Patiently waiting for Sony to announce the official release date and pricing scheme for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld, I decided to go check out my local EB Games to find out what the pre-order asking price is. Currently the pre-order price is $449.99CDN ($367.50US), now the clerk at the store noted that the price can either be higher, or lower. Also, the store has March 2 as its release date.

It’s important to note that the Sony PSP launched in Japan with a price tag of 19,800.00 JPY ($190.194US) for the standard unit. It’s very doubtful that the North American pricing will be higher, and currently rumors have been running rampant across the Internet that the device will retail for $150USD.

Sony is expected to unveil the unit’s official release date and launch price shortly.