Last night at GamesCom Sony humbly and calmly (and with no arrogance) announced the PS3 Slim (and the existing 'Phat' models price cuts).

This welcome new addition to gaming competition, and as welcome new face of Sony, however, couldn't stop Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) from going full-steam into mixed-metaphors and table thumping from the States.

Here are some choice extracts from his comments to Reuters:

“I think our competitors have had success in the case of Wii with the innovation and social aspect of the game play, but that seems to be wearing a little bit thin right now".

"If you follow this industry and follow where retail sales are generated it’s much like the football season, everything before holiday is pre-season and the numbers really don’t count."

Say what? Anything sold before 'the holidays' doesn't count? So, to take Jack's metaphor to its conclusion, if you're star centre forward gets his leg broken in a pre-season friendly, that doesn't count?

Yowser. Tretton had best hope that the price cuts and Slim model will deliver some sales to back his 'bullish' comments.

Finally, has SCEA's top man been playing too much UFC? "We’ve kind of kept out guard up and kept our powder dry and now we’re coming out with both fists swinging."

Calm down.

You can see the PS3 Slim's full specs and some pictures here.

^{Source: Reuters}