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While PlayStation Vita remains the portable console of choice for the hardcore gamer, the machine hasn't seen the level of mainstream success Sony would have hoped for, with sales trailing far behind Nintendo's 3DS. This has led to a catch-22 situation where many consumers see little reason to purchase the system owing to lack of software, while publishers have little incentive to produce top-tier titles for the console until the user base grows considerably. That's a real shame considering that the Vita's dual analogue control set-up, high-resolution OLED touch-screen and powerful mobile hardware make it perfect for both big-budget triple-A titles and the smaller indie games that are now making up an ever-increasing share of the system's library. The introduction of the new PlayStation Vita - codenamed PCH-2000 - is Sony's attempt to improve the situation by providing consumers with a more affordable entry-level version of the machine, delivering all of the core features of the platform at a more attractive price point. Naturally, in order to accommodate the reduced cost of the new model the hardware has undergone several alterations: the original's cutting-edge OLED display gets dropped in favour of a more traditional LCD screen, and the console's design sees some dramatic changes, with the new machine being some 20 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than the launch unit. The new model also comes complete with 1GB of built-in memory (used for saving games and smaller PSN downloads) and is said to feature improved battery life, reportedly adding on an extra hours worth of playtime on a full charge.
Currently available only in Japan and retailing for around £160 on import, the new Vita looks like a good deal for those looking for a slimmer and lighter version of the console, but do the changes in screen technology and form factor impact the gameplay experience? Or has Sony pulled off some cunning design wins? Perhaps inevitably, it's a little bit of both.
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