logo, we had developers on hand, (fake) media and even a UMD mockup.

And that's the same as Kazunori coming out on E3 saying the game is coming for the system.

No, it's not.
 
Yes, because a logo is the same as this.

bVGiQ.jpg

and to this date, do we know anything about BioShock on VITA? Would it help if it comes out 3 years from now?

It's been super quiet on any details for COD, AC and Bioshock on VITA since they were announced. How do we even know they will come out before end of this year?
 
And that's the same as Kazunori coming out on E3 saying the game is coming for the system.

No, it's not.
No it's not the same, there were indications GT4mobile was a real product at the time. Meanwhile Levine admitted in E3 interviews that Bioshock Vita was still an idea or something.
 
As for the wait for E3 talk, I want to ask my question again... at the first E3 after launch, what big games were announced for the PSP besides GTA? I can't remember any big first party announcements.

I don't really see the two being comparable, honestly. That was what? 7 years ago with a system that didn't need games as badly as Vita?
 
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