With the launch of the PS3 'slim' on the 18th of August and the announcement of the price cut to the original PS3 system, Sony effectively cancelled out the ever-persistent hurdle that has stood in the way of their system - The price.

Since inception, the main reason people have refused to purchase a PlayStation 3 system has been becomes of the amazingly ridiculous price point for what is effectively a games system. At $299 the PS3 and PS3 Slim are now cost effective and if you consider all the features included - relatively cheap.

This puts Sony in the #1 spot for the Holiday season, with the price cut, the launch of the PS3 Slim and PSP Go, and the release of various high-priority exclusives like Uncharted 2 and Gran Turismo 5 - Not to mention the already existing back catalogue of great games, Sony is looking to end 2009 with a bang.

With the main obstacle in the way of Sony now annihilated, sales of the PS3 system will sky-rocket in these last few months. And with the lingering buzz around Sony's PS3 Slim and the price cut, the spot-light is very much on Sony right now, and we all know that translates into sales. The funny thing about this is, the general public are yet to get the full gist of things, the moment the mass public realise what is going on the effect will be very clear.

What does this mean for the PS3? is this a sign of things to come? is Sony going right to the top? As things stand the PS3 is basically cheap considering the features it comes included with at a meager price point of $299 - It's what people have screamed for and it's finally here.

The year is still a few months away from closure, but don't be fooled into thinking the best games have come and gone, no way - The best is yet to come, this list is a countdown of the top 5 biggest titles that are yet to be released.

#5 Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

This realistic war sim for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 claims to 'put the Fear back into first Person Shooters' this is one shooter that will be gunning for the top spot this year. With tons of true-to-life military weapons, vehicles and equipments, countless military tactics employed straight from the US military tactics manual, a punishing health system and more hair pulling features - This is not a game for the faint of heart. Boasting gritty realism as it's selling point, Codemasters Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is one to watch.

#4 Assassins Creed II

Sequel to the hugely successful 'Assassins Creed', this time players will embark on a dangerous yet slightly romanticised journey with out new favourite dual-bladed assassin, Ezio'. However not keen on falling into the same traps the first game did, the sequel boasts a ton of variety ranging from side missions to hidden collectibles. With a new notoriety system players will also have to watch their actions carefully, or risk becoming the most wanted in the land. It doesn't stop there, Ubisoft have also included an economy system into the game, players will now be able to purchase services and weapons to further customise the gameplay. This game is hitting all the right marks.

#3 Halo ODST

An expansion pack it may be, but it's absolutely worth your time, not only does this come packed with a whole new single player campaign from a whole new perspective. Bungie have also thrown in numerous new maps, weapons, and a whole new 'firefight' gamemode, this is one expansion pack that will keep you glued to your seats. Just remember to pick this up when it launches on the 22nd of September.

#2 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Sequel to the platinum selling PS3 exclusive Uncharted: Drake's fortune, this game automatically earns a spot in this list. Among Thieves will take us on a journey to new heights, with unparalleled visuals, stunning attention to detail and an all new multiplayer mode, Uncharted 2 is looking great. Does fortune truly favor the bold?

#1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The top spot is reserved for the sequel to the game that won countless game of the year awards in 2007, the game that won 3 BAFTA awards at the annual ceremony back in March, the game that has been voted on many people's lists as one of the greatest games ever made - It's self explanatory really if Activition can pull of a similar feat with this new game, it could very well break even more records, so far 'Modern Warfare 2' is looking sharp and I can't wait to get my hands on it. With an expanded multiplayer mode and a guaranteed engaging storyline - this could very well be GOTY 2009.

it's safe to say that Valve are one of the best game developers in the industry and have been for many years, with games life the 'Half Life' series and mods like 'Counter Strike' winning multiple awards from multiple sources. However during more recent times it seems like Valve is slowly losing their prestigious status amongst the gaming crowd and fewer and fewer of their games reach the status of those that came before them.

Some would blame this on the fact that Valve continue to use what is largely an outdated engine to make their games, I am of course talking about the Source engine. Take L4D as an example, on the Xbox 360 the game doesn't look all that good especially in co-op mode. The game also suffers from occasional frame rate drops and texture problems. The Source engine has been a massive impact on why Valve became the respected company that they are, but it might also be the reason for their recent decline. Gamers always want to be introduced to new things, and with various companies pushing the boundaries even further it's no wonder Valve is losing some footing.

Another reason for the declining public buzz about valve's titles, is their semi-archaic design. While this may have worked in Valve's favour back in 1998 and 2004, the old style of design simply won't cut it in this day and age. Not being able to use the down sights, is just one example of the incredibly basic design of Valve's FPS model. With games like 'Call Of Duty 4' captivating the public eye for so long, it's easy to see why people expect their FPS's to play in a similar way- Now I'm not saying every FPS should play like COD4, but at least incorporate some of the features that are now in every staple shooter.

And the third reason I believe Valve are declining is simply due to their work output, it's become very apparent that the company needs to grow in number to still remain competitive in this business. The world still awaits Half Life 2:Episode 3 to which valve say they are still working one, excuse me but how long is it taking? I know valve are all about quality and whatnot, but it's simply unrealistic to keep the public waiting that long for a new game. It's no surprise why valve are releasing 'Left4Dead 2' so soon (to negative public reaction), the company needs to get games out there which they weren't doing. Not only that but they struggle to develop on more than one platform, let alone on 3.

I think I've laid out my reasons as to why Valve are in a slow and steady decline, feel free to agree or disagree in the comment section. Thanks.

I have for you one more amazing God of War III fan-made wallpaper, from the same source as before this time featuring the Hades render. With God of War III featuring at Gamescom, this has come at the right time.

Credit to commanderlewis on the god of war forums

The full game isn't even out yet, and the PC guys have already started modding the Dark Knights outfit.

Check out some of these awesome designs.

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The PS3 received a fair bit of ridicule and had more than it's fair share of critics when it first launched, The incredibly high price tag was the first source of complaint that saw gamers buying the competitors console. But as times are changing - so is the public view of the PS3 as a console and as an multimedia product.

In recent times the PS3 seems to be winning back the hearts and minds of the people, a lot of gamers who were previously critical of the console are now being swayed to the 'darker side' - This didn't just happen by chance, there are a few reasons why the PS3 is now the top console for hardcore gaming:

Game Library

One of the biggest shortcomings of the Sony Playstation 3 at launch, was it's weak game library, this has all changed within the last 2 years. With a huge amount of exclusive games that are truly exclusive and a huge amount of multiplatform games to choose from, the console can no longer be faulted for lack of games.

And with games like Uncharted 2, Gran turismo 5, God of War III, Heavy Rain and MAG on their way, the PS3 game collection is looking ace.

Multimedia Device

The PS3 is much more than just a games console, with a web browser, PSP integration and a built in Blu-Ray player the PS3 is the ultimate multimedia device on the market. With so many options to choose from and more to come it's easy to see why the PS3 is shining brightly.

Technical Merit

With each new exclusive game pushing one boundary or another, the PS3 is a ground breaking console, and has clearly pulled ahead of the Xbox 360 in this department. With such a tightly knit 1st party dev network, Sony has been able to show the world just what the PS3 is capable of from the cinema quality MGS4 experience, 256 player online in MAG, Advanced tech of Killzone 2 to the absolutely jaw dropping clean visuals of Uncharted 2.

It's quite clear that the PS3 is out of it's dormant phase and is gunning for the top, it's more popular than ever and with some of the biggest titles launching very soon, the PS3 will continue to go from strength to strength

For a lot of long time gamers, the industries finest games appeared during the time period from early seventies through mid-nineties, the years prior to advancements in technology that allowed for highly developed 3 dimensional games to be made. These games are not merely old-timers; several of them remain great plays today.

6. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)

In reaction to the best-selling Mario series on Nintendo, Sega resolved it required its own far-out mascot to make its signature video game around. Success was attained with the original Sonic, a game that was nearly deserted twice by Sega. The extremely awaited following, Sonic 2, had all the great features of the 1st game, and attributes that became lasting fixtures in the Sonic catalogue, such as the ‘spin dash,’ second character Tails, and Super Sonic which brought even more chaos to the gameplay. While Sega added more great features in later instalments, no Sonic game felt as radical and revolutionary as Sonic 2 did.

5. Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)

Mario single-handedly made Nintendo when the feathering company employed Shigeru Miyamoto to produce a game for them. Two installations later, the series was a hit, and the third installment became the most illustrious.

4. Final Fantasy III (SNES)

While in Japan it was released as Final Fantasy VI, it's best known as Final Fantasy III. Still among the Final Fantasy series most revered releases, FFIII was a long game in fact - longer than a many games of today. The game pursues the path of a few heroes in what seems to be a late 19th century universe. In continuing with this lists style of minimum spoilage, nothing additional about the game’s plot line will be given away, I’ll just say it's worth your time to play and keep up with the story surrounding Terra - if you haven't already.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (SNES)

The Zelda series had already been recognized as one of the Nintendo franchise’s best, beside Mario and Metroid. However, the series attained new tiers of sophistication with the 3rd installation, A Link To The Past. At the time it was the lengthiest game in the series, sporting 12 full length dungeons and numberless side quests. This is the game that first brought in the now reoccurring idea of multiple, mirror worlds to the series. The Zelda series hasn't made a better 2D version since. Possibly only Ocarina Of Time betters it, but even that's debatable

2. Space Invaders (Arcade)

The game began life in 1978 as an arcade game, and sprang up to become one of the most recognisable computer game titles ever. While adaptations of this game are now available on nearly everything from mobile phones to charting calculators, Space Invaders continues one of the best, most popular and lasting video games ever created.

1. PONG (Arcade)

Created by Atari and published in 1972, Pong was one of the very first video games ever made. This very simple tennis sports game that featured 2 paddles returning the ball back and fort - became the first ever commercially successful video game and effectively kick started the whole video game industry. The game has been featured in numerous TV shows and movies (often as a parody). This highly simple game is to thank for the creation of the games industry, and for that alone earns the number one spot on my list.

So what do you think, any omissions...please let me know in the comments section, thanks for reading.

If you head on over to the official God of War III Website, you'll find that the latest Fan site kit is now available for download.

The package weights in at a meager 29.5 MB, and features the render of the Underworld Boss, Hades himself as a main highlight.

Julie & Julia revolves around an interesting premise, weaving a true story from the past with a true story from the present. What makes this movie even more interesting is that both stories revolve around a central figure, Julia Child. This twist on a standard biopic adds a lot to what could have been a just another "chick flick" that the girls watch while the guys are in the theater next door watching G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra.

The story from the past focuses on the trials of Julia Child (Meryl Streep) in trying to get her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, published. Beginning with Julia's relocation to Paris with husband Paul (Stanley Tucci), Julia is in need of finding a purpose and she eventually finds it in cooking. The story from the present focuses on Julie Powell (Amy Adams) who was also in need of a purpose. Julie decided to cook through Julia's cookbook, 524 recipes in 365 days, and document the experience in a blog. Although these two women had never met, they both shared a similar journey.

I'm not really one to praise acting because I think most acting is either decent or horrendous. Rarely do I ever see a performance that completely awes me. Meryl Streep's portrayal of Julia Child is such a performance. If I didn't know better, I'd think Julia Child actually filmed her parts years ago in anticipation of this movie. I sense at least an Oscar nod for Streep next year and hope that she gets the recognition she deserves for this role.

Without the combination of stories, Julie & Julia becomes a regular biopic. Individually, neither of the stories have enough draw to keep the audience involved. However, as the stories fade in and out, the similarities between Julia's and Julie's struggles become the main attraction of the film. Watching these two tales entwine was the main gimmick to keep my attention. The two tales do not seem to get equal screen time though. Julia's story seems to get a little more attention at the detriment of the film as there are several scenes that do not relate to the overall story, such as her sister visiting France and getting married months later. This causes Julie & Julia to drag a bit toward the end of the movie.

I consider Julie & Julia a "fair play" movie for the guys. If you drug your wife or girlfriend to an action movie full of choreographed fight scenes and explosions, this is payback, so suck it up for a couple of hours. Julie & Julia is not a great movie, but it is mildly entertaining. It sure beats watching bowling on ESPN on a weekend afternoon.

By Jason Smith

While the summer months typically get all the action flicks and the winter months get the artistic dramas, romantic comedies don't have their own time of year for massive release. Obviously February would seem like the best time for a romantic comedy release, but these types of films generally see a roling release about every six weeks. Right on schedule comes The Ugly Truth, five weeks after The Proposal, which is still in theaters for some unknown reason.

Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a television producer who has no love life because she is so critical of her dates. Late one night, she stumbles upon a cable access show about the differences between men and women, hosted by Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a man who speaks "the ugly truth". A love/hate relationship is instantly born as Abby calls into the show, only to find out the next day that Mike is Abby's new anchor in an effort to raise ratings. Even though Abby dislikes Mike and his brutal honesty, she listens to him in an effort to woo the doctor that moved in nearby. I wonder which guy she ends up with at the end of the movie?

The Ugly Truth is a funny movie, much funnier than I expected. When I see a romantic comedy, I expect to chuckle over witty one-liners now and again, but The Ugly Truth was hilarious in spots, made even funnier because the "advice" Mike gave Abby could have been pulled from just about any guy's brain. I hate to say it ladies, but the ugly truth isn't fictional, although some points may be exaggerated a little.

What starts as a comedy centered on romance ends up as a romantic movie with some comedy. About an hour into the movie, the laughs disappear and the conflict takes center stage as the love triangle between Mike, Abby and the doctor solidifies. It's as if the script writer realized after two-thirds of the script had been written that this movie was supposed to be a romantic comedy. Pull out the formula sheet and fill in the blanks to make this movie just like every other movie in the genre. Even a blind person could see how this movie ends.

The Ugly Truth ends up being a paint-by-numbers romantic comedy that is entertaining for couples wanting a night out. Personally that is a little disappointing; I would love to see someone break the rules just once. Guys that typically don't like these types of movies might like The Ugly Truth as they identify with Mike and his words of wisdom. Couples might even find some new life in their relationship as the ladies find out how guys really think.

By Jason Smith.