Ohhhhh yes (sorry, I like the Churchill doggy), we all knew it was coming. Sony’s second worst-kept secret this year — and surely a new record of “utterly failing at keeping secrets” at that — was unveiled formally yesterday at Gamescom, and nobody was the tiniest bit surprised.

What was the big reaction then? Judging from Twitter, it was a resounding “meh” for current PS3 owners and, promisingly for Sony, a timid “woo” from prospective buyers. Personally? I think it’s neat.

Sure, it doesn’t have the grandeur or the presence of a great big fat PS3 — the man who designed the original described it as “something you’d display on your coffee table” — but it’s nimble and looks a little funkier, a little more modern. Sleeker and streamlined. Cool, basically. It looks cool. And that’s probably what Sony was aiming for, rather than “massive”, “bloody heavy” or, um, “grill-like”, as the bigger cousin could often be described.

–DOC’S NOTE:  Yamster’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of … well… me. I think the thing looks like an Igloo cooler or maybe something you’d keep ratchets in.

You’ll get a bigger hard-drive, the ability to control the thing with your TV remote if you have a new BRAVIA telly and, uh, no more Linux compatiblity (the official line is that the Slim PS3 is about “providing entertainment”…but wasn’t the old model too?). Backwards compatibility is gone too.

It’s about a third lighter, a third slimmer, and a third friendlier to your electrical bills. All in all, it’s a minor evolution that Sony will be hoping kickstarts the PS3 market a little when the console hits stores by the start of next month for $/€299, or an officially-confirmed £249.

I can’t see myself giving up on my old fatty anytime soon though. It’s neat that the new console is dinkier but I take great pride in the meaty PLAYSTATION 3 (as it shall forever be known in the yore of marketing) dominating the middle of my arrangement of desks and such, outsizing even the old PS2 I have in the corner which I store things in. And dress up with badges and hats.

Still, for new buyers, the new design and cheaper price point will make the thing look a whole lot more attractive than it might have done in the past. And that’s exactly what Sony will be wanting.

What about you? Got a PS3? And if not, are you thinking of getting one now that the slimmer model has appeared on the scene?

PS: Remember who broke it first.