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PlayStation Boss Defends Vita, Slams Social Gaming

Posted by Soulskill on from the one-for-two-ain't-bad dept.

donniebaseball23 writes "Sony Computer Entertainment America boss Jack Tretton has come out swinging to defend the lackluster response the games industry has seen with the PS Vita. He deemed the sales level for the portable as 'acceptable' so far, and he brushed off any notion that social and free-to-play games are putting huge pressure on the portable and dedicated consoles market. 'I think the opportunity to be in the console business is greater than ever before,' he said. '[Social and free-to-play] is a business I think a lot of companies are learning is difficult to sustain for the long term. It's an adjunct or it's an add-on, but it's not where gaming is headed. It's an additive diversion. There's a place for social and freemium, but it's not going to replace the business models that are out there.'" The company is having a hard time getting third-party developers interested in the Vita platform.

5 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. It's amazing how many business people.. by BMOC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...managed to convince themselves that giving their customer choices will be bad for business.

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    I swear they give me mod points to shut me up.
  2. Hot News Flash! by killmenow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Executive in entrenched industry doesn't like new disruptive technology driving industry shift!

    The thing is, he could even be right that social/casual/freemium gaming is not sustainable and not going to supplant his business model. But it's hardly news that he thinks so.

  3. He's right, but missing the point by asmkm22 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Phones and social media are eating away at portable gaming consoles, but it has nothing to do with the gaming aspect of either. Previously, you'd carry a handheld like the Gameboy so that you had *something* to do while sitting around waiting in line or for a bus or wasting time and grandmas or whatever. Today, most everyone has a phone, even teens or preteens. Yes, they can play games on them, but they can also simply browse the internet or post stuff on social media sites.

    Gaming was never the draw for most people using portable devices; occupying time was the draw. People can do that with more stuff now, so of course the value of a strictly-gaming device is going to fall.

    1. Re:He's right, but missing the point by zephvark · · Score: 5, Funny

      or wasting time and grandmas

      I can have no sympathy for people who are wasting grandmas. A grandma is not a thing to waste.

  4. Re:That's a shame by Mondoz · · Score: 5, Funny

    That was implied in the performance, you insensitive clod.

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