Sid Shuman (he/him)
Senior Director, Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications
7Author Replies
Just weeks away from E3 and we’re entering heavy travel season, starting with this week’s trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada — the site of our indie-themed community meetup this past Tuesday. Jeff, Rey and I had a blast talking with Toronto Blog readers and we even traded blows in some ferocious ad-hoc matches of Mortal Kombat on PS Vita. If you made the trip, thanks for coming! If not, hopefully you’ll be able to join us next time.
@ 5 The price of the PS3 is fine, what we need info on is a PS4. SCE is making money on every unit and it would be suicide to price it lower than a Vita. If Sony is the last to market in the 8th gen for home consoles, their games division is finished. Just as important, is that the Vita needs proper software and functionality. It won’t survive the next few years solely as a game’s device. It should be pushed as a high end, lower price point, OLED tablet that plays awesome games.
Sid, its kind of ridiculous that 6 months in and the Vita still can’t play PS1 games. Or that remote play is still not up and running (for PS3 games). I’m trying to be excited for the PS family, but it seems like SCE are determined to take all the fun out of their products and still remain CLUELESS as to how to package and market their devices. This is definitely my last gen with the PS family unless they drastically change their strategy and output.
Re: Vita games. Soul Sacrifice looks awesome, like a portable more fleshed out and stylish Demon’s Souls X Monster Hunter. Some news on a US release for that would be awesome. I wouldn’t be surprised if SCEA passes on that though, because, as I said above, they are mostly out of touch with what consumers want and last I heard (from the game’s producer), SCEA hadn’t signed on for publishing yet. These are the games people want. New experiences, not watered down shooters and ports. Resistance: BS will be lucky to crack 30K.
Playing: Resonance of Fate
Reading: Sariel
Watching: Modern Family, VEEP (hysterical)
Listening: Birds out the window. That’s not a band, but real birds :) Quite lovely to wake up to.
Don’t assume too much, now! ;) There have been no announcements on a US release for Soul Sacrifice, but it’s an Inafune game and those have traditionally made the jump to our shores. So fingers crossed!
I am Playing: Binary Domain (Awesome game, under rated), Just beat Mass Effect 3 after a two month break.
I am Watching: Grimm, Fringe, and Eureka
I am Reading: Not much this past week.
Send most of my time waiting….On news. My 100 dollar headset is still messed up. EU has a PSN App out, my portable ID is lame state side. Know news on Doctor Who, they haven’t posted on twitter since May 1st. And of course, I wait for more good games for the vita. PS1 support, and more PSP games.
Thanks for the patience. The Stereo Headset issue is known and a fix is being worked on, I hope to have an update on that in the next few weeks. No word on the US iOS app just yet. I’ve been in touch with the Doctor Who folks and they’re planning to have an update on release timing very soon, so keep your eyes on the Blog. As for PSP support on Vita, I’m expecting an update in the next couple of days with good news. And PSone support is coming, but not yet.
I’m playing: All the PixelJunk games! (Aka I just bought $50 worth of games for $8!) I love them all! Wish the DLC was on sale though. Racers is kind of tricky though.
I’m watching: Avatar: TLA on Netflix
I’m reading: V for Vendetta
I just played with the PS vita at Target, this time the battery didn’t cut out on me and I was able to play a game for quite some time before leaving (Wipeout 2048). I need some more hands on with it. because I was sort of enjoying it this time. By the time Black Friday rolls around, enough games and support for the Vita will probably lead me to a purchase. Don’t let me down on bundling it with games, look at the metascores. Heck maybe you should bundle it with a PSP game as well? Convince me! Don’t put in a game I don’t want or didn’t sell that well. I will be buying gravity rush afterwords (if it does well, which I have no doubts) and I have Motorstorm R.C. all set (with some DLC) until then. Also by that time there will probably be even more announcements (post E3) on Vita games that should catch my attention. Be careful about bundling it with 3g or wi-fi though because most people including myself aren’t going to use the 3g version.
I’m of the opinion that getting a 3G version is handy because you’ll always have the option of adding some 3G service later should you want it (and on month-by-month terms, too). And the 3G units I’ve been seeing come with 8GB memory cards (ex: http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-Vita-3G-Wi-Fi-Bundle/dp/B0071NH8B8), an excellent bonus when you’re talking about an extra $40 or so over the Wi-Fi version.
Assassin’s Creed III looks awesome an ive never liked those games before. pixel junk monster sale is awesome! they need to port the psp deluxe to ps3 please!!!! we getting a drop today rey?
I’m Playing: Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Tales of Graces F, Awesomenauts and all Pixeljunk Games.
I’m Watching: The Avengers, Chuck Season 4.
I’m reading: Playstation Blog.
Can’t wait for: Way of The Samurai 4(I love you XSeed), Ragnarok Odyssey, Gravity Rush, The Last of Us and Persona 4: The Golden to many good games coming out this year lol.
I’m reading the amazon listing and Wait the PS Vita has a built in GPS? Like google maps GPS or similar? That might be handy! I guess I’m in the favor of getting a 3G one now! because I don’t like being locked out of options, I’ll probably use it at home or show it off at a friends house though but it’s still nice having the option. My plan is still for Black Friday. I’m most likely going to get one somewhere down the line anyways because gravity rush looks amazing and I need a good excuse to play PS1 games (Take your time with that). Oh I have an idea, why not bundle a PS1 classic with the Vita (for black friday). I remember waiting in line last year and saw quite a few people with LBP + Ratchet and Clank PS3 bundles. Here’s hoping you won’t disappoint this year SONY! Onwards to E3!
Assassin’s Creed III looks absolutely stunning!
I’m Playing: UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception, UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, Starhawk, and Mortal Kombat.
I’m Watching: Nikita, Avengers, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
I’m Reading: The Black Prism by Brent Weeks.
I’m Listening to: Official PlayStation Blogcast Episode 024: From Canada With Love.
I need it! Funny thing is, I’ve never played more than an hour or two of the other games. The setting here is much more appealing to me.