Sony's Next-Generation Portable Is Out, In Japan

A few months before it's due to arrive in the U.S., Sony's PlayStation Vita, successor to the PlayStation Portable, has been released in Japan. Says the linked Associated Press article: "For the Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment giant, the Vita is the biggest product launch since the PlayStation 3 console five years ago. It's also accompanied by two dozen software products — the largest number of launch titles in PlayStation history. The Vita has front and back cameras, a touchscreen in front, a touch pad on the back and two knob-like joysticks. It will enable gamers to play against each other using PlayStation 3 consoles over the Internet-based PlayStation Network, a system that was hit with a massive hacking attack earlier this year."

Re:Simple "will I buy it" test.

[Nursie]

Why?

It could cost $5 and I wouldn't buy it because it comes stamped with 'Sony' on the front. Screw that and screw them.

On top of which there's a whole new proprietary memory card format! Hooray!

Another 'Dependent' Product

[WrongSizeGlass]

It will enable gamers to play against each other using PlayStation 3 consoles over the Internet-based PlayStation Network

Just like RIM's PlayBook, the Vita requires another expensive manufacture & platform specific product to be able to use its full capabilities. This isn't as bad as RIM's requirement for a BlackBerry just to be able to get email, but this type of forced dependency is never good for the consumer.

Re:A good thing?

[Lumpy]

Because contrary to what apple and google wants you to think, Game controls on phones suck.

Go ahead and play Rage on the iphone or Ipad.. it's frustrating as hell.

Re:No clue..

[antifoidulus]

Um, 2006 called, they want their stereotypes back. The PSP did get off to a rough start, and a lot of early adopters bought it to play pirated games, but overall game sales are around 300 million for roughly 70 million sold, or about 4 games/console, and I don't think that includes downloadable sales, which would push the total higher. Plus I'm sure that even though 70 million consoles were sold, they weren't sold to 70 million different people, due to the huge # of hardware variations there are probably a significant number of people who bought more than 1 version of the console, pushing the games per gamer up even higher.

Re:Simple "will I buy it" test.

[NeutronCowboy]

Sony doesn't hate pirates, because pirates are cheap and never pay for anything. Sony does hate the second-hate market though, because these people are willing to pay money for a game, but Sony doesn't see a red cent of it.

That's why nearly all recent games, and every major title in the past year, has had download-only content in it right from the start. And by the way, Sony isn't the only one doing this.