According to
Andriasang, some new numbers have been released regarding the sales of the Vita. The numbers have been underwhelming. Especially considering that the PSP rules in Japan. I realize that a lot of people were expecting more support in Japan, but when you consider the 3DS release just
earlier this year and the release of major titles (such as
Final Fantasy XIII: Type 0 and loads of Japanese games that I am not even aware of) on the system that everybody already owns (the PSP), it is not a surprise that more people didn't give in to another large purchase. After all, though the system is quite pricey by itself (the
3G/WiFi model being about
$390) you can't just stop there, you need to buy a memory card and a game (even if you buy the game online as it seems a lot of people did). I realize it's Christmas, and I realize that in Japan, sales go up at Christmas time just like they do in the states (that is my understanding anyway), but people only have so much money to spend. I think that everyone is also forgetting that it was really not so long ago that the
tsunami hit Japan.
Personally, I didn't expect sales to be huge in Japan because of the tsunami, the lack of Japanese gamer interest as per a Sony pole pre-launch (sorry I don't remember where I found that article, it's somewhere on IGN), the release of the 3DS earlier this year, and the release of major PSP titles both now and later this year. This seems to me like a case of too much to buy and too little money. Still I don't think that the Vita sales numbers are really that bad considering (the things previously mentioned). Sony products don't often start with a bang these days, but they do seem to pick up steam. Once the Vita is released in the US and Europe, I think things will really start to pick up (after all, the US and Europe don't see MOST of the great games that come to the PSP). The Vita is promising great games to both the US and Japan. I am still a firm believer that an open market via the PSN for ALL games is the best way to go. Not translated--doens't matter!!! There's still a huge population of Japanese speaking people in the US and many more a trying to learn (like myself).
Instead of letting the current numbers rule future sales, I think we all need to look at what we personally want in a system. If you have been excited for the Vita--get it. If you haven't--don't. The Vita is a will be a solid system--I am confident in about that, but I won't be purchasing one at US launch either. I don't have the time OR the money, but I do plan to get one later next year (2012)!
Here's to new stuff, hahaha!
