Miyamoto Criticizes the Vita’s Weak Software Lineup
It’s obviously a very hi-spec machine, and you can do lots of things with it. But I don’t really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product.“
Nintendo’s famous face, Shigeru Miyamoto, dropping his thoughts on Edge about Sony’s glossy attempt to win a sizable chunk of the handheld market in the Vita. Shigeru doesn’t just content himself with pissing on the competition and walking away with a smile, though. The game developer takes a moment to compare the 3DS’ failings with the Vita’s current situation, reflecting on what course his company should have taken.
The 3DS launched, similarly to the PS Vita, with a feather light lineup of software titles. Monolithic sellers like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 were no shows despite the company’s scramble to get them out the gate, "We were striving to have all of these ready for the launch, but we weren’t able to deliver them at that time,” according to Miyamoto. “We were kind of hoping that people would, nevertheless, buy into the product, find 3DS hardware promising. But looking back we have to say we realize the key software was missing when we launched the hardware.”
Despite a recent up-spike in sales, the Vita’s financial reception has darted between room temperature and lukewarm since its Japanese debut late last year. Miyamoto’s been in the gaming game for two decades now. It couldn’t hurt to glean some sage advice from the ‘Geru himself, Sony. (Even if his handheld pot is calling your handheld kettle black with that shoddy lineup jab.)