When I first saw the video of the Sony Next Generation Platform early this year, all I could say was, “I want this!”  I even posted it on my Facebook wall!  And when I saw that it would be released by November of this year, I was so psyched!  So I kept tab on the product, wondering how much it would cost;  but I lost track of it like it never existed.  So I thought it was just one of those concept devices, too good to be true.  Then the PlayStation Network was hacked so the portable game console rumor took a backseat.  But at the E3 Expo 2011 held last June, I got giddy as I saw the NGP once again, although it was announced under a new name: the Sony PlayStation Vita.  It was like an answered prayer!  Unfortunately, only the price was released and not the release date.  The Wi-Fi only version will cost $245 and the Wi-Fi/3G will cost $299 and AT&T will be the 3G carrier.

Don’t lose hope.  Sony just announced that the Vita will be released in the market on December 17, 2011–but before you exhaust yourself jumping up and down out of excitement, the release date is set for the Japanese market, all the rest of the world would have to wait until next year to get our hands on them.

The much awaited PS Vita features front and back multitouch screens, motion sensors, Six axis sensors, Chat on the Fly, Augmented Reality, Always On, Dual analog Sticks and PS3 Integration.

The Vita will directly compete with Nintendo’s 3DS portable game console in Japan’s market during the holidays.  There will be 26 titles accompanying its release with Namco Bandai Holdings Inc.’s (7832.TO) Ridge Racer and Capcom Co.’s (9697.TO) Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 leading the pack. Square Enix announced that a re-mastered version of the PS2’s Final Fantasy X with PS3-like quality will be available for the Vita but no date has been set yet.

“This new device is packed with every possible function, and that’s why we confidently call it the ultimate entertainment system,” said Hiroshi Kawano, head of Sony’s Japanese game unit, at a press conference.

The Vita Wi-Fi only version will sell for ¥24,980 ($325) and the Wi-Fi/3G model for ¥29,980 ($390) and will be carried by NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s biggest mobile carrier.  According to DoCoMo, they will offer new pre-paid data transmission packages: ¥980 ($12.74) for 20 hours, or ¥4,980 for 100 hours—starting with the Vita’s launch.

The Nintendo 3DS game console hasn’t been faring well in the market.  With Sony Vita’s upcoming launch, they’ve exhausting every possible option to increase their sales.  By October, they will be launching a Pink 3DS to appeal to women accompanied by female-oriented games.  A new peripheral device will also be launched and the 3DS camera will be revamped by adding 3-D features.  New game titles are also expected during the holidays like Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai and Monster Hunter 4 and six Mario-related games including Mario Tennis and Luigi’s Mansion 2 will be released next year.  Nintendo is also counting on the Wii U, the upgraded version of the Wii console that features a tablet-like game controller due out next year, to revive their sales.