Sony's new PlayStation Vita handheld game console goes on sale in December, with Japan kicking off the global roll-out.But Sony says it will not cut prices to match discounts offered by rival Nintendo. President of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Hiroshi Kawano said,"We will not change the price from our earlier announcement as we've set a strategic price on a product that is full of fascinating features. I believe we've received very positive feedback from our customers regarding the price since it was announced." Prices for the PS Vita have been criticised as too high, although analysts say the gadget will likely appeal to hardcore gamers, who are willing to spend more. The PS Vita will hit the shelves in Japan on December 17, with 26 game titles to choose from. The cheapest version of the PS Vita will retail at around $325, compared to the reduced $195 that gamers will have to pay for Nintendo's 3DS handheld. The handheld is expected to be launched in the U.S. and Europe in early 2012, but exact dates are not known.