PS Vita launched in NZ

There was music, drinks, and a giant Sackboy, but the star of the show last night was definitely the PlayStation Vita itself, the long-awaited handheld gaming device that's finally landed on our shores.

We've posted our initial thoughts on the device here, and will have a bunch of launch title reviews coming soon.

In the meantime, check out the photos from the event, and the video below those showing part of the performance by kiwi band Zowie.

You may also want to check out this interview with Scott Rohde, senior vice president of Sony's Worldwide Studios, who told Gamasutra that even though the Vita is launching with over 30 titles, there's still heaps more to come.

"I think that there are some that argue that we may even have too much lined up at launch," Rohde says, "but I know we've got a lot more in the works.

Rohde also reveals that his development team worked closely with the hardware designers.

"We were heavily involved in the design of the machine, the way it feels, the fact that we all stomped our feet and insisted that this thing have two analog sticks.

"If we're going to create a hardcore machine, for hardcore gamers, it absolutely had to have those two sticks. That was square one, right?"

Have you bought a Vita yet? Are you interested, or have portable gaming devices had their day?