Sony: Vita Will Avoid PSP Mistakes By Having Less Home Console Ports

One of the bigger problems that Sony had with the PSP was that they positioned the handheld as a way to take “console-like” games on the go, which happens to be the same message that they are using with the PlayStation Vita. Many PSP developers grabbed onto this idea and ported their console titles over to the system. The problem this created was that consumers started to view the PSP’s port library as a reason not to own the handheld.

Speaking to Gamasutra, Sony’s marketing VP, John Koller, admitted the PSP’s “console-like games on portables” message was a problem. He then explained how the PS Vita‘s “console-like games on portables” message will not saddle the new handheld with the same problems.

“The issue that happened with PSP is we got overrun with ports. 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.”

“[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.”

Koller then pointed to Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, and Activision’s Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified as two examples of Vita games that are similar, but not ports of their console versions. He concluded, saying ”The messaging is similar [between PSP and PS Vita], but I think the output is going to be quite different.”

Basically, Sony’s position is that the PSP strategy didn’t work for the PSP, however, it will work for the Vita.

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http://www.facebook.com/nicholas.gatewood Nicholas Gatewood

Well this sucks ass. I purchased a Vita hoping for console titles, I don’t want to be limited to handheld-only games. I’m a portable gamer with high standards, I’m not gonna purchase a console to play certain games when my Vita’s capable. Sad that Sony’s actually HINDERING the thing I want most out of my Vita, those bastards.
http://www.facebook.com/nicholas.gatewood Nicholas Gatewood

“Most consumers looking to pick up a handheld system are not looking
for unique “console-like” games, they are looking for unique
“handheld-like” games.

Handheld games can be just as deep and engrossing as a console game,
but the key is that then need to be easily digestible and somehow broken
up in to smaller segments. This is because the majority of the time
when people reach for a handheld to play a game they are trying to kill a
few minutes, not a few hours.”

I feel the need to point out that this isn’t something developers should focus on. You are familiar with the Vita’s sleep mode function, right? That makes your entire argument moot, I can play long-ass titles like Ninja Gaiden for three minutes, put my Vita into sleep mode and continue later when I have the time. What the Vita needs is GOOD GAMES, not just handheld-style games. Handheld-style games are generally much more simplistic and lame than console-style games and since the Vita’s the first portable device to offer a handheld gaming experience with so few limitations along with strengths like OLED and its touchpads that make up for it… well, why the hell would you want to play something that can be played on a smartphone just as well as on your Vita? Maybe you don’t understand the “core handheld gamer” appeal of the Vita. I grew up gaming on handhelds and I would rather not be tethered to a TV to get my fix, and there’s no way I’d play Angry Turds over a game like Ratchet and Clank: Full Frontal Assault or Playstation All-Stars. The Vita offers those casual handheld titles like Plants vs Zombies and it also offers hardcore games like Soul Sacrifice and Playstation All-Stars. Why limit yourself to handheld-style games when you could otherwise offer choice?
- http://twitter.com/Mr_Manager0803 Justin A.
  
  I understand that a lot of people will want console-like games on a handheld, but they are not the majority of handheld consumers.
  
  My bigger point is that regardless of what type of game Sony is going after they need to make them unique to the Vita. Not a game that you can also find on the PS3, or even a game that you can find a similar version of on the PS3.
Cornelius Johnson

Hmmmm.. i think they are thinking wrong. psp failed at that because the “console type” games where smaller, crappier version of their console counterparts. The vita can handle a lot more than the psp. Ppl want console like games on the Vita. I can get into it for a few mins, put it in sleep and continue later. That’s the reason I wanted full remote play, to have a ps3 experience on the go or just in my hands. Give the best of both words, serious games and handheld games. I want to be able to play my fav console type games in the car or over a friend’s house.
Shawn

It’s the high cost of development and expensive custom memory cards that making the Vita lag behind the 3DS. Nintndo system is $200 and under and use cheaper standard SD cards.