Sony acknowledged mistakes in marketing the PlayStation Vita

[xist]

What exactly do you want to advertise? Who is your intended audience? If you don't have a clear aim, your advertising isn't as effective.

It doesn't actually matter who your audience is if it's just telling people there's a product out there....just show the console doing it's thing (games, interface, multimedia), use some flashy CGI and whirly graphics along with a decent soundtrack and BOOM, immediately a million times better than nothing. Don't do anything other than show a Vita doing it's thing....later you can tailor adverts for specific groups but until those groups are aware there's a console it's too high risk to stereotype the console as "for group X"

 

[chris888222]

What exactly do you want to advertise? Who is your intended audience? If you don't have a clear aim, your advertising isn't as effective.

It doesn't actually matter who your audience is if it's just telling people there's a product out there....just show the console doing it's thing (games, interface, multimedia), use some flashy CGI and whirly graphics along with a decent soundtrack and BOOM, immediately a million times better than nothing. Don't do anything other than show a Vita doing it's thing....later you can tailor adverts for specific groups but until those groups are aware there's a console it's too high risk to stereotype the console as "for group X"

I agree on that, still better than doing nothing.

However, they STILL need a clear aim. This form of advertising is just somehow 'buying time' for them to brainstorm.

 

[Minox]

Personally I don't find that many of the current Playstation Vita games appeal to me in a sufficient way for me to justify a purchase of the system. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that the games that are out are bad. After all, I could just have a shitty taste in games or I could just not be the targeted customer.

The only appeal I find currently is that I'd be able to get to play some of the more interesting PSP games I missed out on since I never had one. That alone does not sell a system, but if they were to release some Playstation Vita games that appeal to me as well then maybe I'd consider getting one of my own.

 

[EyeZ]

Yeah the price of the Vita i feel is a contributing factor, as it was when the PS3 launched.

Sony makes top quality goods, but will that appeal to the mass market?

Obviously not, also it has launched when the economic climate is at its worse.

 

[stanleyopar2000]

price and those godawful manditory cards.....and few third party developers are interested....Sony practically has to say "..just PLEASE develop a games for us...shut up, and take our money!!"

 

[Clarky]

price could be justified if it had a lot more going for it right now. the memory card situation i agree is bullshit but sony has to make profit from the vita somewhere and as much as i don't like the meme, it needs an exclusive game or 2 built for the vita itself, not ports of ps3/ps2 games.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

price and those godawful manditory cards.....and few third party developers are interested....Sony practically has to say "..just PLEASE develop a games for us...shut up, and take our money!!"

Complaining about the memory cards is like complaining about the weather. It's happened since the beginning, and it most likely will keep happening for the foreseeable future.

 

[ferofax]

Lol, they wanna aim for the younger audiences now?

Is Sony a bit confused in the head or what? Their PSVita is pure hardcore, if anything. They were aiming at the right audiences, for what it's worth, but the problem they need to figure out is why the living fuck are those bloody hardcore gamers not buying it? They're a very fickle bunch, and even if you do give them what they want, they'll just go find something else to want and whine about instead. Give them new IPs, they'll go looking for HD remakes or ports. Give the remakes/ports and they'll come asking for new IPs. Give em both and they'll want console features. Give em all of those and they'll want it at half the price. Ahaha.

Suffice to say, the Vita is definitely NOT a kid's toy, much like an expensive smartphone or tablet. On the flipside though, maybe that's just how they worded it, but they're actually aiming for the PARENT'S wallets instead.

 

[gamefan5]

Lol, they wanna aim for the younger audiences now?

Is Sony a bit confused in the head or what? Their PSVita is pure hardcore, if anything. They were aiming at the right audiences, for what it's worth, but the problem they need to figure out is why the living fuck are those bloody hardcore gamers not buying it? They're a very fickle bunch, and even if you do give them what they want, they'll just go find something else to want and whine about instead. Give them new IPs, they'll go looking for HD remakes or ports. Give the remakes/ports and they'll come asking for new IPs. Give em both and they'll want console features. Give em all of those and they'll want it at half the price. Ahaha.

Suffice to say, the Vita is definitely NOT a kid's toy, much like an expensive smartphone or tablet. On the flipside though, maybe that's just how they worded it, but they're actually aiming for the PARENT'S wallets instead.

Yes because it works for Nintendo (Mario, Pokemon, etc). Hell it always works aiming for younger audiences. Why? Because they're the easiest to persuade.

 

[chavosaur]

In the entire lifespan of the psvita...
I have seen ONE commercial advertisement for it. And i watch TV alot and so do my little brothers, and there has been TONS of 3DS comercials out there.
The vita is in no way a bad system, Sony is just not taking the right measures to market the damn thing.
Like others have said as well, they can release all the kid games they want, parents still wont buy their kids a vita because of the price. I mean, you can go out and buy a 3DS and a couple of games for the same price of just buying the vita alone!
And again, thats still not the biggest problem. Also mentioned before, is why buy a handheld system for a bunch of games you could play on a console, and the flipping console is almost the same price as the handheld???
Dont get me wrong, i understand because I am a handheld gamer, I spend more time on my 3DS then i have spent on my Xbox and Wii combined. I understand wanting to have awesome experiences in the palm of my hand.
But tons of other people do not. They want everything on the big screen, and if they wanna play somthing on a handheld, its to pass the time. And 9/10 times that handheld is their smartphone.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

The Vita was known for its bolster of amazing software coming since it was announced. People's impression of the system will definitely leap. With this, the impression of the system will slide just as bad.

ON TOPIC:
Hate to add smartphones to this conversation, but casuals will rather buy $.99 - $7.99 apps on their droid/iDevice than spend $250 - $350 on a brand new system. This applies to 3DS as well actually.

Sony really need to know who they're aiming at. Nintendo did mention that the 3DS was aimed at the mass market, but Sony right now are still quite clueless. I'm not trying to bash Sony here, but you definitely need a core aim in order for sales to surge. Right now they are pretty much just coming out games for the system with no clue who exactly will buy them.

What they are doing now isn't going to help much... "we need to aim at the more younger crowd..." Chances are you will neglect the other side, just like how you neglect the present. You must say "no. We are aiming for overal/hardcore/anythingl."

Yes indeed. Sony designed the Vita to be answer to every demand out there;

Hey, iPhones are popular, let's add a touch screen.
Hey, social media is hot right now, let's add 3G.
Hey, innovative gameplay is a hit, let's add a gyroscope and back touch pad.
Hey, let's add GPS since most tech have it these days.

In the end, they get confused and fail to reach a niche market.

With all that said and done, Sony made a jack of all trades and a master of none.

 

[ferofax]

Lol, they wanna aim for the younger audiences now?

Is Sony a bit confused in the head or what? Their PSVita is pure hardcore, if anything. They were aiming at the right audiences, for what it's worth, but the problem they need to figure out is why the living fuck are those bloody hardcore gamers not buying it? They're a very fickle bunch, and even if you do give them what they want, they'll just go find something else to want and whine about instead. Give them new IPs, they'll go looking for HD remakes or ports. Give the remakes/ports and they'll come asking for new IPs. Give em both and they'll want console features. Give em all of those and they'll want it at half the price. Ahaha.

Suffice to say, the Vita is definitely NOT a kid's toy, much like an expensive smartphone or tablet. On the flipside though, maybe that's just how they worded it, but they're actually aiming for the PARENT'S wallets instead.

Yes because it works for Nintendo (Mario, Pokemon, etc). Hell it always works aiming for younger audiences. Why? Because they're the easiest to persuade.

Lol, you're forgetting something. The majority of the people now that are buying those games are the ones that GREW UP ON THEM. Now they are parents, with jobs. And besides, that's where the charm of Nintendo's games are. You see them as cutesy, for kids, but they've got enough in them to attract even adults.

Sony doesn't have anything close to that. That's the problem, I guess. They need to find something their old gamers played, and more importantly, they need to NOT MESS IT UP. But I guess that means they need to make remakes. Or revive old classics. Something like that. I dunno.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Yes indeed. Sony designed the Vita to be answer to every demand out there;

Hey, iPhones are popular, let's add a touch screen.
Hey, social media is hot right now, let's add 3G.
Hey, innovative gameplay is a hit, let's add a gyroscope and back touch pad.
Hey, let's add GPS since most tech have it these days.

In the end, they get confused and fail to reach a niche market.

With all that said and done, Sony made a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Touchscreens are becoming incredibly commonplace on mobile devices. It's just a fact. They're better for multimedia and such.

3G, admittedly I think it's a bit unnecessary on the Vita, but it's used for what 3G is used for plus some. Like they make quite a few Vita games leaderboard-centric so you can constantly compete on-the-go. I actually kinda like it. Mind you I don't have 3G but the Vita has compelled me for the only time in my life to care about leaderboards (Super Stardust Delta).

Gyroscopes are also becoming very commonplace. The back touchpad, again its unnecessary, but it does work very well for some things I'd never have though of.

GPS, um, see the rest of my points.

I don't see how having these things makes them "fail to reach a niche market". Also, since when did people strive to reach niche markets? They're not like Atlus, who makes games pretty much only for a niche market (at least in EU/US). You want to reach a big audience, especially when you're the one making the product.

As for the topic at hand, Sony has acknowledged plenty of times that it wants sales to do better and such. They've put out numerous statements saying "Software is our priority" and "Bundles can help sell it but a price cut may come next year". This is just another article in a long line of samey articles.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

Yes indeed. Sony designed the Vita to be answer to every demand out there;

Hey, iPhones are popular, let's add a touch screen.
Hey, social media is hot right now, let's add 3G.
Hey, innovative gameplay is a hit, let's add a gyroscope and back touch pad.
Hey, let's add GPS since most tech have it these days.

In the end, they get confused and fail to reach a niche market.

With all that said and done, Sony made a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Touchscreens are becoming incredibly commonplace on mobile devices. It's just a fact. They're better for multimedia and such.

3G, admittedly I think it's a bit unnecessary on the Vita, but it's used for what 3G is used for plus some. Like they make quite a few Vita games leaderboard-centric so you can constantly compete on-the-go. I actually kinda like it. Mind you I don't have 3G but the Vita has compelled me for the only time in my life to care about leaderboards (Super Stardust Delta).

Gyroscopes are also becoming very commonplace. The back touchpad, again its unnecessary, but it does work very well for some things I'd never have though of.

GPS, um, see the rest of my points.

I don't see how having these things makes them "fail to reach a niche market". Also, since when did people strive to reach niche markets? They're not like Atlus, who makes games pretty much only for a niche market (at least in EU/US). You want to reach a big audience, especially when you're the one making the product.

As for the topic at hand, Sony has acknowledged plenty of times that it wants sales to do better and such. They've put out numerous statements saying "Software is our priority" and "Bundles can help sell it but a price cut may come next year". This is just another article in a long line of samey articles.

I guess I'm just old fashioned that way.

 

[Lube_Skyballer]

It always thought that the Vita would be better if it were just a "hardcore" handheld.
No fancy thingies like the touchscreen, just regular buttons and analog sticks. Try to conquer the handheld with a "real" handheld. With big budget games (no damn spin-offs of console series), a fantastic screen and amazing (non-touch) although traditional controls.
I would have done this if I were boss at SCE

The Vita possesses al those functions to be a hardcore handheld, more mature handheld. They just need to trim off the excess fat, weighing it down. And have a clear target audience.
So, my tip for Sony; bring out an redesigned Vita without touchpad, 3G, gyroscope and GPS. Be an hardcore handheld aimed at the more mature audiences like the PS1/2/3 did

 

[gamefan5]

In the entire lifespan of the psvita...
I have seen ONE commercial advertisement for it. And i watch TV alot and so do my little brothers, and there has been TONS of 3DS comercials out there.
The vita is in no way a bad system, Sony is just not taking the right measures to market the damn thing.
Like others have said as well, they can release all the kid games they want, parents still wont buy their kids a vita because of the price. I mean, you can go out and buy a 3DS and a couple of games for the same price of just buying the vita alone!
And again, thats still not the biggest problem. Also mentioned before, is why buy a handheld system for a bunch of games you could play on a console, and the flipping console is almost the same price as the handheld???
Dont get me wrong, i understand because I am a handheld gamer, I spend more time on my 3DS then i have spent on my Xbox and Wii combined. I understand wanting to have awesome experiences in the palm of my hand.
But tons of other people do not. They want everything on the big screen, and if they wanna play somthing on a handheld, its to pass the time. And 9/10 times that handheld is their smartphone.

This I agree. They lack severely in the marketing department.

 

[Pleng]

it had incredible games.
And Pokemon.

I'm glad you made the distinction, there

 

[Hadrian]

A handheld device with a screen that DOESN'T have a touchscreen would put some customers off, it pretty much expected that a modern device would have that. People want to put their names and whatever by tapping or writing, not the awkward way we used to with just a controller.

 

[GameWinner]

Sony is well aware of their mistakes but they aren't doing anything like a price cut or whatever else people seem to think.
What they are going for is bundles to help boost the sales.
In my opinion though, going for a younger audience with a system that's $250-$300 may be a little too over the top, while they are an easier market I think parents would think twice before giving their child an expensive piece of hardware and expect them to treat it with care.

 

[gamefan5]

It always thought that the Vita would be better if it were just a "hardcore" handheld.
No fancy thingies like the touchscreen, just regular buttons and analog sticks. Try to conquer the handheld with a "real" handheld. With big budget games (no damn spin-offs of console series), a fantastic screen and amazing (non-touch) although traditional controls.
I would have done this if I were boss at SCE

The Vita possesses al those functions to be a hardcore handheld, more mature handheld. They just need to trim off the excess fat, weighing it down. And have a clear target audience.
So, my tip for Sony; bring out an redesigned Vita without touchpad, 3G, gyroscope and GPS. Be an hardcore handheld aimed at the more mature audiences like the PS1/2/3 did

And so far, what has happened? The same audience that they're tareting aren't interested by it due to the lack of interesting games. They NEED to aim for different audiences. Not just one.

No fancy thingie like a touchscreen? We became so accustomed to having one that most critics and gamers would say that not having one would be absolutely ridiculous.