| RolStoppable said:
1) The main problem here is that the PSV is priced out of range for the majority of these gamers, just like the $250 3DS was. You would have sort of a point, if a fully functioning PSV (meaning memory card inclusive) would sell for $200 or less. As it is, the PSV doesn't have much appeal to these gamers when a 3DS costs less and has a more robust lineup (Layton, Mario, Sonic among others). 2a) The PSP sold 72m for a variety of reasons. There's obviously a market for PS2/PS3 games on a handheld, albeit it's significantly smaller than it is for a home console (that market is split between the PS3 and 360, they share the majority of games). The system was also open to piracy and any such system sees an increase in hardware sales (obviously not in software sales). It was also quite a capable machine and could emulate most video game systems up to the PS1/N64 (in terms of home consoles) and GBA (handhelds), so a lot of people didn't necessarily use it to play pirated PSP games, but NES/SNES/PS1 classics, for example. My personal estimate is that if it wasn't for piracy and emulation, the PSP wouldn't have crossed the 50 million units mark. There were probably also units that ended up playing only music or UMD movies, but I would consider that number insignificant. 2b) The actual interest in PSP-like software is obviously best measured by looking at PSP software sales. And just like on the PS3, it's mostly third party software putting up the big numbers. For that reason it's more important to look at what third parties will bring to the table, rather than Sony themselves. 3a) There are more than twice as many PSPs in the West than in Japan and MGS is about four times as popular in the West than in Japan (based on previous entries in the series), yet Peace Walker sold more units in Japan than in the West. It comes down to Japan being more accepting of portable gaming than the rest of the world, that's also why the home console market has been shrinking in the seventh generation over there. Home consoles being replaced by portable consoles is an unthinkable thing in the Western world, but it's happening in Japan. 3b) The reason why the DS managed to be popular both in hardware and software in the West is because of its broader appeal. The PSP library has a strong focus on males between the age of 13-25, precisely the demographic that cares the most about technology and graphics. Sony tried to correct this problem later on in the PSP's lifecycle, but by that time Nintendo had a lock on all the other demographics already. You need to know that one of the primary purposes of handhelds in the West is to make kids shut up on car rides and the like. This seems to hold especially true in the USA. The GBA did very well over there, after all. That's not to say that Nintendo's only market are kids. Older adults (men and women alike) don't care for flashy graphics and females in general rarely do either, so it didn't bother them that the DS wasn't a cutting edge handheld. 4) Not sure what the point is here. The DS was very successful, so the 3DS being similar to it can only be a positive point whereas for the PSP vs. PSV comparison it is negative, because the PSP had trouble moving software. 5) I am going by the current popularity of the series. The first LBP was heavily bundled and the second game stands at 2.5m after a year on the market. That's why I said three million which falls in line with Ratchet & Clank back then when the PSP was new. 6) Microsoft's existence benefited Sony in the home console arena. It made HD games viable eventually. I can't say how much patience third parties will have with Sony when the PSV struggles to move software in sufficient numbers. Third parties did cut back on PSP support after a couple of years and if it hadn't been for the surprise hit of Monster Hunter, they would not have come back. What third parties will do is the great unknown. I highly doubt that Sony can support the system on their own, especially not when they have to get ready for the PS4 launch. But third parties treating Sony more favorably than Nintendo is the sole reason why I don't count out the Vita completely yet. 7a) Vita games will look clearly inferior to home console games once the eighth generation gets kicked off and as I said above, Sony's main demographic is the one that cares the most about technology and graphics. Paying a little more is absolutely okay for them. 7b) Nintendo winning with the Wii U is irrelevant, because third parties will port everything everywhere anyway (unless it's Nintendo who lags behind in sales). |
1) Agreed. And a pricecut is also one of the reasons why I think it'll take a year or two for things to really ramp up for the Vita.
2a) Understood.
2b) In the top 10 Western games (America, but it's similar in Europe), we have 4 Sony Games (Daxter, GOW, R&C and SOCOM), 1 LucasArts, Crisis Core, 2 GTA's, another take-two (Midnight club) and Need for speed. Then you need to consider the image factor, more than sales. It is a good image to portray UC and LBP as your flagships. They give a better image to the console than say GTA in the eyes of the less violence-oriented crowd (this would include the casuals and kids).
3a) Then why did Crisis Core fair similar in America than in Japan, relative to other FF entries?
| Pos | Game | Platform | Year | Genre | Publisher | North America | Europe | Japan | Rest of World | Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Final Fantasy X | PS2 | 2001 | Role-Playing | Sony Computer Entertainment | 2.91 | 2.07 | 2.73 | 0.33 | 8.05 |
| 6 | Final Fantasy X-2 | PS2 | 2003 | Role-Playing | Electronic Arts | 1.92 | 1.08 | 2.11 | 0.17 | 5.29 |
| 9 | Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII | PSP | 2007 | Role-Playing | Square Enix | 1.24 | 0.53 | 0.80 | 0.40 | 2.97 |
I disagree here. There was some cherry-picking here I feel. Also, Metal Gear PW had coop support (big in Japan), and probably got poor advertising here. idk.
3b) I agree, and I think if Vita does a better job at marketing and providing a compelling gaming experience on the Vita, the situation will improve in the West. The non-PSP fans were just not interested in the West, there was no mainstream here for that console, as console sales indicate. They all reach max 3Mil.
4) To explain. You said the Vita launch lineup is like the PSP's, plus UC. I mentioned I agreed, but countered by saying that that would be like saying the 3DS launch window was like the DS's, only with SM3DLand. It's not correct to say "only", since these flagships make a significant impact. Add to this that I updated my post with the actual Vita launch list, and it looks leaps and bounds more appealing than the PSP launch list. Take a quick look when you have a sec.
5) Fair for LBP = R&C at time of PSP in terms of sales. BUT, the demographics to which it appeals are different, and that's important too. But within the context of the argument, I'll concede with you.
6) Was that true during the PS2 gen? Nope. So the Vita being alone could help benefit more than what 360 benefitted to PS3, bottom line. I'm ok with everything else.
7a) Though HD gamers like good graphics, they aren't graphics whores. I think many would be content with the Vita long term, as some of us are content with the 3DS. Also, the Vita may capture a less graphics-interested audience in likes of the 3DS audience. If so, they would be in good hands. The launch offerings are interesting for said demographics. UC, Little Deviants, Army Corps of Hell (like Pikmin), Gravity Rush, MJ: The Experience, Rayman Origins, Shinobi, LEGO Harry Potter. Just try to look at the alternatives as possibilities. Otherwise we'll be surprised. I know you're confident, because you have more knowledge in general. But you can be wrong too. Keep in mind.
7b) If Nintendo wins Wii U next gen, even if there are multiplats, why would ppl waste money on a home console when they can get good quality content on the more affordable portable? Even if graphics aren't next gen, as I said in 7), not all are graphics whores.
