The PlayStation Vita launched last month in Japan on December 17th. It churned up some pretty decent numbers, selling 325,000 units in the first 48 hours. However, as if the Vita slipped and fell of a ledge, sales throughout the rest of the week were awful, as only 72,479 units were sold.

The rapid decline of the Vita hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Critics from all over are now scathing all over the Vita, writing articles speculating the decline of the handheld and the rise of portable gaming on devices such as phones and other media devices.

The PlayStation Vita launched last month in Japan on December 17th. It churned up some pretty decent numbers, selling 325,000 units in the first 48 hours. However, as if the Vita slipped and fell of a ledge, sales throughout the rest of the week were awful, as only 72,479 units were sold.

The rapid decline of the Vita hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Critics from all over are now scathing all over the Vita, writing articles speculating the decline of the handheld and the rise of portable gaming on devices such as phones and other media devices.

When the Nintendo 3DS launched, people considered it to be a terrible start. The system managed to sell 370,000 units in it’s first week; 210,000 units in the following week. In other words, it beat PlayStation Vita by 45,000 units in its first week, and 137,500 units in its second week. The situation for Sony is devastating.

The poor sales performance forced Nintendo into making an early and steep price cut of $50. In the current sales record continues for Sony, they might as well have to the same. Perhaps the sales drop will be effective immediately for when the piece of hardware launches in the U.S.

If not, the U.S. launch could go either way. Especially since the system isn’t launching near nay major holiday like the Vita did in Japan, just before Christmas. There won’t be any extra sales boost from the crazed, holiday shoppers! It will be launching in February, practically next to nothing.

The Vita may also face other challenges as well within the market. It’s $250 minimum price point could prove fatal when lined up next to some of the other great items out there such as the Nintendo 3DS, which starts at $169, or the “king” of mobile gaming, the iPod Touch, which starts at just $199.

Another factor that has smacked Sony right across the face is poor software sales. The game lineup for the Vita is phenomenal in my mind, with games like Little Deviants, Uncharted, and Hot Shots Golf all launching for the system on day one. It has a number of great first and third party games in it’s wake.

But why did Sony report that a rate of only 0.92 games per system sold? On Media Charts, you’d have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the top 50 games list to find even one Vita game! The problem lies in how they’re priced.

The hottest games like the latest Uncharted are priced at $50, while many other major titles are $40. The pricing just seems out of whack, especially since the games seem to be tiered off at different price points.
Sony is competing with both Nintendo, who prices their games at $39 new, and Apple, where games that seem to sell like hot cakes never exceed $10. One could now argue that Sony’s games are simply overpriced.

Maybe the dream that one could play a “console” like experience while on the go is over? Maybe people just don’t want to do that and would prefer a more simpler game that they can jump into quick and get out.

Forbes tech contributor Tero Kuittinen "…the portable console market may now have entered an age of permanent, slowly accelerating decline. The true test of the industry is the United States, where consumers are embracing games designed for smartphones and tablets. The possible shrinking of the portable game consumer base would hit the runner-up Sony before Nintendo really gets mauled. The rot sets in first at the periphery."

Perhaps he is dead on? Only time will tell to see if the Vita will pick up the pace and jump back into the game. I can only hope for the best as I’ve been dieing in anticipation for the little device to release in the U.S. Lets hope that the device isn’t dead and gone by the time that moment arrives!

When the Nintendo 3DS launched, people considered it to be a terrible start. The system managed to sell 370,000 units in it’s first week; 210,000 units in the following week. In other words, it beat PlayStation Vita by 45,000 units in its first week, and 137,500 units in its second week. The situation for Sony is devastating.

The poor sales performance forced Nintendo into making an early and steep price cut of $50. In the current sales record continues for Sony, they might as well have to the same. Perhaps the sales drop will be effective immediately for when the piece of hardware launches in the U.S.

If not, the U.S. launch could go either way. Especially since the system isn’t launching near nay major holiday like the Vita did in Japan, just before Christmas. There won’t be any extra sales boost from the crazed, holiday shoppers! It will be launching in February, practically next to nothing.

The Vita may also face other challenges as well within the market. It’s $250 minimum price point could prove fatal when lined up next to some of the other great items out there such as the Nintendo 3DS, which starts at $169, or the “king” of mobile gaming, the iPod Touch, which starts at just $199.

Another factor that has smacked Sony right across the face is poor software sales. The game lineup for the Vita is phenomenal in my mind, with games like Little Deviants, Uncharted, and Hot Shots Golf all launching for the system on day one. It has a number of great first and third party games in it’s wake.

But why did Sony report that a rate of only 0.92 games per system sold? On Media Charts, you’d have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the top 50 games list to find even one Vita game! The problem lies in how they’re priced.

The hottest games like the latest Uncharted are priced at $50, while many other major titles are $40. The pricing just seems out of whack, especially since the games seem to be tiered off at different price points.
Sony is competing with both Nintendo, who prices their games at $39 new, and Apple, where games that seem to sell like hot cakes never exceed $10. One could now argue that Sony’s games are simply overpriced.

Maybe the dream that one could play a “console” like experience while on the go is over? Maybe people just don’t want to do that and would prefer a more simpler game that they can jump into quick and get out.

Forbes tech contributor Tero Kuittinen "…the portable console market may now have entered an age of permanent, slowly accelerating decline. The true test of the industry is the United States, where consumers are embracing games designed for smartphones and tablets. The possible shrinking of the portable game consumer base would hit the runner-up Sony before Nintendo really gets mauled. The rot sets in first at the periphery."

Perhaps he is dead on? Only time will tell to see if the Vita will pick up the pace and jump back into the game. I can only hope for the best as I’ve been dieing in anticipation for the little device to release in the U.S. Lets hope that the device isn’t dead and gone by the time that moment arrives!