In an interview with GamesIndustry.Biz, Heavy Iron Studios president Matthew Seymour has all but written off Sony’s chances of capturing consumer’s imaginations with its new handheld.

Matthew Seymour, whose career in the industry has spanned 20 years and includes credits at 2K Games and Microsoft Games Studios, has slated the concept and approach of Sony with its PS Vita.

“With all due respects to Sony and Vita, it’s a car wreck,” he said. And how about Xperia Play? I’d love to pull up the numbers on that.”

Lyle Hall – who also works at Heavy Iron – doubts the future of dedicated gaming handhelds in general, telling GI.Biz:

“If people aren’t willing to pay $249 for a Nintendo 3DS why would they pay $299 for Vita? People don’t want to carry more than one thing in their pocket, that’s why Android and iPhone have done so well, they are the devices of choice, they offers multiple functions outside of gaming”.

Hall went on to say that he’s a fan of the technology but doubts the market can support such devices in the future.

“The technology is sweet, I’m a huge fan of mobile technology, but I just don’t know there’s a market out there anymore for the hardware. I can’t see why you would want to put a device out that only does games.

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“The consumer has spoken. We wanted to see that world exist – more players, more opportunities for us, but at the same time people don’t want that. Unless there’s a super technology paradigm shift it’s not going to shift back.”

PS Vita launches in Japan later this year and in the US and PAL territories early next year. The public will be able to go hands-on with the console at gamescom this week.

Thanks, EG.