I'm a firm believer that what goes around comes around. That's why I don't go around kicking little kids and old people. I don't kick other people because not only is it wrong, but they kick back. In any event, you get what you dish out, unless you're Sega, in which case everyone kicks you and you have no choice to knuckle up and take it, sad but true.

Not everything in the Gaming World is so unjust, however. Take the case of Sony. They kicked most of us on the Playstation 2. They continued kicking after we were down (very nice coup de grace, re-releasing the system in Japan while they still hadn't met the bare shipments they were supposed to here or in Europe), and now they're standing there laughing, because people continue to purchase their overhyped console and the only current contender, the Dreamcast, is out of the market.

Yeah, that's definitely unjust. But everyone will have a chance to kick back at Sony soon. It's called Game Boy Advanced. I've been excited about this system since I first heard about it. Playing games from the SNES... With better graphics and power... In a handheld? Believe it. This month's Electronics Gaming Monthly had screenshots of several of the launch games, and they're mightily impressive, making the GBC and Neo-Geo Pocket look like Abacuses (Abacii?) in comparison. The price on the system itself looks reasonable for its power at $90 (U.S. equivalent of the Japanese unit's price, not a quoted U.S. price) and the games will cost less than Playstation 2 games.

If you played games during the SNES/Genesis era, I shouldn't have to tell you what a monumental event this will be, but just in case, close your eyes and think of the following games: Actraiser. Contra III. Super Metroid. Street Fighter II Turbo. Gradius III. R-Type III. Super Ghouls n' Ghosts. Mario Kart. Super Mario World.

Okay, I'll stop now because there's no way you could have read those games with your eyes closed anyway, but you get my point. There were hundreds of games for the SNES and dozens of them were top-notch gaming at its best. If those games are brought to the GBA, and upgraded? We're talking the system for the new millenium. I don't care how many jillions of polygons the Playstation 2, X-Box, or even Nintendo's own Game Cube can put out, if it don't got game, it's just no good. And this system's going to have game. So, if you're scrimping and saving up to buy the best system on the market, well, you blew it, because Sega is discontinuing the Dreamcast. But there's still time to redeem yourself. The GBA is set to be released in Japan in March. We won't be that far behind here. Stick it out, save your money, and show Sony (and any other company) that releasing a system which doesn't live up to the hype, screwing over consumers with sudden shortages, and generally being unprofessional doesn't pay.

Come on, we play video games. We've got to believe justice will prevail here...