Source:http://psp.ign.com/articles/118/1185012p1.html
Are 3DS and Vita Really Direct Rivals?
Two handhelds, two audiences.
July 30, 2011
As a console war rages, it's natural to pit one device against another. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are compared every day by millions of their devotees. It makes sense. They are very similar and compete for the same consumers.
But does it make the same sense to compare Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's PlayStation Vita? Are they really directly comparable?
Approaching the two devices from the periphery, it's easy to see almost immediately why these two handhelds -- while reasonably analogous -- aren't carbon copies of one another chasing the same audience. Technically, the Vita is a processing powerhouse, while the 3DS is far weaker. Meanwhile, Nintendo is following-up the massive, record-breaking success of the Nintendo DS with the 3DS, while Sony is chasing away the demons of PSP misconceptions with the Vita.
Industry analysts seem to agree with this notion. Speaking to Industry Gamer, RW Baird's Colin Sebastian noted that "the two handhelds are quite different. Content is always a crucial variable that is easy to forget..." This brings us to what is perhaps the most pivotal point of the argument, that 3DS hasn't necessarily failed thus far due to its price point, but rather because of its utter lack of games. I would have loved to drop $250 on 3DS if only there was something compelling to play on it. But there wasn't (and isn't), and this was a problem millions of would-be owners faced as well. Vita could have a similar problem whenever it's released -- all signs are pointing to this fall -- but it appears Sony is priming an impressive list of launch window games that should allow Vita to avoid this dangerous pitfall Nintendo fell head-first into.
And that brings us to the next point -- games. Nintendo fans will always be happy with another Mario game, a new Nintendo kart racer or another ode to the company's storied past. Vita seems to be relying on first-party Sony titles to get it off the ground, games like Uncharted, Super Stardust and ModNation Racers. If first-party Nintendo games aren't your thing, a price drop on a Nintendo handheld isn't going to change your purchasing trajectory. And if you aren't a PlayStation 3 gamer, then why would you suddenly want to start playing Resistance and LittleBigPlanet on a handheld? It simply makes no sense. As Jesse Divnich of EEDAR told Industry Gamer, "it all comes down to the content and if the Vita can deliver a library of high quality entertainment products," concluding that if it could, "it should be able to thrive at the $249 price point" in lieu of Nintendo's sudden price cut.
Much to the chagrin of Sony and Nintendo alike, Vita and 3DS aren't destined to repeat the sales success of their predecessors. Smartphones and tablets have completely changed the dynamic of the handheld market, and you can rest assured that after Vita and 3DS, the days of the dedicated gaming handheld are numbered, if not completely over. The casual fans that made Wii and DS a wild success have grown tired of Nintendo. That's clear. And even with initiatives like PlayStation Move, casual gamers never seemed fond of Sony's offerings to begin with.
This time around, it's all about hardcore fans of certain companies and licenses. And what gamers prefer, rather than the money burning a hole in their pockets, is likely to dictate what's purchased and what isn't. Are you really going to buy a Nintendo 3DS just to save some money when you really want to play Uncharted? And would you really allow yourself to be attracted to a technical behemoth when all you want is a new Luigi's Mansion? Why does it seem that everyone is avoiding these basic facts?
While it's difficult to resist the urge, blending together both handhelds and their audiences is a fallacy. They're simply aiming at different groups within the wider, ever-growing realm of gamers. And that's okay. That's natural. But the fact is, in short, that the core Nintendo and Sony audiences are different, and they're the ones that will drive the market for Vita and 3DS forward. And pricing maneuvers won't make a dedicated Sony fan want to play Kid Icarus any more than a hardcore Nintendo fan will suddenly want to give Killzone a go.
Could This Mean another war against Nintendo and Sony? Could Microsoft be making an Xbox Portable to compete with Sony and Nintendo?! WHO KNOWS!!
Till Next Time!!
But does it make the same sense to compare Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's PlayStation Vita? Are they really directly comparable?
Did you play LBP on PS3? If not, why play it on Vita?
Approaching the two devices from the periphery, it's easy to see almost immediately why these two handhelds -- while reasonably analogous -- aren't carbon copies of one another chasing the same audience. Technically, the Vita is a processing powerhouse, while the 3DS is far weaker. Meanwhile, Nintendo is following-up the massive, record-breaking success of the Nintendo DS with the 3DS, while Sony is chasing away the demons of PSP misconceptions with the Vita.
I would have loved to drop $250 on 3DS if only there was something compelling to play on it.
But the real reasons why the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita are like apples and oranges are twofold. Not only do they cater to two completely different audiences looking for different experiences, but they cater to two groups of gamers who are looking for something different in their games as well. That's why while there's absolutely no doubt that there are gamers out there who will eventually own both handhelds, the price drop of the Nintendo 3DS probably won't cannibalize PlayStation Vita's sales as much as some seem to think. Industry analysts seem to agree with this notion. Speaking to Industry Gamer, RW Baird's Colin Sebastian noted that "the two handhelds are quite different. Content is always a crucial variable that is easy to forget..." This brings us to what is perhaps the most pivotal point of the argument, that 3DS hasn't necessarily failed thus far due to its price point, but rather because of its utter lack of games. I would have loved to drop $250 on 3DS if only there was something compelling to play on it. But there wasn't (and isn't), and this was a problem millions of would-be owners faced as well. Vita could have a similar problem whenever it's released -- all signs are pointing to this fall -- but it appears Sony is priming an impressive list of launch window games that should allow Vita to avoid this dangerous pitfall Nintendo fell head-first into.
And that brings us to the next point -- games. Nintendo fans will always be happy with another Mario game, a new Nintendo kart racer or another ode to the company's storied past. Vita seems to be relying on first-party Sony titles to get it off the ground, games like Uncharted, Super Stardust and ModNation Racers. If first-party Nintendo games aren't your thing, a price drop on a Nintendo handheld isn't going to change your purchasing trajectory. And if you aren't a PlayStation 3 gamer, then why would you suddenly want to start playing Resistance and LittleBigPlanet on a handheld? It simply makes no sense. As Jesse Divnich of EEDAR told Industry Gamer, "it all comes down to the content and if the Vita can deliver a library of high quality entertainment products," concluding that if it could, "it should be able to thrive at the $249 price point" in lieu of Nintendo's sudden price cut.
Much to the chagrin of Sony and Nintendo alike, Vita and 3DS aren't destined to repeat the sales success of their predecessors. Smartphones and tablets have completely changed the dynamic of the handheld market, and you can rest assured that after Vita and 3DS, the days of the dedicated gaming handheld are numbered, if not completely over. The casual fans that made Wii and DS a wild success have grown tired of Nintendo. That's clear. And even with initiatives like PlayStation Move, casual gamers never seemed fond of Sony's offerings to begin with.
You have problems when your biggest game is 13 years old.
This time around, it's all about hardcore fans of certain companies and licenses. And what gamers prefer, rather than the money burning a hole in their pockets, is likely to dictate what's purchased and what isn't. Are you really going to buy a Nintendo 3DS just to save some money when you really want to play Uncharted? And would you really allow yourself to be attracted to a technical behemoth when all you want is a new Luigi's Mansion? Why does it seem that everyone is avoiding these basic facts?
While it's difficult to resist the urge, blending together both handhelds and their audiences is a fallacy. They're simply aiming at different groups within the wider, ever-growing realm of gamers. And that's okay. That's natural. But the fact is, in short, that the core Nintendo and Sony audiences are different, and they're the ones that will drive the market for Vita and 3DS forward. And pricing maneuvers won't make a dedicated Sony fan want to play Kid Icarus any more than a hardcore Nintendo fan will suddenly want to give Killzone a go.
Could This Mean another war against Nintendo and Sony? Could Microsoft be making an Xbox Portable to compete with Sony and Nintendo?! WHO KNOWS!!
Till Next Time!!
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