PS Vita Impressions! Vita Digital Purchases Beating PS3 - no NA price cuts

[msduncan]

Got my Vita at Best Buy this morning. They only had enough for preroders. One desperate guy offered the store worker $300 to sell him one of the prerodered ones!  lol

Anyway, updating the system software now.

Holy crap.   I would have been tempted to accept the $300 from the guy and then sell it to him for the $350.

I can wait ONE week for three hundred bucks!   

[Hetz]

Got my Vita at Best Buy this morning. They only had enough for preroders. One desperate guy offered the store worker $300 to sell him one of the prerodered ones!  lol

Anyway, updating the system software now.

Holy crap.   I would have been tempted to accept the $300 from the guy and then sell it to him for the $350.

I can wait ONE week for three hundred bucks!    

Same here.....that happened before I got there though. I got there about 10:30AM and that happened right when the store opened.

You know I will never understand why in the world someone like that didn't preorder it. If you are willing to drop $300 extra on it cause you really want it, then why the hell didn't you stop at Best Buy a week ago and prerorder the damn thing and save yourself the $300?? It boggles the mind...

[Ridah]

Okay okay, I've decided on my launch titles:

Rayman Origins - Pre-ordered on Amazon, already received.
Lumines - I plan to buy this digitally, one of those games I plan to always have ready to go in my Vita.
Super Stardust HD.

I'm certain that these three games, plus MvC but I'm skipping that, are the Vita's best launch titles.

[The Grue]

A small town near Birmingham.  You guys would faint if I told you how cheap these houses are.  We faint when we watch the realty shows and see how much houses up north and out in California cost.
Average lot size in our neighborhood is probably 1 acre.    Those across the street from me have docks on the lake.   

The downside is you have to live in Alabama.

Yeah, it's really only good if you like beautiful southern girls and winning football championships!   

I married a beautiful southern girl and having graduated from LSU, I've seen some football championships.  Still, I got the hell out of the South.  Is my Vita here yet?  Nope.

[rittchard]

Not that I wanna be "that guy" but shouldn't this thread be slowly creeping its way into the Portable Gaming forum?   

Either way, keeping my fingers crossed mine will arrive tonight.  Had an inane mixup with Amazon that I'm not sure was resolved correctly.

[msduncan]

A small town near Birmingham.  You guys would faint if I told you how cheap these houses are.  We faint when we watch the realty shows and see how much houses up north and out in California cost.
Average lot size in our neighborhood is probably 1 acre.    Those across the street from me have docks on the lake.   

The downside is you have to live in Alabama.

Yeah, it's really only good if you like beautiful southern girls and winning football championships!   

I married a beautiful southern girl and having graduated from LSU, I've seen some football championships.  Still, I got the hell out of the South.  Is my Vita here yet?  Nope.

Strange.   What didn't you like about it?     (wait a sec.... if you are from Louisiana, I withdraw my question) 

[CeeKay]

Got my Vita at Best Buy this morning. They only had enough for preroders. One desperate guy offered the store worker $300 to sell him one of the prerodered ones!  lol

Anyway, updating the system software now.

Holy crap.   I would have been tempted to accept the $300 from the guy and then sell it to him for the $350.

I can wait ONE week for three hundred bucks!   

Same here.....that happened before I got there though. I got there about 10:30AM and that happened right when the store opened.

You know I will never understand why in the world someone like that didn't preorder it. If you are willing to drop $300 extra on it cause you really want it, then why the hell didn't you stop at Best Buy a week ago and prerorder the damn thing and save yourself the $300?? It boggles the mind...

the guy could probably get one off of eBay for a lot less than that since prices don't seem to be skyrocketing.

[The Grue]

Just got my Vita!!!

[Devil]

Not that I wanna be "that guy" but shouldn't this thread be slowly creeping its way into the Portable Gaming forum?   

Either way, keeping my fingers crossed mine will arrive tonight.  Had an inane mixup with Amazon that I'm not sure was resolved correctly.

No! That place is for phone games.

More importantly, I don't want to check in there for stuff.

We're fine where we are, dammit!!!!!

(Good luck on getting your Vita tonight!)
 

[Autistic Angel]

This thread and I have conflicting definitions of "forthwith."

-Autistic Angel

[Hetz]

My quick impressions after a bit of playing Super Stardust and messing around with the UI:

Positives:

The screen is incredible looking and big
The UI is very impressive and I like it more than the XMB
I love the Live Space area that each game has. Shows News/Updates/Friend Activity and store items that are available for the game when you first launch it. It's well designed.
The NEAR app is awesome. Lots of info on it and really makes it a very social gaming device. You don't need to be connected to 3G to use it, but you do need the 3G unit, since it uses the GPS feature. It won't work on WI-FI only systems, I don't believe.
Super Stardust is awesome and plays just like the PS3 version. The dual analog sticks are a huge plus for the system.
The trophy system is really well done and works/looks better than on the PS3, IMO.

Negatives:

The UI is kind of confusing at first.

[The Grue]

I signed up for AT&T service so I should get a free copy of Super StarDust, but I have to wait 30 days for it.    Ah well.  The first things I downloaded were Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (which I had bought digitally on my PSPGo and Escape Plan).  I will probably pull in the second Dissidia game as well and maybe Persona 3.  Pretty sure I have settled on Rayman as a definite.  Trying to figure out what else I want.

[Hetz]

I signed up for AT&T service so I should get a free copy of Super StarDust, but I have to wait 30 days for it.    Ah well.  The first things I downloaded were Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (which I had bought digitally on my PSPGo and Escape Plan).  I will probably pull in the second Dissidia game as well and maybe Persona 3.  Pretty sure I have settled on Rayman as a definite.  Trying to figure out what else I want.

I downloaded the second Dissidia game, Sega Genesis Collection, Capcom Classics (Relaoded and Remixed) and Final Fantasy IV Complete. All of them work/look awesome!

[msduncan]

I got mine and it's amazing.   More impressions coming in a few hours.   But first, two rants if you will allow me:

1.  Dear Gamestop:    When there are 5 people in line, there is NO REASON to try to push your stupid Gamestop card by going through a 5 minute scripted statement about how awesome it is for trades, and how you get a digital magazine.    The guy that you are telling it to is most likely not going to buy it,  and the other 4 flipping people just want to pay for their stuff and get the hell out of your store.

2.  Dear BestBuy:   You deserve to go out of business you bunch of incompetent and overpriced pricks.   I drove 30 minutes to get to your store to use a stupid Christmas gift card on Rayman for the Vita.    You know Rayman for the Vita right?   It's one of the Vita launch titles?   It's also one of the highest ranked Vita launch titles?    What's that?   You don't have any?   Is it sold out?  No?   You just never got in any in the first place?   Well screw you very much....as soon as I dump this gift card I'm never going into your store again unless some other idiot gives me a gift card that I have to dump.

[CeeKay]

sounds like someone's out-raaaaaaaged.... 

can't believe Best Buy wouldn't order at least some of a launch title for a new handheld-  that's just dumber than stupid.

[Hetz]

Yeah, my Best Buy didn't have any either. I just downloaded it from PSN. It's $5 cheaper there anyway.

[msduncan]

Several quick impressions:

Awesome:

1.  Screen is magnificent
2.  Interface is slick.  The couple articles panning the interface were smoking crack.   
3.  Look and feel quality is very very high

Full of Crap:

1.  Demos.   Where the hell are they?   There were demos of just about every title on the demo units.   I pull up the PSN Store and I find ONE demo of Uncharted... no other demos available.    Am I just looking in the wrong place?

[msduncan]

Yeah, my Best Buy didn't have any either. I just downloaded it from PSN. It's $5 cheaper there anyway.

I have a gift card I'm trying to dump before that hell hole sinks into the ground forever.   Guess I'll have to order it online from BB.

[Hetz]

Several quick impressions:

Awesome:

1.  Screen is magnificent
2.  Interface is slick.  The couple articles panning the interface were smoking crack.   
3.  Look and feel quality is very very high

Full of Crap:

1.  Demos.   Where the hell are they?   There were demos of just about every title on the demo units.   I pull up the PSN Store and I find ONE demo of Uncharted... no other demos available.    Am I just looking in the wrong place?

I believe that there are demos of all the Ubisoft games, at least there were last night. They made a boo-boo last night with switching the demo for Michael Jackson HD with the full version, so if you downloaded the demo....you got the full version instead. They took that down this morning....but I thought the other Ubisoft games were still up, ie. Rayman, Dungeon Hunter, Lumines....

Yep, just checked and Lumines is still up. I'm sure the others are as well. Just go to the Product page for the game in the store and there should be a demo download button under the Full game button.

[msduncan]

Several quick impressions:

Awesome:

1.  Screen is magnificent
2.  Interface is slick.  The couple articles panning the interface were smoking crack.   
3.  Look and feel quality is very very high

Full of Crap:

1.  Demos.   Where the hell are they?   There were demos of just about every title on the demo units.   I pull up the PSN Store and I find ONE demo of Uncharted... no other demos available.    Am I just looking in the wrong place?

I believe that there are demos of all the Ubisoft games, at least there were last night. They made a boo-boo last night with switching the demo for Michael Jackson HD with the full version, so if you downloaded the demo....you got the full version instead. They took that down this morning....but I thought the other Ubisoft games were still up, ie. Rayman, Dungeon Hunter, Lumines....

Yep, just checked and Lumines is still up. I'm sure the others are as well. Just go to the Product page for the game in the store and there should be a demo download button under the Full game button.

Where are all the first party demos that are on the demo units?

- Wipeout
- Gravity Daze

And FIFA too?   For some reason these are there.

Oh...and where is Netflix?

[Ridah]

The NEAR app is awesome. Lots of info on it and really makes it a very social gaming device. You don't need to be connected to 3G to use it, but you do need the 3G unit, since it uses the GPS feature. It won't work on WI-FI only systems, I don't believe.

Wow, I'm glad you told me this. Switched to the 3G version....

[EngineNo9]

You can use the Near app whether you have the 3G version or not.  From this official page:

Through near your location can be calculated through Wi-Fi hot spots or in 3G models, with use of GPS technology which is an exclusive capability of the 3G model. Be the first to find these valuable game gifts by logging into near via 3G and not waiting to get to a WiFi hot spot.

[msduncan]

You can use the Near app whether you have the 3G version or not.  From this official page:

Through near your location can be calculated through Wi-Fi hot spots or in 3G models, with use of GPS technology which is an exclusive capability of the 3G model. Be the first to find these valuable game gifts by logging into near via 3G and not waiting to get to a WiFi hot spot.

" with use of GPS technology which is an exclusive capability of the 3G model"

quoted from your quote

[EngineNo9]

Right, it can be calculated through a wifi hotspot or GPS, and the GPS is exclusive to the 3G model, the feature and app are not.

[Hetz]

You can use the Near app whether you have the 3G version or not.  From this official page:

Through near your location can be calculated through Wi-Fi hot spots or in 3G models, with use of GPS technology which is an exclusive capability of the 3G model. Be the first to find these valuable game gifts by logging into near via 3G and not waiting to get to a WiFi hot spot.

I stand corrected! Though, I don't know why someone wouldn't get the 3G unit, since they are including the 8GB memory card for free with it and you have the ability to use 3G in the future, if you need it. It's not like the iPad where it costs hundreds of dollars more for the 3G unit. It's only $50 and you pretty much NEED the memory card to do anything on the system.

Oh and I just got my first couple game gifts via NEAR! I got an unlockable Super Stardust music track and something for some other game that I don't have.

[shon]

I was going to take a late lunch since my UPS guy usually comes at sporadic times and I had it setup to txt me when it was delivered.  Waited so long that I ended up working through lunch and just left an hour early.  Get home and there is my package, no text and not sure how long it's been there.  

As soon as you turn it on and go through a couple of menu's, bam, you need to update, it didn't take long, but this is what I dislike about the PS3, constant updates.  

The thing is huge and the UI is pretty good, I think the battery came fully charged.  

I got Hot Shots golf so far and will probably get Lumines and Rayman later.  I have about 10 PSP digital games and only 3 of those I can use on the Vita at this point which was a little disappointing so hopefully they will add support soon.

[Hetz]

Most PSP games work, don't go by the official Sony list. A couple of my games that are not on the list work perfectly.

Oh and here is the local popularity leaderboard for people in my area (within a couple miles of me) via NEAR:

1) Super Stardust Delta - 3 players
1) Lumines - 3 players
1) Uncharted - 3 players
1) Rayman - 3 players
5) Michael Jackson - 2 players

There are only 14 people in my area that have a system so far....but I am in a smallish Wisconsin city.

[shon]

Most PSP games work, don't go by the official Sony list. A couple of my games that are not on the list work perfectly.

I did not know that if you install the PSP games to your PS3 you can't copy them to the Vita. Now I have to redownload all my games again.

 

[The Grue]

By the way, the Michael Jackson thing isn't quite the full game.  It  seems to be some bugged trial version or something that never shuts off so that you can play the entire thing, but though you unlock trophies locally, they never synch to the main server and won't show up on that list that shows all your PS3 and Vita trophies combined.  Bad for trophy whores, but good for people who don't want to pay $40 for a Michael Jackson game, but want to play it without actually being able to show off those trophies.  The weird thing, though, is you will still get messages from your friends showing they unlocked a trophy.  It just never shows up on the server side list and has a bubble around it on your local Vita list denoting that it isn't official.  I imagine if you broke down and bought the full version, they would convert.

[Hetz]

By the way, the Michael Jackson thing isn't quite the full game.  It  seems to be some bugged trial version or something that never shuts off so that you can play the entire thing, but though you unlock trophies locally, they never synch to the main server and won't show up on that list that shows all your PS3 and Vita trophies combined.  Bad for trophy whores, but good for people who don't want to pay $40 for a Michael Jackson game, but want to play it without actually being able to show off those trophies.  The weird thing, though, is you will still get messages from your friends showing they unlocked a trophy.  It just never shows up on the server side list and has a bubble around it on your local Vita list denoting that it isn't official.  I imagine if you broke down and bought the full version, they would convert.

Yeah it is very odd. I wonder what in the world happened on Ubisoft or Sonys end to mess that up. Oh well, I'll live with the psuedo-trophies that I am getting.

I downloaded all the demos available last night to try them out today and I guess I got a pretty dang good demo out of it! Thanks, Ubisoft! I did buy a couple other of their games though today on PSN, so don't feel too bad for them.   

[Devil]

Just got home with my Vita and thankfully the thread title has changed and the pressure is off me.

I'm charging it.

Sick as a dog. Probably going to sleep.

My fantastic review will be delayed until tomorrow night.

Have fun, kids!!

[msduncan]

Interface:

I'm really loving it at first glance.   The simplicity of the bubbles works, but I'm unsure of how it would be with a TON of stuff on it. One disadvantage is that it's hard to tell in some of these games and demos just how you get back to the menu.   I couldn't get back to the main menu in Virtua Tennis and had to kill the program via the Playstation button.

Interfaces are one facet of a new system that you need a few days to make a determination of whether you like it or if starts to annoy you. I'll be updating this particular impression as time goes on.

Device look/feel:

Not too heavy, but not as light as I was led to believe. In short:  it's a great weight and the device seems very high quality. Absolutely STUNNING colors.  Touch screen is big and very responsive.

Caution!   Careful how you plug the charge cable in.  I had the PS logo facing down... it inserted fine but wasn't charging.  I turned it over and it works fine now.

Near

MAN do I see loads of potential here.... but I literally live in po-dunk Alabama.   I haven't detected a single soul around me so far.  I'm taking it with me into downtown Birmingham to play on my lunchbreak tomorrow, so we will see if there are any folks around then.

Virtua Tennis

The graphics are outstanding.    I'm going to get a little more playtime in tonight and tomorrow before I make a determination on the gameplay.

Rayman demo

Stunning.   Beautiful.   Showcases the richness of the colors on this Vita screen.

[wonderpug]

How are games utilizing the backside touch sensors?

[Hetz]

How are games utilizing the backside touch sensors?

In Super Stardust, you use it for a bunch of mini-games. You can also use it to launch the Black Hole weapon during the normal game...but I found it was very easy to accidentaly do it. Hopefully I will get better at that and not set it off so easily.

So here are my brief thoughts on all the games I played today:

Super Stardust Delta: Just as fun as the PS3 game and controls amazingly well, other than the accidental back touch issue I was having. You can turn off the back touch though, if needed.

Dungeon Hunter Alliance: Fun Diablo clone. Nothing incredible...but it's not bad. It's great as a portable Diablo. Lots of loot and skills to increase.

Rayman Origins: Stunning. Looks just like the Ps3 version and controls wonderfully. Has some extras that the PS3 version doesn't have and you can gift things using NEAR.

UMVSC3: Great fighting game. Looks just like the console versions. Controls great and no slowdown whatsoever.

Little Deviants: Fun collection of mini games.

Michael Jackson HD: Not that bad. Wish there were more songs and it's actually better than the console versions, IMO.

Lumines: Haven't played since the first PSP version and I am falling in love all over again. Good looking puzzle game that is addictive as hell. Can gift things using NEAR.

Didn't have a chance to play Uncharted, Escape Plan or Wipeout yet.

[Hetz]

From the NEAR app:

So far, 34 people have the Vita in a 5 mile radius of me.

Here are the Top 10 most popular games in my area:

1) Rayman - 28 people played it
2) Super Stardust - 26
3) Lumines - 18
3) Uncharted - 18
5) Michael Jackson - 15
6) UMVSC3 - 9
6) Welcome Park - 9
8 ) Little Deviants - 6
9) Dungeon Hunter - 3
10) Wipeout 2048 -1

Curious how that matches up to people in other areas.....

[skystride]

Can't get Near to work on my Wifi.  Possibly a Canada thing, they don't have any 3G units announced for Canada yet.

[skystride]

Lumines: Haven't played since the first PSP version and I am falling in love all over again. Good looking puzzle game that is addictive as hell. Can gift things using NEAR.

Is Lumines really worth $36?  I'm tempted but that price seems high for a relatively simple puzzle game.  Games like that are usually $10 or less on Steam.

[Devil]

With 'Near' can people pinpoint your location or just list out who's within an area?

[Hetz]

With 'Near' can people pinpoint your location or just list out who's within an area?

No, they can't pinpoint your location. They can tell your distance from them though, since you appear on their near radar. It shows your appox distance from them as well as what direction they are.

[Hetz]

Here is video of some guy playing Escape Plan, so u can see what it is like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmxF8Bv189I&feature=youtu.be