PlayStation Vita (Sony Next Generation Portable)

[Hisako]

yeah except this isn't really an update of the PSP

it's the next generation of handhelds

 

[ForceStealer]

Sony's "biggest mistake" with the PSP according to Sony,

"Our biggest mistake, I would say, with PSP was we were just so happy to provide the PS2 gaming on the go, and we kind of stopped there," Yoshida said in an interview with Gamespot.

"What we wanted to do with NGP was, besides the great graphics and CPU, think on what interface we could put in to make the gameplay really stand out. You know, something that you cannot even do with the PS3," he said.

The NGP's front and rear touch pads, dual analog sticks and camera-based augmented reality will all be key to creating portable experiences that "you cannot replicate in the console experience," Yoshida said.

*shrug* If nothing else, his head's in the right place.

Also worth noting, people like to say the PSP completely failed by being eclipsed by the DS and it was, but it's also true that the PSP is the first handheld EVER to actually present some manner of challenge to Nintendo's. Seriously, can you think of any other that even came close? Game Gear was probably the best shot anyone ever had but the PSP did significantly better than that. DS crushed it (though not until the Lite came out), but a non-Nintendo handheld even surviving is pretty much unheard of.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

yeah except this isn't really an update of the PSP

it's the next generation of handhelds

Also worth noting, people like to say the PSP completely failed by being eclipsed by the DS and it was, but it's also true that the PSP is the first handheld EVER to actually present some manner of challenge to Nintendo's. Seriously, can you think of any other that even came close? Game Gear was probably the best shot anyone ever had but the PSP did significantly better than that. DS crushed it (though not until the Lite came out), but a non-Nintendo handheld even surviving is pretty much unheard of.

I'm pretty sure this is why Sony's so determined NOT to brand this device as a PSP2.

They don't want people just thinking that it's a minor change to their previous handheld. They want it to have a new impact, which it quite frankly deserves given everything that's it's shown to be doing so far. With all the new features and capabilities, I've got confidence that this thing will stand on its own fairly well.

They look to be getting a good launch lineup: First party exclusive IPs, like Resistance & Uncharted, games like WipEout that have cross compatibility with PS3 from day one, and then Little Deviants, which by all accounts seems to be the game that showcases all the crazy cool things that the NGP is capable of beyond its predecessor.

Honestly, I'm still holding my breath that someone's going to announce a game that uses the front camera and facial recognition to accomplish Headtracking to do simulated 3D, because that would be the icing on the cake for this system absolutely blowing things away.


Related: So, it looks like the Sony Execs have had a (still unnamed) price for the NGP all through development. (This is also a really good article re-inforcing the ideas of what Sony wants to accomplish with the NGP).



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[Hisako]

Generally when I try to look for PSP games to buy I check up the 'green' Metacritic scored PSP games. It's not a solid rule but there tends to be a fair amount of decent-quality games for the PSP as well as the DS, considering the ratio between quality and quantity.

My guess is that it'll be a similar match-up for the 3DS and the NGP. I don't think either handheld will be trying to encroach on the other's target audiences. They're mostly sticking to their guns, because as we've seen already with the 3DS launch titles, innovation through handhelds isn't exactly the most prime territory to expand their markets and throw out smaller quantities of high quality games.

I'm sorta expecting there to still be a lot of crap bargain-bin ware from both platforms.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Partnered with AT&T for the 3G version.

Cloud Saving PS Vita and PS3 confirmed with Ruin.

ModNation Racers on PS3 user generated content will be available for the PS Vita version of ModNation Racers from day 1.

PS Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken. Cole from Infamous will be joining.

Being released holiday season this year!!
Wifi Only - $249
3G Version - $299

Fuck yes.
Awesome price points, and they're looking to fight against the 3DS something serious.


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[Tetsujin]

Europe has to pay 130$ more.
Bullshit.

 

[Hisako]

I'm not even going to imagine how much this is going to cost down here

 

[ForceStealer]

And what's the price of the DS again? Isn't it the same?

 

[Max Payne]

And what's the price of the DS again? Isn't it the same?

the 3ds you mean?

yeah

 

[ForceStealer]

Yes. Oops.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

PS Vita

LBP PSV

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[ForceStealer]

They certainly seem like they're positioning it better this time around, it just might compete more.
Too bad (for them) that it's not coming out for awhile yet, the 3DS' slow start seems like the perfect opportunity for them to come in and grab some momentum. By Christmas the 3DS will likely have more games that people want to buy.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Here're the hands on from Engadget. I'm honestly surprised at the fact that the system's apparently so light. Still hoping to hear something on battery life though.

Someone on a site just mentioned that PSV may also be a subtle indicator at the fact that it's the 5th gaming console from PlayStation (PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, PSV).


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[Max Payne]

Tbh it does look pretty light.

If I can I'll probably pick one up.

I didn't watch all of the presentation, did they say anything about BC?

 

[X-SOLDIER]

If you're referring to the backwards compatibility, (since I highly doubt you give two flying fucks about Before Crisis), I don't believe that it was expressly spoken about during the conference, aside from the announcement that they made beforehand about all PSP titles released on PSN will be available for the NGP.

I think that the closest thing to talking about re-vampted PSP games during the conference was the God of War Origins for PS3.

Honestly, I'm wondering that since they have a partnership with Android for PlayStation Suite, if it will have simple apps for checking internet things facebook/gmail/twitter/etc. If it does, I'd probably be willing to ditch my phone's data plan for a 3G version of the PSV (depending on the total cost difference).


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[Tifabelle]

If you're referring to the backwards compatibility, (since I highly doubt you give two flying fucks about Before Crisis), I don't believe that it was expressly spoken about during the conference, aside from the announcement that they made beforehand about all PSP titles released on PSN will be available for the NGP.

The main reason I would care about backwards compatibility is the ability to play PSP games I already own. I wouldn't go buying games on PSN that I already own. I really hope their is backwards compatibility cause I'm all for that.

Honestly, I'm wondering that since they have a partnership with Android for PlayStation Suite, if it will have simple apps for checking internet things facebook/gmail/twitter/etc. If it does, I'd probably be willing to ditch my phone's data plan for a 3G version of the PSV (depending on the total cost difference).

Iiiiinnnteresting. I don't have a phone that does all that cause I haven't found that I care enough to own one. And since I generally don't carry around my PSP with me (and I wouldn't expect to carry the PSV around), that's kind of just an extra thing that I would probably never use. But it's neat that it might do that.

 

[Max Payne]

It'd be kind of retarded to not have support for psp titles.

 

[ForceStealer]

Well Sony is a master of nearly nailing everything and then making one retarded mistake to tarnish the whole thing, so...

 

[X-SOLDIER]

The main reason I would care about backwards compatibility is the ability to play PSP games I already own. I wouldn't go buying games on PSN that I already own. I really hope their is backwards compatibility cause I'm all for that.

I know that the PSPGo could only get titles that way, and was less commercially successful. Plus, with the lack of a UMD slot, I'm not sure how they'd go about getting PSP UMD released games to be backwards compatible. All of the backwards compatible games are supposed to be upconverted to the appropriate resolution and should have dual analog control as well.

I think it'd be a really good idea if they were to go through Gamestop or other retailers in particular to offer a trade-in for UMD games to get a full, or very close to comprable value for having a PSN-specific version for people who purchased the UMD version, but that's just my thoughts.


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[Max Payne]

That's a bit of a bummer.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

I whole heartedly agree, but I can see why they'd avoid adding a UMD slot. Disc drives take up a lot of effort (pronounced battery life), and don't run as smoothly/efficiently as digital content on portable systems (Crisis Core on UMD, versus running on an ISO was my first experience with this). The fewer moving part the better. Plus with the touchscreen / touchpad configuration, I'm not sure how you'd add one.


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[Max Payne]

Maybe they should make it so you can dump your umds to isos and upload them to your PSV?

 

[Makoeyes987]

Sony apparently must not have learned their lesson with the PSPGo, then.

No one's going to re-purchase games to play it on their damn overpriced handheld. That's a ridiculous sales model.

I'm not even that enthused about this handheld, or any this gen. They seem kinda gimmicky and just... I dunno. Especially the 3DS. And frankly, I don't want to go blind

 

[X-SOLDIER]

@ Dacon: I'd thought about that, but that just opens up to people renting used PSP games for cheap, and permanently taking the ISOs, and then the Devs don't get anything. That's why I figured a direct trade-in via a retailer would probably be the best option.

@ Mako: The increased compatibility might convince me to download PSP shooter games that I never bought in the first place though, because their control scheme for PSV will be better.


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[Max Payne]

@ Dacon: I'd thought about that, but that just opens up to people renting used PSP games for cheap, and permanently taking the ISOs, and then the Devs don't get anything. That's why I figured a direct trade-in via a retailer would probably be the best option.

They could key the official copies differently. It'd make it less of an issue for the average consumer. Pirates will pirate though.