Latest purchases — more handhelds for the collection
All of my recent purchases have finally arrived. I had wanted to dig into the PlayStation Vita family for a while, so I decided to pick up the models I was missing.
PlayStation Vita PCH-1000
First came the PlayStation Vita PCH-1000 — the original model with an OLED display.
PS Vita TV — with a few mishaps along the way
Next I decided to buy a PS Vita TV. I ordered one through Avito delivery for 10,000 rubles. But when the package arrived, I was horrified.
The console had been wrapped in packing tape directly over the original retail box. It looked as if the person packing it had never handled a retro console in their life and considered the box nothing more than disposable junk 👀.
The funniest part is that I had deliberately paid more for a boxed unit so I could later take nice photos for articles.
Instead, I received a box completely smothered in tape — as if the pickup point had plenty of tape but no other packing materials — or sense of responsibility.
I really did not want to, but I had to refuse the delivery. There was simply no clear way to remove all that tape without destroying the box. The seller explained that he had just taken the console to the pickup point and the staff had handled the packaging. Avito ultimately reimbursed him for the full value of the console, while the unit itself, as far as I understood, remained at the pickup point.
Later, while on a business trip, I stopped by a second-hand shop and bought a PS Vita TV in excellent condition.
And it was a complete set.
By the way, while later writing an article about the history of the PS Vita TV, a question came up: is it really impossible to run Sony's flagship Vita game — Uncharted: Golden Abyss — on this console?
It turns out the answer is yes. Sony never adapted many games for PS Vita TV, so they simply will not launch because the system lacks the required sensors and gyroscope. But!
On a modded PS Vita TV, it is absolutely possible to play through Uncharted if you are willing to mess around with plugins and settings.
➡️ Full instructions: How to run and complete Uncharted: Golden Abyss on PS Vita TV
Cartridges and rarities from Japan and China
A package from China also arrived — thanks to Ruslan for helping with it. Inside was a rare Nintendo DS Download Station vol. 19 cartridge.
And another genuine rarity: the Nintendo Power flash cartridge for Game Boy, released by Nintendo itself in Japan. I think this may have been the first flash cartridge for a handheld console.
Oshare Majo Love and Berry: DS Collection
Finally, the cards for Oshare Majo Love and Berry: DS Collection arrived as well.
These cards are used with the HCV-1000 reader, which I already had together with the game. The cards were the only thing missing.
Now I can “dress up my girls” — the game is split into two parts: choosing a fashionable outfit and then playing a rhythm game.
Now that I have the entire PS Vita lineup in hand, I can finally take a proper look at this interesting family — from the portable OLED model to the TV-oriented PS Vita TV.