Sony's "S*** Umbrella" on Protecting Studios and Vita's Advantage over Wii U

Sony has always had a strong first-party studio system. One of the strengths of the PlayStation business has been that Sony has a robust array of game developers working on exclusive content, whether it's The Last of Us, Beyond, or God of War: Ascension. According to Sony's vice president of Worldwide Studios, Scott Rohde, the first-party studios are all given the autonomy to work on games as they see fit. 3D, PS Move, multiplayer or anything else is never forced upon them. And because he protects their interests, he's known as the "Shit Umbrella."

[Mustang300C2012]

It won't matter about the capabilities of the Vita if they can't get consumers to buy the portable to take advantage of the features.

[cjflora]

Fortunately for Vita sales owners the sheep will come with the release of COD on a handheld.

[andibandit]

I really dont think they will come until Vita comes up with a MUST have exclusive.

[Mustang300C2012]

COD will not save the Vita.

[frankiebeans]

why would anybody want to buy it on vita over 360,ps3? especially it being a different game and not being cross play online with ps3....

[Kurylo3d]

COD will not sell on vita. No one wants to play that on a handheld.

[nukeitall]

It's a rehashed CoD game on the PS Vita. It's also a highly multiplayer centric game, which the PS Vita isn't suitable for.

3G internet service is slow (if you are willing to pay up for using it exclusively on your PS Vita) and Wifi isn't abound which limits portability, the one advantage of PS Vita is crippled.

I think CoD will lift sales, but not by much and will quickly be insignificant.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol im using wifi to post this from my job at Home Dept .

"wifi isn't abundant" LMFAO! You would have better luck telling me were wifi is then where it isn't.

Look if the COD game feels like COD......its going to sell period.

[JoeSchmoh]

you're right. this is why the PSP didn't sell, because of the missing 2nd analog to make FPS games.

[MariaHelFutura]

Ironic.

[MrMister]

At $250 to $300, As awesome as vita is, it is still a hard investment in this relentless economy. Perhaps a smartglass-like option for sony's new playstation mobile app would be a nice start. It wont have to undermine the vita since it can just be used for addition touch screen purposes for mmo's and rts games with compatible console games (for the countless millions already in possession of smart phones and tablets), while the vita itself can offer more accurate controls on ps3/ps4 for those who own vita. I mean, if xbox is already using smartglass, and it gets strong 3rd party support, then Sony can guaruntee that they dont get left out of the loop. Personally im getting a lil bored with COD and other generic shooters, and it would be nice to have some unfamiliar mmo's and rts's on consoles for a change of pace. MS will have countless smart phone/tablet owners, and every wii-u comes with a tablet, so I dont want those 2 consoles to be have 3rd party shared games and the ps3/ps4 to fall behind because of a lack of vita's in ppl's hands. A phone alternative might not be optimum, but is plenty for mmo's and rts games that need a bigger palet of icons to choose from on screen.

[Mounce]

That's where the Games are coming in, theres around a Dozen of promising games coming out for it, I remember listing them out to shut a 3DS fanboy out because they were laughing about Vita not having any games, they dared someone to list them what games would make Vita worth buying, I sent him a list of names of the games Definitely coming this year, most of which were exclusives and next being ports or remakes and such. The good part was he didn't try to respond to me, he shutup :) Which means even the 3DS fanboy could tell that from my list, that he couldn't complain with the Future and its potential, we just have to be patient.

It's not about the features, it's about the Games, features genuinely are just to lure you in curiously, Games bring the people in at the No.1 Reason.

[nukeitall]

"Because we have the Vita, I think we can do a lot of special things. And remember, that Wii U tablet doesn't have a processor in it, so it's got to be fueled by that box sitting under your TV. We can do some pretty special things that you'll start to see on the floor this year and you'll see more over the upcoming months about what you can do when you actually have a processor in the thing that's in your hand as well,"

Sony appears to not have learned the lesson. No matter how "cool" the features are, but it doesn't trump adoption or ease of use.

Wii U has the tablet included with every console. How many developers will support PS Vita? How many people will pay $250+ for the PS3 to experience pretty much what the Wii U delivers out of the box. Heck, the Wii U might just cost $300 for the entire package!

This cross play thing from Sony will be a fad, just like 3D was last year and all but forgotten this year. Feel bad for the people that paid exorbitant for 3D TVs.

[dead_eye]

I have a 3D tv do you know how much 3D content is out there. obviously to make you point(less) you had to make it sound as if only 3D games exist.
Oh and don't get fad confused with an option.

[nukeitall]

Actually, I own a 3D TV and it is a fad at this point. Fortunately for me, I paid $100 extra for the 3D feature. So not too much wasted.

It hasn't gone mainstream in TVs sold, it doesn't look like it will and companies are paring back support in gaming where that was supposed to be the huge push.

The kicker is of course that internet streaming doesn't support 3D, so you are stuck with either a small selection of games or blu-ray.

So yes, all indication it is a fad! To some an expensive one at that.

[eferreira]

no one will buy a vita and a ps3 just to get the wii u experience, It's just an added bonus thats included with all the other awesome features that both systems can do together and separately.

[SilentNegotiator]

LOL, seems kinda harsh to imply 3D, Move, and multiplayer to be "sh**"

But it's nice that they can run their studios with few restrictions. And so long as they continue to make great, well-selling products, why not?

[Godmars290]

I'll give you all but multiplayer, which comes off to me as something that's become a crutch this gen. Everyone seems to have it as excuse to extend a game, but at the expense of SP becoming little more than a tutorial.

[ExPresident]

I agree. I would prefer FPS games for the most part to drop their SP modes and focus on the most amazing MP experience ever, and the same for good SP game. These games with tact on modes just fail to live up to their potential in many cases.

[kneon]

But if they put out an online only fps people will whine about it just like they did with MAG.

[MaxXAttaxX]

It means Sony's "umbrella" protects developers' interests from "sh**"
The introductory paragraph sums it up nicely:

- "Sony has always had a strong first-party studio system. One of the strengths of the PlayStation business has been that Sony has a robust array of game developers working on exclusive content, whether it's The Last of Us, Beyond, or God of War: Ascension. According to Sony's vice president of Worldwide Studios, Scott Rohde, the first-party studios are all given the autonomy to work on games as they see fit. 3D, PS Move, multiplayer or anything else is never forced upon them. And because he protects their interests, he's known as the "Sh** Umbrella.""

[Dno]

i love this myth. which sony game suffered because of muti-player being added?

I just wish gamers would welcome the new an different rather than hating on it because they can.

I am not saying sometimes it was not needed but people love muti-player and if the single player does not get worse (Uncharted 2 anyone?) then bring it on.

[rdgneoz3]

He's not really implying that they're shit, he's just saying that if they want to implement it in their games, then they can. If they don't want to, they're not forced to. They're not forcing every dev to have everything in their game if it doesn't make sense or if they're not able to / don't have the time for it.

It's nice that they are giving such creative freedom, as the studios end up turning out some really nice gems.

[Hicken]

That's not what was meant. Being their "shit umbrella" means protecting their interests, just as it says: keeping people from trying to force the devs to do or add things they don't want. Trying to force those things, or added multiplayer, or anything else, is what he prevents.

[SilentNegotiator]

I know that. It's just sort of funny that they would call him that for not forcing those things on them.

[DivineAssault]

Sony just needs to "MARKET" & release games with vita/ps3 compatibility & i think it will boost sales.. Not just ports & cross platform play either.. Vita can be taken with you anywhere & can access your ps3 through remote play from anywhere with wifi

[josephayal]

I Think The PS Vita Will Be Able to Compete With Next Gen Consoles, high-end smartphones and tablets, Thw thing is the PS Vita is the most advanced dedicated mobile gaming device ever made.

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

Maybe if they had a marketing department. :/ I honestly have a huge man-crush on Sony. I buy things I don't even need, just because "Sony" is written on them.

That being said, GET A MARKETING DEPARTMENT!

[jfinesse]

I completely agree with every word. Their biggest problem is they want the Vita to be a hardcore gaming system, but that alienates them in a way from the "kiddy" games that the 3ds seems to push. They need a reason for people to own this system...they need an identity for the Vita.

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

Exactly. I'm playing the reason to own a Vita right now. It's called Gravity Rush. ;) SO GOOD!

[malypso]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, it probably will be better in some respects, but I find it hard for anyone to dish out $500+ on a Vita and ps3 bundle just to play games similarly to the Wii U. It didn't work for the ps move, and it won't work for this either. I'm sure it'll be a cool peripherial add-on, but nothing vital if not utilized in a game. I see more people investing their time and money on purchasing a Wii U, especially if its anywhere from $249.99-$299.99 all included. Plus you have to think logically about the whole picture; every game will utilize these key features on the Wii U, while not every ps3 games will. My point is that everyone that buys a Wii U, does so expecting these features out the box, while Sony has to hope that people buy a Vita and use it as an expensive $249.99-$299.99 controller for their ps3, to be able to do the same thing.

[MrBeatdown]

"I find it hard for anyone to dish out $500+ on a Vita and ps3 bundle just to play games similarly to the Wii U."

What the PS3 + Vita combo have going for it is that the two systems can function independently. It cost more to get both, sure, but you can also do much more with Vita being a portable system on it's own.

I don't think Sony's really hoping or expecting to sell both to a new customer as a Wii U alternative at this point. I think they are using the features more as a way of adding value for those who already have one and are considering the other.

[Game3s]

"What the PS3 + Vita combo have going for it is that the two systems can function independently. It cost more to get both, sure, but you can also do much more with Vita being a portable system on it's own."

Why are you still comparing a controller to a dedicated handheld device? >.>

[malypso]

Look, anyone buying a Vita is doing so mainly as a stand-alone handheld, not as an additional controller for the PS3. Sure it's nice to add cross-play on some titles, but like I said my point is that no one in their right minds will buy a Vita solely to use it as an add-on for the PS3 for Wii U like capabilities! Only people who will do this are the true loyalist of the loyal PS3 fans, no different than those who purchased a PS Move...

[greenlantern2814]

first i agree no body is gonna buy the vita just cause it can be used like the wii u gamepad. but what it will coast that is something else, dont know how much the wii u will be. and the utilization of the gamepad that is also up in the air. Will the devs use it to add to there games or just as an inventory/ map. like any number of ds titles did. for now we just dont know.

[justlikeme]

CoD psv bundle will sell like hot cakes
When cod releases on the Vita, if Sony doesn't make a bundle they are just stupid.

[Ck1x]

Sony needs to face it that PSVita is facing an uphill battle right now. It has good games and Sony doesn't plan on dropping the price anytime soon. So what are they going to change to make it fly off shelves? I personally don't think that CoD fans will shell out $250+$50 for a portable CoD experience alone.

[stuntman_mike]

I wouldn't mind getting the AC liberation bundle.

[THamm]

NBA 2K12/13 console perfect would have been the killer app for a lot of people. Maybe Madden, but 2k has that replayability. The best sports games sell systems

[wages of sin]

Here in Nor Cal, I haven't seen a Vita in public--no one cares what it is, no one is buying them. I think I've seen one commercial but mostly it's dead over here. You can release CoD or whaterever else you want but it's not going to happen.

[topekomsi]

Wow i live in po-dunk missouri and i usually find between 50-100 playing in my area using the near app, have completely filled my friends list with mostly locals, we party up and play resistance burning skies or MvC. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this lil powerhouse. However i haven't seen anyone playing one in public either, and the advertising has just been deplorably micro managed. I think its a lil premature to assume the system dead.lol

[PirateThom]

See, Near has made it very, very easy to find Vita users. Every time I access Near from home there's more and more users. Saying "no one cares" is fallacy.

[solidjun5]

christ you're annoying.

[metroid32]

Now i know why Sony games are mostly poor ZERO DIRECTION,MNR Vita has no Online ???

[topekomsi]

It has online but they definitely need more competitive online games, I was blown away by the fact that Uncharted Golden Abyss and Modnation racers lack online multiplay.

[neutralgamer19]

Games like Assassins creed and lbp2 will push Vita sales even more. Watch and see. By the way its funny i see vitas every once in awhile on train going to work (i hardly see any handhelds at all) and its always ppl over 30 lol. I myself am 33.

[dead_eye]

To add to that I don't even see people playing games on phones.

[Ulf]

Interesting how he never mentions Zipper -- the major dev that seemed to *always* have a "push the hardware" agenda.

MAG: 256 players (pushing Cell CPU), MMO shooter (pushing PSN potential)
SOCOM 4: First Move shooter shown, second released, and easily the best SharpShooter (and Move) implementation.
Unit 13: First true Vita shooter.

...surely these game concepts didn't come from anywhere other than Sony itself.

[topekomsi]

MAG was nearly unplayable at launch. OK after several patches.

Socom 4: SUCKED, they totally dropped the ball and lost sight of what made earlier iterations in the series so epic.

Unit 13: the game that could have been, so linear, so repetitive, NO competitive ONLINE WTF?!?!?

I was a big zipper fan once upon a time, played my first online game thanks to them, but they should have stayed true to their begging. Also no doubt the concepts came from sony, look at how they micro manage their platforms.

[Ulf]

Wow. MAG was unplayable?

You never played it, apparently, or even bothered to read a review of it, since they universally proclaimed that it WAS amazingly playable -- it was the chaos of so many not-team-players that made some people dislike it.

You should keep the comments to the subject at hand. My post is referring directly to comments in the article, with regards to Sony "not interfering" with their studios. Yours is just an uninformed rant about games you apparently never played.

[topekomsi]

@ulf Actually I did play the game quite extensively. I was also in the first wave of beta testers. Notice i said "at launch". Myself and alot of other people were plagued with Freezing issues also respawn looping. MAG wasn't the game it should have been until MAG 2.0 patch. Also it has a very high metacritic score 0f 75 WOW. Please don't say stupid sh*t like "You never played it, apparently, or even bothered to read a review of it" it makes you looks like a dipsh*t. Have a nice day:)

[chukamachine]

Sony need and have always needed to spend money on advertising.

euro 2012 should have been the ideal place to push the vita.

They have great studios, but never enough advertising. If i were Sony i'd do a massive push just in america alone. There are still 20mill PS3'S to be sold in the USA.

[topekomsi]

You are very right about cheaping out on the adverts, the vita should be being advertised everywhere. I would also like them to fulfill their promise of ps3/vita remote play, and more cross platform titles.

[TheKayle]

i think that vita is just another marketing flop

[greenlantern2814]

vita needs a price drop, because there is already a lot of good games on the vita. Uncharted, gravity rush

[JoeSchmoh]

I don't blame this "**** Umbrella". Do we really need a Multiplayer God of War option? These companies spend and loose a lot of money listening to these idiots write all over the internet what they want in a game. The company does it and they give the game a 4 out of 10 and write "oh the graphics suck" "the story sucked" "the multiplayer is disappointing". Playing a videogame for story, online multiplayer and graphics? I think someone is more interested in movies/film instead of playing innovative videogames. The Nintendo DS brought out touch screen to videogames back in 2005..it's 2012 and people are acting like the touch screen just came out. People don't know WTF they want because they're so busy writing bull**** over the internet. I own a PSP and have over 20 PSone classics d/l to it, I barely play my PS3 because everything out today is just an Online Multiplayer shooter. I don't need to rush out and buy a specific game just because everyone on my friends list did. That's the problem right there. Too many followers and not enough leaders.