from ign and forbes

 

 

Is a price drop imminent?

 

 

It's old news now that PlayStation Vita isn't selling very well in its native Japan. As we already reported, Vita is off to a rocky start, only selling 72,479 in its first week on the market after pushing about 325,000 in its first 48 hours.

 

This precipitous decline hasn't gone unnoticed in circles outside of the gaming realm. In fact, Forbes tech contributor Tero Kuittinen has written a scathing article titled "Sony in Big Trouble with PS Vita," outlining the problems the company is currently facing with Vita.

 

Kuittinen notes that Vita's "second week brought devastation," especially when compared to Nintendo 3DS' second week on the market. Nintendo 3DS was widely believed to have had a terrible start, only more recently pushing bigger numbers now that games players want have finally starting arriving. Yet, 3DS sold 370,000 units in Japan in its first week, and 210,000 units in its second. In other words, it beat PlayStation Vita by 45,000 units in its first week, and a massive 137,500 units in its second week.

 

"That drop off led to steep further sales erosion," the Forbes article notes, "which forced Nintendo to implement an unusually early and steep price cut." This, of course, begs the question if Sony will do the same. Tero Kuittinen thinks that it will. "Sony will likely be forced to cut the price of the PS Vita from 24,000 Yen (~$311) to well below 20,000 Yen (~$259) very soon."

 

But the problems don't stop there. Kuittinen continues, "The upcoming US launch could be a true debacle for several reasons. Sony has decided to price Vita at $250, higher than the Amazon Kindle Fire. The hottest games like the latest Uncharted are priced at $50, while many other major titles are $40. The pricing seems delusional in light of the Japanese response to the PS Vita."

 

However, Kuittinen saves perhaps his harshest words for later in his article. "The 3DS should have been a surefire blockbuster in its domestic market -- the summer softness in Japan may have been an early warning sign of the coming global portable market malaise. The disastrous second week of the PS Vita is the second sign." The reason? The Forbes author argues that the rise of the smart phone and tablet markets are much to blame.

 

But he also argues that Sony should be concerned, as it seems to be on recent word that Sony had no comment when asked about Vita's sluggish sales. "…the portable console market may now have entered an age of permanent, slowly accelerating decline," Kuittinen concludes. "The true test of the industry is the United States, where consumers are embracing games designed for smartphones and tablets. The possible shrinking of the portable game consumer base would hit the runner-up Sony before Nintendo really gets mauled. The rot sets in first at the periphery."

Meh, I'd still get a Vita. x3

Meh, I'd still get a Vita. x3

 

Yeah, the Vita looks awesome and has great potential. It's just missing a lot of "big" games that will help boost its sales. I plan to get a Vita next year since I'll be busy with getting a lot of games this year lol.

Wow. Really Sony? This is so cheesy. If people don't want the Vita, then they don't want it. If people do, then they do. Targeting the 3ds isn't improving their sales. Nintendo doesn't target Sony to improve their own sales. Also, think again. Some games are compatible with Circle Pad Pro, and it can make a huge difference. Try Resident Evil on the 3ds with and without it. I think this is a very poor marketing scheme by Sony.I like Sony too, but Nintendo was meant for handhelds and Sony was meant for home consoles. End of story.

Edited July 8, 201213 yr by LightningXIII

Meh, I'd still get a Vita. x3

 

me 2. I already have a 3DS and I got the Assassin Creed PS Vita on preorder

silly silly sony LONG LIVE 3DS!

Typical Sony, what do you expect?

The 3DS is still outselling the Vita by double so...

Wii own U.

i perfer sony over nintendo still lol

But does it have BLAST Processing?! People who remember the Sega Genesis will remember that

 

And dang, haven't seen a company do that since the Genesis and Super Nintendo.

Meh, nothing can beat these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7nsBoqJ6s8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK0OFsWWzu4

Meh, nothing can beat these:

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7nsBoqJ6s8

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK0OFsWWzu4

 

Hey, I remember these commercials. This was back when me and Sonic were golden. I remember all the good old Genesis games we were on together. Back when i first met Sonic and Knuckles. Ah, back everything was amazing and magical for me.

I don´t think that this should be against the 3DS. It´s a fact that you can play FPS better with 2 Sticks. By the way you can use 2 Sticks with the 3DS as well. You see just too much in this advertising.

resistance was bad, so it doesn't matter anyways

I don´t think that this should be against the 3DS. It´s a fact that you can play FPS better with 2 Sticks. By the way you can use 2 Sticks with the 3DS as well. You see just too much in this advertising.

 

Well, not really considering that I just copies and pasted this from an article lol.

Edited July 8, 201213 yr by Tails

I love both consoles and the VITA is obviously way more powerful and overkills the 3DS... But I still think that the 3DS has better content... and as for the hardcore games, that`s why I got a PS3..

To be honest, I saw the commercial as targeting/attacking the PSP. You know, it's like they're saying, "Hey, so we know that the PSP was not the best for FPS games. That's why the Vita now has two analog sticks!" ...Or something like that.

This commercial is just funny considering the 3ds is still beating the vita everywhere. Yes vita had better initial release games and a second analog stick, but the vita lacks the library of games now and the 3ds was never meant to have a second analog stick. The CPP merely adds additional function, in a similar manner to the nunchuck for wii (although it was necessary for some games, but for others it is optional and adds functionality).

 

EDIT: I do think the vita has an immense amount of potential. Sony just needs to realize that and do more with it. They still seem to be letting it fall to the wayside. Plus its so darn expensive, which is understandable for the hardware quality, but similar to the ps3 at launch, it has scared away gamers, one of which is me, since I'm a college student and can barely afford the games to play let alone hardware.

Edited July 8, 201213 yr by Nathan Hatton

Well, I'm still getting a vita, once the price drops, and becomes more affordable. Sony just needs to have big games in order to sell their hardware, and stop trying to use other companies hardware in other to sell their own hardware, which is a bad business tactic.

3ds is selling more because of KH3D.Sony must be hating Nomura right now

Seems to me like it may be referencing the PSP more, but eh, who knows?

3ds is selling more because of KH3D.Sony must be hating Nomura right now

 

Sony doesn't need to hate Nomura when they know they're getting KH3. lol

Wow. Really Sony? This is so cheesy. If people don't want the Vita, then they don't want it. If people do, then they do. Targeting the 3ds isn't improving their sales. Nintendo doesn't target Sony to improve their own sales. Also, think again. Some games are compatible with Circle Pad Pro, and it can make a huge difference. Try Resident Evil on the 3ds with and without it. I think this is a very poor marketing scheme by Sony.I like Sony too, but Nintendo was meant for handhelds and Sony was meant for home consoles. End of story.

 

Holy crap, this is so true. Can I have your autograph!? o3o

 

Holy crap, this is so true. Can I have your autograph!? o3o

 

Sure thing!(no seriously, I can send you a pic of my signature )

Really now? Without Nintendo, they wouldn't have half their 'ideas'. Who wants to bet that the Vita would have only had one analogue stick if Nintendo fans hadn't been so vocal about wanting one on the 3DS.

Aside from the PS3, I really don't like anything made by Sony. Sure, Nintendo is being a bit bad lately too, but they're still, in my opinion, doing so much better than other companies.