PS3: Bah Humbug!

(CBS)  This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

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This story has not made many headlines yet, but I can assure you that in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas — yes, Christmas! — you'll think I had a crystal ball.

I don't have one of those. But I do have teenage sons. They are the weather vanes of the culture, and a chill wind is blowing their way from Sony.

Video game players have been waiting a long time for Sony to roll out PlayStation 3. There are already more than 100 million PlayStation 2s in the world, and PS3 was to be a souped-up, cooler, better, more extreme version of its predecessor.

But production problems have led Sony to announce that only 400,000 PlayStation 3s will go on sale in North America this fall. That's going to make PS3s rarer than hens' teeth.

The same kids who were screaming for Tickle Me Elmo all those Christmases ago will be wanting a PlayStation 3 ... and there won't be any.

Bah, humbug.

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Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith