One thing is certain, the Vita is something of an exciting anachronism in this age of smartphones and throwaway gaming experiences. It has a powerful processor dedicated to pushing around the latest high-definition visuals; it has two (two!) analogue sticks to provide accurate control, and it demands to be looked it – if only because it won't slip unnoticed into your back pocket: the huge 5in OLED screen has seen to that.

So, it's not hugely portable by modern standards and you can't phone people on it. That's so not on-message. Ah, but you can play amazing games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and WipEout 2048 – games that won't run on an iPhone (or if they did they'd be hideous to play). It has Wi-Fi support and 3G, and thanks to its GPS function, it will allow you to locate nearby friends who also own one, for impromptu gaming sessions. You can even leave in-game items like weapons and costumes in your favourite meeting places.