There are few things more exciting for gamers than a console launch. It brings with it hope for a new generation of gaming and the promise to do something previous generations couldn't.
Both of those things are true for Sony's PlayStation Vita, which was officially launched this week as the successor to the popular PlayStation Portable.
It's a handheld gaming console that has all the potential in the world and a few glaring concerns. Below a review of the new P.S Console
The cost: Sony has released two different versions of the Vita. The only difference is that one costs $249 and comes without 3G capabilities and the other costs $299 with 3G capabilities. You then have to pay for a 3G plan. Both versions come with built-in WiFi.
In order to play games or manage your content on the Vita, you'll need a memory card. The $299 bundle comes with an 8 mgb memory card that would otherwise cost $34.99.
The Vita games range in price from about $30 to about $50. What the cost comes down to is how much of the console's capabilities do you plan to use. The 3G version comes with great perks that help make up for paying the extra $50 for the console. But you'll still need to play between $15 and $30 a month to use the 3G. The price depends on how much data you want to use.
The design: The PS Vita is a gorgeous gaming machine. It's the classic PlayStation black with several minor touches of style.
The front of the console has two joysticks, a major thing for many gamers. The direction pad and face buttons are on opposite sides of the console and the trigger buttons are nestled in the top of the device. So you have every input option on the Vita that you'll find on the PS3 controller.
The back of the Vita is where you'll see a touchpad that has a sort of matted finish and minor indents to the console that help you gain a grip while playing.
Gamers will be impressed with the 5 inch OLED touchscreen and the back panel touch screen that give developers far more options for game play design. Several of the launch games use touch as major game play features.
It all ads up to a beautiful device that is built for functionality and style. The front and back cameras don't get in the way of your gaming and don't take up more room that they have to. It's surprising how many smartphones get that part wrong.
The software: The Vita uses the idea of multiple home screens to present the games and applications. Instead of the sliding menu you get from the PlayStation 3, you get sliding panels that can be customized, moving your games or applications to wherever you want.
You can also hit the PlayStation logo button to cascade the panels or open applications. That means you can have multiple applications or games running at the same time and hot swap between them.
The applications and games are displayed as circular icons. You're allowed 10 icons per panel.
What I appreciate about the Vita's operating system is how fast it works. You can get to your content pretty quickly once you learn all the tricks. I think, though, that the visual presentation of that is pretty ugly. The bubbles of applications looks crowded and takes up far more space that it should. Plus the Vita installs a bubble for every game you play then leaves it there even if you're not playing the game.
It's a great thing, obviously, for games installed on the console. It's pretty annoying when it comes to games you play using the game cards. Seeing 10 games in a panel but only being able to play two without swapping out the card is pointless. You can delete the icons but I can't find a setting to prevent the icon from staying there.
Aside from gaming, the Vita also gives you an application for tweeting, having access to Flickr, and to use your Netflix account. I imagine we can expect more non-gaming applications and uses to be added to the console.
Social gaming: One of the bigger functions of the Vita is the geosocial application, called "near". It uses your location to map out and display Vita users in your area. You can see what games those users have played and which games are trending overall and what users have to say about the games.
There is also the party application that lets you voice chat with friends regardless of which game they might be playing. Those two features add a very social feel to the Vita experience. It's pretty interesting to see what people around me are playing and which games are gaining in popularity.
The games: The PS Vita has a solid lineup of launch times. I would say a handful of these games are great to play. I would also make it clear that the reason they're great is that many have already been released on other gaming platforms.
But that is what makes the Vita such a wonderful mobile gaming device. It's beyond impressive that you can play games like Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Rayman Origins, ModNation Racers, Uncharted, and Wipeout 2048 on the Vita with the same controls and essentially the same graphics that you can on the PlayStation 3.
Throw in a handful of completely new games and you have a lineup of titles that shows what the Vita is capable of doing. There is no shortage of games for you to choose from when it comes to gaming experience and price.
In fact, some of the downloadable and cheaper games are among the best on the platform. Do yourself a favor and get Stardust the moment you can. The same brilliance that it brought to the PS3 is on display for Vita users.
This is where the Vita needs more work, though. Being able to play console games on a mobile device is really nice. But so is being able to play exclusives. The Vita needs many more console exclusives that take advantage of what the device can do.
This is where the PlayStation Portable failed miserably. It just didn't have very many memorable games. What the Vita needs are games that hardcore gamers feel they have to play.
It is a console, after all, built for the hardcore audience in mind. They demand a healthy dose of great exclusive games. The launch lineup is robust and versatile but many gamers might be left wondering why they're playing the same games over again.
Overall: The PS Vita is built for hardcore gamers. It's a powerful piece of tech that offers developers a wide range of options for creating beautiful and complex games.
The touch features, controls, and processing power is a platform from which you can already find pretty solid games that rival what you'll see on current generation consoles.
I do believe that the software is fast and flexible but fairly unattractive when it comes to presenting the content. I do think most of the games are basically re-released versions of what's already out. I do think people will be turned away by the cost of the console, games, and needed accessories.
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