How so? Well, they're preparing to release--in Japan only, of course--a game called @field, which combines golf and pinball (in terms of gameplay) and is covered with a smear of the company's out-of-this-world--in more ways than one--Space Channel 5 (in terms of graphics).
Sadly, I can't seem to find any videos of this oddly titled game, which is supposed to be released sometime this winter, so the screenshots above and below will have to suffice.
Actually, I'm kind of glad I can't find any videos of @field, as I really don't need to add any games or systems to my "to buy in 2012" list, which already includes a slew of 3DS, PSP and Wii titles, as well as possibly a PS3 and/or a Wii U.
Should @field be positively received by the few brave souls who pick it up and play it, though, I definitely could see myself buying a copy of it alongside a Vita system--sometime after the Vita lands in the bargain bins in the States, of course.
See also: 'Are you planning to pick up a PlayStation Vita?'
Man it's still amazing to hear that the Vita is bombing in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI'm not all that surprised, to tell you the truth, Motherplayer. I mean, I'd be shocked as hell by its flopping if a Monster Hunter game had been announced for it before release, but that's not the case. I don't think it's going to flop forever, though -- like the PSP, I think it'll gain a nice foothold in the market eventually.
ReplyDeleteIn Japan, that is. I'm not at all sure about how it'll do in North America, for instance. I thought the PSP would do well here thanks to its superior (to the DS) graphics capabilities, but boy was I wrong!
In the end, though, the PSP's flopping in the US was good for me and my wallet, as I was able to pick up a system on the cheap and a number of games, too. The only bad thing about its flopping here is that a number of games never made it out of Japan due to the uncertainty of success in NA.
I wouldn't mind at all if the same thing happened with the Vita, although this time around I'd like the niche/small/weird games -- like this one -- to get localized.
Anyway, enough about me. Are you still planning on picking up a Vita at some point?
I might...in a year in a half or so. I like to make sure a something has a sizable library of games that I want to try before I get it. I've seen a few but not enough to justify a purchase. And of course I want to wait til the price drops a bit along with learning a bit more of those questionably priced data cards.....just making me appreciate that Nintendo still sticks to cartridges so you don't have to worry bout that.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you for the most part, Motherplayer! I generally wait quite a long time before picking up a new system these days -- usually because I want a number of games to be released for the system first, but also because I want the price to come down a bit and/or any issues/problems to be worked out. In fact, that's what I did (waited before buying) with the GBA, the GameCube, the DS, the PS2, the PSP and the 360. Only the 3DS and Wii have spurred me to buy them fairly early on.
ReplyDeletePre-ordered! Though I pre-ordered a while back when I assumed PSN games would be compatible from the start - they better not charge me again!
ReplyDeleteI have a list of complaints with the system, but I got to try one out recently and that screen is a beauty. And I'm a sucker for shiny new things.
I can't think of many games I would get at launch - most likely just WipeOut and MvC3.
IMO, the killer feature would be that if all PSN and Vita games would be cross compatible with the PS3 - without having to pay for it again. I know it's a pipe dream, but if the Vita performs poorly here and Sony gets desperate...
You've pre-ordered a system, Darwin? If so, I can't wait to hear what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteYou said you got to try one out recently -- what did you think of the analog nubs? That's the one thing I absolutely HATE about the PSP, and I really hope the Vita's, er, nubs are more comfortable to use.
One thing that I love about the Vita, BTW, is that it's region-free (as far as I know). That'll come in handy when certain niche-y games are left in Japan, methinks.
As for your last suggestion: How would that work? I understand how PSN games could be cross-compatible with PS3, of course, but not sure I understand how Vita games would be able to be cross-compatible. Or am I missing something?
Regardless, yes, it's probably a pipe dream, but you never know what a company will do if it gets desperate...
The nubs actually stick up like mini-joysticks, so they feel quite better - totally agree about the PSP's nubs.
ReplyDeleteRegarding cross-compatibility, I meant that if I bought FFX on PSN I would be able to play it on the Vita and PS3 (like iOS's model, well mostly). I understand if each platform has its exclusives, but if its the exact same game, and I buy it off the same service, then have it work on both.
Oh, that's good to hear, Darwin. As much as I like the PSP -- and I do! -- I use the d-pad as much as possible due to the analog nub's horrible placement and tiny size.
ReplyDeleteAs for PSN cross-compatibility between PSP, PS Vita and/or PS3: Yeah, that's really how it should work. In fact, I thought some games allowed such use, or maybe I'm wrong?
Admittedly, I don't know much about this because I currently have only one system capable of being connected to PSN...
Right now on PSN, the only compatible games between platforms are PS1. Though if you use the Xperia Play, you have to rebuy the PS1 games. PSN Minis are partially compatible on the PS3.
ReplyDeleteI hope Sony doesn't recharge for PSN games :(.
Oh, I knew that only some PSN Minis releases were compatible with PS3, but I thought other PSN releases were OK. Guess not :(
ReplyDeleteThe bad news is that all of the content providers -- including Sony and Nintendo -- want to be able to charge us as many times as possible for each downloadable game, and they're going to keep doing that until it's absolutely no longer possible.
Which is sad, because, really, MS, Nintendo and Sony all should have in place iTunes-like systems at this point -- so we can, say, buy the NES version of Super Mario Bros. and then play it on our 3DS, Wii, Wii U, etc.
In my opinion, of course.
Sounds super neat!
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong that when I first read your comment, Justin, I imagined you saying it in a fake manner -- you know, like you were rolling your eyes while you said it? :P
ReplyDeleteHaha, at your last comment.
ReplyDeleteGlad it made you laugh, Darwin :) I think it was Justin's use of the word neat. I'm so cynical that I always imagine people using that word only when they're joking :P
ReplyDeleteI'll add this one to my mental pick-up list. If I get a Vita, it'll probably be the Japanese version... I've heard weird things about region compatibility and I'm not sure what to believe, so I think that's the safest bet!
ReplyDeleteZigfried: Huh, I haven't yet heard anything weird about region compatibility, but I'm also not as up to date as I probably should be when it comes to such things. Guess I'll have to do some reading/research, as I really wouldn't want to buy a Vita that isn't compatible with Japanese games...
ReplyDelete