Hey all. Thought I'd share my experience of trying to setup my new PSVita. Maybe it'll answer some questions others have, maybe not.
So, first part was working out what went where... yeah, that could have been easier. Those pictures of where stuff goes really need clarification. First thoughts was I was missing an adapter when trying to work out where to stick the memory card when I opened the game card slot instead. Lacking a full manual and only the quick start guide to go on with no full overview of what everything is didn't help.
Finally got it all plugged in and turned on. Basic setup was fairly painless after that.
Wifi got sorted out in minutes with a few lookups for network name and password, but nothing overly difficult.
Went through the Welcome pack... nice little games that could be quite addicting.
Thought I'd look at the PS Market... oh, need a sotware update... k can do that...
Hmm downloaded and installed fine then went back to playing some of the welcome pack games.
Decided to look at my Trophy Collection. Bwuh, pre-update awards have no date and time associated...Oohhh'kay. Nothing major but kinda odd. Need some sort of warning somehow telling folks to get the newest update before they get any trophies on the PSVita if they want them dated.
Planning to take my PSVita places so thought it might be a good idea to get the 3G sorted out, plus wanted my Wipeout offer. This is where things took a turn for the seriously frustrating.
OK Vita came with a Vodafone 3G Data only SIM. When I was setting up the hardware I put this in the correct slot so I had the Vodafone UK texty bit top corner of my Vita screen. So far so funky. Went to Network Operator and set the APN to Vodafone and the Vodafone button came up on the Network Operator Screen. Cool, working thus far. Selected the relevant info to get the uk webpage and it gave me the choice to top up online, or to create a 'My Account'. This is where I met my first bit of non straight forward fun;
1) to make a 'My Account' you need a sim card with a current balance.
2) to top up online (about the only way with a data only sim) you need a registered credit/debit card
3) to register a debit or credit card online you need a 'My Account'
...ouch my brain just fried.
So phone call to vodafone... apparently you can register a debit or credit card over the phone... hmm something on the webpage telling you that would have been nice... in fact, something telling you the issue is the fact that the card you're trying to use isn't registered as that's what the problem is would be nice. I thought it was a problem with my card, though my bank said otherwise when I rang them first.
While on the phone to Vodafone they told me the SIM I had was 'Dormant' and I would actually need a new one... not amused as I wasn't sure if that would negate the special offer on Wipeout. Supposedly a new SIM will be with me shortly (3-8 days ish depending on the mail). Not happy with this I went into my nearest town to try and get a Vodafone Data only SIM... ouch, can only get them from Vodafone shops or from ordering one by phone from Vodafone... not nice. So looked up my nearest Vodafone shop.... 25 ish miles in either direction. Peterborough or Boston.... as I had a few hours before due at work I thought I'd get it sorted then and plumped for Boston.... yeah bad choice. The Olympic Flame was going through the town that afternoon and so lots of traffic snarlage. Joy. Don't get me started on the Olympics... I honestly have no idea who thought it would be a good idea but meh. Costs a fortune and we'll be paying for it for decades, this on top of the current national debt etc. Not amused.
So, finally had to ask directions to store. Got directions taking me in the wrong direction... got new directions and finally had to ask a car showroom (Listers Toyota of Boston) if I could park in their car park for about 20mins while I shot into Vodafone shop to pick up a new sim (all public carparks were packed and some idiot had parked their minibus thing in the motorbike parking). Very nice people said yes I could park there, hence the plug.
Apparently didn't need new SIM.. Grrrr (so wasted trip, could have been sorted out at first mobile phone shop). Just had to get current SIM Activated. After pointing out the catch 22 issues I'd been facing, the man (Assistant Manager Phil - not his branch, was covering) took the sim out of his phone, put my sim in, spent 20 ish minutes tapping away at phone getting it to work, then handed me back a working activated SIM.
Spent next 20 minutes trying to get my PSVita to work on newly reinserted SIM. Apparently there's a Wifi hotspot next to the Vodafone store that doesn't actually do anything but be irritating. Had to turn off the Wifi on my PS Vita and suddenly I had a working 3G connection. Thanked Phil, decent bloke that he is, for his help.
Got out of there post haste and back to bike and thanked the nice people at Toyota.
Was 15 minutes late for work, but with working 3G on my PS Vita in pocket. Have now got everything sorted out but Bwah!! were there roadblocks. Took 24 hours but got my Wipeout code etc and that's now been downloaded.
Found out how to re-arrange the screens on my PS Vita and a few other things, but is there a reason there's no paper manual with these things in?
So that's my experience. Anyone else found 3G less than simple to sort out? What has been your experience when first getting it out the box?
