PlayStation Vita To Come In $249 And $299 Models, Prices For Other Regions Announced

http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

Only $249?! Wow, that is a bargain price. People were forever proclaiming no less than $299 for the wifi version. Preordering as soon as humanely possible!

http://twitter.com/#!/kaishou Kaishou

you and your bottomless wallet.

http://madebyluke.com madebyluke

Europe get screwed on price again. $249 is not €249.

https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh

That’s how it’s always been, they don’t look at the convertion, but the actual numbers~ Expensive but still Day 1 buy.
- http://madebyluke.com madebyluke
  
  I’m holding off for more than one exclusive I want to play. Uncharted alone won’t cut it.
  - https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh
    
    I agree, though it does seem way more promising than the 3DS so far and their at the same price.
- mirumu
  
  True, although the US dollar has slipped a lot against the Euro over the last year so this is probably worse than in the past.

Testsubject909

250$! Sold! Day 1!

urbanscholar

I think the wifi version will outsell the 3g version. In regards to ATT…hmm they aren’t the best provider by consumer reports.

daizyujin

As soon as he said “fastest” my heart dropped. I had all along knew it would be AT&T as Sony was not going to make a 3G model just for the US. It would cost them too much money and loss of economies of scale to produce a special CDMA version just for Verizon and lets face it, even if the merger does not go through, Sony is not going with T-Mobile.

It sure didn’t work well for Nokia.

Perhaps later revisions will be compatible with AT&T and Verizon once it is economical for Sony to include an LTE modem in the Vita. Of course the networks have to get the infrastructure first.

http://twitter.com/#!/kaishou Kaishou

249 Euro is god damn expensive compare to $249.99 USD. How about a price for the UK?

Kris

I agree, it’s ridiculous how many companies think Euros are equivalent to dollars.
- http://twitter.com/Stereo_Future Brian P Dorn
  
  Aside from VAT don’t forget that exchange rates do not equal purchasing power parity. Exchange rates are government controlled, while PPP denotes what a currency is actually worth. If anything, most companies probably are more in tune with a currency’s actual value than you realize.
WonderSteve

Probably because you guys have VAT too….and maybe other taxes.
- http://twitter.com/#!/kaishou Kaishou
  
  We only pay additional 20% tax from the original price. As for taxes, that’s something else to talk about.
  
  Price excluding VAT is about aprox £191 for the wifi only version while the wifi/3g is £233. I’m not entirely sure but does the USA pay some form of VAT along in addition the original price? if not then that would explain why it’s cheap compare to European. I’m just complaining because the console pricing is pretty weird compare to other hardware which comes close to how much it cost in the USA and other countries.
  
  http://www.game.co.uk/search.aspx?s=vita <- price of Vita in the uk.

OneOkami

While I have my reservations about the choice of carrier, I will be getting the 3G model. Would I would really like to know now is if Sony is taking a step “backwards” like Nintendo and region locking this thing.

Lightthrower

Great price! Don’t know why people would buy a 3DS over a Vita now. Also, anyone know what Vanillaware game was shown for Vita?

Testsubject909

Beacuase it’s Tree Deeeee!

All joking aside. Most likely games on it. Ace Attorney x Professor Layton is a heavy contender here and a good reason to at least borrow a 3DS.
YsyDoesIt

I was wondering about that Vanillaware-style game, as well.
- Testsubject909
  
  Possibly related:
  
  http://www.siliconera.com/2011/04/27/grand-knights-history-to-make-its-grand-debut-in-september/
kylehyde

I one word Mario

Still I think that the price of the psv is really amazing and the machine is incredible. So I hope to know more about the games of the same for seal the deal.
Suicunesol

Vita won’t ever have my favorite game series. That’s why.
http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa

I don’t buy my platforms out of power? There will be 3DS exclusives just as last time the DS got games Sony didn’t. (vice versa).

I want both but as of right now there are still more games I want for the 3DS. Doesn’t mean that the launch seems to have better games for Vita.

jello44

I was hoping it would be the same price as the 3DS, I’m definitely down for a Vita at that price.

http://twitter.com/ZonronSekai Zonron

i smacked my hands together pretty hard when i watched that. still tingles XD

so when are u guys going to add the psv line on top?

also yay for action rpg using cloud saves.

DisgaeaGuy11

I felt like my favorite team won the world series. Safe to say I looked like a mad-man to those around me who witnessed me celebrate, lol.

day…one… buy.
- kupomogli
  
  I don’t watch sports but likewise.

https://twitter.com/#!/Ojsinnerz Firo_Prochainezo

SONY, SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY. 249.99? MY WALLET EXPLODED.

YsyDoesIt

This is a reasonable price-point considering the tech, and I’m sure Sony’s taking a loss per unit with this pricing. Nintendo should be cautious about the price-point of their own 3DS at this rate.

I’ll be more interested in the Vita, however, upon seeing more unique game development (instead of the standard PS3 franchise rehashes with touch-control). From what I understand, Falcom’s announced future development for the system. I’m waiting for news on that front.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Carmona/100000347329518 Christopher Carmona

Same as the original PSP IIRC. Take my money, Sony. Just take it.

Masengan

Now if you compare the 3DS and the PSV tech wise it seems like Nintendo is charging way a lot for what the 3DS can do.

YsyDoesIt

Considering parts costs only (which I believe was quoted at just above $100), they are. You have to also consider assembly, shipping, whatever margin of profit, etc. Still, the 3DS is priced far more than most were expecting and willing to shell out.
- mirumu
  
  There’s also the cost of the software such as the OS, network services etc, but even in that regard Sony’s handheld appears to be the more costly of the two.
  
  I’m inclined to think it’s Sony’s size and resource advantages over Nintendo showing here. I mean Sony actually manufacture things like LCD panels, and own fabrication plants, whereas Nintendo has to outsource this to third parties.
  - CleruTesh
    
    I think a bigger issue is that Sony is willing to sell hardware at a loss and Nintendo is not. Hopefully Nintendo changes that with Cafe. Doubtful though.
    - mirumu
      
      Is Sony still willing to sell at a loss though? Their recent comments about PS4 development suggest otherwise. The PSV design appears to leverage a lot of cellphone technology and I think that’s been a conscious decision by Sony to drive down costs. If they are going to sell it at a loss then I expect it’s a very small loss.
      
      I don’t think Nintendo’s price point really or costs really tell us anything about Sony’s. They’re very different pieces of hardware. I’m sure you’re correct though in that Nintendo currently makes money on every 3DS sold. Their reaction to the PSV will be interesting.
  - daizyujin
    
    Yes but IIR a large percentage of OLED manufacturing is held by one company, Samsung. Does Sony actually produce OLED screens themselves?
    - mirumu
      
      Sony manufacture OLED displays at a plant in Higashiura Japan. I’ve no idea if the display they’re using in the PSV is made there though. Sony have had partnership deals with Samsung for display production in the past as well so anything’s possible really.

shion16

Im sold

mirumu

Wow. Good on Sony for getting the price down. I’m not even thinking twice about this at that price. Sold, sold, sold. Assuming the games arrive this looks like a big blow to the 3DS. Without a price cut nearer the PSV’s release and a new stream of games of it’s own I don’t even see the 3DS competing. I look forward to seeing Nintendo’s response and I hope it’s a good one as I still want a second generation 3DS with a better battery, etc.

vivaluis59

there were rumors that sony made tech cuts to the PSV in order to make it cheaper like it was rumored that it would come with 16gb memory but not anyomore …

daizyujin

This makes sense though. If you are a person that will buy the majority of your games at retail, like a lot of the collectors here(myself included), then 16 gigs is way too much just for game saves. Especially since there have been several places with lines about how the game saves can actually be saved on the carts.

Obviously if you want to go digital or load up with movies though, you will need it. At least though it keeps people like me and many others that don’t really need it from shelling out for it.

Xeahnort

I had planned to buy 3ds for christmas, but now i think I’ll get PSVita instead.

BelmontHeir

Meanwhile, my 3DS collects dust. :/

alundra311

I don’t know the launch lineup of the Vita but if there aren’t any good launch titles coming out for the Vita then there’s no reason why the Vita won’t also be collecting dust.

daizyujin

Wow this is a very reasonable price. I need to find somebody who is taking preorders ASAP.

Name btw is actually starting to grow on me. It may sound silly but at least it is less ridiculous at first glance than “Wii” was. I would rather the name of my games systems sound like a type of bread than urine anyways.

http://twitter.com/VietKnight Alexander Le

I am so going to be broke this year lol again. I already put 100 down on the PSVita and still paying off my 3ds god I hate myself.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_S2UKKIGGOA4V5EIFXAD7BQQOV4 Heehee

Seems that most commenters got the Sawadanitis.

Draparde

It’s very contagious it seems.

Hraesvelgr

Seemed okay, but it needs some games I care about before I bother with it. Doesn’t really seem any better than the 3DS at the moment, in my opinion.

Advent_Andaryu

I totally agree with you and said the exact same thing myself.
- Joanna
  
  me too. I don’t care about specs, it’s the games that matter. So far, nothing has really caught my eye. (I don’t really care for Uncharted, Gravity Daze looks nice but not really my cup of tea and same with Ruin.) The Falcom game has piqued my interests though. But one game isn’t enough. If it’s anything like this gen though, both will be worth owning and I’m thinking I probably will eventually get both of them. (I still don’t have a 3DS for the very same reason; I need more games.)
http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

It’s not like the 3DS has gotten that good since it was announced anyway, but i already feel the system itself is a lot superior.

Still, I feel both systems were pretty rushed -_- even with that awesome price, im gonna wait to see some more games i want to get too.

http://twitter.com/Saculogir Saculogir

After everything I’ve seen, I am sold! I am looking forward to buying this!

Now to start saving up. Looks like I’m going to have drag out my “Will work for games” sign again…

WonderSteve

I can’t wait to see a new Legend of Heroes and Ys on PSV! Go Falcom!

xXDGFXx

i swore i would have punched my computer monitor if i didn’t have more self-control. this was amazing news.

zhemos

Well since At&t is utter crap in my area I’ll be going with the wifi model.

ufoflash

One question, hope this hasn’t been asked already but, does the 3G model also come with wifi? i remember them mentioning it but im not sure. so i want to know does the 3G version also have access to wifi connections as in use them? oh and exactly how do you use 3G? is it like wifi, a way to go online? and do you have to pay for it separately? or is it as long as you have access to a spot giving of its signals you can use it?

Ren

There a 3G/WiFi and a WiFi version so yes. And the 3G will probably work similar with the 3G phone plans the provider has. Probably either a monthly or yearly fee.
- ufoflash
  
  Oh ok thanks i was worried their for a second. I’ve never used anything with 3G before so i had no idea what it does or how much it would cost but thanks for clearing that up. now all i need is about $300…….

Advent_Andaryu

The system looks great, and the price is just perfect, but there seems to be a lack of games that interest me. I want to see some serious Square Enix support!

I don’t care for the name either. Vita? Seriously? I didn’t care for the name NGP but even that sounded better.

http://twitter.com/gustave154 gustave154

that shinobido game , gravity daze and dragon’s crown are gonna join my purchase of PS Vita on day 1 =)

mikanko

Has there been any news on whether this will be region free yet?

Suicunesol

Wheeew… $250 for PSPita… that’s like a headshot to Nintendo.

This means one of three things:
1. Nintendo is seriously overcharging for 3DS
2. Sony is seriously undercharging for PSPita
3. Both are appropriately priced, but 3DS and PSPita utilize their power differently
4. Both 1 and 2.

I see a lot of people jumping on the PSPita bandwagon already. However, we still don’t know what the battery life of this thing is, nor do we know if it will be region-locked. There’s still too many unanswered questions. If I recall, there was a lot of euphoria regarding the 3DS after it was announced and shown at E3 last year, but only after its public release did its flaws and graphical limitations start to become apparent. Just like with the 3DS, it’s still way too soon to commit to a day one buy for the PSV.

In any case, I’m quite shocked at the pricing and want to know how Sony is managing to do this. They must be doing it to win back gamers after the PSN crisis.

mirumu

I don’t think it’s feasible for them both to be appropriately priced given the vast difference in power between the two systems. The 3DS hardware is a little less mainstream so it could be Nintendo are being charged more by their component suppliers. I’d lean towards “1″ at an educated guess, but without hard numbers it’s hard to know.

We definitely need to know more about the battery life and region locking, although the 3DS has already set the bar very low there. It’d be hard for the PSV to be worse. I’m sure consumers would be seriously annoyed if the PSV only managed 1.5 hours of battery life. Anything less than 3 hours would be a PR disaster waiting to happen and Sony would surely know that.

If Nintendo don’t reduce their price then the 3DS will live or die on it’s games library alone. There’s some good 3DS titles in the pipeline, but that would seem to be a hard ask. Especially given the complaints about the 3DS game library today.

I’m inclined to think Nintendo will have to drop the price to compete, but they are an unpredictable company. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them try and hold their price while pushing their 3D tech as added value.
- Suicunesol
  
  Mm… I don’t think the 3DS and NGP are as far apart in power as it would seem. At least, I don’t think it’s as large as the gap was between DS and PSP. NGP clearly is more powerful (I couldn’t tell if it could do AA though). But 3DS utilizes s3D (renders games twice at once), which is apparently demanding enough to cut frame rates in half, thus why I included reason #3 for why 3DS costs what it does. (I’m probably pulling stuff out of my ass, though.)
  
  This is really quite a test, though. Portables are supposed to be Nintendo’s area of expertise, and this is the first time they’ve come across such a serious portable threat so early on. I’m really interested to see whether consumers will prefer stereoscopic 3D over raw processing power.
  
  And excuse me for continuing to call PSPita the NGP. Force of habit.
  - mirumu
    
    I think you might be surprised by the performance difference between the two. The 3DS uses two 266MHz ARM11 CPUs. That design is a couple of generations behind the PSV’s Quad-core ARM Cortex A9. Even if they were both running at 266Mhz an A9 would be a lot faster, but it’ll be clocked higher than that. Probably between 1 to 2Ghz I expect since that’s the A9′s typical design range. Both these CPU cores are standard designs used in things like Android tablets so we have a good idea of how they compare even though the PSV hasn’t been released.
    
    The situation with the graphics hardware is similar with the PSV’s PowerVR SGX543MP able to push nearly ten times as many polygons per second as the PICA200 in the 3DS. On top of that it’s a more modern design with more features. The 3DS’ PICA200 supports OpenGL ES 1.1 while the SGX543MP supports OpenGL 2.0 and OpenCL.
    
    Spec-wise this really is DS vs PSP all over again.
    
    The 3DS will slow down in 3D mode as you say. It has to render both frames from different viewpoints. The number of pixels it’s drawing are the same, but the workload is heavier. A SGX543MP would still render that same workload faster.The PSV’s SGX543MP can do anti-alising, but given the screen density of that 960×544 display is 220 dots per inch I wouldn’t be sure if games will use AA. Those pixels are going to be very small so AA may not be very noticeable.
    
    I’m totally with you wondering if consumers will prefer stereoscopic 3D over raw processing power. It’s just a shame we have to choose. ;)
    - http://www.facebook.com/faisal.jassim Faisal Jassim
      
      I’m sorry…. But everything you said is just so wrong.
    - mirumu
      
      Half of what I said is straight from manufacturer’s spec sheets. If you know better feel free to elaborate.
    - daizyujin
      
      I am just happy to see Sony finally using more “off the shelf parts” so to speak. Perhaps it easier on developers and we will get less buggy software than the PS3 has had.

kupomogli

What’s that famous quote that Tsunayoshi Sawada always says? Hopefully he posts it in a reply :P.

Anyways. I’m getting this day one. I’m sure it’s not going to be, but if Uncharted was the only launch title the PS Vita would still have a better launch line up than the 3DS. Most of what we saw is more than likely going to be a launch title, and Ruin looks like a pretty good game so I might pick it up.

All PSP games backwards compatible and upscaled is a plus, especially when the second analog stick controls the digital pad as well. One thing I really hope, and that’s what it looks like, is that the PS Vita uses the L/R buttons from the PSP Go how nice they felt and stuff, rather than the ones from the original PSP and Slim version.

With the pricing being much lower than everyone expected making most people actually interested this time around, not to mention all the additional features in comparison to the 3DS(aside from 3d,) Nintendo better come out with an amazing line up of games in the next six months. Who knows what the PS Vita has in the coming months. There’s still six months to go before launch, so there’s sure to be plenty more games to be announced.

This is when to announced the 3DS XL Nintendo. I’m not purchasing the 3DS until you release it. Release it and it’s a day one buy.

Samken

wow, very good price for the US, EU and Japan Market. Well, we in latin america are getting the short end of the stick again, be we’re already accustomed to these things. If we can get PSVita to at least 350$-400$ down here, call me a happy man. Sony, Portuguese and Spanish Translations are a must please, thank you.

nyoron

Whelp, just preordered the WiFi only version on Amazon. Don’t let me down, Sony!

http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=2704923 Buntar0

A sane price for a new piece of gaming hardware, at last.

Draparde

I wana know what company’s are making what games for this before i decide to get this over a 3DS.

http://www.youtube.com/B4ULoveShine Tim_at_where

I don’t know anything yet about the #PlaystationVita other than the price, but I hope it’s not gonna be region-locked.

malek86

Really cool. I might actually buy it, and with its analog sticks and stuff, I won’t ever need a home console.

Besides, if it’s region free, all the more reason.

Somazu

I’ve gotta admit, I’m surprised. I expected it to cost more.
Oh well. more money to spend on games.
Definatly a day 1 purchase for me.

puchinri

I’m still leaning toward 3DS because there are games I know I want there. But supposing on who develops what for the Vita, I may want it instead. Or also.

Barrit

Looking forward to the Vita. All I gotta say is that we better be getting the cool bundles like Japan. I’m not just talking about the colors either, I want the printed/painted/etched art on the handheld itself, not silly stickers.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Vitonofrio-del-Rosso/1170175361 Vitonofrio del Rosso

299 $–>299 eur..
bullshit… as always, but bullshit nonetheless

blah blah

Why do people keep acting like that price is awesome?
3DS is $250 too.
I think awesome would be $200.

Suicunesol

Well, people are feeling like they’re getting more for their buck because of the superior hardware. People were prepared for a price much greater than the 3DS’s price, because Sony has historically charged a lot more than Nintendo has, while Nintendo has always tried to make its products affordable. So when Sony releases a superior system that is at the same price as Nintendo’s system, not only does it make Sony look more consumer friendly, but it makes Nintendo look like greedy, overpricing bastards. Nice shot, Sony.

Of course, superior hardware does not always equal a superior experience. We shall find out if this is true in the PSPita’s case when it is released.
http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

If one recalls, most analysts and people were expecting the wifi model to be no less than $299 or more. Some even said they couldnt see it being less than $399.

http://www.facebook.com/wahyudilestadi Wahyudi Lestadi

The game development cost in Vita will become very costly, and result in less and less game in development … I want to see the quantity and the quality of the games first before buying …

http://twitter.com/ChestnutBowl Chestnut Bowl

Excellent price point, Sony! The PSVita has PSN, so I’m sure I won’t be buying any UMD games from now on. Day one purchase, for sure, barring any hideous news (miserable battery life, blood sacrifice, etc).

Region-locking would probably be a deal breaker, though.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Nicolai-Grude/1117146030 Nicolai Grude

With the dollar being this low compared to the Norwegian currency, this is a must-import from the US or Canada for me. Around $150 cheaper.

xflame10

i was watching this when i was announced ( in the dark for dramatic effect) i looked at my 3ds sitting next to me an wondered if i had made the wrong choice.

http://myanimelist.net/profile/Kuronoa Kuronoa

Why would you make the wrong choice? 3DS is getting some nice support, the handheld just got a lame launch is all.

You have quite a while to save up for a Vita, you are in a great position where you can have both handhelds!

http://twitter.com/nikochanr3 niko

Please don’t region lock it. Please please please please please.

IB2004

What does region lock mean as in you can’t play games from other coutries?
- http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada
  
  It means you cant play disc based media from other countries due to region encoding…meaning importing games would be useless.

Aiddon

and….I’m still underwhelmed. The 3DS at least legitimately has third party support that’s significant.

http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

Sony won with that price, it’s just perfect

karasuKumo

Can’t complain about the price considering the quality. Can see many puzzle/detective games in the future using the touchpad.

http://whatistheexcel.com/ Excel-2012

So Nintendo gets a little competition in their handheld front for the first time in years and everyone is ringing their death knell? Why do I even bother anymore?

Joanna

haha, it’s pretty funny in an annoying sort of way. I personally think there would need to be a lot of stuff going wrong for 3DS to fail as miserably as everyone here thinks it will. For one, people would have to stop buying Mario and Pokemon games by the truckload and I don’t see that happening any time soon. If Vita does become more popular, which is quite possible, these big name Nintendo franchises will carry the 3DS through with decent numbers, so at the very least, 3DS and Nintendo isn’t in any real danger till people stop buying their popular brands. sigh, hysteria.
- http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada
  
  Well it could happen…like the gamecube had Mario and Mario Kart and that only sold 25mln hardware units compared to PS2s 155+ mln…so unless 25mln is a decent number, both devices have equal chances of failure…and not to mention Nintendo is also releasing a new home platform in 2012, hope consumers can afford both Nintendo platforms in the same year.
  - Joanna
    
    Yet even with N64 and Gamecube, which were considered hard generations for Nintendo, it survived. Tsuna, you are just proving my point. And as for the numbers, I don’t presume to know what is decent for Nintendo, but if Nintendo managed to make it through (and they are only a gaming company unlike Sony and Microsoft), they must have been decent on some level. Note here I’m using the word “decent” in the sense that it allows them to survive and carve out some kind of niche, which the Cube and N64 did.

SerendipityX

Okay total fail on the name (PSVita really? =__=) but still even with all the amazing stuff and price…whatever happen to just making a portable gaming system? Correct me if I wrong and I know alot of people will enjoy the features…but all I’m is play gonna do on it is play games.

http://www.siliconera.com Melinda

So… does anyone want to make wagers on how much the Vita will sell in Australia?
(They sort of dodged the price issue, and were hoping no one’d notice)

The 3DS ended up with a +100 AUD price premium (Which at conversion basically made the 3DS about 40% more expensive in Australia than anywhere else) so anyone want to bet that the Vita will end up being $400 AU (And consequently 1/3 to 2/5 more?)

PlayStation Vita To Come In $249 And $299 Models, Prices For Other Regions Announced

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