PlayStation Home Arrives Thursday as Beta

Sony Computer Entertainment will open up its Home online virtual environment to all PlayStation 3 users from Thursday, it said Wednesday.

PlayStation Home Arrives Thursday as Open Beta

How fun is walking around and talking to avatars?

Home allows users to create their own avatars and participate in a real-time virtual world, something like a cross between the Mii avatars on Nintendo's Wii and the Second Life community. Users can interact with others through voice and text chat and the service also offers mini-games, videos and special events.

The opening up of the beta test, which has been anticipated for sometime, follows several delays for the service. It was first unveiled in July 2007 and initially promised for a global release later that year but was pushed back once to early this year. It was again delayed due to Sony's desire to "refine" the service and rescheduled as a "fall" launch as an open beta.

From Thursday Home will be available to any PlayStation 3 user that has their console hooked-up to a broadband Internet connection. Users will be able to download the software from the PlayStation Network section of the menu.

"We are committed to providing PS3 users with exciting gaming experiences with PlayStation Home and together with our partners and users, expand the new world of interactive entertainment as we move forward," said Kaz Hirai, president and CEO of Sony's gaming unit in a statement.

Some content will vary by region.

In North America virtual environments will be launched for the "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," "Far Cry 2," "Warhawk Resistance" and "Guitar Hero" games in which users can talk strategy, discuss games and get additional content and clues. Sony said it is working with Activision, Disney Eidos, Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts, THQ and Ubisoft, to develop virtual environments among other content for PlayStation Home.

Commercial tie-ups with companies including drinks-company Red Bull, fashion-house Diesel and furniture-designer Ligne Roset will also bring content to the service.

In Europe and other PAL territories the environments will start with "Far Cry 2" and be joined soon by those for "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," "Warhawk Resistance," "Motorstorm" and "SOCOM." European tie-ups include Atari, Electronic Arts, Midway, Sega and Ubisoft on the games side. Video content will also be available from Hexus TV and Eurogamer.

In Japan content includes "Namco Museum" and lounges for the "Siren" and "Everybody's Golf" games. Sony also plans special events including a Christmas event and New Year countdown through the service.

THE VERDICT by Blake Snow Blake Snow's Avatar Any PS3 owners excited for this? I'm not. I never liked Second Life, and I hate social networking. ;)

Comments [26]

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EBURKULOSIS

Hey Blake...doesn't your job consist of social networking...isn't that what you are doing here? Nobody wants your opinion, just deliver the story.
Anyways, Home looks promising, we will have to see. It seems like something that I could pour a lot of money on virtual effects.

donkeykong57

I feel the exact same way Blake. Home was fun while I was creating my avatar, that's about it. I've spent maybe an hour total on Home since I installed the beta (3 months ago). I don't get social satisfaction from the internet and it makes me sick knowing a lot of people do.

Also, I'd much rather play a video game.

mstrmrdr82

EBURKULOSIS wrote:

Hey Blake...doesn't your job consist of social networking...isn't that what you are doing here? Nobody wants your opinion, just deliver the story.
Anyways, Home looks promising, we will have to see. It seems like something that I could pour a lot of money on virtual effects.

i dont mind him stating his opinion

homerocks

WooHoo, this is Awesome...

I've been waiting for Home for a very long time

CypressIce

Your missing the point. The goods will be inviting friends back to the virtual apartment to let them check out music or movies we have stored on our playstations. If you don't have any intrest in using your playstation for music or movies then i guess this wouldn't give you a reason to use the service, but if your not using the divx and music capabilities of your playstation then your not getting the full experience.

They didn't build it to be a media center for nothing.

Im currently homeless, they didn't let me in the beta. So maybe these promises aren't possible yet but im hoping that this much will be available in the open beta.

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