***** PlayStation Vita Official Thread *****

[DBT85]

It feels like forever since I put that £10 deposit down for that 3g NGP yes it was still called NGP when pre-ordered it and you just know the last week will feel like eternity.

Even worse, people in the US and Canada get it today if they ordered the early bundle.

Scummers.

However, they can at least provide us with more info!

Uncharted, Rayman, Lumines, Michael Jackson, Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, Super Stardust Delta, Hustle Kings, Little Deviants, all have demos and at least 10% discounts from the US RRP

Also got sizes for
Escape Plan - 842MB
Rayman - 932MB
Lumines - 722MB
Little Deviants - 940MB
Virtua Tennis 4 - 1.2GB
UMvC3 - 1.5GB
Fifa - 3GB
Dungeon Hunter - 1.03GB
Michael Jackson - 1.6GB

Not all launch games are live on the store yet as the full release isn't until the 22nd, same as here.


Will add all the relevant to the OP

 

[DBT85]

Will the Vita use micro sim cards or normal?

Thinking of ordering one off giff gaff.

That 8gb card for £21 is a pretty sweet deal.

It uses standard sims.

I think I'll buy all my games for the Vita off PSN incase Sony pull a "We're not supporting that format anymore" again. That's why I thought a 32gb memory card would be worth it.

Realistically there is far more chance that the Vita carts will be supported in any PSVita2 in years to come. It's a small slot and it doesn't require any power unlike UMD which was huge and a power drain. I never buy anything with future formats in mind anyway so it's never been a problem.

Why are people getting the 3G version lol. You can't play online with 3Gand you can't access the full playstation store through 3G. I thought this was well known. You need to use wifi for online gaming and downloading from the store. All you can do with 3G is pass messages to other users and browse certain parts of the store and update trophy data. Anything that uses very little bandwidth.

You may as well save the £50 and get WiFi

It's £25 more once you take Wipeout into consideration, you can use 3G to browse the entire store on the Vita as far as I recall, you just can't download anything larger than 20MB in one file.

While you can't play head to head multiplayer on it you'll be able to use Near, post lap times and scores to leader boards regardless of where you are, use any of the social apps if you want to and so on. Lots of games are supporting the kind of gameplay where having that connection might be useful but not essential.

Plus it has GPS which the WiFi doesn't.

I know exactly what the differences are, as do most people who are buying it. It's £25 extra for anyone that wanted Wipeout. If I don't use 3G after the first month then fine, I've burned £25.

On the other hand, I'll have the full hardware with the maximum capability. If an app or a game comes out that particularly uses those features I'll be glad I have the option. It's not like there is a contract that I'm tied to.

I have a smartphone with a 3GB data allowance every month, but tethering drains battery like crazy and I'm not going to sit on the train whipping my phone out every 5 minutes to turn on tethering to post a new lap time or send a message or something.

I can totally understand why some people wouldn't want the 3G. But similarly I'd like people to respect my own choices too.

So with respect. Don't tell me what to spend my money on.

You'll also note that IGN did a similar article telling you why you should buy the 3G.

EDIT: also got confirmation from Vodafone today that you'll get your PSN code for Wipeout within 24 hours of topping up. In the US you have to wait 30 days!

Also my 32GB card was posted from planetaxel. Apparently will enter the German postal service within 2-4 days. Should be here before the Vita is!

 

[DBT85]

Wonder if this will make it's way to UK bundles??

http://uk.vita.ign.com/articles/121/1217392p1.html

There is already something. If you buy the 3G model and top up £5 you get Wipeout 2048.

 

[DBT85]

Need PSN games compatibility , really want super sonic acrobatic rocket powered battle cars, such a sensational game.

Don't forget those PSN games are made for PS3 hardware. Unless developers port them it won't happen. Hopefully many do though. Dead Nation on that screen :dribble:

 

[DBT85]

Anyone know what the deal is with Hustle Kings? I think it is one of these cross-play titles like MotorStorm: RC, however, it is confusing as the PS3 version was released ages ago. I wonder if they will give some sort of code for people who own the PS3 version already so they can download the Vita version for free?

DBT85: My 32GB card is at the same shipping stage as yours. I am considering changing to a bundle that has no Memory card as, like you, I suspect the large one will arrive before my VITA.

The only pre-order I have is the Morrison's one. I think that is the best value one for WiFi model atm as it comes with £25 off voucher + £5 off from Pre-order pack + FIFA12 which I hope can trade for ~£25. I only really want PSVITA, Uncharted, Super Stardust, Motorostorm RC and maybe Wipeout, to start with and I think the above bundle will get me all of that, plus money left over, for £250.

rp2000

Hustle Kings is I think the same game and it does have cross platform multiplayer. But there has been no word about giving it to people who bought the original on the PS3. I suppose their argument is "you bought it for the PS3 only" which is true enough. It would be nice but it is what it is I suppose. In an ideal world you buy a licence for a game and you can play it on any format that it's released on but thats not how it works sadly.

Good luck trying to find a bundle with no memory card though! There are a few out there but I think most are still more expensive than the Amazon/Play bundles with the 8GB. I'd imagine that the Fifa they are giving you will be a full retail version (as opposed to a "not for resale" version). As such you'll almost certainly be able to sell/trade it in for at least £25 if not more.

I will end up grabbing a 3G version due to the wipeout deal, but lets be honest they will never release a game which requires 3G or makes any significant use of it as most likely 80 - 90% of Vita owners will only have a wifi version but for the sake of £25 I would prefer to have it.

Probably not. As you said they won't make much that NEEDs 3G/GPS, but it's entirely possible that they'll make games that are better off for it in some way. As you said, for £25 notes it's something I'd rather just have and not need than not have and want.

So people like me that are tethering will be able to play over 3G as to the Vita it will be using Wifi, i didnt even know it wouldnt play over 3G otherwise.

Live 3G head to head gaming is spotty at best. There are some who manage to game successfully on it but plenty of others who have not. Even through your phones tethering the limitation will still be there.

The Vita can allow you to play online head to head over the 3G if the developer chooses, but typically latency is poor over 3G and so things like COD and Fifa and so on are just not suited to it. For the most part.

The difference with tethering is that the Vita will think it is on a WiFi network and so will allow you to play, whereas if you tried to connect via 3G the game would tell you that you can't. If you consider how much bad press they would get from millions of people trying to play Fifa online and it being laggy as anything you can kind of understand they they've done it like they have.

Things like Everybodys Golf allow play over 3G since it's not real time. You can take your shot and it doesn't matter if it takes half a second for it to send the data to your competitors. Imagine trying to play things like fighters or shooters with that kind of connection.

I have added to, bolded and enlarged questions 2 and 3 in the FAQ which both relate to 3G. Hopefully that will help anyone who is still unclear.

Q: Should I get the WiFi or 3G version
A: Ultimately the decision is yours and the 3G version does NOT have a contract. But if you already own a smartphone with a 3G connection you may see little point in buying the 3G version of the Vita unless there is some kind of bundle or deal or you have the money. You can instead use your phone as a WiFi hotspot and then tether your Vita to it. The 3G service on the Vita will have limits that essentially mean it is for social updates, skype and a-synchronous gaming (things like posting fastest laps, downloading daily challenges, posting high scores, downloading ghost laps, playing Everybodys Golf, turn based games, etc). You WILL NOT be able to play online head to head games like Fifa, Call of Duty, Wipeout etc over 3G. This is a limitation of 3G (latency) and not the Vita. You are not going to be able to download a game or large files via your 3G connection, this will be capped at 20mb max per file like many mobile phone contracts. There are however games which take into account location based data which is far more accurate on the 3G version since it has GPS. The WiFi unit does not.

If you buy the 3G vita and top up the included Vodafone sim card with £5 (getting you 250mb for 30 days) you will recieve Wipeout 2048 for free. This deal essentially means that the 3G version is now £25 more expensive than the WiFi rather than £50 which it is listed at.

I have ordered the 3G unit and a GiffGaff simcard to try out which will be cheaper than Vodafone.

Q: Who is the 3G provider and can I change it?
A: 3G access is provided by Vodafone in most of Europe but you are free to use any data provider you have a sim card for. Only Vodafone has been tested as working perfectly though. You buy a month of data at a time and there are several packages available for low or high data use. People who buy the 3G Vita and also buy a months data (starting at £5 for 250mb) will also get Wipeout for free (about £30).

 

[DBT85]

Excellent news on Hustle kings and Top darts also being buy once get both and free for current owners. Hopefully that also means they will be doing similar with other games going forward.

Plus wipeout 2048 getting HD and Fury tracks as dlc is brilliant.

For the VIP case I also ordered a little earbud pouch to keep carts in inside the case.

 

[DBT85]

Noticed that DBT as had confirmation that his 32GB card as shipped from planetaxel so I just checked on the progress of mine and it says

"Not released yet. Usually ships a few days before official releasedate (date/month): 15/2, or will be shipped immediately if stock is on hand."

Damn was hoping I would get this at the same time as the Vita, They have taken payment though

It's possible that they sold out of their initial allotment. I know they are quite difficult to find in some US shops. Hopefully they'll sort it soon .

When did you order? I ordered mine on the 6th of February.

Can you post a link/info on that pouch? Sounds handy.

Just one of these little things. It's big enough to hold a bunch of carts and it'll stop them sliding around.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leather-E...CasesSkins&hash=item43ad04d3a4#ht_1767wt_1139

 

[DBT85]

If my memory cards late I have no doubt Gamestation will try and bundle a 4gb with mine. That should tied me over I guess.

I still find it interesting that with now less than a week to launch Game and Gamestation have no announced any in store bundles at all. I'm wondering if they will even have any at all. They probably know a lot of people aren't going to turn away on the day because they'll want it.

 

[DBT85]

They wonder why Game are going down the tubes, they probably don't want to tell you as they'll be guff offers compared to what Amazon, Play etc have already got out and they want to string people along hoping they don't cancel.

Their other favourite practice of lieing to the consumer with rubbish like the above saying you won't be able to get one unless you pre order, absolute twaddle to scare you into putting money down with them on one!!

No that last bit is actually true. They are only getting enough stock to cover pre orders as far as I remember. Game/Gamestation are not in a good place with creditors at the moment.

They just can't compete with the supermarkets and the likes of Amazon and Play.

 

[DBT85]

gamestation rang me up asking if i wanted to preorder any games and accessories etc as they will only have stock of what people have preordered (********) and then said it may be worth while as they will be making bundles in time for release lol .

so i just said how do i know what to order if i dont know what the bundles will contain etc. not good! im just going to get the console and 16gb from them as i want to trade in my psp etc at 25% extra trade in value, but no bundles at this stage is a bit ridiculous!

As I said, Game and Gamestation are in a terrible position financially and can get no credit. As a result they are having to pay cash up front for anything they are selling. I heard stories of them only getting 2 additional copies of the latest Assassins creed game per store over pre orders.

It really wouldn't surprise me if they only have the stuff people pre order available at launch. They can get no credit.

 

[DBT85]

sorry mate only just saw ur above post after writing this

yea its a shame, if i had enough cash id just order online but need to trade in some bits really, ahh well ill get a game on psn when i get it home

Why not use your trade ins for some games and get the hardware online?

It's just incredible that on launch day Amazon/Play etc are doing the hardware for £20 off the RRP AND including a memory card that they are selling for £30.

The one bonus of getting from Game/Gamestation is of course htat you can walk in and pick it up first thing in the morning while I'll be sitting by the front door gibbering waiting for the guy to arrive lol.

 

[DBT85]

i get paid on release day so cant really pay now to order online lol damn being an apprentice! ****** wage but finish this year good idea tho thanks anyway

Ahh. Shame it wasn't a few days earier as Amazon and Play don;t charge your card until they dispatch

Toys R Us are still doing the WiFi for £210 and the 3G for £260 online. Someone said they'd pre ordered in store at the same price.

 

[DBT85]

not bad! ill look into it thanks do u know if the gamestations 25% extra trade in value works for anything? like old ps3 games etc?

No idea sorry.

The play deals are looking tempting to me at the moment, but as someone posted above i do like just walking into a store and getting it right away instead of waiting in all day. Morrisons is still winning for me roll on the 22nd!

The Morrisons deal is great and the fact that you can pick up in sore is a great bonus.

I'm just really hoping that Amazon ship out on Monday so that I get it on Tuesday!

The proper launch trailer for Wipeut is up too

http://youtu.be/8J2GlT7tJ0A?hd=1

 

[DBT85]

Mine ships tomorrow so should get it Monday

From where?

 

[DBT85]

robj20, how much did you pay for all of that?

I've just read that if you want multiple accounts on the vita, each user needs their own memory card. I can sense some infighting in the house when this arrives!

This is not true.

To switch user accounts you have to do a factory reset in the settings. When you do that it asks you if you want to format the memory card. You select no.

Each user account will only be able to see the content on the card that is assigned to that user account. There is no digital game sharing now since it got abused to hell on the PS3 and PSP.

I've asked on another forum that is choc full of owners already so I'll get back to you when I get out of bed in a few hours.

 

[DBT85]

A factory reset each time you want to switch users?

My mind.

It's no different to any other portable game device really as far as I can remember including smartphones etc.

Multiple users would be nice but it's almost certainly a concious decision on their part. They want you to have a Vita each.

EDIT: and we have an answer already which confirmed as I thought

1. You can have items from multiple accounts on the same memory card (even if these accounts are from different regions)
2. You can only play purchased content when signed in with the account you purchased it with.
3. To switch accounts, you must restore the Vita to factory settings and go through the initial setup process again.
4. You can play most demos (i.e. Gravity Daze/Rush) from any account, not just the one you downloaded it with.
5. There is no game sharing between accounts, as purchased psn content is locked to the account it was purchased from and only one PSN account can be active on a Vita at a time.

 

[DBT85]

So are save files tied to an account instead of within the games like most ds games?

I do believe so yes. Some are saved to the cart while some save to the memory card. But I think all are linked to the account that created them.

Getting confirmation.

EDIT: It seems that at least some saves are viewable across user accounts. I have no idea if they were playable (you have to assume yes otherwise they wouldn't even show up surely). One person's Uncharted save was visible in his Japanese account even though the Uncharted save was made on a US account.

 

[DBT85]

It takes a couple of minutes apparently to switch accounts because of the way you have to do it so yeah I can imagine it will be for anyone who needs their own account.

Thinking about it though, if you forget trophies, what is there to have your own account for if you can have multiple saves? I would have thought anyone THAT anal about trophies would have their own unit anyway so they can play all the time.

On a different note, people are reporting that Near is working quite well. Near shows you who is within a certain radius (upto 7km I think) of you, what they are playing, what they were playing, what trophies etc they got. You can add them from there, set up multiplayer games etc.

Could see people finding new friends in the area that have a similar interest which would be cool.

The day before launch I'll update the OP and post in the thread a list of "things to do when you remove it from the box" and "handy stuff to know about your new vita" for people. EG, by default the system goes to sleep after 1 minute of inactivity. This gets annoying! If the system goes to sleep itself downloads continue, if you put it to sleep downloads stop (currently), when you first turn it on it asks if you want to log in to your account, you can't since it needs a firmware upgrade. You need to log in with a guest account to get to the bit to apply the FW. Should hopefully cut down on the "wha?????" questions! Though by the look of it only 20 of us are getting one

EDIT: It seems that at least some saves are viewable across user accounts. I have no idea if they were playable (you have to assume yes otherwise they wouldn't even show up surely). One person's Uncharted save was visible in his Japanese account even though the Uncharted save was made on a US account.

 

[DBT85]

All Vita orders are being processed, printed and packaged today and the orders are on Monday's courier manifest so should be with everyone tuesday.

Christ alive I hope amazon are the same.

 

[DBT85]

I have Hustle Kings and Super Stardust on the PS3 does that mean i will get them for free on the PSV as well?

Hustle kings yes. Super stardust no. Hustle kings is identical to the ps3 version, Stardust is a whole new game and bigger than the ps3 version.