Mon, Aug 15, 2011 | 12:23 BST
PS Vita “a car wreck” claims UFC Trainer dev
In an interview with GamesIndustry.Biz, Heavy Iron Studios president Matthew Seymour has all but written off Sony’s chances of capturing consumer’s imaginations with its new handheld.
Matthew Seymour, whose career in the industry has spanned 20 years and includes credits at 2K Games and Microsoft Games Studios, has slated the concept and approach of Sony with its PS Vita.
“With all due respects to Sony and Vita, it’s a car wreck,” he said. And how about Xperia Play? I’d love to pull up the numbers on that.”
Lyle Hall – who also works at Heavy Iron – doubts the future of dedicated gaming handhelds in general, telling GI.Biz:
“If people aren’t willing to pay $249 for a Nintendo 3DS why would they pay $299 for Vita? People don’t want to carry more than one thing in their pocket, that’s why Android and iPhone have done so well, they are the devices of choice, they offers multiple functions outside of gaming”.
Hall went on to say that he’s a fan of the technology but doubts the market can support such devices in the future.
“The technology is sweet, I’m a huge fan of mobile technology, but I just don’t know there’s a market out there anymore for the hardware. I can’t see why you would want to put a device out that only does games.
“The consumer has spoken. We wanted to see that world exist – more players, more opportunities for us, but at the same time people don’t want that. Unless there’s a super technology paradigm shift it’s not going to shift back.”
PS Vita launches in Japan later this year and in the US and PAL territories early next year. The public will be able to go hands-on with the console at gamescom this week.
Thanks, EG.
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Posted in: Platform holders, Sony, Vita
Tags: lyle hall, matthew seymour, PS Vita, UFC Trainer
12 comments
#1
hives
15/08/11, 12:25 pm
So… What he said is: “There’s 1 handheld on the market already, so we don’t need another one”.
Um… Silly? Really nice and “pro” developer, who thinks that 3DS and Vita has the same target.
#2
Fin
15/08/11, 12:32 pm
The whole article was a bit odd. It’s unusual (read: never) for a dev to come out and rail against a console before it’s even been released. They must be just trying to get their name in the news.
Can presumably kiss any chance of releasing on Sony platforms in the future goodbye too.
#3
KrazyKraut
15/08/11, 1:30 pm
ehm..the ps vita costs 249 too…. (the non wifi model) and has more to offer than 3ds
#4
sg1974
15/08/11, 1:32 pm
Last time we heard such a rant against the PSP, the dev announced its new suite of iPhone games two days later….
Problem is he’s probably right that, increasingly, people want one device that can do everything (including make calls). Xperia Play is certainly a hopeless failure – the screen is crap, few own one, and there are hardly any PS games available for it. Irony is that as a concept the Xperia Play IS that device which can do everything (what with its touchscreen, widely-used OS and physical buttons). Shame it’s such a lousy design with a limited library of decent games.
#5
The_Red
15/08/11, 1:47 pm
I don’t get it. They say Vita is a car wreck but don’t elaborate on how so. Also, as Fin said, devs almost never badmouth an unreleased console like this. Something’s really fishy here.
#6
KAP
15/08/11, 1:47 pm
Who ever made UFC trainer to start of with really cant flippin talk, seriously.
If it was called Microsoft Vita, there qoute woulda been upbeat i bet.
#7
frostquake
15/08/11, 1:49 pm
That doesn’t Explain why the PSV is a Car Wreck???? Its a Car Wreck because it isn’t or doesn’t have iPhone or Android Operating System?? Are they saying they would support it if the PSV had an Android Operating System?? This is a very strange Article.
When I saw the Title here on VG247 “Car Wreck”, I expected the Developer talk about the difficulties and developing for it or the software or hardware having issues, but All I got, was I LOVE the technology in PSV but wished it was an all in one device?
I do agree to a certain point. To REALLY really impact the Market, Sony, and Nintendo are going to have to release a Phone that does everything in addition to what the PSV and 3DS do…That way if you wanted a phone as well, you got it, but if you don’t, you don’t have to turn it on, and just make it a gaming device…Though I am wishy washy on that idea as well! LOL
#8
twinturbo120
15/08/11, 2:18 pm
@ #3
Actually you are mistaken. The $249 model is wifi. The $299 is 3G and wifi.
#9
NeoSquall
15/08/11, 4:24 pm
@6 Spot on!
#10
Sini
15/08/11, 4:24 pm
Either way, sony should get the fuck out of mobile market and focus on ps3, and afterwards ps4. Nintendo should get the fuck out of console market, wii u is a flop in the making, we’re talking gamecube userbase, and focus on a handheld.
#11
Levester
15/08/11, 4:28 pm
Matthew Seymour is bought and paid for. the fact that he worked for microsoft just proves that.
#12
mojo
16/08/11, 9:04 am
i can olny speak for myself, but:
Why should it be crucial that ppl allreaday have iphones and stuff so they dont wanna take 2 devices with them.
I never took a handheld out of the house and i dont intend to do that in the future.
the original Gameboy. i played that only at home..
so, whatever, only because its a handheld doesnt mean it should be mobile.