Alright, I’ve just received the Kotaku office Vita, and I’m posting in between charging this bad boy up. The PlayStation Vita comes out in Australia today — anyone here planning on getting one?
I’m happy to just fool around with the office one at the moment, and I don’t have any plans to buy one for myself yet. My first impressions of the Vita, now that I’ve got a retail version out of the usual preview environment, is that it is a super ergonomic, prestige piece of kit that feels and looks quality.
Also — it feels as though there’s a lot of… stuff that goes with it. AR cards, memory cards, SIM cards — I genuinely did have a tough time finding where the hell I was supposed to put stuff! Everything feels so small. I will lose things, this is a guarantee.
Anyway — any of you guys pick up a Vita? Anyone planning on getting one? Let us know in the comments below.
Richard Smack Version 2
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:36 AMOf course not, i would if i didn’t have standards.
f4ction
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:07 AMI wish we could just perma-ban you and your negativity.
Richard Smack Version 2
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:17 AM*Starts playing Violin for f4ction*
f4ction
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:18 AMThanks, my office could use some classical music.
Richard Smack Version 2
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:19 AMHappy to be of service!
McGarnical
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 1:18 PMJust to be offensive, Richard’s violin probably has a dubstep drop about 30 seconds in.
Richard Smack Version 2
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3:30 PMDon’t spoil it dude!
Cephalxn
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:38 AMI really want to get one. But I really should pay off my Xbox that I impulse bought the other week (I already had a PS3, but all my mates have an xbox so i caved so i could play online with them).
Damn you interest free harvey norman
Superklue
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 1:19 PMDude. You bought a $168 console (4GB) on interest free terms?
dambig
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:38 AMI will when a decent game comes out on it. Make that 3 decent games…
Steve B
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:40 AMtoo expensive for a handheld for me.
Andrewhaze8
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:41 AMPicked mine up this morning before work simply put it looks awesome and I can’t wait to finish so I can give it a real go
Thom
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:42 AMWell – seeing as you asked…
Short answer no. Long answer – there’s no place for this sort of device in my life. My phone has taken the role of portable gaming device, and I don’t think that I can go back. The only time I can think of we’re I’d like a high powered dedicated handheld is on a plane – and the battery for the PSV and the 3DS is too short to get me through a flight to Asia.
Add to that the fact its pretty pricey and I have a I’d rather play on my large screens at home, I’m kind of hoping the device is a failure so there aren’t too many games I like the look of, but want to play on a TV. I’m looking squarely at Golden Abyss with that statement.
DrCurlytek
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:46 AMYeah, I have a feeling phones will eventually strangle the handheld market. Too convenient, powerful and portable to justify the additional cost and hassle of using a separate handheld gaming device.
maaaaaat daaaaaamon
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:09 AMThe way I’m seeing it as is a benchmark that other portable devices can kind of ‘aspire’ to be. Whether they be phones or handheld consoles. Theres a lot of interesting tech crammed into this thing and I look forward to eventually seeing this stuff in other devices.
I’ll probably pick one up in six months time if its still going strong.
Glen Fordham
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:30 AMWhat kind of games do you enjoy playing on your phone? Just asking because I see your argument mentioned everywhere, but myself my friends just don’t get it. Would you only use a handheld gaming device when you’re on a bus or something and it’s too hard to ‘get into’ a DS or PS game? Personally I use my handhelds in bed or on a couch, either at home or away on holidays (and business if that situation ever came up, but I have a crap job :/ ) Pocket-fit factor is irrelevant, but the ability to chuck it in my bag if I have an hour of down-time on the go is irreplaceable, and if I have an hour to spare the last thing I want to do is play a touchscreen phone game as I just find them pointless.
I guess what I’m trying to work out is; if the only reason people think phones are a replacement for ‘core’ handheld devices is because of a lifestyle choice or if, for them, the games are actually ‘as good as’ games on core devices?
Thom
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:51 AMYou kind of hit the nail on the head – its largely a lifestyle issue. The kind of 99c apps available on app markets are better short burst experiences. I guess these would be described as non-core, but lots of them are pretty similar to things like pacman, which is as old school as it gets. There are definetly some core experiences to be had on the iPhone though. I used to play a fair bit of Civ Revolution when on the road – though less so since I got a droid.
I would never play a hand held at home. I have a pile of “core” games to be enjoyed on my HDTV with surround sound or my PC. I actually have both setup so I can play from bed, which is quite awesome.
The question I often wonder is this: did the lifestyle generate a preference for the gaming apps, or did the gaming apps change my lifestyle? I think this is a key question, because depending on the answer there may be contraction of the dedicated handheld market. Unfortunately for the Vita, I suspect that the availability of cheap easy to get into games on my phone has changed my lifestyle, so a new core device with superior core experiences can’t, in principle address that.
Tailspinner
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:37 PMAll the international airlines I have flown with in the past three years have had either USB or AC charging, or both. Kids could play as much DS as they wanted.
Thom
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 2:29 PMWho is offering this. I’ve flown BA, TAP, Qantas, ANZ, Delta and UA, and JetStar in the last 12 months, and I haven’t had access to these options on any flights. Is it a particular model of newer aircraft?
Russell
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:42 AMJust picked mine up with FIFA and little deviants, 8 gig memory (don’t really download full retail games so should be ok for awhile) and a starter kit cost me $500 but so worth it
Benny
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:27 AMFark. $500 for a handheld and a couple games these days. Unbelievable.
Wonko
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:38 PM800AUD for a mobile phone is even crazier imho
Daz
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 1:08 PM800 is fine for a mobile. So is 20k for a car and 5k for holidays.
Whats your point?
Duncan
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3:12 PMHow the fuck is $800 “fine” for a phone.
You can buy a computer for less, you can buy two netbooks.
Smart phones are one of the biggest ripoff tech items ever, they should have dropped in price ages ago.
N0NEoftheAB0VE
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 9:11 PMI wholeheartedly agree – the minute you realise how much mark up there is on phones (some phone plans give away consoles as freebies FFS) you’ll feel all dirty inside.
Reece
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:43 AMPicking mine up at lunch today. I don’t care what others think. I’m excited!
Stu
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:44 AMI would, but I can’t really afford one currently. Plus I bought the PSP at launch and after the initial “Oo la la”, I didn’t really play it much for a couple of years until a few good games had been released. So I might wait this one out. Maybe get a “PSV Lite” or whatever they’ll call it in a few years.
PlimpyD
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:45 AMPicked mine up this morning, so far so good! Uncharted is amazing!
blunt
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:47 AMToo expensive, lacklustre launch titles and my OCD flat out rejects any touch device in glossy piano black. Greasy paw-prints all over that sexy screen? Nah dawg, I’ll wait for silver or white. And a price drop.
drew
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 6:28 PMmy sentiment is somewhat similier. Nothing i’m interested in game-wise at launch. it’s a little too expensive for me at the moment when that is factored in . If there were some massive killer titles on the horizon that i could look forward to then that will likely change.
Chuloopa
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:47 AM*tries not to cry*
*bursts out into tears*
Labrys
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:28 PM*passes the vodka*
There, there. It will all be ok.
Cerzel
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:47 AMI’m definitely going to get one, but not until there’s either a price drop, or a few more games. I’m mostly waiting for Gravity Rush, but more games are always good.
Stephen
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:48 AMI want one but I keep telling myself to not get it because i’d most likely regret it as most of my impulsive purchases turn out to be.
I’ll just sit here for two weeks waiting for ME3.
Dan
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:49 AMgot mine this morning, its just amazing.
PrettyTones
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:49 AMI’ll get one eventually for Lumines.
DanSan
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:49 AMPre-ordered online which delivered this morning. Touched my Katamari on the train to work, and it definitely tickled something.
MrGaz
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:49 AMAm about to go pick mine one up now. My local Eb manager gave me the device to play around with and I was instantly WOW!!!
Big OLED screen & touch features are the high points of this device which I love.
I’m happy my bro is paying half as my wallet feels light as it is.
Alex
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:54 AMWould love to but probably not till COD comes out on it (cue the haters!) :-)
TvZ
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:55 AMIt all depends on the remote play for me.
Michael
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:56 AMNot planning on getting one any time soon, but that doesn’t mean I ever won’t. Never say never, but it’s probably unlikely I’ll get one. I’m not big on portable gaming in the first place.
Crowbar
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:56 AMNope.
Trjn
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:57 AMHandheld gaming is just something I don’t really have a need for anymore. The only times I’ve played my 3DS were in situations where I could have just as easily been sitting at my desk playing Starcraft.
On the bus, where I used to do the bulk of my handheld gaming, I now have my Kindle and iPhone to keep me occupied. That niche is filled.
Unless there are exclusive titles that I must play, there’s nothing to draw me to the platform.
Shane
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:58 AMNO $$ :(
Daniel
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:59 AMHave a Japanese WiFi Model (had it since it launched last year) – Xmas gift from someone special
Have a 3G Model Pre-Ordered and paid off (thanks to trading in my Wii) – I preordered before I got my WiFi model
So yes I’m picking it up this afternoon…No I’m not made of money, I fund a lot by trading…