Some Disturbing Playstation Vita Details

[dlevere]

Sony's new handheld gaming system, the Playstation Vita, launches in Japan in two weeks, and the latest report from Andriasang has some interesting details, including Sony's decision to go with proprietary memory cards.

Sony says this is both for security reasons and to ensure a consistent experience for all users, but that 'doesn't explain why they're charging such enormous sums for these cards,' says blogger Peter Smith.

'The caveat here is that we haven't seen official pricing for the cards, but game retailer Gamestop lists them at $120 (!!) for a 32 GB card, $70 for a 16GB, $45 for 8 GB and $30 for a 4 GB.'

[Sly Hedgehog]

rats!

then i'll stick around with Home Consoles, not Handhelds like that

[lee4]

IGN rant vita memory cards prices
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=*******

Also right out of box at launch date
* one account (new policy)
* no PS1 games support (firmware updates required)
* no PSP games support (firmware updates and PSN account required)
* outside USA/Japan no 3G support (firmware updates and 3G account required)
* no memery card included (sold separately)

[dlevere]

PS Vita Memory Card “Required” To Play Certain Games

A good handful of the PS Vita’s games will require you to purchase one of Sony’s proprietary Memory Cards in order to even save the game, basically making them unplayable! Because who wants to play a game for no reason?

So you can take that $249.99 price tag and raise it to about $274.98 (and that’s before tax)! And that’s if you plan to buy the “basic” version of Vita… you can expect to spend well over what you thought you’d be spending if you plan on buying the 3G version.

These games will require a Memory Card to save your progress.

@field
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Dream Club Zero
Disgaea 3
Hot Shots Golf 6
Monster Raider
Ridge Racer

With the high price of the PlayStation Vita’s memory stick, we take a look at whether you need the flash card to use the handheld, and what the added cost means for gamers.

Sony’s decision to stick to a proprietary flash format was initially met by criticism due to the simple fact that gamers didn’t like the idea of purchasing yet another memory card. However, when it was revealed that the cards will cost $24.99 for a 4GB Memory Card, $39.99 for 8GB, $69.99 for 16GB and $119.99 for 32GB, Sony immediately drew flak for their incredibly steep price. In comparison, a 4GB MicroSDHC card costs as little as $4.99 and a 32GB one costs $35.99.

As a defense, Sony stated that they wanted every Vita owner to have the same brand of memory, so it is “an even playing field” for gamers – even though load speeds on different brands of MicroSDHC cards is less than negligible. Another reason given was that it was an anti-piracy move, although it’d be naïve to think that the memory stick will manage to prevent piracy for a very long time, with most electronic devices hacked within weeks of launch.

But even if you accept that milliseconds of load is important, or that the memory stick will be able to fend off pirates, neither excuse explains the price. Proprietary formats are generally more expensive due to the fact that less products are produced, but not by so much. For example, the NVG card used to store Vita retail games is also proprietary, yet must be cheap to produce, otherwise the games wouldn’t make a profit.

The move is in direct contrast to Sony’s openness with the PS3, which is repeatedly praised for it’s ability to use any 2.5″ SATA HDD, and is actually more similar to Microsoft’s decision to charge well above average for their proprietary hard drives. But even Microsoft’s business strategy was preferable – you don’t need to own a HDD for 99% of retail games – but on the Vita, a memory card is much more important.

The biggest launch title for the Vita, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, requires a memory card simply to save the game, along with several other games. That means that if you buy a normal Vita without a card, you will essentially be unable to play the game.

The sad fact is that the average gamer won’t know this, and neither will gift-givers, meaning that the first emotion countless Vita owners feel when they try and play their new handheld will be anger and confusion. Especially when they realize the price of the memory stick.

If you plan on buying a PlayStation Vita, you will have to buy a memory stick just to play all the retail games, so the true cost of the Vita is above the advertised price of $249. Sony has basically sold a car without one of the wheels, just to make it appear cheaper.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/2011...-vita-now-275/

[raing3]

Another limitation which I am not fond of is that the memory stick isn't mountable as USB Mass Storage and instead requires an application to transfer data between the memory stick and the computer (similar to how iTunes is required to transfer data between an iDevice).

I had heard already that PS1 games weren't going to be playable on launch but this was the first I heard that PSP games wouldn't be playable on launch, I hope by the time the PS Vita makes it to EU/NA the PSP emulator will be ready since I'm not sure if I will be able to afford to purchase any PSVita games on the launch of the system.

Also I wonder how networking will work with the PSVita PSP emulator. Is networking functionality going to be emulated? Is it going to support WPA2? (the PSP doesn't support it), am I able to play adhoc between a PSVita and a PSP?

[dlevere]

Let Sony sell you on the PlayStation Vita

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/le...ystation-vita/

[dlevere]

Today Scott Rhodes of Sony Worldwide Operations was asked in an interview with GamaSutra.com how they are combating piracy on the PS Vita platform, who responded that proprietary PlayStation Vita Game Cards are currently being used.

Sony on Combating Piracy with PS Vita Proprietary Game Cards

[Helder]

Psshh look at NDS and 3DS who have proprietary game carts, that was cracked rather easily and sony loves to force their memory cards down our throats, like their damn MSProDuo and exagerrated prices.