Where did the PlayStation Vita go wrong?

On paper, Sony’s PlayStation Vita looks like an awesome handheld. It’s specs even resemble a slightly under powered PlayStation 3.

So where did the PlayStation Vita go wrong?

[pat_11_5]

These cry babies need to shut up. The Vita is an awesome gaming device. The games are coming, just have some patience.

[joeorc]

I would not call them cry babies, but i would put into Question , why did they buy the PSVita in the first place?
example:

He states this in his piece:

"Or are you still on the fence about the Vita like me?"

but yet here is what he stated:

""Until then, my Vita will continue sitting in a box on my desk collecting dust."

So he's on the fence about playing his PSVita?

when there is

Back catalog of PSP games,PS1 games,psp mini's, than you Have playstation Mobile. than what ever PSVita games that have been released. but yet there is nothing to play?

the View by many on the PSVita is downright pessimistic by many gamer's and Media. but the past on Sony's support for their Game systems have Shown exactly ever since they have been in this part of the market that pessimistic view about Sony in the game madia and forums is the same thing for every playstation that has ever been released.

Why PlayStation2 will fail

11-26-1999 09:49 PM

PlayStation2 is overpriced, it only has a 3 month headstart on Dolphin everywehre but Japan, and it has a bunch of useless features that won't be used by mainstream consumers until the PS2's game abilities are obsolete.

http://community.us.playsta...

[Kur0]

That is hilarious. That guy couldn't have been more wrong even if he tried. I'm surprised Sony kept the old forum posts!

[Kalowest]

I didn't get my Vita to play "PSP,PS1,psp mini game", I got it to play Vita made games, I can play all that other stuff on my hacked PSP.

[joeorc]

"I didn't get my Vita to play "PSP,PS1,psp mini game", I got it to play Vita made games, I can play all that other stuff on my hacked PSP."

and why do you think there is not very many PSVita games released right now?

because their still working on them!

It seem's many do not really have any freaking idea how long it would take to make a game like TearAway, or killzone mercenary!

Many just want the game's Now instead of waiting for them to be made, 20+ games were made for @ launch window, new Playstation Mobile and PSVita
Games are being made for the system. does many still not get that?

the Nintendo 3DS has two ARM core Cortex 11 cpu's each core runs @ 268 MHz, with 128 MB of system ram. and a single core PICA 200 GPU which runs @ 268 MHz with 6 MB of dedicate GPU memory.

the PSVita's GPU is not only way more advanced, but the fact it is 4 GPU cores with the clock speed over 300 MHz with 128 MB of dedicated GPU Ram never mind the Quad CORE cortex A9 processor's. developing for this machine is like developing for a living room Game console , not like developing for a Handheld!

we are talking about a HandHeld that absolutly dwarf's the Wii!

to expect Unique, Exclusives that push the Hardware to be done in such short time is not only unrealistic, but people are being downright
naive if they think that is the case! Yes you can churn out Good fun game's that does not push the hardware, but Gamer's want to see more from Sony like Exclusive games like gravity rush! those games take Time people!

If you cannot wait , Maybe the PSVita is not right for your Gaming Need's.

[deafdani]

"PSP games,PS1 games, psp mini's, playstation Mobile."

Yeah, except that some people bought the Vita to play Vita games. And those are lacking on the system right now.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

@Joeorc wow bro what a blast from the past lol, I was still in elementary school when this post was written now I'm almost on my way out of college, Jesus where does the time go?

[iamnsuperman]

There are quite a number of games coming to the Vita which people seem to over look (seriously go look it up, it may surprise you) but generally third parties just do not seem interested.

Third party do not want to develop for it as it could be a cost risk considering the numbers the Vita has sold. But the people do not want to buy it if there is no third party support.

I say get Gaikai on it. Stream PS3/PS4 games to it (the ones you own with the possibility of paying for the Gaikai service if you want more) and people will run out to buy it.

[profgerbik]

This will happen in due time then everyone can finally shut up when the PS Vita is literally capable of playing PS4 games just by streaming.

Sony knows what they were doing with Gaikai, they saw this market taking a turn for the worst and that was honestly the best decision they could have made to stay in the game.

If it ever got a point where people could not even make profit or afford to build new consoles or handhelds Sony can still support their user base by having their games on Gaikai available to anyone with an internet connection and developers could still be making games for Sony.

Everyone loves to shit on Sony as if they never make any good decisions but I know better it also helps not to focus on now but actually try to think of what the future of these services they have can even bring to the table, just knowing how awesome Gaikai was before Sony even bought it.. Says to me they made one hell of a great decision on that one.

I already know they will do something amazing with Gaikai seeing as they have invested more money into their version of Gaikai than anything else it seems at the moment also tells me it will be a big thing when it's all figured out. You aren't investing close to a billion in this service for nothing.

[DERKADER]

I just think that the dedicated handheld gaming market is a youth driven market that isn't interested in a high end device.

[iamnsuperman]

I think you right. I think I remember reading somewhere that the market is heavily dominated by younger teenagers and mainly females (I am non of those)

[PopRocks359]

Uh, guys? If that was the case then why is the 3DS doing as we'll as it is? Don't blame the market for the Vita's sale figures when the 3DS is coexisting with the IPads/iPhones/android market just fine.

[DERKADER]

Because the 3DS/DS caters to a youth based marked with its games, advertising and pricing. Also I said "dedicated handheld gaming" so iPads/iPhones/Androind are not included in my opinion.

[LOGICWINS]

"Uh, guys? If that was the case then why is the 3DS doing as we'll as it is?"

Marketing.

[insomnium2]

@pop

derkader said high end device so....

[iamnsuperman]

@PopRock359

Look at DS top selling games
New Super Mario Bros. (29.09 million)
Nintendogs (23.64 million)
Mario Kart DS (22.57 million)
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! (18.96 million)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (17.57 million)
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! (14.83 million)

3DS:
Super Mario 3D Land 5.84 million
Mario Kart 7 5.24 million
New Super Mario Bros. 2 3.25 million
Nintendogs + Cats 2.70 million
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 2.61 million
Animal Crossing: New Leaf 2 million

Those games have broad market appeal. The fact Nintendogs and Brain training is so high is rather telling of the market. I am not saying the Vita sales figures is because of the market. Actually it is the choice of their games because it would appear broad market games sell much better.

[InMyOpinion]

People would rather play high quality titles like Mario, Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, Kid Icarus and Monster Hunter than crappy Vita iterations of COD and Resistance.

Soul Sacrifice looks really good but it isn't out yet. It might change things up.

[Kingthrash360]

@ in my opinion...wow you soon forget uncharted, gravity rush, persona4, mvc, sfxt, AC, sonic racing, sinemora, ninja gaiden sigma, strangers wrath, nfsmw. To name a few...why just mention low underrated games (IMO) for the vita?? Your point is useless... Also monster hunter isn't out yet so put that next to soul sacrifice... oh and the 3ds has a year head start over the vita and the vita has more worth while games already.....Zelda is a 2 year old launch game (a remake of a 9 year old game) that ant self respecting 3ds owner has beaten twice and traded in already.... I'm no fanboy so don't go there but I own both systems and my 3 ds is collecting dust right now (sadly) its truly made for kids ...wtf is nintendogs to a grown man???
The vita did nothing wrong and is not in trouble.
Thos guys at Nintendo know where the money is and that's in the kids... Wii put sold all consoles, the ds outsold the wii... Name me one sports game better on the wii and the others.... Or 1 3rd party game.... Just 1.. Do tha same for the 3ds ....

[FlyingFoxy]

in my opinion is an idiot, sure Zelda might be a quality title but you left out Uncharted, the best game on Vita and it looks great to boot.

[TongkatAli]

You can play FFIX on it. It will never be a failure when it can play that game.

[NYC_Gamer]

It's a strong handheld but doesn't have enough support.

[tigertron]

Right now the memory cards are too expensive for me to buy a Vita, but I will if they do.

[tigertron]

*drop in price.

[gamedebater]

I'm not a scientist or anything but NO GAMES = NO SALES.... as simple as that my dear friend.

[Kingthrash360]

Yeah tell that to the wii....dummy

[EddieNX]

The wii has LOADS AND LOADS AND LOADS of amazing games.

Mario galaxy 1 and 2 , Metroid prime 3 , Skyward sword , Smash bros brawl , Monster Hunter Tri , Xenoblade chronicles , Donkey kong country returns to name a very small few of the Wii's games.

The Ps vita will never come close to matching the Wii's best games.

[Kingthrash360]

Your one bub says it all king wii wii. I wasn't sayin the wii had bad games I was saying it has less...L-E-S-S games but still dominated its much more powerful competitors in sales.. Nothing about quality.... Also your making the wii look bad by comparing it to a HANDHELD.... Dummy#2

[gamedebater]

UHMM who would disagree to this and why? how could you....

[kenshiro100]

First it was the PS3 and now it's the Vita they're picking on. At this rate, the PS4 will be 'doomed' before its even announced.

Good God media, GIVE IT A REST.

[DigitalRaptor]

I swear if PS4 gets the same treatment as PS3 and Vita from the media next gen, this conspiracy of bias that is always laughed at will be all the more real.

Vita will be just fine - I remember when we were hearing that "PS3 has no games" even though it did. Well it seems that history repeats itself folks. Vita apparently also "has no games", but what it true is that there are plenty. And plenty more to come, including a BioShock (Ken Levine/Irrational), Tearaway (Media Molecule), Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (Sanzaru), Soul Sacrifice (Marvelous/Keiji Inafune/Sony), Killzone: Mercenary (Guerrilla/Cambridge), Final Fantasy X HD, Phantasy Star Online 2, Rainbow Moon, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD, Warrior's Lair, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Dragon's Crown and great looking 2D platformers such as Guacamelee (from the excellent Drinkbox Studios) and Dokuro.

A fair number of ports but also fair number of new ones.

[punkandlizard]

true, winds me up.

[DA_SHREDDER]

It's not a phone, and it doesn't feel like a DS3, no L3 R3 buttons. Had it been a phone and felt like a DS3, it would be doing alot better.

[caffman]

Lack of third party support and the iphone market. Why pay £30 for a portable game when you can get as much playability out of a 69p one?

[Venoxn4g]

sorry but i will better pay 30 for a good game, but not like angry birds type

[ElitaStorm]

its not the vita its the ppl who have phones the size of my 42" TV

[DivineAssault]

Vita needs a few casual hits to make the numbers go up.. A price drop, some AAA kiddy titles, & keep true to the core.. Then it will rise.. Im sure the hurdle is price because people want it, its just alot of money to have a good set up..

[zavierkai]

the problem is not the vita is SONY. The sistem is not appealing for everybody only for the hard core gamer.

[Thirty3Three]

It DIDN'T GO WRONG.

These articles are so ridiculous. The ps3 started out the same way. Look at it now; topping 360 sales.

[Shadow Flare]

In fact the 3DS started out the same way too. I remember when the 3DS was doing so badly they had to considerably slash it's price. But look at it now

[punkandlizard]

correct 333!

[gamer7804]

The system hasn't gone wrong, but sony's support and getting quality developers to make real games is certainly struggling. Just look at what capcom said about the 3ds Resident Evil Game. I really want another reason to pick up my vita again.

Also the PS3 is not selling more than the 360, its SHIPPING more. Very different things. The Xbox 360 has been outselling all of the consoles for a while now.

[ApolloAdams]

My person opinion here:

1. It was late to the party. I think that if it came out 1-2 years earlier it would be doing better sales wise.

2. Lacks cheap apps/games. If you are paying $250 for a device in 2012/2013 it is expected that good cheap games that appeal to casuals and hardcore alike would be ready for it.

3. Too expensive. Sure you can make the argument that the specs in this warrants it but at this moment you really can't looking at other spec'ed cheaper more versatile devices.

4. Storage. Launching a device without internal storage in 2012 is laughable on top of having expensive Sony made memory cards is just a slap in the face.

Now this doesn't mean this device is horrible and will fail and stuff. Even the best devices have glaring things wrong with it and the Vita is no exception.

To call it perfect and claim nothing wrong with it is idiotic but also completely bashing it and calling it a fail is stupid. There is a balance here.

[NicSage]

There are plenty of games out for the Vita & more coming, I do not understand how people think there are no games for this?

" Also, the one title many gamers were pinning the Vita’s immediate hope on was Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified. "

You are a fool sir to make this assumption.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Gravity Rush
Playstation all-stars
Unit 13

Tear away
Killzone
Soul Sacrafice
PSO2
Sly cooper

There are many many games on the vita, people just need to look for themselves instead of reading bunk article such as this.

[Moentjers]

Our PS Vita is working overtime on Lego Batman 2. Nice casual is Mutant Blobs Attack.

[mt]

as Vita owner, I say , we only need games more games that is all.

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

The remote play feature that was advertised initially. If you would let me play psn titles, ps3 games, like what we originally thought we were getting then this alone could have boosted sales. Had a few buddies wanting to get it for this feature alone. Until this becomes a highlight point for the vita people are gonna shy away from it.

It can run ps3 games on custom firmware which has been shown by hackers. I don't condone that but this is the same stuff apple pulled with he iPhone. Features that add functionality to your device and that can be implemented but they choose not to release it to the world. I like my vita but with full remote play it would take it the vita to another level.

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

"I mean, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I’m doing true accurate motion gaming? Our view of the ‘Game Boy experience’ is that it’s a great babysitting tool, (but) no self-respecting 20-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those. He’s too old for that." - Jack Tretton CEO and president of SCEA speaking about the xbox 360, Wii and 3DS.
Karma. Thats where VITA went wrong. Its made by a company led by arrogant a**hats.
Basically according to him, I don't have any self respect because I like Mario on the go. He called it a baby sitting tool.
Instead I should respect myself and only play Resistance or Blops Declassified.
One year after that statement VITA is languishing in mediocre sales and failure. What goes around. . .

[Hicken]

Funny that you bring up just some average games for the Vita, and leave out all the good stuff on it, like Uncharted, Gravity Rush, P4G, and others.

Let's be real: who are most DS and 3DS systems bought for? People your age?

You REALLY can't see the sense in his words?

Dunno why I'm asking. You've essentially done nothing but troll Sony articles in the three days since you've been here.

And look at that! Up to four bubbles already!

... that's odd. I could have SWORN this site was overrun by Sony "drones."

[2pacalypsenow]

That developers didn't invest enough time and resources into it

[wiiulee]

its simple...instead of sony making it a portable system with its own identity...they were too focus on making a mini ps3 to show that it has almost the same processing power as a ps3...which does not work...if they truly want to copy nintendo then they can see that 3ds and wii were completely different

[joeorc]

"its simple...instead of sony making it a portable system with its own identity...they were too focus on making a mini ps3 to show that it has almost the same processing power as a ps3...which does not work.."

I keep seeing this said over and over again by detractor's but that is not a fact that is your Opinion.

you say "instead of sony making it a portable system with its own identity."

what do you mean by it's own identity?

like the fact that many still seem to keep saying the games made for the PSVita are mainly Port's which is not true at all. since when is a game that has it's own story line, and unique art is "just a port" I keep hearing how Uncharted on the PSVita is just a port, when it's not true at all.

The PSVita is it's own Handheld, no other Game Handheld has a rear touch pad, not to mention no other game HandHeld has 128 MB of dedicated Video Ram for their Handhelds GPU!

we have no idea what sorta exclusives or Unique iP's that will be going to the PSVita. but also that like Nintendo the games in the works for the PSVita are not all info released for the PSVita. the fact that it has such a very Large amount of Ram for it's GPU means that the PSVita can gather very heavy investment's into development of software. Quite a bit more investment than what is in the Nintendo 3DS.

[FlyingFoxy]

Vita hasn't gone wrong, it's got great hardware and a handful of great games so far.

So all it needs is more games, i prefer it more over 3DS and it's much more comfy to hold and you don't have to struggle with the control sticks like you do with the slidepad on 3DS that has no grip. 3DS has bad placement of the Dpad as well, though i never use it.

Let's not forget the things Vita can do over 3DS like play youtube vids on the fly and has a better web browser as well.

[strigoi814]

Problems..
1. memory card not included
2. Games
3. very poor marketing
4. smart phones
5. cheap consumers who feel like hardcore gamers using their button less smart phones for gaming and too much complains for spending .99 cents

[wtfbbq8]

Vita is failing because they target the wrong people.
DS targets children.
Try ask any children they will say they want a DS.

[ERommel]

To be honest, I don't have a 3DS and I would consider myself to be a Playstation fanboy. I have to say that the Vita is the best piece of hardware I have held in my hand. I do not have a cell phone, and with the 3G version of Vita along with a $40.00 a year subscription to Skype I have my own number and can call and receive calls from any home/cell phone is the U.S. So basically I can carry a Vita and play the best handheld games, surf the net, e-mail, and make phone calls all for $35.00 a month. Show me a data plan/tablet cell phone package that matches this. Oh and if you happen to get texts from people the text has an actual e-mail address attached to it so you can throw that in your contact list in the e-mail app and you can text and send pictures to peoples cell phones. I would be happy to give instructions on how to use this awesome device.

[Drabent]

Love my vita just need some Monster Hunter 3D love^^