[Gamesbriefers] Has the PS4 transformed PS Vita?

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Question:

A little blue bird tells me that some of you have spontaneously run out to buy a PS Vita in the last week, despite being decidedly unenthusiastic about it since its launch. I’d like to ask all of you: do you think that the PS Vita’s value proposition has changed? And if so, is it all down to remote play with the PS4, or did something else make you change your mind?

Answers:

Teut Weidemann Online Specialist at Ubisoft

The vita is an awesome build hardware. Just take a look at the screen, power, buttons etc. I love JRPG’s and the announced catalogue had me buy one as they are on sale right now. The added value of being a PS4 add on was just the cake.

Andy Payne MD at Mastertronic

Had two from launch: used my Game vouchers when they went bust. Sold one. Kept one. Certain games play really well. HLM for example.

Cross Play is really cool. If they can get the price down and bundled with PS4 that will be a winner for gamers.

Patrick O’Luanaigh CEO at nDreams

I think Sony have shown real determination in turning around the momentum of the Vita, using price decreases, a massive effort to bring great indie games onto the platform and by linking it so closely with the PS4 through remote play.

As many people in this group will vouch for, getting enough gaming time when you’re running a company and have children is tough, and the idea of being able to continue playing a PS4 game on the Vita anywhere in the house when someone else wants to use the main TV is very appealing 🙂

Oscar Clark Evangelist for Applifier

ok I did buy one recently and I think its worth explaining my change of heart.

I’m one of those tech buyers who only choose devices when they find the one which best suits the ‘gap’ they are trying to fill.

That’s why when I first saw a real PSVita at GTC (the Sony preGDC conference) I was really disappointed. I had wanted to be a 3G phone as well. I wanted it to have a much longer battery life and I wanted it to fit better in my pocket – it just felt too big.

More than that what I wanted is content which would innovate to take advantage of the unique platform and apart from Frobisher Says (which I still think is fantastic) nothing really compelled me at the time.

What I didn’t count on is the amazing efforts of people like Ago, Shahid and Kish to motivate developers and designers to give the Vita a chance, despite initially disappointing numbers.

Their efforts has paid off and allows us to think about the VITA in a new light. As an ideal device for experimentation. This matters because the PSVita now feels to me like a gateway device. A device which rather than just failing to be a phone or a console has now become something transitional. A proving ground for developers wanting to do something more playful.

Throw the PS4 into the mix with its vastly more open attitude than previous Sony platforms and we now have a way for indie developers to transition from small creative studio into teams which can deliver the highest quality of experience. Personally, I’m still waiting to see what cross-platform play will be like and instinctively I prefer the more open approach of Microsoft’s Smartglass… but VITA might just offer something special – not least access to well designed integrated controls.

I still wish the Vita was smaller and had a vastly better battery life but now there is content available which makes the device special, desirable.

Who knew that platforms are driven by their content. ;0)

Martin Darby CCO of Remode

I think the answer is probably “yes”, but it’s all about price & game support. Also, whether Sony capitalise on this by marketing it correctly or they just leave it to be discovered as a sort of cool engineering concept, remains to be seen.

I also think it would be cool to see the Vita add more value as a controller to TV experiences, by getting UI on the Vita screen. I thought this worked very well on the Ocarina of Time remake on the 3DS (one screen for game, one for backpack/inventory). Imagine what this could add to Dark Souls, etc.

Andrew Smith Founder of Spilt Milk Studios

I do love the fact that it (finally) has some exciting and excellent exclusive games on it, but so many of the best games on the system are ports or available on other platforms that it kinda reduces the impact when it comes to a purchase decision.

The Vita, for me, addresses an issue I don’t have. If I want high-end experiences, I’ll sit in front of my TV. If I want portable, I’ve got my phone.

My 3DS competes in this area through tons of great exclusive games, thereby earning its place in my bag alongside my phone.

As for using the Vita as a second screen with a PS4, it’s a really neat feature that very few devs will ever truly utilise because it’s only every going to be enjoyed by a tiny %age of the PS4 audience and as such will be one of the earliest features ever to get cut from a given game’s scope. Which is a real shame. Not to mention, it’s an incredibly expensive second screen, especially seeing as most households that’ll have a PS4 probably already have mobile phones or tablets that could serve the same purpose.

I’m sure, given enough time and if Sony keep pushing it, we’ll eventually see the game arrive. When it reaches tipping point (usually for me enough exclusive must-haves that I could spend the cost of the hardware again on buying them) then all of these other cool features become valuable additions.

Mark Sorrell Freemium game design consultant

I was actually thinking of getting a WiiU, having been so amazingly unimpressed with the PS4 launch line-up and never seriously considering an XBox One.

If I got a Vita, it would be for Frobisher Says and Passing Time, but you can’t go wrong with a Honeyslug game.

I have no interest whatsoever in remote play as I live alone and, so far as I can tell, there isn’t a single PS4 game that provides more entertainment than staring at a blank wall.

So, I suppose I’ll get my coat.

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