Sony’s boss is adamant that now isn’t the time to cut the PS Vita’s price, despite less than stellar sales figures and a game line-up that hardly screams “buy me right now George”.
“Oh, absolutely.” said Yoshida replied when he was asked whether it was too soon for a price cut. “From the value for money standpoint, we think we have a good price for what the system is.”
“And our priority is to achieve the potential through more games and services.”
For whatever reason, though, SCEA opted to spend twenty minutes of their E3 conference boring the audience with an interactive book, rather than showcasing what the Vita can do and what’s coming up for Sony’s recently launched handheld.
Hope isn’t all lost though – long term things might happen.
“Of course people who are looking to buy are also talking about the price of PS Vita,” he added, “especially when they have to buy a memory card as well. That’s something we have to spend time to cost reduce and address in the future.”
Sony say they have 25 games playable on the show floor. Where the lion’s share of the gaming populace won’t be able to play them or even look at them. Unlike, for example, during a globally streamed press conference.
“I’m getting lots of tweets from people saying, ‘where are PS Vita games?'” said Yoshida about the conference. That was, in retrospect, our fault – not looking at every angle when we designed the programme for the show.”
“We could have spent more time – probably we should – showing off those games coming out this year,” he admitted.
bmg_123
WELL FREAKING DUH. I have no idea what’s coming for Vita this year, and I’m an avid gamer…sort your stuff out, Sony! Reduce the price of memory cards and tell me what games are coming out, simple!
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
Sorry to grumble but the “quotes” in this article are all over the place. I don’t know when Yoshida is talking and when TSA is. I’ve worked it out but, seriously, I shouldn’t have to parse it in my head.
McProley
I’m dyslexic and I managed just fine
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
Cool. I didn’t say I couldn’t manage (obviously I did) but it’s these small things that detract from what is a stellar website.
I know TSA is run by talented, unpaid volunteers so I’m not criticising. I just know the team pride themselves on accuracy and professionalism and thought they’d appreciate the heads up that, in this article, the information presented could be a little clearer.
If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t even mention it.
damoxuk
Yes I only really know about the new assassins creed 3 liberation coming out everything else no idea. COD for Vita no signs whether it’s out this year.
Anyway just played the gravity Rush demo and immediately pre-ordered it.
DixNeuf
Any ideas what these games are? I’m so desperate for games I’ve actually re-purchased games I’d previously owned and sold, just for a bit of variety in what I play…
jediryan123
Sony are a massive corporation, how do they forget to show one of their main products at a show that millions of people will be taking an interest in?
Bilbo_bobbins
Sony does it again, its the reason I sold my PSP. No games as usual. Not showing off anything for E3 was a big mistake and catching up to that huge task of selling plenty of Vitas, is not going to happen without them.
LTG Davey
Speaking as someone who got rid of his Vita recently E3 didn’t make me regret that decision at all. Sony are living in a dreamworld if they think they are handling the Vita correctly, which is a shame as it’s a great bit of kit with serious potential. Needs a price drop and AAA game to turn things around
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
Bottom line: they didn’t spend enough time on Vita. I don’t get the Wonderbook hate. It’s very cool and a lot of parents are going to be REALLY interested in that. Gaming is inclusive; you have to hit all the bases. It can’t all be shooting unarmed people point-blank in the face.
What I would have liked was an EXTRA 10 minutes (at least) talking about the Vita and reassuring Sony’s fans that they haven’t just invested in a clanger.
60 seconds showing a COD logo, some cross-play for PSA-S:BR and the Liberation show-reel, while nice, doesn’t really inspire confidence.
I wanted a whole dedicated MONTAGE of coming Vita games.
(And a MH4 announcement)
:)
Jakster123x
Yes, Wonderbook may interest parents but that is something you show a 30 second trailer on at E3. The people watching and attending E3 are hardcore gamers and we don’t want to see a 10 minute demo on an interactive book. This sort of thing is what should be advertised on TV and not shown off globally for far too long.
It seems that everyone besides Sony realised this wasted time which easily could’ve been spent showing us some more Vita stuff.
Also, dancing. Nobody at E3 wants to see dancing, put their hands in the air or get off their seats so stop randomly inviting Usher or a hoarse Flo rida. Thank you.
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
“The people watching and attending E3 are hardcore gamers …”
Actually, the people attending E3, at least, are hardcore games journalists for the most part. And they’ll walk out of that conference and write stories about Wonderbook which will then bleed into the more mainstream media-sphere and, eventually, filter down to the less hardcore.
I totally get where you’re coming from, and I probably wouldn’t have spent so much time on it (I also have no interest in the concept myself), but I get where they’re coming from and why they showcased it as much as they did.
Jakster123x
Yeah, i regretted that hardcore gamer comment as soon as i posted it :)
The bottom line is this: interesting concept, too lengthy and shown at the wrong place.
RudeAwakening
“Also, dancing. Nobody at E3 wants to see dancing, put their hands in the air or get off their seats so stop randomly inviting Usher or a hoarse Flo rida. Thank you”
HaHa! That was quite embarassing, at one point when flo rida asked the crowd to put there hands in the air, the camera cut to the crowd and for minute evryone was looking at each other asking “What the F is this”. The crowd gave in though, silly crowd! :P
Jakster123x
Haha, i know! Can’t believe the crowd actually done it. 3 times!
tactical20
I thought Sony’s focus was gonna be on Vita?
Also, what was the new hardware?
Watchful
The Move steering wheel thingy? :)
tactical20
Ah yes!
GamingBlueBoy
LBP Vita is meant to come out soon but not sure how long anymore and when a game is announced and left for a while that’s when the hype train moves on.
If sony bring out new colours for the vita shouldn’t the people that already bought it get a free colouring from Sony. That would make sense ;)