As Vita sales lag, a new publisher goes all-in on the handheld

Gamasutra- There's doom and gloom surrounding the future of Sony's PlayStation Vita. But one new publisher has teamed up with talented indie developers who have faith in the handheld's potential.

[Snookies12]

"For me as a publisher, we can either whine about lack of sales, or we can go out and publish unique and compelling games for the Vita that drive sales,"

Thank god someone has sense...

[GribbleGrunger]

Abso-bloody-lutely! At last, a dev that remembers how it used to be!

[SilentNegotiator]

Plus, if you can be that ONE dev/pub that does well on even a slow platform, you can do really well.

That said, it isn't necessarily THEIR place to push sales, but it's great that they took the initiative. And if they CAN become that must-have devs/pub of that system....good on 'em.

[sikbeta]

@Snookies12

It's easy to talk, look at whoever say that not doing it at all :/

Western Devs/Pubs = Home Consoles

Eastern Devs/Pubs = Handheld

[SilentNegotiator]

"It's easy to talk, look at whoever say that not doing it at all"

At least 3 games are in the works by them.

3 games = Not doing anything at all?

[Xof]

"That said, it isn't necessarily THEIR place to push sales, but it's great that they took the initiative."

No, it's not their place AT ALL to push hardware sales. It's Sony's. You know, Sony. Remember them? They're the people who add digital content to the PSN network every week, games and themes and avatars and videos and all kinds of nifty stuff for their customers to download. It's Sony's place to drive sales, partly by releasing first party games, partly by encouraging third-party development, and partly by maintaining a level of product-awareness with consistent PSN content updates.

They've failed to do any of that.

So, yes, it's nice to see a third party developer step up to the plate, as it were. But at the same time, it's pathetic and insulting that Sony's ineptitude is forcing them to take a risk like that in the first place.

[Relientk77]

Ok, that guy is awesome

[rezzah]

I was thinking about this today at work.

"Why do people wait for sales to increase when they can create games to increase sales?"

[Captain Tuttle]

Because with a larger user base the chances of making a profit increase.

Anyway, good luck to the guy. Fortune favors the bold and all that.

[Eyeco]

the ps vita has tons of potential, its problem is that it seems to suffer from the same issues that plagued the PSP, that being

A: it never had any original IP's that were unique to the handheld, with the exception of games like Patapon, JRPG'S, meaning if you weren't into RPG's the psp was almost useless

B: it felt more like a console than a handheld, e.g. Console ports , Console ip's on the system. And

C:The Pricing

[MasterCornholio]

Console IPs are not the problem because the 3DS sells well because of them.

Can you imagine the 3DS selling without Mario which is an IP that started on a console?

XperiaRay

[small44]

How it dosn't have original IP?
Sound Shape,Escape Plan,Gravity Rush,Reality Fighter,Soul Sacrifice are not original for You.
And tell me witch consoles dosn't have port?
What is the originals games in 3DS if the Titles witch i cited are not originals?

[AWBrawler]

@cornholio

true 3DS has mario, but you forget that the best selling games on Nintendo's portables tend to be Pokemon (made for portables) and Animal Crossing, which i Always believed should have been a portable from day 1, but lacked the hardware at the time.

[kariyanine]

@cornholio Nintendo operates on a different level though. Mario and Zelda are brands of their own, Sony doesn't have anything that has that kind of pervasive reach.

[clrlite]

I would say replace B with, "could use better marketing" and you may be on to something.

people may disagree yet remain baffled when inferior hardware manages to pull better numbers.

Vita in it's first few months trumped 3DS first year of games, yet hasn't sold as well yet.

nintendo's PRICE DROP (as you alluded to) and proper marketing made a HUGE difference.

[Heavenly King]

Yeah! I was wondering how/why publishers think that in order to start developing games for a system, it first needs to sell good; when in reality it is the other way around. In order to achieve good sales on any system, it first needs huge quantities of great games.

It is like if most publishers are expecting hardware to be sold without any software to support it. A really stupid way of thinking on their part.

[turgore]

Build it and they will come.

[Mounce]

Fuckin' right. Now if they make awesome games, I'll be sure to support them.

[showtimefolks]

So a 2.2 million sale and this fall with strong line up is bad sales? Why is that people forgetting how bad 3DS did before Nintendo had to lower the price and you compare vita launch line with 3DS and it's not even a competition Sony had a great launch but than I think they didn't follow up with that

But let's not act like vita is doom and all not again after all the ps3 doom articles enough move on. Give it enough time 10 months isn't a whole lot of time

[Edward75]

Very good to see a glimmer of hope in the negative sky.... It's good to see game makers follow with what they believe in. I hope it's a trend that continues. This is the kinda news vita needs!

[r21]

Yes, more support for vita! :D Looking forward to playing these games.

[rpd123]

I almost shat myself because I read Big Sky Infinity as Bioshock Infinite.

[rpd123]

Lol, why are people disagreeing with me, it has nothing to do with anyone else but me.

[vork77]

Lower the vita price and release new and good games then I will get it!!!!!

[rpd123]

It's already got a lot of solid titles, and getting a bundle is essentially a price drop.

[G20WLY]

I don't know where you are, but there are some amazing deals around at the moment.

For example in the UK in HMV, you can now get a Vita with Uncharted and Everybody's Golf for £214! Both great games, so no excuses - BUY ONE!

I did and I'm loving it :)

[andibandit]

Already have uncharted on ps3, and golf isnt me

[G20WLY]

@bandit, I was really just trying to help Vork77 by highlighting that deal, but there are others with different games too, if you prefer.

BTW did you know Uncharted on Vita is a completely new story, rather than a remake? It has optional new control methods too - sniping is much better!

If you did know and was just being 'clever', consider this; having Halo/Mass Effect won't stop you buying the next sequel, will it?

If you didn't know, I'm sure you'll accept my aplologies. It's hard not to be cynical with all the trolls around these parts! :)

[SoundGamer]

It doesn't need a price drop right now and there are great bundles coming out for a steal.

http://gamerxchange.net/201...

[dboyman]

I think its not the Vita price itself that is expensive and holding it back but the EXPENSIVE Proprietary Memory Cards. Sony seriously needs to drop the price on the memory cards ASAP...

[banjadude]

Sony should work really hard to get Atlus and Xseed more involved with the Vita, too. I mean, those two publishers dominated in the PSP category (I pretty much own all the games they have published), and would love to see them bring some new additions to the Vita.

[Xperia_ion]

Atlus is going to bring P Arena to the Vita, I'm certain and that new girl Marie from P4 golden will be playable, I hope.

[miyamoto]

My girl really loves to get an Xperia ion the minute she saw its gorgeous screen at Best Buy Mobile.

Any ways a 7 year old Chinese kid came up to me while I was fiddling with my Galaxy S2 and proudly expressed himself, " My dad is buying me an iPad this Christmas what are you getting?"

I replied with a survey answer, "I am getting a PS Vita."
He asked back, "What is a PS Vita? I know a PSP but never heard of PS Vita."

Now that is a big problem Sony needs to solve.

[CaitSith]

Xseed's publishing a game called Ragnarok Odyssey for the Vita, so...

Edit: Oh, and it's coming out on October 16th, 2012 for North America.

[Xperia_ion]

^^^^^
Ignore feature FTW!!!

[hot4play]

I miss the ignore feature and the Open Zone..

We need a place for these sick trolls and fanboys...

[hot4play]

The Vita is a system that will only get better with time. Many developers have still unannounced killer projects on the way i'm sure... :)

[Mustang300C2012]

What info can you show us about these unannounced killer projects that are on the way?

[hot4play]

Tokyo Game Show.

[Tito08]

@ Hot4play- Good answer!!!!!!!

[XabiDaChosenOne]

@RedHemi300c lol you're such a hater.

[Mustang300C2012]

Nothing to hate about in the first place. Tokyo Game show doesn't guarantee anything other than we will get announcements. That lesson should have been learned going into E3.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

@Mustang300C2012 H-A-T-E-R! "Tokyo Game show doesn't guarantee anything other than we will get announcements. That lesson should have been learned going into E3." Im sorry but last time I checked 2 original titles were announced for the Vita at E3 and there was at least 25 playable PSvita games at the show floor. And its funny how you neglect to mention gamescom. If E3 AND Gamescom is anything to go by TGS (The motherland for Sony) Is going to be a hit!!!! But keep hating hater, it will get you far in life/s

[hot4play]

@Kobe357
Took the words right out my mouth, well said.

I got phantom disagrees because i choose to be positive and excited about the Vita's future/potential. I really don't understand the hate honestly. "Mustang300C2012" is just one of those. Checked his comments and saw he's clearly biased against the system (for whatever reason).

Face it haters, the Vita is here to stay. Just wait till the new Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, and Monster Hunter gets announced. ;)

[Hanuman]

It's all in the advertising..Sony needs to study It's PSP lifecycle and learn.

[Alastor64]

I wish an actual known and good developer said this. It's just some sucky developer that made a Chess game trying to suck up to Sony.

[joeorc]

"I wish an actual known and good developer said this. It's just some sucky developer that made a Chess game trying to suck up to Sony."

Oh for pete's sake, Naughty Dog was an unknown developer once in their development studio's inception. If everyone felt the way you do about developer's, no development studio's would ever get started!

[DJ]

Sony needs to look at how iPod Touch was advertised and do the same with Vita. I want to see ads on the sides of freeways, on TV, on the internet, on my frickin' burger wrapper!

People who see me play my PS Vita are entranced with just how gorgeous the screen is and how good the games look. Why the hell am I expected to advertise for them?

[DJ]

In other news, I just got Resistance Burning Skies, and it's pretty fun. The only downside is that the Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified trailer uses the EXACT same gun sounds, lol.

[Mustang300C2012]

It cost money to advertise and apparently in the history of Sony Vita launch was the most they ever spent for advertisement which was dedicated to the hardcore gamer. Jack Tretton at one point decided to make claims that the 3DS wasn't for the hardcore it was for babies.

PlayStation boss: Nintendo 3DS a 'babysitting tool'

A senior exec at Sony has given Nintendo's 3DS a severe verbal beatdown, calling the glasses-free 3D console a "babysitting tool."

Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, went medieval on Mario in an interview with Fortune, claiming the 3DS would be an embarrassing accessory for the trendy modern pleasure seeker. "No self-respecting twentysomething is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those," he raged. "He's too old for that."

Ouch. There's no love lost between Sony and Nintendo--these latest comments draw on a rich history of bickering, along the lines that Nintendo's offerings are childish and underpowered, while PlayStation devices are more appealing to hard-core gamers, and are crammed with handfuls of high-powered hardware

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1...

Oh and just because you advertise doesn't guarantee it will be good advertisement.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

You spend money to watch someone play a guitar for a minute and spend 5 seconds actually showing the product and no games. Advertisement doesn't guarantee it will be good.

[-Gespenst-]

Just give me Final Fantasy Type-0 and I'll have to get one.

[Moentjers]

Just let us play PS3 games ON the PS3 and view/control it on our VITA.

[masa2009]

Indie games developed by one or two-man teams that will also appear on other platforms... Big deal.
Wow, what a commitment to put these on the Vita.

Even the Call of Duty game is developped by Nihilistic. That says it all.
Assassin's Creed is the Vita's only true system seller on the horizon, and maybe, maybe Killzone if that brand still has enough momentum.

[mayberry]

Of course the ' Killzone ' brand has ' enough ' momentum to sell friend. Those games are BOSS! And mercinary looks wicked!

[masa2009]

I was saYing that because KZ3 didn't sell very much.

[3-4-5]

If they are successful with even one game on the Vita, it gets them in the door for Game # 2 that much easier.

And if they are one of the few driving the Vita sales, then they also will have built up a nice solid relationship with Sony as well, guaranteeing them Sony's support in the future.

I love when people actually think logically.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

"For me as a publisher, we can either whine about lack of sales, or we can go out and publish unique and compelling games for the Vita that drive sales,"

Quote of the year.

[Cryptcuzz]

+1 for Quote of the year.

I wish that developer the best of luck and hope they succeed in all that they do.

If only more developers would have that same mentality. It is quite inspirational and thought provoking when I read it.

Everyone sees and knows the potential the Vita can have. Instead of waiting for sales to pick up, they should create games and content on it that would drive sales.

[SweetIvy]

I really don't think PSVita is priced too high, for the hardware and the features it offers. I bought mine for 199€ and was very happy with that a month or so ago.

As for games, I bought it now because of Gravity Rush and then there's Escape Plan and LBP is coming soon.
Also, I bought Sound Shape and I can play it both on PS3 and PSVita, two thumbs up for me, it's an hadsome piece of hardware :)!

[megamanX2]

"I am pretty sure they touched something when they made Nintendo lower the 3DS's price when the Vita price was announced to have the same price at launch ;)

oh is that why people are begging for sony to drop the price of the vita lol, and i agree sony is just no match for nintendo they just wont admit it. Anyone that buys a sony handheld just has nothing better to do wit their money, especially when you can get free games on your cell phone.

[Soldierone]

Or we want better games that don't mostly revolve around the same franchises over and over.....

I have games on my Vita that phones will never support.

[unmannedrobot]

whats wrong with the same franchises being recycled over an over?

[sumfood4u]

Just make games and stop worrying about competition, and it will work itself out in the end.

[Soldierone]

A developer putting a good game out before caring about sales....where do I sign on the dotted line for a subscription to get the games shipped directly to my house?

[DJ]

Just you wait. I'm surprised publishers haven't done this already. Then again that's what Online stores are supposedly for. Physical copies are just feel more meaningful though.

[LakerGamerEnthusiast]

Wow. this almost sort of kind of sounded like it was superman to the rescue. a great article that makes me think about more than just a group of avengers in hopes to spark a fire for the vita.

wish the best for them and looking forward to getting that vita as soon as i have the money.

[DivineAssault]

vita hasnt even began to take flight yet & ppl are worried.. Theres nothing to be concerned about cuz Sony wont let it die without one hell of a fight.. Theres alot of great games on its way & the key franchises from psp havent even been announced as of yet.. Just wait til the GOWs, RPGs,etc start being announced.. Theres over 10 great games coming this year like AC, Persona, cross buy titles, silent hill, ragonorok, sreet fighter, FFXHD, oddworld, warriors liar, apps, services & next year might even be better with soul sacrifice, dragons crown, etc, etc, etc... If vita dies, i can say my money was well spent on all these great games being released for the nx yr or 2... It hasnt even began to walk yet.. Hell, when they lower production costs & price drop, it will definitely increase in sales.. The vita is beautiful hardware

[Adolph Fitler]

Most publishers really are morons, as I thought it would have been obvious that if you had the developers in your nest that were capable of making great games, then it is a no brainer to attack Vita with force before every publisher & his dog wants a piece of the pie. Lack of competition is what will allow nearly all great games to sell on the Vita. I mean, if your game comes out & is the only Vita game at the time getting 9's & higher from all major games sites & publications, then your game has a pretty darn good chance of selling.

This is the reason the 1st Resistance sold quite well, as it had no real serious competition at launch, & was also hyped up the gazoo. (plus it was an incredible gaming experience, no matter what anyone else says).
So, no competition, excellent title + good marketing & hype will all but ensure your Vita title/s amass good sales.

Why a couple of big developers with great titles aren't jumping on is anyones guess. Now is the best time. I mean, try releasing a PS3, Wii or 360 title amongst the masses of them & get good sales...some of the best games of this gen & past gens have sold like crap, while the crap has sold the best. Resistance 3, Rayan Origins, Bayonetta, Vanqhish, BG&E, Psychonauts, Okami, Godhand, are but a mere handful that spring to mind. And the one determining factor about nearly all of these, is that they came at a time when there console home of choice had garnered mass sales, so the demograph to sell to was VERY, VERY healthy, as opposed to newer hardware install bases that are infinately smaller, but still offer enough scope to sell your game well, provided a good to great game & has great marketing......and of course, is not to niche a title.
The best example I can think of is Resistance 1 as opposed to Resistance 3. Resistance is a great game, yes, even still, but Resistance 3 is hands down better on ALL fronts, but yet R3 sold so badly that Insomniac washed there hands clean of it, as it was costing them money, instead of making them money, as gamers didn't buy it (I did & was saddened by the whole debacle, (especially considering some other idiots messed it up on Vita & now are having a crack at ruining the COD with a Vita turd).

[Adolph Fitler]

I do hope Insomniac can cut it as a multiplat developer, as there is a history that shows a move like this for a once exclusive developer to either jump ship, or go multiplat, to go broke & completely out of the business, & considering many other console owners claim to hate, loathe or think poorly of Resistance, Ratchet & anything Insomniac & claim they wouldn't buy Resistance if, emphasis on IF, they had a PS3. So, I cant see Overstrike beeing a revolution to the fps genre, which means it will probably only be of a similar scale, quality & experience to Resistance, which in turn means it's sales will more than likely flounder, as hardcore Sony fanboys won't buy it, as hardly any bought Resistance 3, which is a great exclusive, so they won't buy a game from a "turncoat" developer, & the others that claimed the Resistance series mediocre, & Insomniac not a special developer, will surely not buy this unheard of new IP.
Now, I really am not trying to use internet witch doctor tactics to cast bad spells on Insomniacs future endeavours, as they are a fave developer of mine & I want & more than likely will buy Overstrike, as well as other games from them (I think they have a new Ratchet coming too), so I hope they make Overstrike there best game yet, better than COD, BF3 & the other overhyped big guns & it sells well into the millions to ensure Insomniac has a future, but the terrible part is that great developers that have done the same thing have suffered dire consequences, so it would seem safer for Insomniac to continue as a Sony exclusive. Bizarre Creations of PGR on Xbox is a great example, as they went from being MS exclusive to multiplat & even made decent games like The Club, Split Second & a good Bond game, but still went broke. Then if we look back at the previously Sony exclusive Oddworld Inhabants who made Abe's Odysee that sold MILLIONS on PS1 & they had a massive fanbase, but then stupidly turned MS exclusive for the new console for the next gen (maybe a bad example, as clearly they made dumb decisions), we also have Rare that went from making HUGE selling games exclusively for Nintendo machines, then went MS exclusive in a new gen & began a sharp decline that started with the craptacular PDZ (& it WAS CRAP, really horrible game, as opposed to it's N64 counterparts, as well as Goldeneye which is regarded THE BEST console FPS ever by many).
Anyway, I could ramble on all day, but point is, developers & publishers are crazy with a capital K-en Kutaragi if they don't get on Vita with games......I mean why in gods name can't developers just convert current games like Black Ops, Unchartered 1-3, MGS4, etc, etc, etc. I thought Vita was made for easy development (unlike PS3) which you'd think would mean would be very pc-esque, otherwise it wouldn't really be that easy, would it?

[megamanX2]

"I have games on my Vita that phones will never support."

that's because they only want games that sell duh :).