So, finally the PSP has arrived in the UK and the rest of Europe. There was a fanfare, a hoo-hah and shouting from the rooftops. It's finally here and Nintendo is supposed to be officially quaking in its boots.
Now, I can see how there could be room for quaking. I mean the PSP is a sexy little machine. It's black, it's slinky, it has a big shiny screen and it says Sony on it. That's enough for the mass market to go, "Whoo hoo, I know where my money's going!"
Kids want one. Adults want one. Everybody wants one. It's the latest Sony thingemy that's supposed to replace the i-pod thingemy. It's gadget geek heaven. It's a PS2 in your hand! PR people love them because they PR themselves and the launch even gets itself on national news.
But somehow, some way Nintendo doesn't appear to be quaking. It's not even quivering. There's not even quickened breathing or a tremor of the bottom lip and definitely no perspiration.
It makes no sense I tell you. Surely they're kicking themselves and wishing they'd made a PSP and forgotten about the ridiculous dual screen shenanigans.
But no, far from it my dear play chums. As usual, Nintendo are sitting in aloof splendor. I for one, despite being a champion of the DS over the PSP am surprised. As far as innovation goes, the DS wins hands down. It's new, it's whacky and so are some of the games that are heading onto its two little screens.
On the other hand the PSP as already mentioned, is a marketing man's dream, but innovation is not something it can lay claim to. It literally is a PS2 in your hand. Play GTA, play Wipeout, play Burnout, play Metal Gear; in fact, play anything you've already played on a bigger screen while on a sofa rather than a bus. I'm sold, quick to the shops!
It's only on perusing MCV, the UK's sole games trade magazine that I found the answer to Nintendo's steely resolve.
Number one in Nintendo's arsenal against Sony is the pink GBA SP, which according to MCV accounted for a quarter of all SP sales this year. It looks suspiciously like Nintendo is succeeding where others have failed in courting that most elusive of games consumers – girls.
Add to that the launch of Nintendogs on DS, which is set to take the UK by storm. And then there's the frosty pink version of the DS and you've got a recipe for female courting success.
MCV had more astonishing figures to throw our way, regarding Nintendo and its firm hold on the handheld market. Apparently, total Nintendo handheld sales are up 91 percent year-on-year in the UK market. To top that, Nintendo handhelds account for 38 percent of UK hardware sales in 2005. Now that is a staggering figure and there ain't no denying it! The DS has sold through six million units worldwide and since launch DS has outsold PSP by up to three times in Japan.
Phew! When you look at the figures it seems Nintendo really doesn't have anything to worry about. Anyone calling an end to Nintendo's dominance in the handheld market is really underestimating the old dinosaur.
Not content with all that success, Nintendo are literally flooding the market with handheld goodness. The GBA Micro! And choirs of heavenly angels sang. Ooooh, I want one. It's so dinky and a little bundle of gadgety gorgeousness.
The only thing holding me back is that GBA games generally suck. The DS may not have the styling of the PSP or even the Micro, but it's got the games. I mean, if I want to play GTA or MGS I'll play it on a big screen on a sofa with surround sound, rather than courtesy of the London Underground with surround eau d'armpit. But give me a stylus and a girl to woo "Feel the Magic" style and I'm all ears. Do I want a puppy that doesn't actually wee on the carpet? Heck yeah!
Am I raising a glass to Nintendo's continued reign over the handheld market? Heck yeah!
Most played: Killer 7
Most wanted: Shadow of the Colossus