As part of their Tokyo Game Show press conference, Sony have issued a press release detailing PlayStation Vita, the launch line-up, technical specs and – yes – pricing. We know that the unit itself has already been locked down in terms of costs, but that initially cheap unit price has some hidden extras…
“As the next generation portable entertainment system, PS Vita enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context, transforming every aspect of a user’s daily life into an entertainment experience,” says the PR blurb.
First up – the games. There are 26 “exciting” software titles at launch, with more than 74 games currently in development. Here’s the list of day-one (or at least, launch window) games for Japan:
- Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend
- 3gokushi touchbattle (working title)
- Project NOELS (working title)
- Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
- Nature of Night of Kamaitachi – 11th visitor, A Suspect (tentative)
- F1 2011
- Dream C Club Zero Portable
- Niconico
- Fish On
- Katamari Damacy (working title)
- Ridge Racer (working title)
- Disgaea3 Return
- Virtua Tennis 4 – World Tour Edition
- @field
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss
- Little Deviants
- Minnato Issho
- Hot Shots Golf Next
- Yuusha no kiroku (TBD)
- Monster Radar
- Shinobido 2: Tales of the Ninja
- Army Corps of Hell
- Lord of Apocalypse
- Dynasty Warriors Next
- Dark Quest
- Michael Jackson the Experience HD
But here’s the tricky bit – you’ll be needing a memory card for Vita, and they don’t come cheap. The smallest, 4GB, is ¥2,200 with the largest, 32GB, a staggering ¥9,500. That’s about £80, and with games reportedly running between 2 and 4GB you’ll be wanting that biggest one, for sure.
[drop2]”Some PS Vita software titles may require the use of separately sold memory card for saving game’s saved data while some software titles are capable of saving it on to the PS Vita card itself,” confirms the PDF. Don’t go buying a PS Vita without a memory card, basically, or chances are you’ll not be able to save your game.Other accessories include an AC adaptor (¥1,800), protective film (¥800) and a travel pouch (¥2,300), although it’s worth noting that although Vita doesn’t come with a memory card (boo) it does come with a charger. As you’d expect.
Along with confirming the innards of the system (512MB RAM, 128MB VRAM and an ARM A9 CPU) the press release mentions battery life: a very 3DS-like 3 to 5 hours (with default screen brightness, bluetooth off and headphones on) and the Vita takes just over 2 and a half hours to charge from zero power.
I’m disappointed in the battery life – it seems a little short to me even though it’s roughly on par with 3DS and PSP, and it’s not replaceable either. I guess I’d just hoped Sony would go all out and give us something that would last a long haul flight without needing to break into First Class to borrow a power point. I’m not put off, just disappointed.
But the price of the memory cards is shocking, and clearly a way for the manufacturer to offset the relatively cheap price point of the Vita itself.
You can read our hands on with PS Vita here.
jimmy-google
I wouldn’t be suprised if a memory card is bundled in the UK when it releases next year. Sony had previously said that games will be able to store saved games and DLC, that doesn’t appear to cover all games now so if you don’t want to buy a memory card then you just need to find out which games have that ability.
Battery life isn’t an issue. Every long haul flight I’ve been on (and I’ve never flown first class) has always provided me with a power outlet. Everyone is very used to charging mobile devices up all the time now. I don’t know anyone with a iphone that doesn’t leave it charging all day when they’re at work.
I still believe the delay in the vita’s release in EU/US is more down to making sure the right games are available at launch. Uncharted on launch day would be enough for me though.
3shirts
So are these memory cards are proprietary? That is a deal breaker for me because it is pure profiteering.
SD is standard nowadays, Micro SD cards are so small they could easily fit a card reader anywhere on the Vita plus even MicroSD is available upwards of 32Gb and way cheaper.
I really thought Sony had got over this habit
MrJimmy
yep hard to believe they are not using SD or the latest Memory Stick (PRO Duo?)
Klart
I think those cards are one of the reasons piracy on the PSP was abundant. No wonder Sony looks for st. else then.
3shirts
@Klart, A different type of card won’t help prevent piracy. There is bound to be a card reader for this format available soon after launch and you can connect it via USB anyway so can still do all the piraty things people did with PSP
MrJimmy
one word: Katamari
igotmy9milli
Wow loads of new games….
Kennykazey
Not so sure I I’ll want to be an early adopter anymore…
TSBonyman
Well it is a “rich gaming” experience.. If this is living – life ain’t cheap.. :/
Sad Panda
Hang on a tic, an AC adapter is an accessory… surely it has to come with a way to charge the damned thing?
Either way, unless the overtime ban at work disappears I think I’m struggling to afford one at launch.
TheDeathAvenger
“Other accessories include an AC adaptor … it does come with a charger. As you’d expect.”
wuntunzee
ach, the lack of a replaceable battery is a shock for me, having experienced what a drag it is using a launch psp1000 with an old battery. i will wait for first prie drop, as i’m sure a lot of others will.
Origami Killer
shocking price of the official memory cards :/ as many have said hopefully there will be cheaper 3rd party ones. It has got a great line up, but its great by the sheer number of lunch games, I wouldnt think so much by their quality (excluding a few). I won’t be getting Vita on release, everything which I have got on release becomes terrible to newer versions
Sympozium
Meh, puts off mainstream