"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the Gates man's hat…"
Yup, that's right folks. It's time for gaming hardware and software companies and their online and high street retailers to start the traditional pre-Xmas price-cutting game, with some rather spectacular credit-crunch-friendly bargains on offer this year.
TechRadar gave you our definitive guide to getting the best Xbox 360 and Wii bargains this week. And it seems that Sony isn't going to take part in the latest round of price cuts, preferring to wait until Easter 2009 before hacking back the RRP of PS3. (Based on information leaked from an SCEE employee which the company was also quick to deny…)
If you're extra lucky you'll manage to nab a new Jasper-based 360, which means you should no longer have any 'red ring of death' worries as you are thirty hours into Gears 2.
Somewhat strangely, Nintendo seems to be jumping aboard the electronic book bandwagon, releasing a collection of a hundred modern classics on the DS on Boxing Day this year. Funny day to launch what seems to be a perfect stocking filler, but hey, who are we to get all 'marketing made simple' on their Japanese asses?
Besides, TechRadar's most-wanted bit of gaming kit this last week is easily, far-and-away Nintendo's new matte-black DSi which proves to be a wonderful update to an already excellent handheld console. The unit also comes fully stocked with a number of new features (camera, AAC music file playback) and a couple of intriguing 'games' to show them off - with the yellow, pixelated budgerigar that you can train to say rude words to your mum.
However, this being Nintendo, it looks like we are going to have to wait until next Easter (at the very earliest) until we hear word of a UK launch for DSi. So you might want to head over to Play Asia and nab yourself one on import, for around £200 or so.
You will not regret it. Plus, it will be the ultimate bit of kit to impress your mates with back home when you get together for the annual Christmas Eve knees-up. Or if you are not so bothered about the kiddy DS, you might be more interested to read more about those (very believable) rumours of a PSP 2 in development…
Nostalgia fans went all dewy-eyed last week with the release of Sega's latest Sonic outing, although TechRadar is still on the fence. We are not sure if the Werehog is the genius move that the series really needed to drag it from the doldrums, although Akinori Nishiyama, the director of the feted Sonic Team clearly (and obviously) thought otherwise, when we spoke with him about the history of our favourite blue speed-freak hog.
Lastly, we have been having those on-going bun-fights in the office about whether or not console gaming is finally better than PC gaming. Edge founder Steve Jarratt makes a convincing case for the console, while Ed Ricketts defends our beloved old PC. The PC-console battle is sure to continue throughout 2009, as console games get ever faster and better looking, with developers finally managing to start to squeeze out as much power as they can from this generation of hardware.
Oh, and did we mention that it looks like Gran Turismo 5 is releasing at Christmas. In 2009. At least, if a Spanish SCE rep is to be believed… Don't hold your breath though, PS3 fans!
In other gaming news this week:
Sony launches web portal for PS3 Home
Rockstar gets into a spot of bother for the use of SecuROM DRM in GTA IV on PC.
Lara Croft popped into our office last week to guest-edit T3.com. OH YES!
PC gaming: keyboard beats console pad, says id Software's John Carmack
Luis Villazon thinks 3D gaming has destroyed the platformer
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