omg perfect hype train material right here folks..lengthy but interesting read
After spending 730.484398 hours with the PS Vita I can safely say that Sony has a winner on their hands. It needs a few tweaks here and there, but the same could be said about every product on the market. Here are my thoughts (after a month of ownership) on PS3 connectivity, size, battery life, screen protectors, terrible web browsers, OS X support, going all digital, controls, 3G, defective OLEDs, and more.
No Screen Protector – While the PS Vita’s screen isn’t made of glass; if you’re using it normally you won’t scratch the screen. It’s more durable than the PSP’s.
TouchPad Protector/Case Needed – The screen won’t scratch, but the back will. After a month of use I’ve noticed a few scratches on the back touchpad. So you shouldn’t sit it down without putting it in a case.
Be Careful When Swapping Memory Cards – I tried to swap mines, and accidently dropped it (bounced off my desk), and it took me 30 minutes to find it because of its size. So if you plan on downloading tons of stuff, don’t be cheap—buy the 32GB card. Swapping and keeping track of MCs is more trouble than it’s worth.
All Digital, Maybe – Getting games from PSN is so easy and convenient you might find yourself wanting to go all-digital. Like swapping out MCs, swapping out games constantly just doesn’t feel right, but if you buy a ton of games you’ll fill up that 32GB card quickly. My suggestion, go for a hybrid approach, half digital and half physical.
No Screenshots in Remote Play – Like the title says, you can’t take screenshots in remote play.
About Remote Play – It needs some work, after seeing console games running through remote play on a hacked PS Vita, and with the Wii U around the corner, it’s a must that the PS Vita gets the ability to play PS3 games remotely.
Hands Really Adjust – If you think the controls feel weird give it some time. After using it for a month I can safely say that this is the most comfortable handheld I’ve ever owned. The indents on the back are the perfect place to rest your middle fingers while holding the device. I’m 6’5 so my hands are big, and it’s rare that I find a handheld that doesn’t give me cramps. After owning the 3DS since March my hands still haven’t adjusted–and they probably never will.
Touch Screen Only Navigation Works – When I first reviewed the PS Vita I had an issue with not being able to use the face buttons to navigate the menues. But it’s no longer a problem, and I actually like this better than relying on the dpad to move around. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to add that feature in a firmware update eventually.
Analog Sticks – After a month they feel almost as good as the PS3’s.
Mandatory Purchase – If you’re buying a PS Vita, you need to get Uncharted Golden Abyss. It’s worth the price of the device. It wouldn’t hurt to get Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition either.
Dark Spots Aren’t a Problem – As I expected, those dark spots you see on the OLED when the screen is black, and you’re in a dark room aren’t an issue. In fact, I haven’t seen any of these spots in weeks. You really need to go out of your way to see them.
Hide Icon Feature – I’m sick of looking at icons I never use, like Welcome Park. It’s fun for two days, and then you’ll never touch it. It would be nice if we could remove these icons and just see the stuff we plan on using.
Just Right – The first thing you notice about the PS Vita is how big it is (about the size of a DSi XL without the bulky clamshell design), but after using it for a month the size doesn’t matter. Actually, it’s the perfect size and it makes the 3DS feel cramped.
Battery Life – I haven’t timed the battery life, but from what I can tell it’s better than the 3DS. I only play my PS Vita for about two and a half hours a day, and I only charge it every two days. It’s only died on me once. Although, I should note that I always have Wi-Fi off until I decide to connect to PSN.
One Lock Up – I’ve heard stories about people having their PS Vitas always lock up; well mines only did it once. And a hard reset fixed the problem.
Needs Mac Support – This has become annoying, most of the time I don’t copy media over to my PS Vita because I don’t feel like switching to Windows 7 via Bootcamp. Hopefully Sony fixes this once it launches in a few weeks, OS X continues to grow in popularity by the year, there’s no excuse for not supporting it out the gate.
3G, Meh – Sony is really trying to sell the 3G versions with all the bundles they keep announcing, but I still don’t think it’s worth it. While out and about I rarely got the urge to connect to the Internet (I have a 4G hotspot). You won’t be downloading PSN games over 3G. Near is cool, but it’s not worth the price of 3G.
Browser Still Sucks – Sigh, in the past month I’ve only used it maybe 4-5 times. And two of those times were so I could get a good laugh.
Out Shines The PS3 – The PS Vita’s OS puts the PS3′s to shame, it has cross game chat, custom soundtracks, and the live area is useful and attractive. Maybe it’s a hint at things to come?
Normal People Think It’s a PSP – Sony needs to get the hype train rolling if they plan on having a big launch in the next two weeks. So far out of most of the people I talked to (IRL), even the ones I consider gamers—none of them know anything about the device. Most think it’s just another PSP model. Sony might have the same problem Nintendo did with the 3DS at launch. This isn’t another refresh; it’s a new product.
There’s Hope – Although, once they start to play it they’re shock that a handheld can produce graphics that rival consoles. I’ve let a few people play Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition and they couldn’t stop going on about how gorgeous it looks. They also praise the OLED screen, saying it’s one of the best they’ve seen. Hopefully Best Buy and the other big box stores have demo units of the PS Vita.
Eating Into Your Console Time – The PS Vita has actually managed to pull me away from my consoles. Sometimes it feels more intimate and engrossing playing a game on the PS Vita’s lovely screen. It’s hard to describe—but don’t assume you’ll only play your new handheld when you’re commuting.
Best Handheld Ever – I’ve owned a Gameboy, Gameboy Pocket, Sega Game Gear, Sega Nomad, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Gameboy Advance SP, DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, PSP, PSP 2000, PSP 3000, and a 3DS. Out of all of these handhelds the PS Vita is already my favorite after a month.
Things Will Only Get Better – The launch line up is easily the best I’ve seen for any console or handheld. And with games like Gravity Rush coming shortly after launch, things will only get better. Also Sony has already added a Flickr app, and a Netflix one was announced. Now all I need is a YouTube, Vevo, Pandora, and Hulu Plus one and maybe the PS Vita can make me keep my iPhone in my pocket more often.
So there you have it–my thoughts on the PS Vita after a month. I could go on for another 1,000 words, but I figured I’d stop. If you have any questions just leave a comment below, and I’ll try to answer it to the best of my ability.
http://geekrevolt.com/2012/01/28/progress-report-a-month-with-the-ps-vita-best-handheld-ever-but-it-needs-a-few-tweaks/
Hype meter overload!
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