180°

Vita Could Be in for a Rough Spring in Japan

"As a happy Vita owner, it saddens me that Sony needed to drop the price of the device before good sales became a regularity. To me, $250 was fair, even if the memory cards are a bit on the high end. (I don’t really do digital, but that stings people who do.) Reality isn’t always what we want it to be, and the machine spent the first 14 months of its Japanese life selling poorly.

"With a price cut and highly anticipated game launches at the end of February, followed by several key software launches, it’s no surprise that the Vita had a great March. The rest of the Spring, however, might be the real test for Sony’s second handheld. It was those[times with no game releases] when things would dip down to embarrassingly low levels. April and May present such situations." -Hindman of PSLS

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playstationlifestyle.net
dbjj120884042d ago

I love the Vita. It is an amazing piece of hardware, but the games needed to come fast.

knifefight4042d ago

And the thing is, a lot of people on game websites (such as this one) will say "It already has a ton of great games!" and it does! ...For us.

For Johnny Massmarket Consumer, the view might be a little different. He's the man you gotta convince if you wanna make money. And if they don't make money...they don't make games either. :/

I'm hoping the good numbers Vita churned out recently can stay high. That would be ideal.

smikey11234042d ago

I disagree. The Vita has some good games, but very few that are truly great. Most of the big name games were average or a disappointment and many of the downloadable games that were good were available on the PS3 as well. They haven't come out with an absolute must have for the Vita. That is probably what is hurting sales. That and the poor AAA games, and numerous ports.

CommonSenseGamer4042d ago

Question is, how do you give the Vita wider appeal?

Games alone won't achieve that.

TheGrimOfDeath4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

@smikey1123: Apparently you have not tried any of the amazing Vita games.

NastyLeftHook04042d ago

sony should put in a blu-ray disk in every ps4 describing the vita and how it can be with ps4.

Good_Guy_Jamal4042d ago

Or. . . just put the video on the 1TB hard drive the ps4 is rumored to come with. No need for a blu ray disk.
A simple introductory video when you switch on your ps4 for the first time will do. No need to waste money on a disc.

boybato4042d ago

Kinda like when you first boot the Vita?

Hicken4042d ago

Why take up the space on the HD- small as it may be- when you could have it on a disc instead?

ftwrthtx4042d ago

If there were more cross -buy games, where the Vita version of a PS3 game came on the disc, Sony would sell considerably more handhelds.

admiralvic4042d ago

Unlikely, since it would end up one of two ways.

1) I'll get a Vita when I'm cheaper, since I have a lot of games.
2) I would get a Vita since I have a lot of games, but those memory prices are too high.

While I am sure a LOT of people will disagree with me here (don't get me wrong, I think we should see more Cross-Buy games), there are a fair number of Cross-Buy titles and that didn't help either the game or the system sell. Also even with the various Cross-Buy titles we have and Plus offering people even more games to subscribe, you can start to see that more free games isn't the answer.

Good_Guy_Jamal4042d ago

Sony would lose alot of money that way because actual Vita game sales would be very low since people can just get free vita games when they buy ps3 games.

NYC_Gamer4042d ago

The handheld doesn't have enough developer support

TheGrimOfDeath4042d ago

I disagree with that, there has been an article that gathered the opinion on developers on who want to develop for the PS Vita. A lot of developers chose the Vita over the 3DS and now we have indie support.

NYC_Gamer4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

Where is the software though?PSV is a nice piece of hardware but lacks support from major studios compared to 3DS right now...Nintendo has the advantage in the handheld market brand appeal wise..PSV needs more exclusive software that could only be found on that handheld.

Tei7774042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

Every console has few void months every year. The Vita summer line makes up for a weak april. I can't think of anything releasing on PS3/360 this april..

Summer will consist o f Toukiden, Dragon Crow, Legen of Heroes, Gundam Breaker, God Eater 2, Valhala Knights 3 and possibly FFX/FFX-2 HD.

tubers4042d ago (Edited 4042d ago )

Toukiden = also on PSP
God Eater 2 = also on PSP

Dragon's Crown = also on PS3
Gundam Breaker = also on PS3
FFX/2 = also on PS3
Legend of Heroes = also on PS3

Valhalla Knights 3 = will have a hard time proving itself against its mediocre roots.

The VITA really needs more pure and concentrated exclusives for it and very well done (not feel like a castrate) to sell at an amazing rate.

Here's to more devs that try to make exclusive experiences! (Creators of Soul Sacrifice and Shinovi Versus, Ys Celceta, etc.)

[or at least port the full, latest upcoming CoD/BF on it that can play with the consoles with 8v8 MP]

Tei7774042d ago

OF course exclusives are ideal, but that doesn't mean that multiplats can't generate sales either, especially where pS3 games are concerned because we all know japan prefer gaming on handhelds. Expect Final Fantasy XHD. Gundam Break and Toukiden to all perform wonders for the system, Toukiden will be an interesting one to watch because its being developed by the dynsasty warrior guys and that franchise is uber successful, its also being bundled with a very shiny Vita.

Ultimately the proof is in the pudding, Vita saw its sales increase to 40k when One Piece was released. If the franchse is right (FF/gundam), the power of multiplats can be still be successful and keep the system afloat (not necessarily 3DS numbers). Had one piece been bundle with Vita's I expect that number would have been a lot a higher.

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110°

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.

jznrpg7h 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.

Profchaos7h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola2h 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 (6)
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.

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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