Playstation Vita
In my trip to Japan, which I will discuss at some point when I am done fixing the photos, Yodobashi/Bic Camera, was like this huge magnet. I go there nearly everyday. It’s not just because of games or figures mind you, they have everything there - cables, lenses, cameras (duh), massagers that masquerades as necklaces (This was my favourite), ion face steamers etc etc etc.
And that was where I met the Vita.
I have vaguely heard of the Vita prior to me departing for Japan, some I am not terribly behind about it. However, I didn’t have much connection with my DS Lite (loved Pokemon, some Zelda, Mario Kart and Mario Party) despite the amount of games I got for it. I think, in total, my play time for it over the last 5 years or so of owning it probably added up to 3 months.
I have seen some of PSP before as well, and again, I wasn’t that impressed. WoW and Lineage 2 took up a lot of my gaming life at that point in time so, for some reason, I never connected well with handheld consoles.
Over the past 3 years since I got my iPhone 3G, and now the 4S, I have picked up a lot of games on my iPhone. There were awesome ones, even graphically, like the Infinity Blade, the Monster Hunter Dynamic, Resident Evil and Black Ops: Zombies. However, while I haven’t touched a console much since I came to Australia, sometimes touch screen is incredibly frustrating and I am constantly trying to find my buttons on the phone.
I love my iPhone, but it’s better suited for turn based RPG, Angry Birds and short time frame games.
But I was sceptical of PS Vita. Sony’s reputation with me went downhill real quick from the late 90s onwards. While I love the PS2, I can no longer justify why I have to pay so much more for their proprietary memory cards for my camera - which died within 15 months of me buying it - and basically paying more for a brand that no longer produces lasting, quality products. For an ex staunch lover of their walkmans and earphones, televisions and video players, this was something.
So, when I walked into Yodobashi looking around at games on sale, looking at their PSP games that I have heard so much about, I wasn’t actually intending to buy anything.
Then I saw an ad.
Then I saw the Vita.
And then I touched it.
And omg, I was lost.
Pre-ordered an Australian unit (wasn’t launched outside of Japan at that time), bought a couple of games, and the rest was history.
The Screen: iPhone has a “retina display”, Vita has the OLED. I have seen samsung phones around before, but for some reason, this looks utterly clear and beautiful. maybe because no greasy face has touched it yet. It is incredibly bright, however, and there are definitely the same flaws that OLED has all over - the black streaks across it when the screen has a dark background.
While I am not perturbed by the streaks, found them artistic, it appeared that to others, there are many problems.
The screen is beautiful, the graphics are clear and animations are smooth - not pixelised unless you chose some of the older games off the PSP section of the SEN store.
Touch screen is sensitive enough, on both sides, but I haven’t needed it much until twice today in a particular game. Bear in mind that I normally turn off the touch screen and neither of the 2 Japanese physical games I got fully utilises the touch screen.
Double Analog Sticks: With my DS, I play it like how I did with my old Sega unit. That’s not a problem. playing Mario Kart was annoying though… and Analog sticks kind of should help, had I stop to think about it. These sticks are of a nice size, they are soft and definitely won’t take off you skin during those long drive-by car racing games ;P
Size and weight: The Vita has got 2 curved in undersides for a good grip. they are fairly comfortable for me, hands fit them and all, and I haven’t had a problem until Corpse Party scared the shit out of me and I gripped it just a little too tight for comfort :p
The size and the weight of the Vita, therefore, is a reasonable one. You don’t get tired, yet you feel enough of the weight to know that it is fairly “solid” and built well.
Battery life: I think I need to discuss this with a little more… depth. When I did play with my DS lite, it would be for hours, right after I have bought a new game. Often, it pissed me off that I had be half way through the beginning before it flashes red. We’re talking about, sometimes, 2 hours into a game.
With my Vita, wifi on and brightness to full, I managed to pull some thing like 4.5 hours with 1/3 battery left to spare. Differing people, with differing games and usage (so maybe using the Party app) could possibly experience things differently but I think 4.5 hours is a fairly good go at the battery.
The OS: I don’t dislike the OS, but it’s not something I had fawn over either. The OS slides sideways for the actual applications/LiveArea of Game (a section where you access the games from, as well as read the manuals and update your game) while sliding up-down gives you the area where the apps are installed on. Coming in little circular blobs that floats around gently, it can seem a little creepy - like a sperm waving at you on top of a dish.
That said, it’s pretty idiot proof for me. It’s not complicated, it’s intuitive and it does it’s job.
When you first login to PSN, you can “practise” the whole shebang by downloading the free apps - Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
again, idiot proof, simple set up - all you had to do was login.
That’s the other thing. This new hand held console is very “social”. I am indifferent to most of the aspects EXCEPT when it came to scores and trophies. They really held my heart in their hands. I love seeing my scores vs others - and then attempting to beat it and, in the progress, learn more about the game itself. I LOVE using Near to discover new Vita owners near me, see what games they are playing and trying my hand at the games they love (for those with demo).
On the surface, though, some things have to change. Some websites have discussed this and I echo their complaints:
There’s no need for, basically, 3 different apps to stalk your friends. combine them together and allow for conversation to happen on the app/Near, be it audibly or in a message format.
Also, this is where Apple learnt too,:Folders are good. I love those backgrounds. making floating sperms sparkle and gleam on Link’s face is just a little wrong. Yet, there’s no way to make any folders or anything.
The Wifi detection is also fairly weak. My place is tiny, so there’s not much a problem there. However, in public wi-fi places, where my phone has full wi-fi signals, some times I am down to one bar - which is really annoying. At the same time, this also affects Near (or perhaps it’s an on-going issue regardless of the wi-fi. Near is then unable to fully detect where I am since I am constantly disconnected from the internet service at the mall, for example.
And finally, the biggest annoyance. downloading new apps brings it to your last available page. It doesn’t matter if your other pages are completely empty, your new game will sit in another screen waiting for you to sign it off.
Notable mentions: The shitty browser. It’s idea of multiple “tabs” is multiple windows, ala iPad original’s set up. I always disliked that on my iPad, I don’t see why I need to re-live that again.
Lack of multi-tasking: seriously. you allow us to go in and out of a game and do just about anything BUT use an app while your game is paused! For them to go digital manuals, and not consider multitasking, there could possibly be a large angry crowd who accidentally forget to shave or remember what is on the manual.
or who wants to use the ugly browser to find help.
Content manager: I have never seen a content management system that is just so fluffy. The fact that you can’t just copy and drop into a folder really irritates me.
Now, I wonder, what’s the customer service like over in Sony?
