Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 11, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
PlayStation Home is an innovative 3D social-gaming community for PS3 that lets users connect, communicate and share gaming experiences. By making optimum use of PS3 performance, it offers impressive graphics and diverse interactive experiences with other users that are possible only on the PS3 platform. Users can create and customize distinctive avatars, explore the virtual community in real time and communicate freely with others by text or voice chat. Alongside entertainment content such as minigames, videos and special events, the Club feature (2) lets users create communities for themselves and other people with shared interests. Groups can also launch directly from PlayStation Home into their favorite online games together.
PlayStation Home is available today as a free download (3) and can be launched directly on PS3 from the PlayStation Home icon in the PlayStation Network area of the XMB. Users can experience its basic functions and services free of charge (4). The service supports interaction among users, business partners and SCE, and will continue to gain features including dedicated virtual game spaces, special events and exclusive themed elements.
“PlayStation Home is a truly forward-looking network community service on the PlayStation platform, supported by the powerful combination of the PS3’s outstanding computing capabilities and PlayStation Network’s availability in many countries worldwide,” said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of SCE. “Our aim is to provide PS3 users with exciting gaming experiences through PlayStation Home and, together with our partners and users, expand the new world of interactive entertainment.”
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Virtual themed environments are available to users accessing PlayStation Home in the Sony Computer Entertainment Europe region, beginning with a Far Cry 2 space. These game-inspired environments let players discuss titles, plan strategies and access content and tips that enhance their experience. The number of spaces will expand regularly, with rooms for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Warhawk, MotorStorm and SOCOM due soon. SCEE is working with leading publishers including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Midway, Sega and Atari.
SCEE also announced its first open-beta partnerships with major lifestyle brands: Diesel, Ligne Roset, Red Bull, Paramount Pictures, Hexus TV and Eurogamer. They provide virtual clothing for avatars, furnishings for apartments, exclusive video content and a virtual Red Bull Air Race.
Visitors explore PlayStation Home through avatar characters. Diesel offers designer clothing for male and female avatars, priced from free to €1.50, allowing users to equip their avatars with the latest jeans and jackets.
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Every PlayStation Home user receives an apartment for spending time at home or inviting friends, who can relax on exclusive Ligne Roset furniture. The virtual store offers popular designs including the Togo and Facett collections, customizable with different fabrics and leathers.
Red Bull created the first consumer-brand space, Red Bull Island, where visitors can connect and take part in Red Bull events. Initially, users can enter the cockpit of a Red Bull Air Race aircraft and compete against the PlayStation community. Red Bull Island will continue to expand with new content from early 2009.
SCEE has partnered with content providers to enhance PlayStation Home Theatre. Its content includes lifestyle technology programs from Hexus TV, gaming material from Eurogamer and exclusive film content from Paramount. Beginning with “Watchmen,” Paramount Pictures International will use PlayStation Home to promote new films. Residents can watch an exclusive greeting from director Zack Snyder and the latest trailer. Virtual merchandise including smiley-logo T-shirts, Doomsday Clocks and figures will follow in the new year, ahead of an exclusive event in which actors and filmmakers meet selected press representatives and competition winners in the Watchmen environment.
PlayStation Home runs exclusively on PlayStation 3. The download is free and joining the community is straightforward: users can meet friends, try games, hear music, watch videos or relax in their dream apartment. With more spaces in development and partners such as Diesel, Ligne Roset and Red Bull aboard, this marks only the beginning.
(1) PlayStation Home is unavailable in some regions.
(2) Users must acquire authorization to operate a clubhouse.
(3) Where available, the PlayStation Home icon appears after starting or restarting PS3. A broadband connection and PlayStation Network account are required.
(4) Some content and services are subject to charges.
