Sony launches PlayStation Home on PS3

Gamers take note. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is launching its highly anticipated online 3-D virtual world for PlayStation 3 users today.

Sony launches PlayStation Home on PS3

For those who downloaded the Home Beta today, what do you think? Good stuff or boring?

After a year-long delay, the open beta of PlayStation Home is finally going live. The 3-D social network, which also is being called a gaming community, is designed to enable users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences, according to Sony.

Available as a free download, the virtual gaming world will launch directly from the PlayStation Home icon on the PlayStation Network column on the PS3. Users will be able to create their own avatars and communicate with other users using voice or text.

With major gaming competition from the likes of Nintendo Co.'s highly popular Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, Sony would like to boost its mind share and market share. That's especially true in a struggling economy where fewer people are spending holiday cash on expensive gifts.

Last year, Sony even cut the price of the PlayStation 3 game console by $100 to boost flagging sales.

And the good news of the open beta launch of PlayStation Home comes just days after the company announced that it plans to cut 8,000 jobs, close factories and reduce electronics investment by nearly a third in response to the current economic conditions. The global restructuring plan will be most felt in the company's core electronics business, which accounts for more than half of Sony's sales.

The company, which is one of Japan's major exporters, has been dealt a double blow: a recession gripping many of its biggest markets and a strong yen, which makes its products more expensive overseas.

But today the news was all positive for the ailing company.

The new social networking site is designed to allow users to create their own social clubs by uniting with other users with the same interests. They also will be able to try out what Sony is calling "mini-games", watch videos and take part in special online-only events.

Comments [31]

post a comment

ChokaDaChicken

WtF, I've been trying to log on to @Home from home for the last hour +, that shit is like trying to log on to Socom( taking half of 4ever , and not getting any damn where) maybe one of these days I'll be able to get on. so let down dude, Well at least they released it , sorta I guess

hikayu16

it's a pretty good base but the waiting time is really frustrating . people expected this kind of online community to be fast and easy to access .btw , it needs more , much much more contents . it seems that almost everyone wearing the very same clothes as everyone else and that's not good at all .

themave

wow, a beta for the ps3, any idea when they will have a finished product ?

Jsnukka

took me awhile to sign on. lots if error messages and time out. well time for me to enjoy myself

htown4life

I had the Beta last month & only used it once, shit is ass, but I'll give it time since it isn't really shit on it for now...oh well off to my 360

Post a Comment