3DS currently outselling Vita by 46 to 1 in Japan

Yet the Vita still has the better games. :)

What better games are you talking about? Because as a owner of both, I want to know what they are instead of letting it collect dust until persona gets here. Heck going by Metacritic, 3DS has more games with positive scores then Vita games that have any score, by no stretch of the imagination does Vita have better games. Vita scores: http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/new-releases/vita/metascore?view=condensed&hardware=all V.S. 3DS scores: http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/available/3ds/metascore?view=condensed&hardware=all

As an owner of both also ( infact I own two 3DS' and one Vita) maybe you should check out Uncharted:GA, Everybody's Golf, MGS HD Collection, Escape Plan, NFS Most Wanted, Gravity Rush, Virtua Tennis to name but a few, let alone all the PSOne compatible games. I haven't touched my 3DS' since the admittedly excellent Resi Revelations, and before then the only decent game was Mario 3D. I love how you've based your ideology of decent games on Metacritic scores. Bit of a non entity that. Zelda was given a good review, yet it's probably the most overrated game of the past 10 years. Bland, uninteresting environments and gameplay may have been the norm 13 years ago when it was released, but to rate it so highly in this generation shows that reviewers should remove their rose tinted specs(and stop taking back handers). The 3DS store is also extremely poor compared to the Vita's store both in diversity and, more importantly, value for money. I don't think I need to divulge any further in that respect. Thankfully I've never bought in to the shovelware scenario that Ninty are now relying on. I suppose you could consider the 3DS as a half decent system if you enjoy games with little to no depth but, as it rests, the Vita outperforms it not just technically, but with what games are on offer already in what should be considered it's infancy.

Uncharted: GA was okay. I have absolutely not the tiniest interest in Everybody's Golf nor Virtua Tennis. I already have Snake Eater 3D on my 3DS, and I'm not really interested in MGS 2. Besides, it lacks the HD release of Peace Walker. I haven't played NFS: Most Wanted, but also, it's a racing game, so not much interest there. I haven't played Escape Plan and, admittedly, I may like it, but it doesn't seem to have gotten the warmest reception. The only Vita games I've completed and enjoy are Gravity Rush and LittleBigPlanet PSV, with enjoyment from Rayman Origins which I haven't finished, and, honestly, is a multi-platform release that is probably better on other systems than on the Vita. Meanwhile, on the 3DS, I have 9 games (Kid Icarus, Kingdom Hearts, Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart, MGS: Snake Eater, Resident Evil Revelations, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Super Mario 3D Land), with my money already lying in wait to buy Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask and Paper Mario: Sticker Star, and that is ONLY counting games that are already out (but also out of stock from the shops here where they're the cheapest). Meanwhile, how is bringing up PSOne games an argument? That's idiotic. First of all, they're games for a system that's two generations old, and not everyone wants to play older games. When people buy a new SYSTEM, they usually buy it for its own games, y'know. Just sayin'. And besides, it was already a thing with the PSP. Now, if they got PS2 emulation on the Vita, that'd be something, but still. Backwards compatibility isn't really a very prominent argument for a gaming console. As a last note, yes, I do agree with the 3DS store. Vita has a lot of what the PSN had previously had to offer, while the 3DS store has a very limited selection and the prices are stupidly high, but I don't use it. I just use my 3DS to play the games I buy from retail shops, though I guess it is one con for the system, yes. Also, I've finished all of my 3DS games, except for Ocarina of Time. I have to agree that it feels kind of dated and it's not my favourite 3DS game. All in all, I'm not saying you're wrong, and I'm right, but I'm saying that the Vita doesn't objectively have the better games, which is the tone you came in with. It's especially true if you consider that the Vita is technically more powerful and definitely more of a multimedia powerhouse, while the 3DS is mostly coasting on the appeal of its games, which, y'know, the market has responded to, showing that the 3DS has a demonstrably "better" game selection. So whichever game library you consider better is your opinion, but neither of them are objectively better.

'Subjectively' better, the Vita is. You consider Theatrhythm, Kid Icarus and Super Mario Bros. 2 more interesting than Everybody's Golf, MGS HD and NFS Most Wanted. Whereas I don't. I also don't consider mentioning PSOne games 'idiotic' at all. They may be two gens old, but there are many gamers of a new generation that have never played PSOne titles. Being able to now play them on a handheld, with a crisp OLED screen gives them a new lease of life - and many titles put games of this generation to shame in depth of storyline and playability. Personally I don't see a need for PS2 BC. I have a couple of original 60GB Fatboys for that purpose. If a decent RPG such as Dragon Quest X gets a western release for the 3DS, then I may charge it up and use the thing, but again the Vita will be getting used more with Persona 4 Golden, and Phantasy Star Online when it hits these shores.

When the 'Legend of Zelda: Shrimp Shield' finally comes out on the 3DS it's going to seal the deal.

Persona 4: Golden is a killer app. An untraceable serial murderer, even. If only the public could see that! IF ONLY PERSONA WAS MAINSTREAM. Killer app here defined as AMAZING RIDICULOUS SYSTEM SELLING GAME.

Anybody who hasn't pre-ordered Persona 4: Golden by now is a bumbling doofus. And since that disheartening figure represents almost one hundred percent of the earth's population, it should be used as an indicator of society's inevitable fall by sociologists fifty years into the future trying to rebuild the human race. Sociologists who DID BUY Persona 4: Golden.

P4G has been out in Japan for a while now and Vita saw a huge spike when that and Miku were released the problem is that you can buy P4 on PS2 without the extras and there have been plenty of Miku elsewhere. At this point I doubt even Monster Hunter could save them since 4 is already coming to 3DS which has a much better overall line up, Vita is already dead which is sad to say because I bought mine day one expecting more out of it.

I'm afraid that's not what killer app generally means. Killer app generally refers to a game that singlehandedly can sell a large amount of hardware. They are usually very good, but not necessarily so. As for Persona 4, I don't doubt its quality. However, I don't want to spend $300 just to play a port of a PS2 game. Especially when I can pick up said PS2 game for $20.

I was so worried about being a bumbling doofus that I immediately went out and pre-ordered it. Then I realised I don't own a vita...

i'm still playing my GBA SP... companies need to realize that having mindblowing console-quality graphics on a handheld isn't really what people want. sure it might be nice, but if the games still suck, then no go. having owned only an N64 and a gamecube the last 2 conosle generations, i got used to envying the games coming out on the PS1 and 2. not once have i felt envious of a single game coming out for the PSP or vita. how can that be? where's all the games?

Yeah I'm not really surprised...

I'm still mystified as to how this has happened. The 3DS is a novelty at best, whereas the Vita is practically a fully-blown console you can take around with you. I guess the Nintendo fans seriously love them some Mario. Oh and the actual 3D on the 3DS is awful, and gave me a headache after only a couple of minutes of playing.

This has happened for several reasons. 1. The 3DS has more killer apps. Since launch in Japan, it has had a 3D Mario, a 2D Mario, Mario Kart, a Monster Hunter, and now Animal Crossing. The Vita, in contrast, does not have any huge games yet in Japan. 2. Moderate hits. The 3DS has had a surprising number of games that, although not huge, have been moderate successes, to fill out the library enough for the hardcore. Nintendogs, Mario Tennis, Kid Icarus, Fire Emblem, Pokemon Rumble Blast, and Ocarina of Time 3D fall into this category, but so does Dragon Quest Monsters 3, Inazuma Eleven, Professor Layton, Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil: Revelations, Bravely Default, Samurai Warriors, and Harvest Moon. The only Vita games of this calibre so far have been Hatsune Miku and Persona 4. 3. The 3DS is cheaper. Factoring in the cost of a small memory card, the Vita costs about $100 more than the 3DS. 4. Sony's first party offerings to the Japanese public, like Uncharted, are simply not that popular in Japan. The only REALLY popular IP Sony has in Japan is Gran Turismo, which we haven't even heard rumors of coming to the Vita yet. 5. The 3DS XL is a popular option among a lot of people, simply because it has a better battery life than any other 8th gen portable. 6. PSP migration. Developing games for the Vita is significantly more expensive than making PSP games. The 3DS, however, has similar development costs as the PSP. Therefore, you have companies that abandoned the PlayStation boat for the 3DS family, simply because they couldn't afford Vita development. This is most apparent with Monster Hunter 4, but is also possibly why Kingdom Hearts 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Dead or Alive: Dimensions are 3DS games instead of Vita ones. Sure, maybe they would sell better on the Vita. Maybe. But they'd have to spend more to even make those games. 7. Future. Currently, the 3DS has a bright future ahead. Major games of 2013 include Monster Hunter 4, Dragon Quest 7, Ace Attorney 5, Luigi's Mansion, and probably Pokemon too. The Vita has the unproven Soul Sacrifice and... possibly Final Fantasy X HD, if it hasn't been cancelled. 8. 3D. Despite your problems with 3D, people honestly do appreciate and enjoy it. In retrospect, the real question isn't "Why is the 3DS crushing the Vita?" It's "Why shouldn't the 3DS be crushing the Vita?"

1. I don't consider those to be "killer apps". Mario games have had the same formula for years, and the franchise is more stagnant than Call of Duty. Monster Hunter I've never played, but would if it was on Vita, or PS3, and if I wanted to play Animal Crossing I'd get a Gamecube. 2. I'm not disputing the hits, I even played Resident Evil. It's just that all of those series have built-in fanbases that are huge in Japan, and while Vita does have better *quality* games, they're more popular among Western audiences, as you said. 3. Cheaper, yes, but I'd expect that seeing as the Vita has a ton more features. You may disagree with this, but I just see the 3DS as a DS on steroids, and not worthy of the added price. 4. Yeah, I'll give you that one. But the tables would probably swing if say, Monster Hunter was released on the Vita. I'd be willing to bet sales would spike massively. 5. Don't really know what to say to this, as battery life doesn't concern me. I'd still go for the Vita, even if it has a lesser battery life. 6. The same thing happened with the PS3, and it's much more successful now. Developers just need to realise the potential of releasing a killer app like Kingdom Heats or Resi on the Vita. That's their own fault, not Sony's. 7. I don't know about the Vita's future game-wise, but I'd say Sony will give it a massive push come E3 2013. Oh, I just looked at Vita's supposed upcoming games, and it looks pretty good. Shin Megami Tensei, Sly Cooper, Killzone, and presumably still Bioshock. That's not a list to sniff at. 8. You may have gotten me wrong there, I love 3D. I constantly argue it's benefits to anyone who'll listen, as seeing films like Avatar, Tintin and Hugo in 3D were some of the best cinema experiences I've ever had. The difference is, those things have *good* 3D, whereas the 3DS's is very poorly done, at least in my opinion. The range is terrible and requires a far too long adjustment period, after which you instantly get a headache. So I'd disagree with "Why shouldn't the 3DS be crushing the Vita?" To me it's more "Why are people not seeing the benefits and clear advantages it has over the 3DS?"

This is the worst rebuttal I've ever read.

Yeah. All I read out of it was "I don't agree with the 3DS' appeal and I think everyone should agree with me". 1. No. No one cares what system you'd get for what, or what you think has stagnated. People like the games better than the horrible shit Vita has put out so far (for the most part). 2. What? I lost you there somewhere half-way through, but. Uhm. Uhh. Most of the games he listed are better than almost anything on the Vita, so, yeah, bananas. 3. And the PS Vita isn't a PSP on steroids? Ell oh ell. 4. Too bad that's not reality. Would, could, should. 5. "Everybody think the same way as me because of reasons." 6. Too bad it's hard to realize something's potential in game sales when it's being outsold by its competitor 46 to 1. 7. Oh? You WOULD say they will give it a massive push? That is absolutely delightful, sir. Good on you. Also, "Shin Megami Tensei, Sly Cooper, Killzone"? What was that before? "Mario games have had the same formula for years, and the franchise is more stagnant than Call of Duty"? Because those are all going to be revolutionary groundbreakers, especially as they're all just new installments in a franchise? I mean, wow. Killzone? Really? REARRY?! 8. Well, no argument there. I fucking hate the 3D on the 3DS, and I just use it as a regular 2D-screened portable console. All in all, I do have to end this by saying that I do have a Vita, but it's kind of disheartening to spend 260 euros getting one, and then letting it sit in my room, collecting dust for so long, and I do think that this kind of "let's justify everything about the Vita even though it's failing in a lot of very significant ways" attitude is poisoning the Vita and its future. At the very least someone needs to get that delusional attitude out of Sony, because they don't seem to really be doing much to help their situation.

LOL sony need to give up their dream... they lost the handheld war before it started

I really want to love the Vita, but I just can't justify buying one for 3 reasons: * No internal storage (what were you thinking Sony?!?!?) * Not enough apps (I want an all-in-one-tablet-like device that's mainly for gaming). Vita's app support is still not up to snuff. * Not enough sales. This sounds weird, but as a late adopter, I want the system to be selling a lot of units so that I know more stuff is going to be made for it down the road. I could probably overlook all of these if it had internal storage...