The current issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu includes an in-depth, 12-page examination of the current status of PS Vita, including buckets of data based on a survey of 1,500 Vita owners. It paints an insightful warts-and-all picture of Japan's mixed reception to Sony's struggling handheld, and ends on a hopeful note.
The top three software titles to date are Persona 4 The Golden (238,064 copies since June 2012), Project Diva f (208,837) and Soul Sacrifice (166,404). The anonymous survey first asked Vita owners what convinced them to buy the hardware, and the results show an optimism that has since faded somewhat.
Asked whether they were happy with the hardware, 11.6 per cent said "extremely happy" and 5.2 per cent said "extremely unhappy", with the majority replying either "undecided" (38.5 per cent) or just "happy" (34.8 per cent). Those who were happy or extremely happy said that aside from gaming they also use their Vita for streaming video (465 respondents), web browsing (338) and Twitter (214), with PSN Store access coming near the bottom of the list of options with a pretty pathetic 17.
Forthcoming titles that Vita owners said they are most likely to buy include God Eater 2 and Dragon's Crown, while Final Fantasy X HD Remaster was high on the list. Asked whether the Vita's new price of 19,980 yen (£128) seemed low or high, the majority opted for the former, which suggests Sony has at least got that right.
The wishlist of respondents included a Monster Hunter game, 64GB and 128GB memory cards, more games with local network play, better compatibility with the UMD Passport program that allows Japanese Vita owners to re-buy their PSP games as discounted digital downloads, a better battery and more "cute" colours.
As for me, I've definitely started to notice more people using Vitas on the train in Tokyo, though 3DS is still dominant; I carry my own Vita around much less often since I bought an iPad mini. In terms of specs, comfort and convenience, Vita may well be the best handheld ever made. Here's hoping Sony takes note of Famitsu's article and the fans' voices to deliver the games and services clearly needed to make it a success.
List of reasons why Vita is not doing so well: -Sudden 3DS price drop. -To much console ports most of the games can be played on the PS3 -No Monster Hunter game. -Expensive Memory Cards -No Backwards Compatible(Even though japan can somehow rebuy the titles at a discounted price) -Shameful games quality(Resistance Burning Skies and Black Ops Declassified) -Current 3DS games library. -Lack of marketing.
I still think Vita may have time to be a succesful console if they somehow release that game that we aren't expecting but everything will be clear in next E3.=3
I think the main reason for the low sales is straight marketing, and lack of games does add to it. Anytime i talk about it with people, about 70% of them dont even know what it is
Some Vita games are also incredibly hard to get. Only one shop in a big city I live in had Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2+ and Dead Or Alive 5+ in stock. Not to mention Persona 4 Golden. Retailers also play a huge part in the lack of success so to say. The Vita doesn't have a HUGE catalog, so at least every shop should have at least all titles 'till now available....
@JGMR i took me 10 shops to get persona 4 the golden ( I live near amsterdam..So you could expect that every store has it.. NOT:( )
Yeah, it's crazy...crazy. That's something that has got to change. Eventually it will change when the system becomes more popular. Vita gaming now reminds me of the days of the good ol' Dreamcast in terms of lack of interest and scarcity (while knowing that it's absolutely great)... LOL
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Topic: Something About Japan: is there hope for PS Vita?
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