Home-Beta
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PlayStation Home beta launching Dec. 11 [update]
At last, the future has arrived. Threatening to thrust our flabby, pitifully organic bodies into a virtual playground and significantly dull the allure of boring ol' reality, PlayStation Home is set to deliver the online utopia we thought we wanted after reading Snow Crash all those years ago. Sony has confirmed that Home's public online beta -- sans samurai haxorz -- will launch tomorrow, December 11th. (Update: Announced by SCEA, too.) With some minor caveats. As the press release dutifully notes, the service will become available for "all PS3 users around the world," except for those who find themselves in "some regions." You'll find the service nestled under the PlayStation Network bar of the XMB. The beta will include all the basic services and features, save for some content (like designer pants) which will, in fact, be charged for. Partially among those is the "Club," a social umbrella you can set up for your like-minded friends. Of course, it's bad luck to open an umbrella inside the Home, so you'll be asked to buy an "entitlement" if you want also want a "clubhouse."According to SCEE, several activities in Home will hinge on the content provided by Diesel (clothes!), Ligne Roset (furniture!), Red Bull (wings!), Hexus TV (video!), Eurogamer (witticisms!) and Paramount Pictures (trailers and movie merchandise!). Perhaps we should plan our day around all this stuff -- we should totally hang out tomorrow (virtually!).
TGS 08: Japanese Home beta not delayed
On top of the list of common misconceptions here at our fine site is that there is never any good news concerning Home. We kid, we kid. We do actually have some good news though -- during Sony's Japanese press conference, it was announced that Home's open beta is on track for release in Japan later in the month. The open beta will end in November, at which time we take for granted, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that the final product will be released.Additionally, it was announced that 24 additional publishers have just signed on to create content for Home. Jem noted that Square Enix is conspicuously absent, but the inclusion of some of the big boys like Disney and Activision does provide a bit of relief. No word on whether this carries over to the North American or European versions. List of the publishers after the break.
Video sharing nixed from Home beta
Though it once seemed an ideal channel for showing friends and loved ones videos of two people having intercourse, it seems that we'll need to find a method other than Sony's Home for furthering our hobby of filth propagation. Wired reports that the previously announced video sharing feature of the service has been axed, at least for now.Sony says it's "looking into it," but it's looking less and less likely to us, especially considering the considerable legal hurdles Sony would have to overcome to implement the functionality. So, it seems to feed our curious habit of public pornography distribution, we'll be forced to turn to other channels. Speaking of which .... do any of you know any really good skywriters?
Hong Kong gamers can spend their way into Home beta
In Hong Kong or Singapore and want to take part in the Home beta? Just spend $60 HKD ($7.69) or $12 SGD ($8.48) on one single purchase off the PLAYSTATION Store before September 12th and you've secured your spot. Don't feel like spending money? SCEH have 100 spots available for those who fill out an online registration form here. We are guessing they'd rather you spend some money at the PS Store, as 100 spots ain't too many to go around.Note that, the Home beta will only be in Tradition Chinese in Hong Kong while in Singapore the language will only be English. Finally, local newspapers and magazines will have a third unspecified method of gaining entry. However, information on which publications remain undisclosed at this time. [Via Siliconera]
Kaz Hirai isn't rushing Home
Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's "Big Boss," tells MCV that the company is taking its sweet time to make Home. Hirai explains that if Home is good, it won't matter when it launches, "so long as it's in a reasonable time frame." By our estimates, "reasonable time frame" left a while ago on a trip around the world and, if we think in a circular fashion, should bang back around sometime soon.Hirai goes on to say that if the competitors decide to follow what the company is doing with Home, it would be their prerogative -- we're sure Linden Labs is thinking the same thing about Home. Anyway, Hirai is "confident" that the Home open beat is something that'll "resonate" with consumers.
Videos of Home Beta make you feel like you're there
An enthusiastic participant of the closed beta of Home released over twenty five minutes of video footage from the recently updated build. The new Home adds a patio, a revamped Home Square, and more. Considering how access to the beta program was highly restricted, this may be the best way to experience the upcoming PSN service for yourself until a public beta is unveiled.Check out all the videos at Veoh. [Thanks, Rawen!]
PlayStation 3's Home beta rolling out in North America
Several members of the official PlayStation forums are claiming that the option to download and launch the North American version of the Home beta has appeared in the PlayStation Store. Invites to the closed beta of Sony's Game 3.0 get-together were sent out last week to a seemingly select few. The majority of posters within the relevant PlayStation forum thread have expressed disappointment at not making the cut, though they may just be temporary victims of a stuttered roll-out. The few chosen ones are in higher spirits, though seem confused by Home's appearance in the store's Blu-ray section.When asked to comment on the Beta's status, SCEA had naught to offer but a quote from a popular anime series, ".........." (Which is to say, more formally, that SCEA did not respond to a request for comment at the time of writing.)%Gallery-1950%[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Home beta launches in North America!
Following the beta launch of Home in Europe on Monday, it appears that the beta has gone live in North America as well. A poster on the official PlayStation forums said that the Home beta had appeared in the PlayStation Store along with all the other new content and was available to download (alas, only for people accepted into the closed beta).One of our readers confirmed this as well and even sent in some screenshots to prove it. Check them out![Thanks, Matt Pizzashack!]
Home beta sign-ups begin
Finally! Sony's revolutionary Home service is entering beta, allowing dedicated PlayStation members to test-drive Sony's vision of "Game 3.0." Various people, including myself, have been receiving invitations in their e-mails: make sure to check yours. According to the invite, "not everyone who signs up will be accepted." Those that are accepted will be contacted yet again via e-mail.How many PS3 Fanboy readers received their Home invite?
