For all of us serious gamers, it's not about the system, it's about the games. Right? 20+ games at launch, five of which have massively multiplayer online play. I myself have purchased 4 games: Lumines, Twisted Metal: Head On, Metal Gear Acid and WipEout and there are still a handful more that I need to purchase. But before I go in to the games, let's discuss the device.

The first thing everyone mentions is the sexiness of the device. But after days of using the PSP, it's not the sexiness that I'm impressed with, it's the ease of use. I don't know why, but I had expected things to be more complicated. Even though I've been playing with the PSP for a few months with the Japanese units lying around the office, it's different now because I actually own one and can experiment. First off, I expected the wireless setup to be more difficult than it was. I've now set up two different wireless hotspots (one with encryption and one without) and both times it was easy as pie. It was dirt easy to connect to the WipEout download site from inside the game. Playing Lumines and WipEout against local players was even easier. But there was one thing which I approached with complete trepidation: connecting to the Twisted Metal: Head On network and playing a game. My fear was completely unnecessary as I booted up Twisted Metal, logged in to the server (it automatically created my login with the password I supplied) and I was able to play immediately. My reaction: "Holy crap! Online works!" But the games? What about them?

Lumines. Wow. Those of you that know me from the forums know that I've been raving about this game since I first played the Japenese version in December. I was afraid that it might lose it's flavor once I bought it for myself. Boy was I wrong. It's just as addictive now as it was when I first played it. For those of you who haven't checked out one of the more recent Penny Arcade strips, check it out (I would just put the strip image in here, but I don't want to take away their ad impressions). While there are definitely some technical flaws with the game, replayability and enjoyment is at its peak whenever I play it. The few flaws I've noticed are the following:

• The music takes a little bit of time to spin back up whenever I put the game on pause. While this doesn't really bother me or disturb my gameplay, it is something that's pretty obvious and I wish they had fixed it.
• I don't know if this is a flaw or deliberate: if I'm pressing down to drop a block, once the block has landed the next block will continue to drop fast unless I take my finger off the down arrow. I would prefer it that the next block doesn't drop fast regardless of if my finger is still on the down arrow or not. Again, I'm not sure if this is a bug or deliberate, but it's a pin in the butt, especially when it gets to the point where I'm dropping things close to the top.

WipEout. Again, wow. This is one of the graphical powerhouses of the launch titles. While I agree that a game is more than just graphics, for all you DS fans, a good game with excellent graphics is better than a good game with crappy graphics. And WipEout is an excellent game with excellent graphics. The D-Pad is responsive; the speed is intense; the racing competitors are cutthroat; and the multiplayer is a nailbiter. I'm more than satisfied with this launch title.

Metal Gear Acid. You know, there isn't a single game I purchased at launch that actually has not made me say "wow". I haven't played MGA as much as I would like to, but I'm shocked at IGN's low score and bad review of the game. It's not what you would expect from a Metal Gear, but after playing it for the little time that I have played it, it definitely has the feel of a Metal Gear. The emphasis on stealth is there; the need to strategize in order to avoid confrontation is just as strong as in every other MG. The high end graphics you've come to expect from MG is also there as the PSP is definitely no slouch in that department. And the story, so far, is very much in the style of a MG game. I have a hard time not agreeing with Brad's review of the game. Gamerankings is putting the game in the mid-seven's. If you're a Metal Gear fan, just keep an open mind about this game. The card mechanic is different, but it fits very well.

Rather than go on to speak about Twisted Metal, instead I'm going to speak about Sony. If there are any Sony reps out there reading this journal (which I doubt), I just want to congratulate you guys on a launch well done. You have put out a group of games which is not only enjoyable in the short run, but some of them even have long-lasting replayability (specifically Lumines and Twisted Metal out of the ones I own, IMO). Not only that, but you didn't rush the launch and you managed to give your publishers and developers enough time to launch titles with online play. You've developed a device that's easy to use; easy to configure; and very sleek.

My only wish now is that you will figure out the media portions of the PSP. Getting videos and MP3s on there is too difficult for the layman. And as of yet, there's no way to purchase music from Sony Connect. Also, I need a 1 gig memory stick. And no, I refuse to pay the $230 price tag that you guys are charging at your store. That's only $20 less than the price of a PSP. No way. You should have had the SanDisk sticks available at launch.

Sony: don't screw up. Nintendo will be gunning for you and while you guys are going after different markets, there is overlap and all you need is the perception of competition. You have a golden opportunity to make a foothold in the handheld market. I don't care whether you take over the market or not. I only care that I get to play my PSP for years to come. I also care that you keep the games coming. Do not under any circumstances make the same mistake that Nintendo has been making with the DS. Keep a steady stream of new games coming to the device and I'll be a happy camper. I don't mean just 1 game a month. I mean at least 5 to 10 within the next four weeks and I want to see a ramp-up in games after that too. I expect E3 to be big for you. So don't let me down. You're off to a great start... don't screw up.