Nintendo keeps no secrets about how well the 3DS has been selling since they decided to drop the price. Many critics of the forthcoming PS Vita have suggested the 3DS’ success will diminish sales for Sony’s portable console. Sony seems far more positive about Nintendo’s sales numbers.In a recent interview with Jim Ryan, SCEE’s president, at MCV he said how encouraged he was by the Christmas sales of the 3DS. His response was in regards to the myth that people no longer have need for a dedicated gaming machine with the advent of smartphones and tablets.
He goes to say “There’s two distinct markets. The quality, the immersiveness, the richness of the experience that we believe we are going to offer on Vita, way exceeds anything that we believe to be available on any smartphone.”
When called out as to the games pricing as the possible failing for the PSP, Ryan seems a bit more confident in the Vita’s future. “We have taken a rather intelligent, tailored approach to software pricing this time. Rather than just sticking everything out at a double-A price and seeing what works and what doesn’t. This time, we are recognising the new realities of the portable gaming world, we have looked carefully at each title and its merits. Uncharted is a title that we feel justifies that sort of high price point. Some of the other games that are maybe less grand in their scale, we’ve sought to price accordingly. ”
Sony does seem to have a better grasp on the portable market despite the skeptics seeing it as a ‘dead’ market. With dynamic pricing on games and a seemingly strong launch lineup, there is little doubt that the PS Vita will be a fair competitor to the 3DS, hopefully for years to come as competition breeds quality.
We’ll find out for sure February 22.
