Sony puts a PlayStation Vita in every GAME and Gamestation

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 27 January, 2012

And sends every store manager one.

Sony has put a PlayStation Vita in every GAME and Gamestation shop in an effort to get the console in gamers' hands before launch.

On top of that, in the coming weeks 150 stores will get a dedicated Vita Interactive Display Unit. Every store manager in every GAME and Gamestation has been sent a PS Vita so they know what it's all about and can pass that message on to customers.

Sony brings the PlayStation Vita Room, currently open in Glasgow, to London next month. A venue is yet to be confirmed, but it opens on 17th February and will stay open through to the Vita's 22nd February launch.

Demos of WipEout 2048, Uncharted Golden Abyss, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Reality Fighters, Little Deviants and Everybody's Golf are available.

"PlayStation Vita is an amazing piece of technology - but the very best way to make people realise this, is by putting it in their hands. The beauty and clarity of the 5 inch OLED screen, the ergonomic design with the dual analogue joysticks, the interaction of the rear touch panel, all come emphatically to life." said Fergal Gara, Vice President and Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK.

"With our own Vita Rooms and now, with this opportunity for consumers to sample PS Vita in any of GAME or Gamestation's 600 specialist retail stores, the excitement can only continue to build."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 3 weeks ago

  • cowell #1 4 weeks ago

    Cue anti-GAME posting

  • threemoh #2 4 weeks ago

    @cowell Bloody GAME! *shakes fist*

  • CallousB #3 4 weeks ago

    Good move...although the display models will probably be destroyed in a week.

    I have yet to see a 3DS demo unit in any store in my area (busted up or otherwise).

  • Jay-ITFC #4 4 weeks ago

    Clever move by Sony.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #5 4 weeks ago

    Well, that'll keep the store managers entertained after their imminent redundancy as high street games retail goes belly up.

  • linksdad #6 4 weeks ago

    Cheaper than a price cut, but will it have anywhere near the same effect?

    Time will tell...

  • cheeky-sod #7 4 weeks ago

    Hate GAME. Worst store ever, and even worse customer service.

  • jamielfc25 #8 4 weeks ago

    I'll do what I usually do. Go in, play it, buy it off the internet for less.

  • alexbulluk #9 4 weeks ago

    Cool, I like being able to try out stuff before I buy it (although I would buy it either way lol)

  • miiiguel #10 4 weeks ago

    It's interesting to realise this image problem Game has is global, here Game employees are also, generaly, annoying midle-class suburban kids who try their best to show they don't need the job, and they couldn't care less.

  • GamesConnoisseur #11 4 weeks ago

    Bought Resident Evil: Revelations with Circle Pad Pro today from Game, in my defence, I popped in two independent Game Stores first, but unfortunately both didn't have the add on in stock. However, saw big Vita display running Uncharted Video on screen this morning, isn't this the same thing?

    Big blue bold cabinet with Vita, though I didn't bother to check it up as was dashing about. I preordered Vita elsewhere anyway.

  • TheNonk #12 4 weeks ago

    Would have been better off putting a demo unit in every Tesco store

  • super_monty #13 4 weeks ago

    I have never met anyone in Game who actually play games, they might think it's a toaster.

  • IXSpAcEMoNkEyXI #14 4 weeks ago

    I wonder If Sony included memory cards with these...hehe...otherwise Game and Gamestation will pass on the scandal to consumers. Telling them they need to buy another piece of kit so it can actually work (expensive piece too). Great marketing there. *applause* (Comon Sony...cut the consumer a break!)

  • Lucodeath #15 4 weeks ago

    How about they send me one.

  • Whitster #16 4 weeks ago

    Hmm, I shall have to visit my old Gamestation in town tomorrow and have a butchers. Maybe my old manager can be convinced to part with his a little early?

  • Po1ymorph #17 4 weeks ago

    I remember playing Tomb Raider on PS1 in a store, that definitely helped sway my decision to buy one. From what I have read regarding the Vita this can only be a good thing for Sony.

    Still wont be getting one myself. Need to buy a PS3 first to play The Last Guardian, when it's released.

  • FladgeMangle #18 4 weeks ago

    To be fair, the staff in my local GAME are a nice, friendly bunch. Just regular people with bills to pay and they all seem to like games. So let's not be too harsh on the staff.

  • deez #19 4 weeks ago

    I'll pop by to take a look as it's always a chance to get a few street passes in.

  • INSOMANiAC #20 4 weeks ago

    What about independent games shops? wheres my free Vita??????

  • Whitster #21 4 weeks ago

    @MENTAL1ST I'm a little disgusted about how many people on this site are happy about the prospect of people becoming unemployed!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #22 4 weeks ago

    @Whitster I didn't say I was happy about it, just that it is inevitable.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/12 @ 16:25

  • markyHD #23 4 weeks ago

    @Whitster

    At what point did he say he was happy about it? He stated what appears to be an inevitable scenario based of their last fiscal figures

    Anyway, looking forward to seeing on up close in game, hopefully before all those gregg's eating sausage fingered little bitches have got their grubby claws on it
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/12 @ 16:24

  • cowell #24 4 weeks ago

    @JAGUARCD32x

    GAME and Gamestation store managers tend to get a free console most launches. Its one of the few perks of the job

  • simsini #25 4 weeks ago

    Hopefully I'll be able to demo one before some scrote has scratched the screen beyond belief.

  • repeater #26 4 weeks ago

    Sony has put a PlayStation Vita in every GAME and Gamestation shop in an effort to get the console in gamers' hands before launch.
    Do you know if this is true outside of the UK as well?

  • Stepharneo #27 4 weeks ago

    I assume this is to stop what happens in my local gamestation where the staff are such raging xbox fanboys that they were bitching about how shit the console was was as they were packaging it up for me. Then later they mocked me for getting the ps3 version of Final Fantasy 13 for PS3 over the 360 one (note I ONLY buy online now even if there is a good deal in store). Frankly they are a bunch of raging cock swabs.

  • NotSoSlim #28 4 weeks ago

    <quote>IXSpAcEMoNkEyXI wrote:
    I wonder If Sony included memory cards with these...hehe...otherwise Game and Gamestation will pass on the scandal to consumers. Telling them they need to buy another piece of kit so it can actually work (expensive piece too). Great marketing there. *applause* (Comon Sony...cut the consumer a break!)</quote>

    Well every Game and Gamestation bundle comes with a memory card so its irrelevant really.

    Shopto should follow suit

  • RGDfleet #29 4 weeks ago

    @jamielfc25 comment of the week for me xD nailed it!

  • des #30 4 weeks ago

    300 sold(shipped) confirmed.

  • irrelevanthuman #31 4 weeks ago

    Perhaps the GAME where I live is an exception, but the staff there certainly know their gaming onions and are perfectly courteous. Be nice to be able to give the Vita a go anyway.

  • 00.00.01 #32 4 weeks ago

    @repeater
    Let's hope so...but since the UK is host to a good number of SCE's European business units al lot of the goodies stick there... *jealous*

  • Dizzy #33 4 weeks ago

    Post deleted at 17:49:21 27-01-2012

  • TooOldToGame #34 4 weeks ago

    Post deleted at 10:45:50 22-02-2012

  • UKwoods #35 4 weeks ago

    I think it's a little harsh to bash Game staff. Most of them are just college kids trying to get a few quid together so they can go out on the lash once in a while. The managers however, tend to be guys in their late 20's who still live with their mothers and get off on bossing teenage girls around. I used to work at Electronic Boutique (in 2001) before Game took it over, and it was a good laugh.

  • Arwin #36 4 weeks ago

    It fits nicely with their attempt to beat the PSP launch in the UK, but I still doubt they'll manage it. Hope so, but doubt it.

  • threemoh #37 4 weeks ago

    @irrelevanthuman It does seem to be massively changeable- when Ghost Trick came out, I had quite a nice chat with the manager of my local GAME, and his staff are generally quite pleasant.

    Couldn't tell you if they know their stuff, by simple virtue of the fact that I generally don't ask many questions when I'm there, but as far as I'm concerned I can't really complain about the service.

    @TooOldToGame Smaller pubs seem to be taking indies more seriously recently. The newest Disgaea's (I think) special edition was indie-exclusive.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/12 @ 19:02

  • PeacockDreams #38 4 weeks ago

    I dont like Game, but i love Gamestation! Im so glad there not linked in anyway...

  • darkmorgado #39 4 weeks ago

    Given my experience of GAME, most manager will wonder why theyve been sent a tv remote in the post without a tv.

  • mastablasta #40 4 weeks ago

    Still not buying one until they drop the price.

  • funkateer #41 4 weeks ago

    FWIW, I think Sony made one huge mistake with the Vita, and that's the mandatory expensive proprietary memory card thing.
    They really should have included some internal flash memory.

  • Mchief22 #42 4 weeks ago

    @cheeky-sod I know what you mean, I went down to the store earlier when I heard about this, to see if they had a vita in store yet. They didn't! But when I asked the store clerk if they had one he looked at me as if I had two f*%#king heads.
    Apparently the manager had the vita at home :-(

  • steveb07 #43 4 weeks ago

    I'll have a play. Remember trying a 3DS last year in Toysrus and being totally underwhelmed. I don't expect this to happen with the Vita

  • ajaxpliskin #44 4 weeks ago

    I bought a second hand game from Gamestation once. I got home and the disc was scratched to hell and even had weird colours of residue dried on to it. I took it back and the store manager moaned at me for returning it and told me that this is the kind of thing I should expect from buying second hand games.

    What a gaggle of c***s.

  • BritishBlue1 #45 4 weeks ago

    @Stepharneo
    Funny you should mention that, I was berated by my own postman for buying the PS3 version of New Vegas

  • onezeonx #46 4 weeks ago

    @whiityp why buy one at all??

    Don't want Sony robbing you of any money now do we...

    I'll gladly let them "rob" me on the 22nd Feb

  • Ando11 #47 4 weeks ago

    Just to clarify, the PS Vita that is sent to all GAME stores is both the demo for the public and the managers one. Its the 3G model with a 16GB card with six FULL game downloads of the titles mentioned in the article, which are downloaded via a PS3 with a code. Had a little go, Welcome Park is really good, great use of the touch screen and rear panel!

  • Sasuke_on_drugs #48 4 weeks ago

    Had a play with one today at the game in hull seems like a pretty sweet piece of hardware but i will withhold judgement still the software is a little more mature

  • cw- #49 4 weeks ago

    The store managers getting a console is nothing new, they've been getting each console for free for years. But it usually stays with that stores manager, if they move to another store they're supposed to hand it onto the new manager.. if I remember correctly.

  • cw- #50 4 weeks ago

    @UKwoods GAME didn't take over EB...

    EB's name was a franchise from the US, EB(UK) bought GAME, and when the licence to use the name EB ran out, EB re-branded to GAME, but it was still EB.. not the other way around.

    Then a few years later, the US EB came over with their own stores and GAME bought Gamestation.


    @BritishBlue1 How does your postman know what's in your post! He opening it before delivering it? :p

  • KrazyFace #51 4 weeks ago

    Glad to hear this as the last time I enquired about the Vita's launch price (which was around the time the boxes started appearing on shelves) I was told by Gamestation staff not to worry about getting a Vita as it's "just the same as the Sony Phone, only without it being as useful as a phone".

    Shocked at the general lack of knowledge from the staff that are supposed to be gamers, I never bothered to ask anyone in Gamestation anything ever again. Even with one in their hands, will they understand it? Remember, we're talking about managers here and they always seem to be the LEAST informed people in ANY shop.

  • NotSoSlim #52 4 weeks ago

    <quote>whiityp wrote:
    Wont make a blind bit of difference to me.

    I still ain't buying PS Vita WIFI version until they cut the price down. £230 = NO WAY!

    Also the memory cards are a bloody rip off aswell as the actual games themselves. WTH!

    I'll happily stick with Nintendo and my 3DS for now thank you.

    YOUR NOT RIPPING ME OFF SONY!</quote>

    Do you even know what rip off means?

    Console is not a rip off as everyone was cheering when price was announced. Memory cards are the issue.

    Even worse are people saying game prices are expensive when they are near identical to 3ds prices give or take

  • cynical #53 4 weeks ago

    Dropped by my local GAME shop in Brighton and one of the guys demo'd the vita using his own that he'd recently purchased from Japan. He was happy enough for me to try it out and I was very impressed.

    I had a play on Virtua Tennis 4 (which graphically was pretty amazing) and a bit of Blazblue (at least I think that's what it was!) Switching between menus and games was seamless and very responsive, and the load times were not bad at all from what I saw. I was told that hard copies of games seem to load quicker than their download counterparts.

    Not a day 1 sale unless I'm able to get it for less than £200 (which certainly seems possible since Amazon France already have it at that price), but definitely a sale.

  • Bonders99 #54 3 weeks ago

    Went to our local Game yesterday with my son. The manager was very well clued up about the vita. Even though it was on charge he let us play around with it. Have to say the screen is incredible, on-line videos do not do it any justice. The only thing he couldn't answer was if the 3G version would come "unlocked" to be able to use any network sim cards. Vodafone are the preferred Sony partners. Does anyone know if other network sims can be used ?

  • addugg #55 3 weeks ago

    Great stuff Sony.

    You can give the tossers at GAME consoles, who by the way will trade them first chance they get, but you can't manage to get one for my site?

    I see how it is!

  • NotSoSlim #56 3 weeks ago

    <quote>Bonders99 wrote:
    Went to our local Game yesterday with my son. The manager was very well clued up about the vita. Even though it was on charge he let us play around with it. Have to say the screen is incredible, on-line videos do not do it any justice. The only thing he couldn't answer was if the 3G version would come "unlocked" to be able to use any network sim cards. Vodafone are the preferred Sony partners. Does anyone know if other network sims can be used ?</quote>

    It is unlocked mate. Probably reason why we have no 3G bundles like US do as there one is locked

  • zedzee #57 3 weeks ago

    I suspect that these will not be in every store - that's too many - and the manager units will probably only come out when someone asks for the demo. Didn't see one on display at my local GAME shop - just some posters...