Sony actually has 4 or 5 Japanese studios, they either take forever or their games do not sell very well.

Sony gets tons of third party support in Japan. There has been no real need for first party support from Sony in terms of the Japanese market. The support for the PSP is still incredible, and because the 360 was basically non-existent there, multi-plats were essentially exclusives. They also had a ton of real PS3 exclusives, as well.

The only problem right now is that third party developers have been content to stay with the PSP. A LOT of new PSP games have been released recently or will be soon. We just have to wait and see if these smaller studios move on to Vita development after their last PSP titles have been released. Judging from comments from Sony executives, I get the impression that they're going to be working hard on convincing developers to make the jump.

I've said it before, but I think we'll see a surge in Japanese developed Vita games about a year from now. The transition from the PSP is going to take awhile.

@bold. What PS3 games? Most PS3 games are western-made.

@underline. Can you explain, I have no idea how to come to that conclusion.

@pokopoko. Why wouldn't they transition to the 3DS? I ask because this is a topic on 1st party development, and so to count on 3rd party software is not such an answer to OP.

You'd have to ask each individual studio that.  A lot of them have made games for both Nintendo and Sony.  Many studios also form loose partnerships with either Sony or Nintendo, though what kind of support that entails I do not know.  I think it's also worth noting how strong the PSP finished in Japan, and how big that brand is there, so I really doubt the Vita will be abandoned.  It's just going to have to fight with the PSP early in it's life-cycle.

As far as the OP goes, I think saying that extensive first party support hasn't been necessary in Japan counts as answering the question.  It's a two horse race over there, with plenty of room for both, so it's a different situtation than in the west.  

I agree, you answer one side of OP. But don't you think Sony's 1st party jap games would increase the interest in vita while it's waiting for 3rd parties, making the transition more promising?

Your posts have been of excellent quality lately, what is going on here? :) (just kidding)

So, how is Sony catering to the PSP owners atm?

We're talking about Sony here bro. Think 1st party.

I feel ya brah :)

Indeed.  But Kojima already has a good position in Konami, so that is not happening.

Nomura should quit from SE, they treat him like crap.  His game should have been released already, but still, SE wants to focus on other stuff.   Sony should offer him a job so he can develop Badas$ RPG for Playstation consoles!! XD

The reason is because they have good 3rd party support that release games that cater to the Japanes Market.Which worked out great for them until the Vita that is. Sony thought that all the 3rd parties would jump on board no questions asked. Unforntunately for Sony that didn't happen and a lot of 3rd parties either continue to make PSP games or have decided to make 3ds games. The biggest case of course being Monster Hunter.

So this puts them in quite a pickle, because the western mass market don't care for handhelds and would rather just play Sony's exclusives on the PS3 and of course games like LitteBig Planet, Uncharted, and Resistance don't have much of a presence in the Japanes Market.

Then like the others have stated, Sony's Japanese studios take forever to release games.

Sony has to decide if they want to make first party games that cater to the Japanes market, or try to get big 3rd party titles onto the Vita. Or maybe both.