Today Sony made some major long-awaited announcements for its upcoming portable handheld. First off, it's going to be released this year in Japan, on December 12th, as has been promised. Secondly the price will be 19,800 yen, which is $185 US, according to this handy conversion table. Battery life is expected to be between 4 and 6 hours for game titles and a continuous 4 to 5 hours while watching video. For about $230 USD, Japanese gamers can also opt to get the system with a host of accessories, including earphones with in-line remote, a soft carry case with a strap, and a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo. Many folks are now planning to get both this and the Nintendo DS, considering the pricepoints.

Click here to discuss this story on the Gear Live Message Boards

Read More | USA Today