PS Vita Arrives in Indonesia

Sylviana Hamdani

Indonesia’s avid gamers can finally enjoy a new gaming experience in the palm of their hands. On May 8, Sony Computer Entertainment launched its latest portable video game device, the PlayStation Vita, at an event in fX mall in South Jakarta.

The PS Vita, which debuted in Japan in December 2011, is the successor to Sony’s PlayStation Portable line of handheld game consoles. On the whole, the PSP series, launched in 2004, has sold more than 71 million units globally as of September 2011.

The new PS Vita boasts a whole new suite of advanced technology.

Its 12.7-centimeter OLED screen displays over 16 million colors in 960 x 544 resolution, providing a high-definition, cinema-like gaming experience.

The new device also features two analog sticks, a touchscreen and rear touchpad to allow for easier control within games.

It also supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and optional 3G connections.

“Currently, PS Vita is the highest [standard] portable entertainment system,” said Tetsuhiko Yasuda, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Asia.

“It’s equipped with excellent hardware specifications and a new user interface.”

There have already been 37 games developed and released specifically for the PS Vita system.

“It’s quite a large number for a newly-launched gaming device,” Yasuda said.

The PS Vita games currently available are categorized under action, dancing, fighting, puzzles, sports and strategy.

“With PS Vita, you can experience the PS3 [PlayStation 3] quality gaming experience on the go,” said Mitsuo Hirakawa, games producer at XDev in Liverpool, England.

“It’s a really good gaming device for hardcore gamers, but it’s also very good for casual gamers.”

The PlayStation 3 is the latest home-console gaming device by Sony that features a 3D gaming experience, high-definition display and surround sound.

For PS Vita, Hirakawa created Reality Fighters, a fighting game that uses “augmented reality” features. The technology is enabled through PS Vita’s front and rear 0.3 megapixel cameras.

“The idea is that we picture ourselves in the game,” Hirakawa explained. “We become the main stars of the game.”

You can take pictures of yourself, friends and family members with the camera and then insert them as players in the Reality Fighters virtual world.

“You can take pictures of anyone, even your grandmother, and put them as players in the game,” Hirakawa said laughing.

PS Vita will then create a 3D model for each player. You can customize the gender, physical build, clothing style and voice of the players in the game.

Radio host Ary Kirana, who attended the PS Vita launch, was excited by the prospect of augmented reality.

“This is a breakthrough,” she said. “Finally, we can appear in the game that we’re playing. We can be the heroes.”

You can also create your own fighting arena in Reality Fighters by taking a 360-degree panoramic picture of any location with the PS Vita camera, saving it to the game and inviting your online opponent to meet you there.

“I went to the Empire State Building in New York and projected myself [with the PS Vita camera] from the street-level,” Hirakawa said. “So, I became an 80-meter-tall me, like Godzilla, fighting in Manhattan.”

And when you vanquish your opponent, you can take pictures with PS Vita and share those winning moments with friends. The new gaming device is connected with social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

“Playing games on your own is fun,” Hirakawa said. “But it’ll be more fun to share them with your friends.”

For now, Sony only offers the PS Vita’s Wi-Fi model in Indonesia.

“The 3G model is definitely coming soon,” Yasuda assured.

The PS Vita Wi-Fi model is priced at Rp 3,399,000 ($370) by itself, Rp 3,899,000 if accompanied by the ModNation Racers: Road Trip game, and Rp 3,999,000 with the Uncharted: Golden Abyss game included.

“Quality is more important than quantity,” Yasuda said. “It’s more important for us that every customer is satisfied with the new product than to sell as many units as possible to the market.”

PS Vita games can be downloaded from the Internet or purchased at Sony stores in Indonesia, where they range from Rp 71,000 to Rp 499,000 each.

“The customers are paying so much for the game,” said Hirakawa, the producer of Reality Fighters. “But they’ll get value [for their money]. They’ll enjoy so many hours of game play, beautiful display and great quality of sound effects with PS Vita.”

The new PS Vita and its games are now available at Sony stores in Indonesia.