Despite a
solid launch, the PS Vita handheld has failed to become the hit that Sony (SNE) was
expecting. Saddled with a $250 price tag and games that cost as much as $40 to
$50, consumers have questioned what value a dedicated gaming portable has in a
world where tablets offer quality
games for $10 or less. In an interview with CVG, Sony’s VP and
MD for PlayStation UK Fergal Gara said that “it’s not out of the question” that
the company might sell the PS Vita and PlayStation
3 together in one bundle. In other words, two consoles in one
box. Any takers?
“We put
together packages for retail, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t create a
‘Vita plus PS3′ bundle, which could feature games that use cross-play, as well
as include a PlayStation Plus
subscription that both devices could use,” said
Gara. ”Is a dual-console bundle box a perfect solution to that? I’m not
sure, but I think there’s scope to have deals where people buy both the Vita
and PS3, along with cross-play games and get a discount.”
Gara
repeatedly mentioned cross-play games. Cross-play is Sony’s implementation of
cross-platform gameplay. Players on a PS Vita can play against PlayStation 3
players and vice versa. Such a feature has been impossible before because
gaming handhelds have never been as powerful as home consoles. The PS Vita is
essentially a portable PlayStation 3 thanks to its full array of buttons and
dual-analog sticks.
As the Wii U launch approaches, Sony is
no doubt looking for different campaigns to strategically steal thunder away
from Nintendo’s (NTDOY)
touchscreen-equipped Wii U GamePad.
Related stories
0 comments:
Post a Comment