Half as long, twice as bright - The PS Vita thread

All of the periphal prices (mandatory memory card prices range from 20-120) have been released, so now is the right time to offer up the Vita thread. I'll keep this regularly updated with news and screenshots, changing the thread title to reflect major announcements.

The price of entry ranges from 280-420 (assuming one wants 3G and the 32 GB memory stick). I'm going to go with the biggest, most expensive configuration just because I am an avid portable gamer who spends a lot of time on the road (my PSP library is huge).

The Vita features dual analog sticks, dual multitouch touchscreens (front and rear), a microphone, two cameras and 960 x 544 OLED screen and a quad core processor. The achille's heel of the Vita is the 3-5 hours of battery life. It works for me (I spend 3 hours on the road daily) but that could prove problematic on long trips. Hopefully some sort of charging cradle will ship alongside the Vita.

Gravity Rush

LBP Vita

Dragon's Crown (not clear if screenshot is Vita or PS3, though this was released as part of the PS Vita unveiling)

Uncharted 3 Golden Abyss

Escape Plan

I was never very interested in the PSP but the Vita does have my attention. Just like with the 3DS I'll wait at least a few months to see how things go and what games come out before I consider buying one.

I probably wont buy it upon release, as I still have a crapload of titles to catch up on for the PSP, but I see myself owning the vita in the future.

Not even one FPS for release. Sony drops the ball yet again.

I am looking forward to it as my new portable system. Uncharted and Gravity Rush are no brainers for me.

i am extremely disappointed at the expensive SD cards, and I dont like how they are mendatory. There is nothing wrong with making money, but shady business practices like these TURN OFF consumers instead of bringing them in. I bet more than half the people wil buy a Vita with Uncharted, take it home and realize that they cant even save their progress on the damn thing. I suspect lots of negative press and bad word of mouth which might make this thing DOA. Sad because Sony did everything else right. Such a sad end for such a promising platform.

$30 is not a lot of money and it's still less than the $300 i was willing to pay for this device, but it's about prinicple and not screwing over your consumers which after the YLOD debacle Sony has gotten pretty good at.

Not even one FPS for release. Sony drops the ball yet again.

DerpyMcDerp

i am extremely disappointed at the expensive SD cards, and I dont like how they are mendatory. There is nothing wrong with making money, but shady business practices like these TURN OFF consumers instead of bringing them in. I bet more than half the people wil buy a Vita with Uncharted, take it home and realize that they cant even save their progress on the damn thing. I suspect lots of negative press and bad word of mouth which might make this thing DOA. Sad because Sony did everything else right. Such a sad end for such a promising platform.

$30 is not a lot of money and it's still less than the $300 i was willing to pay for this device, but it's about prinicple and not screwing over your consumers which after the YLOD debacle Sony has gotten pretty good at.

S0lidSnake

Yeah it's annoying to have to buy the memory card, but PS2 seemed to do just fine with it so I don't think it's an automatic death sentence.

I'm going to post a new Vita preview every day, time permitting.

Army Corps of Hell is kind of gruesome take on Pikmin from one of the guys involved in Pikmin. Its confirmed for US launch. One controls an army with three basic types of soldiers (guys who use swords, spears and magic). The trailer looks really promising. Hands on previews (there are several floating around) indicate that the game makes full use of the Vita's controls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP48LaDW1u0

Unit 13 is a launch Vita shooter from the makers of SOCOM which boasts 6 characters (each with different abilities) and 36 missions. It also features lots of multiplayer modes (including two player co-op), leaderboards and a daily challenge (presumably something like finish X mission with just a sidearm).

http://www.gamespot.com/unit-13/videos/unit-13-gameplay-trailer-6346646

Gravity Daze and Escape plan look so good, those would be the two titles I would get if I was more of a portable gamer. F1Lengend

IGN posted a video preview of Escape Plan which showcases some of the apparently many ways the characters can die.

http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/12/02/escape-plan-video-preview?objectid=115676

Its from some of the makers of Fat Princess, which eventually broke itself with DLC, but for a couple months was a very fun multiplayer strategy game.

Army Corps of hell looks a lot more interesting than I had realised. Might keep my eye on that. Gravity Rush is a given for me though.

I see handhelds as a novelty item unless I'm like 10 years old or something. As an adult, who works and goes to college, I wouldn't know how to find time or place to use a portable gaming device. Do I play my Vita while I'm waiting on my doctor's appointment in the waiting room? That would seem silly. Of course, this is for the younger generation/crowd/age group.. but I've never been able to justify the reason for buying a handheld. Besides, I don't go on enough road trips either to play it in the van - which can induce dizziness and/or motion sickness. Like I said, great for the kids, but not so much for me.Elann2008

I've never been prone to motion sickness, but my youngest daughter is. Unlike you, playing games doesn't trigger her motion sickness (it takes actual motion, like a car turning in a tight circle).

Like you, I wasn't much of a portable gamer when I was in college, but as a guy who spends three hours on the road getting to and from work, I am a huge portable gamer nowadays.

*Shrugs* Given your lifestyle and disabilities, it makes sense that you aren't a portable gamer.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]I see handhelds as a novelty item unless I'm like 10 years old or something. As an adult, who works and goes to college, I wouldn't know how to find time or place to use a portable gaming device. Do I play my Vita while I'm waiting on my doctor's appointment in the waiting room? That would seem silly. Of course, this is for the younger generation/crowd/age group.. but I've never been able to justify the reason for buying a handheld. Besides, I don't go on enough road trips either to play it in the van - which can induce dizziness and/or motion sickness. Like I said, great for the kids, but not so much for me.CarnageHeart

I've never been prone to motion sickness, but my youngest daughter is.Unlike you, playinggames doesn't trigger her motion sickness (it takes actual motion, like a car turning in a tight circle).

Like you, I wasn't much of a portable gamer when I was in college, but as a guy who spends three hours on the road getting to and from work, I am a huge portable gamer nowadays.

*Shrugs* Given your lifestyle and disabilities, it makes sense that you aren't a portable gamer.

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]I see handhelds as a novelty item unless I'm like 10 years old or something. As an adult, who works and goes to college, I wouldn't know how to find time or place to use a portable gaming device. Do I play my Vita while I'm waiting on my doctor's appointment in the waiting room? That would seem silly. Of course, this is for the younger generation/crowd/age group.. but I've never been able to justify the reason for buying a handheld. Besides, I don't go on enough road trips either to play it in the van - which can induce dizziness and/or motion sickness. Like I said, great for the kids, but not so much for me.AzelKosMos

I've never been prone to motion sickness, but my youngest daughter is.Unlike you, playinggames doesn't trigger her motion sickness (it takes actual motion, like a car turning in a tight circle).

Like you, I wasn't much of a portable gamer when I was in college, but as a guy who spends three hours on the road getting to and from work, I am a huge portable gamer nowadays.

*Shrugs* Given your lifestyle and disabilities, it makes sense that you aren't a portable gamer.

Your not the only one. When I'm out of the house its usually for work, errands, or friends/gf, so there isn't much time for gaming. But at the same time I still want to play those games that come out for portables which is the only reason I buy them. Also, I will be getting a Vita day one. :D

Gravity Rush is perhaps the most promising original Vita game (though fans of Escape Plan might argue the point). In it you control an acrobatic girl (is there any other kind?) who fights evil and has the ability to set her own gravity points. The character's powers come into play during melee combat, but she isn't the only gravity manipulator out there. Multiple worlds and dozens of missions from the maker of the Siren games.

http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/09/16/gravity-daze-gets-us-pumped

Modnation Racers: Road Trip is a Vita game which is completely compatible with all of the PS3's user created levels (and there are a couple million of those). This never became a real rival to LBP in my household just because it is about competitive, not co-op play, but my youngest is a big fan so there is a very strong chance that I will wind up picking this up at launch.

The videos I've seen indicate that the track creator really puts the dual multitouch screens of the Vita to good use, allowing players to quickly construct very complicated tracks.

http://www.gamespot.com/modnation-racers-road-trip/videos/e3-2011-modnation-racers-vita-impressions-6318070

Modnation is compatible with the PS3 levels? That's pretty awesome though it's not my sort of game.

Modnation is compatible with the PS3 levels? That's pretty awesome though it's not my sort of game.

AzelKosMos

That is what they have promised us. Given that the Modnation community is still going strong, that should translate into a lifetime's worth of day 1 content.

Uncharted is probably the biggest franchise announced for the PSP. Golden Abyss isn't being handled by Naughty Dog, but it is being made by Sony Bend (who made the excellent Syphon Filter games) so optimism is still warranted. I believe that as happened with God of War, this might teach its console brothers a few tricks.

http://www.gamespot.com/uncharted-golden-abyss/videos/tgs-2011-uncharted-golden-abyss-demo-6334760

Street Fighter X Tekken looks amazing and is the only fighting game not named VF I have my eye on. And yes, that is Infamous's Cole on the bottom screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86r6lv6C47Y

What I've seen of Gravity Rush looks good, but I am skeptical of it. Mainly because all the gameplay I've seen has been the same thing. I'm kinda worried that what I've seen is literally all we're getting with regards to the gravity gameplay. Press button to float, aim here, press button to fly towards this location, what you just landed on is your new ground state. Are there actually any other gravity manipulating abilities in the game? Because I can see that getting old. The combat I've seen was very basic as well. I'm interested in it, but I'd be a lot more comfortable if I could be assured the gravity gameplay and combat will be a lot more varied in the full game.

Due to the presence of games like Gravity Daze and Escape Plan, Sound Shapes is only the third most anticipated of the orginal Vita games, but that doesn't mean it doesn't seem to be turning into something special. Its from John Mak, the creator of Everyday Shooter (one the the tougher yet more beautiful dual stick shooters) and is a game in which one looks set to combine music creation and game creation in a really cool way.

As with all of Sony's games which allow for user generated content, players can post content for everyone to play and rate and review content.

http://psp.ign.com/articles/121/1214185p1.html

These notes function only as song-building tools. Actual levels come to life through different shapes that stretch and rotate with touch controls. Some environmental hazards, including enemies and small lasers, also contribute to the song in some way. Sure, those lasers that fire periodically to block your path pose a danger to you mid-game, but they also provide a snare drum for your song.

Experimentation in Sound Shapes' creation mode quickly leads to playable levels, which shocked me when I tried it myself. After placing a few musical notes, jamming with a bass line, and setting a series of blocks down, I suddenly had a playable level that can be tested right from the creation mode. The rhythm of this back-and-forth system speeds up in minutes. If one block feels out of place, a quick touch switches you right back into the creation side and a second touch moves that block to the right spot.

What I've seen of Gravity Rush looks good, but I am skeptical of it. Mainly because all the gameplay I've seen has been the same thing. I'm kinda worried that what I've seen is literally all we're getting with regards to the gravity gameplay. Press button to float, aim here, press button to fly towards this location, what you just landed on is your new ground state. Are there actually any other gravity manipulating abilities in the game? Because I can see that getting old. The combat I've seen was very basic as well. I'm interested in it, but I'd be a lot more comfortable if I could be assured the gravity gameplay and combat will be a lot more varied in the full game.

burgeg

Here's a silent trailer which shows off a bunch of the protagonist's powers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZWjkh0c0QQ

[QUOTE="burgeg"]

What I've seen of Gravity Rush looks good, but I am skeptical of it. Mainly because all the gameplay I've seen has been the same thing. I'm kinda worried that what I've seen is literally all we're getting with regards to the gravity gameplay. Press button to float, aim here, press button to fly towards this location, what you just landed on is your new ground state. Are there actually any other gravity manipulating abilities in the game? Because I can see that getting old. The combat I've seen was very basic as well. I'm interested in it, but I'd be a lot more comfortable if I could be assured the gravity gameplay and combat will be a lot more varied in the full game.

CarnageHeart

Here's a silent trailer which shows off a bunch of the protagonist's powers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZWjkh0c0QQ

Hmmmm..... Looks good but not sure if I want any ports that I can play on my PS3. Gravity Rush looks and sounds awesome and so does Dragon Crown but I'll probably get it for PS3. I hear that Akai Katana will be making it's way over to Vita so that makes it an instant purchase for me. So with that, I'm hoping that someone here can answer the following questions.

1. Is the Vita backwards compatible with PSP games?
2. Is the Vita region free?

Thanks!

Unit 13 is a launch Vita shooter from the makers of SOCOM which boasts 6 characters (each with different abilities) and 36 missions. It also features lots of multiplayer modes (including two player co-op), leaderboards and a daily challenge (presumably something like finish X mission with just a sidearm).

http://www.gamespot.com/unit-13/videos/unit-13-gameplay-trailer-6346646

CarnageHeart

Hmmmm..... Looks good but not sure if I want any ports that I can play on my PS3. Gravity Rush looks and sounds awesome and so does Dragon Crown but I'll probably get it for PS3. I hear that Akai Katana will be making it's way over to Vita so that makes it an instant purchase for me. So with that, I'm hoping that someone here can answer the following questions.

1. Is the Vita backwards compatible with PSP games?
2. Is the Vita region free?

Thanks!

Spirit_of_87

1. You can play games you downloaded no problem, but for disc based games, one has to pay a fee for access to the download (otherwise ten people could use the same disc to get access to the same download on ten different Vitas) since it no longer has a UMD drive.

2. The Vita is region free (so you could buy Japanese games and play them on your US Vita with no problem), but only one account is allowed per memory card, so one would need multiple memory cards if one wants to take advantage of the download deals different regions offer to their users.

Ragnarok Odyssey is a four player action rpg in which you hunt monsters (sounds familiar). Not my cup of tea but its made by Game Arts (maker of Lunar and Grandia) so it should play as good as it looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opFs0zW_GBQ

Little King's Story 2 is a sequel to the hardcore Wii exclusive strategy game which sold three copies (the designers had somehow missed the fact that Nintendo's core fans don't buy third party games).

Its not clear that this will hit the US, but its already been announced for Europe (which like Japan is aprofitable PSP market) so there will be an English language version for interested Americans to import.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGhahopTBZ4

Ragnarock Odyssey wasn't on my radar at all and thats exactly the sort of game I want for the system really. Will keep an eye on that for sure. Obviously I would prefer Monster Hunter but Game Arts have made some amazing games, hopefully this will be one of them lol.

Little Kings Story is one of a handful of titles on wii I was interested in so I will be looking to try the Vita sequel, I love the art design.

Ragnarok Odyssey is a four player action rpg in which you hunt monsters (sounds familiar). Not my cup of tea but its made by Game Arts (maker of Lunar and Grandia) so it should play as good as it looks.

CarnageHeart

Luminees, the PSP's best launch game (IMHO) will also be hitting the Vita at launch in the form of Luminees: Electronic Symphony. If one taps to the beat using the rear touch screen, one charges up one's special move (which this time around is contingent upon the character one picks) faster. There will be three dozen tracks and one assumes that many backgrounds (anyone that knows Luminees knows the backgrounds and the music are closely tied together).

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/12/09/the-quantizing-sounds-of-lumines-electronic-symphony-for-ps-vita/

Uncharted is probably the biggest franchise announced for the PSP. Golden Abyss isn't being handled by Naughty Dog, but it is being made by Sony Bend (who made the excellent Syphon Filter games) so optimism is still warranted. I believe that as happened with God of War, this might teach its console brothers a few tricks.

http://www.gamespot.com/uncharted-golden-abyss/videos/tgs-2011-uncharted-golden-abyss-demo-6334760

CarnageHeart

>My big question is just who the hell the woman in the second pic is.

Drake's mom or sister perhaps?

TheFallenDemon

Motorstorm RC is a download only title for the Vita and PS3 which looks like the spiritual successor to RC Pro Am and Super Offroad Racing. When you buy it, you buy it for both systems (I want everyone to follow this model). 16 tracks in 4 locations, multiple modes, 8 classes of vehicles (all highly customizable) and 4 player online play.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/11/22/introducing-motorstorm-rc-for-psn-and-ps-vita/

Resistance Burning Skies is an FPS which isn't making launch but which is coming out in 2012. According to IGN the controls feel good, but aren't quite as tight as R3's just yet. You play as a firefighter whose goal is to save civilians. No word on whether or not one actually runs into civilians, but it would be a nice change of pace to have to worry about collateral damage in a shooter. The rear touchscreen comes into play to compensate for the lack of a second set of shoulder buttons.

http://vita.ign.com/articles/121/1214639p1.html

[QUOTE="Spirit_of_87"]

Hmmmm..... Looks good but not sure if I want any ports that I can play on my PS3. Gravity Rush looks and sounds awesome and so does Dragon Crown but I'll probably get it for PS3. I hear that Akai Katana will be making it's way over to Vita so that makes it an instant purchase for me. So with that, I'm hoping that someone here can answer the following questions.

1. Is the Vita backwards compatible with PSP games?
2. Is the Vita region free?

Thanks!

CarnageHeart

1. You can play games you downloaded no problem, but for disc based games, one has to pay a fee for access to the download (otherwise ten people could use the same disc to get access to the same download on ten different Vitas) since it no longer has a UMD drive.

2. The Vita is region free (so you could buy Japanese games and play them on your US Vita with no problem), but only one account is allowed per memory card, so one would need multiple memory cards if one wants to take advantage of the download deals different regions offer to their users.

Thanks! I guess backwards compatibility isn't that big a deal so, i'll hang on to my PSP. The Vita being region free makes this a definite purchase for me.

That R.C Pro AM game looks great as well.

Not even one FPS for release. Sony drops the ball yet again.

DerpyMcDerp

because handhelds were built with fps games in mind...most sold games on psp were rpgs and visual novels...sony knows where its bread and butter comes from...why do u think there are hardly any good jrpgs on ps3 yet there are tons on psp

The Vita has everything you need for FPS though. Dual analog sticks, big screen, great graphics, the possibility to use the rear multi-touch as L2/R2. What's missing?

The Vita has everything you need for FPS though. Dual analog sticks, big screen, great graphics, the possibility to use the rear multi-touch as L2/R2. What's missing?

logicalfrank

nothins missing...it is being done...the resistance game was already mentioned...but its still not gonna be a huge portion of the games developed...i have this feelin jrpgs and visual novels will still be kings...if only in asia alone

For those interested in playing shooters on the Vita, a Killzone is in the pipeline. These February screenshots are the last thing Sony has publicly shown, so it probably will hit after Resistance (which we've seen more of, but isn't making launch). This is being handled by SCE Cambridge, who isn't one of Sony's top tier developers, but did make the PSP1 version of LBP (which didn't live us to its console big brother, but was closer than one would have guessed) as well as Primal and the Medievals.

Carnage did you see the amazon.co.uk. pre-order price for a 16GB Vita card? It's only 17.99 pounds. It's probably a mistake but i ordered one anyway. :P

I know I said it before, but the screenshots of these games look good. I haven't played a 3DS, so this is a huge improvement over the PSP and DS.

I know I said it before, but the screenshots of these games look good. I haven't played a 3DS, so this is a huge improvement over the PSP and DS.

BranKetra

The AMAZING OLED screen will make the games look even better.