Does anyone else feel like they wasted hundreds of dollars on their Vita?

[DrunkOnEstus]

I bought one several months ago, and even paid the extra for the 3G model. It's my fault for not doing my research on what the 3G was actually capable of, but that isn't the source of my problem.

My problem is that there is nothing to play on the damned thing! I got Uncharted with it, and what I got was a series of minigames that show off the Vita hardware wearing Nathan Drake's clothes. My two best options are lesser, cut-down versions of games on better platforms that I already own (Mortal Kombat and Rayman: Origins). I've spent more time and money on PSP games I already own, just so I can enjoy them on a bigger and better screen. That's something else that makes me feel duped and like I'm burning money.

I check every week for the big app that justifies the purchase of the whole damned thing, but it never happens. It's a wasteland, like a console abandoned before it got a chance to even start. As far as I'm aware of, there's no piracy issue for publishers like the PSP, but even then there was a lot to play on the PSP at this point in its life. Does anyone feel glad they splurged on one?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Handhelds are usually like that for the first few months after release. The 3DS's release was terrible as well and didn't have any games. It's the same for any console. Nothing has a particularly good release line up. That's what you put up with as an early adopter, getting less stuff and paying more money for it. Just wait a few more months, it'll get better.

 

[Zhukov]

You may want to check out Gravity Rush. It looks pretty fun.

Anyway, personally I would never buy a platform unless there were already enough games out to justify it.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

Handhelds are usually like that for the first few months after release. The 3DS's release was terrible as well and didn't have any games. It's the same for any console. Nothing has a particularly good release line up. That's what you put up with as an early adopter, getting less stuff and paying more money for it. Just wait a few more months, it'll get better.

I did some Wikipedia research, and I can't believe that it's only been 6 months for us the the U.S. I could have sworn that its been out longer than that. It took about 6 months for the 3DS to release Super Mario 3D Land and get the ball rolling, so hopefully its about time for the Vita to get that app.

It's strange to me, you'd think that they'd want to have a strong, even small strong library at launch as an incentive for early adopters outside of those of us who want the new systems the instant we can get our hands on them.

 

[faefrost]

The Vita is a weird beast. It's an awesomely powerful little gaming rig that is perhaps fatally crippled by the fact that it is in fact a handheld. So for the screen size and portability you get better value and far cheaper games from a smart phone or an iPad. The Katamari game looks interesting but little else on the Vita is grabbing me. There is no compelling killer app for it.

I fear the Wii U will suffer from a similar problem from the opposite direction. In looking at it the first thing that comes to mind is why didn't they just sell me the controller thingy as a portable game console, and then let me attach it to the TV easily when I am home? Why does such a neat pad with actual thumbsticks have to be tethered to the living room?

 

[Exius Xavarus]

For a while, I thought it was neat. But then the novelty of the overall package wore off and I was like, this sucks. After I finished playing Gravity Rush, literally all I used it for was a glorified MP3 player.

Then I saw Dead Trigger on my Nexus 7 and I was like:

.....Why don't any of the Vita's games look even half as good as this? It was then that I decided the $300 for the 3G version, or even the whatever it costs for the 3G-less version was an absolute waste, and the $250 I spent on my Nexus 7 was a MUCH better deal.

Vastly superior sound quality through my headphones than I had with the Vita so it already beats it right there. To throw salt in the wound, I can put whatever games, movies and tv shows I want on it as well. WITHOUT having to send all my stuff through my PS3 and THEN to my Vita, so I didn't have to use the Content Manager bullshit that didn't even run with my computer.

When I sold my Vita I was just like, whatever. It was after I got my Nexus 7 that I began to wish I'd never bought a Vita to begin with. Hell, my 3DS is a much better handheld and has supplied me several more hours of entertainment than that thing.

 

[not_you]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat as OP...

I have 2 games on it at the moment...
Dynasty Warriors Next (only because I like that kind of gameplay on a handheld)
And BlazBlue Continuum extend Because a friend of mine owns the game on PS3 and I thought it was fun...

I guess, the main thing I'm waiting for on it is the Assassins Creed game, because it does look pretty cool... But in the meantime, it just sits still gathering dust like nothing my 3DS...

Waiting on Black/White 2 for my 3DS, and Assassins Creed for Vita... I WISH I could make it an MP3 player, but fuck whoever had the bright idea of forcing the use of content manager... That's just what I wanted, a program that runs non-stop on my already ageing computer for no reason but to update the music library on my vita every 4 months...

(yes, I know how to disable it, but it's still a stupid, stupid idea... Where's access to memory card upon USB connection!?!)

 

[King of Asgaard]

I didn't buy a Vita because of the lack of decent titles on the thing.
I'm hoping that there will be a surge of good titles in the future, otherwise it'll flop big time stylee.

 

[Yopaz]

Handhelds are usually like that for the first few months after release. The 3DS's release was terrible as well and didn't have any games. It's the same for any console. Nothing has a particularly good release line up. That's what you put up with as an early adopter, getting less stuff and paying more money for it. Just wait a few more months, it'll get better.

Well sure the 3DS had a poor lineup, but Nintendo presented upcoming titles and games they were planning on making before the console was released. As a huge fan of Resident Evil, Professor Layton, Paper Mario and the Tales series I knew I would get additions to all of these on the 3DS before the console was for sale. I also heard about Zelda and Starfox and I assumed they would make some Pokemon games at one point.

Now let's look at the Vita. During Sony's E3 the Vita was almost completely ignored unless they were making upcoming games to be released on both PS3 and the Vita. It makes it look as if Sony doesn't care about the Vita at all. Now I might be wrong, but when Nintendo's WiiU presentation featured more upcoming games than the Vita got then I don't like what I am seeing. Hopefully I am wrong in this because I really want the Vita to pick up and I see a ton of potential in it.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

I didn't buy a Vita, but I did buy a Wii when they first came out, so I know how you feel. If it's any consolation, I played all of 1 game on my Wii before never turning it on again, so you'll probably have a better time with your Vita then I did with the Wii. And some games for the Vita actually look (kinda) fun.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Not too many developers are going to want to dip their toe in that pool of stupid. If they have a cheap casual game idea, its going to be on iOS or an android app. If they have a meatier IP it might be an indie release on XBLA/PSN/Steam.

If they have a more substantial offering they are going to put it on the DS as it has a huge multigenerational track record and following plus the 2 screens lends itself to certain ideas.

If they have an even greater aspirations they will try to make it for 360/PS3 and then up from that are the so called AAA ideas.

Where exactly does the Vita fit into that hierarchy? The PS3 already has a less than stellar library (compared to ps2 or ps1, not necessarily just its current rivals) and the DS already exists. Why would I want a half-breed, expensive, unnecessary, and unsupported handheld?

It honestly reminds me of that Nokia N-Gage BS from way back aka the TACO PHONE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6kd9GBf2mA

It may be a technically sound bit of hardware, but that ammounts to nothing if no one wants to program for it. Much like the PS3 used to be treated, and by Bethesda still is.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

That's why I'm probably not going to get a vita until the price goes WAY down. It really is just another PSP, a handheld that focuses too much on snazzy graphics and the "console" experience that it forgets what a handheld is all about.

I've already got about 10 games on my 3DS, and all but one are simple ports of earlier games (MGS3). Zelda: Ocarina of Time doesn't really count because it improves a ton on the visuals side and makes it feel like a new game, something a lot of Vita ports don't do. And I know that the 3DS will get Pokemon, Layton, Ace Attorney, Zelda, Monster Hunter, Paper Mario and more.

I know the Vita is getting is a watered down Assassins Creed, a watered down Black Ops port, another Killzone sequel and ports of games I can just get for my PS3/PC/Xbox. Why would I buy a Vita just to play Assassins Creed on a handheld? I'd rather just play AC3 when it comes out. And pretty much all the other games (not including Gravity Rush) are watered down ports/sequels or first person shooters. Something I don't want on a handheld.

And the fact that the thing is stupidly overpriced. I can go out and get a 3DS with a decent SD card and a decent game for only about 130 pounds. A Vita without any games and without even the 3G is 200-250 pounds brand new. And then you HAVE to buy a stupid proprietary SD card for another 30-50 pounds and then you have to get some games, which there really aren't many of.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Apparently sony are having problems getting 3rd party support for the Vita, basically because developers feel not enough people are playing on Vita to justify making a whole game just for it. so its mainly ports.

I still want a Vita but I still have plenty of games I want that I've yet to play on PS3 (Arkham city for example) I will likely get a Vita in Perhaps 2 years time when theres plenty of games for it.

 

[Crazie_Guy]

Wow. That's a lot of people complaining because they got all of one game, finished it, then noticed that games in fact exist on other systems as well, and I guess that makes the Vita worthless somehow? Because there will never be any more great games for it in the future or something?

Yes, Sony has been focused on making a portable console as opposed to a handheld device. The PSP may have fallen short of that, but the Vita succeeded, which puts them in an interesting niche where they can sit as the king of high quality, hardcore portable gaming while everyone else squabbles over the short, casual traditional handheld stuff. If you think the Vita is a failure because people only use handhelds to play bejeweled on the bus for 5 then yeah, I guess you've completely missed the point, not to mention overlooked a plethora of fast travel games that already exist on the system. It's not just there to accommodate a few odd minutes here and there. This is the portable you lay in bed with for hours on a lazy day, or play at a friends house when you don't want to unhook your consoles and ship them over. Tthe Vita and 3DS are there for a proper gaming experience once you're at your destination and have an hour to kill. The Vita absolutely excels at this. Between the screen, power, and controls, it's easily the best handheld I've ever had the privilege to hold in my hands. For gaming, anyway. I'm not sure how they managed to screw up the loading times and music/file management so badly. There's not even a lack of good games out. Gravity Rush is nothing less than a reason to own the system, and the MGS HD collection and Disgaea 3 are fantastic to own and play anywhere for the same reason as Devil Survivor and Tales of the Abyss on 3DS: I didn't get to play them the first time around.

I would agree that you'd have to be stupid to have wasted money on the 3G version though. The 3G is worthless.

 

[omicron1]

Monster Hunter with twin-stick controls (1x for camera, 1x for player) ALMOST justifies the purchase on its own.
And while the Vita didn't take off, it'll still probably get enough good stuff during its lifetime to make it worth it. Probably.

 

[Defenestra]

I'm perfectly happy with my Vita purchase decision.

Mostly because I decided not to purchase one. I'm really mostly a PC gamer.

 

[Gatx]

Monster Hunter with twin-stick controls (1x for camera, 1x for player) ALMOST justifies the purchase on its own.
And while the Vita didn't take off, it'll still probably get enough good stuff during its lifetime to make it worth it. Probably.

I dunno man, Monster Hunter Portable 3, which is the only known Monster Hunter game that'll be coming to the Vita, is just a port of PSP game that's also available on the PS3. Meanwhile the 3DS secures the actual sequel. Basically I'm just thinking that people who bought a Vita expecting Monster Hunter because that was one of the few games on the PSP that made it worth it might have jumped the gun.