What Does Target Vita Sale Say About The Portable's Performance?
See Full ImageSony has said it's too soon to drop the price of the PlayStation Vita, regardless of slower than anticipated sales.
However, retailers may start taking matters into their own hands. As reported by JustPushStart, Target apparently has quite the deal for prospective handheld owners.
The retailer's site is currently offering a 3G/Wi-Fi PlayStation Vita launch bundle for only $179.99, which signifies a hefty discount of $120. This is happening only about 10 months after the Vita launched in North America and it appears that retailers are trying to sell their stock of Vitas...and they're willing to take off a fair amount. Either that, or maybe it's a foreshadowing of a sooner-than-expected official price drop. Do you think you'll see this kind of thing from other stores this holiday season? Is this a bad sign or is this just an anomaly? I wonder if more people might get more interested in Sony's portable due to a few big titles on the horizon...
The Vita could use any help it can get at this point.
Tags: vita, playstation vita, vita sales, target, target vita sale
10/28/2012 10:27:07 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (37 posts)
Killa Tequilla
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 1:46:38 AM
10 up, 1 down
ZenChichiri
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:29:36 PM
Reply
6 up, 1 down
Dancemachine55
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 1:08:30 AM
The price is one reason for poor sales. I think Sony's marketing could use a boost, argue why the Vita is worth more of your time than Angry Birds. Those are the 2 main arguments for people not getting a Vita:
1. Too expensive, or
2. Not enough time with so many PS3 and 360 games to play.
3 up, 0 down
The1Weapon
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 3:04:38 AM
Sony has a lot of work to do in this area if they want to see their system take off.
Secondary to that, I would argue that the Vita, outside of gaming, doesn't excel in any areas other than games, even though it's able to do more tha just that. In a market such as today's, that's becoming less and less of a viable proposition. There is a segment of people who would love a dedicated machine, but for those who have limited pocket space and gadget budgets, it's a little difficult to argue that they should get a Vita over, say, an iPod touch that can web browse much more efficiently, install different apps to expand the use-case of the device on a whim, and take better pictures, is much more pocketable, already has storage in it, and that has a much more manageable file system, despite the hardware currently being around twice as powerful on the Vita than it is on the iPod Touch. The software experience isn't as optimized as it could be (I will never ever use the maps app for instance), and the hardware gains are lost, in a sense except for when one is finally in a game.
I'm not trolling to say that "Apple rocks and Sony sucks" or something like that, because as a day 1 Vita owner, I would love for the system to be a success, but that's the state it's in currently. I would love more JRPGs for the device. I would love to have Patapon on the device. I don't see any reason why NBA 2K13 came out this month for the PS3, 360, 3DS, and THE PSP. And make as many arguments to 2K about them not pulling it out for the Vita, as opposed to the PSP, but fact of the matter is that that's Sony's argument/case to make and it seems like they're kind of just rolling with the punches.
5 up, 0 down
daus26
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 6:28:17 AM
I think those are definitely the exact problems the Vita is facing. People can argue the Vita's powerful hardware, but what good is it if a tablet, smartphone, or even iPod touch can provide much better use of softwares, built in storage and camera features. Those are things that a lot of people own now, so for them to bring an extra device like the Vita, they'd have to be some sort of dedicated gamer. Mobile gaming/device is a tough market now, and I think a device like the Vita is only good for the days of the PSP, where smartphones and tablets weren't big yet. Otherwise, they're going to have to step up the plate other than just being good at "games," and mediocre everywhere else.
Everything nowadays, is all about "smart" devices. The Vita isn't really one since it doesn't have a dedicated app store. People love their apps.
As for the 3DS. It's successful because one, it decreased the price dramatically after being scared off by the Vita's price... and two, can you beat Mario and Pokemon? Nintendo is one company that can make portable devices that only has to be good at gaming, and they don't even have to be amazing in graphics.
I can't help but keep repeating that the Vita doesn't just need more games. It needs to be an amazing "smart" device, and then top it off with great marketing. If they're doing a redesign or slimming, they need to think about this. They can't have the same approach as they had with the PSP.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:32:54 PM
Reply
3 up, 1 down
Highlander
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:22:51 PM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:57:43 PM
0 up, 0 down
Killa Tequilla
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:33:10 PM
Reply
1 up, 1 down
Dancemachine55
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 1:03:18 AM
Do or do not. There is no try.
2 up, 1 down
Gamer46
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:36:20 PM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
Solid Fantasy
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:52:17 PM
2 up, 1 down
Dancemachine55
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 1:01:39 AM
Let the sheeple believe they are buying the superior product. I'm gonna stick with my Samsung Galaxy S III and PS3 so long as they continue to be supported.
Don't be angry that these poor people can't see past their Call of Duty, FIFA, Madden or Halo matches on Xbox Live. Take pity on them, for they are nothing more than blind slaves to fads, trends and intensive marketing.
2 up, 0 down
Gamer46
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 2:08:45 AM
Last edited by Gamer46 on 10/29/2012 2:09:11 AM
2 up, 0 down
Dukemz_UK
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 8:08:49 PM
Crap, overpriced, unreliable product + mass hype marketing + Western media support = BIG Sales.
Excellent, reasonably priced product + cautious marketing budget = POOR sales.
0 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:37:44 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:23:53 PM
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:14:23 AM
Reply
BTW, it also comes with an 8GB memory card included.
0 up, 3 down
Dancemachine55
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:54:42 AM
Reply
The 3G Wifi model of the Vita is $420 here in Australia!!! And the Aussie $ currently matches the US $ almost exactly!!!
That's it!!! Australia sucks as a gaming country, time for me to move to North America!!
Ahhhh.... cheap games, lower taxes, E3, PAX and Comic Con.
Wait, family are still here. And I'm using this thing called the "internet", so per-maybe-haps I can figure out a way to use this so called "internet" to get a cheap Vita and cheap Vita games without having to move country....
Hehehe, OUTRAGEOUS!! :D
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 2:38:46 AM
(I actually am dying to live a few years abroad. Would be a fantastic experience. The only thing holding me back is that the country I want to move to, Cyprus, has much bigger problems with the recession than my current country, Norway. So I would not get me a job down there. Sux.)
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/29/2012 2:46:05 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 2:29:55 AM
Reply
All is well! No problems with the Vita. All goes according to plan. May I remind you It's a marathon, not a sprint! The customers are lining up for the holiday sales, is all! They are *dying* to get this piece of hardware, they just haven't found the time yet.
All it needs is a COD and a price cut on the memory cards and it will FLY off the shelves! Simple as that, just you wait and see!
</blatant fishing for thumbs boiled in a good soup of sarcasm ;) >
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/29/2012 2:36:00 AM
0 up, 4 down
Underdog15
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 9:53:32 AM
Except instead of CoD, I'm more looking at AC: Liberations
Even funnier still, you're giving me a harsh deja vu of 2007/2008... except that was about the PS3. That was supposed to fail, too.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 10/29/2012 9:54:57 AM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:26:29 PM
Just as PSP with it's 75 million or so units is considered a 'failure'.
Yes, if you're in the business of working against Sony, or deliberately stirring up crap on a Sony news site you call these failures...
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 2:39:57 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
___________
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 4:35:47 AM
Reply
$ony really needs to introduce a price cut and not only that but also a multitude of new colors and accessories for the vita.
hell, what ever happened to the official portable charger?
EB had it on their website for preorder releasing in july, than it suddenly disappeared.
2 up, 0 down
daus26
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 6:09:45 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:27:52 PM
1 up, 0 down
JohnnyGold
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 6:35:12 AM
Reply
Sadly, this has been the path of Sony for 10 years now.
The entire market knew what the psp was, and they discontinued that name.
Now you have, (in consumers minds,)
the vita
the psp
the xperia play
all "mobile" devices, all able to play games, 1 a phone, 2 dedicated gaming devices, 2 handheld require a data plan, 1 handheld requires a memory card to be bought separate, 1 handheld requires you buy your games from the playstation suite, 2 handhelds require you buy them from the playstation store, 2 of the handhelds get on the internet, 1 sends texts, 1 makes calls, 1 gets you trophies now, 1 is going to get you trophies soon.
What an absolute cluster. No wonder no one wants to jump into that mess at a 300$ price point. This is, by nature, a collection of knowledgeable sony fans on this site - we understand it all.
Jane McMom from oklahoma looking for a "back to school" phone so billie can send the text messages if he's late coming home from soccer practice?
come on sony. really?
1 up, 1 down
T2X
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 7:20:57 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 8:01:50 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 8:04:12 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 12:32:46 PM
SCEA needs to get it's head out of it's nether regions and do several things.
Firesale the PSP. Release the various colored PS3s and controllers and put out special game themed SKUs with skinned PS3s. Do the same thing for Vita. Talk to their core customers and find out what they actually want, and then go do it. ADVERTIZE. Put the 12FB Flash based PS3 onsale for $200. Put out a 4GB Wifi Vita for $200. ADVERTIZE. Pay for some of the niche games from Japan to be localized and sold via PSN, the Sony hardcore fans will buy them and Vita/PSP games will help shift Vita to the hardcore like no other. ADVERTIZE.
Did I mention that Sony needs to talk about their stuff more? Oh yeah, and ADVERTIZE!!
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 2:13:25 PM
YUP,
It's a shame our voices can't carry across the continents because you & me both, have been saying all along that Sony should've been colorizing(or at least skinning their bundles) from the getgo.
0 up, 0 down
gumbi
Monday, October 29, 2012 @ 10:38:32 AM
Reply
I'm a little surprised there's been no official holiday price cut though. I bought my first edition bundle... cuz that's what I do. But the early adopters like me have already bought their Vita's. And for the most part, I think we're all pretty damn happy with it. I'm hoping a lot of people are just holding out for the AC: Liberation bundle, because that is a pretty sweet deal.
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 @ 12:19:00 PM
0 up, 0 down
jugheadjones
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 @ 12:27:04 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Norrin Radd
Reply
Sunday, October 28, 2012 @ 11:19:00 PM