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

[patsu]

Hmm couldnt find an "About" box last time I checked. I have no idea where do I look for ffmpeg and what these switches are

The exact packages can be found here:
https://github.com/ronenmiz

Tversity's ffmpeg is v0.6
The codec pack is also listed in the above link.

I just realize they have a free version and a Pro ($$$) version. That kinda makes me a little suspicious. You can try their 30 day money back guarantee to see if the paid version solve your problems.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Vita 3G is unlocked, right, so you can use any service you want? In the UK, your best bet might be giffgaff. £5 for 500 MB, £7.50 for 1GB, £12.50 for 3GB, no contract.

 

[wco81]

I honestly don't see any use for 3G with traditional console games. Maybe uploading scores and achievements but not online games over 3G, unless simple turn-based games.

Too slow, especially poor latency.

 

[Nesh]

The exact packages can be found here:
https://github.com/ronenmiz

Tversity's ffmpeg is v0.6
The codec pack is also listed in the above link.

I just realize they have a free version and a Pro ($$$) version. That kinda makes me a little suspicious. You can try their 30 day money back guarantee to see if the paid version solve your problems.

So do I just move the files in the TVersity codec pack folder folder?

 

[wco81]

Kaz Hirai will take over as president of Sony on April 1st -- that's what they're reporting now.

Not sure if this makes it less likely that Sony will abandon the gaming business.

 

[Prophecy2k]

I honestly don't see any use for 3G with traditional console games. Maybe uploading scores and achievements but not online games over 3G, unless simple turn-based games.

Too slow, especially poor latency.

I'm getting the 3G version because I guess i just see the benefit of having a persistently connected device. Being able to see my PSN friends, trophies, browse the store and stuff on the fly. Not to mention being able to lookup game walkthroughs and stuff online on the browser, without having to pull out a secondary device. It's nice and convenient for me.

Plus, here in the UK WiFi access outdoors is basically non-existent unless you fancy paying out yet more money to the service providers for WiFi on the go plans no thanks.

A 3G portable makes sense for me. But i guess if you have a phone that allows you to tether, then you don't need the 3G version of the Vita.

 

[patsu]

Vita 3G is unlocked, right, so you can use any service you want? In the UK, your best bet might be giffgaff. £5 for 500 MB, £7.50 for 1GB, £12.50 for 3GB, no contract.

The AT&T plan also has no contract but the minutes will expire end of the month. >8^/

 

[patsu]

So do I just move the files in the TVersity codec pack folder folder?

Hmm... I think the Tversity installer installs the pack by default.

 

[patsu]

I'm getting the 3G version because I guess i just see the benefit of having a persistently connected device. Being able to see my PSN friends, trophies, browse the store and stuff on the fly. Not to mention being able to lookup game walkthroughs and stuff online on the browser, without having to pull out a secondary device. It's nice and convenient for me.

Plus, here in the UK WiFi access outdoors is basically non-existent unless you fancy paying out yet more money to the service providers for WiFi on the go plans no thanks.

A 3G portable makes sense for me. But i guess if you have a phone that allows you to tether, then you don't need the 3G version of the Vita.

Yes, useful when traveling overseas, and also more accurate geolocation.

I am also curious if some cellphone PS Suite software will take advantage of it. We already know some games will use 3G. The unreasonable data plan turns people away. If we have a reasonable plan, I am sure developers will use it more.

 

[wco81]

If you don't have any other 3G devices or are not likely to carry one in addition to the Vita, I guess it could make sense. As long as you're not locked into a contract.


Non-gaming apps. have more of a chance of being useful, especially those that use GPS and the digital compass.

 

[patsu]

Prepay (no contract, no/long expiration) or shared data plan (with or without contract) are fine by me.

 

[wco81]

LTE might be useful for online games but by the time LTE is pervasive, Vita may be outdated.

That gorgeous screen would be useful for movies and GPS applications if someone came out with a cradle and car charger.

But there's no indication yet that it will get those kinds of apps.

 

[patsu]

I have a friend who's working on an LTE app. He's having a hard time optimizing for battery life as we speak. LTE is probably great for spur usage too.

Adding a LTE should not fragment the base Vita platform in the future. It's the geolocation and anywhere connection that matter.


There is a movie app for Vita. The base OS supports a geolocation app called Near. Haven't tried it. Car charger is available at launch.

EDIT: Forgot to mention NetFlix and Nico Nico streaming app have been announced or released on Vita.

 

[wco81]

Movies will be a lot more useful if you can output to a big screen. Otherwise, you have the situation like the UMD where people collect a movies you can only view on that little device.

For a time, UMD movie sales were pretty good. I recall day and date releases with DVD and Tower Records even dedicated a section of the store to UMD movies.

But people wised up to the fact that you were paying about the same as DVDs and you could only play on a portable device. Meanwhile portable DVD players became cheaper.

So paying for movie downloads to the Vita doesn't make sense, unless you're so wowed by viewing movies on a 5-inch OLED screen. Guess if you fly a lot or ride 1-hour commute trains, it makes some sense.

Would be more useful if you can zap your DVR recordings to the Vita for watching every day, without any additional costs, since you already paid for the content. But of course, DRM makes that difficult or impossible.

 

[patsu]

Movies will be a lot more useful if you can output to a big screen. Otherwise, you have the situation like the UMD where people collect a movies you can only view on that little device.

For a time, UMD movie sales were pretty good. I recall day and date releases with DVD and Tower Records even dedicated a section of the store to UMD movies.

But people wised up to the fact that you were paying about the same as DVDs and you could only play on a portable device. Meanwhile portable DVD players became cheaper.

So paying for movie downloads to the Vita doesn't make sense, unless you're so wowed by viewing movies on a 5-inch OLED screen. Guess if you fly a lot or ride 1-hour commute trains, it makes some sense.

Would be more useful if you can zap your DVR recordings to the Vita for watching every day, without any additional costs, since you already paid for the content. But of course, DRM makes that difficult or impossible.

Yes and no.

Paying for movie rental and subscription services make sense if it's available on all devices, like Hulu Plus, NetFlix, Video Unlimited, etc. Even better if we can resume the playback from a different device.

Paying for movie purchase for Vita is possible if it's something like digital copy. You buy the DVD/Blu-ray and copy a digital version to the portable device.

Transferring DVR videos to Vita is already doable via Torne 3.5. But it's only available in Japan (Not sure EU has it). The other DVR providers will have to release a Vita app. You can also play Torne videos on Vita using RemotePlay.

Playing video via DLNA is also possible, but that's standard affair these days.

Playing Vita content on big screen is not possible until Sony releases a video out dock like iPad. For now, you have to copy the video out of Vita and use another device to play it on the TV. Some standalone players today can play PC video files.

Sony can also release video apps like PS3's College Football, NHL for Vita if they want.

EDIT:
If you're adventurous, I guess you can try those PSP homebrew media apps too.

Sony also wants to build a cross platform PlayMemories ecosystem to manage family media. If they can make it seamless and fast, then it should be useful too.

 

[wco81]

Point is, these are artificial constraints. They have no video-out to protect consoles. Plus they don't mind if you buy the same movie for Vita and for DVD/Blu-Ray. They're a studio so they like double-dipping.

The DRM and preventing DVR recordings from being sent to portable devices is also about content rights holders trying to nickel and dime you.

It's pointless to buy video content dedicated for a portable device. The burden should be on the content owner to give you one format that plays on all. Then consumers don't have to settle for devices like these which are not good value for playing back that content.

 

[Arwin]

It's pointless to buy video content dedicated for a portable device. The burden should be on the content owner to give you one format that plays on all. Then consumers don't have to settle for devices like these which are not good value for playing back that content.

Yeah, but that's not really the type of thing that's happening. Sony's own video services for instance allow playback across platforms, like Video and Music Unlimited. And digital copies coming with BluRay releases for instance can be used with devices like PSP, iPhone etc. I definitely intend to put that to the test with my Vita once I get it.

edit: example (and showing it's been around for a while)

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/digitalcopy/faq.html

 

[patsu]

Point is, these are artificial constraints. They have no video-out to protect consoles. Plus they don't mind if you buy the same movie for Vita and for DVD/Blu-Ray. They're a studio so they like double-dipping.

Vita + video out won't be able to touch home console or PC gaming. Vita buyers are game enthusiasts for the moment. Those core gamers will cry when they see an upscaled-to-1080p Vita game. Since you're considering LTE future, think about 3D and upscale-to-4K games too.

The other way round is more interesting. RemotePlay for Vita would fuel interest for Vita.

The DRM and preventing DVR recordings from being sent to portable devices is also about content rights holders trying to nickel and dime you.

I don't know about that. Digital copy for BR is free (or rather rolled into the cost, and then discounted). Some UltraViolet implementations are also free. Torne's DVR video transfer is definitely free. They don't charge you for every copy.

It's pointless to buy video content dedicated for a portable device. The burden should be on the content owner to give you one format that plays on all. Then consumers don't have to settle for devices like these which are not good value for playing back that content.

I don't think any vendor pushing video content dedicated for a portable device. They are after the entire market, which means as many devices as possible. Vita is actually not bad for playing videos on-the-go. Screen is big and fine enough to see subtitles, yet not so heavy. Also don't have to worry about eating up cellphone battery life.

Pr0n video may be good business too since the memory card cannot be read on other devices, and the screen is viewable by yourself unless you want to cuddle up and watch with your other half.

I suspect if homebrew on Vita becomes easy to do, we may have interesting media apps on that unit.


EDIT: Also, shouldn't NFL and other sports video services use geolocation to handle Black Outs on portable video devices ? [Point finger at them]

 

[wco81]

I thought Sony was going to have some video portal on PSN for Vita, where they would sell movies specifically targeted for Vita?

 

[patsu]

*shrug* I haven't heard.

Vita in Japan launched with Nico Nico video streaming service. It will be patched later to enable live game streaming from Vita to rest of the world.

Vita in US will have NetFlix.

I listed all the Vita video related features I know above.