Columbia Heights, Minnesota
By Gabe Hewitt, iLander Student Editor
Sony's new handheld game console is causing a buzz in the gaming world. The PlayStation Vita is set to launch tomorrow and gamers are wondering if it's really worth all the hype.
The PlayStation Portable (PSP), released in 2005, was Sony's first handheld game console. According to IGN, the Vita was first revealed to the world on Jan. 27, 2011, but was referred to as the Next Generation PSP (NGP). It was released in Japan in Dec. 2011 and sold 325,000 units the first week. Sales dropped 78 percent and have continued to decline since then.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 27, 2011, Sony revealed that the NGP would officially be called the "PlayStation Vita," meaning "life" in Latin. In October 2011, Sony announced that the Vita would be released in North America on Feb. 22, 2012, at a retail price of $249.99.
The Vita has the same shape and similar design as the PSP. It is larger, but its round shape makes it easy to hold. It supports graphics that almost match the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360.
“I’m really excited to buy it,” said CHHS junior Taylor Harry. “It’s amazing how something so small could have such good graphics.”
Features include:
- Touchscreen
- Backwards compatibility with PSP games
- AT&T 3G capabilities (the 3G version is $299.99)
- Front and rear cameras
- Dual analog sticks
- Six axis motion sensor
- GPS
- OLED display that can show up to 16 million colors
- Augmented reality gameplay capabilities
One feature that separates the Vita from past handhelds is "cross play." If you're playing a game on your PS3, you can pause that game and start playing it in on the Vita. It also has a feature that allows users to download PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games from the PlayStation Network.
Not very many games are available at a handheld's launch, but the Vita has more than a handful.
Some of them include:
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss
- FIFA Football
- ModNation Racers: Roadtrip
- Ray Man Origins
- LittleBigPlanet
- Sonic Generations
The Vita will be competing with Nintendo’s 3DS, which was released in March 2011. The Vita sets itself apart from the 3DS with its many features. The only difference between the two worth noting is the price, with the 3DS $149.99 at retail.
“I think the 3DS is more targeted at a younger audience,” said CHHS senior Jakob Johnson. “The Vita has games made for both younger and older people.”
Whether the PlayStation Vita is worth the money is up to the individual. Sony has made it clear that this handheld is a step up from past.
(Photo: ModNation Racing: Roadtrip is one of the PlayStation Vita's many launch titles. Photo courtesy of IGN.com. Used with educational license.)