When Sony first started talking about the PSP Go, the general reaction was skepticism. A handheld that costs as much as some consoles? With no disc drive and all downloadable content? It was written off as a bomb by some before it even arrived.

Then, more word started leaking out about it, and the reviews started coming in . . . and it looks like Sony may have a winner on its hands. In fact, it may even be a game-changer.

The heart of the PSP Go will, of course, be its downloadable games – more than 225 will be available on launch day, including "PSP Mini" casual games (the latter reaching out to an audience that has generally not been associated with Sony, usually considered the "hardcore gamer" platform).

But it goes a step further than that to be a true multimedia device. Users will also be able to access an extensive library of movies and television episodes. Furthermore, in Japan, Sony is taking it a step further, giving users access to a manga library and an avatar-based social network.

In short, this is the handheld console as total lifestyle device. It's the iPhone without the phone, in many regards. It's what Nintendo could have done with the DS, and instead, they turned it into . . . a camera.

Suddenly, the inflated price tag doesn't seem so out-of-propotion anymore when you consider what this little device is already capable of, and what it can be capable of in the future – and those future capabilities provide plenty of opportunity for new development, of both games and other widgets, gadgets and programs. An E-reader for PSP Go? Highly plausible. Live streaming video of major events like the Super Bowl? You'd better believe it.

And, since gaming is so frequently a parade of "me, toos," if this device is a hit, expect it to spawn imitators, from a retooled DS (because a superhit PSP Go is going to make those tiny little cartridges look really, really passe) to handhelds from other companies. (Perhaps the netbook manufacturers will dip into the gaming market?) Which will only create more demand for software, widgets, etc.

If you're into game design and gaming software at all, keep a close eye on this one. If it hits the ground running, be prepared for demand for things to download for the device to skyrocket. This may turn out to be the gaming industry's biggest game-changer, no pun intended, since  . . . well, the PS2.

- Bonnie (Fan to Pro's "official Sony stalker.")