Here we go, a new console, and my urge to buy it comes out.

Of course, we talking about the PS Vita, so I wanted to write my own perspective on the pros and cons of buying it versus waiting. So lets be clear, I WILL buy a PS Vita, its not a question of if, its a when question. Should I buy it now in February and risk any "early adopter" troubles (mainly the high expenses, we are CAGs here), or wait until a bundle comes alone next Christmas/Black Friday? I can afford it now, that's not the problem, the problem is that a better deal on, not just the system, but the games will come along. Buy it on release day means buying some of those games at almost full MSRP (you don't buy a system without games).

So lets run down a quick pros/cons of the Vita shall we (in no order):



#1 - Memory
Every system needs it, memory. I need to save my games, not only that, I need to play my games! I like buying digital copies, they take no space in my house, I know were they are at all times and can manage them efficiently. But Vita uses memory cards. EXPENSIVE memory cards!! Lets get this out of the way, they are not cheap. Yes, they are proprietary, high speed cards (class 10), but that means little to me and my wallet. I, as many consumers, judge by how much it will cost me more than how good it is. Does Toyota Camry sell more than a BMW, of course, cause they are cheaper, not better. Same mentality goes here, I don't mind them, just that I am FORCED to buy them to play some games.

I have a PSP 2000. Then I bought a PSP Go (love it), and now I want to transfer my complete collection to digital. Its nice to just carry only the device, not a pouch full of games. That's why I love my iPad too. A 4GB memory card is way to small for this, minimum is an 8GB to at least put two games in there. Conclusion: PS Vita is not a $250 machine for me, its closer to $280 forced on this principle alone.

Impact on Vita purchase: NEGATIVE



#2 - Games
See the list here: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/...p-and-details/
I won't go over these in detail. What games I want decide this. Not that many in retrospect. My only interests are Little Deviants, Uncharted, Gravity Rush, Unit 13, Rayman Origins, Ultimate MvC3. Half of those I have no rush to play. The average MSRP on each retail Vita game is $40 (I said average). Too much money on a game, especially when I got such a backlog.

But I'm judging this as an impact to the system itself, not for me personally, and the launch lineup is sick. As in "great games" sick.

Impact on Vita purchase: POSITIVE



#3 - Hardware
This is a quick one, the system is nasty. Specs are great, graphics are awesome, uses touch screen and analog buttons. Lets not blow this over board, the PS Vita seems like an amazing system. Two touch screens, twin analog sticks, buttons, its all good Sony. I don't care a blip about the cameras, they might as well take em out. Also, 3G system is for me.

Impact on Vita purchase: POSITIVE



#4 - Battery
The battery life is crap. You can discuss this if you want, but I'm being realistic. Its not an 8 hours battery if you are playing games with audio up and good brightness. I'm not comparing the PS Vita to other devices cause I don't see why. Personally, I don't care if it lasts 3 hours or 10 hours, battery has never been an issue for buying a system for me, this doesn't discourage me one bite, but it is not a positive of the system itself.

Impact on Vita purchase: NEGATIVE



#5 - System Software
This judges both the operating system and updates, PSN account issues, Trophies, etc. I haven't played the Vita, so I cannot, in good conscience, pass judgmental on the OS, but if its similar to current PSP or PS3 standards, we are good. PSN issue, such as the use of only one account. This is not that bad, bad is that you might have to do a hard reset to change it, I ask myself why. This should be a deal to most users, if you are in the minority and this affects you, sorry, but Sony designed it like this likely to counter sharing and piracy, I don't have to like it, but I have to accept it. Trophies are good all around, the end (wishes secretly they were achievements though). The system will get better with updates, but initially, first buyers will have to struggle like the 3DS users did. I bought a 3DS recently (just at the price drop) and it has gotten better relatively fast since release.

Impact on Vita purchase: POSITIVE



#6 - Apps
This is a Playstation GAMING system, go back to your iPad! (*goes back to his iPad*)

Impact on Vita purchase: WHO GIVES A FLYING ...



Overall, I might as well flip a coin. SO many good things about the Vita, yet the expenses is all I think about (and I repeat this, I can afford it with relative easy, I save well). No internal memory kills me, especially since I have a PSPGo. Why Sony? Is my belief true, that you made it like this JUST so you could sell memory cards again, we know that was crazy profitable for you on the PS1/PS2 days, did you really have to force that on me on 2011? I have so many gadgets that don't need memory card, and if they do, they are much cheaper. :'(

I can buy 0.99 games on the iphone that are relatively just as good as the $40 games you are selling me. Why would I got back to buying them at these prices. Did Apple spoil me, heck, yeah, and maybe that's how we should judge it. We are told these games are 40-50 times more expensive to make. But do I see enough of a gaming difference to support this extra cost, not really, never have, never will. Cut the rope is a game I would have spent $30 on and still felt perfectly ok during the early DS era. Today, these prices (for all of us) should be a joke.


I tried to judge all of these point from a general consumer perspective. I myself don't feel battery life is a negative, yet for me, I don't see the game lineup as a positive, for example. Do you disagree with these? Have you own opinion on the Vita? let me know on the comments below. Thanks.