It’s official, Vita console is landing 23 February ’12 next – a day after it hits US and Euro gamers. Sony Australia also confirmed pricing for its “revolutionary” 5 inch multi-touch Vita incorporates an OLED screen: Wi-Fi only will go for AU$349.95 (NZ$449.95), while Wi-Fi/3G model will sell for $449.95 (NZ $549.95).
Other features to expect from the new Sony PlayStation handheld include front touch screen and rear touch pad, dual analog sticks, motion sensors, and dual cameras, and promises to “deliver gameplay experiences unmatched by any handheld or mobile device on the market.”
And Vita boasts more than 80 games currently in production including “LittleBigPlanet,” “Wipeout 2048,” “Resistance: Burning Skies,” “Uncharted Golden Abyss,” Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed,” EA Sports’ “FIFA” and Activision’s ‘Call of Duty.’
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The ‘social PlayStation’ also lets gamers stay in touch with access to Facebook, foursquare, Twitter and even allows voice calls via Skype, letting gamers “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” via native PS Vita applications.
And it seems Sony are hoping Vita will do the business in the handheld market, despite the underwhelming response to rival Nintendo 3D S released earlier this year, which forced Nintendo to drop price by $100 in Australia and worldwide, leaving many wondering if 3D gaming is dead before it even started.
“PlayStation Vita is a revolutionary device, which will offer the best possible portable gaming experiences available on the market. Its impressive feature set is designed to provide the ultimate gaming experiences on the go,’said Michael Ephraim, Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand.
This, combined with social connectivity means there will be not only innovative new ways to play, but also new ways to connect with others,”
However, other are less than convinced, arguing a $349 pricetag for handheld is too pricey in the smartphone games era:
“If people aren’t willing to pay [US]$249 for a Nintendo 3DS why would they pay [US]$299 for Vita? People don’t want to carry more than one thing in their pocket, that’s why Android and iPhone have done so well, they are the devices of choice, they offers multiple functions outside of gaming,” Lyle Hall from Heavy Iron studios has previously stated.
“People don’t want it. That’s Nintendo huge challenge – how do they add value to that?”
