So here’s the thing about Sony’s portable offerings. I’ve tried to care, I really have. As a piece of hardware the Vita looks absolutely astounding and I remember looking at the PSP in comparison to the DS when the PSP launched. The tech that Sony were offering seemed to outclass the DS in my opinion, and UMDs seemed like a great option. I mean everyone knows and trusts optical media, it’s everywhere around us. Hell they were putting out movies on UMDs, how cool was that? Being able to watch films on the way home clearly seemed the way forwards.
Do you know what I bought? A DS. I still have that original DS, the very first iteration of Nintendo’s double-screened portable. I never got around to getting a PSP, at least partly because I couldn’t use it to play Mario Kart. If it was going to go to college with me, and it made that trip many times, then that was all it really needed to do. I don’t actually think I owned anything other than Mario Kart for some time.
[drop]That’s the sort of game that the DS was sold on really, games like Mario Kart. I don’t mean that in the sense that it’s one of the games that crops up on every Nintendo platform ever, I mean games that I can pick it up for a few minutes and then be done with it. There’s so many DS games that let me do this, I can just play a track of Mario Kart or a fight or two in whatever version of Mortal Kombat I have for it. Even Pokémon lets me do a few quick battles and then slip it back in my bag.This is the key thing with a portable gaming system for me, it’s one of the reasons that games on my iPhone appeal so much. I just want to play something I can pick up on the bus and essentially be done with by the time I need to get off.
Yes, the iPhone’s low-end price tag on games is certainly appealing but it’s the type of games that appear on the App Store that really sell them to me. For example I can open up Flick Kick Football, slam a few balls into the new, fail dismally and then it’s time to get off the bus again.
Neither the PSP or the Vita has been sold to me in this way. Oh, I know that it’s getting some of these pick up and play titles but Sony’s advertising seems to be focused around selling me games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Back on the PSP there was a focus on these larger experiences as well, it seemed to always be games like God of War: Chains of Olympus that were pushed to the forefront.
Now I’m not saying that these are bad games, in fact the response to Golden Abyss seems to be very positive. However, I don’t want to sit down and play twenty minutes of one of Drake’s adventures. I may have spent some time talking about my issues with the Uncharted series but I still enjoyed plopping myself in front of the TV for longer than I’d care to admit and playing through the games in just a couple of sessions each.
[drop2]That’s just not how the game will work on a portable console. I know I can sit down on my sofa and play it but why would I? There’s two consoles connected to my TV right now. If I shuffle things around I can connect up an original Xbox, a Gamecube or even a N64. I can even bring in a Master System, if I can work out how to resurrect it. With all of that at my fingertips I’m not sure I’d really want to sit in my front room with the Vita for a while.No, for me portable machines are for the bus or the train, they’re for if I have five minutes between writing one article and editing the next. On more than one occasion they’ve been for waiting for a reply to an email from a client. They are not, to me, for playing huge adventures like Uncharted.
Of course, I’m there are many of you who the Vita is a perfect fit for, and I hope you enjoy it, I really do. For me however? It just doesn’t seem right.
Now, where did I put that iPhone? Time for some StickCricket.
freezebug2
After reading the article, all that I transcribe from it is one person thinking aloud on their views and explaining the reasoning behind those views. It’s not a view being forced down peoples throats, just someone’s opinion with a view to discuss. Don’t get why people are getting so hot under the collar….Jeez!!!
Should I mention that I’ll not be getting a Vita on release because I won’t have the £400+ needed to get up and running with one. Am I saying it’s a rip off? No, It means I can’t afford one and it’s not for me, just as the Author is saying it’s not for him for his own reasons!!! Fucking chill…
JBoo
Why can’t i say on gaming sites –
“Why The Xbox 360 & Wii Doesn’t Appeal To Me” If i do i get banned & called a ‘Fanboy’? :D [& they(the Xbox 360 & Wii)don’t appeal to me, i just don’t like them] + The PSVita looks good & if your really into gaming on the move then it is a must buy i think:P
hazelam
wow, some people getting all bent out of shape over an opinion piece.
you’d think he insulted somebody’s mother or something.
anyway.
i’m looking forward to getting a vita at some point, not straight away, but i will get one at some point, when the price has gone down i expect.
i’m actually looking forward to playing the big games like Uncharted as well as the quick play games, i have a huge selection of minis.
i just hope these bigger games are designed with portable’s in mind so they have some way of stopping play and continuing at any point as you might have to stop playing at a moments notice, i’ve played a few handheld titles that only allowed saving at selected points that were too far apart for a handheld title.
also you need to be able to save and continue in case the machine’s battery runs out.
Dragonquest IX on ds was one game that had that problem, you could only create a proper save in towns, you could do a quick save in the field but that chucked you back out to the main menu when you did it and upon continuing it would delete that save, not good on a machine where you can’t tell how much power is left in the battery.
but then that game always felt like it had been originally developed for a home console like the ps2 but then it was ported over.
anyway, i went a little off topic there.
personally i don’t tend to take my handhelds out with me, mostly because i fear them getting nicked.
so i don’t mind the longer games because i usually play them at home anyway.
and i can even play them while sitting on the toilet. ^_^
i can see why sony would only advertise the big franchise games though.
i doubt anybody ever bought a device just because it can play angry birds, and not just because it’s on pretty much every device in the world by now.
of course they’re going to advertise the big prestige titles, the ones that show off the hardware best, the ones you can’t get anywhere else.
anyway Kris, i enjoyed reading the article.
The Lone Steven
I agree with you in a way Kris. Portable gaming was designed to pass the time on the way home/waiting for something etc.. The problem with including Uncharted on PSP is that it’s not designed to be played in 5-10 minutes at a time.
However if you are on very long train journey then it is an excellent way to pass the time as opposed to playing the same mini/Iphone game again and again. Imo.
If i had to only pick one portable console, it would probably be the Iphone(i know it’s not a console but it plays games) as it would help me pass the time waiting for stuff. :)
Also, HOW DARE YOU HAVE AN OPINION AND THEN WRITE AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE ABOUT IT WITHOUT KISSING UP TO SONY! :P Seriously, what the hell guys? It’s his opinion, just because it differs doesn’t mean that TSA is bribed to “bash sony/MS/ninty/a cat”. Although, i have been wondering who supplies TSA with biscuits and porn of late. Damm Tescos and their bribes. :P
Awayze
Why did you even write the article then if you don’t intend on buying a Vita?
I diagree that you can’t play a PSP game for 4 minutes and be done with it, well you can. Also iPhone is horrible for gaming.
JesseDeya
Your whole opening argument is that the DS suited your better because it had Mario Kart and the PSP didn’t.
ModNationRacers on the Vita says hi.
You go on to say that (for you) the appeal of portable gaming is to have games that you can just pickup and play in the span of a bus ride (5-20 mins), as opposed to epic titles like Uncharted and God of War.
Err, the following (all announced for Vita) say hi too…
Rayman Origins
Lumines Electronic Symphony
Escape Plan
ModNation Racers: Road Trip
Asphalt Injection
Ben 10: Galactic Racing
F1 2011
Ridge Racer
Cellius
Wipeout 2048
Everybody’s Golf 6
FIFA Football
Rugby Challenge
Virtua Tennis 4
Plants vs. Zombies
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend
Reality Fighters
Mortal Kombat Vita
Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted
Street Fighter X Tekken
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Dragon’s Crown
Super Stardust Delta
Little Deviants
LittleBigPlanet
Hustle Kings
…plus a zillion minis.
I understand what you’re saying, I just don’t agree with it. All the games I’ve listed above are compatible with what you want. You can easily play a round/match/track/level in 5-10 minutes stints if that’s all the time you have.
The beauty of the Vita (and the PSP before it to some degree) is in addition to the quick fix titles you ALSO have the AAA titles that give you much more for those long times away from home. I travel – a lot – 15 hours on a plane, or a weeks even months away from home with work and you appreciate having something more substantial to sink your teeth into that just another level of Tiny Wings.
Not sure what was said in this article that could have just been said in a forum post.
Sad Panda
Me thinks thou doth protesteth too much. Your Sony brand Valium says hi!
The more you rant the more you sound like a deluded teenage fanboy. The article is entitled “Why the Vita doesn’t appeal to me” and not ” People who want a Vita are assholes”
It’s a discussion piece not a personal attack, St Peter doesn’t sit at the pearly gates with a list of Vita haters.
yogdog
Sad Panda, I thought Jesse had a well reasoned argument here, you really need to look at it again.
‘I understand what you’re saying, I just don’t agree with it.’-that’s what you missed.
bunimomike
I don’t think so one bit. Jesse’s replied with a polite and informative opinion and is as calm as hell to be fair.
You’re taking the piss with his reply but it’s genuinely quite levelled. :-\
yogdog
This guy sums it up perfectly, I have 3 hour train journeys to see my gf and a Vita woild be perfect for those long times. I can only play so much Game Dev Story and Angry Birds before I get bored.
hazelam
it’s a good way to get a discussion going on the main site about the pros and cons of the Vita.
i agree 100% about the fact the Vita can do both the casual iphone style touch games as well as the bigger triple a titles.
i’ve been saying that about the Vita for a while now.
you can play angry birds or uncharted just as easily.
Sad Panda
My point is that you can only play the same tune for so long. None of us know the load times for these games, and following ign’s video review, the issues of screen glare over battery life would worry me on a long journey.
My morning commute takes just under an hour so it would be good for me too, but I’ve heard/read too many reviews and official press releases to put me off, in addition to my personal feelings towards the cost. Posting lists of games that say hi reads like a rant to me, I’m sorry if I caused offense with my reply.
I would be delighted to be proved wrong, I really want one, just not enough to jump in head first.
bunimomike
Kris (Halbpro) might not have used a Vita yet and it’s a vehemently strong opinion. Kris’ mind is already made up when you look at the tone of the article but there we go. We’re all allowed to have preconceived notions and ideas. It was just a shame to see such a bait-worthy headline when the entire article could’ve been titled something else (if it’s more about mobile gaming in general).
JesseDeya
Indeed. If I’m not mistaken, he also took years to get a PS3 and only seemed to do so under protest. I understand why people prefer one platform over another (I have no interest in Wii for instance), but the arguments put forth in this ‘opinion piece’ don’t even make that much sense to me.
If Kris had simply said “I don’t want Vita because my time is limited, I can’t afford it and I only want to pay $1.99 for games” I’d say fine, crack on. It just seems to me that Kris really isn’t – and potentially has never been – Sony or Vita’s target audience.
JesseDeya
No offense taken.
As much as I feel this piece is just a hit magnet (with an inflammatory headline), it still generated some interesting discussion. I knew Vita had a strong lineup and was more than just Uncharted and MGS, but until I wiki’d the full list even I didn’t realise how many titles would be great for short commutes or time fillers.
I can understand people might balk at the cost, but it’s a lot less than a smartphone of arguably less power and shelf life, and it comes with dual sticks. DUAL STICKS. I use my iPhone and iPad2 for casual gaming at the moment, but I can see Vita quickly being the go to device when I’m bored with the inflight movie in future.
I enjoyed my PSP, but ultimately there was a lack of titles I could sink my teeth into. I think Vita will be a lot stronger with title support The God of War series on PSP were outstanding however, and had me playing for hours on end. The thought of that on Vita is extremely appealing, not to mention all the other AAA titles that can now get a vita port thanks to the dual sticks ;).
Eldave0
To each their own but these days I much prefer Nintendo games. I’m bored of military shooters.