Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House has said he expects European consumers to edge towards the Wi-Fi only Vita model when the portable launches in the West on February 22.
Speaking to CVG ahead of the system's Japanese launch last month, House said forecasting which model consumers would favour was "one of the tougher questions to answer right now, because we have not, to date, launched a device in these configurations... so I hesitate to make a strong prediction".
He added: "Speaking for the European market, I would say it would edge much more towards the Wi-Fi version. But in Japan, in contrast, it seems to be leaning much more solidly towards the 3G model.
"Having moved to Japan in the last four months, from London and before that the States, I've been quite surprised by the degree to which Japan doesn't have the greatest access to wireless hot-spots."
According to reports at the beginning of the year, early Japanese sales of the 3G Vita model hadn't lived up to expectations, prompting some retailers to enforce their own discounts on the hardware by knocking as much as 20 percent off Sony's original RRP.
Are you picking up a Vita at launch and if so, which model are you going to plump for? Cast your eyes over our PS Vita review, if you haven't already and don't forget the PS Vita release date is just over one short month away now.
Comments
26 comments so far...
StonecoldMC on 17 Jan '12 said:
Could you really play a Game on a 3G network?
Trying to send my effort in Words With Friends can take bloody minutes if im on the bus or train.
flyfletch on 17 Jan '12 said:
Not a chance ill be picking this up on day 1, give it 6-12 months and if this doesnt sell as well as Sony expects (i suspect it wont) there will be a price cut, either by the retailers or Sony. I have learned the hard way with Sony products. No more day buying their new systems on day 1.
Perfect example of this, the PS3 catastrophy at launch and remained so for a couple of years after. Never ever again.
wrightandrewjame on 17 Jan '12 said:
I don't know if anyone else feels the same way but I still am a little unsure as to what the benefits of the 3G model over the Wi-Fi one really are. I think it's being able to send messages, leaderboard info, receive patches, use location based apps and perhaps play some games if they allow it anywhere with 3G signal (which incidentally my city doesn't actually have) but Sony haven't really explained it. I know that most of that can be done over a Wi-Fi connection, so to me it'd make most sense to plump with the Wi-Fi only model. Don't know what everyone else thinks. Anyone else know any more?
DAEDALUS79 on 17 Jan '12 said:
Im getting the wifi model. Im not particularly convinced that 3G will offer many advantages to me, and any internet surfing I want to do on the move which I dont want to do on my 4" screen HTC phone, ill simply use the unlimited free BTFON/BTHotspot wifi I get as part of my phone contract.
only_777 on 17 Jan '12 said:
I dont see the point in the 3G model. If there was no data cap then I might have got it, but a 20mb daily cap is insane.
You can't play online so it's a waste of time.
JBoo on 17 Jan '12 said:
It should of been -
PSVita(Wi-Fi model) = £199.99
PSVita(3G model) = £129.99
i think. I will get one but when the 3G model is a bit cheaper;)
NEO_SUPERMAN on 17 Jan '12 said:
I'll be going for the 3D model, with the very good price and the great exclusive games.
Oh wait, that's the 3DS.
mattdark on 17 Jan '12 said:
Agreed, I think the 3G wont really offer much to many people, considering the prices of smart-phones with decent net-speeds arent too bad on a contract. And even then, I only use mine to check update on facebook and such when im out shopping, but facebook is free under my contract anyway, so i'd rather just use that.
laslowoodbine on 17 Jan '12 said:
I was all plumped on the WI-FI model but at pre-order stage I had the thought what if? What if I regret it? So as it is a one off buy I decided what the hell 3G it is. I like other people have mentioned am a little unsure of the exact opportunities and benefits of 3G model are. I don't at this moment have any ideals on getting a 3G contract for my Vita but it's there if I change my mind.
Ps. I have got a idea in my head (it mightn't work however) that I could use my sim from my phone for the 3G on odd occasions. Obvioulsy this would stop me using my phone but I wouldn't care if it was on the rare occasion I wasn't in a WI-FI spot. Someone can shoot me down on this idea if they know better but either way it'll be 3G for me, can't wait.
only_777 on 17 Jan '12 said:
So you think the model with more features should be less money? You need to stop drinking paint stripper.
gmcb007 on 17 Jan '12 said:
Plus stop posting all together and stop with those silly winks at the end of your daily rubbish. This ain't a s**tty facebook like page.
lordirongut on 17 Jan '12 said:
I've gone for the 3G Model. For £50 extra I don't want to be in the position later on where I'll miss out something because I didn't have the 3G one. At the end of the day if such a killer app never appears it never appears, but I can afford to go the bit extra in case it does. I have seven games preordered anyway, and an eighth to come when I find it.
By the way, if anyone has seen Gravity Rush available anywhere your help would be appreciated
laslowoodbine on 17 Jan '12 said:
As far as I know Gravity Rush is Download only, I want it too.
ashadian on 17 Jan '12 said:
Don't bother with the 3G models!
These days most people have a phone with a data plan so why not just tether your Vita to your phone? Most of the latest phones can act as personal wifi hotspots. I know on 3 network you get unlimited data on alot of their contracts etc! What's the point of having 3G with a 20mb cap???? Sheer stupidity!
Fr33Kye on 17 Jan '12 said:
I thought the lesson was to buy every sony product as soon as possible and wait a while for nintendo?
Eh sony didnt really enact the limit but it's still kind of a failure.
B_G_G on 17 Jan '12 said:
Did you not see? There's an article, just up there ^ a bit? Talks about how retailers cut the price of the Vita in Japan by 20% shortly after launch? No? Just decided to come along and talk uninformed rubbish instead? OK then.
theideal on 17 Jan '12 said:
It would be excrutiating. Iirc only the turn based stuff is going to be playable over 3G.
I haven't preordered either one but if I have the cash in my pocket I'll probably have a wander round town on launch day and pick the wifi one up then, as I did with the 3DS, as long as stores have the games I want to play in stock.
I think the 3G one is delayed over here (Canada) anyway, and the whole state of the mobile phone service is an absolute disgrace over here too. It's like the f**king stone age compared to home and costs a fortune. It'd probably be quicker to have the binary code written out and posted to you and input it yourself than it would be to use Canada's s**tty mobile providers.
only_777 on 17 Jan '12 said:
The top line is correct when taking about Sony home consoles. If you have a first edition PSX then you got the I/O port. The PS2 had the HDD bay and the PS3 has BC.
I don't care so much about the price, I prefer to have a system with more features. I hardly call putting features above launch prices as an agender 'uninformed rubbish'.
lordirongut on 17 Jan '12 said:
I imagine he was talking about how Sony removed features from the PS3 (PS2 compatibility) and PS2 (accessory/HDD port) when they slimmed them down to make them cheaper to produce. The Vitas on offer in Japan mean very little - that's more a case of retailers competing than desperation from what I hear from people in Japan.
Mmmmgrolsch on 17 Jan '12 said:
I've still got £250 on my HMV card so I'm going to go down and pre-order the VITA at the weekend, got nothing else to spend the money on.
Barca Azul on 17 Jan '12 said:
It might help if we knew how 3G would work and cost to use?
What if you travel, for example?
If its just internet, then no thanks!
Maybe as news seems thin, someone could write an article?
MD1500 on 17 Jan '12 said:
I really don't see the point in the 3G Version.
And I have a feeling Europe will go for the Wi-Fi only too.
Fr33Kye on 17 Jan '12 said:
Actually the removing of features is what i meant......
B_G_G on 17 Jan '12 said:
Yeah got you now, and I totally agree with that point
Apologies for misunderstanding.
Jongu on 18 Jan '12 said:
Jboo I reckon there is a job at Sony marketing with your name on it. If only they had thought of that!
I will be buying a wifi on day one, as long as they make good their promise of ps3 remote play. I agree they made a mess of ps3 launch, but waiting 12 months for a price cut willsave you £30 at best. I'm not loaded but based on those savings it's hardly worth hanging on really. Maybe im missing something!
flyfletch on 20 Jan '12 said:
To be honest, its not about the price cut, i just have a bad taste left in my mouth over the PS3, which in my opinion, just has not lived up to what Sony promised 6 or so years go when they released it. Up to that point i was a Playstation nut, loved their machines, right from the Ps1, but all it seems to be this generation is that the PS3 has played 2nd fiddle to the Xbox, which gets a lot more use than my PS3 (people can blame it on developers if they want) its not a good excuse, but as i said, it is just my opinion.
Other than a few exclusive title that the PS3 has, i wouldnt have any need for one at all. And i wanted it to be so different. If the PS4 goes along the same road as the PS3, i will never buy another Sony console again.