Pachter: PlayStation Vita "too expensive for most", 3DS XL "not all that compelling"

I wouldn't say Vita is too expensive what I would say is that the Vita is struggling to find a market. Currently a lot of the games it has are also on the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 this means that owners of either or both have fewer reasons to buy it. Then of course you have your iPad/Android tablet owners, now their devices already do much of what the Vita does, though while the Vita has better graphics is that really enough to buy another expensive device? Perhaps not. In the current market the Vita has no place, it may find it's place once more games come out for it that you cannot get anywhere else but until then Vita has limited selling points.

As for the 3DS XL. The 3DS came out a year and 2 months back and those that bought it are happy with it. The system now has a fair few must play games and there are more on the way. Though given the price of the 3DS at launch and how much it is now, I don't think many will be all that fast to trade up and move on. The 3DS XL would be ideal for new adopters, but the thing lacks a charge cable as Nintendo assumed the majority of XL adopters would be 3DS owners so that has impacted possible sales. I think the 3DS XL is happening too soon, I don't think it was something anyone asked for and sales of it may show that.

Well...Patcher is pessimistic; indeed, PSVita will be selling like hotcakes, while 3DSXL is still enticing for both upgraders/new players...

Both handheld consoles (especially PSVita) have much better graphics than Smart Phone/Android games! Yes, I'm looking at you, Batman game, on tablet!

It's also obvious that 3DSXL will be followed by 3DS 'TwinStick' model sometime next year, at the same time, PSVita will have its own Slim Vita with a possible HDMI out...

Well, we're living in a capitalist world after all, buyers will buy and doubters will shun.

I agree with him(for once) on the 3DS XL. It won't sell as much because it doesn't have the extra circle pad on it, and the circle pad pro won't fit on it.

quote BlackLabel

The 3DS XL would be ideal for new adopters, but the thing lacks a charge cable as Nintendo assumed the majority of XL adopters would be 3DS owners so that has impacted possible sales. I think the 3DS XL is happening too soon, I don't think it was something anyone asked for and sales of it may show that.

Actually, the 3DS XL will come with a charger here in the US. It's just Europe and Japan, probably the rest of Asia too, where the charger will be absent.

Michael Pachter is a piece of crap.

Yeah, these analysts are essentially paid to give their opinions on these things.Given market research and some extrapolation, almost anyone would be able to give a fairer estimation of trends than these so-called experts.

I've played with the 3DS XL extensively and really like it. The price point is a little higher than I would like, but still seems fair. The larger screen and slightly better battery really add a lot more than you would think.

The larger screen gives you more real estate to look at and makes playing in 3D more immersive and less headache inducing. It really does make a large difference playing the 3DS XL in full 3D as opposed to the 3DS. I've got a 3DS and I'm planning on upgrading, especially with all the new games coming out soon.

Patcher calling the obvious choices to rip on? Too bad he didn't go the step further to talk about actual concerns like where the Vita rests when Playstation Mobile goes fully operational. Given the platform is set to allow Vita experiences on Tablets and Phones that carry certification. Same binary that works on the Vita would operate on those devices.

That's where I'd put my worry and concern on a platform, it's still relatively new and yet there's an exit strategy that has been brewing for it for months now.

Who is this guy anyway? He's an idiot and so is the person making articles out of the ridiculous statments he makes.

I think Vita is suffering much the same problem the PSP did, in that its aiming at a very narrow market. It seems like its built for western, PC-centric developers when those studios don't like developing on handhelds in the first place. The audience for those games also doesn't seem to really go for playing on handhelds either, since they want the big experience that PC/HD consoles offer. The die hard gamer that likes portables to "never stop gaming" are either Nintendo fans from the Gameboy days or already have a Vita, and aren't that big in number to support the platform beyond their niche of games. The only ones left are kids, and God forbid a company other than Nintendo make games for those ingrates.

I think price also hurts, but I doubt its as big a concern as Patcher makes it out to be. I don't think the people buying Vitas now are concerned with what price the PS3 has, they are in two very different markets. Its like saying the Vita should wipe out tablets sales since its more powerful than an iPad and also cheaper.

As for the 3DS sales comment, its sold better than the DS at the same point in its life, and still hasn't gotten a number of really big handheld titles yet. A 3DS only Pokemon game will grab a whole lot of buys for the system, much like Diamond and Pearl did after the lite launched. I think expecting it to come out and sell better than the DS, the best selling platform ever, is a tad silly anyway, especially in a down economy and where there are other alternatives on the market.

I don't think the XL will have a huge impact though, its a specialty model that will appeal to smaller groups of consumers. It isn't designed to replace the 3DS or as a big push to get tons of people to take the plunge and buy the system.