On the issue of the 3ds and PS Vita (The NGP)

[Post Tenebrae Morte]

So, I was just coming off of watching Sony's press conference and I have to wonder, what my fellow Escapists think of the issue of comparing the 3ds and Vita, which both (Vita at its lowest price) are of equal pricing.

Personally, I know the Vita is likely technically superior, but I also remember how the Psp was also heralded as the death of Nintendo's handheld grasp and how it turned out. While the Psp was successful, the Ds outsold it and has performed exceptionally compared to the Psp's run.

All the arguments on Gamefaqs (I know, not exactly the best place to find actual intellect) saying that the 3DS is dead now, all they have is that the Vita has better graphics and such. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the exact argument people used for the PsP being the DS's death?

Edit: http://www.destructoid.com/e3-sony-confirms-playstation-vita-249-299-pricetag-203067.phtml
For those who need info regarding the PS Vita (NGP)

What do you all say of this?

~Efrit

 

[theComposer]

As soon as the 3DS gets a solid game lineup, it will take off just as the DS did. Additionally, the same thing that happened to the 3DS could happen to the Vita if its launch lineup is also paltry. Both are great pieces of hardware with great franchises and developers on board, but it's really gonna come down to the games actually available, not the ones mentioned at conferences.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

Well, the DS was first to the part, the 3DS is first to the party, and, well, Nintendo has been the established king of handhelds since the original Game Boy, you don't just topple such an idea overnight, especially not when you're reusing several ideas from your competitor. It's the same problem with the Move, they're trying to get an audience that Nintendo already has won quite solidly.

 

[Mr. Omega]

1: Welcome to the Escapist!

2: Yeah, there some people who actually thought the Vita was gonna give Sony the edge on the handheld market. Let's see those thoughts now.

3: Even if the Vita beats the 3DS (which with each announcement is becoming less and less likely), it's not going to beat Nintendo. DS Lites, DSis and just plain regular DSs are still selling very well.

4: It's about time I see someone else noticing "Wait... aren't these all the same reasons everyone thought the PSP was gonna beat the DS? And we all know how that went..."

5: Once the 3DS gets it's main games out (and one the internet collectively realizes YOU CAN SHUT OFF THE 3D! God, that complaint annoys me...), the biggest complaint for the 3DS will be moot. Vita is getting new complaint-worthy things with each announcement (exclusive to AT&T, price, no 4G version, ect.)

This is not going to end well for Sony... again...

 

[Zyst]

Sorry, but could you illustrate what the Vita is for us less-knowledgeable folk? I'd never heard of it.

As for the 3DS dead being imminent, it is said about every-single-console. Ever.

"The Xbox is the PS2 death."
"The PS3 is PC gaming death."
"Warhammer Online is WoW death."

Ok, maybe the last one isn't a console, but I felt like saying it.

 

[mireko]

Will the Vita have region-free games? That's a major selling point for me, and one of the main reasons I haven't picked up a 3DS. To get most of the games I want, I would have import that console from the US, which is costly and just generally annoying (especially for a handheld).

Anyway, it comes down to what games they get. We know the Vita will have support from some interesting companies. Remains to be seen how the 3DS will fare, what with sales being surprisingly slow.

 

[darkfire613]

The 3DS needs a good lineup. A couple more months, maybe a year, and we'll have a damn good, formidable contender with it, easily living up to the DS's legacy. As for the Vita, it is also looking to be amazing and I certainly want one, and its launch line-up looks to be superior to what the 3DS had, but everyone said the PSP was the DS killer and look where that ended up. I think there's room on the market for both, but especially if the 3DS got a $50 price drop.

 

[Post Tenebrae Morte]

Sorry, but could you illustrate what the Vita is for us less-knowledgeable folk? I'd never heard of it.

As for the 3DS dead being imminent, it is said about every-single-console. Ever.

"The Xbox is the PS2 death."
"The PS3 is PC gaming death."
"Warhammer Online is WoW death."

Ok, maybe the last one isn't a console, but I felt like saying it.

Ah, sorry old chap.
http://www.destructoid.com/e3-sony-confirms-playstation-vita-249-299-pricetag-203067.phtml
The PS Vita is the sequel to the PsP.
and I agree, the naysayers never truly learn. It just seems like they mindlessly come around and mess about.

1: Welcome to the Escapist!

2: Yeah, there some people who actually thought the Vita was gonna give Sony the edge on the handheld market. Let's see those thoughts now.

3: Even if the Vita beats the 3DS (which with each announcement is becoming less and less likely), it's not going to beat Nintendo. DS Lites, DSis and just plain regular DSs are still selling very well.

4: It's about time I see someone else noticing "Wait... aren't these all the same reasons everyone thought the PSP was gonna beat the DS? And we all know how that went..."

5: Once the 3DS gets it's main games out (and one the internet collectively realizes YOU CAN SHUT OFF THE 3D! God, that complaint annoys me...), the biggest complaint for the 3DS will be moot. Vita is getting new complaint-worthy things with each announcement (exclusive to AT&T, price, no 4G version, ect.)

This is not going to end well for Sony... again...

Tell me about it. It is really irritating to see people always bring up the 3D like you have to use it. Not many people seem to grasp the concept of common sense these days sadly.

~Efrit

 

[Fusioncode9]

The 250$ price tag just sold me on the system. I can't wait, the 3DS isn't selling too well so I'm pretty sure the Vita will destroy during the holiday season. 4x as powerful with the same price tag. The only reason to pick the 3DS is for the 3D aspect, which is pretty gimmicky.

 

[Allspice]

Vita looked alright. I can't really form a real solid opinion on it without actually trying it myself, but it looked interesting enough. I did like the 3DS when I tried it, but I couldn't justify upgrading from a DSi just yet. I'll probably have the same opinion with the Vita when I try it.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I plan on getting the 3DS when the mark II. is released. By then the battery and LR button issues will likely have been sorted out. There will likely also be more games on it and possibly even a Ruby/ Sapphire bundle of some sort (if my theory is right anyway).

I had a PSP but I neglected the hell out of it. I think I'd be the same with the Vita. With the 3DS I can turn off the 3D and play some Zelda, Pokemon, Kid Icarus and, possibly Kirby.

 

[Post Tenebrae Morte]

The 250$ price tag just sold me on the system. I can't wait, the 3DS isn't selling too well so I'm pretty sure the Vita will destroy during the holiday season. 4x as powerful with the same price tag. The only reason to pick the 3DS is for the 3D aspect, which is pretty gimmicky.

You forget how the Psp performed compared to the DS. Power doesn't matter in the end, it is the line-up, reputation of the maker/publisher, and how it is advertised.

~Efrit

 

[Hitman Dread]

The Vita has the same issue the PSP had. It is a portable console.

In the past, people had a problem with this concept, especially outside of Japan, arguably the worlds most mobile country with a greater demand for a product like this.

How the market has changed, we shall see.

 

[Trishbot]

Does the VITA have Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon?

Nintendo could release a system for twice the price, half the graphics, and have no other games, and people would still make it a success when Pokemon Sterling or Glitter comes out to dazzle and entice people to catch 250 more new monsters.

Though I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo quickly released a price-cut. The 3DS has been overpriced, and now that the Vita can compete with it directly, Nintendo would be wise to lower the entry fee and start reaping the rewards for a new 3DS Mario or Zelda game ASAP.

 

[ThatDaveDude1]

The price of the Vita is right around what I expected it to be, and at the same price as the 3DS considering the fact that it has more than just gimmicks, I'd have to go with Vita over 3DS anyday. That's as of right now. Hopefully, the 3DS makes some sort of triumphant comeback so I can get excited for it again.

Also (semi-related), $249 =/= 249 Euro. Sony, I am Disappoint.

Spoiler

Luckily for me, I live in America so I don't have to deal with this shit.

 

[GrimHeaper]

From the other thread my understanding is that you have to pay a monthly service fee through AT&T to access the web on the Vita, correct? That right there makes it vastly inferior to the 3DS, even though I fucking hate the 3D on that thing.

Basically it's looking like I could care less about the new generation of handhelds until I can get one at a REALLY low price.

You can turn OFF the 3d though.No complaining when Nintendo thought of that.

The 250$ price tag just sold me on the system. I can't wait, the 3DS isn't selling too well so I'm pretty sure the Vita will destroy during the holiday season. 4x as powerful with the same price tag. The only reason to pick the 3DS is for the 3D aspect, which is pretty gimmicky.

Concerning Vita does it have backwards compatibility for psp games? If it doesn't no sell.

 

[Akihiko]

The DS only won because it had a tonne of casual games to win the casual crowd over. Same reason as the Wii. The gimmick has already been used up. The new gimmick is 3d, which a lot of people can't actually use due to headaches, or even just not seeing it due to their eyes, to top it off the casual crowd has now moved to iphones etc, allowing them to play games on the go in their mobile.

Me? I actually preferred the PSP. I've got far more games to it, and enjoyed those games far more.