Vita games and devs win Develop awards

As if we didn't know already, the likes of Shahid Kamal and co. at Sony's Strategic Content arm are pretty much keeping the Vita boat afloat right now. So, its nice to see them getting a Publisher Hero award at the Develop conference shin dig this week.

This award is for our partners. Thank you for working with PlayStation. We love you. pic.twitter.com/cYMDIGXgcE
— Shahid Kamal Ahmad (@shahidkamal) July 9, 2014

Tearaway and TxK also got nods for the Vita, while at very opposite ends of the spectrum Vlambeer and the LEGO series also won.

New Games IP: Tearaway (Media Molecule)
Use of a Licence or IP: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games)
Musical Composition: Jamie Hamshere (for TxK)
Publishing Hero: Sony Computer Entertainment Strategic Content Department
Micro Studio: Vlambeer

The start of the end of the line?

While that's all well and good, I've not seen or heard anything about any new Vita game announcements coming out of the many talks or show-and-tells from the event. Is that due to Sony's Strategic Content moving to focus on the market leading PS4, and as indies look to stretch their legs elsewhere?

That's not to say games aren't coming, but after this batch (and its quite a batch), with Minecraft, Road Not Taken, Wasteland Kings, Volume, Hotline Miami 2 and Super Exploding Zoo heading our way, I wonder (and not in my usual cynical way) if Sony's sidelining of the Vita as a discrete platform will see developers seeing it as less of  priority.

I don't mind stretch goals, and "coming later" versions, but it seems Sony really needs to get pushing new Unity developers for the next rash of keen young coders who can perhaps craft the next "No Man's Sky" or similar work of indie genius on our handheld.