Since it was announced, I've been waiting with baited breath for the Playstation Vita. So I've been interested to see the reactions of gamers around the web to information as it comes out, particularly related to the issue of the Vita's proprietary memory format.
For those of you who don't know, the Vita has no onboard flash storage. Instead, Sony has opted to go with a Vita specific proprietary memory card that attracts a pretty hefty price tag. The capacity ranges from 4-32GB, and while Australian prices are yet to be announced (my home territory), they start at $25US for the 4gb and some $100US for the 32gb. Given that the console requires memory for most launch games, and given its large potential online suite, you pretty much need a memory card to use it. Effectively, this will add between $25-$100 to the cost of your Vita, and suddenly the price tag isn't all that attractive.
That said, I think I understand Sony's motives here (though I can't say I agree with them). You see, I believe Sony is banking on the Vita being hacked. They learned from experience with the PSP, and PS3, that in this day and age, hacking will be a reality, and that means pirated software and multiple millions lost in software sales.
The PSP was nearly killed alone because of piracy. Sure the hardware sold well, but as an avid PSP gamer I can tell you there was really a dearth of quality titles, and it all had to do with piracy. after nearly 6 years on the market, PSP has less than 15 standout titles. Developers simply didn't want to put in the money and man hours making games where their profits would be largely eaten away by piracy.
What has this got to do with the Vita's expensive memory 'solution'? Well a lot really (I think anyway). You see, the proprietary format is essentially an insurance policy for piracy. For every Vita sold, Sony can guarantee they'll sell one form of memory card or the other along with it, whereas, because of piracy, they can't guarantee they'll sell software with every Vita too.
The Vita is being sold at a loss, and Sony will be very dependent on software sales to turn a profit. If they can't sell software, they know they'll be selling memory. So when the Vita gets hacked, and I say when, Sony knows that hackers will still need to fork out money to Sony to play all those illegally downloaded games. If they can get some money out of the hackers, it's better than none.
But whats the result of all this? Honest gamers like myself, and many of you are paying for it, and paying a lot. Not to brag, but I can afford a Vita, and all the memory they can throw at me, and games too. It's not an issue for me, and won't stop me dropping the cash at launch. But it will stop many people, as they either can't, or are unwilling to pay the premium.
So there's a payoff, and you can be sure Sony know a lot of people will be upset about this. But they're also not targeting kids who are saving their pocket money weeks on end who will whine most. This is going to be a hardcore gamers handheld, who generally are older, have jobs and disposable income. Sure we won't be happy about it, but I bet many of us will pay for it. Problem is, probably not as many of us as Sony would like...
TSA writes: Visit Neo-San Francisco in Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, a wonderfully realised sci-fi setting that will leave you wanting more.
"SEGA are today very happy and excited to announce that "Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!", the latest official game of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime, will be launching for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam in North America and Europe on July 16, 2024." - SEGA.
"The Prague-based (Czech Republic) indie games publisher Fulqrum Publishing and Sievierodonetsk-based (Ukraine) indie games developer Best Way, are today very proud and happy to announce that their WWII RTS “Men of War II”, is now available for PC via Steam, EGS, and other digital stores." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
The opinion that Sony decided to use a proprietary format to claw back revenue from the potential threat of piracy has some validity but isn't anything new. In fact often I am left scratching head as to why this a hot topic only now months before the launch the Vita in Western markets.
Why is this a concern when the Sony PSP also uses a proprietary format, "Memory Stick Duo" which realistically still today attracts a price premium per megabyte, the idea that Sony might throw in a proprietary format should have sunk in already.
You might argue that MS Duo has third party brands sold at a discount, unlike the Vita memory cards now, but is this a fair point considering the system isn't even out yet, do you really think there will be no third party cards. You might also argue that the MS Duo accepts cheap Micro SDs via an adapter where as this will be impossible for the Vita, yes, but such adapters really only became widespread a few years back, and certainly "Transflash" as Micro SDs were called back then incurred very high price premiums.
Give the Vita sometime, those who don't care about the price would have purchased one already, and those who consider price to be a concern will get their chance eventually.
But wouldn't hackers just make a sony card with a micro sd slot ala Vita r4 card?
I don't understand why you Americans complain so much about expensive things and at the same time buy tons of Apple stuff which is unreasonably expensive and needs to be replaced over and over again. If I buy Vita, I'll buy one memory card and it will last for years.
By the time it is out here, there will either be an adapter like there is for current psp to convert to a cheaper format E.g SD. Or generic cards made in china. I mean your point shows it money racket so there is no doubt it will happen very fast.
Corporations like to price gouge on their needless proprietary warez. Sony's no exception.