So I was lucky enough to try out the PS Vita today. It’s not mine, nor did I get a long time to test it, but as a gamer and tech-enthusiast, here’s what I have to say…
- It’s big, and heavy: Yes, bigger and thicker than the different generations of PSPs, so don’t expect to fit this one in your baggy pants. Also its pretty heavy, which is good for the way it feels in your hands, but playing hours in a row, I’d suggest some arms rests…
- The buttons are small: I mean very small. Like close to half what they were on the PSP. I also strongly believe that it is NOT a good thing, in this case: as a gamer I really hate pressing the wrong button, and on the ps vita, I can guarantee that it’ll happen. A. Lot.
- The touchscreen: I was really impressed by how reactive the screen was. I didn’t play with the vita for long, once again but I think it may have been the most responsive screen I’ve experienced experienced yet. I’m not a serial gear-reviewer, but I did spend 3 days at a booth making app demos on various different devices… Then again, this probably has to do with the insides of the beast…
- Graphics: I’m pretty torn on the graphics of the vita. Beyond the actual resolution (which I honestly didn’t look up), there were two different uses for me to experience. In the menus, the icons are strangely very pixelated for a supposedly-HD portable gaming device. I’m talking about the equivalent of looking at an iPhone screen before and after Retina Display: that much! In the games, though I only really tried Uncharted, it was the opposite : everything was stunning, and it’s hard to believe how beautiful the graphics are, for something that is interactive and fits in your hands.
I didn’t get to use for too long, so I couldn’t try the movies / web-enabled features or test the battery, but it’s a good start.
There’s only one thing that bothers me: I don’t believe portable gaming is here to stay. Just like Kodak realized (too late) I think the only portable devices are set to be mobile phones and tablets… Hardcore gamers going up to purchasing a dedicated portable gaming device are shrinking every year. And it makes sense: phones are getting smarter and more powerful, so why would you have two (or more) dedicated devices when you can have it all in one, no big pockets and travel-cases involved?
