Last year’s NHL 10 was well-received by both gamers and critics alike, and next week, people will get their first chance to play this year’s follow up.  A playable demo will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 on August 17th; players will have a chance to experience “Hockey Ultimate Team” and “Battle For the Cup,” which will pit the Chicago Blackhawks against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period of game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.

Thanks to its real-time physics engine and many other improvements, NHL 11 won Game Informer’s “Best Sports Game” award at this year’s E3.  For more info on what to expect from NHL 11, visit their site, and be sure to check out the demo on August 17th.

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After releasing a year after its competition, launching at $599 for the ideal SKU, and starting off with delays and shortages, there were points where analysts and gamers alike were questioning any success of the PlayStation 3 at all. Looking back and coming back to present day, it is difficult to comprehend where the PS3 has came just three years after the risky release. Now, looking towards the future, evidence from this past year show signs of Sony’s flagship home entertainment console coming out on top of the immediate competition.
Glancing at the sales numbers of the past 12 months of the PS3, it is clear the the tides have turned in Sony’s favor. Despite price drops, new SKU’s, and announcements from Microsoft, statistical analysis shows that the PS3 sold 14.3 million units in the past year compared to the 360’s 10.3 million, about a 28% higher sales. Adding in these numbers to the lifetime sales of both platforms, the PS3 now lags 3.6 million units behind the 360.

Also interesting to note is that the year before this past year, the PlayStation 3 had been outsold by 1.5  million units. As illustrated by the numbers, the year-to-year sales gaps are now closing and if the trend continues, the PS3 could very well overtake Xbox 360 sales in 2011. Will this happen? With the PlayStation Move and Gran Turismo 5 looking to be the biggest system-sellers of the year, it is indeed a possibility. Tell us your take in the comments below.

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Jennifer Allen of TheGameReviews gives her verdict on the likelihood of the new Zelda title hitting Wiis this year, a new Epic game being unveiled at this year’s E3 conference, and whether or not NeoGeo games are coming to the PlayStation Network. Slim-PS3.com is updated regularly per day with the latest console news and reviews.