By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
superchunk on 24 February 2012
Edit Thread
ithis said:
superchunk said:
Its an opinion piece... why should I have to overly state it?

There is no way people will want to carry two devices over one. Fact is, an average smartphone can do everything the PSV can and in almost every case, do it better AND they are cheaper.

Of course this is where the PSVs gaming content and controls can create its base, but at what price? My argument is that Sony won't be capable of doing what you wish in a mass market appeal. Only to a few niche consumers.

Nintendo can, but that's due to their focus on lower costs and more mass consumer appeal, especially younger consumers who likely won't even have smartphone options.

Your argument would be the same as if someone who had put Linux on their PS3 said they would not buy another PC. Even without Sony removing that feature, it simply didn't become reality. A smartphone will continue to be the mass market portable device. Sony needs to either move its portable gaming into that sphere or follow Nintendo's lead along with clearly identifying its portable gaming IPs. This attempt to straddle both markets is only going to fail.

1. When you meet someon on the street, the hello is implyed, yet people still use it. That's why.

2. IMHO, the bolded is completely false for all smartphones, including top of the line: smartphones don't do gaming better in any concievable way, and most are more expensive. Yes, with a data plan they seam cheaper, but customers know that. (And there's the infamous 3G Vita model that can do the same trick).

The fact that PSV can support third party games excelently will add to it's value. One does not get the same-ish experience when playing a platformer on a smart phone than when playing one on a gaming handheld. There is a reason that the most successfull smartphone games are the ones that fit perfectly with touch screen controlls. But the same controlls are unsuited for a huge and important chunk of game types.

Just for curiosity, let's wait to see how many people will want to play propper COD (among many other things) on the move before we anounce, yet again, the death of the gaming handhelds.


1) I take it you don't read the internet much?

2) I guess you missed not only the phrase "almost every case" immediately prior and the sentence directly after what you bolded where I specifically state the gaming controls/experience is PSVs advantage (sole advantage btw)?

What I'm focusing on in this thread is not the gaming to gaming comparison. Of course PSV has far better controls as well as offers more in depth and, at least initially and on average, more advanced games. However, like the PS3, the PSV is not trying to be solely a games console. Its trying to saddle both markets and be a full portable media device. Ignoreing very recent history that showed the DS mop the floor over PSP, which also had the prime differentiator of full media capabilities.

My point is that with the PSP, that market was relatively new for smartphones as that's when they really took off. Now they are the established portable media devices that pretty much anyone will already have when considering the PSV.

Additionally, I am NOT nor have I ever said portable gaming consoles are dead. What I've said is that Sony's approach is not smart. Nintendo put out a low priced, media enabled, console that when it is at the right price with solid content, proves that market is not dead and it will end up being highly successful.

Sony on the other hand, is at the same price or more than any contracted smartphone and not too far off from off contract models, especially when you consider having to purchase a memory card and games. This combined with the fact that ALL of their game experiences (at least looking at launch and historically, the PSP) are nothing unique. They are nearly the exact same games on the home consoles and in terms of 3rd parties, straight ports that will also, in many cases, on those smartphones (regardless of controls or overall experience).

As for your Call of Duty statement... lol... they will not buy it on Vita when they can get a FAR better experience at home and since the only place they can actually play online multiplayer is where the wifi is located... that too is already at home. At least smartphones with multiplayer allow you to use your data connection from anywhere. PSVs gimped to only social stuff. (this is where I'm making my comparison that smartphones exceed PSV in almost every case).

PSV is a good device on its own. However, its not on its own, its now a direct competitor to the 3DS, the tons of non-phone enabled iOS/Android devices, and almost a full direct competitor to smartphones themselves. This is just bad business and will result in the shrinkage of Sony's portable marketshare and potentially even hurt their own smartphone/tablet lines. Whereas if they chose a either a lower priced manufacture point and unique gaming experiences (deviants is a path good approach to this) OR simply created a slightly more compact device that included phone capabilites, I argue they would have a higher potential to do far better.

As someone who never buys portable gaming for myself, I know I won't buy a $300 portable console for my kids and I won't carry this device alongside my smartphone. However, had it been a smartphone, I probably would have gotten it for myself. My more mass market position is where Sony should have aimed.