So it's basically day three of our Japanese PSP Launch Adventure, I think. Time passes oddly when you're down here, the combination of losing a day because of the time difference here and then trying to keep tabs on stuff back home always makes me stop and think twice about what time it is.

Still, in the flurry of activity that's gone on since we hit town, there's been ample time to get excited about the PSP. With the launching coming up this Sunday there's plenty of reminders that hot stuff is coming. Ads are spread throughout subway stations, and the trains. The PSP is making the rounds on the cover of magazines and television shows. And there's a boat load of promotion in stores as well to remind consumers that something wicked this way comes. Crazy talk on the street speaks of folks lining up tonight for their shot to get the systems. Unfortunately a number of stores didn't take preorders because of uncertainty regarding quantities on day one meaning if you want a PSP and weren't able to score a preorder it's all about the line. Sony's figures on initial shipments of the PSP on Sunday put it at around 200k which doesn't translate into a whole lot of love to spread around for eager folk. Whether its production issues or just savvy marketing, shortages ensure crazy turnout from folk which translates into buzz, the PSP is going to be one hot little item for a while.

But any piece of hardware, no matter how slick, lives and breathes by its software. And, while the Japanese launch line up isn't a powerhouse display of the PSP's strengths, it's getting me the goods I've been waiting for, namely Lumines and Vampire. Don't get me wrong I dig the other launch titles just fine but those two have been on my radar since Tokyo Game Show. Lumines is on my list because, from what I've played it, it's a funky spin on your standard puzzle game with a very cool sense of style. Vampire has my attention because it's probably my favorite of Capcom's fighting franchises. I loved all the Street Fighterrs, Marvel games and Vs. games but I always thought the Vampire series was the most well rounded of Capcom's offerings. The series has some of the best character design that's ever been done and the roster of fighters was nicely balanced. The fighting system may not have been for everyone but there it handled great, had impressive animation that still holds up. Most importantly, the series didn't take itself too seriously and managed to incorporate some nice touches of humor.

I'll be anxious to see how this launch goes overall. Not to sound too grandiose but, this really feels like one of those "moments" in the industry that history is going to look back on and either proclaim was groundbreaking, note it as an interesting footnote for Sony, or something else. Hard to say which it's going to turn out to be exactly. I doubt the PSP is going to really fail, it's got too much momentum and developer support right now for that to even be an option, but is it going to rival Nintendo and the GBA? Either way, it's going to be one heck of a ride regardless.