Todd Greenwald with Signal Hill is predicting a strong showing for E3 2010. The major topics for this show are going to be with the handheld and motion control market, as well as several triple-A titles from the major publishers.
OXCGN:
"Does 3DS trouble point to trouble for PS Vita?
What if the huge rise in popularity of smartphones, iPods and iPads is stealing away potential customers for both their portables?
Should the 3DS situation actually make Sony worried for their PS Vita?
Actually, no. And here’s why."
I really wanted the 3DS to be something more than just a console for existing franchises and with the Resident Evil game I was thinking it might be.
But no...nothing came and nothing new was announced.
I'll also be waiting and seeing about the PS Vita. Early adopters are rarely rewarded these days!
Early adopters should NOT be rewarded; all that does is cater to this whole instant gratification and silver-platter treatment that gamers these days are so used to, and are even demanding in cases such as the 3DS.
Remember when the iPhone price dropped initially, and Apple fans shit themselves with anger because they bought it for more? Yeah, that's exactly what most gamers are acting like today.
The thing Sony have going for them is the westernisation of the firm as a whole. Knowing that in order to not only survive, but grow and flourish, they need to appeal to the core users, rather than those on the edge.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for Nintendo is their leadership based in Japan. Their attitude of superiority and 'never-can-do-wrong' thought process they exude.
Apple has stumbled on the key-stone of what buyers want. Simplicity, functionality, 'idiot-proofing' (yes, that is a real-world term sadly) and price-point.
It's why the Japanese have adopted the iPhone, iPad, and all iDevices over their own native production. No other American company has ever done that, and is unlikely to do it in the near future.
If both Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo followed Apples 'simple' strategy, they could well take some of the icing off Apple's cake.
Sony 'now' are willing to learn from their mistakes, whereas Nintendo seem almost cemented in their thought process that their way is right, and the buyer needs to change their ways. Wrong
Until both Sony and Nintendo as well as Microsoft realise that buyers want simplicity, yet multifunctionality at the same time, such as the use of a phone, multimedia device etc all combined into one unit, they will struggle to sell en-mass like they 'used' to.
The market has changed whether we like it or not, and those companies unwilling to adopt that change will suffer. I believe the era of handheld gaming platforms is coming to an end (as a stand-alone platform), and those platforms that offer both gaming and smartphone functions are the ones that will flourish.
The problem with the 3DS is that it failed on virtually every level.
It was too expensive.
It lacked strong 1st party games to entice casual gamers.
It lacked strong 3rd party games to entice core gamers.
The limitations of the 3D effect and short batter life prevented it from being used as a PORTABLE device.
The Playstation Vita, at first glance, looks to avoid those mistakes--it has a cheaper price tag, has plenty of high-profile games attached to it, and seems well-suited for portable gaming.
But is it really any better off?
Look at the list of Vita games: almost all of them are simply handheld versions of console games. If you own a PS3, would you buy a Vita to play those same games "on the go?"
Probably not. Especially when pretty much EVERYONE who has the disposable income to buy a handheld console ALREADY has a cellphone capable of mobile gaming. The simple fact of the matter is that handheld gaming has ALREADY been usurped by mobile gaming. This is the chief reason for the failure of the 3DS, and I have no doubt the Vita will meet with similar failure.
For the past several years, the older handhelds managed to exist due to having unique titles that could not be duplicated on any other platform.
More and more, people are using mobile phones to game around when they're on the go, and leaving their DSs and PSPs at home, to play with for longer stints before work, or at night, before sleeping. The age of the dedicated handheld gaming device is over, and has been for some time.
I'm not saying that this means the PSV or 3DS will be worthless, or that they won't (in the end) appeal to many gamers, myself included... I'm saying that from a financial perspective, both platforms are likely to be viewed as failures, and that it's very unlikely that Sony will ever make a handheld after the PSV, or that Nintendo will make a handheld after the 3DS.
Unless, of course, they make something like an iPad with analog sticks that can be used as a more versatile media device.
1. Shane Satterfield Of Gametrailers.com appears on the show
2. Will A Onlive App debut with PS Vita
3. Fear 3 - 10/10 Best FPS Cover System Ever
4. NBA 2K12 - Star Mike Video
5. Rap Battle - X-Factor Vs Tsu Surf
Enjoy The Show And God Bless
Game hasn't started yet, hopefully it does this year in the US. I want Vita right now! So hyped!
Sony probably has the most third party support, out of the big 3(Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony).
Be sure to check out our PSVITA walkthrough with Everyone’s Golf (Hot Shot Golf in the US). There are some awesome feature to check out.
I've always liked the Clap Hanz sport games the controls are not complicated so they're easy to jump in to and the DLC was dirt-cheap.
This along with uncharted will be day one!
Also, i'll get stardust and sound shapes, cause i imagine they'll be cheap downloads...i hope.
This ANALyst must have already played the PSP2 I guess. He knows about all of its features already.
In all honesty PSP2 NEEDS to wow desperately. The 3DS just needs to be marginally better than the DS/DSi/DSxL to be a success critically and sales-wise. PSP was a good portable device but Sony seem to going against Apple in terms of tech so they need to bring their A game and make the ipod touch look like old tech compared to the PSP2.
The PSP2 will be a Mile better if its got a second anologue stick.
Pretty ignorant commentary by this "analyst", if you ask me. Sounds like he doesn't understand his markets very well. The 3DS doesn't really need to wow anyone to succeed. And the PSP2 is just a rumor. Heck, it's only half a rumor (we've heard about the GPU, but not really anything believable about the CPU or anything else). Not sure how it can be "yawn"ed away without any serious info.
I'll bet Custer yawned when he heard there were some natives around in the area he was headed to, as well.
PsP2 is kinda my most wanted announcement.