PlayStation Vita's biggest challenge: Convincing developers
September 28, 2012   |   By Christian Nutt 3 comments More: Console/PC, Business/Marketing, Exclusive Share on twitter Share on orkut Share on print Share on favorites More Sharing Services PlayStation Vita isn't exactly the success story that Sony would like it to be. Sales of the handheld are lagging worldwide, and many third party game makers aren't willing to invest in a platform that has a modest install base. Add a prohibitive $300-$350 price tag, and you have the ingredients for a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida admitted he's disappointed by the lack of third party support for the handheld, but he told Gamasutra he's ready to show developers that the Vita is the right hardware for making games. When asked if he believes that third parties are missing out on an opportunity by not supporting the PlayStation Vita, Yoshida answered, "I totally believe so." "PS Vita is the best hardware to bring a very immersive game experience onto portable," he said. Developer apprehension Of course, being one of PlayStation's top executives, his opinion is just slightly biased. But he openly admitted that developer apprehension towards the Vita was unexpected. "One thing that was surprising and disappointing to us was the [lower] number of third parties to come out [in support] after launch. "...In retrospect, there are so many options for publishers now that we cannot take it for granted that our new platform would be supported by third parties, like [it would've been] many years ago." Sony, then, was somehow caught with its pants down, and though Yoshida said the company went on extensive developer outreach prior to Vita's release, it apparently wasn't able to get publishers to commit to the platform. Mobile and social games have also eaten into the Vita's potential, he said. "There are limited resources that third party publishers have, and they have to diversify into new areas constantly; that's a challenge to get the support that we want. "We've been working harder with our third party relations department to secure more content for PS Vita," he said. "...We are confident that we have the right hardware platform that we have with PS Vita." Despite that confidence in the hardware, he said the Vita still hasn't quite found its footing in the marketplace. Defining Vita Yoshida said Vita will become an attractive platform "when we are able to define what PS Vita is." He said Sony needs to show third parties what Vita players buy, and what kind of games work best on the platform. At that point, Sony will be able to entice more developers to support the handheld. "As we can expand our install base and articulate what works really well on the platform as compared to others, it will get easier for us to be able get support from third parties," he added. And while Worldwide Studios, which encompasses all of the company's first party development teams, such as Naughty Dog and Sony Santa Monica, doesn't do direct developer outreach in most cases, he says that it plays an important role in getting third parties interested in the platform. "We create our content, and that can be used to evangelize some functionalities of the platforms for third party purposes."

A very telling article. Acknowledging the past and trying to change the future

Yoshida is the man. If anyone can save the Vita, he can.

Did you come to the Vita thread to be inspired by my wonderful news posts?! :P

But yes. Yoshida's da man.

I hated Phil Harrison, but he seems more pro active than Yoshida, don't you think? I mean, I know he is well accepted by Sony fans, but he's the one that was there from Vita's day one, so it's his fault more than any other.

I applaud him because he's trying to change... but I'm still not conviced he's the man for the job

You need a bigger install base to attract devs. So until a price drop is forced, itll be later rather then sooner.

Nope, I took this from Neogaf. But I check the OT too, so it would be my second option :D

Sony really shouldn't expect 3rd parties to devote their AAA team to make games for PS-Vita when Sony themselves keep Sony Santa Monica, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, etc focused on supporting the PS3/PS4 platform while sourcing out cross-over IP games to PSP / PS-Vita to B-teams like Sony Bend, Nihilistic, etc.

He's flubbed some stuff, for sure, but he seems to realize when he's flubbed it and is generally willing to admit it after the fact unlike most corporate toolbags. Missing the boat on Demon's Souls, for instance. Clearly the launch of the Vita was piss poor, but I find his candor about it refreshing and reassuring. He knows there's a problem, he admits there's a problem, and he's said it's his responsibility to line up support for the platform. That's exactly what I want to hear.

Also, he's one of the few suits who is actually a gamer! And he made Tokyo Jungle a better game! <3 <3 <3 Yoshida!

If Sony's smart they'll never let Nihilistic touch another one of the IP's again.

Perhaps the vitas holiday lineup can boost sales and attract more third party developers.

Vita Q4 games

Little Big planet
Assasins Creed 3: Liberation
Need for speed: Most wanted
Persona 4: The golden
PSASBR
Sly Cooper: Theives in time
CoD Black Ops Declassified
Ratchet and Clank QForce

With the introduction of PS plus to the Vita, Upcoming games like Killzone and Tearaway, all these Q4 games and Crossbuy for multiplat titles if this can't save the vita I'm not sure what will.