Forbes take on PSVita launch

[MontanaHatchet]

Kasz216 said:

MontanaHatchet said:

The pricepoint of $250 wouldn't be so bad if the games and accessories weren't also expensive. Sony needs to realize that they don't have the brandname power to sell high-end, expensive products like Apple does. Seriously, fifty dollar handheld games? FIFTY DOLLAR HANDHELD GAMES? Meanwhile the 3DS has several games on sale and the most popular titles are at $40.

I'm positive that the Vita will improve in sales and we'll look back at this period a couple years later in amusement. But Sony definitely needs a change in their business model.

Well not anymore anyway.  I'd argue they once did.

Other then that I pretty much agree on all counts.  I'm not paying 50 for a handheld game that's for sure.

I think Sony has three viable strategies:

1. A cheap console with a higher premium on game prices

2. A more expensive console with cheaper games (perhaps many selling for $20 or less)

3. A good balance of the two

I realize that most of the money is made on software and that charging high prices for games is an easy way to boost profitability, but Apple has changed the playing field. With Apple devices offering many games for a dollar, and many even for free, charging forty or fifty dollars for a game seems like an increasingly poor option. It hasn't seemed to affect the 3DS so far (which is doing very well), but Sony will need to counteract the PSP's weakness in selling software by making sure that its successor can move games.