The Console gaming war has been taken to new heights with Sony unveiling their newest contender called the PlayStation Vita. Sony has been very quiet on the development front for the last 18 months. Nintendo ( Nintendo 3DS ) and Microsoft (The Kinect) have both already launched new additions to their respective product lines.
I believe the Vita is a direct response to the Nintendo 3DS as Sony has not really evolved the PSP since it was first launched. Handheld gaming at the moment is split between iPod /iPhone gaming, and playing on a Nintendo 3DS. Before this launch, Sony was losing market share with the PSP as it was no longer seen as the handheld console to own.
In March 2005, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system defined new standards in portable entertainment and provided game enthusiasts worldwide with a new way to experience games outside of their living room. The PSP system broke through traditional boundaries then and has gone on to sell more than 70 million units since its launch. In January, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) announced a new portable device for a new generation of gamers — the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP).
The Vita adds an angle only Apple can really claim that they own and that is the social element. Being able to play against friends is a lot of fun and does add some pressure to ensuring that the result is in your favour but being competitive is never a bad thing.
Derived from the Latin word “Vita,” which means “Life,” this next generation portable entertainment system enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. The PS Vita system incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear.Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, the PS Vita system offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” finger motions. Also the PS Vita system features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.
The proof of how big the impact the Vita will have on the handheld gaming market will only be seen with sales numbers. Availability in South Africa is not yet known. Do you think the Sony PlayStation Vita will be a breath of fresh air for Sony?
