CVG

Sony Worldwide Studios boss, Shuhei Yoshi has it aims to justify the £40 price tag on PlayStation Vita games by creating experiences that provide value.

In an interview http://venturebeat.com/2012/02/13/sonys-shu-yoshida-bets-the-playstation-vita-will-thrive-in-the-u-s-interview/2/">VentureBeat Yoshida explained Sony's reasoning for pricing games so highly given the competition, namely Apple's iOS devices and the 99-cent Apps available on its store.

"We have a theory that if we create really compelling, engaging experiences that you can spend hours with, you'll see the value of spending 40 dollars against one dollar," he explained.

"Gamers love all kinds of games. I totally understand people who like games like Angry Birds, but if you're a gamer, you're also interested in trying different kinds of experiences, bigger games."

According to the exec Sony is still experimenting with the pricing structure of its games, opting to adopt a more varied range of price points than it has in the past.

"For the past consoles, we had a pretty rigid price range we kept to. This is a full-price game, $60, this is a Greatest Hits, $30. Like that. But for PS Vita, you'll see games that sell for $50, $40, $30. And on the digital, $45, $35, $23, $15, $10 and $5. A very wide variety of pricing. We're looking at each title and the value and scope of the content, and trying to match people's value perception with the pricing."

He also said the company has broadened its view and is looking beyond "big-budget, triple-A, $40 titles" so that it can accommodate fans of smaller gaming experiences.

John Koller, SCEA's senior director for PlayStation handhelds, has said Sony intends to spend $50 million on its Vita marketing campaign.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/335759/vita-games-are-worth-pound40-says-sony-boss/

Yeah, i'll tell you right here and now. Unless it's something I really want. A lot of Vita games are now doomed to the $20 or lower bin for me. I'm not paying $49.99 for a handheld games. I would rather use that money on a much more enjoyable console game.

I really want to post a facepalm for this statment since very, very, very, rarely is a handheld game going to be worth 50$...fuck it I'm putting one down here it comes faceground!

proof is in the purchase

Wait, $40 or £40?

US 50$ and Europe £40.

We will let the consumer decide that good sir.

I dont see a problem for it if the game has high production values, something like Uncharted.

If SEGA/Nintendo can sell Mario and Sonic on the 3DS for £35 then Sony can sure as hell sell Uncharted at £40.

Curiously, the only game I could find at $50 was Uncharted GA. Most of the games at Amazon are $39.99 or less, and that's the list price. Hard to tell what SON¥'s angle is, pricing their first party games at $50. Seems like a handicap to me.

Why spend £40 on a PS Vita game when you can get the exact same game on the PS3 for the exact same price???

(BTW my opinion is that handhelds are an abomination in the gaming world. I see them as a waste of money as you pay around the same price for a PSP/ PS Vita as you do for the PS3 and you get a smaller screen, controls, games etc you also find that the games aren't as fun to play as they are on the PS3)