My first attempt at a Blog post, so go easy on me please :)
I've been a handheld gamer ever since I got a Nintendo Game & Watch 'Juggler' as a gift from my grandparents back in the early 80s. Since then I've owned most of the popular devices; Gameboy, GBA, GBA Micro, DS, PSP, PSP Go, and Vita. This is the first time I got a handheld that's actually a console!
So here are my impressions after two days of use.
Day 1
I got the Vita TV (stand alone version) to accompany my original launch OLED Vita.
I already has an unused DS3 that I could hook up to it, and was looking for an excuse to upgrade my portable Vita's 16GB memory stick to 64GB, which freed up the 16GB for permanent use in the Vita TV - no need to swap out memory cards, although that is an option.
It seems that all PS1 classics, PSP, PC Engine, and Neo Geo games are immediately compatible with the Vita TV.
It's a different story for actual Vita games though, as many (both DL only and retail) aren't compatible straight off the bat. However, this seems to be up to the publisher/developer to patch the game for compatibility. For example, Disgaea 3 recently became compatible with Vita TV after a patch.
I was a bit disappointed that Killzone: Mercenary isn't compatible, but I expect this will get patched.
Muramasa is compatible, and looks great on the TV.
I have PS+, so downloaded and started playing Ragnarok Odyssey, which seems pretty good. Looks great on my TV, and plays just fine with the DS3.
If you are a potential PS Vita TV owner, and there are specific games you are thinking of playing on the Vita TV, I'd recommend researching compatibility in advance.
You can set the unit's display output to 480p, 1080i, 720p, or auto detect. The system recommends 1080i when using the Reader app (digital book/comic reader, not sure if it is available outside of Japan), but after testing I felt that I preferred that in 720p too. I changed the setting back to auto detect, and from what I can tell, it permanently outputs in 720p on my TV.
Also, not all Vita apps are compatible either. So, if there's a specific app you are planning on using with the Vita TV, I recommend checking up in advance.
The setup and transfer process was pretty easy. I had two objectives; migrate my existing data to the new 64GB card, and then re-purpose my 16GB card for exclusive Vita TV use. I backed up my original 16GB Vita memory card to the PS3 via the portable Vita, then popped the new 64GB memory card in the Vita and restored back to that. The 16GB as is was then ready for the Vita TV. The Vita TV comes with an HDMI cable, so I didn't need anything else to hook it up to the TV. Power cable is also included. After powering it on I then configured wireless Internet access, and authenticated the new device with SEN/PSN. Then powered off and added the memory card. The instructions state that you must only insert/eject memory cards when the system is powered off. Once done it was really a case of finding out which apps and games that I already had on the card weren't compatible, then going through and deleting them to free up space. Then, tidying up the top menu. Finally, I found that the Reader app also required me to authenticate the device with the, 'My Sony Store', before it would let me fire up the comics I have, but that was as simple as logging into the My Sony system to authenticate. Done.
Navigation using DS3 takes a little bit of getting used to but in no time at all you'll be using the system without issue.
Once you have the DS3 paired via a USB cable (was not included with the system, but I didn't opt for the bundle that comes with a pad), you can leave the Vita TV in standby mode (as I usually do with my portable Vita), and then you can power up the system itself simply by powering on that DS3.
Finally, the unit itself is really small, hardly uses any power, and has no moving parts so is silent. I didn't notice it getting hot at all and I used it for most of the day.
When accessing the PS Store, the store automatically detects that you are using a Vita TV, and gives you options specific to the Vita TV. This is handy because everything in the Vita TV section is compatible with the Vita TV, so there's less chance you can buy something that isn't compatible. Browsing the game section is also a handy way to confirm which games are compatible, and which aren't, without you having to do a trial and error process with anything you may already own.
I noticed a weird issue in the situation where my Vita TV was in standby mode, but the TV was still on. With HDMI control enabled, when I turned off the TV, it powered up the Vita TV?! I think I figured out the cause though.
Day 2
Using the Reader app to read comics on the TV is way better than I was expecting it to be. I thought it would be weird to use the TV specifically for reading, but it's not at all. In fact, I can see me using this a LOT more. I also stumbled on a really cool feature whereby after finishing up a reading session on the Vita TV, and then powering up my portable Vita that has the same comic (manga) on the memory card, it automatically opened at the page where I left off on the Vita TV. Really cool. Of course, for this to work exactly the same as my situation you need a memory card in both devices, the same manga on both devices, and an Internet connection.
I also think I figured out the weird HDMI control issue mentioned above. I knew the DS3 I was using was a bit messed up, and so paired another old DS3 up with the Vita TV instead. After moving to this different DS3, the problem seemed to disappear.
Conclusion
Overall, I'm very pleased with it. As I just got the stand alone unit, I didn't need to invest much in it, and it seems to be a kick ass little console. The only thing is be aware that not all apps and Vita games are compatible with it, but I expect the bigger titles with decent publishers will patch in compatibility.
If you already have some investment in Sony platforms, then it should be quite easy to justify the purchase. I already had PS+, a DS3 that I could re-purpose for dedicated Vita TV use, and only needed an excuse to buy another memory card. You could keep the investment down even more by just sharing memory card between portable Vita and Vita TV, and if you only have one DS3, you could just pair it between PS3 and Vita TV every time you want to use either system (a hassle for sure, but means you don't actually need a second DS3). If you already have PS+ then you've got a ton of content ready to use on the Vita TV.
If you don't own a Vita of any kind, and are interested in Vita and other PS platform games, then the bundle that comes with 8GB memory card and DS3 is an interesting option. That is about 15,000 JPY. Add another 5,000 JPY for an annual PS+ subscription, and you have a year's worth of software to keep you busy, with no further investment required.
Streaming / remote play with PS4 should be awesome, but I don't have a PS4 yet...
If anyone is interested / has any questions, just let me know and I'll try to answer them. Note - I'm in Japan, this is a JPN unit, and I only have a Japanese SEN/PSN account.
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Nice I can't wait till this comes to the west, my guess is when the ps4 releases in japan. I will have the complete ecosystem: ps3, ps4, ps vita and vita tv.
Vita TV is releasing in my country today (so is other South East Asian countries), I just wanna ask about few things before I buy:
1) Are Facebook, Youtube, twitter app compatible?
2) Can I just take out my memory card from Vita and put it on the Vita TV if I wanna switch between them (using same PSN)?
3) How's the Content Manager works? via Wifi and USB
Thanks.