I'll probably be a little repetitive because of what others have already said but here we go...
Game Library- This is what I find to be the single most important factor when deciding what system I will purchase.
The way the Vita launch line-up is looking now; it's going to be very different than the 3DS launch. The Vita has over 20 games for the North American launch already. Three or four of these titles I do want to play. The Vita is looking a lot stronger than the 3DS' launch. And the Vita is getting Silent Hill! Silent-f'n-Hill!! However, you'll be comparing the Japanese game launch which, to be honest, I haven't looked up their launch games. You'll have to be the judge on that one..
The 3DS, in North America at least, has finally started to build up a nice library which makes it more appealing to prospective buyers (myself included as a new owner). So it really comes down to what the buyer is looking for in game content.
What people will be looking for in the libraries: 3DS- Nintendo's flagship titles (Mario, Zelda, et cetera), family titles that both parents and children can enjoy (like Animal Crossing), and, naturally, there will be some more "mature" titles like Resident Evil and maybe Dementium (if they make the third one, that is).
Vita- People will be considering a Vita for its PS3-esque library. Resistance, Uncharted, etc. Buyers will also be wanting to continue the use of the PSN service and play all of their downloaded titles.
Controls- Portable systems are not comfortable for extended playtime. It's important to make a system as comfortable as possible while managing to keep it as compact as possible.
Battery Life- Personally, not a big issue. I'm not a big gaming-on-the-go type of person. I'll normally have an electrical outlet near me.
Region Encoding or Lack thereof- Region-locking sucks. I don't import too many titles but the more hoops I have to jump through to play that one game that didn't make it to my region is frustrating. That's a positive point for the Vita over the 3DS. As far as I know, it's still region-free.
Hardware Quality- I like systems to be as well built as possible. If you're a parent, you'd especially want a system to be able to hold up to the abuse that some kids (not all kids, mind you, there are responsible children out there) can put game systems through.
Pricing- System prices are now more significant now that the 3DS has had a price drop. I'll more than likely either wait for the Vita to have a price drop or have to start saving some money for the system before I can purchase it.
Game prices are also important. I like games to be as budget-friendly as possible so I normally wait for price drops unless it's a must-play game. I hope these portable prices stay around the 35 to 40 dollar range that they're at now. However, we have Capcom testing the waters with a fifty dollar 3DS game... let's hope they're not successful with their attempt.
--- I guess that's all I have to say... I hope I didn't ramble on too much..
Turns out it's going to be a while before I can post a comparison. I found a new place downtown that I want to live at, and I take possession in <2 weeks so I have to spend most of my free time packing up my crap and throwing stuff away. The new place is really small (only 275 square feet) so I don't have much extra room. Since I can't make the comparison review anytime in the immediate future, I'll post some thoughts here:
Game Library: It's hard to compare this early in the stage, but I have to say that both Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land get really huge thumbs up from me. These are perhaps the best iterations of either series (Mario Kart and 3D Mario). Uncharted Golden Abyss is also fantastic by any standard, and it blows my mind that this is a LAUNCH title. I am also interested to get Minna no Golf 6.
TBH I'm hoping that we get more good quality, small downloadable titles for each system. The big-budget games are great, but on a portable it's also nice to load up something quick that's already on the memory card. I have Chotto Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack) for 3DS, along with the Excitebike 3D remake and the ambassador NES/Gameboy games, and I enjoy them very much.
Playstation Vita is supposed to be getting the upcoming "Playstation Certified" games and while it's all vapourware at this point, I'm looking forward to see what comes out of this. I've always felt like my iPhone and iPad are neat little gaming distractions that suffer horribly from a lack of dedicated controls. If I can get these kind of small cheap games on the Vita (or 3DS), that would be fantastic.
Controls - The 3DS I find a little small, and not as comfortable to play as my DSi XL. And I don't think I have particularly large hands either. The slider pad is a definite winner though, it feels like an analog version of the Neo Geo control pad. I don't have the 2nd analog add-on so I can't comment on that. The PS Vita is larger and therefor more comfortable over longer periods of time. I've played Uncharted for at least an hour or so at a time with absolutely no problems. The dual analog sticks seem small and dainty at first (same with the triangle/square/circle/x buttons) but once you start playing it all feels very natural.
Battery Life - Both systems easily last me throughout the day as long as I remember to charge it at night. But I tend to play in short bursts (20-30 min at a time) so I can't say who is the clear winner. Neither one is going to give you iPad epic battery life however.
Region Coding - PS Vita is the hands-down winner here, by a freakin' landslide. This is an issue that's especially important to me. My 3DS is Japanese, and thanks to region coding I can only play Japanese games on it. I've studied Japanese off and on for about 8 years, so I'm not a noob to the language, and for Mario games etc. Japanese isn't a problem, but I'd hate to slog through an entire RPG full of Japanese text. If I want to play RPGs or something of that nature, my only real choice is to import an American 3DS and have two systems.
The Vita OTOH, the only problem is the '1 account per memory card' rule that prevents me from putting my Canadian and Taiwanese account on the same card. But the system can be set to any language, I can connect to any Playstation Store, and I can plug in a game from anywhere in the world and it works. It really makes the 3DS seem antiquated and behind the times (as the PS3 did with the Wii for the same issue).
Hardware Quality - The durability of both systems seems excellent, and my Vita took a nasty fall from the top of a barstool chair (thanks to my cat) and it didn't have a scratch on it. I guess the winner though would be the 3DS thanks to it's clamshell design. I got the accessory pack that includes a case for the Vita and whenever I throw it in my bag, I put the case on it for piece of mind.
Game Pricing - it's hard for me to comment on game pricing because here in Taiwan most games don't appear to have a set MSRP. The 3DS AFAIK isn't even officially available here so games are just imported (mostly) from Japan and then retailers just charge whatever they think they can get for them. I think some of the Vita games might have an MSRP but you would only see it for that price at places like The Sony Store. The independent shops where I buy all my games from have varying levels of pricing depending on supply and demand. New games are typically in the ballpark of NT$1500-$1800 but they soon drop to below NT$1000 (unless it's a game I REALLY want I refuse to pay more than NT$1000 for a game).
Screen - One other thing I can comment on is the screen. And here I think Vita wins for a few reasons:
1. The screen is big and beautiful. OLED is fantastic, and the big screen makes it comfortable on the eyes even for long sessions. Also, the viewing angles are excellent, which is great because I have some friends who rarely play video games but thoroughly enjoy watching ME play a video game (and unfortunately sometimes be a backseat driver). After playing the Vita, then going back to the 3DS, the screen feels tight and cramped by comparison.
And then there's the 3D effect. While it looks fantastic in a game that's properly programmed for it, and the 3D camera is neat, it has its disadvantages. You need to look directly at the screen, so no one can watch you play the game if they're sitting next to you. Also, many people who I've shown my 3DS to really dislike the 3D and find it completely disorienting. Lastly, I find it difficult to use the 3DS during times when I need to keep an eye on something in the real world. For example, if I need to look up to check what train station we're at. There's always an awkward second when my eyes need to readjust and refocus when I look away from the screen. It's a small thing but it can be aggravating. I know some are saying "but you can turn the 3D effect off!" and I know this, but the screen doesn't look nearly as impressive with the 3D effect off. With 3D on the image looks special, with it off it just looks like a small, low-res Wii screen. Also the widescreen on the top gets dirty because when you close the 3DS, the circle pad and the edges of the touchscreen come in contact with the widescreen.
Overall I think both systems are worth owning. If you guys have any questions just ask me, and I'll do my best to answer them.
360/Wii/GCN/GBA Player/PS3/Famicom AV/DC/PS2/SS/NGCDZ/SFC/N64 NDS/3DS/PSP/iPad/iPhone4/GBM/Firecore MD The Expanded Gamer in Asia Retro http://youtube.com/expgamerinasiaretro
One thing I'd like to read about is a comparison from a casual/core gaming standpoint. It seems like these consoles are making strides to appeal to a variety of gaming habits, but how successful will they really be? Can Vita expand beyond the "big games on the go" image, or 3DS escape the "games for kidz" label? [edit: At this stage, this would really just be conjecture... but it would be interesting to read.]
I'd also like to see a real price comparison. Exactly how much does each system cost after getting all of the basics including one new, notable game? It sounds silly but I really don't know what Vita costs once you add in the "basics"... do you pay for online access or PSN, what are memory cards required for, how will game pricing stack up compared to other (portable and home) consoles, will there be sales or discounts in the near future? I'm more price sensitive than most, and final cost is often the biggest factor when choosing what forms of entertainment to invest in.
Finally, I'd like to see a comparison of both platforms to the predecessors. What improvements did 3DS add over DS/DSi systems? How many changes and improvements did Sony make over their PSP? Maybe this is outside the scope of your review, but it would be helpful for me to see a quick list of what has been changed.
This thread will be more interesting a few more months later.
The PSV doesn't have many games for its Japanese launch. The American launch is expected to have more games, which will make these comparisons more fair.
I'm not planning on getting any handheld any time soon. They're too expensive and both will not have many good games soon.
However, I'll say this, the 3DS may have a head start, but in terms of software there are really only two great games so far; Mario Kart 7 and Mario Land 3DS. I have to agree with the OP that Mario Land 3DS is the best 3D Mario to date (I haven't played Super Mario Galaxy 2 yet). I haven't played Mario Kart 7, but from the looks of it, it seems like it'll be the best one, at its worst...it is still Mario Kart
However, you'll be comparing the Japanese game launch which, to be honest, I haven't looked up their launch games. You'll have to be the judge on that one..
