Sony On Vita Losing Third-Party Support: "An Extremist Quote"
See Full ImageThis is what happens when an exaggerated quote leads to extremist headlines.
Recently, a Nikkei report stated that many third-party game designers are shifting their focus from the PlayStation Vita to the Nintendo 3DS.
This was due to an unknown source, which should've elicited nothing more than a passing glance from journalists.
But sadly, that's not how things work. And now, Sony has been forced to respond to such headlines: Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios senior vice president Scott Rodhe told Gamasutra that the report in question was "greatly exaggerated" and offered some logic to boot:
"I did not see that quote, but you see extremist quotes like that all the time. I mean, obviously, there is no way anyone could stand in front of a camera and say that all developers are changing focus from one platform to another, no matter what it is."
Rohde reiterated previous Sony claims, saying that plenty of third-party developers have planned to support the Vita in the future. Major third-party franchises, such as Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, and Metal Gear Solid, have already been confirmed for Sony's new portable. So no, despite what some might want you to think, the Vita isn't DOA.
Tags: vita, playstation vita, sony, vita games, vita development
2/16/2012 11:45:52 AM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (65 posts)
Oyashiro
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:18:40 PM
Reply
20 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:25:31 PM
Reply
16 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:25:52 PM
Reply
It's not as stinky or useless as these extremist quotes, though.
14 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 7:48:39 PM
Other than spraying hot coffee out of both nostrils from laughing so hard, that comment made my day!!!!!!
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:27:05 PM
Always!
@Biker
Always glad to be of service! lol. You're still the king of simile and corporate insults! :)
1 up, 0 down
Hoagie324
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:39:15 PM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:54:32 PM
Reply
17 up, 1 down
Killa Tequilla
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 1:50:34 PM
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
4 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:37:44 PM
2 up, 0 down
frylock25
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 4:42:18 PM
1 up, 0 down
Dustinwp
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:55:43 PM
Reply
How f**king old is this getting? I'm really sick of the same old Kotaku style headlines to get clicks. This same BS is why game journalism is a joke!(Excluding this site of course).
An unknown source told me the other day, that Nintendo was shifting development to PS Vita and pigs would learn too fly by the end of 2012!!! Get the headlines ready!
Last edited by Dustinwp on 2/16/2012 1:01:36 PM
10 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:59:55 PM
Reply
15 up, 1 down
AcHiLLiA
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 1:37:53 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:18:03 PM
And I wouldn't take this unknown source seriously either.
9 up, 0 down
Cpt_Geez
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:20:20 PM
12 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:38:41 PM
14 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:29:41 PM
NAME YOUR UNNAMED SOURCE, DAMNIT!
lol
Oh wait.... theeeeeeere's the problem! I get it now! ;p
2 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:33:43 PM
Reply
/sarcasm
10 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:46:45 PM
Reply
I don't like unnamed sources either but they are just a reality of jouranlism when a person's career is on the line. That's when you have to look at the credibility of the publication that ran the original story. In this particular case it's tough to imagine a more credible source.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 2:49:31 PM
4 up, 4 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 2:59:55 PM
What I do know is that we're not talking about the report, but the inaccurate and reactionary headlines gleaned from it.
5 up, 0 down
Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 3:29:07 PM
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 4:19:05 PM
3 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 4:20:15 PM
Unnamed sources have been behind many of the biggest breaking stories of our time like it or not. Like I said I usually try to look at where the original story came from. Have they been credible in the past? Do they have a good reputation? The answer to both questions is a yes in this particular case. At least it is for me. If it were possible I would even go further and look at the particular reporter who was behind this piece so I could see how accurate they have been in the past. I have no way of doing that though.
I have no doubt this story is getting amplified by repeat coverage. I do think the publication that ran the original story is credible and there is at least some truth to it however. That's just my small opinion though
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 4:27:09 PM
4 up, 1 down
Highlander
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 4:41:45 PM
3 up, 8 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 5:29:41 PM
That's bashing? Come on. I just said I thought there was some truth to the original Nikkei piece and it is a well regarded source for information in the business community. The first part is just my small opinion which I am entitled to and I thought I laid out a pretty good reason as to why I felt that way without "bashing". The second part is fact. The Nikkei is well regarded as a source for Japanese bussiness information. That's why I think there is at least some merit to the original story. I did not say Sony $ucks or the Vita is toast. I'm just not so quick to blow off unnamed sources especially when they come from what I view to be a credible publication.
I strongly suspect there are some publishers that did turn to the 3DS because of the current make up of the handheld industry in Japan. That does not mean they won't come back to the Vita or Sony is doomed or failing with the Vita. I tend to think the Vita will be even more successful than the PSP in the long run, and I consider the PSP to be a success.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 5:37:25 PM
9 up, 1 down
Highlander
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 5:44:03 PM
As far as bashing goes, you're more than aware of what I am referring to as is anyone here who knows your posting pattern.
2 up, 7 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 5:53:03 PM
Still waiting on any positive post from him concerning the company. Any at all.
3 up, 8 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 7:03:03 PM
And just to get it through to the adminstrator of this "nonfansite" I just said the other day the PSP would be remembered as a success. No jabs, no roundabouts. Just plain old the PSP will be remembered as a success. Sounds like a compliment and pretty damn positive to me. Maybe I should have used all caps?
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 7:09:04 PM
10 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 8:26:06 PM
3 up, 6 down
MyWorstNightmar
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 8:49:37 PM
For those that remember, they denied that the leaked ps3 slim photos way back when were real, they denied that price drops were coming.
All we can do is wait and see. Dont dismiss this because of the games that are planned to come. We dont have them yet, and even if we do get these games mentioned in the article, who says we are promised more?
Dont kill the messenger, lets just see how all this pans out. We wont know for several months. Excelsior has a point to look at the source publication.
5 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 10:25:13 PM
The snarky comment still waiting to for you to say something positive is perfectly okay though even though I have said positive things recently? That's a snarky comment in itself. It's getting personal which is totally unneccessary. Yeah, I can get snarky if provoked. I'm only human and I'm guilty of returning the personal jab. It probably is a line I should not have crossed but that line is a two way street. It's not fair if one side can get in all the snarky comments they want and then there are complaints if the favor is returned. Ha!! I know life isn't fair but I do try very hard not get personal in any way anymore. I have toned it down.
I will admit I am harder on Sony than a lot of others here but I think I fit in okay enough. There is some killing the messenger here. I'm just saying hold on a minute there could be some truth to this. Look at the source of the original story for a second. I think that point is valid at least. Somehow saying that is getting twisted into bashing Sony. It might be a contrarian viewpoint but it's at least something to consider.
Unnamed sources don't automatically equal untrue which seems to be the default position of many above me. There's usually a damn good reason people don't feel comfortable going on the record. They lose their damn jobs or even worse. They can get blacklisted and removed from the industry altogether. Companies have even been known to conduct leak tests to get individuals that talk removed. It's rare but has been proven to happen. That's when I rely on the professionals to sort it out. I am 100% certain Nikkei at least vetted this individual before running that story. How accurate his claim is remains to be seen. He could be overstating it or just flat out misinformed. I think there might be some truth to it. That is all.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 10:58:22 PM
6 up, 1 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:38:39 PM
Credible paper or no, the source is unnamed. Additionally, there are literally no reports or objective points of view that have credibility.
The paper you site may be credible, but note that they are saying "unnamed source". In fact, to me it almost sounds like an opinion piece.
This isn't even about monetary failures. It's about 1 single unnamed source claiming all these developers are abandoning the vita allasudden. Bear in mind, it would have to be quite the damned big wicked awesome source to know what -ALL- the third party devs are thinking all at once.
And there inlies a logical person's skepticism. That newspaper you claim is legit isn't even taking credit as news. It's "according to" and not anything as a result of investigative journalism where the writer can talk as if it is their own information.
Since all I've heard so far from 3rd party devs are good things and/or future releases (and not a single primary source saying bad things), I really feel like it's premature to assume these devs really are leaving their projects by the curb for garbage day.
In fact, it's a silly topic to even discuss in the first week... trying to say it's failing, I mean. For hardware, you really can't justifiably analyze the product until the end of the year for quality, and even then, we've seen in the past consoles not break out until it's 3rd or 4th year, and THEN run onto success.
For example: The PS2 did brutally awful in it's first year. Even worse in it's first couple weeks. Yet, lo and behold, a failure it was not.
The doom and gloom discussion at this point is straight up silly. (Not that you're strictly doom and gloom, of course. I just mean in general)
Last edited by Underdog15 on 2/16/2012 11:40:28 PM
3 up, 1 down
Underdog15
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 12:02:30 AM
Although we are relatively realistic people (Jawk defends Nintendo to the death; Ben will defend a few XBOX360 exclusives to the death), that's exactly what this is.
A Sony fansite.
You're going to have to accept that fact that most people here think the Playstation brand is the best brand in gaming. And most of those same people have objective as well as subjective reasons for thinking so.
Perhaps that's where you are going wrong. You are assuming people at a Playstation site aren't going to prefer the Playstation brand.
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 2:54:56 AM
Fair enough, this is a fansite, but he's just one voice amidst a wall of "yes men".
Diversity FTW.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/17/2012 2:56:15 AM
7 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 7:48:17 AM
2 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 8:25:50 AM
I disagree with your entire post. I don't agree with any of it, and I find the "yesmen" part of it offensive. That makes it sound like no one thinks for themselves and just teams up with mother bear.
The reason people agree with each other so much is because we are of like mind on 1 solitary topic in life: video games. While this is a PS news site, it isn't a fansite in the sense that it's about fandom. However, it is specific to Playstation, so the news is for Playstation fans, whether playstation is everyone's favorite platform or not. Saying people are "yesmen" implies that we don't have minds of our own. I think it's juvenile to assume that because a large group of people agree with one another, they are somehow yesmen. If anything, we are likely just "correct". ;p But in all seriousness, we agree on not everything, but many things related to games. Bear in mind that's ONE topic in life. I'm sure there are many MANY other topics not discussed in this forum that we would disagree with each other about. In fact, I know so.
As for Excelsior always being respectful and polite, I also wholeheartedly disagree. Mind you, I'm also rarely polite so I'm not bashing him for that. But it is untrue what you write.
@Excelsior
I think you confuse the difference between a "fansite" and a news site for playstation fans. There's a pretty significant difference. One I had thought wasn't difficult to see.... Perhaps my intuition is just that much more mighty, though..... So I shouldn't assume you would get it off the bat.
0 up, 2 down
Beamboom
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 8:56:21 AM
Just notice how *any* post that defend Sony - no matter how irrational - receives a pile of thumbs up. Call any Sony critic "pathetic" or any news item against Sony "smear campaign" and you get showered in thumbs up.
Let fans be fans - sure - but I don't think there's anything wrong in someone voicing an alternative perspective in a community like this. I'd even call it healthy - in *any* community. It's just rarely well received.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/17/2012 9:03:39 AM
2 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 9:17:36 AM
But he's so damn wrong, he just wastes our time. (I'm about 90% sure there's actually a disability there, so perhaps that's unfair to make such a comparison.)
As an fyi, my Norway friend, the Jim Carey movie was a play on words with the title. It was by far, not the origin of the phrase "yesmen". In fact, the title changed to "yes man" to be sort of... well... cute. Perhaps a better example would be 30-Rock. Have you ever seen that show? Tracy's "crew" are yesmen, doing everything they ask of him. And that's what yesmen actually are... people who side with a particular leader without ever thinking for themselves. That's why I misinterpreted your intent.
I haven't seen any irrational posts yet, aside from Vallarta's. I think this issue allows for easy skepticism. The simple fact that 1 solitary unnamed source is speaking for like a dozen 3rd party developers at once and the website to initially make it explode (not original article) is a non-fan almost anti-sony site?
I think it's WISE to be skeptical. And it gets upvotes because it's obvious. Not that Excelsior did this in this thread, but silly "alternative" views should not necessarily be accepted or respected in the name of diversity. Sometimes a bad idea or ill-conceived thought is just that.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 2/17/2012 9:18:57 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 9:36:05 AM
Sometimes it's great to be me. :D
I don't want to call out any names or posts specifically, that would not lead to any good at all. Plus, this is all a point of perspective too. For some, this is obviously a campaign against Sony, done by some evil minded journalists with a grudge against Sony, on a private vendetta against a Japanese hardware manufacturer. And if you look real hard, you will spot some posts that operates in the realm of such ideas. And they are often greatly rewarded with thumbs.
Others, like for instance me, would call such ideas pretty darn far fetched.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/17/2012 9:47:42 AM
1 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 9:44:13 AM
I think it's misleading info still, but I believe the motivations are to generate hits at the site. Not to intentionally hurt Sony. And the fact is, some of these sites know their fan base love to hate the competition, so they post stuff that will get them all to come out and generate discussion which then generates more hits.
It's still a stupid concept, and I think the "unnamed source" is still bogus and talking about it is silly. I absolutely think that.
But don't think it's because I think everyone hates Sony. It is Sony bashing to an extent, I suppose, but their purpose is just to generate hits and make some moolah off GoogleAds. lol
1 up, 1 down
Excelsior1
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 2:38:00 PM
2 up, 1 down
Underdog15
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 4:12:34 PM
But you have said things that warranted it in the past and you can be a bit abrasive.
An excellent example: "mighty intuition, that one".
I also said I can be equally as abrasive and didn't say that discredits you. I don't even think such abrasion is -always- a bad thing. But it is silly to pretend you are as polite and innocent as Beamboom suggested.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 2/17/2012 4:13:50 PM
1 up, 0 down
JohnnyKey
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 7:55:03 PM
2 up, 0 down
DazeOfWar
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 5:00:51 PM
Reply
I'm not worried about it failing. From what I've seen across many sites there is a lot of people wanting one. I'll definitely enjoy mine when it shows up next Wednesday.
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 8:30:17 PM
5 up, 3 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 9:22:49 PM
I think there is some evidence the Vita has had early problems. Not unlike the 3DS had. There were reports that Nintendo was losing third party developers after the 3DS's launch. Ofcourse Nintendo denied that and said it was the most successful handheld launch ever. Everything was just fine. Nothing to see here.
Not long after that they cut the 3DS price and in specifically cited one of the reasons they were forced to was because they had too boost confidence in the product or risk developer support. They apologized to their fans. Iwata took full responsibility...etc. Turns out there was some truth to those early reports despite the denials.
I can't prove it but I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. The Vita most likely has lost some third party support but it's probably not as bad as a story that gets recycled a dozen times in the gaming press leads one to believe. Unnamed sources are so hit and miss, but there was already some smoke coming from the Japanese market regarding the Vita.
It's funny stuff when it comes to unnamed sources but I will say I have seen them end up being right just as much as they have been wrong. There is one recent example that has been burned into my head so badly it's possible it's forever changed my view on unnamed sources. There was a story citing an unnamed source right before the Indianapolis Colts season started that Peyton Manning would be out for the season after complications from a neck surgery and he had numbess in is throwing arm. The Colts denied the report and said the surgery went without a hitch...he was on schedule to start the season. Fans ripped the reporter who broke the story for using unnamed sources and blew it off. I was guilty of it myself. Turns out every bit of unnamed sources story was true. Peyton did sit out the season because of numbess in his throwing arm. The reports about Peyton's future using unnamed sources are running wild once again. It's hard to sort it. I will say I will tend to believe a story ran by Sports Illustrated way more than I do the Bleacher Report dot com when it comes to sorting out that mess.
Finally I will just say it's way too early to predict the Vita's fate. It might be in some trouble but it's still very early. Analysts usually use at least a 6 month time frame before calling it. At least that's what I have been told before. Calling it a failure this soon without citing any tangible reasons is using unsound logic and it actually weakens your argument. It makes you come accross as insincere. Probably not a good fit for this community...not because of your opinion either. It's the way you present it.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 2/16/2012 9:47:16 PM
4 up, 1 down
Ookami-san
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 7:50:33 PM
Reply
So I'm Really excited for Vita think it'll will be a great system with an already awesome line-up but it won't be dead...
0 up, 0 down
gray_eagle
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 7:58:49 PM
Reply
newspaper he or she went to, that person was out to try and hurt sony.
imo, a newspaper is a newspaper and no matter how respected
they are, they all want that juicy story. even if theres only one percent
truth to the story, they'll twist and turn the words around to make it 100 times worse.
2 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 8:00:33 PM
Reply
Another Astroturfer paid by a certain maker of lesser discability consoles.
3 up, 0 down
SSRGohan
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 8:06:36 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:42:54 PM
But both of them seem to really love it. Of course, both of them are on the road non-stop (or at least it seems that way)
I'll be hanging out with my buddy on the weekend. I'll give it a shot for myself then.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 2/16/2012 11:43:13 PM
0 up, 0 down
Qubex
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:33:51 PM
Reply
All I can say is that, considering where all of us are at the moment, it will be a wait and see if the Vita has hit all the buttons with gamers.
Its very simply... 6 months will tell us just how well or how badly Vita will do. A 20 to 40% price cut would ignite Vita sales; however, at current levels I think there will be the "first adopter" surge and then numbers will fall back month on month...
The first 6 months will give us an indication at what level of "stability" Vita sales numbers will settle at... and hopefully be sustained all the way to the holidays.
If Vita sales are "disasterous" and really do not track the numbers Sony hope they will get; look out for a price reduction announcement at E3.
If that doesn't happen then a price reduction could come for the holidays. Ultimately Sony wants to get this thing into peoples hands... but with iPad 3 being released in March and iPhone 5 in July... two devices we know millions will buy and people will save up to buy, this year could very well be the true test of whether there is space in the market for an "expensive" game-media portable to exist.
It seems the extra money needed to splurge on a cut down 3DS is acceptable enough for most people; it may be similar for the Vita... if the Vita does not feel too expensive for the wallet and PSN games for the Vita are priced accordingly... we will see Vita fly off the shelves...
Anyway, let's see... interesting times ahead for Sony and us!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 2/16/2012 11:36:22 PM
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 11:44:33 PM
It will be interesting to see how many people will judge based on the first week.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 3:48:13 AM
0 up, 0 down
___________
Friday, February 17, 2012 @ 2:20:59 AM
Reply
a little fishy though how 5 days from release they decide to announce BigW, target and Kmart, 3 of AUs biggest retailers wont be stocking it!
then they send out a statement saying they want to but cant because of $onys "decisions and terms".
hmmmmmm, i wonder what they mean by that.
just seems a bit fishy, and why the hell would you leave it till the last moment!?
ah, scratch that last bit they ALWAYS leave it to the last moment!
0 up, 0 down
Robochic
Sunday, February 19, 2012 @ 11:30:55 AM
Reply
I have been hinting to the hubby for weeks showing videos ect and what game i would like COSTCO Canada has a great deal 344 for the vita, uncharted and 8gig memory card and case with screen protector. My birhtday is in exactly a week from tuesday so i am crossing my fingers. I love my 3DS and i know i would love this.
0 up, 0 down
PHOENIXZERO
Monday, February 20, 2012 @ 11:39:33 AM
Reply
The source of this "story" was an article from Nikkei was basically an opinion piece that featured a anonymous source that ONE "big publisher" in Japan had cancelled a single Vita project and moved it to the 3DS.. Which is something that isn't at all rare.
0 up, 0 down
ulsterscot
Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 12:10:19 PM
Reply
Next generation the games I'm expecting big things from are Crysis, KZ, Uncharted, Gears Of War and Halo.
RPG games like Elder Scrolls (and Im really glad i got given Skyrim on the PC and not the PS3!) in my opinion are more suited to using a keyboard (controls complexity, mods etc) and the PC will always blow away consoles
0 up, 0 down
ulsterscot
Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 12:10:22 PM
Reply
Next generation the games I'm expecting big things from are Crysis, KZ, Uncharted, Gears Of War and Halo.
RPG games like Elder Scrolls (and Im really glad i got given Skyrim on the PC and not the PS3!) in my opinion are more suited to using a keyboard (controls complexity, mods etc) and the PC will always blow away consoles
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Reply
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 12:17:29 PM