Really scraping the bottom of the barrel for Vita complaints this week. Shipwreck's too stupid to read the screen, and somehow that's the hardware's fault? And Cheapy whine that it takes a minute to load the Netflix app? So, about as long as Netflix takes to load on a PS3, 360, Android tablet or Roku...? And one third the time it takes to load on my shitty old iPhone 3g?

Ship and Cheapie nailed it. Uncharted Vita is an inferior version. Can anyone afford to make a AAA console game on the Vita? Are we just going to get worse versions of Sony's 1st party stuff?

Nintendo is much better at taking its franchises and making something unique for its handhelds. Not a worse version of its console games. Nintendo also has a knack for repackaging its old console games for its handhelds.

Wombat got Cheapie to reveal the dirty little secret of iPhone games. They get a free pass because they are dirt cheap.

Sony should have made the Vita the handheld you play in front of the tv. And made the screen bigger for that purpose. And then made it start up and load super quick. Lately I have been jamming on the 3ds in front of the tv while the wife is watching something or while a game is on. I am starting to enjoy this way of gaming. It is easier to manage with kids and a wife and allows for more multi-tasking. I would love to have a bigger-screen in-front-of-the-tv handheld.

Wombat also scores with his "There is too much crap on the iPhone" line. Feel the same way. I tried to weed the bad stuff out by reviews but, again, the reviews aren't very discriminatory when you are talking about a $1 game. And sites listing the best games for the iphone list mostly the same games and also aren't very discriminatory.

How much of this smartphone/tablet game buying and playing experience is a novelty?

Where did Cheapy get that mashup of Colors and Africa? I googled it, no dice.

Where's the Jaffe clip? All I find is a steven/Jaffe podcast from two years ago.

One possibility on the single copy of Vita games at Wal-Mart is that Wal-Mart is unhappy with Sony. As mentioned in past discussions of online game pricing (like the full games you can download at full price on 360 long after they have been discounted at retail) the retailers do not like it when a company sells their own products cheaper online than the retail price in stores.

And Sony has done this, making games 10% cheaper online than in stores (and you may avoid sales tax!). Wal-Mart may have decided that what's the point in stocking a lot of games if customers are just going to buy the games online anyway and thus not bought a lot of copies.

I still don't get what the mass effect 3 spoiler was.... anyone care to enlighten me?

*edit*
is this it?
is it the fact that you're going to be fighting cerberus?

Great show as always guys!

Originally Posted by BlueRock One possibility on the single copy of Vita games at Wal-Mart is that Wal-Mart is unhappy with Sony. As mentioned in past discussions of online game pricing (like the full games you can download at full price on 360 long after they have been discounted at retail) the retailers do not like it when a company sells their own products cheaper online than the retail price in stores.

Walmart stocked the PSPgo, which was 100% download only, so I don't think that's the real issue. The margins are still there for walmart on the game software sales,accessories and PSN cards. And Walmart doesn't make anything off the software sales on Apple products either, although the margins on apple hardware are likely better than most video game hardware.

But this low quantity launch is strange for a new video game platform. At my local target, the supply of both hardware and software were surprisingly low....according the guy who runs the electronics section, they only got 5 Vitas and for most games they only got 6 or less copies...And this is in an area with a ton of college students. I wonder if Sony is just running inventory on the lean side due to financial considerations (ie, not to tie up too much cash in inventory that may not move quickly) or if this is on the retailer side with them being being more cautious after the fast drop off in demand after the 3DS launch or otherwise being warily of new $250 products in general in this market.

Advertisement

Register for free to remove this ad

I don't really comment on the Cagcast but I will give my two cents in, I work at a Target in Chicago and received about 20 wifi only units and I think 8 3G models and more than enough game. This morning we were sold out of everything but a total of 6 games and even though I don't work in Electronics while walking the main aisle told 2 people we were sold out that were looking for one.

I have an iPod touch 32gb and a SE Xperia arc S and I've never been a hand held gamer nor did I ever use a Vita until I actually bought one and brought it home since I'm a huge fan of the Wipeout and Uncharted series. I had serious reservations on opening the unit but that worry quickly evaporated once I put UMvC3 and saw not only how beautiful it looked but how it played as well.

Now with that said I had no problem figuring out how to use the Vita after messing around for 10 mins trying different things so either Ship isn't all that smart or he's just not use to using touch interfaces. If you've had an iPod for sometime the Vita is not at all difficult to figure out, I did try to use the buttons first a couple of times but when that didn't work it felt natural when I simply tried the screen shifted my train of thought into touchscreen mode.

On the first day when I tried NEAR there were 25 individuals in a 1 mile radius, now I live near a Blue line stop here in Chicago so living quarters are limited, as of this writing there are 93 people near me with Vita's. My point is that at least here in Chicago it seems to be selling very well since the store I work in is a good 30 mins. from where I live and the fact that we were virtually cleaned out.

I have never been a handheld gamer but the Vita has certainly given me pause on that front, unlike Cheapy or Ship I decided to give it a real chance and it is an impressive piece of technology. The screen is beautiful and Netflix looks awesome on it, something that the iPod touch does not really do all that well. My view is that this machine is perfect for certain games that would never be practical to play on an iPod or Phone, FPS's, racing games, 3 person shooters, and most platforms suck on those devices because of the lack of controls and after giving them a shot for over 2 years won't download them unless they are free.

I tried the iPod touch games and they are not good at all if you need tactile feedback, Infinity Blade looks great but the game isn't all that deep not to mention is crap trying to play something like RAGE or Battlefield on that thing. $1 games aren't worth it if you hate them or don't truly enjoy them, on the other hand I'm not a fighting game enthusiast but I've been playing UMvC3 the most out of the 3 games I've bought and I still have yet to turn on my PS3 never mind my 360 since I don't pay for Live.

As other have stated Wombat seems to be the most open to things and the most level head of the 3, its a shame that Cagcast basically feels like an MS show in disguise thanks to Cheapy and Ship. Everyone has their opinons but when you constantly and consistently put down anything that isn't MS it eventually becomes annoying, again specifically Cheapy and Ship. In all honesty what the Cagcast needs is an individual that is a bit more open like Wombat, he is always being doubled team by 2 like minded individuals that clearly are "Xbots".

I may work retail but I'm taking my dental boards as my training is in dentistry, the day I get accepted in a GPR or advanced placement program I plan to write a book. One of things I plan to write about is being fed bs about individuals that claim to be open minded but really aren't. Cheapy and Ship can claim they aren't pro-MS but I've been listening to the show long enough that they are. The point being that if you aren't going to give things a fair shot just don't talk about them or better yet let Wombat review them as he tends to be much more level headed. You guys stated several times that others in the media and clearly gamers are overall happy with the device and yet can't connect the dots as to why you don't like the machine, here's a clue, it isn't made by MS.

Originally Posted by actripxl Now with that said I had no problem figuring out how to use the Vita after messing around for 10 mins trying different things so either Ship isn't all that smart or he's just not use to using touch interfaces. If you've had an iPod for sometime the Vita is not at all difficult to figure out, I did try to use the buttons first a couple of times but when that didn't work it felt natural when I simply tried the screen shifted my train of thought into touchscreen mode. I have never been a handheld gamer but the Vita has certainly given me pause on that front, unlike Cheapy or Ship I decided to give it a real chance and it is an impressive piece of technology. The screen is beautiful and Netflix looks awesome on it, something that the iPod touch does not really do all that well. My view is that this machine is perfect for certain games that would never be practical to play on an iPod or Phone, FPS's, racing games, 3 person shooters, and most platforms suck on those devices because of the lack of controls and after giving them a shot for over 2 years won't download them unless they are free.

I prefer the experience that I get on the Xbox 360, yes, but I play every platform (except the PC). The fact that the Vita requires you to use the touch screen for something that could easily be done with a button (like menu navigation) is an example of poor UI design. Nintendo has given you the option to use buttons or touch interface for menus for the entire lifespan of the DS and 3DS. And I've bought a Vita since this episode. There are things I like about it and things that I'm going to be critical of, because Sony deserves both of those reactions to this product. I'm always going to be bias towards the things that give me the best experience. That's how we all are.

Originally Posted by shipwreck I prefer the experience that I get on the Xbox 360, yes, but I play every platform (except the PC). The fact that the Vita requires you to use the touch screen for something that could easily be done with a button (like menu navigation) is an example of poor UI design. Nintendo has given you the option to use buttons or touch interface for menus for the entire lifespan of the DS and 3DS. And I've bought a Vita since this episode. There are things I like about it and things that I'm going to be critical of, because Sony deserves both of those reactions to this product. I'm always going to be bias towards the things that give me the best experience. That's how we all are.

I totally agree with you 100% Ship that it could be done with buttons and as I mentioned that my first instinct was to use them, but in the cast you were beginning to sound like the Irish guy from Gamespot that was basically nitpicking something and blowing things out of proportion. Again it could be done with buttons but if you or anyone has been using any iOS or Android device on a consistent basis it shouldn't be difficult to figure out, your statements made it sound as if its was extremely difficult. As stated earlier I work at Target in the mean time and when walking past electronics throughout the day I saw kids working that thing with no problem what so ever.

No product is perfect and as in the pervious paragraph they should allow you to use the UI with buttons (I know I would) but being critical and being overtly negative are 2 different things. I would prefer the buttons to be a bit bigger but its not something worth crying about when overall the machine is very nice.

Now as for the Pro-MS stance, I agree we all push what we cherish more, to me its more important to not have my money gouged and to be given great service, so for that I prefer the PS3 since I refuse to pay for Live. As gamers what we spend our money on dictates what other scheme companies will come up in the future to nicke and dime us, in the end this will only hurt those individuals that can't afford much.

Live is nice and better integrated than PSN but it is not worth paying for, remember you guys complain about Online Passes but Live in essence is the original online pass. Its hypocritical to say how it isn't right for gamers to pay to play online yet if you don't pay for Live you can't play ANY game on your Xbox used or new. That is where the bias comes in or at least the perception, in which perception is reality, because the fact is that if it wasn't a requirement to pay to play online on the Xbox most people wouldn't since other than online play there's really nothing worth paying for. I don't see the majority of people paying $40 a year just to have XGC and Party if regular chat was implemented on a Silver account.

Again your free to express your opinons but at least be consistant with the message, people notice when you guys pick and choose one thing over the other and giving MS much more favorable stances on almost everything, even when thinking about the repercussions would hurt gamers in the end.

Remember it was MS that instigated that games be $60, that has now led to EA pretty much charging $70 (Prothean DLC) for the complete version of ME3. MS started charging people to play online which is what led to online passes from companies wanting their share. People complain about $15 map packs but Halo started the trend in over charging for maps long before.

This is the problem with gamers, they give money to things without thinking what may come up ahead and then moan and groan without realizing that you reap what you sow.

Thank you for responding to my first post and I love listening to you guys.

As for the whole alleged 360 fanboy stuff, I see it how Shipwreck sees it. With only one caveat. All the game reviewers you see are full-time gamers. To a full-time gamer, spending $50 per year on Live is a minor issue. And once you pay, you might as well buy all your games on 360, right? I mean, all your friends are already there, right?

For a part-time gamer, the argument is flipped. Paying $50 for a year of Live when you only play a few games a year makes no sense. Even buying 3 months doesn't make sense when you only play a game for a few weeks (don't tell me to buy a month, the prices on 1 month of Live are a joke). In that way, I think the gaming press inadvertently is inadvertently biased toward a solution that appeals more to the hardcore gamer and somewhat excludes the casual gamer.

I saw the quicklook for the Vita Uncharted game and while I agree with Ship that it is silly that there is a Start button on the Vita and you can't start the game with it, that's peanuts compared to the tech demo junk in the game. I mean, if it were a great game, I wouldn't peep one bit about having to touch the screen to start the game, it wouldn't detract from my gameplay at all. But the balance beam crap or having to wipe dirt off objects you find? That's a whole different story.

I think Cheapy said a similar thing (about the iPhone), but this kind of thing always reminds me of what Roger Ebert said when people talk about movie length. "No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough." If you actually like a game, you're not going to complain about minor nits in it.

The problem is Cheapy, Shipwreck just don't like these Vita games (and thus for now at least the Vita). Then when trying to express it, they give justifications which, while surely accurate don't really express what their real problem is. Then the people who disagree with these items try to counter each one individually, not understanding that the problem with the game isn't the sum of these parts. If you successfully pick apart every problem Cheapy and Ship have with the Vita, you don't end up then proving the games are good.

Now, as to the games being junk, they're always junk. Most consoles are not the N64 or the Wii. They launch with lousy games. The 360 didn't take off because Perfect Dark Zero or Kameo was any good. The PS2 didn't take off because of Fantavision. And the DS was considered a silly gimmick until good games like Nintendogs came along for it. But while the current crop of games may not be any good, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Simply don't buy a Vita until you find some games you want to play on it (and that may be never).

If I could ask just one thing of the CAGcasters, it would be this. Please stop measuring a console launch by looking at the inventory still on the shelves. This has two problems, first of all you don't know the supply levels. Just because you can find one doesn't mean no one is buying them.

The bigger problem is that if you only say a launch is a succes if the shelves are bare, then companies will artificially restrict supply so that shelves will be bare. They're already tempted by the Wii situation where it sold like hotcakes as long as there were lines, for a year. And then as soon as supply loosened up, no one wanted one anymore. They don't need any more encouragement.

Talking gaming console makers into restricting supply is not good for gamers, especially cheap ass ones. So please don't encourage them by equating availability with failure.

Hey guys,

I'm studying abroad in Prague(Czech Republic) for the semester. Just thought I would let you guys know that not only did I see PSP Vita's here, but someone was actually buying one the other day.

Walmart needs to step up its game

Originally Posted by bnl11311 My biggest issue is why don't psp games like 3rd birthday use the 2nd analog. Does anyone know if I'm missing some update etc? Thanks!

Start the PSP game, hold your finger down on the front touchscreen. A menu will pop up and you can turn on bi-linear filtering and also adjust the controls to use the right analog.

I figured this week's show would be a Vita bash-fest from Ship and Cheapy.

I got the First Edition bundle and a 32 GB memory card, and all I can say is this device is awesome. I live in Seattle, and I've taken my Vita to work each day, and for the past 2 weeks since I got it, the numbers of people playing around me are increasing. Tonight, there were 124 people playing around my condo (within a 3 km radius).

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is an amazing game. It is super addictive, they have a daily International tournament where you play 3 rounds of golf on different courses, some with different rules. Then your score is ranked with all the other people, and you win points to unlock more content in the "shop." You can pick up and play 9 holes while you're on the shitter at work, or you can sit in your living room, or in a coffee shop and play for hours.

Lumines is a great game too. Makes use of the touch controls.

I bought Hustle Kings on the PS3 a while back, and if you bought the PS3 version, you get the Vita version for free. I played it last night with a friend from Facebook; the controls are awesome, and I think I prefer the game on the PS Vita. The whole time we were both playing, we were chatting using the microphone that's on the Vita. Serious question, can you do that with a 3DS or iPhone? I know the 3DS you have to use the stylus, but does the iPhone have voice chat?

Anyway, it's sad you guys just don't get the appeal, but I think this system is the best handheld I have ever owned. Several publishers are giving you a PS Vita vita version game free if you buy the PS3 version; there's going to be more and more PSP content that you can play on the Vita; the touchscreen and gyroscope are very high quality. I think it's amazing that you can play wipeout cross-platform with people on the PS3 (it was a little clunky, but it can be improved with patches).

The Vita is cool, but Sony is not a religion. Cool it all you crazy kids.

I'm looking forward to the downloadable games like Motorstorm RC, but the full retail stuff is unproven. If they can for a full on multiplayer FPS like Battlefield or a compelling RPG like Skyrim on it, I'll be very excited. Until then, it's just another cool piece of kit with a limited launch library.

To keep it OT, what currently released games would make the Vita fully viable, in other words, what games would you most like to see released for it?

I have to say that I agree 100% with Cheapy. Why play an inferior version of Uncharted on a smaller screen with worse controls. I'd rather read a book or listen to some music on my phone. I'm not going to pay 250 + 50 + 50 = 350 dollars for the complete Vita package while my ps3 at home plays all similar games better.

Originally Posted by shipwreck I prefer the experience that I get on the Xbox 360, yes, but I play every platform (except the PC). The fact that the Vita requires you to use the touch screen for something that could easily be done with a button (like menu navigation) is an example of poor UI design. Nintendo has given you the option to use buttons or touch interface for menus for the entire lifespan of the DS and 3DS. And I've bought a Vita since this episode. There are things I like about it and things that I'm going to be critical of, because Sony deserves both of those reactions to this product. I'm always going to be bias towards the things that give me the best experience. That's how we all are.

Maybe it was just a typo, but just in case.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...8090625AA1e4aX

Ship, you should check out the Design & Tech videos that Rockstar has put out for Max Payne 3. Pretty in depth and with plenty of uninterrupted gameplay. After seeing those I have a lot of faith in the game. The gunplay looks incredible and Rockstar's animation work with Euphoria is godly. Should be a good game.

I don't doubt that the different tone will alienate some people, it's more Elite Squad or Man On Fire than "Noir York", but quality story telling and writing is pretty much Dan Houser and co.'s speciality so I'm not too worried.

Quality episode all in all. Hate to say it, but I'm right there with Cheapy as far as portable gaming goes. If I ever do need something to do when I'm out, I just read or listen to music on my iPhone. Also, I'm not really interested in bite-sized imitations of console games. But that's just me.

Didn't understand the whole "abandoning PSP brand" discussion. The brand is playstation. The old one is called Playstation Portable, the new one is Playstation Vita. Is Nintendo's handheld called the Nintendo Gameboy Color SP 3DSi?