Sony's PlayStation Vita isn't a "very strong product," legendary Nintendo video games creator Shigeru Miyamoto has told EDGE magazine.
Asked what he thought of the handheld, Miyamoto said: "I think I really can't say."
However, he went go on to offer a rather damming critique.
"It's obviously a very hi-spec machine and you can do lots of things with it, but I don't really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product," said Miyamoto.
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I bought the PSVita at launch, got Uncharted, Stardust Delta, Motorstorm RC and Hustle Kings on it. All clones from its bigger PS3 brother pretty much.
The only real platform defining 'exclusive' games are Escape Plan and Unit 13 pretty much. Where Escape Plan is the game that has the most defining looks, feels and gameplay, something like Patapon and Loco Roco did for PSP.
And even then, Patapon and Loco Roco were great, great games. Escape Plan is just alright. Didn't even had the slightest feeling I should buy it for 13 Euro.
Sony has to step its game up, fast. And I expect them to have to drop the price like Nintendo did with 3DS to even get people interested a bit. It could be a tad above 3DS's price, like 189 or 199 with a memcard included. Just to be under the magic psychological price level. I don't care if Playstation fanboys say its worth that 250 bucks, fact is peopledon't want it for that price. Same as they didn't want to pay it for 3DS.
Its still early days for the VITA. A cursory glance at its upcoming titles makes it clear just how much potential there is for the VITA.
Its inevitable that you get mere ports in the beginning of its lifecycle but increasingly, we are seeing developers really put tis capabilities to good use. Look at Mortal Kombat or Resistance as examples.
Why must you be a fanboy to see the value of a PSV? So everyone in the audience of last years E3 are all fanboys for cheering on $250?
vita = nintendo 2018's console.
But it is stuck between generations. People in the casual sense have moved on to the world of phone/tablet gaming because of one reason...
Convenience
It is convenient for them to buy into simple pick up and play games. Yes they lack depth and full controls like a dedicated gaming device has but that is why I said convenience.
Looking at the 3ds it too offers a convenience the vita doesnt. Backward compatibility with existing ds carts. It seems funny that THAT would be a strong point but given the number of ds users out there and the library of titles available it just makes sense that someone who buys a 3ds would have their existing library to play.
The quality of the game and the hardware of the vita is not at question here. What is...is the strategy in place to entice millions of existing psp users to upgrade. Right now the psp is still selling because of its large library of titles and the price of the hardware is lower.
It represents a more cost effective way to get original portable titles until the vita gets its stride and wave of original portable titles. No one is questioning the abilities of the system. They are only questioning its role in the market as it pertains to portable entertainment.
It is a 'core' audience product in a world that is dominated by casual consumers.
leaving a number in your tag tells me two things. your thoughtless like most and your born in 1988. bravo
Why would you need that? If you like the PSP so much and you have a vast library of PSP games why sell it?
If you don't have a PSP but want to play those games why not just buy them from the Playstation store? The Vita plays all PSP games (well, if you can get them. I copied a couple from my PSPGo which are not available on the store).
It's just early in the live cycle. Playing the (PSP) Burnout series on the vita makes this pretty apparent - those titles are just missing. Not sure if the studios can handle yet another console. Because that's what the Vita is.
The whole backward compatibility thing is pro and con. It just happens that the 3ds doesnt require anything other than plugging in the ds cart to play. There are only a handful of games that arent compatible.
I have a few digital games on my pspgo that arent compatible with the vita. I dont know if that is just be design or they arent games that are worth the effort to make compatible. I have way more umd games and most are ones that arent even in digital form to begin with.
No way i would get rid of my psp in favor of the vita. I would get one to add to my collection but more importantly to have for its own games. The beauty of the psp library is the amount of fresh new original games that the vita will have at some point.
I do feel stongly that the vita is a great system but you still have to think about sony's original idea of releasing it. It is a psp on steroids and isnt for the casual market. Its for the core but right now the core are buying up the cheaper psp and its games because of the selection is so diverse.
That wont last forever, there will be a point where sony must decide to cut off support and switch things over 100% to the new platform. Ive said this about the ps3 as well. While it is an honorable move to continue to support the past, you cant live in it and they must know that every sale of a psp/ps2 game or system is one less sell of their flagship products.
Not to mention the shift in casual gaming has made it harder for even a company like nintendo to keep pace with the likes of simple downloadable titles for phones/tablets. Both sony and nintendo know it was the core market that got them to their high points but the core market has been dwarfed by the ever increasing casual market.
The ones who are more inclined to pay for a $.99 game on their phone than a $299 system and its lineup of quality titles. It seems bassackwards but the reality of it is gaming got so big so fast that all these newcomers are being treated to first while the really dedicated gamers are wondering...what about us?
I could almost guarantee this thing would explode through the roof if they marketed it in a more casual way. Catering to the casual gamer with those cheap and easy games and apps and pretty much everything the tablet user uses. Yet do you think the core audience would let them get away with that?
HELL no.
So...why did you buy it in the first place? Surely you knew what you were getting into before you dropped cash for it.
And as for some of the games being clones of their ps3 big brother, look at the gow PSP games. Amazing games and story in their own right; the last one I actually liked better than gowIII.
On all Ninty consoles, the best games seem to be Ninty first party titles starring the same old characters with just a slight twist on gameplay, if any. And I like it that way truthfully. That's what I expect from Link, Mario, etc.
But to then point fingers at Sony for it seems hypocritical.
Be patient. The games will come.
"hum, yeah, i will admit, the ps vita is totally raping the 3ds tech wise and our addon called the circle pad pro look like an half hassed reaction to the dual joysticks on competior handheld. Im not gonna lie but i wish them good luck with the sales and wish them a lot of good games, LONG LIVE PLAY!"
i honestly doesnt know if the peoples are simply delusionals or simply stupid to forget who is Miyamoto.
Deep down thats what "Mr. Miyamoto" really wanted to say. :)
Exactly what I was thinking. What the **** else was he going to say?
Other (better) sites are reporting the same story as "Miyamoto praises Vita hardware, says it needs games"
What Miyamoto really want to say is...... PS Vita is a great awesome product but its missing something important for the sales.....
And that is Zelda and Mario. lol :)
I agree, I have great respect for Miyamoto and it doesn't seem like he would say this. I would believe it if it came from Reggie but not from Miyamoto.
seriously ur point is just stupid.
look at the 3ds's launch, thats what miyamoto should do because i dont see anything special on the horizon, kid icarus was great, RE:revalations is great, and KH will be great, but for a handheld being out for more than a year it isnt doing much. atleast when i first got my vita i have alot of games to play and a bunch on the way.
Besides it was obvious for everyone , vita owners or not , that the launch line was never going to be the best part of its life .
For wich console has it ever been ?
I think it just needs a bit of time to
get some more games announced and include
PSone compatibility and sales will increase.
Also if they did make it PS2 compatible it would
help a lot in the long run.
It just seems to be the same old with SONY,
they bring out a great piece of kit but make
bad decisions and stop it reaching its true potential
e.g (the memory cards,no PS1 support)
Its still too early to decide the VITA`s fate all
you have to do is look at the PS3 of where it was in 2006 with a high price tag and no killer exclusives and where it is now in 2012 with more exclusives than I can afford and its taken over the 360 in sales all over Europe.
People that buy a Nintendo handheld or homeconsole, buy it for their love for those IP's mainly I guess. I bought a Wii for Mario, Zelda and some other IP's. Thats also because those IP's on their systems mostly get worked out so well (SMG1, 2 for example) that they are great to play. The current clone games on PSVita are alright and good, but not of that kind of greatness.
But back to the PSVita and not the comparison with 3DS as its of no use. I don't care if some other organisation does the same, I'm talking about Sony with its PSVita here that I put my money in.
Sure, its known that at launch there is a small library of games. Heck, Sony did pretty well getting out the number of games they did. Still though, if I look outside the launch, also the coming time I mostly see clones of PS3 games upcoming, same IP's. Resistance, Streetfighter x, etc etc.
I don't understand all the defense fanboys, probably where most don't even own a PSVita like I do. Just accept the fact that without the platform defining specific and exclusive games, the PSVita is not as attractive as it could be. Actually Sony should acknowledge this, because when it sets itself more apart with exclusive IP's, more people will intend to buy it even at a premium price. Now that the PS3 price dropped pretty much to 199 bucks, and being able to play the better versions of the clone games on PSVita for 250 for the system alone, if portability isn't an issue its better to play those IP's on its bigger brother.
And sure, GOW on PSP did well. Still I am stating that games like Patapon and Loco Roco at least gave some own imago to the PSP. The PSVita needs that badly.
@ Baka-abaB
You give me that list of non clone GOOD or even better great exclusive platform defining new IP games for PSVita then that are released. They just aren't there mate.
Let's not pretend sumioni wasnt good and unique enough , as an example .
You had espace plan , Sumioni , unit 13 , army corps of hell , shinobido 2 , and a few titles we shouldnt bother naming as only out in japan and only ucoming in the west (like gravity rush).
If you want genre and console defining you can certainly wait a bit , none short of the dreamcast , or the original xbox with halo , had that at launch .
You add that to the multiplatform games , and you have a decent launch line up so far .
Its true... We just have to wait a year or two for some more games to come out.
Isn't miyamoto the same guy that said donkey Kong country on snes was rubbish and that Americans likes mediocre games with good graphics
Vita is the best handheld gaming device ever that is versatile enough to do everything other handhelds can but better except 3d. There are a lot of games for it and many more to come. It can support multiplatform games from all consoles now
...Um, how long has the Vita been out again? You can't be serious... how foolish.
If you take Nintendo out of the picture, do you know what you have? The PSP is outselling the Vita... right now, in japan. Oh yea, poor sales stateside too.
It's fantastic hardware, that isn't selling, in a software drought. How do you possibly equate that as the "best handheld ever"?
.
Do you mean they play similarly to how the PS3 ones play?
That's why Sony added the second analog stick so that you could have more of a console experience. I mean I really don't know how much 'different' you want Uncharted GA to play from Uncharted 3.
I do agree that the Vita needs a game of it's own though. Sony is focusing too much on cross platform play right now.
They need to follow Nintendo's example and make games that can only or mostly be found only on their portable. For example Nintendo's Pokemon, Golden Sun, Advanced Wars, Final Fantasy Tactics, etc.
There is little incentive to buy a portable when the biggest games coming out that have been revealed are: Resistance Burning Skies, MGS HD collection, Call of Duty Vita, Street Fighter X, Little Big Planet, Lego Batman, Madden NFL 2013. Seriously all of these games can be found on the PS3 or are similar enough on the PS3 to be considered a spin-off.
There is no incentive to buy a Vita until Sony can offer a exclusive game not found on the PS3.
I hope this is viewed as constructive criticism because I'm not trying to bash Sony. I'm trying to let them know why the Vita isn't selling like hotcakes.
but you have to remember that even the psp initial batch of games were ps2 ports. It took a little bit of time but eventually it got a huge assortment of original titles.
I said above that a main reason the vita isnt selling is due to it being in a market that has been overrun by casual simple pick up and play type of games. The 'core' gamer will get the vita and praise it but they dont represent the majority of consumers out there.
Phones and tablets have earned a place in the gaming industry because of the convenience they offer. People have their phone with them pretty much all the time.
No question the hardware is great. I dont think that is what Miyamoto is really talking about however many on this site think he is downing the hardware as a whole. He more than likely is stating the obvious. Vita is a great unit but is stuck between trends of the generation.
3DS is getting by not just on its library of 3DS specific titles but also by its ability to play existing ds games. If sony were to rethink their digital strategy for users who have a library of existing psp titles and offer them to those users in a trade in offer then it could help vita sales pick up big time.
I myself have 3 psp systems and roughly 30 or so umd games that arent fully available in digital form. I would jump at the chance to trade in my physical copies for digital ones if it presented itself.
As a platform itself, it is very strong and carries a quality that is very high in both the hardware and software.
As a platform in an industry that is dominated by the casual consumer, it struggles to find the right place between tablet/phone convenience and disposable entertainment. Meaning the price of both the hardware/software is to great for anyone other than the most dedicated gamer to really invest in.
Escape Plan, Little Deviants, Gravity Rush, Sounds Shapes, Reality Fighters, Unit 13, Warrior's Lair (previously Ruin), Dokuro, and Dragon's Crown.
... and that is just the first wave, in its first year. There's nothing wrong with that. Nintendo have just about as many sequels or console spin-offs as Sony have on their handheld a far as I've seen.
Perhaps I should have worded it differently and you make a good point, Sony does have portable exclusives. What I am trying to say is that of the games that have been announced so far none of them are "likely" to be system sellers like what Halo was for the Xbox, or what Pokemon was for the Gameboy Color.
I can only hope that E3 in June will remedy this problem.
*Every single one* of Sony's consoles start out slowly and build up to be something very desirable. Competitors and media *always* take this time to trash whatever Sony puts out.
The Vita has the opportunity to bring together unique gameplay and graphics that nobody else has. As time passes, this will be made more and more clear. Many who own the Vita already feel that way.
Somebody stupid at Sony said that the DS was a "toy". Well, look forward to Miyamoto looking stupid in time over this.
12
in other 20 its about psn/ps3 and expect a price cut if not than atleast expect a kickass bundle.
ps3 uncharted 3,killzone 3,resistance 3 for $249?
also sony needs to reduce memory card prices for Vita, if i was in their shoes i would announce a great bundle for Vita which will include a game plus a good size memory card for a base price.
There just haven't been any releases since the launch library, so if you've finished your launch games there just aren't many to turn to at the moment. But there are a lot coming now.
http://n4g.com/news/739060/...
at least miyamoto was more humble and mature about his comment.
Is all im gonna say.
But really, it's your opinion and i respect that.
The Vita came out on February 22nd, it's now May 4th. That's just over two months.
@ cpayne93 below.
I forgot about that. :-)
Still though, it's way too early to judge the Vita.
We'll find out how Sony is going to answer this at E3. Really looking forward to it.
3DS has its games now, yeah sure but if we are to compare both products even with these issues you pointed out the vita offers more. The 3Ds doesnt even have social apps like party or skype, yet and here is what I run into.
What we also fail to realize is, Sony is constantly investing in other areas as well. I mean when was the last time Nintendo came up with a brand new ip, I can sit here and name you atleast 4 Sony has just this gen alone.
The vita just came out and while it might be going through a draught its not the end of the world as we know it. Heck as far I as I am concerned theres nothing to worry about here: http://m.ign.com/articles/2...
Now look at how things changed once it got a price droo and a decent crop of games.
My point is, the vita is an attractive device and it is certaintly a strong product in my eyes. However, without the proper software and a lower price point the vita isnt going to be as succesful as it should be.
But other than that I am sure there are many who want one, they are just not willing to fork the money in the current state of things. Plain and simple mr Nintendo.
Miyamoto needs to make a new game and stop being a troll. His ugly face is the closest thing to a troll face i have ever seen, that smile......haunting.
Minis are still the same crappy Sony license model. That's just not good enough. This must be open. PSS is a step in the right direction - but it doesn't help if you can't port games from other platforms (closed environment, C# only, no C++ support, no 3rd party libraries support, etc...fixable, though).
If there was none, there would be no reason to try and create new ideas.
I imagine it was a question posed to him about the competition, and he answered it.
I actually think he handled it well. Said it was a great product, it just kind of lacks software.
He was also down on the 3DS launch in the interview.
Nice casual gamer logic you got there :D
It may be what YOU don't want, but since its millions ahead this means you are in the minority.
Is CoD the better FPS? According to millions and millions it is. If it wasn't it wouldn't of sold.
But according to you it isn't. Again you are the minority compared to millions.
No it doesn't mean millions and millions of people think that it is the best product....it eitger means millions and millions of people are ignorant to other products and what they offer it that the company us bad any marketing the product .
For the record both Nintendo and Activision both market their products excellently.... Sony is awful at marketing as of late.
If a integrated network that combines digital delivery with online multiplayer with a single ID isn't a strong marriage of software and hardware, what is, a Mario game that uses 20yr old mechanics is?
Apparently so.
And we can all agree that the 3DS is proof of a strong "combination of software and hardware" since proof of that is a huge 50% price drop.
I'd say give it more time, before making claims.
It would be a concealed price drop...best way to keep integrity while boosting sales.
But I'm sure the ignorant gaming community would ignore that and still whine.
The only thing that sets it back it should ship with a built in 8 gig memory card.
The only Vita commercial I've seen is one advertising The Show, which has aired a few times on ESPN. But I guess that's a pretty comprehensive campaign for you, huh?
And are you really gonna continue to pretend like there isn't bias against Sony in the media? You're seriously gonna close your eyes to it? Well, ignorance is bliss, after all... for the ignorant.
Sony's marketing strategies have been awful ever since the PS3 launch (aside from the Keven butler and Michael campaigns)
Biased against Sony in the media?
What "MEDIA" is biased Hicken? radio, television, print, the internet? What form of bias is the media inflicting on poor sony.
My eyes are wide open its your eyes that are shut narrow and only focused on Sony. Break out the tin foil hats and the bigfoot radars I'm sure you can use them as you also try to find the evil masterminds behind this great sony conspiracy!
as for vita commercial...ive seen some advertising the AR feature, Uncharted game, the Show, Wipeout and the Tacobell promotion they had. I don't even see any 3DS commercials anymore.
the ps vita is a very strong device, hell i've non stop been using mine since 2 weeks ago. the games for it are great like Uncharted GA, Gravity Rush, A-men, Luminess Vita, etc.
the whole customization to it is amazingly nice and simple, its a great portable video player and just plain awesome.
the only downside to it is the lack of physical buttons for the UI, lack of flash for youtube and other sites and pricing for the mem cards.
People that buy a Nintendo handheld or homeconsole, buy it for their love for those IP's mainly I guess. I bought a Wii for Mario, Zelda and some other IP's. Thats also because those IP's on their systems mostly get worked out so well (SMG1, 2 for example) that they are great to play. The current clone games on PSVita are alright and good, but not of that kind of greatness.
But back to the PSVita and not the comparison with 3DS as its of no use. I don't care if some other organisation does the same, I'm talking about Sony with its PSVita here that I put my money in.
Sure, its known that at launch there is a small library of games. Heck, Sony did pretty well getting out the number of games they did. Still though, if I look outside the launch, also the coming time I mostly see clones of PS3 games upcoming, same IP's. Resistance, Streetfighter x, etc etc.
I don't understand all the defense fanboys, probably where most don't even own a PSVita like I do. Just accept the fact that without the platform defining specific and exclusive games, the PSVita is not as attractive as it could be. Actually Sony should acknowledge this, because when it sets itself more apart with exclusive IP's, more people will intend to buy it even at a premium price. Now that the PS3 price dropped pretty much to 199 bucks, and being able to play the better versions of the clone games on PSVita for 250 for the system alone, if portability isn't an issue its better to play those IP's on its bigger brother.
And sure, GOW on PSP did well. Still I am stating that games like Patapon and Loco Roco at least gave some own imago to the PSP. The PSVita needs that badly.
@ Baka-abaB
You give me that list of non clone GOOD or even better great exclusive platform defining new IP games for PSVita then that are released. They just aren't there mate.
EDIT
@ Baka below
Well again, its not only me thinking this: its obvious that the sales (specially in Japan) are slacking, thus there just isn't enough platform defining games. Not even with the couple you are mentioning and most of them are just average.
Sure, over time the number of games will grow. But again, the most upcoming stuff is clones again. If Sony has no intention to drop the price of the PSVita as quickly as Nintendo had to do, they'd better bring those specific IP's. Even if they brought a new Loco Roco and Patapon alone that aren't on PS3 or any other platform it would help....
FUDGE this was suppose to be an edit of the other post above.
I'm not disagreeing with the need of something stellar appearing soon or at least being announced in the next few months .
Of course it could always be better to everyone's pleasure . I just didnt see a line up there that needed to be maligned .
Its mistake was still , imo , to stack up all of those games at launch , when it's clear only a few would stand out , and there would be a shortage , especially on the japanese front , for a while .
What also isnt helping , is how slowly Psp titles are being added to the psn , when we know how obsessed by the psp japan currently is .