dark10x said:
Can you actually expand on that point? What exactly makes you think the 3DS has more potential for unique experiences? It's the Vita this time that actually offers more on the interface side of things.
The 3DS hardware is really kind of a mess. The 3D is a gimmick in the sense that it doesn't really add much to the gameplay. Every game is required to be playable in 2D, for instance, so that kind of limits 3D. The real issue, however, lies with the fact that various features of the hardware are really at odds with each other. Use of the motion sensing, for instance, breaks the 3D effects due to the tilting so using them together doesn't make sense. The main screen is now up top so directly interesting with the game via the touch screen no longer makes sense like it did on the DS. The battery life is extremely poor for a Nintendo handheld.
The Vita can handle ALL of the unique control functions of the 3DS *AND* a lot more. The Vita offers a more flexible touch screen, rear touch, more physical buttons, and motion sensing that doesn't interfere with the visuals. In addition, the extra hardware power increases the potential for interesting software as it can be used for more than simply improved visuals.
So, again, what exactly does the 3DS offer this time that the Vita does not? With PSP and DS, the DS offered an entirely new interface and allowed for new types of games. That advantage has been removed this time around and the only thing it has over the PSP is 3D, which is cool but ultimately has less effect on the games than improved visuals (which you already claimed you don't care about).
The fact that you say 3D is a gimmick and go on to point out that the touch screen on the back is "more flexible" pretty much shows your complete bias.
If you had a 3DS and watched some of the E3 trailers, you'd realize it's not a gimmick, watching the Super Mario video was amazing, jumping up and on to ropes and such and you could actually gauge where your character was by the depth.
I'm not discounting the Vita at all, at that price, with 1 or 2 launch games I'm really interested in, I'm in on day 1.
But watching the Zelda, Super Mario, Mario Kart, Paper Mario games in actual 3D instead of just trailers (not to mention how great Luigis Mansion 2 looks even though I'm not interested) is huge. Seeing is believing ... and my guess is that a vast majority of the people proclaiming Vita dominance haven't seen a 3DS in action.
The Vita CAN'T handle all the unique functions. It has only 1 screen.
While the power difference is obvious I don't think that matters much to many consumers. The Vita looks great, priced amazingly, and has a regurgitated yet pretty decent launch lineup assuming they all make it ... but it is something kids want? Do you really think the 100+ million DS' out there is from the market that reads GAF or watches E3 conferences and pays attention to the spec sheets? They see a game and want that.
Can you imagine what a next gen 3D Pokemon game will do?
Sony has its work cut out for them, I'm not discounting them as this industry can change on a whim. But as much as I was almost regretting the 3DS purchase, just watching those short videos showed me what the potential is and what the system will become.
Sales are going up, they've sold over 4m of them and when a price drop hits around Christmas with a Mario game ... it will be pretty crazy.