PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

PS Vita firmware locks memory cards to a single account -Destructoid

Aside from making a spectacular joke out of the Vita's PSOne compatibility, Vita firmware 1.80 has done something else that isn't pleasing users -- it's quietly tied memory cards to a single PSN account. Before, Vita users were able to store data from multiple accounts onto one card -- now they can't.


If you try switching accounts, you'll receive a message telling you to format the memory card, which users didn't have to do before. Your other alternative of course is to purchase more expensive memory cards.


In fairness, Sony never said in the manual that multiple accounts could be stored to a card, so it's not doing anything misleading by eliminating this workaround. However, to some gamers it's coming across as a petty and controlling overreach, making yet another process more complicated and anti-consumer than it should be.
Not to mention, those who were taking advantage of this before the firmware will have lost data by downloading the update early -- which really is a shitty thing to pull on a customer.


If you had multiple accounts, be sure to back up any data you don't want killed off.


[Via NeoGAF]

Why does Sony work so hard at making Vita less and less attractive? Here I am plotting a scheming a way to fund a Vita before Persona 4 Golden is out and in one day I find out the 100 PSOne Classics coming were reduced to nine for the US (thanks SCEA) and now if i want multiple accounts I have to spend even more on memory cards, making Vita considerably less attractive than before regarding playing imports.

Not that I do much of that, but on PSP I wasn't above trying out a JP demo.

Making a feature of a system more difficult to access is more annoying than not offering it or region-locking it outright.

its like they don't want Vita to succeed.

[Icemage]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

How does a firmware that improves functionality make a device "less and less attractive"? If you don't want one, don't buy it. I have a Vita - I certainly wouldn't recommend buying one to most people right now because it has the same problem the 3DS had a year ago (and frankly still does, to an extent): a lack of compelling software. There's certainly some good games on the Vita, but the flow of software is like a drip feed.

By the by, FFVII isn't officially on the PlayStation Store for Vita yet as of this morning, but since I already owned it on my PSN account for PS3, I was able to successfully transfer it from my PS3 to my Vita and ensure that it does run. Also, Europe's list is significantly larger than North America's for some reason. In any case, I'm guessing Sony will get around to expanding the list sooner or later - it's certainly not because they need to hack any code, and the modders have shown that a lot of PS1 games can be forced to run on the Vita just fine with custom firmware.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

How does a firmware that improves functionality make a device "less and less attractive"?

How does a firmeware update that makes things less convenient for those that have multiple accounts an improvement to functionality?

Sony's firmware updates seldom - if ever- improve anything. I've owned a PS3 and a PSP and I've yet to see any improvements - just strikes made against piracy.

And you cannot compare Vita's situation to that of 3DS this time last year.

3DS had a functioning online store this time last year with no loss of content.
3DS had full backward compatibility this time last year, save for Flipnote Studio from DSiWare.
This time last year 3DS had a price drop, Nintendo swallowed their pride and took a loss and now its paying off.
3DS also its had pretty good, steady software and downloadable games this year.

Vita has accomplished none of this. You cannot compare the two anymore. Sony has refused to back down on price, didn't plan for compatibility or full store functionality. Nintendo baby steps onto the online store scene and seems progressive by comparison. Sony's had an online storefront for years - there's no good excuse for how it is right now.

I want a Vita and I want it to do well. Sony doesn't seem to want to do what's needed to help Vita gain traction. It makes it an uncomfortable investment.

[Icemage]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Sony's been pretty up-front since even before the launch of the Vita about the situation supposedly being 1-account-per-card, so... OK?

I'll have to respectfully disagree with the firmware comment vis-a-vis the PS3. It has gained tremendously in power and capability, and I speak as a PS3 owner since Dec. 2006. Lots of network functionality and stability fixes, improvements to various playback formats, lots of improvements to the PSN Store and to how you interact with Friends. The games also improved as Sony trimmed down the OS memory footprint, giving more RAM back to developers to run games.

The only interesting function that was closed down was otherOS, and the vast majority of people never bothered to use it (because news flash: the PS3 makes for a terrible PC).

Calling the 3DS eShop "full" and "functional" is also questionable. Considering that NSMB2 is the first retail title that Nintendo has ever offered as a digital download, and that happened about a week ago? Yeah. Sony's problem with the Vita is less to do with the PSN Store, which is much more usable than the klunky mess that the 3DS eShop is since you can actually find what you're looking for. To be brutally honest, while I like the 3DS retail library much more than the Vita's at this point in time, the Vita's PSN storefront beats the pants off of the 3DS's for functionality, ease of use, and selection.

The Vita just lacks software in general. The price will fix itself over time, as with all consoles that aren't named the NEO GEO or Jaguar. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony drop the price another $50 before the holidays; they can probably afford to do it at this point, and getting the price tag to $200 will do a lot to fix the console's install base.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

I've never had a problem finding things on eShop - that's what a search function is for.

Also, 3DS hasn't been a drama queen about firmware - in fact, last time it downloaded and installed the update in sleep mode automatcally. PSP and PS3 ate a small portion of your playtime with updates.

Also, before Sony patches it:

http://www.destructoid.com/how-to-tr...a-233911.phtml

[Firewind]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Sony's been pretty up-front since even before the launch of the Vita about the situation supposedly being 1-account-per-card, so... OK?

I'll have to respectfully disagree with the firmware comment vis-a-vis the PS3. It has gained tremendously in power and capability, and I speak as a PS3 owner since Dec. 2006. Lots of network functionality and stability fixes, improvements to various playback formats, lots of improvements to the PSN Store and to how you interact with Friends. The games also improved as Sony trimmed down the OS memory footprint, giving more RAM back to developers to run games.

The only interesting function that was closed down was otherOS, and the vast majority of people never bothered to use it (because news flash: the PS3 makes for a terrible PC).

Calling the 3DS eShop "full" and "functional" is also questionable. Considering that NSMB2 is the first retail title that Nintendo has ever offered as a digital download, and that happened about a week ago? Yeah. Sony's problem with the Vita is less to do with the PSN Store, which is much more usable than the klunky mess that the 3DS eShop is since you can actually find what you're looking for. To be brutally honest, while I like the 3DS retail library much more than the Vita's at this point in time, the Vita's PSN storefront beats the pants off of the 3DS's for functionality, ease of use, and selection.

The Vita just lacks software in general. The price will fix itself over time, as with all consoles that aren't named the NEO GEO or Jaguar. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony drop the price another $50 before the holidays; they can probably afford to do it at this point, and getting the price tag to $200 will do a lot to fix the console's install base.


Icemage

I was going to make a post but Icemage has pretty much summed up exactly what I was going to say. There is still a huge lack of compelling games in Europe for the 3DS (granted the Vita isn't much better) unless you are an obsessive Mario fanboy that has to have every Mario game. The most interesting games for the 3DS simply just don't get released here and can't be imported due to region locking. It's basically only shovelware that gets a release here. It's one of the reasons why the regular DS still outsells the 3DS in Europe in terms of software and hardware.

As for the eShop, the games are pretty underwhelming over here as well. I can get similar games for half the price on my iPhone.

Want to know how many 3DS games I now own? 0. As much as I like Zelda, the camera controls are just too obnoxious for OoT and playing it on a tiny screen just isn't the same as playing it on a real screen.

Want to know what I mostly play on my 3DS? Regular DS games.

And honestly I would love to be able to pay just $200 for any console but over here you're looking at closer to $250-300 for a Vita or 3DS depending on condition.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Want to know what I mostly play on my 3DS? Regular DS games.

What are EU Vita players giddy to play today?

Fifty fifteen year old PSOne games. I can't exactly fault them for that, even though NA players got shafted, but then, it's probably something to do with SCEA's precious release windows. NOA and SCEA have that idiotic trait in common.

Also your comment on OOT 3D is false. There is an option to turn the first person gyro camera controls off. You are not forced to endure an option.

[geogolem]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

I had the original 3DS... I sold it and got the 3DS XL last week. Today I got the Vita.... (I'm in Canada and Futureshop has had crazy promotions. At the end of the day both the Vita and 3DS XL cost me next to nothing)...

Anyway, I own and have enjoyed several games for the 3DS XL. Quite honestly, SM3DL, MK7 and NSMB2 are all awesome games. Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is also great. The 3DS has a decent library and I am sure there will be a fair number of other games released that I will be interested in.

I only got the Vita because the Madden Vita Bundle effectively cost me $160 and I can get Uncharted: Golden Abyss in September for 19.99.

Having said that, there are next to no other games I will be interested in getting for the Vita. It kind of reminds me of my PS3 only worse. With PS3 I played the three Uncharted games, FF13 and FF13-2. The uncharted games were phenomenal. The FF games were OK but not unbelievably great - they weren't bad!

Other than that, my ps3 is untouched and only used as a media streamer.

I'm really looking forward to "The Last of Us" for PS3.. It looks awesome.

Other than that, I don't know what else I'll play on PS3 unless FF Versus 13 eventually gets released.

As for Vita I really hope a few more great games get released, otherwise I will kind of regret getting it, even though it was a great deal if purely viewed from a price/economical perspective.

[Melody]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Well from my point of view Sony is doing the right thing. They lost a ton of profit from modders on the PSP. So the pricetag doesn't surprise me at all. As for their firmware a lot of their old PSP firmware lacked and I guess this is a new way for them to start over. Of course people are going to whine about it, considering the Vita is a new handheld compared to the 3DS. It seems Sony is covering their own ass this time. I personally approve. There will always be someone who won't buy a new system due to spec issues, but it seems Sony knew this and is pushing their product towards loyal Sony customers. I'll be picking one up next week.

Melody

[Icemage]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

It's also worth noting here that a lot of PS1 Classics DO work on the Vita when transferred from a PS3 via the Content Manager app, even ones which aren't on the "approved" list.

I haven't tested all of the PS1 classics I own, but Final Fantasy Origins (I & II), FFVI, FFVIII, and FFIX all work. FFV refuses to transfer, for some odd reason.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

No one with a lick of sense builds their portable devices on the premise that their customers are brand-loyal, not even Apple or Microsoft do this. Sony, however, does.

Vita/PS3 Cross Buy, as an example is short sighted and actually damaging to Vita. In the short term, it gives Vita a few extra games that are cross-compatible with PS3, but does not really add new exclusive content to the Vita library and if Vita needs anything its exclusive content to build the brand's identity. A few downloadable PSN games being cross-compatible is fine and sensible, but Cross Buy for consoles is a dead end. Once PS4 comes out and the development focus is there for third parties, only Sony will be supporting it, if that.

Those that are Vita-only or PS3-only customers derive no value from Cross Buy, which is pure dickery. Its telling the consumer they need to own a PS3 to have the most value, but its really just proof Sony doesn't understand what value is. Valus would be, say, having PSOne classics ready at launch rather than starting to drip feed consumers content they might have purchased on PSP years ago six months after Vita's launch. In an age of convergent smart devices, Sony did not plan for future compatibility. It was a bonehead play and there's just no getting around it.

Remote Play still doesn't work for most games and, once again, puts a marketing gimmick in the place of exclusive content.

In fact, forcing a console identity on a portable device is still a pretty bad idea. Ports of prior-gen games are all well-and-good as the hardware is capable of PS2 games, but Vita will not keep the pace with PS3 and especially not PS4. PSP started out this way, too, pinning its hopes on games like GTA: Liberty City Stories when more bite-sized oriented gameplay ended up being an asset to the platform. No amount of console-like Call of Dutys, Uncharteds, Assassin's Creeds or Resistance titles is going to make Vita a console. They need to stop building games to the strengths of a console and build them to the strengths of the Vita.

What gets me is some of the biggest third parties out there get this and Sony just doesn't seem to want to follow their lead - its like it behooves them. Square Enix knows how to make a handheld sing. I may have my faith shaken in their console efforts, but I'll never doubt their handheld outings on quality (dumbed down iOS ports notwithstanding, but not all of those are dumbed down thankfully). Maybe Soul Sacrifice will be closer to par with Monster Hunter, but even so its going to be the cash-in and not the brand that creates loads of success. Gravity Rush was a neat idea wasted on Vita. It totally could have been a killer, innovative PS3 game unhindered by Vita's gimmicks.

One of the biggest problems with Vita games right now is they want you to use the Dual Analog sticks AND the touch screen a lot and that is really awkward. It would be one thing if this was to tap a side button on the screen like, say, a grenade button for a shooter, but adding swiping, touching in the middle of the screen its just... ugh. I don't know why developers think this is good. On 3DS its much easier to access the touch screen since there is no second stick and camera control is often off the table anyway so its not a concern. With Vita developers should really make options for both, but not force players to work with both the dual sticks and the screen at the same time, particularly where pinching and swiping is concerned. Its just dumb.

I think we can also all agree that at this point that memory cards need price drops or bundle incentives more than the actual Vita unit needs a price drop. Both would be nice, but its memory that's hurting Vita's sales. To have the ideal amount of memory, a Vita and one game is going to run you over $400. And after that not all your existing PSP and PSOne games may be available to you. Again, ugh.

I do like that were I to get one today, I could have Persona, Persona 2, Persona 3 Portable out the gate and later Persona 4 Golden. That I could have MGS, MGS2, MGS3, MG, MG2 and Peacewalker all on one handheld. That's cool, but its not everything I'd be in this for and there are a bunch of games I technically own that I couldn't access today. That's lame.

Someone else said it best elsewhere today. I love Playstation, but I fucking hate Sony. They are squandering the brand more and more with each passing day.

It's also worth noting here that a lot of PS1 Classics DO work on the Vita when transferred from a PS3 via the Content Manager app, even ones which aren't on the "approved" list.

I haven't tested all of the PS1 classics I own, but Final Fantasy Origins (I & II), FFVI, FFVIII, and FFIX all work. FFV refuses to transfer, for some odd reason.

I linked this previously. Its not been confirmed that this is something the patch intended to allow for and probably why not all the games work. Even as a workaround, though, that does Vita-only owners no favors. At any rage Neo-Gaf has a growing list in that link I provided.

Don't be surprised if Sony quashes support for these transfers with a patch. If these games aren't approved, there's still the possibility of them creating an exploit.

[Firewind]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

What are EU Vita players giddy to play today?

Fifty fifteen year old PSOne games. I can't exactly fault them for that, even though NA players got shafted, but then, it's probably something to do with SCEA's precious release windows. NOA and SCEA have that idiotic trait in common.

Also your comment on OOT 3D is false. There is an option to turn the first person gyro camera controls off. You are not forced to endure an option.

You're completely missing the point here. Nobody cares about EITHER platform over here because there's no games for them both compared to what it out on the iOS and Android market.

Someone else said it best elsewhere today. I love Playstation, but I fucking hate Sony. They are squandering the brand more and more with each passing day.

Actually I pretty much 100% agree with this and will go further and extend it to both Microsoft and Nintendo. I don't see any of the big 3 even attempting to become part of the solution and they just contribute more and more to what is wrong with the industry.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Jimquisition: Sony's Begging For Piracy -Destructoid

[Raydeus]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

What can I say, we've been saying the same thing about Sony's way for years now. And the Vita seems like such a wasted hardware opportunity.

But hopefully people who actually own the thing will get enough content to make it worth it.

[Firewind]

Re: PSA for Vita owners about 1.80 firmware update

Jimquisition: Sony's Begging For Piracy -Destructoid

I saw this and sadfaced when I found out that I might not be able to plat Tomba on a Vita. I loved that game as a kid.

Then immediately squeed when I found out it actually is going to be on the Vita.

Being serious this is pretty much the reason why I have little sympathy for any software publisher that screws over it's own userbase with terrible service (including DRM since Sony are pretty fucking horrible with that as well).

What is also a problem is software and hardware companies using piracy figures in a correlation equals causation manner when the vast majority of it is done in countries where copyright laws are 1) Impossible to enforce and 2) in countries where the software isn't usually sold because of that.

Sorry but that propriety memorycard that can only play a game stored in an uninstalled format, that can't be resold or even loaned to a friend because it would be bound to my PSN account, and the constant firmware updates and manual signing in, isn't going to deter that guy from China; who isn't going to be paying for the game because hey, the Vita is hacked within hours of every new update anyway and he's not going to get draconic anti-piracy laws shoved down his throat.