Is a Vita worth the price?

[Paully3433]

I was thinking about picking one up, just wondering if it is worth the $200+ i would shell out for a new bundle? Also if someone knows a little about them, what is the difference between the Wi-Fi and the 3G versions?
I won't be getting a PS4/XBOX One, when they release, so I am just trying to plan my next move. If they aren't worth it, I may move towards a 3DS with the larger library of games.

[GrayGhost81]

I love my Vita, but it has a few things going against it. The selection of games is pretty thin. And the price is very high. I got mine pretty cheap and I have a PS+ subscription so I haven't actually had to buy any games yet.

I have a wifi only. If you get a 3G model you have to subscribe to a data plan which is only available I believe through AT&T. If you have reliable wifi in your house it is more than sufficient.

If you're going to be downloading a lot of games you pretty much have to shell out for the 32GB memory card. I don't know if you plan to buy all this stuff at retail but the high cost is what kept me away from this console for so long. I just lucked out and had a coworker sell me one for very cheap.

Actually playing games on it is wonderful. The screen is huge and bright and the unit is very solid feeling and hefty in contrast to the psp, which I always thought felt delicate and chintzy. Battery life leaves something to be desired as you'll be lucky to get five hours out of a full charge.

The non-gaming apps like email, facebook, and especially netflix all work great though I have not tried the navigation app.

I hope some of my info has helped. Like I said I love this machine, but it's just so expensive. Make sure there are enough games out there that you're interested in to make it worthwhile, and look into PS+ if you don't already subscribe.

EDIT: I watched lots of video reviews before I bought mine, and I found this one to be the most informative:

[Duke.Togo]

I bought mine because it was cheap, but still haven't found any games I want to buy yet. I know of a couple on the horizon that I am interested in, so it seemed worth it. I certainly wouldn't have bought it at the retail price.

[Paully3433]

Good info guys, and thanks for the video GrayGhost. Super informative. I have great Wi-Fi and already have Netflix set up for my PS3 and iPad, so that part of it makes me happy.
I do like some of the new releases coming up, although most are coming out for PS3 as well. I do not have PS+ subscription and really don't download a lot of games.
I wouldn't mind a used one, but who knows what I can find used in decent shape....

[Leynos]

Vita is great. You have great games like Sly cooper,Wipeout,Gravity Rush,Dragons Crown,Muramasa and not long from now Ys IV,FFX HD.

I love the 3DS as well and 3DS def has the best library.

[Paully3433]

After some research I probably would get my use out of a Vita. I am still nervous about buying used though. If I do find a used one, does it have to be only a Wi-Fi version or can it be a 3G/Wi-Fi version? I have stable Wi-Fi at my house and wouldn't ever get a plan, just not sure if that added 3G mattered even if I never planned to use
Edit: Nevermind I found my answer lol...
Otherwise I may try to find a bundled version, assassin creed or madden 13.

[monkees19]

In short, no. Get the 3DS.

[wildbil52]

This is all a matter of opinion so there is no right or wrong answer, just my opinion.  The Vita is definitely not worth 200 of MY dollars.  That doesn't mean it isn't worth 200 of YOUR dollars.

Here are my problems with the Vita.

It's super large.  Looking at a big screen is nice but its too big to easily carry around the way I carry my phone and 3DS around.  This leaves my house as the only place I would play and if I'm at my house, I'm playing on a console or my PC.

It's not comfortable in my hands.  The way you have to contort your hand for your thumbs to be on the joysticks and fingers on the triggers/back touch pad is not comfortable at all.

Not enough good games.  As Ryudo said, there are SOME good games on this system, just not the quantity and the type of games that I would spend $200 plus the cost of the games to play.  If you are a PS+ member, you may get a few decent freebies as Vita is becoming a part of that program.

At the end of the day, it's your money, choose wisely.  No matter the choice, as long as you are happy, you made the right decision.

[Paully3433]

Good points Wildbil.
I loved my PSP, and one reason is that we only have 1 HDTV in my house, and with 3 kids and a wife, A lot of times it is occupied but someone other than me. Which is a reason I like my handhelds. I have both a DS and PSP so have ideas on how both of those feel in my hands. Not sure how the 3DS is compared to DS but yeah.

There is pro and cons to the Vita and I am having a hard time with choosing. I like the other apps you can use, trophies, and psn overall. My 8 year old also loves the PSP more than the DS, but I wonder how it will fit his small grip as well..

I don't like the lack of games, price and having to shell out for a card cause of no internal memory.

[Leynos]

PSP took a while to get a great library and this year quietly Vita is building a good one. I don't think it's all that big..then again I also have a 3DS XL. For me I take my gadgets in a satchel anyhow. I think the only real issue with Vita is the piss poor choice to go with those memory cards and even worse make you HAVE to have them for saving games and does not include one and so damn pricey. My 3DS gave me a 4GB one free. Do not forget Vita also has PSN which to be honest blows eshop out of the water. So PS3 games,PS1 games,PSP games and other downloadable games.

I will say Vita's screen is amazing. 3DS is a bit low rez and the 3D is not for everyone but playing games with 3d turned off also does not hinder games either.

3DS for me has Shinobi,Tales of Abyss,Code of Princess,Project X Zone,Fire Emblem,SMT IV and many many more including Nintendo's first party. Eshop has a few nice original games like Mighty Switch Force and Liberation Maiden. 3DS biggest flaw is not hardware related but a policy on Nintendo. If you buy downloadable games but your 3DS breaks you have lost all those games and Nintendo will not help you replace them.

[wildbil52]

All excellent points, Ryudo.

[techwizard]

my call of duty bundle came with a 4GB card, not sure about the other bundles

[blcklblskt]

I agree with Ryudo on this.  The inability to save game data to a cartridge on the Vita is an incredibly stupid design flaw.  I also hate how Sony always feels the need to create proprietary memory cards for their handheld device (Memory stick/M2, etc.), which, for me, drive me away from picking them up first.

I've been into handhelds since I was a kid, so I will pick up nearly any handheld device somewhere down the road.  Small, stupid decisions like Sony's memory cards have prevented me from buying a Sony handheld first over a Nintendo handheld.  I've had great times on my PSP, and even my PSP go (which is an emulating powerhouse), but usually only after the device has been discontinued and I can pick up the requisite pieces for a reasonable cost.

I love the Vita.  I love how fantastic the screen looks, the potential of it's games, and so on.  I can't wait to pick one up someday.  But, the outrageous cost of memory cards, along with the 3DS's much larger library/cheaper price made the 3DS XL the obvious choice for me in this handheld generation.

[Tynstar]

Save the money and buy another TV. But then again I hate handhelds.