So, the PSP's launch details have been announced.

I really only began waiting for it intensely since the Japanese launch (well, actually, right after the DS came out and futher proved that nintendo doesnt have any good third party support) and like anyone following the news, I knew that there was two different packs, one with just the psp, and one with the psp and accessories. The cheaper one was (according the gamespot) roughly $185 USD, and the "value pack" roughly $233 USD.

this was exciting news, and gave me as well as everyone else something to look forward to. we could either get just the system and build our own ultimate value pack with other products, or we could save some time and money and go with the, well, lets call it "decent" sony value pack.

so, I spend the better part of 2 months looking at various items that I want to put together with my PSP. I had chosen a 1 GB memory stick for maximum functionality, a pair of sony earbuds I had heard good things about, and uh.. well shirt, thats really all you need isnt it? I was also considering getting the softcase, if I could find it cheap enough. that would have been my "value pack."

okay, so everyday I wait for the official announcement by sony about the price and launch date. as time goes on, the suggestion that only one pack would be available in america was revealed to me, and I thought, okay, so then the regular pack will be easier to get as it will be the only pack available. CES comes and goes and theres no word yet, but some fresh video to keep me interested. all I need to know now is will it be a cool $149.99, a still plausable $179.99, or a decent $199.99.

theyre still not saying anything. eventually the FCC manual gets out and there is confirmation of the value pack. okay, I thought, thats still okay, that just means the value pack will only cost $199.99 in america, right? right. I have no job, Im just a full time student, riding the money I got for christmas and my birthday, I have a good amount in the bank, but I wont need all of that, so I use about $54 to pay down my credit card a little, you know, make it a nice round number. with the psp only at $200, and games competitively priced at $40, Ill need maybe $260 with tax at most to get this thing and a game.

and then came a particularly warm tuesday afternoon. I came home from school, got something to eat, logged on and checked the news. here it was! the announced was made! the details have been spilled! I start reading. Itll be released March 24th... okay, thats a little late in march, but thats okay, a week wont kill me. theres only a value pack.. okay, I already guessed that much. its going to cost $250 and games will be $50 a peice. heres where my heart drops. FRANK!! what the goddamn?! noooooooo!

okay, so after the swearing subsides, and I let it sink it, its not so bad. its still worth it, and with all the *shudders* great accessories Im getting with it, I can wait until memory stick prices drop before I take that plunge. there goes all my planning. there goes better logic. there goes some of my stuff, onto ebay, to make up the difference in cost for this thing now.

well, thats my story. Ill see the rest of you in line for a PSP launch day. have a good one.

sidenote: as of writing this I have made an additional $144 off of ebay sales. go ebay!