Industry legend Shigeru Miyamoto has compared the Vita’s current struggles with the 3DS’ own troubles at launch. Speaking with EDGE magazine, the Nintendo man said that Sony's new handheld is very powerful and capable of “lots of things”, but that it would be a stronger product if the “combination of hardware and software” was more robust.
Comparing the situation to the 3DS’ tepid launch, Miyamoto said:
When we launched the 3DS hardware we didn’t have Super Mario 3D Land, we didn’t have Mario Kart 7, we didn’t have Kid Icarus: Uprising. We were striving to have all of these ready for the launch, but we weren’t able to deliver them at that time.
We were kind of hoping that people would, nevertheless, buy into the product, find 3DS hardware promising, but looking back we have to say we realise the key software was missing when we launched the hardware.
Respectful as ever, Miyamoto clearly has a very valid point: Japanese sales of the Vita increased significantly last week following the release of Gust's new game. With the 3DS now performing well worldwide following a slew of major releases, let’s hope Sony has a similar line-up of strong software in the pipeline for Vita.
[source edge-online.com]
Comments 21
He's right. Heck, I didn't get a 3DS until that day it finally drop in price. Vita is lacking some games but there will be more in the future so don't worry.
I disagree, Vita has a better catalogue of retail games than the 3DS. I personally own two retail 3DS titles, compared to nine retail Vita games.
Being an avid PS3/PS2/PSP/PSV player I tend to fight the corner of Sony whenever possible, unfortunately this time the Nintendo Man is correct, if the PSVita had launched with more AAA games (Call of Duty, God of War, etc) Then the nifty piece of tech would have blown away any previous sales, it's all in the statistics, what games are people playing the most? what does the consumer want?
but, I digress, i suspect once Resistance: Burning Sky's is released and people see how a first person shooter game will look and feel on the handheld, sales are going to skyrocket, even more so when CoD is released (eventually).
That's my 2 cents.
This article give a far more rounded view of Miyamoto's statement than others. And he is right. Once we get Gravity Rush, Resistance, COD, and hopefully some as of yet unannounced titles ( praying for Versus 13 Vita version) Sales will pick up. A new Uncharted Vita anyone?
@Slappy: Sure, there will always be people like you out there, but I really don't think you're in the majority. I have...10 or so 3DS retail games and ONE Vita game.
I think it's silly that this more or less obvious piece of information is news just because Miyamoto said it.
@Slapshot if it weren't for ports the vita would have almost nothing at the moment. Don't get me wrong i love my vita i just wish it had more games that i don't already have for my ps3
@3Above Some outlets have tried to twist Miyamoto's words into an attack at Sony. That just isn't the case — I think the Nintendo man's being genuinely sympathetic here.
Launching a new platform is tough. Personally, I still haven't experienced all of the Vita's launch content. I think what the platform needs more than anything is a slew of announcements. As soon as we know what's coming over the next 6 months, I think the concerns will evaporate.
@Malic I find that hard to believe. The Vita really doesn't have as many "ports" as people like to believe. If you mean franchises that originated on the PlayStation 3, then, sure, but I'd argue virtually all of the Vita's launch titles suit the platform.
Problem with Vita games is and might be in the near future the lack of diversity to satisfy a larger user base, this will not change with 3 or 4 AAA+ titles of the same type. It is the main reason why my 3ds is getting dust most of the time, the only game that actually fits to my likes is the very old Ocarina of Time. And for the Vita the only one that I'm enjoying is Uncharted but luckily in the case of Vita this can be aleviated somehow with the current catalogue of PSP compatible games.
the only retail game on the vita i have bought is lumines. the only vita downloads i have are motorstorm rc, treasures of montezuma, and mutant blobs. At this point the only other current games I am somewhat tempted by are Disgaea and Escape Plan. And yet I still don't care at all that there aren't a lot of Vita games that I'm interested in. I'm very patient. All I really want from Sony is to add more compatibility with their back catalog and fix the issues with the PS+ minis.
@Stuffgamer1 Oh and I agree. I also know that Mr. Miyamoto is being completely genuine in his statement, as always.
I'm a third party gamer, it's just who I am. The strong third party Vita titles have kept my Vita on everyday since I've picked it up at launch. The 3DS Friend Code system makes the handheld feel very unconnected compared to the Vita, and now that my Vita game's are enabled with Raptr (trophies, rankings) I'm even more inclined to play it on a daily basis.
I'm usually in the minority, heck, I was even in the minority when I was claiming that the 3DS was indeed worth the $249 asking price when I picked mine up on day one, as the 3D effect adds a nice touch to the game's. I've owned quite a few 3DS titles too, but without an unrestricted 'friends' system, and fully accessible online modes, I've since traded most all of them in for Vita game's.
@Malic You mean console quality ports on a handheld that have included all, or most of the DLC for the PS3 counterparts, and releasing at a $20 cheaper price point (e.g. Disgaea 3, Mortal Kombat)? Or, Vita ports that actually improve on their home console brethren (e.g. Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, Dynasty Warriors NEXT)?
Yes, Vita needs more games soon. But, I think Sony is holding out on us until E3, when their presentation will be all-out-Vita. Heck, we get Gravity Rush and Resistance: Burning Skies in the few weeks of waiting!
I think we're good enough already, I just hope we keep seeing a steady pace instead of things drying up.
Metacritic would reveal that the 3DS still lacks quality software, yet the Vita has released with a bunch of titles over 75%.
Sure he is correct in saying the "big" system sellers just arent there, but Sony relies heavily on 3rd party developers to do that, so it is generally beyond their control to a point.
So they have a super powered handheld, when do they release it, after COD? What if COD is a major flop? So you release it when you have a large selection of games to cater for all gamers with most being just under current console quality. Im pretty sure that te Vita had the 3rd best game release numbers at launch for any system console or handheld, and pretty sure the quality of games since the release period has been on one of the top shelves.
From a marketing standpoint, you release the machine when it's ready and there is enough games to keep people interested in buying it, and the games will come. Im sure they were banking on the popularity of Uncharted. In real terms therefore, for Sony, that is their Mario selling equivalent title. Sonys fault here was it didn't cater to the non-Sony gamer. Ive had a XBox and all nintendo platforms since my PS2 failed, so I really had no idea what to buy when i got my Vita. If it wasnt for Morty, id be only playing PSN titles waiting for Sound Shapes to arrive.
Just like its dad vita has no game.
I still say the Vita had more good stuff day one than the 3DS did for it's first 5 or 6 months on the market. That said, announcements are neccessary to generate excitement and Sony really hasn't made many on the Vita front. I also agree with people who say the Vita needs a price cut on the system and memory cards. Personally, I'd say for what you get, $250 is fair but it's obvious the mass market thinks otherwise. Sony just isn't in a position to do that though, at least not on the Vita itself, they could cut memory card prices but that probably won't happen either.
Miyamoto's right; the Vita's situation doesn't seem unlike the PS3's initial troubles. Sony's handheld seems confused as to what it wants to be; a game device? An all-in-one ala iPad? I hope Sony relises that unique games that can ONLY be played on Vita is key; I mean, what's to stop publishers from porting Vita games to PS3 in a bid to make a few more dollars (much like the PSP software)? What position would that put Sony's handheld in?
@IrishYort - Eh? 3DS has plenty of quality software - Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil: Revelations, Street Fighter IV, Kid Icarus - just to name a few. Far more 'over 75%-ers' than what Vita currently has.
@Kage_88 The 3DS has also been available for over a year now, while the Vita has only been on the market for three months. The Vita has more quality software to date months than the 3DS did in it's first few months, and that's exactly why I disagreed with Mr. Miyamoto's statement, because he's criticizing Sony for something that his own company did far worse!
From where I'm standing the Vita needs a price drop more than games to re-energize sales. Not right now, but maybe this time next year. That's the world we now live in. Even the unstoppable Apple machine needed an iPhone price cut soon after launch. Hardware sales always pick up after price cuts. And if Sony has nothing else at E3 to combat the WiiU and $99 Xbox hype they may need a holiday price cut to remain relevant.
@rjejr I don't think they'll cut the price, but I think they'll add value going into the holidays. They can easily throw a memory card and game into every box and make it seem like a much more attractive proposition.
@Savino
NEVER compare Miyamoto to Pachter! =D
@Sony_70
But it will get game
Well, he is right...
@Mandoble Eh? You seem to have forgotten that the 3DS is compatible with every DS game, without the need to download them! Why should it be an acceptible excuse for lack of software you like that you can get PSP games on the Vita, if you are choosing to ignore the 3DS backwards compatibility?
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