Playstation Vita

[Rodster]

Sony apologises as PlayStation Vita complaints rise

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16267938

[Macca00]

Santa is bringing me an iPad 2 (which I figure my daughter will destroy in about a week). I am fairly certain I'm going to cancel my Vita pre-order unless something in the launch line up blows me away.

[sportdan30]

Santa is bringing me an iPad 2 (which I figure my daughter will destroy in about a week). I am fairly certain I'm going to cancel my Vita pre-order unless something in the launch line up blows me away.

You will love the iPad 2. If tablets weren't around, I'm sure my interest in the Vita would be sky high. As it stands, I'm very content with the game selection on the tablet, regardless of the depth of some of the games. Perhaps the Vita will peak my interest when the price drops below $200. It's unfortunate to hear that there are complaints already trickling in.

[wco81]

There were claims made earlier in the week that Sony increased the supply from 500k to 700k.

But they ended up selling around 350k.

[Rodster]

With rumors swirling of an imminent release of the iPad 3, I wouldn't get the iPad 2 at this point.

There were claims made earlier in the week that Sony increased the supply from 500k to 700k.

But they ended up selling around 350k.

Yeah I saw that article and in Japan they are disappointed the device did not do better. They sold 65% of their inventory. This is Japan were if it has the Sony name on it, it's always guaranteed a sell out.

[JRod]

With rumors swirling of an imminent release of the iPad 3, I wouldn't get the iPad 2 at this point.

There were claims made earlier in the week that Sony increased the supply from 500k to 700k.

But they ended up selling around 350k.

Yeah I saw that article and in Japan they are disappointed the device did not do better. They sold 65% of their inventory. This is Japan were if it has the Sony name on it, it's always guaranteed a sell out.

iPad 3 will be in March/April. That's been the norm. I wouldn't call that imminent.

[Macca00]

With rumors swirling of an imminent release of the iPad 3, I wouldn't get the iPad 2 at this point.

Yeah, that's what my wife said but what does she know, I want my toy NOW!

[wco81]

There are suppose to be some useful medical apps. for the iPad. Also some vendors of medical office automation are supposedly looking at using it too.

[ScoopBrady]

There are suppose to be some useful medical apps. for the iPad. Also some vendors of medical office automation are supposedly looking at using it too.

My employer puts on the largest medical conference in the world and we just had it a few weeks ago. I have never seen so many iPads in my life. There were roughly 25,000 doctors at the conference and I would say at least 60% of them had iPads. It was nuts.

[dbdynsty25]

There are suppose to be some useful medical apps. for the iPad. Also some vendors of medical office automation are supposedly looking at using it too.

My employer puts on the largest medical conference in the world and we just had it a few weeks ago. I have never seen so many iPads in my life. There were roughly 25,000 doctors at the conference and I would say at least 60% of them had iPads. It was nuts.

I work in a hospital w/ 600 physicians on staff...those that have tablets ALL have iPads. No reason to even recommend an Android tablet to them because the support just isn't there from medical companies. It's just a fact.

[wco81]

So are they using them at work to access medical charts, X-rays, etc.

Or these are personal iPads belonging to the doctors mostly for entertainment use?

Supposedly even before tablets became popular to consumers, vertical markets like medicine was suppose to be good target for tablets. But doctors may prefer pen input for their infamously-bad handwriting rather than a touchscreen?

[dbdynsty25]

They are using them for accessing medical records through a secure citrix connection. That way they can use the device in the hospital on our wifi or sitting on their couch at home to keep track of patients. It's really tough to actually input data on them, so they mostly use them for research and for looking up patients and their info, but when they have to do day to day bedside care, they generally go directly to a computer on the floor to input.

[Diablo25]

ipad2 = the tits

[Rodster]

ipad2 = the tits

ipad 3 = huge rack

[toonarmy]

Very happy to see that the Vita versions of Hot Shots Golf, Wipeout 2048, ModNation Racers, Ridge Racer, and Touch My Katamari (sounds XXX) are 29.99 at Amazon and other places for pre-order. Those are cheaper than the PSP versions when they released. Hopefully this price point becomes a trend and will force Nintendo to lower its 3DS game prices as well. I'm sure not all companies will release Vita games at 29.99, but it is cool that several companies are already doing so, including Sony.

[Macca00]

They are using them for accessing medical records through a secure citrix connection. That way they can use the device in the hospital on our wifi or sitting on their couch at home to keep track of patients.

Bingo! At least that's what I'll be telling myself when I'm playing games on it.

Very happy to see that the Vita versions of Hot Shots Golf, Wipeout 2048, ModNation Racers, Ridge Racer, and Touch My Katamari (sounds XXX) are 29.99 at Amazon and other places for pre-order. Those are cheaper than the PSP versions when they released. Hopefully this price point becomes a trend and will force Nintendo to lower its 3DS game prices as well. I'm sure not all companies will release Vita games at 29.99, but it is cool that several companies are already doing so, including Sony.

Totally agree with the $30 price point but again, when you can get GTA 3 for $3 it's still crazy.

8-4 Play has a 4 hour (yes, 4 hour) podcast devoted to the Vita launch. The impressions aren't that good - much of it is early teething problems with PSN and Firmware but apparently Ridge Racer is a steaming pile - only 3 tracks in the game and crap framerate.

[toonarmy]

8-4 Play has a 4 hour (yes, 4 hour) podcast devoted to the Vita launch. The impressions aren't that good - much of it is early teething problems with PSN and Firmware but apparently Ridge Racer is a steaming pile - only 3 tracks in the game and crap framerate.

Yeah, Ridge Racer sounds like a POS game, which is odd because Namco usually comes through with good Ridge Racer games for system launches. Many of the other games sound fantastic, though. I'm now glad that Japan got the Vita first. Sony should have things sorted out by February for the US.

[Macca00]

Yeah, Ridge Racer sounds like a POS game, which is odd because Namco usually comes through with good Ridge Racer games for system launches.

Indeed, Ridge Racer PSP was amazing. I'm sure WipeOut for the Vita will be top notch.

[toonarmy]

Official info from Sony about Vita launch games in the US (damn impressive list), as well as prices of accessories. Memory cards are cheaper than initially reported. Sounds like third-party folks will be making cards as well, so the whole price thing may become a non-issue.

PS Vita Software Lineup:

SCEA Launch Day Titles
Escape Plan (PSN Only)
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
Hustle Kings (PSN Only)
Little Deviants
ModNation Racers: Road Trip
Super StarDust Delta (PSN only)
UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss
wipEout 2048

Launch Window Titles
Gravity Rush
MLB 12 The Show
Reality Fighters
Unit 13

Third Party Publisher Launch Day Titles
Army Corps of Hell
Asphalt Injection
BEN10 GALACTIC RACING
Blazblue: Continuum Shift EXTEND
Dungeon Hunter Alliance
Dynasty Warriors Next
F1 2011
EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer
Lumines Electronic Symphony
Michael Jackson The Experience
Plants vs. Zombies (PSN Only)
Rayman Origins
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN Only)
Touch My Katamari
Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition

Launch Window Titles
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 .
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
NINJA GAIDEN ∑ PLUS
Ridge Racer
Silent Hill Book of Memories

Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted


Product Name Release Date MSRP
4 GB Memory Card February 15, 2012 $19.99
8 GB Memory Card February 15, 2012 $29.99
16 GB Memory Card February 15, 2012 $59.99
32 GB Memory Card February 15, 2012 $99.99
Starter Kit with Memory Card February 15, 2012 $39.99
In-Ear Headset February 15, 2012 $19.99
Carrying Case February 15, 2012 $19.99
Travel Pouch February 15, 2012 $19.99
Protective Film (2 pack) February 15, 2012 $9.99
Card Case February 15, 2012 $5.99
Cradle February 15, 2012 $19.99
Portable Charger Spring 2012 $49.99
AC Adaptor February 15, 2012 $14.99
Car Adaptor Spring 2012 $14.99
USB Cable February 15, 2012 $14.99

[Murph]

What's going on here?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/s ... -week.html

[Rodster]

What's going on here?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/s ... -week.html

After finally admitting defeat to wco81, here's the answer:

"It represents a big bet by Sony that gamers can still be persuaded to pay for a dedicated handheld in the era of multi-functional smartphones and tablets, and cheap gaming apps."

[wco81]

Maybe they sold out and didn't have much stock left?

If they can average 70k a week for several months, they're okay. But if they keep dropping and can't sell well even in Japan ...

[FifaInspected]

How soon before they follow the 3DS and drop that price?

[toonarmy]

I remember people announcing the demise of the DS early on, and it went on to sell over 150 million units. The 3DS also got off to a very rocky start, but will sell more than the DS did in its first year. The PSP, despite being called a failure by some in the gaming community, sold 73+ million. I know it' a different climate now, but I think it is far too early and silly to declare a system a failure or success this early in the game, as some sites are suggesting. I agree that the numbers seen by the last gen of handheld systems will likely not be seen by the 3DS or in this case the Vita, but I still think there is a very good chance both systems will be successful and ultimately be profitable for Nintendo and Sony. The big question, as alluded to by others in this thread, is "will Sony drop the price of the Vita fairly quickly?" They are already losing money on the Vita hardware at 249, so how low are they willing to go if initial sales of the Vita are under projections in the US? The price for the Japanese launch (312) was quite a bit higher than the US price will be at launch, so maybe that played into the crap sales in the second week -- diehards all got one at launch and everyone else thought 312 (24,000 Yen) is too steep. Perhaps Sony will get cold feet about the low sales in Japan and make the US launch 199. That would suit me just fine. Should be fun seeing how all this stuff turns out over the next year or two.

[F308GTB]

The price for the Japanese launch (312) was quite a bit higher than the US price will be at launch, so maybe that played into the crap sales in the second week -- diehards all got one at launch and everyone else thought 312 (24,000 Yen) is too steep. Perhaps Sony will get cold feet about the low sales in Japan and make the US launch 199. That would suit me just fine. Should be fun seeing how all this stuff turns out over the next year or two.

Bringing up $312 "in Japan" is immaterial. The unit is built in Japan and priced in yen. If the dollar was at 120 yen/dollar, it would still be 24000 yen. All the $312 does is make it less attractive to the export market, not the mainlanders in Japan. Prices and wages in Japan have pretty much been flat for the last decade+, so realistically that 24000 yen is nothing to them. For me, I don't buy nearly as much stuff over there as I did 5-10 years ago. The exchange rate for dollars, euros, pounds, etc, just sucks. Games have been 3000-6000 yen for the last 10 years, but what was once $25-$50 is now $35-$85. The 40-50% increase in price for those outside Japan is a killer.

The price of the thing in the US will be a big hit for Sony. All Japanese companies who export their products to the US are gerting squeezed by the exchange rate and not raising prices in the US.