Rumor: Japanese Vita Devs Jumping Ship

[Hedon]

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/rumor-japanese-vita-devs-jumping-ship-sony-responds/

The PlayStation Vita isn't even fully available worldwide yet, and Japan's Nikkei newspaper is already reporting its demise. Specifically, an anonymous source from the Japanese game industry told the paper that Japanese companies are abandoning their Vita projects in favor of developing for the 3DS. It's true that the 3DS has been routinely outselling the Vita in Japan (as has the aging PSP), but Sony's VP of Worldwide Studios Scott Rohde isn't buying into the panic.

Rohde told Gamasutra that "extremist quotes like that" aren't uncommon with a new product. Rohde believes the Nikkei story is exaggerated, noting that "there is no way anyone could stand in front of a camera and say that all developers are changing focus from one platform to another, no matter what it is." Indeed, it wasn't too long ago that many were writing eulogies for the 3DS, which has since gone on to sell 15 million units (although it wasn't able to prevent losses for Nintendo).

We're inclined to agree with Rohde, as it only makes sense that publishers would probably wait to judge the worldwide impact of the Vita before abandoning it entirely.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Japan does not equal the rest of the world.

this article is sensationalizing.

[Hedon]

Where else is the Vita released right now?

[Boxster17]

First edition bundles are available everywhere?

[Hedon]

Sweet, so they already know the sales numbers for everywhere. Good to know. I only knew they had Japanese sales and sales data.

[etempest]

I also believe the no "UMD passport" program in the United States (the ability to unlock certain psp games for electronic versions you can install on the vita) was a bit of a bomb shell.

And for argument they never said it was coming to the US, I fell Sony should of said something about it back then, not right before the Vita launch in the US.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

First edition bundles are only sold in America, and have only been out for 2 days. I believe they were a pre-order incentive, and you had to pay for a more expensive bundle than you would get waiting for the 22nd of February.

As for the article, it's not a Sony product launch without the end of the world coming.

[TheLegendOfMart]

According to NeoGAF this has been translated about 4 times from the original source through different websites and only refers to ONE company not ALL devs.

[Hedon]

it's not a Sony product launch without the end of the world coming.

Indeed. Just like a new Microsoft product. Annoying for sure.

According to NeoGAF this has been translated about 4 times from the original source through different websites and only refers to ONE company not ALL devs.

:laugh:

[Rudy]

That sucks because I like the screen on the PSP and Vita better than the one for the 3DS :/

[TheLegendOfMart]

Its not true, the system hasnt even come out yet in all territories its just some anti Sony troll making up news.

[Glassed Silver]

LOL...

Come back with sensationalist claims when you got names who's supposed to jump ship.

Until then...

So let's see:

• Sensationalist claim
  
• Anonymous source
  
• No names given who's supposed to do that
  
• Early in... (Unless it's devs who focus on the Japanese market... Although, that'd STILL be early in...)
  

Yeah... I'll make some fun calls tomorrow, too.

Watch the headlines for big car companies stopping production for good and now manufacturing toasters...

Glassed Silver:mac

[compl3x]

its just some anti Sony troll making up news.

Bingo. Sony hatred is damn-near fanatical with some people.

[Vice]

Sounds like BS to me. I think the PS Vita is a good console and it's really early days for developers to turn about face and abandon a platform this early out the gate. Game companies I know usually spend 12 to 36 months on a game and have very specific schedules they don't and can't just abandon game development without a seriously good reason and I don't think the 3DS outselling the PS Vita in Japan is such a reason.

If the console does well in North America and Europe it could become extremely attractive to developers that like money and although it is risky investing in a new console that doesn't have a large market yet it also has the large rewards of having one of the few games for the latest console which could pay off big time.

[(Spork)]

how hard did they make it to code for ? hopefully its easier than they ps3

[TheLegendOfMart]

Its FAR FAR easier than the PS3. Its running ARM architecture Cortex A9. The Cell CPU was unique in how it was designed which made it difficult to code for. The Vita CPU/GPU are pretty much off the shelf the same kind you find in iPhone and Android handsets.

[compl3x]

Its FAR FAR easier than the PS3. Its running ARM architecture Cortex A9. The Cell CPU was unique in how it was designed which made it difficult to code for. The Vita CPU/GPU are pretty much off the shelf the same kind you find in iPhone and Android handsets.

great. So no excuse for devs to complain. Although, I am sure they will.

[Hedon]

It's just another evolution of the PSP, so devs already know it.

[Rudy]

I was planning on getting one whenever it gets released (next week or whatever, seems like some stores are already selling them), but I've decided to hold out for a while. There's no game I want for the system right now and nothing coming out short term that I want so I'll just keep using my psp

[compl3x]

Playing devil's advocate here, the Nikkei apparently does have a track record of being accurate when it reports on gaming news, even when sources aren't cited, we find out later on their reporting was accurate. The DSi XL and the Sony's gaming phone are 2 examples.

I do hope this is one instance where they are wrong, though.