A post on Joystiq from last night reports that Sony stores across the United States have dropped the price of the PlayStation Vita by a hundred bucks. The price has gone from $299.99 to $199.97 for a bundle including the 3G-enabled model, which also comes with an 8GB memory card (usually retails for $29.99) and a voucher for a free PSN game with the purchase of a data plan.

The post reports that nearly every location that was called for the story (that was still open as the story went to press) had the price lowered at their store, with some saying the drop was permanent, and others saying the sale would only be on for a limited time. One employee said that the 3G model was being discontinued, which accounted for the sale. Meanwhile, other locations hadn’t heard anything about the sale—so, you know, that’s pretty weird.

Even stranger is the fact that when Sony announced last month that they’d be reducing the price of the Vita in Japan, they said about a day or so later that the price of the handheld console in other territories around the world would stay right where it was. Days after the system’s price dropped in Japan, sales of the system quintupled—that means that it sold five times as many as it had a week before.

So is this drop merely a precursor to a more widespread, official price cut? Is this sort of a pilot program to see how quickly the cheaper consoles move? Or is the 3G version simply being phased out, and as such, being shoved out the door before they can’t sell any?

How low would the price have to drop for you to get one? The system is great. Its lack of amazing, must-have games—not as much.

Via Joystiq

A post on Joystiq reveals a sneaky little sneak-move pulled by Sony and AT&T regarding the PlayStation Vita 3G bundle that offered a free month’s worth of data service as well as a free download of Super Stardust Delta.

Apparently, upon activating the 3G service, they ask you to pay.

Wait, what?

It’s true. According to the post, you’ll get the free month of service after your first month is up, which you’ve got to shell out the cash for. And that free download for Super Stardust Delta? That’ll show up “30 days after your DataConnect Pass activation.”

You know what that is? That is some kinda garbage.

This makes me super-glad I didn’t go for that bundle, or the 3G model at all. Yesterday I tested out tethering my Vita to my cell phone (you know, that thing that I already pay to have connected to the internet with a data plan)—it works like a charm. And because my cell phone gets 4G service, it’s potentially faster than any stinky ol’ 3G would’ve been.

Sony—c’mon. This is a chump’s game. Cut it out.

Via Joystiq

If anything is evident on this blog, it’s the fact that the PlayStation Vita hasn’t been selling like hotcakes over in Japan. In fact, they’ve just recently surpassed the 500,000 sale marker, a clear indication that units aren’t flying off shelves.

Interestingly enough, Sony still wants you to buy a Vita. Go figure.

In what’s likely the interest of sales, Sony has crafted a 3G Vita bungle that includes a handful of freebies at no extra cost. Specifically, GameStop and Amazon have both listed a $300 PlayStation Vita 3G bundle that includes the system, an 8GB memory card, an AT&T Data Connect Session Pass and a free PlayStation Network game.

What the PSN game voucher is for is still shrouded in mystery, as it could be for a certain selection of games, or applicable across all launch titles. Additionally, the Data Connect Session pass allots one free month of 250mb 3G service from AT&T.

Not a bad deal, not at all, especially considering those atrocious memory card prices. Does this persuade you into buying a 3G Vita?

If so, preorders for the bundle are available now at both GameStop and Amazon. If you’re still on the fence, check out our in-depth preview of the system.

[via IGN]