“I just got back from the Vita event in Osaka,” writes a poster on NeoGAF, “and they gave us this little catalog with the launch line up of games and accessories. There also a FAQ section at the end, and that’s where I found this bad news.”
Here’s the apparent text from the FAQ, ad verbatim:
Q: PSNアカウントは、PSVita本体１つに対して何個まで設定できますか？
A: １つです。別のPSNアカウントで使用したい場合は、本体の初期化を行ってください。
The current translation appears to say that the machine only supports a single PSN account. Worse still? “If you want to to use a different account, you need to format the system to factory settings.”
This also, natually, affects anyone that would normally make use of multiple PSN Stores across multiple regions, such as downloading games from the US Store and then running them on a European account. And because we’re importing the console from Japan, this would mean that when the UK launch happens we’ll face a tricky decision.
So, whilst cart-based games will work across regions (and accounts) anything with an Online Pass won’t, and it’s probably save to assume DLC won’t either. Basically, if you have just the one account on your PS3 you probably won’t mind – the rest of us might have a few issues…
Chalk this up as a rumour just now – albeit a fairly sound one – and we’ll know for sure in just two weeks.
Source: NeoGAF.
Kitch
Sony In Money Making Shocker. C’mon guys. Is this really news/rumour? Surely it’s an opinion piece.
If Sony actually turn a profit within a year on this machine they are going to be able to reinvest the profits in lowering the development kits and supporting developers. Surely this is a good thing. This isn’t a story. It’s a portable gaming machine. Not a HOME console. PSP doesn’t play at games sharing.
BIGAL-1992
Am I Being really thick here or is this even a problem? The vita is a portable game machine, so it stands to reason reason that sony will presume that most potential buyers, like myself, will be the only people playing it. I really couldn’t care less about his, because I don’t see the problem people are conmplaining about, and also because the majority of the time i’ll be offline anyway
Crocadillian
Why are the core market and potentially the mass market being punished over what seems to be mere bureaucracy? Apart from translation, which some people don’t even mind, there in no reason they have to region lock content or the online system in general.
Why don’t businesses understand that usually giving the customer what they want is profitable in the long-term? It really troubles me :l
job
its exactly what i expected for a portable console .
Bladesteel
Sony are being stupid, again.
For those of you with a lack of imagination, here are some scenarios:
1: No more sharing the one machine between a few family members, but keeping saves/trophies separate. Not all of us can afford multiple machines. Now that the handheld supports trophies this is an even bigger deal than it is os other handhelds/psp.
2: Bigger hurdle to let your friend play the game on the bus, because it’s one of those games that has one master save and you can’t just make a “guest” account to have him not mess up your progress/statistics.
Sony’s basically saying no to a bit of free advertising.
3: No more having an account for each store (probably positive from sonys point of view)
4: No having a “friendless” account for those guilty pleasures (I bet you all have been playing the Hanna Montana game on a secret account on the ps3)
And even if none of this may affect you, you should still care if you intend to buy a Vita. You would want it to be as popular as possible, so making games for it (a.k.a. you) is more profitable, and you get more games to choose from. Any real or perceived flaw, no matter how small, will affect sales a little, and you should care.
JigsawPieces
Definitely with you on the first two of these.
Kennykazey
Not a problem for me, I won’t be sharing mine nor do I have any need a second PSN account.
Tuffcub
Storm, meet teacup.