Should The Vita Be More Like The PSP?

Bear with me for a moment.

I firmly believe the PlayStation Vita proved something at Gamescom. Or rather, that Sony proved something about their intentions with the Vita, as it's clear they will be lending it plenty of support. And they'll be the first to tell you they are giving it far more support than the PSP received early in its life span, due to their almost immediate shift in focus to the PS3.

However, although I remain duly impressed, I just remembered why I played games on my PSP. I'm not big into handheld entertainment and really never have been since the days of the original GameBoy. But I played certain titles on the PSP (Final Fantasy IV: Complete Collection, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, etc.) because I quite simply couldn't find them on the PS3. JRPGs and other "old-fashioned" styles of gaming were rapidly falling by the wayside but if I still wanted them, I could turn to the PSP. Old-school RPG fans know very well how valuable the PSP has been.

But with the Vita, we've got the technology to bring the heavy hitters to the portable realm, so that's what Sony is doing. Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, etc. That's great. But isn't that basically what we already have on consoles, only in on-the-go form? These aren't really different experiences, are they? I suppose they're different thanks to some nifty handheld tech, like the front and rear touchscreens, tilt functionality, and camera, but the gameplay is pretty familiar. We might never see stuff like Tactics Ogre or Persona, will we? Well, they might still exist on the PSN, which the Vita can access, of course.

I'm just wondering if it's the best idea to turn the Vita into a portable PS3, which appears to be Sony's goal. I repeat, it is impressive and I think it's a fabulous piece of hardware and I do play it. That being said, I still believe Sony should focus on bringing unique experiences to the Vita that aren't just slightly smaller versions of the big boys in the console realm. And if that includes some old-school stuff in a fresher package, why not?

Tags: vita, playstation vita, psp, vita games, psp games

8/16/2012 9:28:31 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (29 posts)

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sawao_yamanaka
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:21:53 PM
Reply

I do agree with you on that Ben. As much as I have been enjoying the Vita I wish it could have niche games. Something along the lines like patapon or loco roco. I keep hoping I see a sequel in those series. I am here waiting for Persona 4 and keep hoping that they announce a dead space game for it. That would be amazing! Also with Criterion behind the vita development of Most Wanted I seriously could not be happier!

3 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:50:40 PM

I was just thinking about a new Vita version of Patapon.

4 up, 0 down

TheAgingHipster
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 7:17:30 AM

Patapon Vita? Using the back touch pad as additional instruments? Swiping to direct attacks, or to defend better? Oh yes please!!!

0 up, 0 down

mustang750r
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 8:45:40 AM

I would love my Vita even more if there was a new Loco Roco and if EA could at least look at porting their Dead Space iOS/Android game that would be sweet... Although I would prefer a new standalone title.

3 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:22:02 PM
Reply

I think SOny was hoping to really drive the point with Vita that you can get a console like experience on VIta because little to nothing is lost in translation to a mobile device now, like having full analog control etc.. But I do think it seems kind of hard to market things succesfully this way. I see the big issue with the Vita as being one of development investment. I don't doubt the Vita could deliver AAA games, given the effort. But I doubt many of those could be achieved without massive talent working hard to make that possible. Just how feasible is that going to be on a very small handheld market hanging out in the looming next-gen shadow? It's real obvious Activision isn't placing a 100 million into CoD Vita. It would be commercial suicide.

Ultimately, I prettty much see this as the face of the future and basically right now. Hardware and tech is basically second fiddle to talent and investment publishers sink in to these products. I have no doubt many of next-gen's games may appear better visually and or from a graphical standpoint, but I think only the most talented and deeply invested games will standout as the most ground breaking, 8gb of RAM or 2.5TFLOPS of processing, or not.

0 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:25:24 PM
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Bingo! This is what I've always thought about Vital Its a awesome hardware and has a good price but lacks the games that appeal to me.

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DazeOfWar
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:49:00 PM
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I really wish I was able to play my PSN games on my Vita too. Or maybe at least some of them. It would be awesome to be able to play RE4, and Code Veronica since I'll be able to play all the PSOne classics soon. I know it probably won't happen or isn't possible but a man can dream can't he.

Besides that I like that I have a portable PS3 pretty much but I do hope that developers still make great JRPGs and other games you don't see on consoles.

3 up, 0 down

sawao_yamanaka
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 10:54:51 PM

Totally agree with you on this. I kept hoping to play re4 on it or other psn games. Just having them on the vita would be icing on the cake.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 11:09:11 PM
Reply

I certainly hope the Vita picks up the JRPG torch, it's a major reason for me to have a handheld in the first place.

I also think this thing needs to be opened up to PS2 classics that are available on PSN. And they need to make more of those available, especially if they want money.

3 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 1:33:51 AM

If they got PS2 classics working on it I would be stoked. Specially if they started adding a lot more of the RPGs that were on PS2.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 12:00:13 AM
Reply

Ben, with very few exceptions all downloadable PSP games work on Vita, you simply have to download them to your PS3 and transfer them using the content manager. That grants access to the wealth of JRPGs on the PSP and once the new firmware gets here, you'll have the catalog of PS1 classics as well.

That said, I want as many JRPG experiences on the Vita as possible...made *specifically* for the Vita.

1 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 12:21:49 AM
Reply

I semi-agree with you Ben. I mean, it is happening and it isn't happening. We are seeing the main stream games but we are also seeing new unique Vita-esque games as well. While the PS3 had it's main stream and the PSP had it's games that were a shadow of the PS3 versions. I think the Vita is happily in between both of them bridging the gap. I think we are going to continue to receive both types of games and that will make a lot more people happy. At the same time increasing the Vita customer base. Never before has this slogan been more true "It only does everything".

0 up, 0 down

joBucket
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 2:12:53 AM
Reply

I personally love that the Vita IS more like a mobile PS3. While I have enjoyed niche games that were specific to the PSP(loco roco was great), it was never enough to continuously fuel my interest. The PSP was never really for me, because I could never get the console experience that I prefer. It would be awesome to see innovative and unique games like loco roco come to the Vita, but without games like uncharted and resistance the appeal just isn't there for me. Hopefully we'll see developers come up with great experiences on par with what we've seen come from the PS3 and the PSP.

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 2:14:27 AM
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Yes and no. I want my classic rpgs, but at the same time I really wanted to be able to save whatever game I'm playing on my ps3, load it on my vita and keep on playing wherever I go.

2 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 2:43:24 AM
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Not at all, if anything I think the problem with the PSP was that it did not have enough unique games. Every game I have for the PSP is either related to a franchise (Crisis Core, Birth By Sleep, The Third Birthday) or a port (Shadow of Destiny, Valkyrie Profile, Final Fantasy I, II & IV). There was not one exclusive which had nothing to do with a previous game on that system, which made it forgettable, as all it did was offer the games we've played before on the go.

Tearaway is a great example of a title which stand out on a console, it is fresh and exciting & it makes use of all the consoles features in a creative way. I usually hate touch screen or motion technology ( I hate move and the DS's pen) But I really was impressed by all Tearaways features rather than being annoyed.

Don't get my wrong I love playing classic games on the go, but they should just be re-released on the PS Store rather than made specifically for the portable console now that the Vita can access the stores PS1 games. Developers should focus on bringing new franchises to the system.

2 up, 0 down

Ultima
Monday, August 27, 2012 @ 11:52:33 AM

Final FAntasy Dissidia (the game I bought my PSP for) says you're wrong.

That might have been the main exception though.

As for Vita, someone call me when FFXHD is out for it.

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SmokeyPSD
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 3:45:38 AM
Reply

The wonderful thing about the Vita is that it can do both. Let you continue playing your ps3 game on the go and offer up unique story driven RPG experiences that are a bit more minimalistic and classical that might only release on the system with a smaller budget and production like War of the Lion.

It doesn't have to be one or the other. It's even full inclusive with all those horrible "mobile games" that are coming from the playstation mobile suite.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 6:55:50 AM
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I completely agree with what is said in this article. I've said the same several times; I need unique reasons to buy this platform!

If I saw something like a Crush! sequel for the Vita that would have drawn me so immensely much more to the platform than any of my console favorite franchises ever could. When I look at my gaming behaviour on my smartphone I play completely different games there than I prefer to do on my PS3.

COD & co is *not* the savior for this platform.

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/17/2012 6:56:19 AM

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TheAgingHipster
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 7:22:54 AM

Not sure I agree with you there, Beam. The Vita's got to draw in the mainstream (not casual) crowd if it's going to see much support from third party devs. By mainstream gamers, I'm talkin' those who buy every CoD iteration on release day, every Assassin's Creed, every Grand Theft Auto. The mainstream gamers need big titles like those, things that they recognize and know are good action titles, to make them want to pick up a Vita, because they'll just look at games like Sound Shapes, Persona, and even Crush!, and just ignore them. Least that's my take on it anyway.

2 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 5:48:19 PM

But they want the big games on the big screen. That's the entire problem here.

I consider myself to be pretty mainstream. Usually my opinion about a game matches the metascore perfectly. I like pretty much every genre as long as the game is good enough. Simply put.

But I don't want to play the same kind of games on a mobile gaming unit as I do on my console, for a long array of reasons. And if I am in any way a representative of the mainstream here, then this is how they think too.

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/17/2012 5:50:42 PM

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___________
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 7:57:03 AM
Reply

thats what im really hoping will find with the vita.
ok we wont have survival horror games and other niche genres simply because their too risky.
so why not bring them to the cheaper to develop for vita?
obviously not now because 2 dogs and their sheep have bought it, but eventually once it picks up.
hopefully will see the revival of some abandoned franchises too, i really, really, REALLY hope $ony bend is beavering away at a syphon filter game for the vita as we speak!
their last game was golden abyss, so what have they been doing for the past 4 months?
probably defiantly ps4 stuff, but hopefully it involves the vita and syphon filter as well.

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gumbi
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 8:43:12 AM
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I hear ya loud and clear Ben. However, I think Sony's focus early in the Vita's lifecycle is to push out titles that will help boost the install base. Big name titles like Assassins Creed, Call of Duty, LBP are more likely to move hardware than a new and unique Vita IP, or JRPG. After all, as discussed in a recent article, the JRPG genre has become somewhat of a niche genre.

Personally, I would like to see more titles like Gravity Rush. Gravity Rush felt and played like a proper console game, but was exclusive to Vita and had gameplay features that are unique to Vita. It's exactly what I wanted from my Vita, a console-like experience in the palm of my hands. I know I've said this before but if you own a Vita you should really get Gravity Rush. It's great.

1 up, 0 down

amonte64
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 9:01:06 AM
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Sony could and should do something that only they are capable of doing and has never been possible before. This is what I'm talking about:

PlayStation Vita can play PlayStation 3 retail and PlayStation Network games, so Sony should do the, purchase a PS3 retail or PSN game also play on your PSVita, on all games. The possibilities are limitless, start playing a game at home on your PS3, continue playing it on your PSVita ANYWHERE. They would be the only console maker to do this and the only one that are able to. And the only games PSVita exclusive are games that can ONLY be played on PSVita and cannot be played on PS3 because of whatever reason, relies heavily on touch screen, rear touch, reason like that, like Tearaway. They would dominate the video game world.

A myriad of people would want to buy a PS3 and a PSVita, many more games and games they wouldn't have bought otherwise. I had pretty much no interest in PSVita, but since Sony announced purchase once play also play on your PSVita, I REALLY want one, and I'm going to buy one if it becomes standard for all PS3 retail and PSN games or at least all first party and a lot of third party games. Also, I wouldn't have bought Ratchet & Clank: Q Force or Sly 4 if it wasn't for this. EA said they are considering doing this for NFS: Most Wanted, I wasn't going to buy that game but if EA does it, I will buy it. And if I own a PSVita of course I'm going to buy the exclusive games that can only be played on it like Tearaway.

There is absolutely no logical reason why consumers wouldn't want this or support this. We all should let our voices heard that this should happen.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 11:26:47 AM

Um...no.

No, the Vita can NOT run retail PS3 games. That simply is not possible. It can run games that have been developed for both platforms, and there can be cross play and save transferring. But, I'm sorry, there is no way in the world that the Vita can actually run a retail PS3 game. The hardware is a) too different and b) not anything like as powerful as the PS3.

1 up, 1 down

amonte64
Saturday, August 18, 2012 @ 3:32:52 AM

@TheHighlander

That's what I meant by PSVita play PS3 retail games, a PSVita port of the game so everything I mentioned can happen.

Also, there's Remote Play, I don't why Sony STILL hasn't done what they should with it.

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Highlander
Saturday, August 18, 2012 @ 6:32:11 AM

Because 3G has horrible lag and running remote play over it would be like trying to communicate through a 100-foot long echo chamber. remote play works OK locally over a fast ethernet or good wired Internet. But wireless Internet just has to high of a latency to work well.

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AcHiLLiA
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 6:18:53 PM
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Well, idk why the Vita doesn't have TV out, the PSP did.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Saturday, August 18, 2012 @ 6:32:55 AM

The original PSP did not have a TV out, so we should expect something with the 1st major system revision.

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Fane1024
Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 7:37:32 PM
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For me, the types of games which Ben mentioned in the article and which became the bulk of the PSP library in its later years are precisely the kinds of games I *don't* want to play on a handheld. I played Jeanne D'arc, but would have preferred it on PS3 (or PS2). I couldn't even get into playing FFT: TWOTL on PSP.

On the other hand, I'd love to be able to make progress on my PS3 games when I'm away from my TV.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/17/2012 7:39:23 PM

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