Idealo.Co.Uk Research: Playstation Vita 13% Better Value Than Its PSP Predecessor Submitted By: Idealo Internet Gmbh Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Idealo.co.uk research: Playstation Vita 13% better value than its PSP predecessor Submitted by: Idealo Internet GmbH Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Playstation Vita – How does its $ US launch price compare to other handheld launches? With the imminent release of the Playstation Vita (http://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/2804229/sony-playstation-vita.html) in Europe and North America, price comparison website Idealo.co.uk (http://www.idealo.co.uk) thought it would be interesting to compare the release price of the latest Sony handheld against the most popular releases since the Game Boy in 1989. The latest model from Sony, its first release after the 2005 PSP, is set to be released in the United States on 22nd February at a recommended retail price of $249 (Wifi only model). But how does that compare against other handheld gaming console releases over the past 23 years? To answer this question, Idealo.co.uk used US government CPI inflation data (http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-inflation-rates) from 1989-2012 to assess the US launch price and then account for inflation to allow for comparison with today's prices. The table within the release and as a graphic (see attachment) gives an overview of this Console (release year) ------US $(RRP)------Price inc. inflation '12 (US $) Nintendo Game Boy (1989)------$89.99------$163.24 Sega Game Gear (1990)------$150.00------$258.15 Nintendo Game Boy Color (1998)------$79.95------$110.33 Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999)------$69.95------$94.44 Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2001)------$149.99------$190.61 Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP (2003)------$99.99------$122.24 Nintendo DS (2004)------$149.99------$178.61 Nintendo Game Boy Micro (2005)------$99.00------$114.02 Playstation Portable (2005)------$249------$286.79 Nintendo DS lite (2006)------$129.99------$145.04 Nintendo DSi (2008)------$169.99------$177.60 Nintendo 3DS (2011)------$249.99------$257.99 Playstation Vita (2012)------$249.00------$249.00 Of the handheld consoles analysed by Idealo.co.uk, the Playstation Vita will be the fourth most expensive launch since the Game Boy's launch in 1989. Interestingly, the original Playstation handheld, the PSP, accounting for inflation proved to be at $286.79, over $35 or 13% more than its successor and the most expensive. The Sega Game Gear launched in 1990 at a steep $258.15 (then $150) was the second most expensive and the 2011 3DS was third costliest. Nintendo (http://www.idealo.co.uk/cat/8492/wii-games.html) features very heavily in the list, with over half of all products being attributed to the Kyoto founded company. In contrast to the Sony and Sega, its release prices have been noticeably lower. The main exception being its 2011 launch of the 3DS which was

Page 1 released at a higher launch price than the Vita when accounting for inflation. What does seem clear is the steady rise in the cost of handheld console (http://www.idealo.co.uk/cat/15294/handheld-games-console-games.html) pricing. Three of the most expensive handhelds have been released since 2005, with launch of the Vita and 3DS within 12 months of one another at virtually identical price points. This steady increase in prices is not something confined to handhelds, but consoles in general. The major outlier regarding pricing was the Sega Game Gear. It took another 15 years for a handheld to have a price point of $150, and that ignoring inflation over the aforementioned time frame. Obviously it isn't easy to compare handhelds like for like as they cater to different markets, offer varying degrees of functionality and technology. Nonetheless, at first glance, the Vita doesn't seem to offer bad value for money. Ultimately though, consumer demand for the Vita will decide its success or failure and perhaps answer the most intriguing question of all: have smartphones already taken over the portable gaming market? About Idealo.co.uk: Idealo.co.uk is a UK price comparison website specialising in a vast array of consumer electronics. It has sister-sites comparison sites in Austria, France, Germany and Italy. Email: [email protected]

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