Oh yeah!

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe released these shots to us today in Germany. Nice huh?

You'll notice a few changes. The PlayStation 3 looks a little slimmer than it has in some images floating around cyberspace of late. Whether this is the result of a sizing rethink or simply different camera angles we cannot tell.

There's more vents along the lower end of the machine and the Spider-Man 3 font is now inscribed across the top of the machine, replacing the PS3 logo as seen on some SCE-released renders. Other changes include two new LEDs near the power button and a revised power button, with the green version being ditched.

Much of the feedback on the images at time of press seems to centre on the fact that PlayStation 3 is looking better than it ever has. It is big and the Spider-Man 3 font hasn't proven to be popular, but the addition of press images of this quality has underscored Sony's history of designing stunning-looking consumer electronics.

The PlayStation 3 certainly isn't the pinnacle of what Sony designers are capable of, though packing as much power as we are promised into anything smaller than a family saloon car is an achievement of epic proportions. It's also worth remembering that the PlayStation 2, an indisputable design classic, did not receive the kindest reception on launch.

It's interesting to see the PlayStation 3 in a more tangible presentation. Encased in a glass cabinet detaches it somewhat from what it will be - a machine for gaming, movies and other forms of entertainment. It nice to see the trayless disc-load in (simulated) operation and it's interesting to imagine slotting a variety of solid-state memory formats into your home console, no doubt housing your digital photographs, music and movies...