PlayStation Vita TV: Solving Problems We Didn't Know We Had

TSA writes: "When Sony teased the news we had “been waiting for” yesterday, I wasn’t sure whether to believe them or not, and whether it would be worth getting up at 6:30am to report the news on TSA if there wasn’t going to be anything exciting aside from a Japanese PS4 release date."

[ricochetmg]

I love the idea and hopes it comes to the us

[ziggurcat]

it will, it's just going to be out in japan first. that's why andrew house made the announcement, and why they broadcast the event with english translation.

[FamilyGuy]

With the internet blowing up over this as huge positive news it will most certainly be coming to the U.S.

On top of that Sony gave us the heads up that they would be announcing something big and that there would be a translated stream. All so that we could see this things reveal.

100% chance this thing is coming to the U.S., no doubt whatsoever.

[iceman06]

House mentioned something about it being in Japan ahead of a "worldwide release". A product like this is pretty much a lock to come to the US.

[Ginesis]

This...is a dumb idea. For a company in financial trouble this is a huge risk that won't pay off. Quit digging a hole that you've been trying to fill Sony!

[dredgewalker]

Actually it's Sony's gaming division that's been keeping Sony afloat. It's the other divisions that were making lots of losses for Sony.

[Ginesis]

And now they're risking their profitable division by doing this. What they should do is focus on innovation in the mobile market because the next company with the next big idea in that market will reap the rewards.

[Death]

Sony's gaming division has not been keeping Sony afloat. Sony's lost about 4-5 billion this gen on the gaming side. They've made a small profit in the tens of millions the last couple years. Before that it was huge losses. Sony Financial is their biggest profit leader that helps them the most. http://www.sony.net/SonyInf... (pg.28)

With color charts and graphs. http://www.sony.net/SonyInf...

Sony made about 1.5 million last year on the Playstation brand and close to 30 million the year before. Losses in the billions prior dating back to 2006.

@Ginisys

Mobile is their market with the biggest losses. About a billion in 2012. They made about 7 million the year before that.

For the disagree, check the links. They are from Sony.

[dredgewalker]

@Death
From what I understand most of the recent losses from Sony's gaming division is because of the investment in the cost of developing the PS4 and probably the newer vita models.

@Ginesis
It's a calculated risk, if they manage to make the Vita Tv successful they'll increase the Vita's install base and garner more dev support.

[Death]

Actually, the last couple of years they posted a small profit. The bulk of their losses before that had various reasons. Hurricane, drop of the yen, low sales, etc.

PS4 development is the least expensive of any console they have produced. It was subscontracted for the most part using off the shelf componants with very little modification relatively speaking. They claimed it is a result of listening to developers. Realistically it was about costs associated with R&D. It was a very good decision on their part either way.

[dredgewalker]

Ahh I forgot about that whole tsunami incident.

[WeAreLegion]

Innovation in the mobile market?

Have you not seen Sony's phones? They're incredible!

[Protagonist]

@Ginesis

You should apply for a job at the Sony Corporation, it seems you know what you are talking about... the analysis about the financial trouble/huge risk was spot on.

/s

[Software_Lover]

That could apply to 80% of this website. /s

[Ginesis]

Actually smart ass I have a Business degree in Finance so I know a little bit about economics and products and who's the market for said products. All I was saying is its hard to see their direct market for this device plus the vita name doesn't have enough market penetration to put out new devicse under the same umbrella and expect it to do any better. Sony needs to be a bit more conservative with their ideas right now

[Protagonist]

@Ginesis

"I support systems that will be supported"

So now you can see in the future? you are "Genius"

[Death]

They aren't risking their profitable market with the VitaTV. They make their money on the financial side more than anything. Without their financial division, Sony lost money last year. Charging for online is a step in the right direction if they want to be profitable. They also need to increase software sales. As a gamer I love the fact we can use certain games at no additional charge as Plus subscribers, but as a business owner I believe they are taking sales from themselves with the service.

[Ace_Pheonix]

*gasp* Oh wow, a business degree! Well everyone step aside, we got a guy here that has a degree in the same over saturated field as every other college student! I bet he was even able to not get a job with it! Haha, all sarcasm aside, I think it's a brilliant idea that will move more Vitas in the long run. But it really should be compatible with the DS4 for touch support.

[Kujii]

@Ginesis

The PS4 has over 1 million pre-orders. how many of those people do you think would have 2+ TV's in their house? And for $99usd they can play their PS4 on another TV in the house.

Money in the bank if you ask me.

Thats not including people that will buy it just because its a cheap way to enjoy PS1, PSP & PSV games or stream movies.

Being a parent this is an amazing solution for my daughter. I dont have to buy her a Vita that will most likely break or be left somewhere. And I can play the same PS1 classics with her that I played as a kid.

[sincitysir1]

Someone's upset they're not getting a vita tv.

[Ginesis]

No I won't be getting one I support systems that will be supported.

[AznGaara]

Because a $100 box that streams tv shows, movies and plays video games have always failed. No wonder people don't buy the AppleTv... oh wait.

[Ginesis]

Sony attempt to enter that market will be an uphill battle especially cause chromecast and good luck moving apples people to something else they have them on lockdown. Simply put...that market is spoken for right now.

[Navick]

@Ginesis

So much for your degree... You still don't get it. This is the first time something like this has been done. There is no other market to take notes, charts or. Past sells from. It's not an Apple TV or Roku, though it has some of those features. It has access to over 1300 games, psone, psp, and vita games. It also always u to purchase one ps4 and reap the benefits of having a second in your bedroom. On a big screen. Remote play at its finest. I think it's genius and will sell like hot cakes.

[wishingW3L]

@Ginesis, don't even try to make sense out of anything because fanboys are just gonna fanboy. My console of choice is always Sony's but I'm nowhere near as delusional as them and I do admit Sony has made lots of mistakes and what they are doing now is indeed risky. But to the fanboys Sony's in a pedestal and they can do no wrong even though they really messed up with the PS3 and again with the Vita.

[SirBradders]

Not a good idea to you maybe but to cash struck homes this is the nuts a vita on your tv for £80 and enables you to stream your ps4 throughout the house while watching tv through it so it has a place in cash struck homes and the better off with multiple tvs.

This is a good move from sony how can you think it is a bad move?

[FamilyGuy]

You're crazy, they just introduce a $100 way to play Vita games as well as it being able to stream Gaikai content eventually. This thing is gonna sell through the roof.

You're over here talking about innovation in mobile market? lmao, did you not notice they also have revised PS Vita models that are cheaper to make (No OLED screen) as well? A slimmer, lighter, less expensive handheld vita as well as Vita Tv, the install base will probably quadruple within the first couple months of this things release.

$100 and less = impulse buy, when it comes to consoles. Vita tv = Vita console

If by mobile you're referring to cell phones well Sony has innovative cell phones already and the market is just over-saturated with competition. If some other company comes up with something great they'll all just copy each other anyway. Sony has a phone that can be submerged under water, they're already doing great stuff.

I'm really caught off guard by the people that see this as a negative thing. Realize that you are in the minority. Just because you're too narrow-minded to see the benefits of such a device and who is market will be you think it's a bad investment yet you can look at any news report story on the Vita Tv and see 100 positive comments to every 7 negative ones. 100 to 7... it's a really good sign that people are interested.

[ginsunuva]

How is it a huge risk when it's just Vita parts w/o screen?

[iceman06]

While it might be considered "risky", financially it's not a huge risk. The R&D has already been done, games are being made and have been for some time since it supports various previous console iterations. All that they really have to do is market, produce, and sell. The ability for it to remote play brings this device into play big time. Assuming that it works as advertised, this allows you to play PS4 games on another TV or in another room for about $100. That alone will move units.

[miyamoto]

PS Vita games seen @720p or 1080i is not a bad thing...its actually very good!

i dont have to carry my ps4 to a friends house or at work to play ps4 games

this will encourage gamers to buy less expensive ps vita versions of ps3/ps4/ps vita cross platform games

very nice

loving it

and then there is Gaikai over the horizon

[thrust]

I wanna see the ps4 games steaming over the net in uk!

[abusador]

This better come to U.S.!!!! You know how many ppl have been wanting to play their vita on their tv? Tons of ppl, including me. Also remote play ps4 on one tv via this and still free up another tv for gaming to play multiplayer together, awesome!!!!!

Not to mention this makes things like Roku obsolete.

Who you fooling saying its a dumb idea? not us!!!

And its only like 100, yes!!!!!!

Again ppl with the financial trouble bs argument. What dont you comprehend? Sony is in financial trouble in regards to overall but gaming division makes them money and is on the up and up!!!!! Thats why so much focus on it.

[AznGaara]

I'm assuming this comes out in Japan first because they need something while they have to wait for the PS4. Hopefully it'll come out in the west after they patch in the Ps4 remote play and Ds4 support... which is probably going to be after Japan gets the Ps4.

[Lord_Frieza]

I've got a PS vita
Will I be able to play multiplayer with the PS vita TV???

[Protagonist]

Probably by a later patch, truth is we dont know all yet.

[miyamoto]

yup. its confirmed ADHOc or over WiFi
PS Vita TV supports 2 DS3 or DS4 at the same time.

Question is will PS TV support a PS Vita or two as its controller/s too.

[Pillsbury1]

It's a less expensive gaming option for home use for people that love vita games but don't necessarily want a handheld. Sony knows its market, they care about us gamers.

[miyamoto]

It will be the most affordable next gen home console.
This will drive PS vita game development even more specially Indies.

[abusador]

Great point tht i didnt think of. Your right in this way they can boost vita software sales and not have ps4 remote play for ps4 hinder sales. Ppl will be buying this setup just to play certain vita games on big screen.!!!

[Pillsbury1]

That's right, playstation indie box.

[AceofStaves]

If this came to North America, I'd definitely buy it. Being able to play my Vita games on my large TV would be awesome, and the device is quite inexpensive for its functionality.

[alb1899]

I hope that the people that need to play Vita in a tv doesn't have a ps3 or is not planing to buy a ps4 because........why!?

[strigoi814]

Ive had this problem since yesterday i was debating getti a longer hdmi cable to run from the living room to my bedroom. Coz i dont want to move my console from room to room..Sony just made my day

[cell989]

if it comes to USA IM buying it, I could see many practical uses for this

[Pillsbury1]

They are probably going to test it first in Japan then bring it worldwide.