Good ‘ol gaming news.

Source: Playstation blog

Wow. Last night what was only deemed a minor hiccup which escalated to a major error has now turned into a monster. Sony is advising 1st generation PlayStation 3 owners NOT to turn on their systems, because the clock bug would cause data loss. So while you’re trying to find ways on how to entertain yourself, feel free to read more posts from us throughout the day, because Sony doesn’t want you to use your PS3 for the next 24 hours. Don’t believe me? Here’s Sony:

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

Ouch.

Source: Sony

Continuing the “Holiday Gift Guide” is the Gaming category. I’m going to list the gaming consoles that your money deserves for this holiday shopping season. And of course the Xbox 360 is in there, why wouldn’t it be? Let’s begin with the Gift Guide for gaming, shall we?

Microsoft Xbox 360

I’m sure you knew this would be your best bet, wouldn’t it? What’s better is that there are different packages to choose from, and they’re all affordable. Netflix streaming, the latest (and best) games, Xbox Live Gold (you’ll have to pay for it though), and of course the HD graphics make the Xbox 360 one of the best gaming systems of all time. It comes in 3 different versions: the Arcade package for $199.99, $299.99   120 GB Elite version, and the $399.99 250GB Elite. It’s your choice. Compare all 3 consoles here, and buy it from different retailers here.

Sony Playstation 3 Slim

The PS3 Slim isn’t going to let the Xbox 360 get what it wants so easily. Packed with a 120 GB hard drive (a 250 GB is available also), DualShock 3 controller, PlayStation Network, and great games make the $299.99 PS3 Slim a good buy. Even though the game library isn’t fine tuned yet, remember Gran Turismo 5 is making its way soon. Did I forget to mention  Modern Warfare 2 is already out? Buy it from SonyStyle here, and compare the two versions here.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii. It’s so popular you probably know everything you need to know about it, any maybe (surely) have used it. Starts at $199.99, comes with the Wii Remote, Nunchuck controller, Sensor Bar, and a library of endlessly excellent games. Don’t forget Zelda and Mario. Just don’t forget also that there’s no HD;  one of the only deal-breakers. Buy it from different retailers here.

Sony PSP Go

It doesn’t quite feel at “home”, so to speak. High price tag ($249), unimpressive looks, and the major deal-breaker: You can’t play your UMD games because it’s digital only. If there’s one thing we know about the PSP Go, it’s it won’t sell very well at all. buy it from SonyStyle (cough) here. A better option is the cheaper, larger screened, UMD-compatible, and much more reasonable PSP-3000, which you can buy from Sony Style here for $169.99.

Sony PSP-3000

Nintendo DSi

A major improvement overall. 2 cameras (yes, two), one of which points to your face, is what makes the DSi so good. Yes, there aren’t many stuff to download off the store, but bigger screens, audio recording, web browsing, SD card expansion, and direct-game-downloads make the DSi a very popular and good option in the portable sector. Buy it from different retailers here for $169.99.

Next up in the Holiday Gift Guide: it’s secret. Yes, you’ll have to wait until it’s posted, but you can be sure it has to do with something very popular.

Time to catch up on the news here at LaptopMemo.

NetFlix is headed to the PS3! It lets all you NetFlix subscribers watch all your movies on your PS3 without charging you a penny. Except, in order to stream content to your PS3, you have to have a “special NetFlix disc”. That makes me feel that the PS3 is a PS2! Why not just provide through the PS3′s Internet connection without the need of a dumb plastic disc? It’s almost low-tech.

Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live™ technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Oh well, it’s coming to your PS3 nevertheless.

One more 250 GB Ps3 Slim bundle for another continent. Last time it was Japan, now it’s Europe. This PS3 Slim bundle comes with a copy of Need For Speed Shift, and well, a PS3 Slim with a 250 GB hard drive. The price is €350, which is roughly $512.61 USD. That’s a ton more than the 120 GB Slim you get here in the US, but note the conversion.

No release date yet.

[Engadget via Engadget Spanish]

Well, according to Engadget, they were able to confirm that this bundle, a 250GB PS3 Slim with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, confirmed the rumors last month of a 250GB PS3 Slim since it was spotted at the FCC. No pricing/release date is known yet, but we’re going to have a 250 GB PS3 Slim now!

Your Comments?

[Engadget]

According to Sony, the PS3 Slim had a release date in the first week of September. But now, some store managers look really eager to sell PS3 Slims before the launch date. According to Gizmodo and Engadget, there are PS3 Slims for anyone to grab and take home for the price of $300.

So either this is the same thing that happened with the Nintendo DS Lite or some managers want some quick sales. So fellow Floridians, go grab a PS3 Slim before the world wide shortage comes up.

[Gizmodo via Engadget]

All right PlayStation gamers, the PS3 Slim is official, and $300. You get a 120 GB hard drive basic, and all of the other features you had before in the PS3 Fat. In this case though, you get a matte PS3, instead of the original’s glossy finish. So, here comes the question:

[The official new PS3, the PS3 Slim]

Announced at the Sony Gamescom in Germany, the Playstation 3 Slim will be sold for $300. It will include a 120GB hard drive, will be 32% smaller as well as 36% lighter than the current PlayStation 3, and will use 34% less power. It will launch in the first week of September worldwide.

As for the current 80GB PS3, the price will go down to $300, and the 160GB will now retail for $400. A new feature for the PS3 Slim will be a BRAVIA Sync feature were you can control the XMB of the PS3 with your Sony remote, as long as they are both connected via HDMI. Also, when your TV tuns off, your PS3 automatically turns off as well. Another thing, there will be a new PS3 logo.

So now you will now have the right to call the old PS3, the “PS3 Fat”.

Just so that you know, there will be 2 USB ports.

And here’s the official announcement:

[viddler id=14382d8f&w=437&h=333]

[Here are more PS3 Slim shots @ Kotaku]