Topic: True reasons of Vita's fail =)

There is only one real reason, actually. Vita is portable device without portable games. You can talk as much as you like about smatphones and all, but this is the only real reason.

Seriously, developers don't even care to make appropriate fonts and menus size in games. Fonts and menus in portable games must be big. This is the first rule of creating good portable game =). Most Vita games can destroy your eyes with small fonts and menus. Developers who port their games to PS Vita from PS3 don't care to change fonts and menus for portable format. Even first party games like Soul Sacrifice or Killzone Mercenary have problem with fonts and menus in some parts.

Why making all those like on PS3, but slightly worse games for portable console. You can make good visuals and sound, but still create portable game.

Funny thing that proves I am right, Sony don't think that Vita needs AAA games because of remote play. This is a minor detail, but it describes everything.

So Nintendo won, because Nintendo knows, that people need portable games on portable console. Sony thinks about portable only as far as creating games that you can play in short sessions.

Funny. I wanted to write exactly about the same ideas a while ago, then decided not to. Now that you bring it up let me share my thoughts.
I don't think it's that simple saying Vita fails because the font in the games is too small, basicly.
I've no issue with any font I've ever played on my Vita. Your comparison to Nintendo in that department falls short as well. Just think Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. UNREADABLE Font (especially in 3D effect) and the omission of a second analogue stick is a real problem in many many games.

But I agree to "portable console needs portable games". Obviously. But what does it mean? For me, it means the game should be perfectly playable with the button layout of the hardware, it should be tailored to the graphical capabilities of the device too, logically. And in that department, the Vita never failed me. On the 3DS on the other hand... well. You could argue if you need 3D shooters on a handheld, but IF you want them, twin analogue stick is the way to go. I know there is not much in that regard on the Vita, but at least the possibility is there.

For me, the failing of the Vita is a combination of those:

- too high price at first reveal
- memory cards too pricey
- stiff competition by other mobile devices
- generally, people's lack of information/interest in something not all of their friends already have (i.e. times are changing)
- lack of a Killer app early on in Vita's life

And about your last statement, being able to play "games in short sessions" is a NON issue on the Vita as you can always suspend the game whenever you feel like it. So while I appreciate the topic, I personally think you could have put more thought into the issue. If Nintendo is going to make another handheld after the 3DS they will feel the same issues and troubles Sony is already facing now. The "huge crowd" of people and kids aged around 10, the demography that traditionally was the strongest in handhelds, they all already have a smartphone and an iPad, often don't go to dedicated gaming websites, thus they're uninformed and happy with what they have. And see it from that point of view: If you're grown up you can do with your money whatever you want, but if you're a kid, already have a tablet or smartphone that can do a million things PLUS gaming, why would your parents buy you a device for "just gaming" thats 199,- upwards? That games on a dedicated handheld are better is only known to us, the hardcore crop, but not the general public.

Things you tell are too stupid and complicated to be truth... I am talking about one true basic simple reason. You will understand if you think about it.

Fonts and menus are just consequances of stupid attitude. And it doesn't change anything if you like very small fonts and menus. They are still very small. I can play with them too, actually. But I can recognize **** when I see it.

Also, I can't understand why some kid needs Vita if he has PS3. PS3 and smartphone is his cup of tea. Because Vita is trying to give PS3 experience mostly.

Also, I don't think that to be able to play in short sessions is a must for portable games. It's what Sony thinks and tells from time to time. I think that this way of thinking made, for example, Soul Sacrifice worse that it could be. They are always forget about suspend feature.

Anyway, I felt portability on PSP, I feel it on 3DS, but on Vita... It's just meh. Most so called AAA games don't feel portable. They are like slightly worse PS3 games on small screen. It's only logical that Sony tells about remote play, now. Vita was like in remote play mode for PS3, only you were in need to pay 40$ more for every game to be able to play on the go. Now it's like cheaper =))).

Congratulations. You discovered PS Vita's grand problem a year or so later! Not the only one but great job nonetheless.

Yeah, but Sony still can't understand that. It is sad. Also guy above also can't understand that. So don't be like .... khem... . Also I were telling about this even before Vita was released. Games on Vita must be portable and different than on PS3. Now Vita is just device for gicks. Very good hardware wasted by stupid game policy and total ignorance about portable market. I am telling this now, because I just had enough of Vita bs a couple of days ago =). I don't sell it only for games like Toukiden Kiwami. And I also Very sad that Shining Resonance isn't coming to Vita, even though all previous installments were realesd on PSP.

Gemuarto, when you say it needs portable games, do you mean mobile games like Angry Birds and 2048 and Temple Run? Because I do think it needs more of those- but appropriately priced. Angry Birds on Vita is $30 whereas it is only $0.99 on iPhone. Ridiculous. But at the same time I know it needs more AAA titles. Anyway, game library is Vita's smallest problem. Scollurio is right.

No, I mean games that were specially designed for portable device. For example, like Killzone PSP and Ridge Racer. Or Bioshock TRPG, if you heard that news. Sony just were trying to force so called "PS3 quality" on little Vita. And Vita just not PS3. It's as easy as that. It needs it's own games. That are more about stories and gameplay, than about FPS and visuals. The thing is that portable games don't even need to be AAA in terms of big consoles. They can be epic in their own way.

I thought it was because it's an expensive device aimed at adults who have now moved on to mobile games? But I guess it does have way too many PS3 games. I don't mind since I don't game on the go, even with the Game Boy/DS family, but I can see it being a problem for others.

Ok took you serious for a second. My bad.

Well you seem to have a perceptional problem, as I said above, I find plenty of "portable" games on my Vita and if it's a "bigger" console style title, I can still suspend it midgame and continue gaming later. The only thing the Vita is really missing is the plethora of 3rd party titles (and sales numbers) the PSP had. Nothing about the PSP feels "more portable" to me than the Vita, maybe the formfactor was smaller, but we're talking software here, right?

Whats with the Burnout Games, the Grand Theft Auto Series, the Battlefront Series, all the Lego games etc... that came out for the PSP that were basicly the same game as their console counterpart. Nothing wrong about that right? Also, what makes Killzone PSP more portable of a game than Killzone Mercenary?!

Your logic is faulty and flawed and you don't move an inch from your opinion, which is sad.
Come on, enlighten me, what's NOT "portable" about any of the games on the Vita? Too small fonts? Everywhere?

Thought you being smart for a second, my bad =(.

Honestly man,
what you wrote there:
"Things you tell are too stupid and complicated to be truth... I am talking about one true basic simple reason. You will understand if you think about it.
Fonts and menus are just consequances of stupid attitude. And it doesn't change anything if you like very small fonts and menus. They are still very small. I can play with them too, actually. But I can recognize **** when I see it."

That's not exactly top tier argumentation is it? By the way I took offense by your general tone.
Not that it matters.

Ok guys I am going to step in here for a bit.  While I don't mind these type of threads (they are good for the community and it can be be interested in hearing others opinions) I will shut it down if it things start to get ugly.  I don't want to do that but if a thread does become one big thread of users insulting one another I will.

Please watch the attitudes.  We all have different opinions and just cause someone's opinion is not the same as yours doesn't make them dumb and you smart.  If you guys can't add to the conversation without insulting each other then do a favor and just don't say anything.  Consider this a warning. 

Thanks

@Scollurio If you don't understand what you wrote, let me sum it up for you. You wrote that you like small fonts and that PS3 and PS4 games are super portable. I am sorry, but this sounds very mad and fanboish. Also, you started to be offensive, I just thought that you like offensive style or something. The truth is  that Sony didn't learn from PSP mistakes, yeah. At first people really were fascinated by idea of playing big games on small consoles, but with time, they've realised that it's not what they want. Same pattern were with PSP, same with Vita. Sony just doesn't learn. Also, games from PS2 and PS1 are not the same as games from PS3 and PS4. PS1 and PS2 games are more suited for portable gaming. PS3 and PS4 games are all about big screens, chips and popcorn with beer.

I absolutely don't get your point mate.
Tell me how games on the PSP or on the 3DS are more or less portable than games on the Vita?!
Do all games on the 3DS and back on the PSP have bigger fonts and that is all you decide if a game is portable or not?
Or do you mean games should be "small" games like someone else before mentioned, like Angry birds and doodle jump and stuff like that?
Because I can't remember a portable console (before mobile phones) that had THAT small of gaming-experiences, especially not first party.

Really, not trying to get on your nerves now, I just don't get your point.

I can assure you that games on PS Vita being portable is far from PS Vita's current problems, even if they were portable PS Vita's situation wouldn't be that different from now. Apparently Sony downsized first party Vita development (which lines up with what a insider said before about a Vita game being canned), stated there will be no big bugdet games and has no future. That all needs to reversed before talking about games.

Shining Resonance? Wasn't that by SEGA? No hope for that now, doesn't matter what platform: PS3, PS4, PS Vita, 3DS etc, SEGA is just SEGA, they are like Square Enix: funny in their decisions, although not funny in announcing them (Type O for PS4). Even if a new game was announced, you won't be seeing it the west.

Mobiles and Nintendo. That is why the Vita is in the state it is.

The PSP was seminal, it also arrived well before phones were able to technically out perform it and was far more appealing than the original DS.

The Vita is technically the best dedicated handheld out there outside of perhaps The Shield. It's a great piece of hardware, with a great catalogue of games.
Nintendo have the younger end of the market all sewn up as well as the Nintendo faithful. The failure to follow up the (actually excellent) launch line up quickly hurt the Vita quite a lot. It's nice for it to be a bit of an indie darling, but a handful of big publisher games would help.

@Scollurio So, you still think that very small fonts are OK and that PS3 and PS4 games are super portable? I am telling that the whole concept - Vita is better than smartphones because it can play games from PS3 was stupid as hell. It made very niche device out of Vita right from the start. It almost the same mistake Sony made with PS3 at the start. Not the same, but they have same stupid way of thinking behind them.

Also, I can explain nothing to someone who can't understand basic things like that TRPGs and top-down shooters are better suited for portable format than FPSs, for example. Why should I explain obvious things?

"I was thinking a Final Fantasy Tactics-style thing set in pre-fall Rapture," Levine explained this morning.

"Something that would work well on the Vita and not be a compromise in any way."

Those words about compromised in any way also discribes everything. All AAA Vita games are compromised in some way, LOL. I think Levine is a smart man =).

And why do you think many use Vita as indie machine? Right, because indies are better suited for portable than ****ing Uncharted.

All your reasons of Vita's fail are sub-reasons. They are just consequances of main stupidity of trying to make portable PS3 in terms of games instead of making normal portable device with normal portable games.

Sorry if I'm not trying to explain you everything as to baby. If you can't understand some basic things and think that small fonts are OK and PS3 and PS4 games are good for portable gaming.... it's just pointless to explain you anything. Think about Nintendo and last Zelda for 3DS. It is good example of right thinking. I'm not telling that they must do top-down Zeldas all the time, it's just an example of how you do things right. For people who play on smartphones, game like that can be very good transition from smartphones, unlike ****ing Uncharted.

Handhelds must be somewhere between Smartphones and Consoles. Not trying to be one of them.

@Gemuarto:  Not sure if you saw my post above, but if you cannot comment without insulting another user then please don't comment.  You can get your point across without the insults. There is absolutely no reason to fling insults I don't want to have to warn you again.

I don't give a **** about your warnings, so you don't need to warn me at all, man. But you can warn me as much as you like, if you want.

Also, I can't see insults in my posts, sorry =(. So, I can't help you with your request =(.