Sony: PSP Overrun with Ports, Vita Won't Have Same Problems - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 11 September 2012 / 7,315 Views
Sony's original promise when it released the PSP was that it would bring console like experiences on the go. This strategy Sony hoped would help it outsell its rival the DS. This however did not happen.
John Koller, Sony's marketing VP for handhelds and consoles, admits to Gamasutra that the strategy for the PlayStation Vita is similar. However he argues that there were major problems with how developers approached the idea on the PSP. "The issue that happened with PSP is we got overrun with ports," Koller told Gamasutra. "It became very difficult for us to define what made PSP unique. The content development became a bit unstructured or decentralized, in that we got a lot of content that was on PlayStation 2 and got thrown over to the handheld."
Koller says portable content "isn't something consumers play because they've left the living room. It's something that [needs to be] unique, and defines the Vita experience." Sony is trying to guide publishers away from direct ports of console games. Sony is telling publishers to "Follow what Ubisoft is doing with Assassin's Creed. Follow what Activision is doing with Call of Duty."
Koller believes that "The messaging is similar [between PSP and PS Vita], but I think the output is going to be quite different."
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So to get this right they're now asking people to stop porting games to the vita and invest loads of time making stand alone games just for a market of around 2million consoles I don't think they've really stuck their neck out enough on the vita at the moment to expect any 3rd party groups to do the same.
It sounds like they're specifically asking developers not to make ports for the Vita. Is that really a good idea?
result : developers do nothing on Vita
meanwhile you've got reggie fils and iwata calling door to door trying to get everyone to port stuff to the 3ds and wiiu atm, I agree I think it's a bad idea to deter any developer interest in their system.
God of War - Ghost of Sparta and Chains of Olympus sold systems... and it was because they were not ports and they were quality games. I actually agree with Sony saying to 3rd parties to go the alternative / companion game route. That's what Nintendo has done on their portables for years as well. They don't make the same Mario, or Zelda, or Metroid, or Pokemon, or anything... for both. Heck even their Mario Kart is somehow different between portable and console.
Then please explain why did Persona 4 the Golden sell more than Gravity Rush in Japan and will in US ? Sometimes i'm actually glad to play some Ports/Remakes on a handheld..
No doubt some ports can sell, but at least in P4's case it has more content than when it was on PS2. Like Mortal Kombat and a few other ports, it's best to add some features. Sony might be putting pressure on developers and publishers to include new things if they plan on porting.
Even just to use more features that are only on the system much the same as the 3ds makes use of streetpass in a load of it's games like the way you set up a team of figures to battle people you walk past more of the ports need lil things like the touch screen minigames in MKvita or the climbing portions in Uncharted which used the rar touchscreen, just some parts of the games that can only be done on the handheld.
I agree, Vita won't have games.
It's going to be hard to define the PSV as well if it keeps getting what it's been getting. So far PSV is doing just what PSP did with even more ports, and large console franchises making handheld iterations (except instead of GTA and Monster Hunter, we have Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty)
PSvita is already overrun with ports! And worse, we don't even get them in Europe! No, actually we don't get Vita games at all... English or Japanese knowledge is a prerequisite for any French Vita owner...
Hey...this can't be true. A Sony executive that actually sees a problem...and is fixing it...has the world ended and I missed it?
I don't consider this a problem. Frankly I wish I could get a portable PS3 or 360.
Sony needs to make amazing games that make people wish they had a vita. Currently there are few titles that make me want one.
I don't think Sony has the right strategy yet. It starts with releasing games that aren't already available on other systems people already own. It ends with those Vita exclusive games being so dang good, then people are compelled to fork over $300 or more just to play one of those games... even if they have no interest or expectation of quality gaming from portable.
What Sony needs to do is make a game that's very "pick up and play", then just have the 3rd party make their clone versions (with of course some differences to them). A Main-line collecta-thon RPG game like Pokemon would be a good start.
What Sony needs to do is make a game that's very "pick up and play", then just have the 3rd party make their clone versions (with of course some differences to them). A Main-line collecta-thon RPG game like Pokemon would be a good start.
they have a series like that on the Psp called invisimals it even uses the psp camera to collect them in semi AR game style, tis not a bad game if you got a psp and it's camera to check out.
Sony Sony wants the thirds to make exclusive games for a 2.5 Mio handheld? That will not work, in the end the Vita will get no ports and no other games at all.
Even though I would like some VITA versions of PS3 games, I think he is right.
suuuuuure it won't
Should be interesting to see what the guy says if Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty don't cause the massive uptick they're hoping for. Ports are all they'll get if unique games don't sell.
I hope they can. Both can sell on name alone but AC3:Liberation is looking amazing. Using the same engine as AC3, different setting, different character, transferable items between the 2 games. Amazing. As for CoD, it seems CoD but they are placing it in a different setting than Black ops 2 so it is unique. I think people will buy anything CoD right now.
I don't consider this a problem. Frankly I wish I could get a portable PS3 or 360.
Now why wasn't this type of news reported for the Wii, 3DS or Wii U?
because Nintendo aren't in the business of telling people not to put games on their systems.... at a guess?
