Vita... Talk Me Down

So, I keep thinking I’m talking myself into buying a Vita when it launches next month. There are a lot of cool looking games coming to that system that really are piquing my interest. Wayforward is making a top down Silent Hill game that sounds interesting. I want to play Uncharted. There’s a Doctor Who game coming for it and Plants vs. Zombies (which will inevitably have some new content that I won’t get to play). There was also one game that Shelby showed me a trailer for once (I think it’s called Gravity Rush aka Gravity Daze) that looked really cool.

However, I know if I get a Vita I wouldn’t be able to get a WiiU when it launches later in the year as I only have enough cash for one console in a year. I’m trying to tell myself that I don’t really need a Vita, but things keep popping up that add little bits to the “this looks like a really cool system I want to own one pile”.

I'm surprisedm Tony. When I showed you the trailer for Gravity Rush I didn't think it made much of an impression on you. As for buying the system, I don't think it's wise to buy one at launch. Remember how quickly the 3DS dropped in price? The Vita may very well do the same. While the games you mentioned do look cool I don't think they will win your heart as much as Wii U games will.

Reports from Japan say Golden Abyss has some issues. They might be fixed in time for the US launch but who knows. One thing I have noticed, the launch lineup for Vita isn't bad but I don't know of any other games that will come out for it very soon. It may have a window of no games like the 3DS did.

I’m not really worried about the cost thing. I always know going into a system launch that by waiting I can get it cheaper. When the PS3 eventually gets down to $150 or even $100 that’s probably when I’ll pick that system up because the library of games that I want to play will be massive. I don’t know what it is about the Vita that’s pulling me in so hard.

I know the Wii U games will be the ones I enjoy more. Nintendo has been more focused on creating family experiences and developing games that I’ve just found to be a ton of fun. The Vita is like a siren pulling me closer to the rocks and my doom. [=^)

What? you are more interested in the Vita than the PS3? Well it is a pretty sexy handheld. I don't blame you. I'd like to get one too but it's probably not in my cards. Also as Shelby said, prices may drop like the 3DS. Also launch lineup isn't bad but nothing I really want at this moment. The tech sounds great though and with $270 Sony credit burning a hole in my pocket... I may just dive in. I think the major thing holding me back is the proprietary memory cards. 32GB for $100?? That's almost worse than Microsoft selling their 120GB XBox hard drives for over $100 back when. Ridiculous!

If you plan to spend $250 on a console this year... why not just spend it on a PS3? Only $50 more and there are always sales going on. Just saying. More bang for the buck.

I really like the portability of handhelds. Being able to carry it with me wherever I go is a big plus. I always have my 3DS on me and can just pop it out if I’ve got a few minutes or plop down on the couch for a marathon session if I want. I would be in heaven if all consoles were portable systems that you could take with you on the go, or plug into your TV if you wanted that console feeling, but I don’t know that we’ll get that for a while yet. And when you’re on a budget like I am $50 can be quite a lot of money and the difference between a system with a game to play or just the system with nothing to play on it.

Can't disagree with you on the extra $50. I was just wondering though... how portable would things be if all of your consoles were portable. You'd kinda have to pick and choose which you wanted to bring for the day I guess.

If everything is portable then nothing is portable.

Now. Toss in the possibility of me getting a PS3. What would be some of the games you would recommend to a new PS3 owner. Multi-game collections would be great. I'm already thinking Uncharted 1 & 2 bundle and the God of War bundle.

You already have a 360 so I guess a start would be looking at the PS3 exclusives. You'd have a great start with the GoW collections as well as the Uncharted series. I would truly suggest you go and get any of the Ratchet and Clank games. Especially the most recent one (All 4 One) as it is 4 player co-op drop in drop out. The humor is wonderful. Graphics are amazing. Weapons are truly unique and creative. The entire family can enjoy the R&C series because it's so kid/adult friendly. I would also suggest the Resistance series but that's a FPS game and it's hit or miss depending on if you are a fan of those games or not. I have to admit, I overall am not a FPS fan UNLESS it's Halo, Resistance, Fallout or Borderlands. Most of the other ones make me sick... literally. Oh and Metroid Prime series doesn't really count as a FPS it's considered a First Person Adventure (FPA)?

I've played the Rachet & Clank games on the PS2 and really enjoyed them. They feel very much like Nintendo type experiences and I think that's why I liked them so much. Good solid platformers that are a lot of fun to play and quite humerous at the same time. My kids have played them a little bit, but not as much as they would a Mario game.

The Ico/Shadow Of The Colossus Collection would be a good fit for you, Tony. You would prolly like PIxel Junk Shooter as well. You could play that with your kids.

That's right. I forgot about the Pixeljunk series. All are excellent and Pixeljunk Monsters is a tower defense game... so it's right up your alley.

My decision may have been made for me this week courtesy of PopCap Games. I got an email asking if we were going to be doing any Vita launch coverage and if we were interested in a review copy of Plants vs. Zombies for the Vita. Then, actually later that same day, I got another email asking about Vita coverage from another publisher as well so we’ve got the opportunity to get some good launch coverage for the Vita on the site and I really like handhelds.

If I’m not mistaken you can play the PSN games on both the PS3 or the PSP/Vita can’t you? Or is that only for certain titles?

You can play all PSOne classics and I believe all PS2 classics as well as Mini's on the PSVita. You can also play certain PSN titles on the Vita but I'm sure it's limited to which games allow for that. But I doubt the Vita will play all PSN titles.

Of course they could surprise us.