Trio of Major Local Retailers Will Not Be Stocking the Vita

[News Portal]

First that JB Hi-Fi kerfuffle over Vodafone’s Vita exclusivity Aus-side, and now this: Three major Australian retailers have announce that they will not be stocking the PlayStation Vita when it arrives next week. Those three major retailers are Big W, Target, and K-Mart. So, bargain-hunters? Best of luck to you. But just what is going on behind the scenes here?

Read full article by Toby McCasker

[Mekon]

All of those stores are cut-price shopping destinations; the claim that the price-point isn't pertinent to their usual demographic is probably fair.

Can't say any of those 3 chains are my usual source of gaming goodness. I bought a PS2 from K-Mart on a whim on release day back in 2000, but that's probably the only time I've ever purchased anything video game related from there.

[Trixxter]

Not surprised in a way. The Vita costs almost $100 more here then the US, there's been very slow sales in general, low selection of games, compatibility with things are a problem etc etc.

I personally wouldn't buy one either, at least not until more games were released for it. (and perhaps once the modding community get their hands into it so I can run my UMDs on it)

[InAUGral]

The last game I bought from K-Mart was Max Payne for $7. Well worth it.

As for the Vita I think the memory cards will put people off I know that it sure puts me off when the price is already pretty high without memory cards.

[Cas Bitton]

Not surprised in a way. The Vita costs almost $100 more here then the US, there's been very slow sales in general, low selection of games, compatibility with things are a problem

etc etc.

To avoid FUD and to clarify for other members who are interested in the product.

Could you please list the current US sales figures for me along with:

• A list of games available at launch
• A list of games that will be available after the launch window and in 2012 for the PS Vita
• A complete list of problems that have not been addressed and are outstanding, unfixable by software or hardware revisions

Thank you

[Matty]

For the launch of PlayStation Vita in Australia, with the specific target market being the active gamer we have chosen to launch the console with a focussed retail channel strategy across national specialist game and specialist technology retailers.

*Sells at a vodafone retail outlet*

[mindsnare]

Just further evidence that the mobile gaming device is dying fast, the 3DS and Vita will be the last of their kind. It's inevitable.

[neferseki]

Just further evidence that the mobile gaming device is dying fast, the 3DS and Vita will be the last of their kind. It's inevitable.

i believe hand helds are the most common form of gaming in Japan at the moment.

it certainly wont die soon thats for sure but it could be a decreasing trend, at least in western countries.

The main problem i believe is just its incredibly high price for something you would really only "play on the go" where as most of us already have a smartphone and can pay just a couple of bucks or even nothing for some entertainment "on the go"

People these days cant just throw away $600 like that.

[nafem]

Just further evidence that the mobile gaming device is dying fast, the 3DS and Vita will be the last of their kind. It's inevitable.

i think nintendo make money from the 3DS, every kid under 10 has one. cant see that changing. its just the older generation wont have them, but i dont think handhelds have ever been popular with older people, i know i woudlnt buy one, but i used to have a gameboy when i was at school.

so i think its pointed towards 14 and under (3DS) but the VITA well, thats targeted at older audience, which i think it will just fail.

[southead]

I guess people are saying why pay $600 for a handheld like this when you can have just as much fun killing time on a train or whatever with a $2.99 app on your Android device/iphone. Sure you might not get the big name tittles but meh, they are best played on a non-portable device anyways.

[slayerking]

I don't believe a word sony says, I'll bet those retailers thought no way in hell will we sell that after the pspgo and sony is just trying to save face by saying it was their decision.

I would buy the vita if it was cheaper and had a single worlwide store. But not when there are the different regional stores where one country gets the cream of the crop and the rest of the world gets the throw backs (ie. us)

[Mekon]

I guess people are saying why pay $600 for a handheld like this

Who is paying $600 for a PSVita?

JB Hifi, EBGames, Dick Smith and Harvey Norman are all selling the Wifi version for $348.00 + $43 for an 8GB memory card.

i think nintendo make money from the 3DS, every kid under 10 has one.

The 3DS, or the DS/DSi?

I barely considered buying my son a 3DS before deciding against it - his existing DSi works fine and, given that Nintendo themselves recommend that children under 7 don't use the 3D capabilities (due to young children's eyes not being fully formed), I wasn't overly enamoured of the 3D gimmick.

He tells me only a handful of kids in his year at school have one, anyway (but the vast majority do have the older versions).

[nafem]

I guess people are saying why pay $600 for a handheld like this

Who is paying $600 for a PSVita?

JB Hifi, EBGames, Dick Smith and Harvey Norman are all selling the Wifi version for $348.00 + $43 for an 8GB memory card.

i think nintendo make money from the 3DS, every kid under 10 has one.

The 3DS, or the DS/DSi?

I barely considered buying my son a 3DS before deciding against it - his existing DSi works fine and, given that Nintendo themselves recommend that children under 7 don't use the 3D capabilities (due to young children's eyes not being fully formed), I wasn't overly enamoured of the 3D gimmick.

He tells me only a handful of kids in his year at school have one, anyway (but the vast majority do have the older versions).

fair points mate, i would still put the DS/DSi in the current braket as its still supported heavily, an upgrade really isnt needed to a 3DS but if a kids DS/DSi broke, id dare say youd purchase a 3DS, backwards compatible etc. either way nintendo are selling bucket loads of hand held games to kids.

350 is expensive for vita, however the bigger models etc are 420(+memcard could be up to 500, then a game almost 600!!), which is ALOT for a hand held. compaired to 200 for the 3DS, with large title base, i know the hardware is powerful in vita but the target audience being kids, cant see to many parents buying Vita for the kids, they would be more pushed towards nintendo option IMO

[neferseki]

"JB Hifi, EBGames, Dick Smith and Harvey Norman are all selling the Wifi version for $348.00 + $43 for an 8GB memory card."

yeah sure the handheld itself isn't $600 but are you gonna play it without games? average price of a ps vita game is $50 - $70. just 3 - 4 games and a mem card depending on which model of ps vita you get will put you at $600.

[Trixxter]

Not surprised in a way. The Vita costs almost $100 more here then the US, there's been very slow sales in general, low selection of games, compatibility with things are a problem

etc etc.

To avoid FUD and to clarify for other members who are interested in the product.

Could you please list the current US sales figures for me along with:

• A list of games available at launch
• A list of games that will be available after the launch window and in 2012 for the PS Vita
• A complete list of problems that have not been addressed and are outstanding, unfixable by software or hardware revisions

Thank you

Gimme a moment, most was off the top of my head:

PS Vita w/3G AND WiFi At Gamestop (American EB Basically) $300 (Compared to 420 for JUST the console in Aus): http://www.gamestop.com/ps-vita/console ... ndle/90061

List of Vita Games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pl ... Vita_games
Total: 25 (Japan), Australia: 27
Thats just those announced/out atm AND keeping in mind, at least 70% of those are merely PS2/PS3 games rehashed into the Vita.

Known Problems: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/33 ... -reported/

Personal Problems: DOES NOT support UMDs, DOES NOT support PS2 games, UNLESS you -rebuy them off the store. And my personal erk is it doesn't use a generic Mini-USB connector like EVERYTHING ELSE does. So if you lose it somehow, waste $15 re-buying a new cable instead of just using another Mini-USB (since most people have a few lying around).

Also You need to buy a "Nazi" Chip for it, the base line is 4GB, 16GB costs $68 While its $9 cheaper in US, AND in US you can buy a 32GB, while you cant in AUS. (the 32GB costing $100)

Average US Game: $40-$50, Average AUS Game: $60-$80