Last week in Cologne, EA Labels president and former EA Games bossman Frank Gibeau told CVG that Sony’s PlayStation Vita will stand a better chance on the market than Nintendo’s fledgling 3DS system thanks to its innovative design, the technology behind the device and a strong software lineup backing it up.
Currently there’s speculation that the Vita might suffer the same 3DS fate thanks to its seemingly high price tag, that gamers accustomed to purchasing smaller, cheaper gaming apps on their tablets and smartphones might hold off until the price takes a significant dive. There’s also the fact that many gamers simply no longer want to carry around more than one device, especially if the dedicated unit is considerably larger and doesn’t fit into a pocket.
“I think that part of the videogame business is tough right now because they have had some significant competition come in that was totally disruptive, and that was the smartphone,” Gibeau said. “I think [Sony has] got a shot because they have some really unique innovation in the control scheme, the technology and the screen. It’s got a lot of social features now so that you can actually communicate with your friends and be social.”
He also acknowledged that Vita owners won’t be able to call their friends on the device, but in general it will offer most of everything that a smartphone can bring to the table… plus a few additional, unique qualities that makes it stand out. There’s also the software lineup which will not only outshine anything on a smartphone or tablet, but will have the edge on Nintendo’s handheld as well.
“I don’t think they’re quite in the same boat as the 3DS,” he said. “The 3DS was a really interesting piece of technology but I think there was some confusion over it and the title slate was a little different. I think Vita has a better chance because it has a stronger title slate at launch. PSP’s had a great run in Europe as a device — it seems to have reached a much larger audience here than it did in North America. So I think they’ve got a good shot. We’re going to publish a few games on it and see how it develops.”
The PlayStation Vita is slated to arrive here in the States sometime during Q1 2012.
