To buy a Vita or Not to buy a Vita.....That is the question!

Today, while I was working hard at note taking in school (and by note taking I mean being on N4G, GiantBomb, etc. and taking video games notes :D) I came across something in my PM box! I've used my PM box numerous times to have multiple discussions with friends, fellow-gamers and mods on N4G, outside of commenting on certain articles (which I can't do much of anyways with only 3 bubbles :/), but that's for another blog...

Anyways, one of my fellow Canadian gamers, who I'm friends with not only on N4G and XBL/PSN, but in real life as well. He sent me a link to a FutureShop product page with the PlayStation Vita on sale for an astounding $179.99 (The lowest it's ever been in Canada) For today only! (Ends at 12AM EST). He knows that I've been wanting to get a Vita for quite some time, and I've had some mixed feelings about purchasing one, especially since I do not currently own a PlayStation 3 or a PS+ subscription. Granted this is just the plain Vita, not a bundled special edition Vita, but it has still got me intrigued. Now I'm left feeling dazed and confused, but maybe it's because I had one too many energy drinks this morning because I couldn't sleep on this issue. So I thought I'd voice my opinions/concerns that I have with the Vita right now and see what kind of a response I can gather from you fine gaming folk on N4G and help me make a decision by the end of the week.

1.) No Games of Interest to Me:

As of writing this blog post right now, there are only 3 games that I would buy for the Vita (Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush and Wipeout 2048). I would also get a couple indie games including Guacamelee! and Sound Shapes. But do these 5 or so games really warrant me to buy a Vita and play them for maybe an hour a day? I'm well aware of all the newest, high-quality titles that have been released for Vita as of late (Soul Sacrifice, Muramasa, Persona 4), but I'm not really into RPG's at all, so none of those games appeal to me. I also know the great games that are on the way that I do find interesting: Killzone Mercenary and Tearaway, but is it yet enough for me to purchase a Vita?

2.) E3 Announcements / Price-Drops / Models:

Another thing that kept me up last night, wondering if I should buy a Vita today or not, was that E3 2013 is less than a month away. What could Sony possibly have up it's sleeve for Vita at E3?? The possibilities are endless; They could announce a North-American price cut. They could announce different sku's/bundled edition Vita's. They could announce new accessories/restructure their memory card size capacity's and prices. And of course new, innovative games that can only be possible with the Vita. E3 could prove to be a big step for Vita, to show everyone that Vita is here to stay and that it will only develop better gaming experiences as it's life goes on.

3.) PlayStation 4 is not out Yet!:

I'll admit it, the biggest reason why I want a PS Vita is simply for when I get a PS4 and have those 2 devices being connected and to make my gaming experience more enjoyable. The Vita-only games, the indie support and the technology used in Vita aside, pairing a Vita up with the PS4 is candy. Using Vita as a second screen, possibly even as a PS4 alternate controller and then using it to stream content back and fourth from console to handheld and using it for Remote Play to play virtually any PS4 game on the Vita (with the proper control support), that is the potential I see owning a Vita, but only when I have a PS4 around to connect it to. And PS4 is not due out till Fall 2014 (more than likely November), so would I be jumping-the-gun (so to speak) buying a Vita now?

All these reasons are valid reasons for me, and essentially anyone else that's still on the fence about purchasing a Vita at this point in time. So let the discussions begin and I'll ask this question....

Given this 1-day only sale price and all the reasons I've listed, should I be bold and buy a Vita today OR be patient and wait until E3 is over and decide then???

Thanks everyone,
HyperBear

Update: Sale ended. Went back to regular price. I decided to hold off until the week after E3. Gives me a little more time to save up for a better memory card and for PS+ subscription. Thanks for all your guys' comments and insight. It was very helpful :D

[chrismichaels04]

You raise some very valid points. I picked up a Vita at launch and I haven't stopped using it since. I had a few of my friends that shared your point of view and the advice I gave them was simply this. If youre asking if you should pick up the Vita...it's because you already want it. If you didn't have any interest in it, you wouldn't be thinking about it in the first place.

#1. The Vita has several great games worth picking up that would justify you buying a Vita, aside from all the ones that you already mentioned. Soul Sacrifice is actually an action/RPG so if you like action, hack and slash titles, you might enjoy this game as well. Unit13, Assassins Creed Liberation, LittleBigPlanet Vita, Sly Cooper Thieves in Time and MLB The Show are all excellent titles. And there is a bunch more on the way.

#2. As far as a possible price drop, if you're already seeing it on sale for a great promotional sales price....I say why wait for E3? Take advantage of that great sale now while you still can.

#3. The PS4/Vita connection sounds very promising and if anything, only adds to the logic of picking up a Vita now rather than later. If you pick up the Vita first, you'll have at least 6 months to save up money for the PS4 so youre not buying 2 systems at once. You can focus right now on playing the Vita games that do interest you and then when the PS4 comes out, you can switch gears and enjoy the PS4/Vita connected functionality.

Just some friendly advice, hope it helps.

[HyperBear]

Thanks @chrismichaels04....

Those are all good counter-points you raised and now it's killing me inside, lol. I'm just thinking what if I buy it today then come E3 they do announce a price cut and a new bundle with a retail or downloadable game, 30-day PS+ subscription and an 8GB memory card or something along those lines for $199.99??

It is a tough call for me cause I don't want to purchase one now and then not use it and it just sits on my desk, but we'll see...still got 5hrs to decide :)

[chrismichaels04]

You're welcome bud. I can see you are very interested in picking up the Vita and I have no doubts you will eventually pick one up. In my honest opinion, you won't regret the decision.

[NewMonday]

Soul Sacrifice isn't exactly an RPG, whenever you get the the vita get this game and also your friend should, the Vita will get many other Co-Op games like Dragons Crown and Tokuden(?).

Gravity Rush is a great game IMOO, it's probably the first adventure/platform/ sandbox game.

and by the time you get a Vita KZ:M and Tearaway should also be available, you will be spoilt for choice.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I own a Vita and a 3DS. Between those two I have more games added to my backlog in the past year than my Wii+PS3 for the entire last generation.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Id just w8. I dont even own a Vita but, PS4/VIta connection is'nt actually a reason I want a Vita.

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

I'm thinking about getting one next month. I have more than 3 games I want to try and a PS+ subscription. I don't need to buy any games to enjoy my Vita since my PS+ has me covered.

In your case I would say wait and my answer seems blatantly obvious due to how you come across in your blog.

The combo of no games for you, price and wanting PS4 connectivity could be resolved when the PS4 is out. You have to pull the trigger at one point it seems, but I think you will feel better if you put it off (for now).

[HyperBear]

Yeah I'm thinking that as well...I'm gonna wait till E3 is over and see what gets shown off and announced and then get one in the summer. Still gives me 3-4 months to get used to it, will have more games for me to enjoy and possibly will get a better bundle deal, etc.

I will pull the trigger on the Vita sometime, but for now, I'm going to holster my wallet 😏

[ZoyosJD]

I got my white Vita back in Nov for USD $179.99 bundled with AC: Liberation and I was already a PS+ member.

I haven't been able to set it down. I've platinumed Uncharted: GA, Gravity Rush, and Wipeout 2048. I'm currently working on PvZ, Ninja Gaiden Sigma +, and occasionally AC.

Missing out on this opportunity only means you will have a bigger backlog later...notnessecarily a bad thing.

[TheFirstClassic]

For me having a ps+ account is what made me get a Vita. Getting Gravity Rush, Uncharted, and Wipeout 2048 day 1 made it worth it. Also, I jumped on the amazon black friday deal, got the AC bundle for 180 bucks.

[TongkatAli]

Get it! It's awesome, that simple.

[Automatic79]

I bought it around September of last year. For me it started with a bang. The system is fantastic has great features and some solid titles. After playing Assassins creed last year and then this year sly cooper. Planning on getting Soul Sacrifice. I say wait till E3 and then see if you really want the system.

Note: I also own the 3DS and having both actually complements the void when the vita goes through its droughts and vice a versa.

[chrismichaels04]

@michaelLito.....sorry, that disagree was from me. I meant to click "agree" but the iPad I'm typing on glitched out on me. I fully agree with your statement. My apologies for the confusion.

[Pillsbury1]

I've had a vita for awhile and I will be honest, I haven't played it much. Don't get me wrong i love my vita but great games are few and far between. I have ps plus so I get a lot of vita games but I know when ps4 comes I will be using it much, much more.

[zerocrossing]

Well I'm pretty much in the same boat as you are other than the fact I adore RPG's lol.

The Vita is a tough buy right now IMO, if you can get one for a good price and you know there are at least 4 or 5 must have games your after then go for it, but if there's nothing you're really interested in then you're effectively getting a $100+ brick, at least until something you actually want gets released.

In all honesty, if there's nothing out now or coming out that you're dying to play on the Vita then you may as well wait, like you said E3 2013 is coming up soon so if there is any new Vita games coming that may tickle your fancy then that's when you'll find out, along with any price cuts, bundles or shiny limited edition compilations.

[Nicaragua]

The games that you want (wipeout, gravity rush, uncharted) have all been free on PS+, along with Metal Gear collection HD, Jet Set Radio, Lumines, and I hear Disgaea 3 is coming this month.

That's all the best games for the price of a PS+ subscription, its crazy not to get a Vita with deals like that.

The only game I wanted that I have had to actually purchase is Soul Sacrifice, and that was worth every penny.

If you want a Vita then go and buy one along with a PS+ subscription, you'd be mental not to.

[HyperBear]

So here's a question for you (and it's just a thinking to myself type of question!), I know PS+ is awesome and gives you access to free games/discounts/etc, and you said yourself you've gotten all your vita games free except for paying for Soul Sacrifice, so my question is do you think Sony should just make Vita a Download-only handheld device and focus on offering increased capacity memory cards at better prices?

Cause I've listened to a lot of Vita owners and they are just like you. They just wait for games to become free through Instant Game Collections and just pay $50/year for them, some don't even own any PS Vita retail game cards. It just sounds like the retail side of Vita could be hurting the system even more with no one buying hard copy games anymore.

I get where your coming from and trust me, it was hard not to take up on that deal yesterday, but I have this strange feeling that in 28 Days, Sony will announce a price cut, perhaps a different model/sku and announce more games for the IGC for PS+ members.

[Nicaragua]

Personally i do think that would be a better way to go and i much prefer digital copies of games over physical media.

However experiments such as the PSP Go (which i owned) failed mostly due to gamers resistance to embrace digital only so i think the Vita is the best compromise. Its clearly aimed at digital game sales but it has the slot for physical games - win win.

And to be honest i didnt buy my vita brand new, i picked it up for £130 from ebay, and by the time i did that i already had most of the above games burning a hole in my PSN download list - so i literally bought the vita to play the games i already owned.

Its not a bad strategy for sony. I'm pretty much a PS+ subscriber for life now due to my free game catalogue and i'll still purchase the games i really want like SS and Killzone.

yeah the memory cards could be cheaper but i dont think they are that bad. I paid about £35 for a 16 gb card which holds Lumines, Wipeout, Gravity Rush, MGS Peace Walker, Soul Sacrifice, Jet Set Radio, and still has over a gig left. So all these dudes saying that they NEED the 32GB must have some massive game collections or are just too lazy to delete and re-download stuff.

[FriedGoat]

I prefer actually owning the games I buy instead of digitally renting them. Reselling a crap game is also another bonus. I got loads of vita games, digital is definitely handy (especially when UK shops like GAME don't stock hardly any)

[Codey47]

@ Nicaragua
" So all these dudes saying that they NEED the 32GB must have some massive game collections or are just too lazy to delete and re-download stuff"

I have a fairly large collection on my vita... 15 carts "installed"
It's not about being lazy. It's about, you can only delete/transfer so much, before entering the "I'm not deleting that!" territory.
I do have a 32gb card and only have 250MB of free space left.
I also have backed up(transferred and deleted from vita) games to PS3 which equates to 13gb.

Example:-
Escape plan was around 850MB whence released
now it's approximately 2.3Gb post patch. PSASBR seems to have an 800MB patch every time a new costume/character is released.

[ABizzel1]

The console is an easy buy, but I would tell anyone looking into it to wait until there's a price drop on the console & the 32GB memory card, or E3 games and the PS4 launch.