Topic: Should Sony change their approach on the Vita?

Sony has been showing the Vita as a handheld device that can play console-like tiltes, but is this the correct way to approach the device?  Vita sales haven't exactly been great, and many just don't seem to care about it.

Right now, the console quality games on the system cater more towards an older audience, mostly adults.  Considering that most people aren't constantly traveling, most play their video game systems in the confort of their home.  Since young adults seem to be the Vita's prime audience, why would a potential buyer go for the system when they could buy similer and better games on a console and a large TV with surround sound?  Since adults usually don't have to fight for screen time, unlike children/adolescents who live with parents, why would they get the system?

Sony tried the same approach with the PSP originally, and though it was a success, it wasn't because of console-like games: it was because of the unique things like Patapon and Locoroco, and the plethora of RPG's, that set the system apart and allowed it to do well, especially in Japan, where Monster Hunter brought it to be one hugely successful system.  Yeah, there's exceptions like God of War and MGS: Peace Walker, but I don't know anyone who bought it just for stuff like that.  I bought a PSP for unique things like Patapon and Half-minute Hero, not for console-wanabe games (to be clear, Peace Walker is not a wanabe, since it's arguably the best game in the series).  Every person I know bought a PSP for unique games or RPGs as well.

I personally think it'd be a much better idea to focus on unique games like Sound Shapes and Gravity Rush than to put out games that are better on a cheaper system.  Still, I haven't seen many Vita adds, so that obviously attributes to something.
What are your thoughts?

Yes, they should change the approach because they have no approach at all. At gamescom they tried to present it as a handy controller for PS3 users, aside of that they are not aiming the console for any particular population.

They need to change something because for some reason my friends don't want one because they believe it's just a portable PS3... ._.

Totally agree. I don't like games that are already on PS3. (LBP is an exception since it looks different to te series). But I think they should put more games on there like Sound Shapes and the newly-revealed Tearaway!

One thing they need to do is cut the price on the memory sticks. It should be $59.99 for the 64 gig at most and even that is probably pushing it. The 4 GB should be 5, 8 for $10 and 16GB for $30 at most (again, probably pushing it). Then either cut the price on the system or start making more bundles. The AC 3: Liberation bundle is nice, there's also one for Madden I believe and though it's not announced, one for LBP should be a frickin' no brainer. I also do agree more unique stuff like Tearaway, LBP (which is more suited to handheld gaming imo), Sound Shapes, Lumines, Gravity Rush should be a major, maybe even the main, focus. However, I don't think there is anything wrong at all with pushing stuff like AC 3: Liberation or Killzone, I want to be able to play these games on the go just like I want to be able to play Mario games on the go. Absolutely nothing wrong with having big-name franchises on a portable system system. In fact, I'm hoping Capcom and Konami will announce RE and MGS games made ground up for Vita.

Huh, that's weird.  I agree with everyone's statements.  Didn't expect that. 

Those memory cards are rediculously overpriced.  Sony can say it's because of the anti-piracy measures inside of them, but they run super slow, so it's not like they can say it truly costs them $100 to produce a 32 GB card, when there are high quality ones out there for a quarter of the price.

I agree with @Gamer83 in that there is nothing wrong going down pushing the console route, but if all that means is inferior games or straight-up ports, then not many people are going to go for it.  Uncharted: GA is great, but it's definitely not as great a game as the other Uncharted games, and it doesn't help that I can buy 2 and 3 for the same price or less as Golden Abyss.

Right now, it just looks like Sony is trying to push towards PS3 owners, showing the Vita's use of cross-play, but I don't know why one would play games made for consoles without portability in mind for their Vita when they could play it on a bigger screen with surround sound.  Also the Vita is more expensive then the PS3, so that's not helping its case at all.

But yeah, Sony needs to advertise this thing a lot more, because there are people who don't even know about its existence, and I can't really tell where Sony is going with the device.  It also doesn't help that the new Call of Duty Vita game looks very bad and is being made by a developer who has yet to make a passable game.  Considering that that game is supposed to be a saving grace for the system, Sony is in trouble.

At least the guys of Smart As know how to send clear messages:
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2012/08/ … om_trailer

"Do you want the world to know how smart you are?"  <<< this is what sells
"Look how cute this game is" <<< this is what doesnt sell

Neither a game by itself nor the console by itself are effective selling messages (expect perhaps for hardcore gamers), Sony must get smarter with their dull commercials which currently point to nowhere.

It's true that a lot of the general population still hasn't even heard of the thing. I'd like to see some major airtime for commercials of games like LittleBigPlanet. Honestly the only Vita commercial I think I've seen on TV in the US was for the baseball game back when they were really pushing that false advertising that implied you could pick up and play your PS3 games on the Vita.

The definitely do need to change they're approach. They haven't even reached 3 million sales yet.

Yeah, that's not a good sign.  I get that people are all saying things like "you can't judge until holidays" but the 3DS was getting lots of doom and gloom at sales numbers closer to 5 million at this point in the game, and it came out in March.

Yeah I think around this time it was at 6 million or something (could be wrong), but everyone knew the games were coming.

I think Sony's Gamescon showing will definitely boost sales.  Cross-buy, Assassin's Creed, Killzone and Tearaway in addition to everything that's already out should increase sales dramatically as long as those games are actually good.  I'm very pleased by Sony.  I was beginning to feel buyers remorse but not anymore.  Can't wait to play Tearaway!

@nickcarney  They're doing better, but it's to a pretty limited audience.  Cross-buy is only going to appeal to PS3 owners, and even then will they buy a system that's more than $250 just to play a game they already own on the go?  This cross-buy thing could have some serious backfire in that there'd be no incentive to develop games solely for the Vita when you can put them on the PS3 also.  It'll just become an expensive port machine, and I don't think anyone wants that.  Tearaway is the only game at Gamescon that looked different from other stuff that's been put out.

I want to want this device, but there's just too much against it right now.  I'm hoping the holidays do the system wonders, because if they don't there's a serious chance that this device could become discontinued, or at the very least show that there's no point in developing games exclusive to the system.

Again, this approach didn't work for the PSP.  The highest selling game on the system at launch was lumines, and the only games that were consistently made and bought were ones that were unique or JRPGs, a genre well underepresented on the consoles.

vita need jrpgs...a lot jrpgs to get japan going and everything will be fine

vita need jrpgs...a lot jrpgs to get japan going and everything will be fine

That'd probably be the quickest way.  There's already a few out in Japan, Ragnarok Oddysey and Persona 4 come to mind, and the awesome Ys 4 remake is looking great.  I'm just worried that the latter won't come, because XSeed isn't exactly a huge company and only really brings stuff over that will sell, with a few very risky exceptions (9 hours, 9 persons, 9 doors for example).  I do hope this picks up, because I love the hardware.

With Cross-buy, PS3 users will start to build up a selection of Vita games making it a more attractive purchase with every Cross-buy title they pick up.  And honestly, Sony is not really targeting anyone besides PS3 owners.

Yes, a bunch of games they can play on their PS3 with a comfortable controller, on a large TV, with surround sound... you see where I'm going?
I agree with you that they're only targeting PS3 owners, which is, in my opinion, a huge mistake.  Look at it like this.  The people Sony are trying to sell a Vita:
A) Own a PS3
B) Want to play PS3 games on the go
C) Have the money to shell out over $300 (more money than a PS3) for it if they want a decent memory card
D) Have the time to make such an investment worthwile
E) Have the ability to make up in their minds that a Vita was worth buying despite the fact that the PS3 can do all of the things the Vita can do that they want it to do (play the games they want to play), but better, albeit in a form that's not portable.

That's an incredibly limited audience.  It's basically rich or very dedicated Sony fans (not fanboys, but fans) and not a lot of people can fit all five of those categories.

Let me be clear: I am *not* saying that everyone who bought a Vita bought it because they fit all 5 points; such a statement would be preposterous.  I am saying that what Sony is targeting fits all five of those points together, and that is a very bad idea.
I also want to make myself clear that I think there is *nothing* wrong with having console games on the go.  I just saw an impressions for the new Need For Speed game on the Vita on IGN, and the editor seemed incredibly impressed.  The fact Criterion is developing it (a huge plus) and that they were able to get an open world driving game on a portable system with the exact same scope as the console games is very awesome.  But if there are no games that separate the Vita from other systems, then there's very little reason to get one.

I think Sony is trying to position the Vita to be a portable PS3, but also something unique.  It's a multi-pronged approach consisting of ports (Cross-buy), exclusive console like games (Uncharted, Killzone, Assassin's Creed) and unique games tailored to the handheld experience (Tearaway, LBP). 

There are lots of reasons to play on both the PS3 and Vita with the titles that support it.  For example, I preferred Sound Shapes on the Vita when making levels but on the PS3 when playing them, but that's just my opinion.  On a game like Sly 4, there are mini games that take advantage of the Vita's unique inputs like the gyroscope so some sections will be better on the Vita and some on PS3.  Now lets say a game like Uncharted 2 is on both platforms.  Most people would prefer to play through it on their TV, no doubt about that.  However, I would love to take it with me afterwards and go through a quick chapter here and there finding the collectibles and earning trophies.  Cross-play/buy may be especially useful for those with long commutes and I can definitely see myself taking a full console game with me that I was half way through the next time I go on vacation.

I agree with you though, it is not a feature that will make many people rush out and buy a Vita (unless they travel a lot or have a long commute or something like that).  That being said, I think it is a feature that many people will take advantage of and not something people will discard as a useless feature.

I think that further down the line, when people see that they already have a large collection of Vita games and the selection of exclusive quality titles has grown to a suitable size, there will be little reason not to pick one up. 

They have the very best fishing rod but they want to fish only in their small lake.