Slim PS Vita hits North America this spring with Borderlands 2

$200 bundle includes system that's 20 percent slimmer and 15 percent lighter.

Read the whole story

 

[salamanderjuice]

I find it amazing that SCEA always seems to ignore colour options.

It's too bad they decided to leave off TV-out like the PSP 2000 had. That would have made me consider upgrading.

 

[IndigoForsteri]

I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

 

[Voldenuit]

salamanderjuice[/url]":11bmqfqe]I find it amazing that SCEA always seems to ignore colour options.

It's too bad they decided to leave off TV-out like the PSP 2000 had. That would have made me consider upgrading.

What hurts even more is that the original Vita (PCH-1000) actually had TV scaler hardware in it (but was never connected to any output hardware, presumably the Vita TV uses it?) but the Slim Vita (PCH-2000) does away with the scaler altogether in its cost-saving measures.

I still love my Vita, it's one of the best gaming platforms I've owned, and it continues to serve me well. But Sony needs to handle the platform better. Its biggest flaw is the lack of marketing and product visibility to the average consumer (even the average gamer), which is not doing its market share any favors.

 

[OfficialJab]

This would be tempting if my 3DS weren't devouring all of my free gaming time.
It's tough being a grownup.

 

[Voldenuit]

IndigoForsteri[/url]":1lag43gv]I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

I'd be happy with price parity. Currently the Vita memory cards are ridiculously expensive compared to market prices for other flash formats.

It could be argued that the whole "proprietary standardized format" thing was instituted for performance reasons (cf letting users use anything from a cheapo no-name SD card with lousy transfer speeds to sandisk ultra SD cards), but I don't find the argument holds water. I find price-gouging and curbing piracy to be more likely motives, but that's just a personal opinion.

And while most Vita games are pretty parsimonious with file sizes, SCEA still hasn't even officially brought the 64 GB vita cards to America yet. Oh, and there's still a 100-application install limit, boo.

 

[Silellak]

IndigoForsteri[/url]":14dhbdd3]I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

Ugh, I love my Vita, but I feel ya. I got a 3DS XL last week and needed a new memory card to download Bravely Default...paying only $20 for a 32 GB SDHC card was quite a relief compared to what I paid for my equivalent Vita card.

 

[theJonTech]

We love our vita and some top tier games this past holiday season made it even better

 

[IGoBoom]

I love my vita, but I can't pass on the old OLED. After watching the videos if both screens side by side, I can't help but feel the new screen while power saving is a setback.

The vita was actually a really good platform for fighters because of the smoothness of that beautiful power sucking OLED screen.

I would like more games from "major" developers, but right now my vita is rapidly becoming my that-steam-game-looks-like-fun-and-would-be-perfect-mobile machine.


Spelunky, Tererria, and Hotline Miami had no chance against my giant pc backlog, but on the vita they've all gotten some love. Indie developers keep sending stuff the vita way.

 

[CaribouLou]

I've been on the fence about buying a Vita. Now I'm afraid if I wait too long, the OLED (which I love and would be a factor) won't be available. It's like Sony has given me an ultimatum.

 

[Voldenuit]

IGoBoom[/url]":1lju1qap]
Spelunky, Tererria, and Hotline Miami had no chance against my giant pc backlog, but on the vita they've all gotten some love. Indie developers keep sending stuff the vita way.

Heh, I actually went the other way with Hotline Miami. After struggling with the horrible dual stick controls on the Vita for 8 hrs, I bought the game on Steam and finished it in 3 hrs, thanks to much greater precision on kb+m.

Kinda wishing I'd also gone PC on Spelunky, for the mods.

 

[Leaping Gnome]

IndigoForsteri[/url]"99we04x]I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

They were burned pretty bad by piracy on the PSP, so that is the main driver I believe.

On the plus side this new model comes with 1GB of internal memory, so you can at least save games now without buying a card I assume.

 

[Kyle Orland]

LuDux[/url]":2qrh2l9b]Cool!

...can you make phone calls on it yet?

Actually....

(not really)

http://meincmagazine.com/gaming/2012/05/h ... ell-phone/

 

[immanuel_aj]

salamanderjuice[/url]":v9cct8gg]I find it amazing that SCEA always seems to ignore colour options.

It's too bad they decided to leave off TV-out like the PSP 2000 had. That would have made me consider upgrading.

And limited edition models too. Japan always seems to get way more of them! That's why I buy mine imported from Japan. There's absolutely no hassle getting it to work. If you know a bit of Japanese, you can easily change the system language to anything. It seems like it supports the full language set. Your PSN account from any region will work with it.

The situation is radically different for the 3DS.

 

[oblio9]

Voldenuit[/url]":19wpgkfo]I still love my Vita, it's one of the best gaming platforms I've owned, and it continues to serve me well. But Sony needs to handle the platform better. Its biggest flaw is the lack of marketing and product visibility to the average consumer (even the average gamer), which is not doing its market share any favors.

I feel like this has been a problem for Sony and the Playstation in general. Last gen, all you ever heard from Microsoft is what a great media device the 360 was and plenty of people agreed. The PS3 was superior in almost every way as a media machine but no one thinks of the PS3 that way. They had all the services you could ask for, their version of Netflix was better for a long time and you didn't have to pay for an online service with them for it to work. And it had bluray to boot! They are terrible about getting their message out there. That matched with the fact that they make TV's receivers, game machines, hand helds and remotes but there is no actual ecosystem is frustrating. I loved bluetooth in the controller but they never made a decent universal remote, or gave me a reason to buy a Sony TV. None of their pieces work with their other pieces to any real benefit.I find it hard to understand how they don't realize this. Too bad Lenovo scooped up Ashton before Sony could...

 

[Jurrasic]

CaribouLou[/url]":2bhaccx5]I've been on the fence about buying a Vita. Now I'm afraid if I wait too long, the OLED (which I love and would be a factor) won't be available. It's like Sony has given me an ultimatum.

They gave me that ultimatum when they pulled the backwards compatibility with the PS2 from the PS3.

I told Sony to fuck off (metaphorically speaking) and skipped the PS3/PSP generation in favour of PC and DS, and recently 3DS.

Never been happier. Who the fawk needs Killzones and Resistance FOM games when you have Trauma Center/Team and the monster RPG load on the DS/3DS?

 

[doubleyewdee]

Call me when it's $100 and I'll buy it. Unreasonable or otherwise, I couldn't justify more for a Vita. And no I don't mean used. New in box with a sane (16GB+) memory stick quadro or whatever.

 

[etacarinae]

Leaping Gnome[/url]":1q6ueni4]
They were burned pretty bad by piracy on the PSP, so that is the main driver I believe.

On the plus side this new model comes with 1GB of internal memory, so you can at least save games now without buying a card I assume.

+1. Dis right here.

I don't like the proprietary format, either, but they are somewhat justified in doing so. Even with their 'memory stick pro duo' format they weren't able to curtail privacy. I have a 64GB card on a homebrow PSP-1000 and have hundreds of games. It was just too easy to circumvent any (if at all) DRM on the PSP.

What bugs me is the price gouging of their proprietary vita SD cards. Then again, you can pickup a 64GB card from yesasia from a decent price.

 

[Manic Miner]

Voldenuit[/url]":38oi54rm]

IGoBoom[/url]":38oi54rm]
Spelunky, Tererria, and Hotline Miami had no chance against my giant pc backlog, but on the vita they've all gotten some love. Indie developers keep sending stuff the vita way.

Heh, I actually went the other way with Hotline Miami. After struggling with the horrible dual stick controls on the Vita for 8 hrs, I bought the game on Steam and finished it in 3 hrs, thanks to much greater precision on kb+m.

Kinda wishing I'd also gone PC on Spelunky, for the mods.

I'm pretty sure they won't mind if you buy spelunky on the pc as well.

I don't know why you care about mods though. The main game of spelunky is just a practice mode for the daily challenge.

 

[Sufinsil]

$130 gamestop refurb over the holidays were a great deal to get an OLED model.

I am waiting for the VitaTV to come stateside to link up to my PS4. And assuming it is cheaper than $200, a new cheaper Vita. I love having the game boy connectors for Super NES and GC.

 

[Flit]

Each additional game that has cross-play/save on the vita increases its value for me. I can't tell you how awesome it was to play Guacamelee over the holidays sitting at holiday parties waiting for people to show up, and then getting home and continuing the game on the ps3.

The one software update I would appreciate is a steam-style list of games I own on the Vita on one of the tabs that I can instantly select any of the games to download and install. I think that would help a lot with the memory issue. And I know you can get to that list by navigating the store/downloads, but it should be easier to access/add/remove games from the system.

 

[Sufinsil]

I always thought it odd when getting the PSP for $130+mem card when we got our 1st 3DS zelda bundles a few months before the Vita game out that the PSP was essentially the same price as the 3DS, chich came with a 2GB SD card. I had to order a memory card online before I played since I was not going to paythe crazy high retail price. And they were still crazy high online.

I know I will need at least 16GB if I ever get a Vita to take advantage of PS+ games that I have saved up.

Jurrasic[/url]":1ou9mpdr]

CaribouLou[/url]":1ou9mpdr]I've been on the fence about buying a Vita. Now I'm afraid if I wait too long, the OLED (which I love and would be a factor) won't be available. It's like Sony has given me an ultimatum.

They gave me that ultimatum when they pulled the backwards compatibility with the PS2 from the PS3.

I told Sony to fuck off (metaphorically speaking) and skipped the PS3/PSP generation in favour of PC and DS, and recently 3DS.

Never been happier. Who the fawk needs Killzones and Resistance FOM games when you have Trauma Center/Team and the monster RPG load on the DS/3DS?

The problem is more that you limiti yourself to FPS games than the great library the PSP has (RPG examples):
Fate/
Parasite Eve
Disgaea
Persona
Ys
Legend of Heroes
Dissidia
Monster Hunter (before it moved to 3DS)
Valkyrie Profile
Gorwlanser
Valkyria CHronicles 2
Pixeljunk
Metal Gear
Mana Khemia series, Star Ocean, Valhalla Knights 2


DS had just as big and great of a library, but to dismiss the PSP because it has Killzone/Resistance is a folly.

 

[Panick]

I guess we know why Borderlands 2 has been a PS+ PS3 freebie now. I wonder how much longer that will last.

 

[Asr-33]

I am glad I got my launch day Vita with 3G. IMHO, the AMOLED screen is the cats meow. I too have a 3DS, and currently I play the 3DS more than the Vita since I bought the Vita exclusively for the announced FFX/X2. Finally, FFX will be released on the 18th of next Mo. W00t,

My fave ganes of all time in my back pack - wicked. My Galaxy S4, Acer Aspire-1, OQO-02, and iPad Air rounds out the set.

FYI, screen size doesn't bother me since I also have a Vuzix head mounted video display unit. Rockin tech for plane flights. And just in case of a power failure, I tossed in a 60 watt folding CIGS solar charger.

Portable computing/gaming rocks.

I love (pretty much worship) technlogy. A far cry from the Minivac 601 I was using in the early 1960s.

 

[Shudder]

IndigoForsteri[/url]":1ms6trdz]I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

After using standard SD cards in my PSP, and noticing that there's plenty of stutter in games like GTA, I sorta believe their claim that they want to ensure that everyone who buys their memory cards will have the same experience.

That being said, they still shouldn't use that opportunity to rip people off. I didn't buy one until very recently because I didn't want to deal with memory card prices.

Anyway, the announcement of this game certainly helps me decide which system I need to play BL2 on, PS3 or 360 (have access to both copies). It's easier for me to get gaming in on the Vita than the regular TV so I hope the experience translates well. I wonder if that would mean I'd need the same DLC though.

 

[jimbo49]

so, not being much of a gamer, which handheld system also gives the extra option of playing games on the tv, as well as on it's own, built in screen without having much in the way of problems and uses 'ordinary' high speed cards? is the device sensibly priced or over the top?

i would be interested in others recommendations, please

 

[bytegod]

jimbo49[/url]":1n3bz15m]so, not being much of a gamer, which handheld system also gives the extra option of playing games on the tv, as well as on it's own, built in screen without having much in the way of problems and uses 'ordinary' high speed cards? is the device sensibly priced or over the top?

i would be interested in others recommendations, please

Sticking to the Sony ecosystem because this is a PS Vita thread, at the present moment, your choice is to:

a) Invest in PS+ (totally worth it)
b) Buy all your games off of the Play Station Network
c) Buy a PS Vita *and* a Vita TV

If you have PS+, the PS Vita and Vita TV have the ability to do cloud saves, so the games can keep in sync when you're on either system.

 

[foreignreign]

etacarinae[/url]":35l1mo0z]

Leaping Gnome[/url]":35l1mo0z]
They were burned pretty bad by piracy on the PSP, so that is the main driver I believe.

On the plus side this new model comes with 1GB of internal memory, so you can at least save games now without buying a card I assume.

+1. Dis right here.

I don't like the proprietary format, either, but they are somewhat justified in doing so. Even with their 'memory stick pro duo' format they weren't able to curtail privacy. I have a 64GB card on a homebrow PSP-1000 and have hundreds of games. It was just too easy to circumvent any (if at all) DRM on the PSP.

What bugs me is the price gouging of their proprietary vita SD cards. Then again, you can pickup a 64GB card from yesasia from a decent price.

As opposed to the Nintendo DS which totally wasn't rampant with piracy?

There is no legit reason for Sony to use proprietary cards, or at least, charge extra as a "just because" fee.

 

[Ryoshi]

The Vita is literally the best gaming system I've ever used, but a large part of that (in my opinion) was due to the OLED screen. The budget model presented here might be worth it though, and the actual Borderlands 2 bundle for $200 is a steal.

Of course then the problem is you sign up for PS+ and fill your 8gb memory card in a day downloading free games, and you need to shell out for another insanely expensive memory card. Sony really needs to fix the pricing on those things.

 

[Ars Moriendi]

8Gb is insulting on a system where you're going to (or encouraged to) download all of your games. Vitas problem the whole time is value proposition.

Sony: If you're insisting at coming in at $200, I want: Vita, choice of 2 games (download), 32Gb+ card, TV out, controller for remoteplay. There, sold. Should not have to get a vita-tv.

 

[Deleted member 92645]

Ars Moriendi[/url]":32bo5zss]8Gb is insulting on a system where you're going to (or encouraged to) download all of your games. Vitas problem the whole time is value proposition.

Sony: If you're insisting at coming in at $200, I want: Vita, choice of 2 games (download), 32Gb+ card, TV out, controller for remoteplay. There, sold. Should not have to get a vita-tv.

You forgot to ask for a pony made of diamond...

 

[foreignreign]

cervier[/url]":108bs4wt]

Ars Moriendi[/url]":108bs4wt]8Gb is insulting on a system where you're going to (or encouraged to) download all of your games. Vitas problem the whole time is value proposition.

Sony: If you're insisting at coming in at $200, I want: Vita, choice of 2 games (download), 32Gb+ card, TV out, controller for remoteplay. There, sold. Should not have to get a vita-tv.

You forgot to ask for a pony made of diamond...

Well if one of the games he gets is Borderlands 2...

 

[RadarScope1]

Love my Vita. While I understand where many of the complainers here are coming from (especially on the memory cards) the Vita is a great value if you can find one in a deal like I did last fall. Got it one in a flash sale from Radio Shack, of all places, for $140.

TV out would be nice but I honestly think it's like backward compatibility in consoles - something a small group of us hardcore people like to bitch about but not something that will add many sales.

Sony needs to market the thing better. It really does seem like SCEA doesn't care about the device. Many of us Vita fans are hoping they'll do the smart thing when Minecraft comes out on Vita and create a bundle and promote the hell out of it. That probably won't happen, though. It makes way too much sense.

 

[salamanderjuice]

jimbo49[/url]":rcapp1xq]so, not being much of a gamer, which handheld system also gives the extra option of playing games on the tv, as well as on it's own, built in screen without having much in the way of problems and uses 'ordinary' high speed cards? is the device sensibly priced or over the top?

i would be interested in others recommendations, please

Currently nothing(At least mainstream). Unless you count an Android phone as a handheld gaming system.

The 3DS uses standard SD cards, but has no way to play on TV except for a several hundred dollar mod that's performed by 1 Japanese company.

The Vita has it's own special memory card format, and playing on the TV requires buying a Vita TV($150+) which has only been released in Asia at the moment and doesn't work with all games or NA or EU PSN accounts.

The PSP is the closest because it has TV out built in on 2000 and up models, and the memory stick duo can at least be replaced by a $2 adapter to MicroSD. They can be had for like $100 or less but they won't really be seeing any new games anymore. The only problem with the TV out is that for PSP games it renders them at the PSPs resolution of 480x272 so you need to use the Zoom function on your TV. PS1 games render full screen on it though.

 

[JCChaconJr]

IndigoForsteri[/url]":afizuwjx]I've been passing on the Vita and will continue to do so until they start using normal SD cards, there's no reason to use their own format other than to get me to pay more. It looks like this one's still using Sony's card.

Their own format was to put hardware based encryption in the memory card to thwart piracy. While I accept the argument for releasing a custom memory card format (after all, you can plug an SD card anywhere), it still doesn't justify the ridiculous pricing. Even with the recent price drops, they could still stand to drop quite a bit more. I mean, the encryption chips cannot cost THAT much, and these cards still cost way more than their equivalent storage SD counterparts! I especially hate it since I will probably need to get another 32GB card soon.

I also question marketing the system with a pack-in game like Borderlands 2. While it's a good game and all, I'm not sure that he game suits the platform. I mean, I don't think that an RPG style game (especially one adapted from a console) is really the kind of game that you wan to have on the platform. Games for portable devices should be of the "pick-em up and play" variety. If you have to grind through a long level or stage in a game, it's not exactly portable-friendly.

 

[Bloodgod]

Any word on the US getting the Vita TV? For the handful of niche games that I would play on a Vita -Persona 4 mostly- it is not worth buying a regular Vita to me. Rumors had the Vita TV at around $100, IIRC, that I could probably justify.

 

[Jurrasic]

Sufinsil[/url]":1rhkw2x7]I always thought it odd when getting the PSP for $130+mem card when we got our 1st 3DS zelda bundles a few months before the Vita game out that the PSP was essentially the same price as the 3DS, chich came with a 2GB SD card. I had to order a memory card online before I played since I was not going to paythe crazy high retail price. And they were still crazy high online.

I know I will need at least 16GB if I ever get a Vita to take advantage of PS+ games that I have saved up.

Jurrasic[/url]":1rhkw2x7]

CaribouLou[/url]":1rhkw2x7]I've been on the fence about buying a Vita. Now I'm afraid if I wait too long, the OLED (which I love and would be a factor) won't be available. It's like Sony has given me an ultimatum.

They gave me that ultimatum when they pulled the backwards compatibility with the PS2 from the PS3.

I told Sony to fuck off (metaphorically speaking) and skipped the PS3/PSP generation in favour of PC and DS, and recently 3DS.

Never been happier. Who the fawk needs Killzones and Resistance FOM games when you have Trauma Center/Team and the monster RPG load on the DS/3DS?

The problem is more that you limiti yourself to FPS games than the great library the PSP has (RPG examples):
Fate/
Parasite Eve
Disgaea
Persona
Ys
Legend of Heroes
Dissidia
Monster Hunter (before it moved to 3DS)
Valkyrie Profile
Gorwlanser
Valkyria CHronicles 2
Pixeljunk
Metal Gear
Mana Khemia series, Star Ocean, Valhalla Knights 2


DS had just as big and great of a library, but to dismiss the PSP because it has Killzone/Resistance is a folly.

The vast majority of those RPG titles I can get on other machines (Parasite Eve was great in 1997 on the PS1) and the non RPGs I usually don't want.

Actually, I recently picked up a modded PSP phat for cheap, and while there was some decent games like Valkyrie Profile II, Gods Eater, Dissidia etc. I don't feel I lost a thing by bypassing them when they were new and expensive.

The enjoyment from Rune Factories, Etrian Oddyseys, Trauma Centers, Pokemon etc. from the DS/3DS library was much more intense, and able to be taken advantage of via the superior social play aspects of it's wifi implementation at the time as well.

NO title from the Vita has yet to draw me enough to even consider it at any price. Sorry, but Sony clearly loses against the competition in handheld gaming. Again.

 

[Ryoshi]

JCChaconJr[/url]":1ltvvfb4]
I also question marketing the system with a pack-in game like Borderlands 2. While it's a good game and all, I'm not sure that he game suits the platform. I mean, I don't think that an RPG style game (especially one adapted from a console) is really the kind of game that you wan to have on the platform. Games for portable devices should be of the "pick-em up and play" variety. If you have to grind through a long level or stage in a game, it's not exactly portable-friendly.

At first blush I'd agree with you, but the Vita's sleep functionality is really, really good for RPGs. It's pretty easy to beat an 80+ hour game when you can fire it up instantly, grind out a battle or three, and put it back to sleep whenever you have two minutes to spare.

 

[Jurrasic]

Ryoshi[/url]"7wjeano]

JCChaconJr[/url]"7wjeano]
I also question marketing the system with a pack-in game like Borderlands 2. While it's a good game and all, I'm not sure that he game suits the platform. I mean, I don't think that an RPG style game (especially one adapted from a console) is really the kind of game that you wan to have on the platform. Games for portable devices should be of the "pick-em up and play" variety. If you have to grind through a long level or stage in a game, it's not exactly portable-friendly.

At first blush I'd agree with you, but the Vita's sleep functionality is really, really good for RPGs. It's pretty easy to beat an 80+ hour game when you can fire it up instantly, grind out a battle or three, and put it back to sleep whenever you have two minutes to spare.

Okay, you've nailed one area where the PSP and presumably Vita REALLY shine. If i leave my 3DS in sleep mode for more then a few hours, I have a dead unit. The PSP I have paused mid-game, put away for well over a couple weeks by losing it down the couch, and then woken up and resumed game with still over 3/4 of the battery available. The hibernation function on the PSP is just friggin unreal.