Sony's NeoGeo Pocket's (PSP2/Vita) business/non technical ramifications talk

[NavNucST3]

We have 2 conflicting sources from Sony. One said no loss, the other said a little loss. Presumably with accessories and game purchase, Sony should be able to earn or recover more.

In any case, even if Sony sold tons of Vita, it is still possible to say Sony lose a lot of money if NavNucST3's assumption is correct. ^_^

Short term losses are calculated in Sony's blended margin strategy. The interesting thing is to see how PSP and Vita progress when Sony switches to Vita.

There is no conflict at least not as far as I'm concerned. Andrew House clearly and I do mean clearly says hardware is a loss:

Reuters:

House said the speed at which Sony could turn Vita hardware sales profitable would depend on currency rates. Sony has been hard hit by the yen's rise against the euro.

The other "conflicting" quote actually isn't in my mind Andrews previous quote clearly stated Vita business which would naturally include accessories and software but there is no doubt what his most recent quote means.

 

[patsu]

Sure but the hardware loss is already planned in for the first 3 years. Also the reported software figures do not include PSN sales.

Andrew House mentioned that the hardware loss will pretty much depend on Japan's currency.

The other "conflicting" quote actually isn't in my mind Andrews previous quote clearly stated Vita business which would naturally include accessories and software but there is no doubt what his most recent quote means.

As I recall, the "conflicting" quote may be made by another Sony exec, not Andrew House or Kaz Hirai.

 

[patsu]

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1610922&postcount=10

If this is accurate, you may be able to edit AVCHD videos on PS3 soon:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/P...leaked-at-CES/

The current PlayMemories app handles panoramic photos, 3D photos, and multi-angle photos on digital cameras. PlayMemories Studio seems to add video viewing and editing capabilities.

Sony should really add RemotePlay support to apps so that people can use them on PC/Mac, tablets, etc.

I doubt people will edit videos using DS3 in the living room.

Apparently, PlayMemories is cloud-enabled, probably accessible from all PS Suite devices ? (I think I overheard Kaz talk about PlayMemories on Sony phones in the press conference).

We can indeed use PlayMemories Studio via RemotePlay.

CES 2012: Vita gets PlayMemories Studio Support via Remote Play
http://nearvita.com/2012/01/10/ces-2012-vita-gets-playmemories-studio-support-via-remote-play/

Great use for the touch screen !

Today at CES Sony announced a new video/photo management suite PlayMemories. The suite is based around the concept of cloud interface so that you’ve got your photos and home movies where ever you are, and when ever you want them. For PlayStation devices, Sony will release PlayMemories Studio, a photo and video editing portion of the PlayMemories that supports Vita, and PSP via remote play connectivity. The paid application will launch sometime this spring.

 

[patsu]

Wasn't paying attention (Show was running in the background).

I think I heard Kaz mention Video and Music Unlimited for Vita also ? And PlayMemories turns out to be bigger (on multiple Sony devices, with online features). The gadget blogs will probably report on them later.

http://nearvita.com/2012/01/10/ces-2012-playstation-vita-to-get-netflix-and-music-unlimited-app/

Earlier this evening at CES, Sony announced that the PlayStation Vita will be receiving support for both the Netflix video streaming application, and Sony’s own Music Unlimited (formerly, Qriocity) music streaming service.

Video Unlimited for Vita not announced yet.

 

[wco81]

Sounds like a bunch of services to bring incremental revenues. That's great for them if they get enough people to buy in.

But they have to make the case for the value proposition of the basic product, before all these for which services that people would have to pay additional money.

That is, they have to make the sale of the product based on its core features, not this ancillary stuff. And the core features will have to include mobile apps that are cheap or free and useful, like they are on iOS and Android. That means Angry Bird, Fruit Ninja and all the other 99 cents or free games and more.

 

[patsu]

Yes, I remember Kaz Hirai mentioned that he wanted to increase PSN transactions by 10 fold. At that time, PS Suite was not announced yet, so people thought he was joking.

Here's a more complete picture on PlayMemories:
http://andriasang.com/comzl9/playmemories/

PlayMemories is designed under the concept of "Play More. All your Memories." The product line consists of a cloud service and software for your PC and PlayStation 3.

Sony detailed the following components today:

PlayMemories Online [Available starting in spring 2012 (free)]
A free cloud service that runs on the Sony Entertainment Network online platform. Users can upload their pictures and video to the service and access them from compatible televisions, PCs, tablets, smart phones and other devices. Service will begin in the Spring.

PlayMemories Home [Bundled with Sony's digital imaging products starting from January 2012]
A PC program that can be used to view, manage, edit, and share (through Facebook, YouTube and other services) videos and pictures. The program will be included with Sony digital cameras and video cameras starting later this month.

PlayMemories Studio [Available starting in spring 2012 at PlayStation®Store (paid)]
This PlayStation 3 program will be offered through PlayStation Store this Spring. The program lets you view and edit your photos and videos using the PS3's high specifications. You can also operate the program outside of the house via Remote Play on your PSP and PlayStation Vita. The program will not be free, but Sony will offer a free demo.

PlayMemories Mobile [Available at Android™ Market and App Store(SM) starting in early January (free)]
This free app for iOS and Android will be offered this month.

Press release:
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201201/12-004E/index.html

Press release has more details on the components.


EDIT:

But they have to make the case for the value proposition of the basic product, before all these for which services that people would have to pay additional money.

That is, they have to make the sale of the product based on its core features, not this ancillary stuff. And the core features will have to include mobile apps that are cheap or free and useful, like they are on iOS and Android. That means Angry Bird, Fruit Ninja and all the other 99 cents or free games and more.

Even better if they can create fun games using these user contents, or perhaps premium ones (like Video and Music Unlimited).

 

[patsu]

Nyko Parades PlayStation Vita Performance Enhancers at CES
http://kotaku.com/5874730/nyko-parades-playstation-vita-performance-enhancers-at-ces/gallery/1

Finally an extended battery for Vita:

Accessories like the Power Grip, a rechargeable battery pack that boasts three times the battery life of Sony's own Vita battery, adding an ergonomically designed elongated grip to the unit in the process. Doesn't sound like too bad a deal for $24.99, even if it does make the system look slightly ridiculous. Hell, for three times the battery life I'd mod it to look like a Virtual Boy.

Sony's official Vita battery pack is not integrated into Vita's shell.

 

[patsu]

Join Us: Play PS Vita in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, NYC Next Week
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012...n-atlanta-boston-chicago-miami-nyc-next-week/

Last month, we threw open the doors to a San Francisco location where gamers could just walk right in and go hands on with PlayStation Vita. ...

Starting next week, Vita Hill Social Clubs are opening in five of America’s great cities, and we’ll be holding grand opening meetups in all of them:

Tuesday, January 17th

Chicago (click here to RSVP)
1444 N. Milwaukee Ave
Your host: Jeff Rubenstein from PlayStation.Blog

Miami (click here to RSVP)
749 Washington, Miami Beach
Your host: Rey Gutierrez from PlayStation.Blog

New York City (click here to RSVP)
154 Stanton St.
Your host: Sid Shuman from PlayStation.Blog


Wednesday, January 18th

Atlanta (click here to RSVP)
800 Peachtree St.
Your host: Rey Gutierrez from PlayStation.Blog

Boston (click here to RSVP)
579 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Your host: Sid Shuman from PlayStation.Blog

All meetups start at 5.30pm local time, ending at 8.30pm. Attendees will feast on free food and beverages, have unfettered access to a dozen PS Vita titles, and enter for chances to win a PS Vita system before it hits store shelves on February 22nd.

 

[patsu]

More Homebrew progress on Vita:

More progress on porting Half Byte Loader to the Playstation Vita. After a few tweaks I got a huge chunk of homebrews to run. Here I'm showing a few of them running on the vita: snes9xTYL (super nes emulator), Bookr (pdf reader), CSPSP, T.O.M.E. (text mode rpg), EmuMaster (game boy emulator), Zombie Crisis (FPS), Wagic (which loads about 10 times faster than on a real PSP, this talks for the improved access speed of this new memory stick format), cavestory (platform/adventure), Picodrive (sega genesis emulator), Spider solitaire, ScummVM (point-and-click adventure), Daedalus (N64 emulator, this is not DaedalusX64), FCEU-PSP (Nes emulator)

You can also see that the sound issue in picodrive was minor and is easy to fix by setting the audio output to 44kHz instead of 22.

I sure hope Playstation Suite for Vita shows up fast enough. ;-)
They should give free PS Suite SDK to all these PSP homebrewers.

 

[Arwin]

BookeR! That was one of my favorite homebrews, together with the Shoutcast client. BookR is an insanely fast PDF reader. I could read 20MB files on that faster than on my PC almost.

 

[patsu]

RUMOR: 40 000 PS Vita to launch in France (revised down from 80,000)

http://translate.google.com/transla...s-vita-pour-le-lancement-franecais-40179.html

More likely due to low pre-order numbers than Japan sales performance (since they are different markets).

 

[Arwin]

I stopped pre-ordering stuff long ago, but may try to reserve one at mediamarkt over here. They are nearby and open in the evening, and for games you always get at least a 5% discount.

Showed FIFA 12 Vita to some FIFA loving colleagues, and they were very excited. Will definitely help in Europe! Hopefully not too many bugs.

 

[patsu]

PlayStation Vita Nico Nico App Gets Tiny Update
http://andriasang.com/comzmv/nico_nico_update/

Niwango released an update for its PlayStation Vita Nico Nico viewer app today. The app takes the program to version 1.01.

...

The app will no longer go into standby mode while you're viewing a video or broadcast, for instance. Additionally, you'll now be able to enter a live broadcast room before the start of the broadcast.

...

Niwango also shared details on the app's version 1.02 update, which is currently without a date. This update will add the ability to browse your view history and interact with your My List.

I suspect the Nico Nico live game streaming service is waiting for an OS level patch to enable better multi-tasking ?
Right now, users can't surf and play games at the same time too.

 

[Arwin]

I hear there's another firmware update but don't know any details. Probably some minor fixes.

Also, I went ahead and bought one of those pre-order boxes. Also got a coupon from work that I will use to buy a 16GB memory card online. So looks like I've sort of committed to EU launch purchase come 22 Feb. Ironically the one thing that's made me waver a little is the Tablet S, which is close in price if you factor in the 16GB and would be more general purpose. If Android 4.0 comes out and makes all the graphical interactions on that thing smooth as butter, it'll get another good look, but already I was tempted a fair bit.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Why a Tablet S and not another Android device? What are Sony offering in that and Vita that other companies can't compete with? Is it just PSS?

 

[patsu]

Probably just PS Suite (I'm assuming Sony's Video Unlimited, Music Unlimited and other services will be lumped under PS Suite).

For the new v1.52 Vita update:
http://andriasang.com/comzns/vita_firmware_update/

Sony did not say what exactly the update fixes. However, a number of Vita owners are saying via Twitter and blogs and so-forth that the update fixes a version 1.51 bug where the 3G system would not recognize your SIM card.

The new Xperia S cellphone can record (and play ?) 1080p video. Vita can only play 720p video and record 480p video.

 

[Arwin]

Why a Tablet S and not another Android device? What are Sony offering in that and Vita that other companies can't compete with? Is it just PSS?

Because it seems the best value / performance / useability at the moment over here. PS Suite should come to most Android devices so that's not it. I've tried various each time I'm at mm and so far it stands out, especially at 333 Euro.

 

[patsu]

How much do the other tablets cost ? Tablet S needs to be ugpraded to Android 4.0 before I will give it another look.

 

[dobwal]

If the Tablet S was a PSP Vita with a 10 inch screen and the ability to boot into Android 4.0, then that would be something I'd buy over the Vita.

 

[patsu]

What happens if they or someone else port Android 4.0 to run on Vita ? ^_^
A Vita should be a cheaper device than Tablet S. May have a special place there !

You'll still need the dual sticks to mimic Vita properly if you bought a Tablet S.