That leaves space for either an oblong touchpad or two analog thumb nubs. The latter could address a long-standing complaint about the PSP's inability to handle game's that more or less require dual joysticks: One for moving, the other for looking around.

That's an essential pairing for first-person shooters, one of the least visited, worst represented genres on Sony's gaming handheld. If you've fumbled through the PSP versions of Brothers in Arms, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, or Rainbow Six Vegas, you know what I'm talking about.

Add the second thumb nub and you entice developers to create better versions of those games and others. You also end up with an experience the iPhone, Android, and Nintendo 3DS can't deliver, an experience derived from deterministic multi-button, multi-analog motion input.

The "core" gaming experience, in other words.

Add a touchpad, by contrast, and you're back to imprecise "casual" gaming. If you've fumbled through the Nintendo DS version of Mario 64, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not saying a touchpad couldn't work, just that it wouldn't be something "core" gamers are going to be into.