Sony: Vita Must Go Beyond A Great Handheld Experience
See Full ImageIn some ways, it's all about the games. But these days, given the different ways we access interactive entertainment, on-the-go interfaces have become awfully important.
During a recent CVG interview with SCEE boss Andrew House, we learn that despite 24 launch titles for the new PlayStation Vita, other elements are involved in regards to long-term success. Said House:
"What we try to do as a company is to take the best learnings from the different platforms, and the things we gain from them. I think we learned from PSPGo that consumers want flexibility in terms of how they access their content, that they wanted both a packaged solution and a network distribution solution.
I think we learned also from the general PSP experience that delivering what is essentially a great handheld console game experience on a portable device was all well and good, but if we were able to add these different interfaces and interact differently with the content - and to use the immediacy of having a portable device always with you - that that was really important.
Looking further back, part of the original PlayStation's success, and part of the PlayStation 2's success, was the ease of use of the development environment. So I'd like to think that PS Vita has returned us to the core of that DNA, as well."
We figure the key to success in any business involves rectifying past mistakes. And in a world where the market landscape is continually shifting and changing, one has to learn those lessons or be forced into obscurity. Some may say the Vita is already "obscure" in that it's not a phone or tablet, and "all it does is play games." Sony maintains that no portable device on the planet plays games better than the Vita, but that may not be enough in the long run.
Still, it seems as if Sony is taking the correct approach. Heck, we've already seen some promotions, including that Taco bell one, so that's a lesson learned right there.
Tags: vita, playstation vita, sony, handheld gaming, portable games
1/17/2012 8:50:03 PM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (25 posts)
DazeOfWar
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 10:19:48 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Qubex
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 11:00:17 PM
Reply
I am sorry but including a broken antiquated Netfornt browser engine is not what a cutting edge company should be doing.
The Vita will fall badly short in this area and therefore it cannot be everything Sony want it to be. It will be good at games, but I would not be able to use it for browsing on the go, which today, is fundamental to peoples portable needs...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
1 up, 1 down
Qubex
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 11:14:38 PM
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
3 up, 1 down
Excelsior1
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 11:40:44 PM
Like you, I have seen a lot of complaints about the Vita's browsing capabilities. I am surprised that this seems to be such an issue amongst gamers.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 1/17/2012 11:43:23 PM
1 up, 0 down
FatherSun
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 12:07:16 AM
I said it directly to Sid Shuman from the Playstation Blog, these elements should be something that SONY can hammer into to the publics mind but I can see that backfiring because the other features seem limited. The browser in no way competes with what you will find even on some of the lower priced cellphones and tablets. Let alone the browsing experience on Apples devices. Maybe SONY will allow people to install different browsers? That would remedy that issue.
Last edited by FatherSun on 1/18/2012 12:11:46 AM
2 up, 0 down
WhiteF8ng
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 11:25:58 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
gumbi
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 12:30:22 AM
Reply
Crappy browser won't affect my purchase decision, already pre-ordered. But it will surely affect my experience. Oh well, my phone's got a sweet browser (using it for this post in fact) so I'll survive... But come on Sony, if it's as bad as we're hearing you'll need to fix this with an update.
4 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 11:02:33 AM
4 up, 1 down
SmokeyPSD
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 1:51:18 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 1:53:29 PM
0 up, 1 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 2:16:39 AM
Reply
That said, wasn't there for a period a rumour about Vita sporting a modern browser? Or was this related to a PS3 update?
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 2:35:32 AM
4 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 6:45:38 AM
0 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 1:52:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 11:00:59 AM
Reply
3 up, 1 down
daus26
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 12:26:29 PM
This may be a bit out of reach, but I think Sony should focus more on marketing the Vita as a mutimedia device more so than a gaming device. I say this because I don't think it'll take much effort to convince people that it's a great gaming device. Just by the looks of it, and the fact that it's a PLAYSTATION brand, I think people don't need much convincing on that matter. What people need to be convinced of is anything other than that, and what it can do to rival mega popular mobile devices that is the smartphones and tablets.
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 1:18:40 PM
Things I *want* from Sony for the Vita;
1 - proper web browser
2 - home docking station that puts the thing into clock/music/video player mode
3 - built in basic PDA applications
4 - dev support for devs making applications not games - including slightly preferential royalty terms to encourage this type of development
5 - Sony made non-gaming applications that show the way forwards to other devs
6 - pipedream time, sandboxed version of Android running in a secure virtual machine.
2 up, 1 down
SmokeyPSD
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 1:54:23 PM
0 up, 0 down
gumbi
Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 9:19:06 AM
While I think these features should be a given (built into the OS), I would pay $30-$50 for a feature rich software suite. Either 1st party, or 3rd party if Sony opened it up for developers to write real world applications for Vita.
As for Android on Vita... keep dreamin the dream Highlander
0 up, 0 down
daus26
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 11:58:49 AM
Reply
Yes, I understand that the Vita is a great value for its specs, but even at $250, not a lot of people are going to be sold if its just gonna be marketed as just a gaming device. I would imagine Sony would learn already after the success of smartphones and tablets... it's all about the APPS! It's also such a waste to have such great specs, and still not be able to do things a smartphone with weaker specs can do, like I don't know... a WEB BROWSER! The only reason PSP was decent because it started in an era where smartphones, tablets, and apps were pretty much non-existent, and still just concepts.
So yeah, I'm just gonna sit back and see how this thing grows.
Last edited by daus26 on 1/18/2012 11:59:59 AM
3 up, 0 down
Twistedfloyd
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 @ 11:02:31 PM
Reply
Anyway, the visuals are exceptional, the two analog sticks (while a little loose) adds so much to a game. When I was playing Uncharted it took me a minute to actually realize I didn't have to use square, triangle, X and Circle to switch to tilt and pan the camera. It was wonderful.
The screen has a great size to it.
Wipeout 2048 (even though I'm not a fan of Wipeout) felt like I was playing Wipeout on PS3. Played nearly exactly the same.
Uncharted was solid- Looks like it's going to be fun. Touch controls were a bit clunky, but it was pretty fun and looked and played great. Although not too much that's new here.
Sound Shapes- Might be worth a purchase of this system alone. Absolutely astounding. One of the most unique interfaces ever designed in a game.
Modnation- Played pretty much like the original. Should be good despite there is no online which still confuses me to no end.
I think Vita has a great line up and is a good system. I wish the analog sticks (while better than the PSP) would be tighter as they're a little too loose for my taste. But it should be a great system and the visuals on it are insane.
I just don't know if it's going to be marketable in today's electronic world. It has the components, but those smart phones have taken over. Although from what I played, I think it's going to be very popular with the Playstation faithful.
The browser does suck, but I think the games are there.
Last edited by Twistedfloyd on 1/18/2012 11:04:03 PM
0 up, 1 down
___________
Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 6:35:18 AM
Reply
they STILL have not got it!
my lord you would need the volume used to shatter entire galaxys to get through these peoples thick skulls!
0 up, 0 down
Gravelight
Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 5:25:38 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
DjStiv3
Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 7:31:18 PM
Reply
oh well they learned especialy from the psp1000 i love the psp but i never felt sony did their best to push it or market it very well...
it is understandable however as the ps3 came out like a year later
0 up, 0 down
Cesar_ser_4
Reply
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 9:49:00 PM