update

Now for that elaboration.

As for the PSP, its an interesting situation. I never expected the launch of the handheld to be anything but another PS2 debacle, meaning it would be the talk of pretty much the entire nation. Instead it may have been a debacle of the opposite sort; not enough systems are being sold as was expected. What can we make of this? Not much really. The gaming media is still in love with it, and will continue to push it into the minds of gamers (knowledgable ones and those notso) everywhere. We are also finally seeing real marketing for the thing by Sony. Finally, there are still many blockbuster games that are in development but awaiting release. Bottom line, the best gauge for the PSP's future is its performance during the holidays. If the DS could sell out at launch with hardly any decent games, the PSP can be deadly with a strong christmas lineup.

Still, the launch really does make you wonder what the hell happened. It seems that Sony hardly did any hyping or marketing of any sort; I have yet to see a PSP TV spot myself, and those who have seen them have claimed they've only appeared in the last week. Was it cockiness on their part? A lack of finances (doubtful), or maybe just a dumb blunder? One also has to wonder if consumers know about it and simply don't care. There are so many Gameboys (and Gameboy games) already out there, and the PSP is rather expensive to invest in ($250 without games, extra batteries or a sufficiently large memory stick). Not to mention the iPod is still the current marker of cool. So many questions, and no real answers....

In other Sony news, this is a very interesting development. I don't think it will mean the end of PS2 on the market (I hope not; I still need to buy one), as Sony can still win an appeal. But the ordeal may cost them a pretty penny indeed.

And here is your Final Four: UNC, Michigan State, Illinois and Louisville. Two number ones against the four and five spots. Let's go underdogs.