Opinion: Nintendo needs to study the PS Vita launch line-up and take notes

In a one-on-one competition, there are always subtle benefits depending on whether you go first or second.

If you take the lead, you're setting a standard that your competitor must at least match, and everything he does will be compared to your efforts.

However, there's a flipside to this. The person who goes second has a target to aim at.

So it is with the clash of the handheld titans, as the upcoming PlayStation Vita looks to better the Nintendo 3DS in as many departments as possible.

And as the initial software launch line-up for the Vita is announced, Nintendo must be wishing it had put a little bit more effort in with the 3DS's launch earlier this year.

Let's have a quick recap on the Nintendo 3DS launch lineup first.

The Nintendo 3DS launched with 13 games, only two of which were first-party Nintendo titles - Nintendogs + Cats and Pilotwings Resort. Pocket Gamer scores for the launch games ranged from an 8/10 for Super Street Righter IV: 3D Edition, to lowly 5s for Splinter Cell 3D, Super Monkey Ball 3D, and The Sims 3.

There were a number of classic franchises packed in there, from Pilotwings to Rayman, but in general there was nothing really to get excited about.

The lack of new, original content was the real nail in the coffin. Out of the 13 launch titles, not a single one was new IP, and nearly half of the titles were ports of games from other systems.

Now let's look at the newly announced launch line-up for the PS Vita, due for release in February 2012.

To start us off, Sony revealed that it has 12 first-party titles ready for launch. These range from console-sellers such as Uncharted and WipEout, to original content like Little Deviants and Escape Plan. Another new franchise, Unit 13, is due out during the Vita's "launch window".

There are also plenty of favourite franchises on the way, too, with MotorStorm RC announced and ModNation Racers: Road Trip also gunning for the launch.

It's fair to say that these 12 titles alone beat the 3DS software launch hands-down. Looking at that line-up, we don't even know what we're going to choose to buy at launch - there's far too much calling out for our cash.

And here's the kicker - that's only a small portion of what's coming at launch. Sony says that, on top of that, there are currently 38 third-party titles in development, a number of which will be available at launch.

The company hasn't revealed yet exactly which will be ready to go in February, but if even a quarter of them are locked and loaded that will make for a rather spiffing line-up.

Amongst the list of third-party games we have the likes of Call of Duty, BioShock, Street Fighter X Tekken, Rayman Origins, Assassin's Creed. The high-status list goes on.

Sure, some of these games will also be available on Nintendo 3DS, but lots of them are Vita-exclusives, such as BioShock Vita and Silent Hill: Book of Memories. There will no doubt be people buying the system for these games alone.

Not only does the Vita's launch line-up dwarf the 3DS's, but it's conceivable that the PS Vita will have a better library of games on February 22nd 2012 than the 3DS will.

Nintendo's advantages at that point will be that it has already sold millions of 3DS consoles, and that the 3DS will be cheaper than the PS Vita. Whether these factors can outweigh a remarkably robust launch line-up remains to be seen.