Why there's still hope for the PlayStation Vita

Sony's next-generation handheld has endured a tough start, but developers think it can still turn things around.

Sony continues to state that things are on track for the Vita, but not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Kenichi Ogasawara, producer of Dynasty Warriors NEXT, offers his views on the current state of the Vita.

"I get the impression that its spread in popularity is lower than expected. As a portable gaming device, I think it goes over and beyond the required specs, but at the same time smartphones have become very popular, so at this time I don't think that users in Japan, Europe and North America feel a strong need for it.

"I don't know what kind of expectations Sony has, but I think that all the developers and publishers probably feel that it is not meeting their expectations".

[simonrope]

Wishful thinking is wishful.

[Lord_Sloth]

As long as there is Monster Hunter, there is always hope.

[Unexpecta]

I hate it when people mention Monster Hunter as the "killer" title that will change tides. Sure it's a popular game, but any game can be popular. It's all about if you make it right and play your cards right.

[tachy0n]

sadly, thats Call of Duty's job because it is the most selling game like it or not.

[mafiahajeri]

Gamescom and TGS is their last chance to impress with the Vita...

[Trenta27]

Pretty much. It's make it or break it for them. Impressions there set the stage for the rest of the year, especially the holiday season.

I really hope some good stuff gets shown. Sound Shapes is cool and all, but I'm going to beat it eventually...

[Mustang300C2012]

Yet fanboys complain it is the articles that are written are at fault for having the audacity to claim no one should be concerned. Yet people in the industry making the actual games are on the same page of those concerns.

[GribbleGrunger]

Don't try to pull that one, please. It's got nothing to do with articles that tackle the less than positive aspects of Sony, it's the sheer volume of them and the headlines that accompany them.

[Mustang300C2012]

Welcome to the world. What do you expect? The whole world writes about them yet your complaining about them on consolidated to this website which is designed to bring those articles here which is approved by the readers here. What is the difference between this and the daily RROD articles and PSN down articles? Yet it is the same people whining about the amount of articles that whined then about anything Sony that didn't sit in a good light.

What is surrounding Sony and Vita and amount of articles is no less or more about the amount that is talked about in any industry. It just so happens you come to N4g

[Straightupbeastly]

You can have hope in anything if you detach yourself from the reality of it.

[ziggurcat]

for god's sake, the device has only been on the market for, what... 6 months?

f**k off with the stupid doom articles, already.

[Mustang300C2012]

So Sony should just shut up then right since it is them who open their mouths about their status?

[wrong]

Vita failed and should die [Negative] - Rage

Vita has a hope [Positive]- Rage

Seriously, whats article do you want? Vita is a huge success! Vita is a revolution! Something like that?

[Unexpecta]

In my books, the PSVita is better than any portable gaming device on the market right now. Whether it be your phones, tablets, 3DS, whatever, the Vita is the best.

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

So you sit and admire the specs all day? Because the vita definitely doesn't have the games to make the claim of best handheld. If it did then I would have one...but I don't.

[Bumeo]

I dont know what that guys talking about..the vita not having games..including mini/psp/psv..I would say it has the LARGEST selection of games on the portable market. He must mean games he wants..Ive got plenty of games myself lol I'm sory the vita doesn't have Nintendogs, MySims pets or Pokemon-Tangerine...

[showtimefolks]

this is what i don't understand where are sony studios i mean they own what 15 why can't half of them work on Vita software?

than there are many 2nd party studios sony works with like read at dawn.

This is just like ps3 all over again but i hope just like ps3 Vita also gets the support it deserves. Sony also needs to target a different age group since handheld are mostly for kids not disrespect to any corer gamer like me. But you look at 3ds and its a lot of female teenage girls playing

hopefully gamescom shows some vita support. There will be COD does that matter on han
dheld? what could have been cool if you have COD:BO2 on ps3 and your friend has it on vita you can cross play, that would be a killer feature i think

Yeh that would be good for Sony so let's see CID is pretty big brand so I think activision will make sure it's good

[mafiahajeri]

It supposeably totally diiferent then the console version. Also if they nail the feel of COD itl be huge for Sony and well say good bye to the doom articles...

[modesign]

people obviosly forgot the 3ds sold for shit when it launched, the 3ds didnt even have a million sales during its first 6 months.

[Blankman85]

Misinformation. 3DS was very far ahead of where VITA is now 6 months after it was released. In fact VITA has never been on equal footing with the 3DS in terms of sales during the same points in their respective timelines. Vita has always lagged and will continue to do so by the looks of things.
No, tensofttube, I don't wish it.

[tehpees3]

There is hope for Vita yes. i do believe things will pick up eventually. IF (and only if) things don't pick up at Christmas, then I will start thinking the system is failing. Until then, its too soon.

[darkride66]

Meh. We'd been hearing for years about how doomed the PSP was, how it was going to sink Sony, how it was the death of the Playstation brand. People still talk about how the PSP "failed" and what's it sold now? Something like 75 million?

Anyway, after figuring I had no use for one, there's a PS Vita sitting on my desk right in front of me at the moment. I justified the purchase for the company as we may consider doing some development on the Vita, but I'm not kidding myself. I just wanted one because they're freakn cool. :)

[optimus]

The only things that could help the vita at this point is a price cut and massive advertising leading into the holidays...i think their biggest draw will be the new assassins creed game because it's not a direct copy of the console versions...they would sell like hot cakes if it were around $120 bucks.

[boybato]

though a price cut is inevitable I don't think it wouln't happen not until a year from when the vita was released. In my opinion it gives a negative impression not only to consumers but investors as well. ( as a conumer, would i take the risk of buying a WiiU day 1 knowing that ninty might lower the price 6 months from its release?)

[optimus]

Nintendo did it a mere few months after they released the 3ds.

[BitbyDeath]

Sony states the Vita is meeting their expectations but lets just see what Gamescom holds as that may or may not just be typical PR talk.

[majiebeast]

People complaining about vita its 3ds all over again that system didnt get its second decent game till november with mario 3ds. Lbpvita is around the corner and if its anything like the beta it will be the best lbp yet. Really hope sony shuts up the doomsayers at gamescom and tgs.

[neutralgamer19]

I mean in terms of xbox versus ps3 lol

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

personally If I dont wanna play COD on a console I problly wont play it on the Vita but it still may increase Vita sales anyway because it is COD.

[boybato]

Sony's biggest mistake with the Vita is that they marketed the console wherein the biggest selling factor is its cutting edge hardware (Don't get me wrong I was sold because of that reason along with Uncharted) however I think they should have brought most if not all of sony's big IPs with the Vita's release. Ips such as God of War, Killzone, LBP etc.

Though I'm sure the Vita would not share the same fate such as the Neo Geo pocket and game gear. Its sad that third party games would be far and few in between not until the Vita hits its stride.

[YoungPlex]

Good article! It's not a doomed article or a wishful one, it's one that points out a couple of views from developers and some factual information. I don't think it was bashing Sony in any sense or praising them, it was clearly pointing out a few flaws and some optimistic views. I think that Vita will find its footing and might be able to turn it around this holiday season.

They pointed out a great fact that, despite having a highly robust launch lineup and games for every type of person, Vita still managed to struggle. Maybe they did focus on to much power and didn't balance out power and cost, who knows; all I know is that not too many people are buying it at $249.99-$299.99. Which makes me wonder, had they priced it at $199.99, would it be in the current predicament that it's in? I guess we'll find out this holiday season...

[Skateboard]

Glad i barely come to this site, newforsales.com, more then half don't play games on this site and troll for a living, how cute.

[Hicken]

Of course there's still hope. It's barely half a year old.

[Zer01]

Im sure there's hope for vita,I bet you forgot one of the system seller of vita,BIOSHOCK!

[tachy0n]

GTA V nuff said.

[NeoTribe]

Once cod releases on it, its over. Its a cod players wet dream to be able to play cod on the go. Will sell huge when it releases. Hell I may even get 1.