5. The alleged Vita memory card pricing has been a constant issue since the rumored prices came out some time ago. Now that Vita’s memory cards have been revealed to be more affordable (starting from $19.99), is this issue put to rest or will it be persistent throughout Vita’s lifespan?
ANTHONY: Until Sony can get the prices of Vita memory cards significantly lower, AND begins including at least a 4GB card with every Vita sold, they’re going to be criticized for it. We tested a 4GB card, which was almost filled to maximum with just two downloaded games. People are going to need a lot of these cards if they want to go all digital. A 32GB max doesn’t allow for carrying a lot of games. Plus, some retail games require a memory card to even start them. For something to be so mandatory to owning the Vita, it needs to be included in the box. I get why Sony is doing it. I support the idea, but they’re just going about it all wrong. This proprietary system is an attempt to thwart piracy, but the added mandatory cost could end up hurting its install base. Only time will tell here.
SEBASTIAN: This is still a problem, and a big one. Sony started off by hinting that the cards were super expensive, and then announced that they were just expensive. Yaay.
The cards are still above the industry standard price. I also can’t use my PSP memory cards, my PSP Go memory cards, my SD cards, or my microSD cards with Vita. The fact that you need a card to save games, but one isn’t included with the base pack is also unforgivable.
Plus, when you consider the size of Vita games, you’ll need 16GB+ — which will cost you — if you want to actually be able to store a few of them.
CAMERON: The issues over the price of the memory cards won’t ever fully go away. However, I think that the voices of those unhappy with it will fade over time as people will accept the prices as they are and move on. Yes, $99.99 for a 32GB memory card is insane and a tough pill to swallow, but it’s not the end of the world. Sony is obviously trying to do something more secure to help stop some of the piracy that plagued the PSP in America and we can only hope it works.
HEATH: I do think the memory card thing can have a negative impact on Vita’s market performance. If you’re going to push the ease of downloading on your new machine, you need to make big memory cards available for an affordable price. For the size of Vita games, demos, and so on, people will need more than a 4 GB card. Sony is barely even producing any 16GB and 32GB cards right now, though, in an obvious attempt to try to milk the early adopters. That’s bullshit. If you want people to spend $250 on your machine, you need to make them feel like that gets them something.
NICK: Initially, the Vita’s memory card pricing will be mentioned as a negative by some, but the issue will fade if the cards come down in price. How much use a Vita owner can get from a 4GB card, though, will play a factor as well. If most gamers can have a nice-sized library without having to worry about getting a new card, then 4GB for $20 wouldn’t be bad at all. However, if gamers find themselves running out space quickly on their 4GB and end up needing the higher priced cards with more storage, that could perpetuate the issue. Again, though, that could be offset by lowering prices for the memory cards.
6. Finally, how important a factor is digital distribution for Vita? Do you see it as a strength for the handheld? Does it affect the handheld console war in any way?
ANTHONY: This goes hand and hand with a lot of my answers above. It’s very appealing to consumers to be able to instantly buy something and have it be cheaper than if they bought it at the store. Having games sold at retail, though, ensures retail partners are happy and that less tech-savvy consumers can still purchase games. It opens the market to more and more consumers.
Vita’s digital distribution model is not perfect. The cost of memory cards and how quickly they fill up are going to be problems that pretty much negate the savings you get by buying digital. The system needs some tweaking. A year or two from now when memory card prices fall and data sizes increase, digital games on the Vita will be a much better sell. In the meantime, people are better off buying at retail, and saving that memory card for games that are PSN only — in addition to the eventual release of smartphone-esque PlayStation Suite games.
SEBASTIAN: iOS games are only available over digital distribution. (You can’t buy iCartridges after all.) It’s a huge, huge thing — as long as they handle it right. The PSP Go was a catastrophic failure. The reason why is that PSP PSN games were all full price, often delayed, and had a limited selection. I also want the PS Vita equivalent of games like Journey and Flower on its PSN.
It’s also an area where the Vita easily trumps the 3DS, which has a lackluster, overpriced marketplace.
CAMERON: Digital distribution is extremely vital for the Vita. However, even more vital is the fact that the physical media will also be available. The thing that doomed the PSP Go from its launch was the lack of a retail market, which clearly showed that consumers weren’t really ready for an all digital handheld. Now, the Vita will offer consumers a choice. With the digital choice being cheaper (should always be this way), Vita should have a nice advantage. Sony needs to really push this hard with consumers, especially for those cheaper games that are a faster download and perfectly suited for digital distribution.
HEATH: In the West, it might have some impact. In the East, I don’t think it’ll do much. For the last four years, PSP games have been cheaper digitally out here — by a margin of as much as 30% sometimes — and it did nothing to change the market. We like our ability to sell our games, we like collections, and like not having to manage the “mendokusai” downloading and storage. The West will probably jump all over it though; it seems more of an American and European thing.
NICK: Having games available for lower prices and instant “Day One” purchases with the only wait being for the download to finish could be a significant feature for Vita. However, as far as affecting the console war, digital distribution will likely play a minimal role. Console wars are won and lost by game lineups, so unless the availability of digital games sales results in third parties contributing more support for Vita, it will likely be seen as a solid and very convenient feature for Sony’s next-gen portable.
