No one wants to be seen with a handheld in public anymore, unless they're a kid. Period, no one I know in real life would play a handheld console while on a train or bus, it'd make them look like complete losers. Seriously, playing handhelds when you're older than 16 in public makes you look like a geek lol. Vita would work well for kids, if it wasn't so god damn expensive. The 3DS looks more kid friendly and whatnot and has more kid friendly games, and it's cheaper.

If Sony wants to compete they have to make their next handheld console with a more kiddy image and less of a CODHARDCOREGORE image, because at the end of the day. The only people who play handhelds in publics are people who dont give a fuck about being judged, no matter what image you give the handheld they'll play it in public as long as it has games, not as expensive and whatnot. But by giving it a kiddy image it appeals to kids, something a Vita simply does not design wise or marketing wise. 

The PSP was badass because the PS2 was dominating atm, and the PSP was MANY people's first mobile media device. Browsing the web and using its app in 2005 was revolutionary, so it had decent use outside of gaming, and when kids got it they felt like they were badass and it had some kid friendly games on it. Meanwhile the Vita uses a horribly designed OS with no features that differeniate itself from a smartphone, expensive, and not kiddy friendly, what were they thinking? 

also I develop mobile games for Android, and even I wouldnt be caught dead with a Vita in public, nor anyone I know who knows of it. And I dont see myself using it at home as it defeats the purpose, if Sony had made Vita a smartphone then I would buy it day 1.

This is true in the US at least, but I don't think it's true for Japan, where the Vita is actually doing well. I wouldn't play my 3DS on the bus, that's for damn sure.

Then why does it sell in Japan if it doesn't appeal to the handheld market?

Or, they could make the Vita "cool."

Give it an ipod marketing campaign.

Agreed! I think Sony should make a smartphone for their next handheld and have exclusive games to it and have like some sort of controller accessory with every purchase

Because in Japan handhelds are normal culture there for adults. Not in the US. Which is why the Vita sells like shit here.

Well... i play my portables mostly at home just cause of convinience.

I only take it out with me if i am going to a family thing or i know i'm gonna be waiting a long time in a non-public location. I definitly dont pull it out in front of everyone.

With that said... the Vita is awesome. It really deserves better.

I agree 100%. I've been saying this for months. Especially the part about "people who dont give a fuck about being judged, no matter what image you give the handheld they'll play it in public as long as it has games, not as expensive and whatnot." That's me. They should have started out with a kiddy looking Vita with kiddie games and some "core" games, and then released a "premium" model later which would be the current model.

Don't forget the no gaemz.

No but seriously, the PSP had a much larger variety of games, the fact that it was also a multimedia device helped but what really drove it was the huge library of games (GTA, MGS, Mega Man, Castlevania, countless RPGs, etc). The Vita is missing many of the games which pushed the PSP, and at least in North America and Europe it's why it's not doing so well.

I play mine in public well atleast if im just sitting inside the mall or something and im 30.
I see lots of people doing it here in WV I always see atleast 1 grown man playing pokemon X at the mall.