The PlayStation Vita packs a lot of fun into a small package. Great graphics and multiple methods of controlling the action make it the new king of handheld devices. (Sony)
PlayStation Vita proves that the idea of a powerful handheld game system hasn’t been squashed by the weight of a zillion angry birds.
However, the rising tide of smartphones, tablets and casual gaming has some wondering whether Sony knew what it was doing when it gave the green light to the successor to the PlayStation Portable. I have to admit that I was leaning in that direction until I got my hands on the nifty little gadget.
What won me over? Dual analog sticks.
My big complaint about the PSP and DS — and the Wii — has been the shortage of joysticks. Stickless is definitely joyless. One is barely tolerable. Give me two and I’m ready to roll. They offer superior control in almost every instance.
And if you’re wondering where that leaves touchscreen controls, don’t worry. Vita has that style of gaming covered — twice. It offers a 5-inch touchscreen that will keep smartphone and tablet fans happy. It also boasts a second control surface on its backside. This allows for front and back touching as well as pinching. Sounds naughty, but it’s actually very nice.
Vita also includes motion-sensing technology that allows you to control some action by tilting and turning the entire device.
Of course, the Vita also offers the complete set of standard PlayStation-style buttons, which are positioned for comfort and easy use.
These control options give the system tremendous potential, which is enhanced by its other attributes. The high-resolution screen makes both games and videos pop. Its icon-based interface — another feature that will be familiar to smartphone users — is smooth and efficient. Its processing power seems to be more than sufficient to handle the many jobs on its task list. And the whole package comes in a unit that’s lightweight and fits comfortably in two hands.
The Vita’s capabilities extend far beyond gaming thanks to its Internet connectivity. Sony offers a wi-fi version for $250 and a 3G version for $300, which also requires a monthly service fee for AT&T service. Whatever connection you use, you’ll be able to surf the Web and connect to PlayStation Network, where you can download games or movies. The network also will allow you to play online with other Vita gamers and, in some cases, it will permit cross-platform competition with PS3 gamers. You also can download apps to access Netflix, a variety of social media and a music streaming service.
The system also has a camera that can shoot photos and videos as well as be used in some games.
The Vita does have a few weak spots.
The battery life isn’t the greatest — three and a half to four hours. That’s not much better than the much-maligned Nintendo 3DS battery and below that of the iPad. However, the biggest problem with the battery life is that the system will shut down without warning once the juice runs out. That can be quite disconcerting if you’re in the middle of a game.
In addition, the system doesn’t have much onboard memory, which means that you’ll need to buy a memory card to save games or download apps and movies. Cards range from 4 gigs for $20 to 32 gigs for $100. That means you could be spending about $400 for a 3G system with a large memory card.
And that prompts the big question: How many gamers will be willing to pay that much for a handheld system in the age of smartphones and casual gaming?
The naysayers can point to the lackluster sales of last year’s Nintendo 3DS as proof that the market has been sliced like a watermelon in “Fruit Ninja.” That system cost $250 at its launch in March but was knocked down to $170 in August.
Sony has a superior system and a much more impressive lineup of launch titles. However, only time will tell whether that’s enough to overcome the flock of angry birds.
