It
was with some fanfare that the South African PS Vita launch event took place at
the Swanky Randlords in Braamfonten, Johannesburg
The
answer is not one that can be based on theory and conjecture. We found this out
shortly after the event, when we took out Vita out of the box and turned it on
for the first time. See, while there are all manner of things to read about the
Vita, both on and offline, and the marketing material proclaim a whole bunch of
stuff about the unit, this one really adheres to that old adage: the proof is
in the pudding. No theoretical information can truly allow one to make a
decision... not when the Vita proves itself to be greater than the sum of its
parts.
Because
of this, writing a hard and fast review of the unit is difficult. It really is
the kind of thing that you need to experience for yourself, truth be told, so
heading down to a retailer to check out a demo unit is a great idea.
Admittedly, the price point is pretty steep, but experiencing the unit in
action may well be enough to convince you that, yes, there certainly is space
for this handheld in the market. And while many may make accusations that the
Vita has borrowed (or stolen) ideas from other sources, the implementation of
the various features in this neat package is excellent, delivering a device
that is not only fun to use, but well thought out.
Naturally,
much of the Vita’s success depends on the ingenuity of those creating games and
applications for it. But it does offer a very solid starting point for
developers, with lots of options that can allow for an extremely creative
approach to portable gaming.
Yes,
we love the Vita. It offers more than just a gaming platform, thanks to
features like internet connectivity, and even as a gaming platform, it delivers
an excellent experience, thanks to powerful hardware combined with some rather
nifty ideas. With 3G and WiFi flavours available, getting connected to the ‘net
and PlayStation Network is simple with the Vita, too, allowing for online play
and downloads.
So
yes, we can tell you all about it over the next few pages, but the fun to be
had with Sony’s innovative new device is something that you will need to
experience for yourself. And you should.
Features:
D-Pad
Standard
controller style D-Pad, comfortably located.
Dual Analogue Sticks
Sensitive
dual analogue sticks allow for excellent control within games. Placement may be
uncomfortable for some, but you do get used to it.
Touch Screen
5”
OLED multi-touch capacitive screen. 960 x 544 resolution, support for
approximately 16 million colours. Graphics are delivered by an SGX543MP4+ GPU.
The screen is bright and clear, with very responsive touch screen capabilities.
PS Button
For
pausing games by returning to the home screen. The Vita’s ARM Cortex A9 four
core processor sill allow multiple functions to be used at once.
Front Facing Camera
0.3
MP camera (640 x 480 resolution). Allows for video communication and certain
game functions. Can also be used to record photographs and video.
Start / Select Buttons
As
with all PS platforms, these perform functions within games, notably pausing to
the game menu.
Control Buttons
Standard
PS control buttons, comfortably placed (although the X button is fairly close
to the right analogue stick.)
Stereo Speakers
Although
they do deliver discernible stereo, sound is best enjoyed via headphones. The
speakers are simply too small to deliver great sound quality, although the
performance is passable. An integrated microphone allows for speech to be used
in games or online.
Shoulder Buttons
Well
positioned shoulder buttons add to the control functions of the Vita.
Memory
cards are sold separately, but are essential to using the Vita. They plug in
here. There are a variety of sizes available, although they are fairly pricey.
Rear Touch Pad
Innovative,
sensitive capacitive multi-touch pad allows for added game functions.
Headphones
go here. When using headphones, the audio is of exceptionally good quality. Any
headphones with a 3.5mm jack can be used.
Rear Facing Camera
The
rear mounted 0.3MP camera allows for photos and videos to be captured, as well
as being used in Augmented Reality games.
A USB
cable connects at the bottom of the unit. This is used for charging, as well as
connecting to a PC or PS3. Battery life is up
to five hours of gaming time.
3G Port
Sim
cards are inserted here, for 3G compatible devices only. Wi-Fi only Vitas do
not have this port.
Volue Controls
Easy
to find volume controls for adjusting levels through either the headphones or
the stereo speakers. Volume levels are indicated by an on-screen display.
Power Button
The
power switch requires a long press to power the unit up... no accidental
switching on!
Purchased
game cards get inserted here. The cover of the port is a little difficult to open.
Memory Card
Memory
cards are essential for playing and downloading games for the Vita. As none are
included, they must be purchased separately. The memory card is shown here
alongside a standard SD card, for size reference. They are rather small, so
keeping them safe is important.
Game Card
Games
for the Vita can be purchased either on physical game cards or online through
the PlayStation Network. This second option is cheaper, but will require more
memory cards to be used… so the two options even out in the long run. The game
card is shown here alongside a standard SD card, for size reference.
Closing Comments
The
PS Vita has, thus far, proven to be a remarkable enjoyable device to use. With
innovative ideas and a host of included software, including friend management,
browsing and content applications, it is more than just a gaming device. It
fits well into a modern lifestyle, and serves as a wonderfully portable,
powerful and versatile entertainment unit.
On
the downside, it is currently fairly expensive. But, at the time of writing,
global sales are good, and possible price drops in the future are highly
likely, thanks to enthusiastic early adoption world-wide.
The
connectivity offered by the Vita is great, and is well supported here in South Africa
When
all is said and done, the usefulness of the Vita as an entertainment device is
undeniable. Let’s hope that game developers take advantage of what it has to
offer, and keep the new games rolling.
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