discussion Will the PS4 boost Vita sales?

[compl3x]

I am just wondering what influence, if any, the PS4 will have on sales of the Vita. I know there is rumours about a $500 bundle, but it is just that, a rumour.

 

It seems to me that this is really Sony's last chance to push a "companionship" angle for the Vita and the PS4. Tie those two device in and show how they compliment each other.

 

It would also be great if you could somehow install Vita games to your PS4 and stream them to your Vita. I have read a few articles suggesting most people play their mobile devices/gaming devices at home, specifically in bed, anyway. This could negate the expensive memory card issue which I think has had a huge negative effect on the Vita.

 

 

Thoughts? Ideas? Fears? Hate?

 

 

 

No, please, no hate.

 

 

[Brian M. Veteran]

I think it will, but it depends on a) How well Sony manages to force devs into using it and b) How well said devs implement it.

 

Having a companion is of no use if it works on 2 games and is pointless. If it works with every game, and you have extra sync/stream functionality, then it'll be a no brainer.

[Seketh]

I think there will be a small boost, yes. Many people will enjoy the compatibility between the Vita and the PS4, but I don't think it's enough to save it. The majority won't buy a Vita just so they can enjoy playing a PS4 game off the TV, the whole package is just too expensive.

 

I'm of the opinion that there's currently no space for two players in the portable game console market. Nintendo had surprisingly good sales with the 3DS, after the abysmal launch, but I personally think mobile consoles are doomed, mostly because smartphones already do an excellent job in mobile gaming. I mean, you can play Xcom: Enemy Unknown in iOS, how awesome is that? Other AAA titles will start coming to Android, iOS and Windows Phone. People are still moving to smartphones, many are still getting their first one. Smartphone hardware is already extremely close to the Vita and already surpassed the 3DS.

 

With all that in mind, I just don't see the need or the market for another portable game console in the future. Sony doesn't have a chance and Nintendo has to come up with something more revolutionary than the upgrade the 3DS was over the DS.

[Thief000]

Nope, sorry. Remote play on the Vita is cumbersome without the proper controller layout and won't push anything (just try holding the touch screen or pad and see what I mean).

The Vita also cannot be used as a PS4 controller itself according to Sony and that is pretty poor IMHO.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

 

Nope, sorry. Remote play on the Vita is cumbersome without the proper controller layout and won't push anything (just try holding the touch screen or pad and see what I mean).

The Vita also cannot be used as a PS4 controller itself according to Sony and that is pretty poor IMHO.

 

 

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/ps-vita-can-be-used-as-ps4-controller-but-only-if-devs-say-so-1169343

[compl3x]

^ He probably should have research that part.

[Showan]

I think it will very well depend on the "price of companionship".

People will not pay an extra $250 to brag that they can stream to a dedicated handheld device.

And yes there is the rumor of the $500 PS4/Vita bundle. But like what was stated above, it's just a rumor.

I think they need a killer game/app that shows complete unity between the 2 systems. Sony is bragging about what the PS4 can do for Vita... It kinda makes it seem like the Vita can't stand on its own 2 legs at times. Sony should make a killer app that shows what the Vita can do with the PS4 , but also that same killer app/game is just as good on its own.

And other simple things. Start simple like, remote play should be no more than clicking options and stream if your currently in a game session from the PS4. Or you pick up the Vita and walk away and click stream on the Vita and it takes over the session. And if the PS4 happens to be off, there should be a button option on the vita that says Ps4 and can be used to turn it on and such. But all of this has to be simple as pie.

$250 is the 1st thing that has to go. If there is no bundle rumor, there better be a $100-$1500 off Vita coupon in the box. That expires in 30days or.

[PurpleHaze420]

I hope it'll help the PSVita, I stopped myself from buying one for a long time even after having been a big PSP fan.

 

Finally gave in and bought one a couple of months ago and i'm enjoying a few games on it at the moment. This whole argument as raised above by Seketh regarding the availability of AAA games on iOS etc doesnt hold water in my mind, have you ever tried playing a decent game on a wholly touch screen device, it's appalling. The only games that really work on these are simply input games such as the Angry Birds games, puzzle games etc. Try playing something like FIFA on an iPhone/iPad and then tell me it works well.!

 

All the PSVita needs is a more forced integration system between it and the PS4, and also a severe price drop in the proprietary Sony memory cards that your forced to use. Fingers crossed eh.?

[Brian M. Veteran]

I hope it'll help the PSVita, I stopped myself from buying one for a long time even after having been a big PSP fan.

 

Finally gave in and bought one a couple of months ago and i'm enjoying a few games on it at the moment. This whole argument as raised above by Seketh regarding the availability of AAA games on iOS etc doesnt hold water in my mind, have you ever tried playing a decent game on a wholly touch screen device, it's appalling. The only games that really work on these are simply input games such as the Angry Birds games, puzzle games etc. Try playing something like FIFA on an iPhone/iPad and then tell me it works well.!

 

All the PSVita needs is a more forced integration system between it and the PS4, and also a severe price drop in the proprietary Sony memory cards that your forced to use. Fingers crossed eh.?

 

Sales of the Vita would rise quite a bit if Sony weren't so stupid/penny pinching with the memory cards. > ?1 per GB is insane in this day and age - let alone the ?50 they want for a 32GB card!

 

PS+ is also quite a strong selling point for the Vita. I think I've physically bought 2 games for mine? Other than that it piggy backs off the PS+ sub I had on the PS3 anyway.

[0nyX]

If the whole thing PS4 - PS Vita connectivity is done right meaning the PS4 will be taking full advantage of Vita's capabilities and vice versa than i believe it will boost sales significantly.

For example i already own a Vita and if the PS4-PSVita bundle for 500$ is happening and if the connectivity betwwen them is what i want then i will be buying the bundle meaning i will own a second Vita.

[MikeChipshop Member]

I reckon there will be a small rise in sales once people with a larger disposable income discover what it can do, but i'm not expecting a huge surge.

[Thief000]

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/ps-vita-can-be-used-as-ps4-controller-but-only-if-devs-say-so-1169343

 

Yes, it proves my point perfectly. Why on earth would a developer make time to implement a feature for a poorly selling add-on device when it should have been default. Thank you very much!

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I don't think the Vita will ever sell the numbers Sony hoped for. Going up against Nintendo is hard enough, but competing with phones and tablets is a whole other uphill struggle. Right now it seems to be a good market for indies to port to when there's little competition but that won't be enough for a sucess story. I honestly don't expect Sony to release another dedicated handheld after the Vita but rather to push into the mobile market again.

 

If the PS4 ever comes bundled with one that solves the problem of getting it into gamers hands. But if nobody is developing for it with anything "must have", they'll most likely be sold/traded in.

 

 Ditch one of the SKUs, drop the price, push devs for original IP (not console ports/spin offs), and of course integrate it with the PS ecosystem as much as possible (Y).

[Showan]

The more I actually think about this, the more I feel bad for the Vita. So my answer is NO. Sony will basically have to "give the Vita away" to increase its sales of the unit. The tech is there it is a fascinating piece of hardware. But no one is buying the darn thing. I even refuse to pay $250 for it. And I'm usually the sucker they are looking for.

But if they want this PS4/Vita relationship to work, Sony will have do a "Surface RT" and write off the Vita as a loss and discount heavily. Either by throwing in the box with the PS4 or putting a $150 voucher off Vita in the PS4 box.

Vita's 2yr anniversary is coming up. May be time to consider it.

Was the Vita designed to last 1/2 it's life as its own entity, and the rest of its life as the PS4's sidekick?

Just curious, because Sony did state that this Generation was going to be around for a loooong time.

[PurpleHaze420]

The one thing i'm seriously dissapointed about, which was mentioned above, is that the PSVita can't be used as a controller for the PS4 generically, only if/when devs specifically program it to work with a said game. Thats just a silly move, if anything, they should have forced devs to cross with the device. Meh.

[compl3x]

Yes, it proves my point perfectly. Why on earth would a developer make time to implement a feature for a poorly selling add-on device when it should have been default. Thank you very much!

 

SCE owns studios which make some of Sony's most popular first party games (Naughty Dog[uncharted], Guerilla[Killzone], Media Molecule[LBP], Polyphony Digital[GT], Santa Monica[GoW], Sucker Punch [inFamous]) - It seems to me Sony will be encouraging, or demanding, those guys to implement Vita support as well as possible.

[Thief000]

Those few SCE titles won't save the Vita either.

[compl3x]

Funny. I thought software sold systems.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

I can see it selling quite well, but the Vita in its current form is a dead fish in the water because of the lack of any good games for it.
Uncharted, Assassins Creed & Gravity Ruish are the ONLY games worth buying for it, the rest are pretty much rubbish. 
Once devs start knocking out some quality titles for the Vita, and implement the stuff shown off at E3 it should start selling well again.
Personally, I think Sony should just get in house devs to make some decent games for it and sales would go high.

[Xilo]

I can see it selling quite well, but the Vita in its current form is a dead fish in the water because of the lack of any good games for it.

Uncharted, Assassins Creed & Gravity Ruish are the ONLY games worth buying for it, the rest are pretty much rubbish. 

Once devs start knocking out some quality titles for the Vita, and implement the stuff shown off at E3 it should start selling well again.

Personally, I think Sony should just get in house devs to make some decent games for it and sales would go high.

I'm guessing you don't have a Vita as there are a lot more games than that that are worth buying.

[dead.cell]

I don't think the Vita will ever sell the numbers Sony hoped for. Going up against Nintendo is hard enough, but competing with phones and tablets is a whole other uphill struggle. Right now it seems to be a good market for indies to port to when there's little competition but that won't be enough for a sucess story. I honestly don't expect Sony to release another dedicated handheld after the Vita but rather to push into the mobile market again.

 

If the PS4 ever comes bundled with one that solves the problem of getting it into gamers hands. But if nobody is developing for it with anything "must have", they'll most likely be sold/traded in.

 

 Ditch one of the SKUs, drop the price, push devs for original IP (not console ports/spin offs), and of course integrate it with the PS ecosystem as much as possible (Y).

 

What they should probably work on is an incredibly addicting handheld title. Of course, that's much easier said than done. :rofl:

 

(referencing to how people continue to buy a Nintendo handheld just for Pokemon)

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

What they should probably work on is an incredibly addicting handheld title. Of course, that's much easier said than done. :rofl:

 

(referencing to how people continue to buy a Nintendo handheld just for Pokemon)

 

I'm surprised Sony haven't instructed their Japanese studios to put out more simulation games, those are the types that do gangbusters on portables. Even on the PS3 for that matter.... I'd love to see more AC, Harvest Moon, Pokemon inspired games.

 

Tokyo Jungle is good, but it doesn't have the addiction factor of the above titles.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

I'm guessing you don't have a Vita as there are a lot more games than that that are worth buying.

You guessed wrong. I do have a Vita but those are the only games are ARE worth buying.

[compl3x]

What they should probably work on is an incredibly addicting handheld title. Of course, that's much easier said than done. :rofl:

 

(referencing to how people continue to buy a Nintendo handheld just for Pokemon)

 

 

Pokemon has done wonders for Nintendo. That is a perfect example of how software sells systems.

[dead.cell]

Pokemon has done wonders for Nintendo. That is a perfect example of how software sells systems.

 

Yeah, or if you've checked Reddit whenever The Last of Us was being released, everyone on there talking about if buying a PS3 just for the game was worth it and such.

 

I know there hasn't been any mention of Naughty Dog for the next generation consoles at the moment (to my knowledge anyway), but that was my other reason for going Sony. I don't wanna be stuck without the opportunity to play Naughty Dog games seeing as they seem to be on a crazy track record for quality games.