One of the biggest surprises of E3 Day 0 was the PlayStation Vita. Everyone knew that the hardware was going to be powerful since details were known when the system was codenamed NGP. The big surprise was the price point — $249 for the WiFi model and $299 for the 3G/WiFi model. That’s a bit cheaper than people were expecting. The recently released Nintendo 3DS retails for $249 and uses older technology (CPU, GPU, screen, etc.). Compared to the Vita, Nintendo’s portable system seems like a rip-off at the same price.
Then there was the AT&T “surprise”. On paper it makes sense; AT&T is the largest GSM carrier in America and would get more customers for the 3G version of the Vita. In reality, AT&T blows in some major American cities, such as New York and San Francisco. Tech writers have been bashing AT&T’s poor and inconsistent service for years; it tarnishes millions of iPhone experiences and will likely tarnish PlayStation Vita experiences. It was absolutely hilarious to hear the crowd groan when Sony announced its partnership with AT&T.
I’m absolutely high on the Vita. I’ve played with it and wish I could show you games like Sound Shapes (it doesn’t look all the impressive, but it’s so much fun!). Now that pricing and carrier information has been revealed, I wanted to get your updated thoughts on Sony’s next portable system. Please fire away with your PlayStation Vita musings!
