Sony is absolutely convinced we're going to see "a lot of mobile and tablet gamers come over to Vita".
"When you look at the type of consumer that's playing cell phone games currently, it's someone that enjoys smaller 'kill time' gaming and has not gravitated to the larger, richer, deeper experiences that true handheld gaming provides," he said.
"As we go toward the PlayStation Vita, I can tell you that as we started looking at that product and the market opportunity several years ago, we saw a real strong demographic for those deeper, richer, console-type experiences.
"We had them on PSP, but we've taken them to a new level on PS Vita with the entirety of new ways to play," he added. "That 'new ways to play' idea, particularly for Vita, really differentiates from what's available on mobile phones or tablets and, frankly, what will be available on those platforms over the next three to five years.
"You're going to see PS Vita expand what a lot of people believe to be true about handheld gaming, and you're going to see a lot of those current mobile phone and tablet gamers come over to Vita. We're very convinced of that."
Comments
40 comments so far...
singhcoventry on 19 Aug '11 said:
Not at that price they won't
wrightandrewjame on 19 Aug '11 said:
You might not, but I can bet that several million gamers will. It's what is perceived as value for money and generally most gamers are happy with the price for what they'll be getting.
Anyway they might get some more mobile gamers when phone stores start giving them away "free" with overpriced phone contracts next year.
Ais4Audi on 19 Aug '11 said:
Problem is it isnt a mobile phone...
deepbluerd on 19 Aug '11 said:
Like that guy said before "Buttons and sticks > Touchscreens." Your mobile phone games can only get so far with touchscreen controls.
The Vita will sell as long as its got the games to back it up. The price is great for this machine. I cant wait to get one at launch day.
buffig on 19 Aug '11 said:
I'll be getting one asap
svd_grasshopper on 19 Aug '11 said:
the industry needs to realise that mobile 'gaming', and gaming are two different things.
these people bought a phone first and foremost. they do games also, so why not. they're fun.
if gaming was the primary focus for buyers, the sony xperia would be selling out. it flopped.
by all means, also develop and make a quick buck with mobiles games. the audience for real gaming will remain, someone will cater for it.
gmcb007 on 19 Aug '11 said:
Why do mobile games get treated like proper games? They're in a league of their own.
TheLastDodo on 19 Aug '11 said:
Define a "proper" game. Without sounding like a game snob
liveswired on 19 Aug '11 said:
I'm not too sure about Sony's ideas on this one - mobile gamers/market are casual players - they aren't interested in rich nor deep games - they want cheap social style games that will offer 1 minute thrills - they play games like Zumba and Wii Fit, Angry Birds and Farmville.
Though Sony will undoubtedly recapture the PSPs bunch of angry, frustrated modern teenagers, who, somehow have an elitist belief that gaming is only good if it offers a 'mature' experience - and by that I mean a platform that predominantly offers violence, blood, lots of swearing, being able to swear repeatedly at people online, muted colour palettes and 'realistic' graphics.
Tech and specs aside do you think these are the kinds of experiences the large demographic of mobile/casual gamers are after? Sony need to look at more 'family' focused themes for this to work!
gmcb007 on 19 Aug '11 said:
OK, maybe a wrong choice of words, mobile games tend to be smaller and consist of arcade style gameplay. Usually aimed at people on the go or wasting time on their phone. Console games and such are much, much bigger and complex.
Fr33Kye on 19 Aug '11 said:
Haha just about to say something similar.
markyR on 19 Aug '11 said:
Not at that price and the problem is it isn't a mobile. Hmm.
Well last time I checked, the most popular mobile phone games platform is the iPhone, the iPhone STARTS from £428 unless you want to get old technology that won't support all games in the future?
And as for the iPad, lets see, the WiFi only starts from £399 and the WiFi and 3G starts from £499.
Now using Orange as an example for contract deals, the cheapest iPhone deal is £25 for 24 months with the phone also costing £510, so that's £1110, what a bargain. And the most expensive is £75 a month for 24 months which is £1800. Now I'm sure there are prices in between but you get the point I'm sure?
As for the iPad, £25 for 24 months plus £199 for the iPad so thats £799, bargain, the most expensive is the same £25 for 24 months plus £229 for the iPad.
Now to add that the iPhone model I chose was the 16GB only model and the iPad 2 again was the 16GB model.
So what ever your argument is, the blazingly obvious is your paying a hell of a lot for that touch screen games device. Now you can argue Android, the Galaxy S2 on Orange, cheapest is £20 for 24 months plus £200 for the phone so again it's £680.
So please shut up about the Vita's price as your arguments are utterly flawed, you cannot argue the fact the Vita is priced aggressively and very well. It will take sales from gamers fed up with good games but utterly naff controls and poor game play experience.
markyR on 19 Aug '11 said:
Wow! Your whole argument was based on the fact that NO mobile phone gamer has a home console or PC and goes online with COD etc!!
lordirongut on 19 Aug '11 said:
I think they're right. Especially when you consider a tablet is usually much more expensive and equally doesn't make phone calls - PS Vita plays all their media and does games innumerate times better than a tablet - at half the price! What is there to lose?
phate666 on 19 Aug '11 said:
For me, the only reason I "mobile game", is because I always have my phone in my pocket. I don't really need or want a really in depth amazing looking game on the go, I'd rather have those games on my big telly at home.
The line up for the vita looks very impressive but there are some impressive games for all the portables that are available now and after trying them for a short period of time I always get cramp in my hands or my eyes sting from looking at the tiny screen!
Poaching mobile gamers? I don't think that many people who play game on their phone even consider them proper (haha) games, so I doubt they're going to part with their hard earned to carry another thing around in their pocket that they might play for 10 minutes at a time.
All just my opinion obviously.
And Markr, the price is definitely a factor. Most mobile phones are now given away and the games you can get on them are like 69p. Do you think they'll let Uncharted go for that on the Vita? You also seem to have missed the point that people dont buy an iPhone as a games device. If indeed they did have to buy it. Ciao.
slatters on 19 Aug '11 said:
I salute you for one of the most sensible comments i've seen in a while. Also, cracking reserch and entirely true.
humanhand on 19 Aug '11 said:
Tablet market, some yes. Mobile phone market, no.
TheLastDodo on 19 Aug '11 said:
Before yesterday I would've agreed with you gmcb.
But I downloaded Rage HD for my iPod Touch and frankly it works better than I ever expected it too.
Switching guns is as easy as tapping a gun icon, reloading is one tap, aiming is you tap on the screen where you want the reticule to aim to, it's all very seamless and smooth, not only that but the graphics were very impressive too (certainly better than some PS3 games I've played this year).
For the first time I can see myself wanting to play "proper" games on my iPod instead of an Angry Birds to just pass the time.
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if we could have full console like experiences on smartphones within the next two to three years.
c3dpo on 19 Aug '11 said:
Agree with the gamers here!
These devices are very limited, their memory handling is pathetic IMO and have managed to crash the Iphone about 18 times in 3 days of being given one, all related to gaming and suspending! PMSL a series 60 symbian / brew nokia worked better for gaming, with full emulators on them!!!!!
^ Could be game specific crashes you say, yes some where. Others locked the device up completely saying F/W or H/W issue to me. (Yes I used to test games on mobiles).
The sheep that know no better will still lap up these terrible games and terrible devices.
Me, I'm getting this to go alongside my other "real handheld gaming devices".
BOYD1981 on 19 Aug '11 said:
I think it's more the developers/publishers that have a problem with the single purpose handhelds as there's more money to be made releasing games cheaply for an iOS device which millions will buy and then not be able to sell on once they stop playing it.
If Vita and 3DS games costs the same as a mobile game they would have a lot more sales.
Augustus_aka_AG on 19 Aug '11 said:
Just one flaw with your counter argument. The Vita is not a multi function device like an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S2 that can fit in the average pocket without causing discomfort while walking or sitting down. It cannot record high quality video/photos, it isn't a versatile communication device, it isn't a Sat Nav, it isn't a personal organiser and it is massive in size compared to most smartphones. You can't compare the Vita to a Smartphone, they're totally different devices.
It just isn't convenient to carry around a handheld gaming device AND a mobile phone. And given the choice, just about everyone will pick their mobile over a handheld gaming device... This is why people will carry on buying games for their mobile phone and only serious gamers are going to invest in Vita.
TheLastDodo on 19 Aug '11 said:
That bolded bit is highly debatable, considering their working on Twitter, Facebook and Skype apps for the Vita right now.
voodoo341 on 19 Aug '11 said:
mmm... think there's more than just that debatable. You can use the PSP as a SatNav, I'd be surprised if you can't do it with the Vita. You can use the PSP as an organiser and stick the camera on it and you can take photos etc. I'd be very surprised if you cant at least do the same with the Vita saying it has cameras built in.
lordirongut on 19 Aug '11 said:
With Skype, could you not, in theory, make phone calls to anyone else with a Skype-enabled device? IE, any smartphone?
TheLastDodo on 19 Aug '11 said:
Well of course, but you were saying before why they're both different. I'm stating they're going to be more similar than people think at first glance.
I'm just saying Vita will do a lot of what smartphones can do, plus it will offer "proper" games aswell as app store Angry Bird type games.
Obviously the only drawback is no phone function
.
ricflair on 19 Aug '11 said:
I agree with svd, for the most part they're not the same market. I'm sure they'll get a few though as some people will always be swayed.
It's a bit silly to call someone out on the cost argument though, and then include the cost of the calls and internet as part of the total cost. Nobody buys a phone just for the games surely, let alone takes out a phone contract!!
And most people just don't see the cost of a phone. People always say 'I got a free upgrade'. No they didn't, they're paying about £20 a month for the privilege. Whether this is right or wrong a lot of people won't see the cost as it's something they're used to paying month, in month out.
Plus I'm sure most people see mobile phones as more all encompassing devices than a Vita or 3DS. The battery, while not great, will at least get you mostly through the day - it can email, browse, shoot video, take photos, text message, play the odd game here or most importantly fit in your pocket and make and receive phone calls.
danbish on 19 Aug '11 said:
"Sony 'convinced' Vita can poach mobile gamers"
They're in for a hell of a shock then...
SuperMike861 on 19 Aug '11 said:
My issue is that if I bought a Vita, while I'm playing these PS3 like games, I think I'd just much rather be playing them on my TV.
ashadian on 19 Aug '11 said:
Most modern phones are a rip off! Nearly all are over £400 sim free at least. Even with contracts they cost too much with the Iphone the worst culprit. Sony Vita is a bargain at that price!
Fr33Kye on 19 Aug '11 said:
I'm always impressed by how many people are willing to buy s**t they dont need. Sony just needs f**king great marketing and software that wows people. That's all it really takes. Is sony capable of both of those? Nah.
markyR on 19 Aug '11 said:
Lets start with the 'high quality video/photos' shall we? Have you EVER compared the photos of a smartphone's pea sized camera to a decent compact let alone an SLR? No? Let me just tell you, a smartphone camera is utterly pathetic next to a decent compact. An SLR totally destroy's them. The same for video, lots of people use camera phones as they are convenient but the pictures are crap, they offer no optical zoom but only digital which degrades the pictures again. They are in no way as high quality as you think.
SatNav, well the 3G Vita has a built in GPS and the PSP even had a GPS and satnav option:
http://www.play.com/Games/PSP/4-/343375 ... oduct.html
And to have decent SatNav, well TomTom on my iPhone it costs a minimum of £50 on top of the iPhones cost. So again it's a flawed argument as my iPhone does NOT come with SatNav as standard, unless you really want to count Google maps.
Nope the Vita isn't a personal organiser but I bet it'll allow access to Google's services for appointments and email etc. However I do not know if it will or won't have some sort of organiser programme.
As for the size, well personally I loathe the idea of carrying around a 4.3" screen constantly, it makes a fat slab of a mobile, others are fine with it. But it's why I have an iPhone, and I don't plan to take my Vita to my work place? But I could also argue that tablets and laptops are in no way 'small' but plenty of people walk around with them everywhere just fine.
If by 'given away' you mean to get a 'free' Galaxy S2 I have to spend £960 over a locked in 24 month contract, yeah I can see the 'free' bargain in that
Or the 16gb iPhone, for free that's £1200 over a fixed 24 month contract. I'm afraid your argument is totally flawed on that one, and please don't ever think a phone is 'fee' because it never is.
As for 69 pence games, well yes I would expect a 2D simple game that cost very low development costs to be that much, alternatively you could be talking about the other business model where by the developer sells the game at 69 pence but then charges you for just about everything else you need to play the game!
Now Unchartered is made by a large games studio that employees lots of people and has spent several months if not years developing a single title that they need to get a huh return on so they can stay in business, it's a also a game that has to have very high production values as it has a reputation based on that, it has to be a good game, money no expense.
@Slatters, thanks mate, much appreciated
gmcb007 on 19 Aug '11 said:
I find it hard to see much 'mobile gamers' buying their phone for games but surely (and maybe i'm just speculating here) for the functions of a mobile phone? This whole article is silly, their only real rival is the 3DS. I couldn't care about fancy GPS or photo viewing on my PSP, I'd buy soley based on the quality of games. It is a portable games console...right?
Christ knows why every gadget these days has to come crammed packed with so many uneeded features.
liveswired on 19 Aug '11 said:
lol
I can't resist sometimes!!! - BUT in effect I'm still correct. Sony are talking about poaching these kinds of gamers from the mobile market - most of these gamers do not use a ps3 or xbox and are simply not interested in these kinds of experience - they want a casual fix.
KippDynamite on 20 Aug '11 said:
Boo Yah!
And SVD is right - they are different markets. I'm pretty sure I've read Iwata say that DS sales have been largely unnaffected over the last 5 years by the release of smartphones and tablets, including the iphone. Sales went as normal. Why the 3DS hasn't done as well as they've hoped is anyones guess at this point, but it seems likely that the launch lineup has a lot do to with it.
ricflair on 20 Aug '11 said:
The price will hold it back I bet. Not saying it's too expensive for what it is, but you've got to be blind or in denial to think that £250 or whatever for an additional item (and maybe the cost of a secondary 3G account on top for some) won't hold it back when people are happy with the casual experiences on the hardware they already own.
Like I said before, people don't see the cost involved in a phone as they always pay it and see it as doing more than the Vita - doesn't make it technically right, but that's how it is for most people. And if people insist on including the cost of the contract in the cost of a phone or at least add £500 or so to the cost of the Vita for the cost of having a mobile for 24 months. You're also ignoring the huge difference in the prices of games too.
They're very different markets. I'll eat the odd bit of gherkin when it comes in my Big Mac. But personally I'll never go and buy a jar of gherkins to eat a lot of them.
rbt2 on 20 Aug '11 said:
You're f**king kidding me????
I love 'em.
I've even been known to go in a chippy and just have 4 gherkins.
Blasphemer!!!
ladycroft142 on 21 Aug '11 said:
I think this is just wishful thinking on Sony's part. People that only play mobile games will not be willing to invest the time and money necessary to experience proper games. I think any hope for Vitas success lies with the core gamer and honestly that's the way I'd prefer it, too many casual gamers on Vita could result in an abundance of lame casual games aimed at that market and less awesome titles like Resistance and Bioshock.
markyR on 21 Aug '11 said:
So most of the millions who play Angy birds etc on their mobiles do not own any home consoles!! Ok.
And huge difference in games prices. Well people are 'ignoring' the FACT that Unchartered, Resistance, F1 take a HELL of a lot longer and a LOT more money to develop then a mobile phone game made in someones bedroom!
And lets take Battlefield 3 from EA, it isn't even going to offer a single player mode on the mobile phone version but instead you just shoot 'waves' of enemy's! It will be nothing like the console an PC version, and even Activision has so far refused to support mobiles, no COD it coming anytime soon to a phone near you.
And you are also ignoring the bushiness model of mobiles where by they use in game purchases to make money. So you could in effect easily spend £20 on say Infinity Blade.
Do any of you lot even play any mobile games or follow it's news?
kenneth50 on 21 Aug '11 said:
Mashallah brother, I'm gonna be down the on launch day elbowing the geeks outta my way lol.
alphafour on 22 Aug '11 said:
It may be true that the iPhone and Android phones are pretty pricy but.. most of the contracts now offer the phones with a small downpayment.. (for example carphone warehouse offers iphone 4 for a £60 downpayment). Added to that, the games on android / iphone cost very little compared to the big games of the "traditional" consoles. It is up to debate whether the small cheap games are good or not.
When you buy an iphone 4 or android (or any other new hi-tech smartphone for that matter) you are almost killing 2 birds with one stone as you are getting a fully functional mobile phone, and a fairly powerful games platform which has a huge library of paid (but also MANY free) games and applications. The downside is that the games may not be very long and may not be very deep but when you are (more often than not) able to download the trial version for just every game/app, you can't really lose.
For the PSV, you need to buy the device (around £250 lets say) and then you need to buy the games one by one (which could be £30 each) which means that after you've only bought a few games your costs have gone through the roof. The games on he PSV may be conceived as much deeper and better value but the problem is that PSP never really had a good demo system (in my opinion) and I can imagine this coming over to the PSV despite the leap in connectivity.
It's interesting because you can almost view the current iphone and android technology (in terms of gaming) on par with the NDS (in terms of touch technology) and the PSP (in terms of raw graphics power), but those games systems are around 6 or 7 years old now!
Does that mean that the 3DS and PSV are safe for another 7 years?
I'm not sure but I know one thing.. I think I'll steer clear of the PSV and the 3DS until some really good games actually come out (more so the 3DS as I haven't seen any truly breathtakingly good games yet and OoT doesn't count that's just a re-hash).