PlayStation 2 hits shelves Thursday System worth the wait

"We feel we're in a good position for the Christmas season because our system is available," said Chris Gilbert, executive vice president of sales for Sega, which makes the high-powered Dreamcast console. "The industry's been waiting for the PlayStation 2 launch, and the closer we get to it the more disappointed people are going to be, because they're not going to be able to find the system."

He may be right - initially. But Sony is pledging to produce 100,000 units a week to try and meet holiday demand. Among other games available for Thursday's launch - averaging about $40 each - are Capcom's "Street Fighter Ex3," Namco's "Ridge Racer V," Sony's own "Fantavision" and T&E Soft's "Swing Away Golf." Altogether, Sony says, 26 titles will be available at launch time, with 50 more games in the works for the holidays.

The future of the PlayStation 2 is intriguing. Sony is being vague about an "expansion unit," scheduled for late 2001, that will snap onto the back of the console and presumably allow for Internet or local area network play. There's also room on the back for a hard drive to be connected, possibly to save games or even download software over the network connection.

By that time, Microsoft's Xbox video game system and Nintendo's GameCube will be arriving on the scene. And millions will wait in line for those, too.