| arcane_chaos said: the articles listed here have a "looking at the glass half-empty" feel yes had an absolute horrible start, but has really picked up their game these last couple of years; i'd say since 2009 with the "revision" and abundance of first-party titles. if any thing Sony has put them selves more on the map with just their critically acclaimed first-party games such as Uncharted, Heavy Rain, Littlebigplanet, Infamous, God of war, Killzone. Yes the PlayStation division is nowhere near what Sony wants it to be, be it's far better than where it was in 2006. I don't know where Sony draws the line for losing money, but after spending 2.2 bil on that music company and another 380 mil on Gaikai, it still seems Sony's pocket are somewhat deep. and with the PS3 "slim" coming out Sony is bound to make up for some of their losses as for the Vita, I won't consider it a flop just yet, the product hasn't been out for a year yet, and hasn't gotten itself a full holiday season to show what impact it can do. if it goes the route of the PS3 I wouldn't call it a failure. I could be wrong and this information could be incorrect but I remember someone making a thread saying that the vita cost about $160 to make, though that doesn't make the vita profitable from the get-go, it could mean that it can reach profitability after all the R&D costs. |
I have serious doubts about Vita's profitability; and I believe UMB's research was spun out of context by many pro-Sony fans in the industry (but that's another matter.) Yes according to eurogamer the total build of the Vita is $160, BUT MANY OF THOSE TOTALS DIDN'T ADD UP to what I expect them to cost.
Let's look at Eurogamer's total for the WiFi model I believe (which seems to be underpriced IMHO):
- Display and touchscreens: $50
- Battery: $3.60
- Cameras: $3.50
- Wi-Fi/BT/GPS: $3.50
- NAND: $6.00
- SDRAM: $9.25
- Processor: $16.00 (really only $6 more than the 3DS; must not be that much more powerful)
- BB+XCR: $16.25
- Non-electronic: $11.00
- Other: $30.00
- Supporting materials: $10.00.
now lets take a look at the 3DS which totals $100.71
- 3DS display(both): $33.8
- Processor: $10
- Camera's: $4.70 (must be better camera's than Vita's since it cost more)
- Battery: $3.50
- MEMS/gyros: $6.80
- RAM $8.36 (FCRAM must cost a whole lot more since 3DS only has 128MB vs 512MB for Vita)
- Manufacturing: $2.54
sources:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-20-is-the-playstation-vita-worth-230
and despite only costing $100.71 to make(at launch) and selling at $170, the 3DS still sold at a loss until July 2012 when the hardware finally sold for a profit. I have serious doubts that Sony is turning a profit on the Vita; and Mr. Kaz Hirai also echoed that the Vita won't be profitable until after 3 years of launch. http://www.gamespot.com/news/e3-2011-vita-to-be-profitable-within-3-years-sony-6318239 Sony has always, always sold their hardware for a loss and that doesn't seem like it changed with the Vita as well!!! Hopefully with the upcoming PS4, they have learned their lesson and sell their system break-even or for a profit. (hence, why I think the PS4 won't be that much more significantly more powerful than the Wii U....durango yes, PS4 no).
