Vita, The Clown Tablet, and Handhelds...

Smitty reported earlier that the Vita has been announced as having some of the same functionality as the WiiU. The key functionality being streaming content from the game console to the handheld device.

I think that is interesting but before I define or defend my position; a little history. I don't like handheld gaming systems; you would not know that from the long list of devices I have owned.

Original Game Boy

TurboGraphix Turbo Express

Sega Game Gear

Atari Lynx

Sony PSP

I have had every (worthwhile) handheld - Stuff it Nintendo Fanboiz - the handheld made sense to me when I could get games like "A.P.B." on the Lynx that you couldnt get anywhere else but the arcade. When it became about creating "mini-games" from known franchises on the console I was completely dis-interested. I have never been able to justify to myself purchasing a copy of "God of War PSP" or whatever because it was supposed to be this awesome God of War experience...

So as a result my PSP is completely disused and if I could get my 250 back I would have years ago.

So - the Vita - clearly I am out. Right?

There is a rub here; the more I read about the Vita and its features the more I wonder whether or not Sony has realized that the Apple model works. If you sell me a Vita and enable it to utilize a ton of my PS3 features on it then you have been successful. I dont need the Vita to be my phone - but I can tell you that having the ability to stream television to and from my iPad with Airplay has been awesome. I am very interested in this sort of functionality for my gaming console.

Like Smitty - the Vita has to have free software. I dont care if it has the power to play picture perfect versions of existing and future PS3 games unless they come with the disc for the PS3 that I am already buying. I WILL NOT pay twice for the "privilege" of playing the games I already own on a mobile device. Make your money on the device and enable AAA titles to be pack-in for the Vita @ retail PS3 purchase. That is the only way Sony is going to get anymore of my mind-share. Until then Ill be on my iOS device(s) wondering what all the hub-bub is about...

~ K

P.s. The Clown Tablet - Really Nintendo? Let me help you out with something - Apple already has the table market handled, your niche is the game-time my kids spend playing and I will be damned if I will buy them two WiiUs so that I can have a sane household full of Clown Tablets. I am sure you will be a hit with the single child families - that sounds like an awesome market segment.