90°

PlayStation Vita Shooters: Missing the Mark

There’s something missing with PlayStation Vita: great first-person shooters that best take advantage of Vita’s dual analog sticks. For a handheld promising “console quality on the go” in advertisements, it’s a huge miss, and an even bigger miss for the millions upon millions of gamers who dominate the shooter scene and would absolutely adore a handheld that gave them their favorite genre no matter where they are. Like it or not, shooters are the real money-maker in today’s industry – Call of Duty illustrates this year in and year out – and if there’s nothing compelling on your platform hailing from that genre, it will be relegated to a niche in the west (unless, of course, you’re Nintendo).

Anon19744165d ago (Edited 4165d ago )

Good article. Not just another Vita doom article for the sake of writing doom articles, this piece has a look at the current FPS games out on the Vita, looks at what went right, what went wrong and what can be done better. I found it to be an interesting piece without parroting all the same negative Vita hyperbole we see so often now. And from IGN, no less.

As popular as first person shooters are though, I don't know if mobile devices really need them. As the author stated, we're still waiting for that good, first person shooter for mobile. So far we've had 20 years of handheld gaming without a really decent first person shooter to be had, but has that really held back mobile gaming as a whole?

I imagine the 3DS will probably never see a decent first person shooter, but do we really believe that will hold back the system? However, given the older demographics that the Vita is being targeted at, a decent first person shooter certainly couldn't hurt their fortunes. The PSP didn't need to rely on FPS games to sell 70-75 million units or whatever it's at now, but this isn't the same market for handhelds that it was even 5 years ago.

What do you guys think? Is a good first person shooter just what the Vita needs or do mobile gamers care about shooters? The Vita isn't lighting Japan on fire and they're huge mobile consumers, and they'll drive to the other side of their island to avoid first person shooter games but I think there's little doubt FPS games would catch the interest of US consumers.

NukaCola4165d ago

Looking forward to KZ Mercs which is made by GG themselves.

Biggest downfall for the Vita FPS was the poor choice to let Nihilistic butcher COD and Resistance.

I am curious to see the Bioshock Vita game and if we are lucky a Fallout or Borderlands. Looking at what the iPhone Rage game looked like, I bet we could get a good shooter from id as well.

Sanquine904165d ago

Buble+ :D I think Kz mercenaries will flourish on the vita ( Hopefully they kill the touch knifing) and i hope that Nihilistic will never ever touch a vita game again. At first i thought BLOPS declassified was not so bad but after a playthrough of a couple of days i felt really hollow:S

@ bioshock game: Ken levine refuses to answer any question i think it is a dead promise from a guy who is just to arrogant. I think the multiplayer in bioshock 2 was their biggest mistake and i am so glad that they do not make the same mistake again.

I want a elder scrolls game on the vita > Like oblivion:D Or borderlands:D

JoGam4165d ago

Just wait for KillZone. I believe that game will be awesome. If not, Houston we may have a problem.

Oh_Yeah4165d ago (Edited 4165d ago )

A FPS on a handheld is a bad idea anyway.. It's all about them rpgs son. Borderlands and fallout being an exception of course.

a_bro4165d ago

not really, let a good developer make an FPS game, and you'll see epicness. I mean, if gaming companies can make a good 3rd person game, like Syphon Filter, and Uncharted:GA, then why not?

the problem here is poor development. its possible to make a great FPS game on the vita, the tools are there. problem is crap developers who dont care about the quality of their software.

rainslacker4165d ago

I don't think it "Needs" one, but it wouldn't hurt it either. A good game is a good game regardless of genre. Most people do play more than one genre of game, and it is nice to have choice.

The only people who say it "Needs" one are those that think that FPS is the only genre that is worth having, and the ones that think FPS is the only money maker in the industry.

Baylex4165d ago

It's not the only money maker, but it's the BIGGEST money maker!!
So any platform that has 3 or 4 good FPS is very well placed in the market. That's a fact.

rainslacker4165d ago

Saying something is a fact doesn't make it a fact and that's a fact.

It is a huge money maker though, and you are right it would help with market share, hence my original statement that it wouldn't hurt to have them.

medziarz4165d ago (Edited 4165d ago )

I disagree: it is just a Vita doom article, for the sake of bashing the system, it's also the second one in two days on IGN with similar appearing everywhere this week

I think certain US media is in some kind of conspiracy against Sony

Right after Black Friday these "Vita is failing and needs saving" articles started showing up everywhere.

That is right after Sony did the killer Black Friday Vita sales, especially the $180 AC3L bundle with free PSASBR on Amazon.

I THINK PS VITA CAUGHT TRACTION after that because the system is now constantly in Amazon's top60 bestsellers in video games (and wasn't anywhere in top100 since launch),
and the journos are trying to undercut it by spreading negative propaganda

CalvinKlein4165d ago (Edited 4165d ago )

The AC bundle has been in the top 100 on amazon since it first came out. It got to like number 30 then started going down until that deal and it went to number 1 then.

I think bundles and BF sales will help it alot but it needs to maintain some momentum and get some help in japan.

Amazon is also selling some 3g vitas with a 8 gig memory for 50$ off and they sold out of those, although I dont think they had many of them like the AC bundle that was the deal of the day on BF.

rainslacker4165d ago

I think it shows that there are plenty of people that do want one, but it's the price that's keeping them away. This is partly on Sony for not marketing it to make people see what it's worth, and possibly having that hidden memory card cost.

I think if numbers show that there is a lot more demand for it at a lower cost we could see a price cut coming. On the other hand, Sony likely has a long term plan for Vita, and there is a lot of evidence to support it will play a major roll with the PS4, so they may just keep it high for now. It all depends on what their goals are for the system.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4165d ago
WeAreLegion4165d ago

I actually really enjoyed Resistance. :)

mttrackmaster384165d ago

It doesn't change the fact that it's mediocre and extremely unpolished to most.

Christopher4165d ago

to most console FPS...

Not likely to have a portable FPS be on par with the norm for consoles.

Perhaps some people understand this and enjoy them for what they are rather than expecting console quality on a portable device.

typikal824165d ago (Edited 4165d ago )

Too true, lots of things were completely unacceptable in the game: broken online, bad graphics and rendering, bad audio and sound effects.

When you see Uncharted on Vita, then you see this, it makes you question what went wrong.

typikal824165d ago

The more I think about it the less I enjoyed RBS. It definitely didn't live up to R3, and they went all over the place with the lore.

Retribution was a great spinoff. I really wish they would have nailed down the lore/creatures, so many different ones for so many different games.

WeAreLegion4165d ago

Very few FPS's this generation were as good as R3.

Pillsbury14165d ago

Vita can do fps well it just needs the right developers. I would more want a mgs and a GTA than anything else. I would be in vita heaven if those happen!

TheGrimOfDeath4165d ago

If a person had fun with Resistance Burning Skies or Call Of Duty Declassified. Does that mean the game sucks?

120°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg9h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos9h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola4h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (7)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies20d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken20d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga20d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken20d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6420d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long20d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197220d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 20d ago
DivineHand12520d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91320d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer20d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91319d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit19d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 19d ago
Christopher20d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6919d ago (Edited 19d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit19d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher20d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken20d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197220d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2320d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218320d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder20d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts20d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)
80°

Sony May Soon Let You Decide How Much NPCs Talk In Games

Sony has patented to add multiple dialogue modes to let players switch between how many conversations with NPCs they want in the game.

blackblades26d ago

Sony is like the only ones outta the 3 that has atuff like like this pop up changing thing in ways.

just_looken26d ago

Sony in the past has always been first at bat with new ideas/tech but in the end never fully use it or just toss it away.

blackblades26d ago

I think they did use some but yeah most usually never happened but at least they thought about it. Sony seeks things like this and other, Nintendo seek different ways of playing going by there different controler designs and console designs.

just_looken26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

some of the other stuff sony want's/owns never used
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://gamerant.com/sony-p...
https://www.eurogamer.net/s...
https://metro.co.uk/2023/03...
https://decrypt.co/114754/s...

monitor/adjust game difficultly as you play
https://www.techradar.com/g...

Sony nfts
https://www.theblock.co/pos...

Pay ai to play the game for you
https://thebusinessofesport...

Oh all the above last 12 months

I just imagine a evil scientist with test subjects when it comes down to sony recent patent reports.

Kaii26d ago

Will we get dialogue options that won't spoil puzzles in a matter of seconds? :p