Sony’s annual E3 press conference kicks off tomorrow night, one full day ahead of E3 2012. I’m expecting lots of huge announcements on both the software and hardware fronts, but what I’m really hoping for is some support for their latest console, the PlayStation Vita. It’s kind of a given at this point that they’d come into their first E3 after system launch with some key franchise announcements, but this is Sony we’re talking about. Remember the PSP? Yeah.
Sony’s PlayStation Vita has more potential than any other game system released in recent memory with its powerful hardware and connectivity. But potential doesn’t make a successful game system. Games will, though. Sure, that launch line-up was nice, but what about the months after that? I started to have flashbacks of the PSP launch and following drought soon after the charms of the launch line-up wore off. Those still linger, unfortunately, as software support since then has been weak.
And it’s not just games that have me worrying about Sony’s portable. We’re still missing lots of features that we expected to have at launch, and there’s still a lot of untapped potential beyond these.
I know that a blogged list of wishes won’t somehow magically change Sony’s plans for tomorrow, but I wanted to get them off my chest anyway. Hopefully you’ll read these and make your own noise. The Vita is too nice of a system to be cast off into the closet; we should do our best to be heard.
Where are the games?
While the relatively strong launch was appreciated, things haven’t been so great since. Not bad, mind you. But key franchises are missing. Key genres haven’t shown up. Where is the third-party support for Vita? Hell, where’s the rest of the first-party support for Vita?
I can see the smirk on the Sony rep’s face right now. He’d give me a ‘oh, just wait ’till tomorrow’ look. Yes, I’m sure there will be Vita announcements at the press conference. There’s LittleBigPlanet Vita, which is fantastic, but we already knew about that. We’ll probably get a confirmation on the PlayStation All-Stars fighter as a Vita title, with cross platform supper as a bonus. I bet Killzone will get some handheld love, too. Beyond this, third-party stuff like Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed might show up as a tease, and we might get a reminder of farther out titles, like Final Fantasy X. Expect one of those crazy Sony video montages that drills super-quick cuts of footage and game franchise logos into your eyeballs. But it’ll be like 6 titles over and over again.
Is that enough for you, early adopter? These alone, as big as they are, would be enough…for me to not trade in my Vita just yet. I need more of a commitment, especially these days where mobile/portable gaming is a way of life, and downloadable games are on everything. A $250 portable already felt a bit silly. It feels even a bit worse now.
What about backwards compatibility?
I feel anger build up inside of me every time the lack of PSOne support on the Vita crosses my mind. I’m not kidding; I grit my teeth, breathe deeply and stare off into the distance with murderous intent. This is bullshit, Sony. We were teased with this feature from the beginning, but PSOne play is still not supported. Is it not a priority for you? We’ve heard that it’s “coming soon,” but I’m tired of waiting. I could have played UmJammer Lammy today!
One of the key points on the huge list of potential plusses for the Vita is that it can download, contain, and play all of your favorite games. Maybe I’m spoiled from having all my Vita, PSP and PS Minis games on my system now, but I can’t help but feel like Vita is incomplete without access to the huge back library of fantastic PlayStation classics. These are games that many of us happily paid for a second time, and I still continue to enjoy them on my PS3 and PSP. They would be perfect on the Vita with its big screen and dual analog sticks, but we still have that situation where we’ll scroll through our download list to find that unsupported message for every PSOne game.
Sony, if you don’t announce PSOne backwards compatibility tomorrow I’m going to throw my fucking Vita toward the stage and then I’m going to put a booger on every screen of every PlayStation product on the E3 show floor.
I was a bit worried about PSP support early on, as not all of the library was backwards compatible at first. They seem to be working on this, but it looks like they’re not quite done yet. Please finish.
Let’s talk about future potential:
Sony likes money, so I’m sure they’re thinking about this stuff. I’m sure they’re already planning new features and support for the Vita. They know that the more ways they can find for us to use this system, the better chance it has of staying around and making more money for them. The more it plays nicely with existing PlayStation and Sony products, the more games will be likely to buy one and use it.
No shit, right? You’d think. But I still can’t remotely play all of my PS3 games. I’d love to play my PS2 games just as much (or be able to download a digital re-release). And don’t get me started on the PSOne library again.
Beyond game support, there’s a bunch of things they could do with the connectivity hardware. More and better connected experiences with friends should be a priority. These days, if you’re not having an Xbox Live-like experience with a game system, it feels second rate. Seeing as how the Vita has both WiFi and 3G support, there’s no excuse for falling behind on this.
And those apps. Where are those apps?
Sony, I made you a list:
I have a wish list of things to be addressed, Sony. In no particular order. Just, you know — whenever you can get to them.
- Work on those game prices
- Work on those downloadable game prices
- Work on those system prices
- On a related note, kick your third-party supporters in the dick when they rerelease iOS games for $40
- Remote Play support, please
- Finish supporting the PSP library — there are still a bunch of games that do not work
- PSN re-releases of PS2 games would be great
- PSOne support NOW
- Give us folder support for the OS so we can group our games and apps
- Give us optional button/stick control for the OS, browser and PS Store
- Make NEAR not shitty for WiFi-only users
- Create a dedicated app store
- Release some FPS games
- Release some RPGs
- Release an indie side-scrolling platformer staring a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and let me create the musical score
- Release some games
- Release some games
- Release some games
That was a lot of bitching. Sorry. I really do like the PlayStation Vita. Mind you, my favorite and most-used system is still the PSP. I want this to be my go everywhere, do everything system. It’s almost there. It just needs a little push.
Don’t disappoint us tomorrow, Sony. Remember: system throwing and booger smearing.
