SONY SIDE DOWN

The same day that over-enthusiastic video gamers across America are lining up in hopes of snagging a Playstation 2 on launch day, Sony Corp. announced that its net profit dropped in the July-Sept. quarter from 46.52 billion yen last year to 19.82 billion yen or $183.2 million. The report did not come with a DVD player, unlike the new video game console.

Sony stock price has been on a downtrend this year, thanks in part to a stronger yen and a general decline in technology stock.

The film division, including Columbia Pictures, had an operating loss of 7.2 billion yen ($67.2 million). Last year it posted an operating income of 8.6 billion yen a year earlier. Charlie's Angels should turn that right around.

The company was scheduled to shipone million PS2s, but had trouble meeting its production schedule, forcing that number to be cut in half. In the quarter, Sony's gaming division lost 2.81 billion yen, partially due to the fact that it spent 250 billion yen launching PS2. Now, we don't know how many dollars that is, but it sure does sound like a lot.

If all of those dorks hadn't waited in line overnight and beaten us to the store, we would have bought a PS2, meaning another $300 for the company. Instead, we're going toblow $1200 on eBay.