Saving the Vita

We all know the PlayStation Vita has had it rough since its launch. The Vita released just about two years ago, but has much changed? Hoping to follow the foot steps of its successor the PlayStation Portable, it seems to be failing to do so. What is wrong with the Vita?

[jbond1010]

good article. hopefully 2014 brings a whole set of new games to the Vita. Needs it.

[Joey_Leone]

I love the Vita (purchased 4 of them) and looking forward to future releases like minecraft and free games from PS+, but theres one issue i have with the vita, you cant put multiple accounts on one vita. Hopefully sony updates this.

[nope111]

Yeah, my only problem i have with the Vita.
I want to make a JPN account to download PSO2.

[guitarded77]

How many Vitas can you have the same account linked to? Two?

I was thinking about buying a second... got a small scratch on my screen (which really doesn't hurt anything, it just bugs me knowing it's there, and I'm OCD like that), and would like one with unmolested buttons since I've played the hell out of the thing.

[JBSleek]

Vita does indeed need their own games instead of ports of games that have already came out.

I don't think PS4 being a selling point for Vita is a good idea. Basically it's a $200 accessory? Isn't that almost identical to nVidia Shield?

Once the 3DS came out with an XL version and had games it sold exceptionally well. 3DS proves that if you bring software people will buy it, also a reasonable price but Vita has that covered.

[rxl209]

"Vita does indeed need their own games instead of ports of games that have already came out." perhaps the stupidest comment ive ever read

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

maybe because you can't comprehend it.

[dcj0524]

Pretty sure the vita has it's own games. Heard of Soul Sacrifice,Gravity Rush,Killzone:Mercanary, Tearaway,Ys:Memories of Cecleta,Uncharted:Golden Abyss, Toukiden,GOD EATER 2,Sword Art Online, and the endless unlocalised Japanese games? Probabillity points towards no. Call Of Duty:Ghost for PS3 is just a port from the 360. Does that devalue the game if its exactly the same on the ps3 but its a port from the 360? No.It's a multiplatform. Is Dragon Ball Z:Battle of The Z or Dragon's Crown devalued on the VITA because it's also on the PS3? No. Why? Because it's literally the same exact game. So its a Multiplatform.

[rpd123]

You named some good games. They're fun, but there are too few of them. There were 2 AAA games that I can think of that came out in 2013 (Killzone and Tearaway). That's not enough. Mentioning Japanese games is pointless. I'm not Japanese, I don't read Japanese, I'm not going to import a game that I can't understand or enjoy because it's in Japanese.

Also there is a difference between a multiplatform and a port. When multiplatforms are made they keep every console in mind. Ports are bringing a game to a new console after the game has already been developed and released. Even so, multiplatforms on Vita are not the same quality as on PS3 or 360. It's not the exact same game. It's a watered down version.

[Yodagamer]

I don't even think sony are trying at this point. They produce decent games like killzone and Tearaway that would sell systems yet they don't put that out there in ads. They seem to care more about porting games and the 2nd screen stuff than getting system selling games. PSP was awesome, but i think somewhere along the line sony failed the vita.

[BrianWakefield]

You have a point. Now that the PS4 is out, Sony can focus more on Vita and tether the two together a little more. They are also waiting for Gaikai which should presumably help, but that is if the Vita doesn't fall of even more by then.

[NYC_Gamer]

I don't expect Sony to be worried about PSV since they have to fully support their main piece of hardware PS4

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

they wont be pulling a lot profit then. Because the Vita is selling at a loss.

[DanielGearSolid]

I wish Rockstar would make a Vita title, the PsP was good to them...

I say a Read Dead Redemption spinoff, follows John Marstons son

[donwel]

This. I would sacrifice my left nut to play that.

[Kiddcarter]

I may be in the minority with this comment, but I personally love my vita, and dont think it needs saving, just this past week I bought Ys, Runner 2, CastleStorm, Chaos Rings, Spelunky, Muramasa, and Mutant Mudds. Theres plenty to play on it, people just hate on it same way they hate on Wii U

[nope111]

I love my Vita too :) best handheld i ever owned.

[Inception]

Agreed with Kiddcarter here. Just bought CastleStorm, Hotline Miami, and P4G. It will be enough until DanganRonpa and Toukiden on Feb. Haters gonna hate.

[Hicken]

You're in the minority only as far as it pertains to people who visit articles like these. I don't think the Vita needs saving, either.

It can certainly do better, but I'm not worried about it doing so, because I'm confident that will come. It's got a great library that, contrary to the beliefs of those like JBSleek above, are not full of ports(though there certainly are some, and why not? isn't it labeled as a providing console-quality gaming on the go?). There's a pretty good sized library of games that are exclusive to it, and many of them are quite good.

It's got plenty of features that make it worth buying, too; remote play with the PS4 is just one of them, albeit a pretty big one.

It could do with better marketing, for certain. Sony hasn't adequately promoted the system. And a lot of people are still put off by the price of the memory cards.

But I don't believe there's any need to "save" it.

[Kiddcarter]

I completely agree with you Hicken

[JBSleek]

I don't think people are hating on the Vita. It has legitimately gripes about it. Saying that people are "hating" on it isn't a valid argument.

Does it need saving no it will be perfectly fine but it certainly could be doing better than what it is now.

You love the Vita and that's great not hating on it never will "hate" on a product; but I think acting like it has no flaws is also very homer of someone to say.

[Kiddcarter]

I never said it didn't have flaws, said i personally loved mine and thought it didn't need saving.

[dcj0524]

Same here.

[DJ]

I still get a lot of people asking "Is that the new PSP?" whenever they see the Vita. Maybe it's simply the name that screwed everything up.

PS2 -> PS3 -> PS4

PSP -> PSP 2 -> etc.

That would have made more sense. Vita sounds like a herbal drink. Even "PSP Vita" would have been marginally better.

[Visiblemarc]

Love the system and games, but terrible marketing has caused it probs. the name thing is definitely a big part of the problem

[silvacrest]

does anyone even no why its called the vita? its not like the PSP had such a terrible brand name that it needed a change

the vita name like you said, has only confused people

[BelkingOfSony]

@silvacrest

the codename for the ps4 was orbis, link it with vita and you have 'orbis vita' which i think means 'circle of life', signalling that the ps4 and vita are linked together (which we now know can be linked by remote play and other functions such as using the vita as a second controller etc).

[jjb1981]

Ys memories of celceta is a great game for vita. I can't wait for more JRPGs to be released here!

[TM333]

Agreed! I've been enjoying Ys very much over the past week. Personally, I want the Xenosaga series on Vita. Would love to replay those comfortably via this gorgeous handheld.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Sony needs to get out of the business of creating media formats, especially when better and less expensive alternatives exist. It is one of the things I hate about them as a company.

[DCfan]

Why sit? Go out and help them

[DualWielding]

cheaper memory cards and more localization of japanese exclusive games that's what the system needs

[rageus]

The only reason im interested in the vita is ps+. I already have like 10 games i got for 'free' without even buying the console. That's more games than I own for my 3DS.

[tubers]

It needs more mass appeal and advertising unless Sony's planning for it to be their last handheld.

I hope VITA generates much more money for Sony instead of losses incurred by the VITA as implied by the last earnings report.

http://www.sony.net/SonyInf...

http://www.gsmarena.com/son...

[ilovefatgirls]

i have to laugh at people who say the vita has no games, it has plenty of games, however it has very few games actually worth playing
8 or 9 must haves at most
maybe we might get a few more localizations be nice if europe got them aswell around the same date too that would be awesome O_O very greedy of me i know but im a greedy guts