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[amar212]

Just arrived in my beloved inbox:

10/12/2008 08:00
PLAYSTATION®HOME BETA SERVICE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE TO ALL PLAYSTATION®3 USERS ON DECEMBER 11

Highly Anticipated Service Open For All PLAYSTATION 3 Users

Tokyo, Foster City, London, December 10, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that its highly anticipated PlayStation®Home Beta service for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) will become available for all PS3 users around the world *1 on December 11, 2008. Following the successful completion of the closed beta service, PlayStation Home’s open beta service will continue to evolve with new features and functionality.

PlayStation Home is a ground-breaking 3D social gaming community available on PS3 that allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences. By leveraging the power of PS3, PlayStation Home delivers overwhelming visual graphics and rich gaming social experiences only possible on the PS3 platform. Within PlayStation Home, users can create and customize their own unique avatars and explore the virtual community in real time where they can communicate freely through text or voice chat. PlayStation Home users will not only be able to enjoy variety of entertainment content such as mini-games, videos and special events along with their friends, but will also be able to create their own community by using the “Club*2” feature to create clubs with other PlayStation Home users who share the same interests. PlayStation Home also allows groups of users to launch directly into their favourite online games together from PlayStation Home.

PlayStation Home, available as a free download*3 starting December 11, will launch directly from the PlayStation Home icon on the PlayStation®Network column of XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) on PS3. Users will be able to experience basic features and services of PlayStation Home, free of charge*4. PlayStation Home will allow open interaction among users, business partners and SCE, and will evolve with additional features including dedicated game spaces, special events and exclusive themed items, to further enrich the entertainment experience on the PS3 platform.

For users accessing PlayStation Home in the Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) regions, themed virtual environments will be available to explore. Starting with a themed Far Cry 2 space, PlayStation Home will offer game inspired environments that allow people to discuss the specific games, plan strategies and access content and clues that will enhance the gaming experience. The number of gaming environments such as this will regularly increase, with spaces for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™, Warhawk™, Motorstorm and SOCOM following very soon. SCEE is working with leading publishers such as: Electronic Arts, UBISOFT, Midway, Sega and Atari to create engaging environments that will provide users with an on-going gaming experience.

“We are very excited to be bringing PlayStation Home to Europe and the PAL territories, offering users an interactive, social, gaming experience,” said Daniel Hill, Home Service Manager, SCEE. “PlayStation Home is unique to anything else in the gaming world and by partnering with both global and regional gaming and non-gaming brands, we are able to offer exciting and entertaining content that will enhance the PlayStation experience.”

Visitors and residents will be able to explore PlayStation Home with their avatar character and, thanks to Diesel, avatars can look great from the start with Diesel offering the latest men’s and women’s designer avatar clothing, with items ranging from free of charge to €1.50. So for those visiting PlayStation Home, they can dress their avatars in the latest jeans and jacket prior to getting out and about.

On the home front, PlayStation®Home gives everyone their own apartment to spend time in and entertain friends - who will now be able relax on exclusive Ligne Roset furniture. At the virtual store, people will be able to choose from a selection of the most popular Ligne Roset designs, including the iconic Togo and Facett upholstery collections. It will be possible to personalise furniture by selecting from a wide selection of fabrics and leathers allowing a unique and individual look. This is an opportunity to get acquainted with Ligne Roset’s cutting edge designs created by some of Europe’s most talented designers.

As the very first consumer brand space, Red Bull has created the Red Bull Island where visitors to the Island can interact and take part in many of Red Bull’s unique events. Initially there will be the opportunity to get inside the cockpit of a Red Bull Air Race plane and compete against the PlayStation community. The real-world Red Bull Air Race World Championship has become a global phenomenon in just four years, attracting millions of spectators. Now those spectators can leave the stands, become a pilot and tackle the Red Bull Island course themselves. The Red Bull Island will continue to expand, adding new and exciting content in early 2009.

Taking full advantage of the PlayStation Home Theatre, SCEE has partnered with various content providers to enhance the cinematic experience. Offering a wide range of content, the PlayStation Home Theatre will provide lifestyle technology programming from Hexus TV, gaming content from Eurogamer and exclusive film content from Paramount Pictures. Starting with the release of the highly anticipated film, Watchmen, Paramount Pictures International will use PlayStation®Home to promote its latest films. Initially, PlayStation®Home residents will be able to view an exclusive video greeting from Watchmen Director Zack Snyder as well as the latest Watchmen trailer. A selection of virtual Watchmen merchandise e.g. T-Shirts with the smiley face logo, Doomsday clocks and character statues, will also be available in the New Year, ahead of an exclusive Q & A event where cast and filmmakers will meet selected press and competition winners fans within the Watchmen themed environment.

PlayStation Home is exclusive to PS3, free to download and easy to join. It’s the ultimate online community – a place where you can meet friends, try the latest games, hear new music, watch videos, relax in the apartment of your dreams and much, much more. With more and more spaces being created and partners like Diesel, Ligne Roset and Red Bull coming on board, the PlayStation Home experience is just getting started.

SCE will vigorously promote the expansion of the world of PS3 by introducing new services that will open up new possibilities and enjoyment in interactive entertainment.

*1 PlayStation Home will not be available in some regions.
*2 To be a “Clubhouse” owner, user will need to buy the entitlement to run the club.
*3 When the service is available, PlayStation Home icon will appear after booting/ re-booting the PS3 system. To enjoy PlayStation Home, users will need broadband network connection and PlayStation Network account in addition to the PS3 system.
*4 Some content and services are charged.

ENDS

 

[Puck]

What account is that email with?
I have an AU/US/JP that didn't receive that.

 

[kuYuri]

It begins?

 

[YYZ]

What was that? Home is coming tomorrow!?

 

[Wollan]

Kansas, Is Going Bye-Bye!

 

[Jonnyram]

(@H)

 

[jiggle]

just has to come out when my BRD died -.-
i guess i can always unpack it and see if there's any new contents.

All the loots i got before are stored server side right?

 

[Ashhong]

interesting, i hope theres some good content for other regions for a good first impression

 

[kassatsu]

Still nothing about this on the beta forums. I guess we will get a message about it tomorrow.

 

[DrPirate]

Kansas, Is Going Bye-Bye!

Well said.

 

[Petrae]

The question is: Will the Open Beta deliver more of what was expected from HOME than the rather disappointing Closed Beta has? I guess we find out tomorrow.

 

[SnakeXs]

Finally, time time for it to put up or shut up.

Let's hope my insanely low expectations pay off and make this a surprising delight.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

In B4 "I could care less"

 

[dallow_bg]

See you guys there.
I actually like messing about in Home every now and then.

 

[Blablurn]

Finally!

 

[itxaka]

In B4 "I could care less"

I couldn't care less.

Spoiler

As I am already in

 

[YoungHav]

Home is pure tenten.

 

[WiiRevolution1]

Finally some new apartments from the sound of it.

Either way glad to see it opened to the public at long last!

 

[Blimblim]

 

[PuppetSlave]

Hasn't this been in beta for a year or so? Shouldn't they go over to gamma or something...

I will try it but what I have heard about it does not sound that fun.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Nice, will definetly be going to the Red Bull space, hows it control any one know? hope doesnt suck.

 

[MrNyarlathotep]

I wonder if Sonys compulsory trophy support effective Jan 09 onwards is also going to be compulsory Home support (game launching even if not official spaces) as well...

 

[2real4tv]

:0 :0 :0 :0

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I'm looking forward to trying this out. The ad stuff with paid content by Diesel and furniture by Klaus is the height of lame, though.

 

[kassatsu]

That red bull game looks cool.

 

[Costanza]

Wait there's a plane flying minigame in the Red Bull space?

 

[Esch]

Here we come.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Home money (used to buy furniture and stuff) will be awarded through Trophies (and they retro back as well)

Once again... YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Andvary]

I hope that plane game has good controls, seems cool.

 

[jiggle]

ha
no way am i paying 3 bucks to buy virtual Diesel clothes. I would for that mohawk in the logo though :X


GIMME TRIPLE TRIAD NAO!!!

Once again... YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is this confirmed?

 

[Kagari]

Wait there's a plane flying minigame in the Red Bull space?

Yes.
Things like this and game spaces are why I'll use Home. Oh, and the GAF clubhouse

 

[BeeDog]

God, we will hear so many Home complaints in the coming days. :lol (and by all means, 95% of them will probably be valid too heh)

 

[Loudninja]

Yes.
Things like this and game spaces are why I'll use Home. Oh, and the GAF clubhouse

GAF clubhouse?

 

[Wollan]

Servers will crash. Free mmo for everyone in an instant.

 

[Wollan]

News story on http://www.gamesindustry.biz/

 

[kassatsu]

GAF clubhouse?

Persistent space that the owner has to pay for. Up to 32 users can be a member of it.

 

[G Rom]

Some home made HD walkthrough.

 

[Loudninja]

Persistent space that the owner has to pay for. Up to 35 users can be a member of it.

Oh nice!

Edit:sooooooooooooooo who is going to make the clubhouse

 

[Kagari]

Here's your SCEJ press release: http://www.jp.playstation.com/info/release/nr_20081210_pshome.html

 

[Clinton514]

So, which one of you are going to buy the Diesel jeans? :lol

 

[kittel]

one clubhouse is not enough for the hordes of GAF PS3 owners

 

[kassatsu]

one clubhouse is not enough for the hordes of GAF PS3 owners

That is why we should do it by game.

 

[kay]

Will try this advertising trojan horse day 1, won't complain as it is free. It's too bad you can't go naked, what has Sony got against nudists?

 

[BeeDog]

one clubhouse is not enough for the hordes of GAF PS3 owners

What GAFer will be stupid enough to fork up the cash to buy a GAF clubhouse? :lol

 

[jiggle]

THey should increase the club house limit if it's actually paid for.

 

[Grayman]

Didn't give a shit until I saw the plane. Now I give a huge shit.

 

[BeeDog]

THey should increase the club house limit if it's actually paid for.

Only so many douchebags can be under the same roof. But in all seriousness, I hope some (or rather, many!) games will be patched to support the in-Home launching. Otherwise it's pretty worthless.

 

[kittel]

I hope some (or rather, many!) games will be patched to support the in-Home launching. Otherwise it's pretty worthless.

This. And give me my Uncharted home space..... UNCHARTED!!11111!!!!! >:O

 

[jiggle]

This. And give me my Uncharted home space..... UNCHARTED!!11111!!!!! >:O

It's weird that's not available day 1 since it was already up in the closed beta.

 

[Sean]

Not really excited after trying the beta, it needs a ton of work to be worthwhile. Will try out the Red Bull plane minigame though.

Am I reading the PR right or is Far Cry 2 the only game space that will be available at launch?