When it comes to hardware design, there is one thing that Sony specializes in: sexiness. Virtually every device that has ever carried the brand name has been aesthetically pleasing and possesses technology ages ahead of its time. In the case of the PlayStation Vita, this is far from an exception. In fact, the Vita’s combination of so many groundbreaking features into a single device may very well be one of their strongest technological achievements to date. Unfortunately, superior tech is far from a sure thing when it comes to portable console success. Last generation’s PlayStation Portable suffered defeat at the hands of the drastically inferior Nintendo DS was a perfect example of this phenomenon. So has Sony finally uncovered their own formula for success in North America, or will history end up repeating itself all over again?
Device: PlayStation Vita
Manufacturer: Sony
Price: $249.99 for Wi-Fi, $299.99 for 3G
Pros: An amazing piece of technology that should be a console developer’s wet dream.
Cons: The base price for the Vita far exceeds that of the Nintendo 3DS and memory cards are unreasonably overpriced.
Verdict: Early adopters and hardcore gamers alike should not hesitate to get in on the ground floor.
Simply looking at the PlayStation Vita from a distance, it could easily be mistaken for Sony’s previous mobile platform, the PlayStation Portable. The familiar design features a rather large screen flanked by a series of input and shoulder buttons. It’s far from breaking the mold of what is expected from a mobile gaming console. It is only upon closer examination that the true genius of the product’s design shines forth.
First off, every former PSP owner’s prayers have been answered, thanks to the inclusion of a second analog stick. Notice the specifically chose word “stick,” because the abomination known as the analog “nub” is now a distant memory. The stick is actually raised a decent distance above the surface of the device and connected to a ball joint, similar to what would be found on the PlayStation’s Sixaxis controller. Finally players actually have a decent approximation of a quality controller experience that doesn’t require learning new bass-ackward control schemes in order to make due for the lack of a second “nub.”
Upon closer examination the next change that will jump out to previous Sony portable consumers is that the face buttons are actually smaller than in past iterations. To some this might initially be viewed as a downfall, but in reality this is a conscious decision that will work out in the best interest of everyone. Never again will players need to worry about accidentally pressing multiple buttons at once, because of buttons placed excessively close to each other. Trust us, in the long run you will be patting the designers on the back.
Once the PlayStation Vita has actually been turned on? That’s when things get really interesting. The console’s new five inch OLED screen is nothing short of stunning in virtually every way. Colors are brighter, textures are more detailed, and contrast is sharper than has ever been possible before, thanks to the display’s staggering 960×544 resolution and 32-bit capabilities. Heap a capacitive screen on top of that, along with 128MB of video ram, and this device has the potential to deliver an unparalleled home gaming experience that can fit within the constraints of your pocket.
The intriguing ways to interact with games do not end at the touch screen and face buttons. In fact, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. For starters, entire back of the Vita contains a second capacitive touch pad. This allows players to viscerally impact what is happening on screen, without having to obscure the display. Another curious addition is the inclusion of gyroscope controls, similar to what one might once again find in a Sixaxis controller. Some might compare this functionality to what is found iOS devices, but let’s not forget that Sony thought of it long before Apple.
What would a piece of consumer electronics be in this day and age be without the addition of a camera? In the case of the PlayStation Vita, there are actually two different cameras, one facing the front and another facing the rear. Though you wouldn’t exactly want to be using these pathetic 0.3 megapixel inputs as your go-to camera of choice, they are more than capable enough to serve many different purposes, like augmented reality games and facial recognition software.
Thankfully, this time around Sony jettisoned their failed UMD initiative of yesteryear, and instead went the direction of solid state memory cartridges for games. Also worth noting is that the platform will continue down the road of digital distribution that was forged by their last portable abortion, the PSPGo. While this predecessor proved to be a failure in several different ways, including most notably at retail, the inroads it made on the non-physical media front will likely help define this new generation of mobile gaming.
Most importantly with any new piece of tech is what’s going on under the hood. Bottom line, the PlayStation Vita is far more impressive than most mobile products available on the market. Leaning on the power of a ARM A9 quad core chipset and 512MB of ram, not to mention a second quad core processor that is dedicated to the device’s graphical rendering, the hardware has more than enough horsepower to wow audiences for years to come. Just to put the generational jump into perspective, at its peak, the PlayStation Portable only had a single processor and 64MBs of ram. Needless to say, the bar for visual and gameplay performance has been raised dramatically.
For everything that the hardware does well to set itself well apart from the crowd, the actual interface, in this case the system dashboard, undoes everything. Those that were attached and familiar with the user friendly cross media bar interface will be shocked to learn that it is nowhere to be seen. In fact, the D-pad and analog sticks can’t even be used to navigate at all. Instead, the dash now consists of a very iOS centric home screen that requires use of the touch screen. Most likely players will quickly warm up to the new inputs, but early on it can take some getting used to.
Further complicating issues is the Vita’s lack of any form of on-board permanent memory. Much like all versions of the PSP until the Go, consumers need to purchase new, proprietary memory cards from Sony. As could also be expected, not only is the media non-industry standard, but it is also exorbitantly priced ranging from $19.99 all the way up to $99.99. Charging upwards of one hundred dollars for a 32GB memory card is not only highway robbery, but downright inconsiderate to the consumers. Whoever at Sony set these prices should be ashamed of themselves.
If you can get past the PlayStation Vita’s rather inflated price of admission ($249.99 for Wi-Fi and $299.99 for 3G model) and the inexcusable price of memory, you will find an extremely impressive piece of hardware that is primed to re-define what is considered to be mobile gaming. As long as the launch lineup of games are indicative of things to come, Vita gamers will have quite a bit to look forward to in the years to come. Come on in and try the KoolAid. Boy is it delicious!
GrE Grade: B+
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