Vita Japan launch

[DeckardBR]

So the new Playstation Vita is out in Japan. Being in the US its hard not to be jealous. Very tempted to import even though the prices are obscene if you buy it online now. Right now average price is $500 US. Thats just for the system, no game, no memory card...

From everything I've seen, its a next gen psp-go with a cartrige slot. Its really intended for online purchases and use. I do like how you can multitask by pausing a game then going to web browse etc. Only one psn account allowed though which sucks for mutliple account users who have US and japan accounts.

Anyone in Japan or elsewhere picking it up? How about those avoiding it, any reason?

[Martin]

I might be getting one, though mainly for wipeout.

I thought it looked really good - snapped this video on Sunday. Screen is lovely and responsive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04bFmSLiBCc

[Shou]

I went by on launch day but didn't feel like waiting an hour in the pickup line at Sofmap (other stores had no one in line with units in stock) so just did other errands in Akiba. I ended up picking my 3G unit up yesterday with no one around. There was already a glut of used software and machines to be had in most stores I visited.

The OS is very clunky compare to iOS and just plain unintuitive. There's even an infinite loop when you first turn on the machine if you follow the onscreen instructions (between using a PSN ID and requiring a firmware update).

[Jamtex]

Even in the sticks, there is a local Hard Off that has a second hand Vita already. Although second hand prices are not much cheaper then new. With the short gap between the Japanese and US releases there doesn't seem to be the rush there was for the PS3, which is a pity as I got my new second hand machine because of those idiots.

[Yakumo]

I bought one for a member here however I have no interest in the console myself. Not because it's Sony but because it's handheld. I just don't play them. I like a big screen and quality sound so I can really get in to the game. Sort of like watching a movie on a iPod or a whopping big screen in 5.1.

[subbie]

I have one on it's way to me. I am excited and looking forward to it but I must admit bias because I've been working on vita for a while now. ^_^

[Shou]

Even in the sticks, there is a local Hard Off that has a second hand Vita already. Although second hand prices are not much cheaper then new. With the short gap between the Japanese and US releases there doesn't seem to be the rush there was for the PS3, which is a pity as I got my new second hand machine because of those idiots.

I saw 3G units for 26.5k yesterday, not too shabby of a discount.

[Martin]

I bought one for a member here however I have no interest in the console myself. Not because it's Sony but because it's handheld. I just don't play them. I like a big screen and quality sound so I can really get in to the game. Sort of like watching a movie on a iPod or a whopping big screen in 5.1.

You also don't commute on the trains each day, which is where I see 99.99% of PSP and DS consoles. I have never seen so many. In the UK, the PSP and DS have been dead for a while because people drive everywhere and/or have a TV in their room.

When I was a young-un, I had the Game Gear as it didn't impact on parents' TV time.

[Shadowlayer]

I read somewhere there was next to nobody buying these in Osaka, better start there.

BTW its still region-free right? sony didnt screw that part?

I was thinking of getting a 3G model and hack it so it works as a phone too, I'm sick of telcos...

About the OS, yeah I was expecting it to be shit, I dont know why sony gave it a twatter client, much less make it run during gameplay, wasting CPU away while at the same time you cant multitask with more important apps like the browser

And dont get me started with iOS, my gf got an iPad and its driving me crazy: why the fuck it doesnt have a "back" button? even the windows phones and crackberry got those.

[Martin]

What do you need a back button for exactly?

[Shadowlayer]

Get an android phone with CM7, MIUI or ICS, you'll see what I'm getting at.

[ASSEMbler]

Load time seems extremely long for physical media...

[Vosse]

Yeah, UMD was soo terrible right???
/sarcasm.
Ditch the noise.
Keep the times baby.

[Yakumo]

You also don't commute on the trains each day, which is where I see 99.99% of PSP and DS consoles. I have never seen so many. In the UK, the PSP and DS have been dead for a while because people drive everywhere and/or have a TV .

Nah, that's not it with me. I've never been in to hand held gaming. Back when I was a kid my brother had the original gameboy which I never used and I got a Pc Engine GT a few years later but never used that after the wow factor ended. I guess I just love to play games while relaxed at home.

[Jamtex]

Although the PC Engine GT did have a awful screen that had triangle pixel triads so everything shimmered as it scrolled, some pixels were thrown away so reading text on the screen could be next to impossible, the colours were awful, it had LCD lag and it was heavy so it was enough to put you off handheld gaming for life.

Portable gaming is still fantastic, I do have a Palm Zire as there still isn't a half decent Riichi mahjong game I have seen on any other format, including the Apple app store with its 10,000 titles of shovelware. I still have a GBC as there are some fantastic puzzle games that I love to play and it's nice to be able to play them anywhere. I love the Tetris on the Pokemon Mini.

I have a Sony PSP but in the life of the console I have bought a total of 7 games for it (and three of those are Mahjong titles), ditto with the Nintendo DSlite, I have 4 games for that. I do have a 3DS although only as I got one for free, but I have a single game for that, however I do use it a lot although mainly as a handy webbrowser as well as playing Mii Plaza as it is fun to see people around, although it's annoying tha the Japanese can write full sentences where in other langauges you can say about 3 to 4 words. No interest in the Vita as yet but I am sure I will get one sooner or later.

[HEX1GON]

It's weird to hear the PSVita hasn't really been *that* popular in some areas. I hear from PlayAsia they're getting sold out shipments.

I just believe it's too expensive at the moment, if you look at the 3DS no body bought that straight away, but after the price drop it's starting to sell quite a bit now.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I admit, I'm kinda jealous. It looks like a pretty cool little device. For the moment, though, I'm happy with my 3DS.

Yakumo: I kinda feel the same way about handhelds. I'm rarely in a situation where I have time to play a handheld and only a handheld. When I go out, I'm usually busy doing stuff the whole time. Plus, I'm kinda scared to take my 3DS out with me, because I'm afraid I might lose it or break it.

On the other hand, it can be kinda fun to lie in bed and play a handheld. You can also start playing a videogame in one part of the house and take it to another part. Or you can take it over to your neighbor's house. Or on a trip. I also think there's something charming about being able to hold a whole system in your hands.

[Yakumo]

I can see your points and do think you are right but in my life if I'm not playing games I'm doing something else. I would love to play games in bed but having the wife next to me isn't what you do.

[MottZilla]

I think that's how alot of people are about handhelds these days. They are pretty much reserved for trips or other strange circumstances in which you cannot play a console but still want to play a video game. I remember handhelds used to be popular because most kids didn't have TVs in their bedrooms or could afford game consoles and games as handhelds were cheapers, as were the games.

Starting with the PSP maybe, handhelds seemed to me to be more like portable consoles and less like the old handhelds. And while that's neat, kind of like the Sega NOMAD, I could just play an actual console.

[DeckardBR]

I ended up importing one, arrived via some fast shipping.

Its a fantastic system. I got Dynasty Warriors Next for it and the graphics are very close to a ps3 experience. The touch controls can be fun, it really gives you the best of what the iphone games have to offer while actually being a serious gaming system.

I hope it does well as I think they put alot of time and effort into the home interface and making it a great experience.