Playstation Vita Bundle Shuffle

PS Vita First Edition Bundle (as originally announced on Oct. 27th, 2011)

October, 27th 2011 was when Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) announced the Playstation Vita First Edition bundle through their site, Playstation.Blog. For a limited time in the U.S. and Canada, the PS Vita First Edition bundle will be pre-sold at select retail locations, starting the 27th of October 2011. The U.S. bundle includes a PS Vita 3G + Wi-Fi model, a limited edition case, 4GB PS Vita Memory Card, and Little Deviants game for $349.99 (MSRP). The Canadian bundle includes a Wi-Fi model, a limited edition case, 4GB PS Vita Memory Card, and Little Deviants game for $299.99 (MSRP). In addition, you can pick up the PS Vita First Edition bundle on February 15, 2012 one week before the PS Vita’s official release date. After all is said and done, we were left with a not too shabby offer.

SCEA apparently could not leave well enough alone. We arrive to Jan. 27th, 2012 three months after (to the very day) the announcement of the afore-mentioned PS Vita First Edition bundle, to yet another announcement by SCEA via the Playstation.blog. A new PS Vita bundle stood on stage and with the announcement came down the curtains, revealing a Special Launch Day PS Vita 3G/WiFi bundle. This “extremely” (we will see) limited edition PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi bundle includes in addition to the PS Vita hardware, a 8GB PS Vita Memory Card, an AT&T DataConnect Pass and a PlayStation Network game for $299 (MSRP). Oh, and that AT&T DataConnect Pass and the Playstation Network game bonus just announced for the Special Launch edition, lets also throw it into the First Edition bundle announced back in Oct. 27th, 2011. As it was also announced through the Playstation.Blog by SCEA the bonus is making its way into their previous First Edition bundle as well.

PS Vita Special Launch Edition

Sony is stepping all over its own toes here in this one. Okay lets add perspective. Their First Edition Bundle Includes a 3G/WiFi Vita, a case, a 4GB memory Card ($20 value), the Little Deviants game ($30 value), an AT&T DataConnect Pass (250 MB, valued at $15), an unspecified PSN game, and comes out a week early on Feb. 15th 2012 for $349.99 (MSRP). In comparison the Special Launch Edition bundle includes a 3G/WiFi Vita, an 8 GB memory card ($30 value), an AT&T DataConnect Pass (250 MB, valued at $15), an unspecified PSN game, and releases on Feb. 22nd, 2012 for $299 (MSRP).

The PS Vita First Edition bundle’s appeal, in regards to its packaged value seems to have been made null & void with the announcement of the PS Vita Special Launch Edition bundle when you consider the $50 you have left after your Special Launch edition purchase. With which you can still get the case for the PS Vita (a $20 value), and Little Deviants (a $30 value) or maybe something else. Making both bundles almost identical. Yes the First Edition bundle releases a week before the Special Launch Edition bundle; however, you get double the memory with the Special Edition bundle. Its your call, get double memory and $50 worth of options with the Special Launch Edition PS Vita, or get the First Edition bundle that contains one half the memory available with the Special Launch Edition bundle, less choices and a week early release date that will basically cost most consumers at least $20 once they realize they actually need the extra 4GB of memory included in the PS Vita Special Launch Edition bundle. The decision is ultimately yours as the consumer, but if you want more bang for your buck I find the PS Vita Special Launch Edition my bundle of choice.

Playstation.Blogs Sid (Left), Me (right)