CheatCC

In an apparent “soft launch,” Sony has not only staggered the release of the PlayStation Vita over a week-long period, beginning with the First Edition Bundle on February 15 and culminating in the general release on February 22, but has made some of its first-party launch titles available for digital purchase.  On the PlayStation 3’s PSN store, prospective Vita purchasers may now find and buy Uncharted: Golden Abyss, ModNation Racers Road Trip, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, and WipEout 2048 at a ten percent discount over their boxed MSRP. Super Stardust Delta, as a PSN-exclusive, is also available at its full price of ten dollars.  What if you’re not interested in buying your games digitally, though? If you intend to use your expensive, proprietary storage for your saves and non-game media alone? The following textmessage, sent by GameStop yesterday, may interest you:  “GameStop:Your Uncharted: Golden Abyss order avail Wed PM. Bring your trades to reduce price.” That's right, GameStop is selling Vita titles a week before the system is made available to even the First Edition Bundle buyers. This quiet, early release apparently applies to first-party Vita titles, which you may purchase early, whether to play them on your imported console or place them on your shelf, staring longingly at their glistening plastic as you await launch day for the hardware that plays them. http://news.cheatcc.com/Article.aspx?PostID=379938

Why? Doesn't this rob the launch of its momentum?

I absolutely hate those Vita cases.

I'm kinda puzzled myself. I mean sometimes movies do soft launches to build up word of mouth but it's a totally different thing. I really can't think of a good reason for it. Perhaps to make the sales in Feb look better? 

Is certainly going to stop a lot of lines outside game stores etc forming which seems like a bad thing. 

I have full confidence that Sony knows what they're doing.

O love the Vita cases. They're so... cute and small! (No, that is no sarcasm. I mean it.)

Let's see...

Vita games so far range from about 600 MB to just under 3 GB. Let's say the average is about 1.5 GB. Games cost an average of $40, so you save $4 a game. You can barely manage to squeeze three games onto the standard $20 4 Gig card, and will need to upgrade to the 8 gig card for an extra $10. This card can hold about 5 games. So for $30 of memory, you can save $20.And since the 16 gig card costs twice as much as the 8 gig, you have to buy the $100 32 gig card to actually break even.

So, the short version is, Sony rips you off unless you buy the most expensive memory card.

Well played.

I agree with Rol. When it's only 10% i'll personally walk down to the store and pay that extra 10% just for the security of having a physical copy.

Needs to be around 20-25% before digital distribution even comes to mind. Granted steam is popular, but I never buy anything on there that isn't on sale.

A lot of stores might also give you a 10% discount, then you save nothing at all by buying the download version.

That digital option with a discount is awesome for south american buyers like myself.