See, back when we assumed the damn thing might cost $400 at the most, it was quite a different story. With E3 behind us, we'd all be picking our favorite games from the launch lineup... checking out what awesome stuff will hit 1Q '07... groping for info on the online plan, new peripherals, accessories. We'd start THE COUNTDOWN.

But at $600? Forget all that.

Suddenly, there's no need to track the launch games. Who cares? Most of them will be A) Suck or B) Sports. Four-fifths of any console launch are games that you couldn't give away twelve months later. Early adopters jump on to see some eye candy, get that first taste of the interface. We know that first six month stretch is a losing gamble, but we're in there with our Fantavisions and Smuggler's Runs: playing simple games that look astounding. That's a launch for you.

Subtract yourself from the Day One crowd, and you realize that your new target is the second wave games. The Sons of Libertys. The Icos. The Klonoas. Games that have learned to look good and feel good.

Maybe there will be a controller enhancement in one year's time (like the PS1 switch to the Dual Shock.) Maybe a base hardware revision (like the incorporation of the infrared receiver on the PS2.) A bigger stock hard drive. A bundled free game. An online incentive program.

This is what happens when you realize that you're spending your money later, rather than now.

Like so many others, I'm looking to see what final moments I can squeeze out of my PS2. In a way, this is fortuitous, for I was beginning to think the transition from PS2 to PS3 would be too abrupt, and I would have too many great choices come November. Especially since I tend to disappear inside games for days, investing far more time to each game than the "Rent Fast, Cheat Hard" crowd. Here's what I've come up with:

Kingdom Hearts 2: Really, what is up with me not having this already? I blame Metal Gear. This one is coming up damn soon.

GTA: Liberty City Stories: (June) $20. I have trouble thinking this game will not be worth $20, even if it is only a PSP port. We'll see what the reviews say.

LEGO Star Wars 2: (September) Definite. The first one was so slick, and Rhon and I had so much fun playing it. I'd jump for the GameCube version, but there's unlockable content if you have a memory card save from the first one, which we have on PS2 since the GameCube edition came out sixteen years later. Grievous on Hoth!

Justice League Heroes: (Sometime this fall) I'm telling everybody I know that this one is X-Men Legends plus LEGO Star Wars. I really don't have much to back up that claim, except that I know the game will run like X-Men Legends and I'm hoping it will be fun like LEGO Star Wars. But really, no GameCube/Wii version?

I'm counting on that list to pretty much be my PS2 Experience '06. But here's the fill-in team:

Okami: (September) Looks awesome, but the demo struck me as just a smidge weak. I'll be there if I have an opening, but LEGO Star Wars 2 will probably own the tray by that point.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves: I stepped away from my beloved Sly Cooper series because I can't stand all the suckass second-string characters that have stolen his spotlight. When I see this hit the $20 mark, I'll pick it up.

Superman Returns: (October) I will be there for this one on principle, but I need some hardcore reassurance that it will not stink. GTA Spider-Man was short-term fun but ultimately lame. I would like GTA Superman to turn out better.

Guitar Hero: (#2 out in November) I'm a little iffy on investing in hokey single-use peripherals this late in the game. But the universe says this is a great one, and I usually do dig this sort of thing: cheesy games with oddball specialized controllers. We'll see.

Soul Calibur 3: Avoided this one solely on the grounds of righteous indignation, since I was one of the millions who bought the GameCube version of SC2 and fell in love. Then 3 comes out with no GameCube version?! It's like we broke up over the phone. But I would consider a relapse if I see it on the cheap.

Shadow of the Colossus: I thought this one was of the worst demos (for a supposedly great game) that I've ever played. Nevertheless, I would give it a solid try just as a favor to Ico.

And if I get totally bored, or if the PS3 maintains it's NASA-fueled price point:

God of War 2: Come on, people. The first one was merely okay, not great. It is mediocre hack-n-slash that just happens to look nice. It was enjoyable, but it didn't re-write the history of gaming.

Oh. And of course I'll be there on launch day for the Wii. $250 or less. Duh.