Vita Sales Reach 1.2 Million Units

[gigastar]

Still, as of February 19th, approximately 579,000 units had sold in Japan, allowing simple subtraction to predict a 621,000-unit launch in the United States.

Apparently the United States now equates to the rest of the world, including Europe, one of the biggest markets for video games in the world..

Id imagine trying to collect sales data in Europe is a fair sight harder than doing the same in America.

I'll buy this when sony eventually drops the price.

You know they will. They always do.


Also when they release monster hunter. To me any portable Sony system isn't the same without monster hunter.

As much as it hurts for me to want a new Monster Hunter right now, its not Sony's call, but Capcom's call on a new release for the Vita, much less a release outside of Japan.

 

[Wil213]

Im glad its doing at least alright 'cos its and brilliant piece of tech. I would think sales would pick up when there are price cuts, because there is always a sales increace when there is a price cut. Would guess it just dosen't sell off-the-bat as fast as the DS.
And yes, Im a Sony PS1/2/3 fanboy so I'll defended to the hilt... mostly. Never got on with the orignal PSP and Im not getting this 'cos I don't have the money and wont for a long while. Eitherway, all I will say is thank christ for dual anailoge control on this one.

 

[UnnDunn]

I think it's interesting to compare and contrast Sony's approach to promoting the PS Vita as opposed to how it promoted the PS3 and PSP when they launched.

With PSP and especially with PS3, Sony was all about the hyperbole, trying to talk them up as "the ultimate gaming devices." The PS3 was said to be so amazing "you'll work longer hours just to own one." Sony claimed "the next generation only starts when we say it does." And of course, there was "power of the Cell", a CPU so powerful, it was claimed, that it would enable such feats as dual-1080p HD gaming with lifelike graphics (remember the target render trailers for games like MotorStorm?) And of course, there was the launch price: $600 for the PS3, a price Sony clearly expected people to pay with enthusiasm given how much they'd talked it up.

With the PS Vita, I haven't seen that much hyperbole from Sony. Yes, they are excited about the device, as well they should be. But there hasn't been any breathless gushing over the CPU or GPU. They haven't made any crazy claims like "this is the only real portable gaming system" nor have they talked-down their competition. They've kept it straight-laced; "this is the system, here are its features."

I think it's refreshing to see Sony take this newer, humbler approach, especially since the device is actually pretty damn good. It hits all the right notes to provide a compelling, unique portable gaming experience, in a way that neither smartphones nor the 3DS can match. It's got a great mix of titles at launch. The hardware has some flaws, but one can get used to them. And it has enough non-gaming features to make it a good all-around portable entertainment system.

So kudos to Sony. I think the PS Vita has really good prospects, and I think Sony has hit the right tone promoting it.

 

[wintercoat]

So I've asked this in a few places but I've never received an answer. How big is the average downloaded game? Is the 4 gig card good enough for more than a couple games? Or would you need to get one of the larger cards if you plan on stocking up on all those psp classics that you never got around to playing? Because with how much the memory cards cost, that is the only thing that keeps me from even considering getting a Vita.

 

[direkiller]

I knew this console wouldnt bomb. But haters had to hate.

its still very bad world wide sales figures

Nintendo DS ? 151.06 million thats life time sorry they don't have launch sales figures
GBAsp from 2003-2004 sold 17 million (81 million lifetime sales)

hell the 3ds sold 3.6million in its first 3 months
and that was considered a bomb

just for some perspective

 

[xyrafhoan]

So I've asked this in a few places but I've never received an answer. How big is the average downloaded game? Is the 4 gig card good enough for more than a couple games? Or would you need to get one of the larger cards if you plan on stocking up on all those psp classics that you never got around to playing? Because with how much the memory cards cost, that is the only thing that keeps me from even considering getting a Vita.

4GB is pathetic even if you were just going to use it for PSOne Classics. FF7 is already roughly 1GB in size, and that happens to be one of the more popular titles on the system. FF8 was even bigger. Throw in all the media you might want to throw on like mp3s and pictures and game data installs and you're going to run out of space awfully fast. And that was just for the PSP! I can't imagine how large a Vita game could one day become.

I'm interested in a Vita, but not with the launch software. I figured the numbers for the system would look good after the US launch due to the games being aimed at American audiences anyway (Uncharted, namely), but I'm really looking forward to Persona 4: The Golden and Ragnarok Odyssey, and perhaps a future instalment of Monster Hunter.

 

[wintercoat]

So I've asked this in a few places but I've never received an answer. How big is the average downloaded game? Is the 4 gig card good enough for more than a couple games? Or would you need to get one of the larger cards if you plan on stocking up on all those psp classics that you never got around to playing? Because with how much the memory cards cost, that is the only thing that keeps me from even considering getting a Vita.

4GB is pathetic even if you were just going to use it for PSOne Classics. FF7 is already roughly 1GB in size, and that happens to be one of the more popular titles on the system. FF8 was even bigger. Throw in all the media you might want to throw on like mp3s and pictures and game data installs and you're going to run out of space awfully fast. And that was just for the PSP! I can't imagine how large a Vita game could one day become.

I'm interested in a Vita, but not with the launch software. I figured the numbers for the system would look good after the US launch due to the games being aimed at American audiences anyway (Uncharted, namely), but I'm really looking forward to Persona 4: The Golden and Ragnarok Odyssey, and perhaps a future instalment of Monster Hunter.

Yeah, that's what I thought. No Vita for me then. I've kinda got a back catalog of games that's pretty long and I sure as hell ain't shilling out $100 for 32 gigs. It's 2012, not 2002, seriously.

 

[Quiotu]

I knew this console wouldnt bomb. But haters had to hate.

its still very bad world wide sales figures

Nintendo DS ? 151.06 million thats life time sorry they don't have launch sales figures
GBAsp from 2003-2004 sold 17 million (81 million lifetime sales)

hell the 3ds sold 3.6million in its first 3 months
and that was considered a bomb

just for some perspective

Look... I don't like being THAT guy, but... bad sales figures compared to what? It's a bit hard comparing it to the 3DS, because only Nintendo could sell the 3DS... because Nintendo fans are stupid. Nintendo made an overpriced, glorified DS 1.5 with gimmicky 3D that barely worked and caused headaches, had no games, and people still bought it for a while. They had to drop the price by 1/3 within 6 months, and I'd be embarrassed if I bought it full price.

Nintendo could take a Tiger handheld from 1989, slap their logo and Mario's face on it, and people would still pay $70 for the honor of being cheated by their childhood god. I don't think a person on the face of the Earth expects Sony to sell handhelds as well as Nintendo, especially Sony. If they can even marginally compete with Nintendo's numbers in the long run, I'd consider that a HUGE victory.

 

[Burst6]

As much as it hurts for me to want a new Monster Hunter right now, its not Sony's call, but Capcom's call on a new release for the Vita, much less a release outside of Japan.

Capcom probably won't release it unless a lot of people buy the Vita.

And a lot of people won't buy Vita unless capcom releases it.

aah the good old vicious cycle. Either Capcom has to take a several million dollar risk, or several million people have to take a 300 dollar risk.

 

[Veylon]

Look... I don't like being THAT guy, but... bad sales figures compared to what?

At the retailer I work at we sold two Vitas in it's opening week.

In the same week, we sold a dozen Wiis, which have been sitting at the end of their life cycle for some time now.

Sony has kind of shot themselves in the foot by not making it backwards compatible with the PSP, a feature that did a lot to boost PS2 & 3 sales. Which is kind of shame, as the device itself seems like the logical next gaming step to the iPhone by wrapping a controller around it.

 

[direkiller]

I knew this console wouldnt bomb. But haters had to hate.

its still very bad world wide sales figures

Nintendo DS ? 151.06 million thats life time sorry they don't have launch sales figures
GBAsp from 2003-2004 sold 17 million (81 million lifetime sales)

hell the 3ds sold 3.6million in its first 3 months
and that was considered a bomb

just for some perspective

Look... I don't like being THAT guy, but... bad sales figures compared to what? It's a bit hard comparing it to the 3DS, because only Nintendo could sell the 3DS... because Nintendo fans are stupid. Nintendo made an overpriced, glorified DS 1.5 with gimmicky 3D that barely worked and caused headaches, had no games, and people still bought it for a while. They had to drop the price by 1/3 within 6 months, and I'd be embarrassed if I bought it full price.

Nintendo could take a Tiger handheld from 1989, slap their logo and Mario's face on it, and people would still pay $70 for the honor of being cheated by their childhood god. I don't think a person on the face of the Earth expects Sony to sell handhelds as well as Nintendo, especially Sony. If they can even marginally compete with Nintendo's numbers in the long run, I'd consider that a HUGE victory.

yea i dont expect it to sell as well as the DS
but i don't call sales that are dwarfed by something that bombed and lost money good eater.
its not even like where talling small number here
The DS has over 100x the sales(admitly lifetime sales but odds are it is still outselling the vita)
and the product that was competing with the PSP sold 17x the amount this handheld had in its opening year

1.2 million global sales is abysmally bad for a multi-billion dollar electronic corporation

 

[EHKOS]

Cool, except the games are too expensive. $50 for a shortened Uncharted adventure? Nah.

 

[draythefingerless]

I knew this console wouldnt bomb. But haters had to hate.

its still very bad world wide sales figures

Nintendo DS ? 151.06 million thats life time sorry they don't have launch sales figures
GBAsp from 2003-2004 sold 17 million (81 million lifetime sales)

hell the 3ds sold 3.6million in its first 3 months
and that was considered a bomb

just for some perspective

ENTIRELY depends on the ammount of supply they expected to ship. the 3DS bombed because they expected it to be a huge success, so they made tons of consoles that never got sold. i think the Vita production numbers were much lower than the 3DS ones.

 

[MetalMonkey74]

" There is clear demand for a mobile device capable of providing a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context."

They already did that, it's called the iPhone.

I'm not saying that the iphone hasnt revolutionised mobile telephony and computing, but comparing a device with no buttons, to a device that is specifically designed for gaming is absurd. I relished the idea of gaming on my phone when all these new shiny touch screen mobiles started coming out, and the reality is that there is only so much you can do with a touch screen, and having your thumbs cover up half the screen to try and move in a 360degree plain is a horrible experience.

Touch screen mobile phones are fantastic to play Angry Birds on, but any more depth and you'll instantly see the shortcomings.

 

[Rainboq]

You know what else had strong initial sales?
The PSP.
That's all I'm saying.

Uuuuh, Souplex, the PSP did fairly well in the long run.

OT: Well, I'm glad for Sony, but you know what I use to game while out and about? A laptop. Plus, I don't have the money for a Vita.

 

[Marudas]

I think the Vita is ten thousand times better than the 3DS. Then, I think the regular DS is ten thousand times better than the 3DS too. Still, I just don't see the Vita gaining too much momentum. I don't travel much anymore, so I have less of a reason to need one, but it seems rare to need a portable gaming device that's not my phone or laptop in any real situation (I do still have my old DS lite, but even it gets little exposure).

At the same time, I'd like to see it do well, because I think its a pretty nice piece of kit. Good design and no pointless 3D =p.

 

[Dahaka27]

So I've asked this in a few places but I've never received an answer. How big is the average downloaded game? Is the 4 gig card good enough for more than a couple games? Or would you need to get one of the larger cards if you plan on stocking up on all those psp classics that you never got around to playing? Because with how much the memory cards cost, that is the only thing that keeps me from even considering getting a Vita.

Well I got the the free 8GB card from the EU amazon deal and its about half full with Uncharted and the unit 13 demo, so they are pretty large, 3-4GB on average.

 

[robert022614]

If it made phone calls I would have more reason to buy it. I think I still will buy it eventually, but just not that excited. I hate the idea of having phones be your gaming device, but love the idea of your gaming device being your phone. Hypocritical much?

That was called the N-Gage. It sucked.[/quote

I get what you mean, but I dont want it specifically built around being a phone. Just a vita that can make phone calls and text. That would be 1000% more awesome to me. Just an opinion though.