Sony: 'We have to do a better job in promoting the Vita'

GameZone's Matt Liebl writes, "Just about a year old now, the PlayStation Vita has struggled to catch fire in the handheld gaming market. Sony, for a third time, has revised their estimated sales forecast for the Vita. I firmly believe it's too early to call the system a flop, but sitting around and waiting for it to pick up steam isn't going to cut it anymore. Even the 3DS required a price cut before it began selling to the masses. The point is, something must be done and Sony recognizes this, admitting today that they need 'to do a better job in promoting the PlayStation Vita.'"

[gamebynight]

Well no crap, Sony. You've done virtually nothing to market the system. Doing anything at all would be better than what you've done so far.

[BullyMangler]

they do not, less people know about the wiiU, so yep .

What sony deeds to do is, re-design the Vita . no comfort support unless one gets the COMFORT TRIGGER grips they made for it . those are awesome. .

[Blastoise]

The Vita really doesn't need a redesign.
It's a nice looking machine, it's incredibly light & it's comfortable to hold

[wolokowoh]

I don't pretend to know how many people are consciously aware things exist but the fact that Wii has sold 3 million units in the short time is been out and Vita has not managed that is suggests the opposite. I love my Vita but more people "wanted" a Wii U enough to buy purchase it. Handhelds usually sell as good as or better than home consoles. PSP is becoming the exception with PS3 probably catching up this year. Also the earlier example of Wii U already catching Vita's first with just it's launch.

[jony_dols]

If Sony announce a price cut, GoW & a GTA title for the sytem, then it will definitely get sales rolling. It's a crucial timethe Vita, it's since or swim for the next few months...

[SaiyanFury]

@Blastoise above

Yeah the Vita feels great. I recently bought NYKO's Power Grip for the Vita, and it literally makes the Vita feel like a big DualShock controller. Factor in, it doubles the Vita's battery life with it's own internal battery, it's completely worth the 30 dollars. Persona 4 The Golden has never felt better, haha.

[NameRemoved0017]

I think they should make an updated psvita with a 1080p screen, 4gb ram, micro sd up to 128gb, and tegra 4. Then it would be able to run games higher quality than the PS3. And they should also put an hdmi port on it, NFC, removable battery and 4g lte support.

[DrJones]

Then it would be a whole new console.. No longer a Vita. And far more expensive.

[Krew_92]

Phones are barely getting 1080p resolution screens, I've yet to see a phone with 4GB RAM the highest right now is 2GB, 128GB micro SD card is way out of the question, if anything they'll continue to use the same memory technology they use for the Vita right now. Tegra 4 would make the system cost too much.

Everything you just listed is just impossible, and I question if you even thought before posting this.

I don't know what Sony will make next, but I know most if not all of what you wrote is out of the question. Maybe NFC probably even 1080p resolution, but the rest I doubt.

But if you were right, expect the new portable to cost $400+

[NameRemoved0017]

Vita is dead, android games already are past vita quality and the Tegra 4 is able to run console games at higher quality than the ps3/xbox 360. For them its either upgrade and make an appealing device or keep the outdatted vita and it will be just like the PSP and fail.

If you don't believe me Sony is already shifting to android devices for playstation mobile games with their new playstation app for xperia devices, its only a matter of time before theres some triple A ports available on android.

@Krew, you are wrong. Basically every new featured phone has a 1080p screen, Sony already has 1080p 5" screens it is 100% possible. 2gb of ram is all thats needed for android phones but they can go up to 4gb if they wanted to. Tegra 4 is not an expensive chip, most phone processors cost less than $25 to make. 128gb micro sd cards cost $60 how is this unreasonable? It is not impossible and it would be outdatted by 2x-4x more powerful phones in 6 months.

[Krew_92]

I said 1080p phones are new, I never said they didn't exist. What I said didn't exist was 4GB of RAM on mobile phones.

128GB is unreasonable because Sony will ALWAYS use proprietary memory formats for their portable devices.

Phones are always getting outdated almost every month nowadays, they're nothing like gaming devices though. What I'm trying to get at, you're listing unrealistic specs right now. We don't even know if consoles next gen will have 4GB of RAM, so this dream list is not very realistic.

Don't get me wrong though, I pretty much bet everyone wishes what you wrote were true, but sadly it most certainly will not. Although, I don't know the future but that's why I said at the end, if it were true expect to pay a very high price.

Just look at phone prices, they pretty much have everything you listed, and MOST sell for $800+

[Sci0n]

Vita already has 1080p support, one of the more recent updates allows you to watch downloaded vids in full 1080p. Games on the other hand that's up to the developers, we still dont have that much 1080p games on consoles.

[UltraVegito]

1.Marketing

2.Exclusive titles/healthy line up of games

3.Price

These are the basics to pretty much every console.

Sony certainly needs some work in all aspects,the sooner they learn this the better it will be for us all.

[Peenutt]

for the vita its more to do with the price. amazon is selling the veta for 200 last i checked and that's were it should have been.

[fredrikpedersen]

I've actually seen a bunch of Vita ads in Norway, yet I'm the only asshole I know who owns one

[brbobcat]

They pretty much ignored it at E3, and with the PS4 getting announced soon it looks like they'll ignore it again.

[boybato]

hopefully not.... I mean it would be its birthday after all.(Us, at least)

[NameRemoved0017]

I want to see the PS Vita relaunched with these specs so it is better than current gen consoles:
Processor: Tegra 4.

Gpu: Tegra 4 IGP.

Memory: 4gb DDR3.

Screen: 1080p Super IPS with 10 point touch.

Storage: up to 256GB Solid state with 4 micro sd ports that can take up to a 128gb micro sd. For a maximum storage space of up to 750GB.

Wireless:
Bluetooth 4LE.
4G LTE for GSM with dual sim support.
Dual Wireless cards for best wifi experience.

Battery: Removable 4000 MAH Battery that can be expanded to increase battery life.

Connections:
Headphone jack with high quality wolfson DAC + good amplifer.

HDMI/Wireless HDMI out with 7.1 surround support and up to 2k.

NFC for transfering saves/media between your PC, PS4 and other Playstation Vitas.

Other Notable Features:
Stream games from your PS4 in full 1080p quality.

Share with friends with NFC and wifi sharing.

Stream games from your vita to your TV and play with the vita or PS4 controller.

Cross platform support.

Play full quality PS3 games that have been ported to the PS Vita like: God of War, Heavy Rain and Infamous.

Full waterproof design and shatterproof glass.

Phone support - Use a GSM sim card and it will allow you to call/text people.

Price:

For a 128gb combo: $500, comes with pair of sony headphones, screen protectors, wireless charger + AC Charger, sync/charge cable and a 3 month Playstation Plus membership + 3 free ps vita downloadable games of your choice

[juandren]

hdshatter: First of all - WHAT? Do you even know the cost of any of those things you listed? You think Sony just has a crap load of hardware lying around in storage? I'm pretty sure you must be trolling. Secondly - would you care to fund that whole project? You could make some serious profit. Oh no wait you won't because it won't even sell 500 units a week. Remember it's still a handheld, not a console. And please tell me which Android or iPhone game's quality matches Uncharted: Dark Abyss?

[rustyspoon80]

If the PS4 gets announced on Feb 20th, that'd leave E3 for games. Sure the PS4 will still be in the limelight but there will be space at E3.
Also Sony tend to show their big guns before E3 which'd leave even more space for Vita.
Vita needs some more big games, Resi, Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter etc.

[JoGam]

I think sony wont make the same mistake again. They showed their big guns before E3 then didnt really show too much at E3 we didnt already know.

[Minato-Namikaze]

Vita had a strong floor presence, just not big stage presence

[JWGoodson]

Isn't that just the truth... x_x

[coptop1]

I mean I wouldn't really say this is news...some might say #oldnews because everyone knows they need to do a better job haha

[Bowzabub]

They're promoting it heavily in Home right now with the PS Home Arcade. There's a big Vita sitting right in the Hub. I'm calling it right now, if they bring the Home app to the Vita it will sell systems, the Home crowd are very devout fans. And it would become the greatest social app because Vita has the mic, the camera, party chat & Skype. Trust me, it would sell hardware.

[TheLastGuardian]

I would appreciate that, Sony. PS Vita is my favorite handheld of all time and I can't stand to see it selling so poorly. I want everyone to know how great this device is and more importantly, I want a bigger install base so more developers will hop on board.

[Prodigy-X]

Funny they say this 13 days before Feb 20. Makes me think some Triple A exclusives for PS Vita will be there.

http://gematsu.com/2012/10/...

[Kos-Mos]

What? A new killone?

[Prodigy-X]

The article says that there are a lot of unannounced things in terms of software being prepared for PlayStation Vita. Which means more exclusives are coming and with Feb 20th meeting coming its just to perfect.

[TheGrimOfDeath]

Yeah there is a new Killzone for the Vita, Killzone Mercenary.

No disrespect, but how did you not know that?

[MilkMan]

Gotta get some games that will knock it out of the park first

[plaZeHD]

After a year of explanation, Sony finally got it. Let's celebrate woohoo, YEAH!!! That is what I call a success.

[Ripsta7th]

Drop the price to $200 and advertise the shit out of it , include PS PLUS on ur ads , it should help out

[soultecc]

bundle it with the ps4

[gamedebater]

how about put games on it?

[BrianC6234]

There's plenty of games already. A lot of them are mobile games but then the Vita is a mobile console. Maybe people want too many big games but the Vita doesn't need just those games.

[gamedebater]

How many RPGS does it have?

[BrianC6234]

I don't play RPGs but the Vita has had some big ones lately.

[BrianC6234]

They should have a special deal. How about giving PS Plus with the Vita? You could buy a Vita and download a bunch of good free games. That would be the perfect way to get people interested. I haven't had to buy many Vita games and I have too many already.

[oONinjavitiSOo]

Already have a ps vita ps+ bundle in the us.

[BrianC6234]

Then I guess they need to advertise it. I don't watch much TV so I don't know if they do that. The Vita with PS Plus is a great system. So many free games. People say the Vita doesn't have enough games but they haven't really looked. There's a lot of good games that you can play when you want. Good mobile games.

[oONinjavitiSOo]

Only reason I know about it is because a buddy of mine just purchased the bundle. I don't watch television either. But considering playstations track record for advertising the vita, I highly doubt there are many commercials advertising this or any other bundles. The vita is amazing I just wish Sony would make a valid effort in letting the masses know what it can do.

[Kratoscar2008]

It was about time, first they should talk to third party developers to develop on Vita, how about asking Take two to port GTA V on Vita?

[franko]

No s**t??? NOW they come to this???

[Tei777]

They need games which score reviews higher then 7/10!

[dafegamer]

*sigh*

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0...

[Tei777]

I'm sorry, is it not the general consensus that the Vita has a underwhelming software library?

Right, well why don't you list all the amazing AAA titles which have been universally lauded by critics. Try to avoid 4 year old ports aka Persona 4.
I'll wait here patiently.

[dafegamer]

@tei77 too bad you missed out on great games like:
little big planet vita http://www.metacritic.com/g...

gravity rush http://www.metacritic.com/g...

and uncharted golden abyss http://www.metacritic.com/g...

[Tei777]

@dafegamer

LOOOOL!!! last time I checked, an 80 metacritic score does not equate to a must have game.

LBP is the only game on your list which I would say was "lauded' by the critics. And not to favour negative reviews over the positive ones but especially in the case of gravity rush, the sites people actually visit gave the games more closer 7/10.

But I don't need to argue with you, if you think a strong library of quality titles is not amongst the Vita's problems, then thats your opinion.

[JAPS3KHLBP14]

Sony in general needs to market better.

[MGRogue2017]

We need some more 'big-hitter' games like Uncharted Golden Abyss, WipEout 2048, Killzone Mercenary that really show off what this pocket beast of a handheld system can really do... ones like Tearaway as well, actually that take advantage of all of Vita's unique hardware features.. that game looks interesting :)

[vitorizzo]

sell it for 100 bucks ill buy it

[Sanquine90]

No shit... I love my vita but everyone who's see it say : What is that? When i tell them they are impressed:P

[Lionalliance]

Well no shit!!

[Tzuno]

yeah you will do that on the 20th of this month. :)

[Jek_Porkins]

Well yeah, but I know a lot of people who know of the Vita (Like myself) but cant afford one. Also, since it looks like the PS4 will launch this year, can Sony afford to really promote it as much this year anyway? I would think a lot hinges on the PS4 for Sony considering they almost always sell for a loss to start.

The reason I haven't bought a Vita is price and I'm afraid that third parties are going to altogether abandon it. If they lowered the price to $199, bundled it with a memory unit and a game, I'd buy one.

[dafegamer]

Sony look at these games: Soul Sacrifice March, Killzone Mercenary sep 07, Tearaway TBA. Ok Sony now please promote the f*ck out of them

[wishingW3L]

Vita needs more than promotion to succeed, it either needs a price-cut or a firmware update that allows any type of memory to be used as a memory card because the proprietary ones are way overpriced.

[GribbleGrunger]

I said that I'd wait a year or so to draw any conclusions and I've done just that. Yep, the Vita is in trouble folks. It definitely hasn't done well and Sony need to do something quickly in order to get that momentum back (not that it had much anyway). Unfortunately, Sony have lowered their target by 3 million, which suggests to me that they don't intend to lower the price ... or if they do, by very much. They're clearly just going to brave it out and hope that the PS3 and the upcoming PS4 can keep their console division in the black.

[boybato]

No denying its in trouble but its not dead. I'll give it up until E3 or at least up until Final Fantasy X HD (squenix please!!!) gets released for it and we will see...

[GribbleGrunger]

No, it's definitely not dead ... I wasn't suggesting that, but it's not healthy, to say the least. To garner support it needs to hit a decent install base and the longer it takes to get their, the smaller impact it's going to have on the market. We could be looking at another year or two before the Vita starts proving its worth.

[joeorc]

"Vita is in trouble folks."

i would ask trouble against exactly what?

the first thing people say is the 3DS, and Smartphones and Tablets.The point is its only in trouble if retail chains refuse to carry the platform! that's the only time it would be in trouble. by this time in it's 1st year the PSPGo was getting a reduction in retail chains, which the PSVita is not! Thus we know for a fact this is not the same case as the PSPGo!

Sales need to pick up, while that is true. the fact that the system is still being reordered in retail chains means there is still a demand for the system.

There is also another point is if the PSVita is bundled with the PS3 Like what was done in fall of 2012.

By bundled PSVita with the PS3 it enables developer's to make crossplay more enticing for a unified platform of PS3+PSVita for exclusive games buy it for the PS3 get it for your PSVita on the go for Free!

the WiiU is Nintendo's next generation system, So if the PS4 is Sony's what do you do with the PS3 to make it still viable in the market as a platform for development? Playstation Mobile on the PS3 anyone?

Think of it as a Logic Problem, which makes more sense if you wanted to make sure your investment still stick's around, dump it and waste all that money or make it in direct comp. with the WiiU while the PS4 has a fresh start, with New Development opportunity, say for instance the price of the PS3 RIGHT NOW IS STILL OVER $200.00 THE SAME WITH THE PSVita. so what would be the likly cost for a bundle $$399.00 PS3+PSVita+1 full year of PSN+ with free games for that entire year with not one platform but two!

as a Logic problem to be viable solution is it makes sure the PS3 and the PSVita is yet a way for Sony to keep selling Software. Its all about selling Software.

http://www.wiishopexpress.c...

look at that in what you get now if sony target's the PS3+PSVita bundle as a vialble choice against that Sku!

there would still be the PS4!

[tigertron]

Listen Sony, cut the prices of the memory sticks dramatically then we'll talk.

It's £60 for a 32GB memory card damnit!

[boybato]

larger memory capacity for less would do it for me. win win given that Sony had been pushing digital sales and such...

[Adolph Fitler]

It already has an arsenal of great games, from Gravity Rush, Wipeout, Resistance, SSDHD, Unchartered, Mortal Kombat, SFvsTekken, MarvelvsCapcom, toincoming like, Killzone, Tearaway, The Puppeteer, DOA5, NG:S, Soul Sacrifice, etc, etc......& lets not forget the crapload of readytogo games that are compatable in psone, minis, psp & other compatable games across the psn store.

Sony desperately need to convey these type of durable, awesome features in there marketing (or lack thereof)..They should be plugging this thing for how powerful it really is, as the general public just think it is the same as a 3DS, with less games & support....when in truth, it craps all over 3DS, & it's stable of quality games are of a higher standard than that found on 3DS.

The masses won't get it, unless you make it abundantly clear Sony....not only do you have to shove it down there throat, you have to stomp it, to make sure there swallowing the message, in all it's purity.

Put another way, Sony needs to go back to making pure, raw, honest ads that sell what, how, where & when, not the artsy fartsy stuff they still try to do.
The art driven ads Sony ran with ps2, they were fine, as ps2 had already sold 60-70-80-90million units, so the ads could be catchy, without giving away anything about the product, except the name......people knew what a ps2 was & exactly what it did. But, psvita is a different beast, many people wouldn't even realise what it is, does, doesn't do, etc, etc. Hell, if you showed most people, they would think it is a smartphone with advanced gaming capabilities, heck, most probably wouldn't even think the latter part, as most people simply do not have a clue. Advertise it better Sony......same with PS4, use straightforward, straight shooting, advertising techniques, until you've moved 60-80 million units of each, then once the hardware is well established, then run ads that us art lovers, can sit back & appreciate, as I have nothing against such advertising ploys, in fact I love them, & believe Sony have had some of the best ads to grace my flawed vision.....but, the less appreciative & less tech saavy masses, demand the basic, in order for them to get it.

Also, either GIVE a 32gig memory card with PsVita, or just add an internal memory system, as it is a hard pill to swallow, paying that much for a system with a 4 memory card that is FULL after 2 PSN store purchases/downloads.

[kma2k]

ive said for years sony's biggest problem for playstation is lack of advertising. i had been a ps3 gamer since about a year after launch & mine finally died i replaced it but wasnt happy with sony at the time so i bought a 360 also to see how the other side lived. What shocked me the most wasnt the differences in the conlsoles which there isnt very much of it was the advertising the ammount of advertising on the 360 compared to the ps3 was astounding. I think it was one of those things i didnt really notice before i got it now that i see it its everywhere!

[LtFaku]

They say "PSVita doesn't do well because in Japan PSP is strong". Well, I say that Sony/TPP should launch games for PSP and do some little upgrades for a Vita digital version, like trophy integration and that kind of stuff.

[strigoi814]

sony dont let this vita die. This is an awesome hardware that can play psp, psone, and more likely ps2 and ps3 games..and maybe can run pc games with gaikkai

[Gekko]

They say the first step towards solving something is acknowledging the problem, let's hope this is the case for Sony as well. They're advertising is okay (over here at least) but it lacks pizzazz.

[Jason143]

No you need to do a better job with the game libary. Look at the ps3 game list on a wiki. Theres tons of titles starving to be redone or rebooted there. Hell theres tons I missed do to working 3 jobs when my son was first born. I wouldnt mind playing them on the go in small chunks. Promoting something with no lbary isnt good