More than a year after its first announcement, Sony's PlayStation Vita finally went on sale in the UK this morning.
The queue running alongside GAME's midnight launch event was visibly packed with core gamers - and they looked to turn up in numbers even larger than the release nights of Kinect and Nintendo 3DS.
The man at the front of the queue, 21-year-old Zohaib Ali, had been waiting since Sunday for the release and pointed to Vita's status as a "next-generation" device as the reason behind his excitement for the handheld.
Sony's senior VP of Worldwide Studios Europe, Michael Denny agreed: "We have a truly next-gen piece of hardware and a great software line-up," he told CVG at the launch.
"There's no question that gamers have been waiting for something new, something that is truly next-gen, so certainly we expect to start with people who care about their games to want a PlayStation Vita.
"You look at the specs of the hardware in terms of a portable device... there's nothing out there like it - there's nothing that competes with it. It really is a great device, but when you marry with that the great software - 50 titles announced so far - I think it really will appeal to core gamers.
"But going forward, I think it has enough about it with social connectivity and the touch screens to appeal to a wider audience down the tracks."
Sony's said it sees Vita as a five to ten year platform. "We expect to have a great launch, but it's really in 12 or 24 months we'll know how successful it has been," SCEA's Guy Longworth commented this week.
Comments
40 comments so far...
Barca Azul on 22 Feb '12 said:
Cameltoes.com?
TheLastDodo on 22 Feb '12 said:
I'm sure I'll be getting flamed for this when I wake up later in the morning but why Zohaib why? I don't get it. Whats the point in queuing out in the cold to get ripped off at a shop like Game when you could've (probably) paid less and got a Vita early online?
Not only that but I bet there'll be a few unscrupulous little irks waiting and preying in the shadows, ready to ambush guys like Zohaib they make their way home.
Seriously, where's the positive?
Fr33Kye on 22 Feb '12 said:
They probably just appreciate the experience. And doesn't he get free vita games for a year?
TheCrimsonFenix on 22 Feb '12 said:
A vita for the guys who jump him.
At the moment I don't any pluses for me getting a Vita. I've more chance of buying a pack of Ryvita to be quite honest.
Agent75 on 22 Feb '12 said:
Can't wait for the price drop!...
03b2wgm on 22 Feb '12 said:
How much do I have to pay to take that lady home with me rather than the PSVita?
Old Skool Gamer on 22 Feb '12 said:
Mobile Gaming has come along way since Atari Lynx, Game Gear etc, just saw the graphics from Wipeout, was very impressed indeed.
Leders on 22 Feb '12 said:
I got mine yesterday from the Kind peoples of the internets. Opened it, charged it, played FIFA for a good 2 hours, and loved every minute.. then PSP claw hit.... I need smaller hands!
jamie1 on 22 Feb '12 said:
Considering this will only cost me 177 euro for the 3G version is a bit of a no brainier.
billysastard on 22 Feb '12 said:
he should have just gone to my local game (or better yet somewhere else) no queues, no shortages of anything (except ubisoft games) and of course as its game, no customers, grainger on the other hand were still waiting for their ONE preorder customer to call in and pick his vita up.
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
"At the moment I don't any pluses for me getting a Vita. I've more chance of buying a pack of Ryvita to be quite honest."
I've no interest in buying one either, but clearly we're not its intended market then. it's great piece of kit, and will no doubt have some great games. I just have no need for it in my life, as dont have time to play mobile games anymore(3ds got boot recently too, as did my 360 , leaving me with ps3 only, a dont have time to play them all).
I just don't see why you not wanting one, should be expressed in such a negative and snooty manner.
In theory id love one, but I know reality is i'd never play it.
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
Whilst I appreciate a beautiful and exposed lady a much as anyone, it does make me cringe reading about gamers sleeping in street for days for new console/game, and how every launch, convention etc has to have women dressed up like idiots whilst exposing themselves, Hardly makes for a mature image of videogamers does it?
TheCrimsonFenix on 22 Feb '12 said:
Probably due to the fact the article is worded in a way as to say it's an unmissable piece of kit to every gamer. My comment is a personal statement to say it isn't. Are Sony listening? No. Will my comment have any impact whatsoever? No. Does that mean I should refrain from stating my opinion on a forum website? No. Take it as an attempted jab towards Sony or something if that is how you choose to see it.
EvilWaterman on 22 Feb '12 said:
I see that Bird up nice and close at last years Eurogamer Expo, she's the sort of girl that makes you wanna go home and punch the Mrs!
EvilWaterman on 22 Feb '12 said:
Its no different at Motor shows mate!
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
Think theyre sad too though tbh lol. Keep exploitation of beautiful women where it belongs ...in porn industry(ok that's kinda a joke, so no women's right people have go at me please)
@Crimson
"Probably due to the fact the article is worded in a way as to say it's an unmissable piece of kit to every gamer. My comment is a personal statement to say it isn't. Are Sony listening? No. Will my comment have any impact whatsoever? No. Does that mean I should refrain from stating my opinion on a forum website? No. Take it as an attempted jab towards Sony or something if that is how you choose to see it."
What do you expect them to say, here we have something that a certain crowd are looking for, but wont appeal to everyone, and tbh, will probably take six-twelve months to hit it's stride and may even flop due to the success of 3ds and smart phones??? Get a grip man! It's a launch, course they're going to be talking up their product.
Should you refrain from stating your opinion? No!, absolutely not, but maybe you should be a bit more mature about how you state your opinion, as you can come across like a douche otherwise
TheCrimsonFenix on 22 Feb '12 said:
WHY DON;T YOU JUST GO FU... you can;t really argue with that logic but saying I'm more likely to buy a rye cracker than a Vita is being douchey? Harsh man, harsh
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
I didnt say you were being a douche, I said it can come across as douche like if you not careful. My initial thought from your comment was that you were a 360 fanboy bitching a Sony product , because of way it was phrased. You dont seem that way now, but like I said, I dont know what you expect from a company launching a product to say? If it was MS or Aple or even Bob's crap products emporium, they'd all be trying to talk up their product /service.
Sorry if i came across as harsh
TheCrimsonFenix on 22 Feb '12 said:
I have a ps3 and everything! I can't be a fanboy! Seriously though, nah, no fanboy here. I just tend to express myself here a little too.. literally. I see total logic in what you're saying with what to be expecting them to say about a new product they're waiting to sell sell sell but I'm like a person screaming at a dumbass going back into a house in a horror movie.. I know it won't help but.. still I say something.
If either of us was harsh, this thread would turn into 3 pages of utter hostility and crap and that would be just me.
Hugs!
http://www.happypuppysunshineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/hugging-puppy.jpg
buffig on 22 Feb '12 said:
Just read that the woman in the cosplay gear is Ami Ledger, one of the developers of wipeout!
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
well, id like to develop things with her and then wipe her out.
taxi for me sigh
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
http://static2.videogamer.com/videogame ... 3/1400.jpg
hubba hubba, more of Ami, but apparently she's nota developer, just from Q&A dept i was reading
KK-Headcharge78 on 22 Feb '12 said:
Next gen? That's hilarious.
allygray69 on 22 Feb '12 said:
she has a fantastic derriere
Stryker89 on 22 Feb '12 said:
I love the faces of some of the guys in that picture- especially the overweight guy on the far right and the guy near the middle with his tongue out. Brilliant!
wwinterj on 22 Feb '12 said:
Yes your right Sony some gamers are waiting for next gen consoles but this isn't it.
Give it a year and Sony will have a upgrade to the Vita just like they did with the PSP. A Vita slim perhaps?
This doesn't make it next gen of course and touch screen stuff doesn't either. This is of course just Sony trying to push there new system.
TheCrimsonFenix on 22 Feb '12 said:
I'n sure she would take offence to that
The guy with the cup looking like he might spit his drink out is the one that cracks me up
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
So, this isnt a next gen portable console? There's more powerful dedicated portable gaming console out there is there?
Sony is trying to push new system , wow that's a shocker, who would have thought they would do that eh?
metallicorphan on 22 Feb '12 said:
put a pretty lady in a skin tight all in one and you always attract the old guys with their video cameras
...unless that is one of Activisions new Peripheral Rocket Launcher controllers
http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/screenshot_278033_thumb_wide940.jpg
B_G_G on 22 Feb '12 said:
Maybe if that nice lady wore something sensible with pockets she wouldn't have to keep her taco in her panties.
KK-Headcharge78 on 22 Feb '12 said:
Not when it is largely based on this gens console hardware. The Vita and PS3 are not mutually exclusive and yet we'd expect the PS4 to be pretty much all new to consider it 'next gen'
Imaduck on 22 Feb '12 said:
Poor girl
gmcb007 on 22 Feb '12 said:
I do love when PR help reinforce the stereotype of gamers being all-male sex starving nerds.
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
"Not when it is largely based on this gens console hardware. The Vita and PS3 are not mutually exclusive and yet we'd expect the PS4 to be pretty much all new to consider it 'next gen"
Have you ever know a portable to be based on the same gen as the latest cutting edge batch of consoles? they usually cant do that as a technical matter, as is too difficult to compress the motherboards, chips etc down into a portable. They are already small as they can get in the consoles themselves at release point. If you want a portable ps4 , then youre being highly unreasonable.
Kk that's ridiculous statement mate.
it's a next gen portable not next gen home console
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
apparently it's her choice, she's big onto cosplay, whatever that is
PsoBloke on 22 Feb '12 said:
And she's an insanely good gamer, after being wooped at wipeout a few times by her!
kirankara on 22 Feb '12 said:
Wish she'd whoop me a few times, as i'm kinky like that lol
Yeah, I've heard she is pretty awesome, and jolly nice to boot.
I think i'm in love
Imaduck on 22 Feb '12 said:
Fair enough, but still, she could do better for herself!
On topic: If gamers are busting for next gen, why are Sony constantly delaying or denying next gen ?!//!! !£ 1!2!£ !2!?
El Mag on 22 Feb '12 said:
Nobody like her has ever been near my local Game.
Best turn out at mine was a p**s stained tramp, a pregnant woman in a tracksuit and a shady looking fella trying to sell a bag full of obviously not stolen games. Knew it was a mistake taking my grandad, mum and dad out all together.
TheLastDodo on 22 Feb '12 said:
At least your mam bothered to get dressed, I've lost count of how many women (and their kidsI) I've seen walk round my town in their PJ's and dressing gowns
.