Playstation Home - LOTS of new stuff! - Leaving BETA?

Jan 29, 2009
7,187
PlayStation Home (also marketed and referred to as Home) is a community-based service developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London and Cambridge studios for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network. It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Home has been in development since early 2005 and started an open public beta test in December 2008. Home allows users to create an avatar on their PlayStation 3 console and explore an online world. This avatar gets its own virtual apartment space or "HomeSpace", which can be adorned with items that users can obtain in several different ways. In a 2007 keynote speech, Phil Harrison used the term "Game 3.0" to describe the service.

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While SFIV and RE5 are both multi-platform, Capcom has joined up with Sony for some PlayStation Home specific content.

There's Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5 player matching via Home for online play. This will be possible with Resident Evil 5 at launch, but SFIV will be updated after it goes on sale to include this feature.

Resident Evil 5 will be getting a Kijuju-themed lounge in Home and avatar outfits. Street Fighter avatar outfits and items will also go on sale.

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Okay guys and gals - as promised, we’re going to give you a peek into what to expect in terms of content updates in the very near future. Note: We’re not releasing exact dates to the public on any of this. Don’t ask; we won’t tell. The only way to make sure you don’t miss out is to log in to PlayStation Home often.



Anyhow, coming straight for you all are:



A proverbial boatload of game spaces - including spaces for Warhawk, SOCOM, Resistance, and many, many more (we’ll announce more spaces in the coming weeks)...



Of course, you’re all aware of the EA Sports Complex. But let’s just say that is coming sooner rather than later. And it’s cooler than you imagined.



These spaces will usher in the next phase of Home. They will begin to utilize this uber-powerful platform’s true capabilities. We’re talking unlocking items in the games you play from Home (and vice versa), mini-games that take full advantage of the Sixaxis controller, game launching integration. The whole shebang!



We also have leaderboards. Huzzah!



You can also count on tons of apartments and clubhouses that boast increasingly interactive environments. These spaces are freakin’ awesome. You’re going to love ‘em.



Picture frames are coming back. We’re not giving a solid date at this time, but suffice to say you will have them very, very soon.



You’ll have more music, more regularly. And, yes, there will be all different styles (this means that all of you rockers can rejoice!)



You’ll have a bigger Theater, and it will be full of videos (and not just trailers either).



You’ll be able to customize your avatar with more gear – and this stuff is hot. Oh, and there are tons of options for the girls as well. We’re not forgetting about you.



And, to top it all off, we’re gonna be throwing tons of parties, contests, and other events in Home (including a special event to coincide with Valentine’s Day. It’s going to be a killer event). The prizes will be bigger and better than ever before. If you haven’t participated in anything we’ve done before, we’re sure you will now.



See, we weren’t lying when we said we were going to make good on our word to you all.



We appreciate your patience while we make the final tweaks to ensure that all of this is smooth as can be. And we appreciate you diehards keeping the faith while the naysayers pretended like the Beta launch was the be-all, end-all of Home. No way, no how.
 
We’ve got some big plans for PlayStation Home coming up, some of which may involve ninjas and street fighters. We thought that would grab your attention. It did for us at SCEA.

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And as we continue to expand upon existing content with PlayStation Home spaces, we’ve introduced a leaderboard for the Red Bull Air Race in the Red Bull space. We recently made the most of these new leaderboards with a contest to see who could get the highest scores. Shopaholics rejoice too, you’ll find some cool new virtual items at the mall, including ninja and pirate costumes.

As you may have heard, Capcom is set to expand its blockbuster franchises globally with Street Fighter and Resident Evil within PlayStation Home. Resident Evil 5 fans can launch straight from PlayStation Home into the game. And for the Street Fighter fans, Capcom is bringing Street Fighter IV costumes and additional themed content to PlayStation Home, much of which will be unlocked through in-game actions.

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I know that is a lot to digest, but that’s not all … in the next few months, gamers will find even more clothing, furniture and events taking place throughout PlayStation Home, including the launch of the Warhawk space (complete with game launching), SOCOM space, and the recently announced Gamer’s Lounge. This will be another hang-out space for the community to mix and mingle, just like you would at a real lounge. We will also hold special events here such as developer talks and parties. Along with the spaces, you can bet you’ll find even more impromptu promotions and giveaways taking place.

And as for the ninjas …. On February 12th, sweet ninja outfits will be available for purchase at the Mall to dress your PlayStation Home avatar up in. Yeah, ninja outfits! And to celebrate their arrival, we’re holding a contest: On February 13th, we’ll be holding a contest event called “I Love Ninjas.” The first instance of the brand-new community-named Home hang-out space, the Gamer’s Lounge, to be completely filled with people in ninja costumes (or a reasonable facsimile using all-black clothing items in your inventory) that we see will win vouchers for SOCOM and Warhawk to celebrate the upcoming spaces.

What events would you like to see?
 
What: A virtual chat with CydoniaX and Locust_Star, focusing on gathering community requests/feedback and answering some choice frequently asked questions.



Where: Gamer's Lounge



Why: Because the Gamer's Lounge isn't just a place to conduct business-as-usual, its a gathering spot for users to discuss teh direction of Home, with everyone from Community Management to 1st and 3rd Party Developers and so on.



When: Thursday, February 12th, 2009 from 1-2PM PT (4-5PM EST) and 5-6PM PT (8-9PM EST)



Note: We will be instance jumping during this event, so if we're not there when you show up, hang tight with your friends and we'll be around as soon as we can.
 
PS Home Manager CydoniaX has revealed the official I LOVE NINJAS contest rules.

PlayStation® Home I LOVE NINJAS

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING. THE WINNERS OF THIS SWEEPSTAKES ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS; THE HOME COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT SHALL RANDOMLY ENTER DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF THE EVENT SPACE THROUGHOUT THE PROMOTION PERIOD WHILE REMAINING INVISIBLE; (“INSTANCES” BEING DEFINED AS A NEW EVENT SPACE THAT IS CREATED WHEN THE NUMBER OF USERS IN THE EVENT SPACE HAS REACHED ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY); THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE EVENT SPACE VARIES; THERE ARE AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF EVENT SPACE INSTANCES; IF DURING THE PROMOTION PERIOD THERE ARE MULTIPLE INSTANCES HAVING THE SAME NUMBER OF QUALIFYING ENTRANTS WITH NO NON-NINJA VISITORS THE FIRST INSTANCE VISITED SHALL WIN. IF THERE ARE NO INSTANCES WITH NO NON-NINJA VISITORS THEN THE INSTANCE WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS WINS. WINNERS ARE CHOSEN AT THE SPONSORS DISCRETION. THE PRESENCE OF NON-NINJA DRESSED USERS IN ANY EVENT SPACE INSTANCE WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY ALL ENTRANTS IN THAT EVENT SPACE INSTANCE.

Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited.

1. ELIGIBILITY. The PlayStation® Home I Love Ninjas Contest (the “Promotion”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, including District of Columbia, who are at least thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of entry and hold a PlayStation® Network account in good standing as determined by the Sponsor.

2. SPONSOR. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (the “Sponsor”), 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404.

3. TIMING. The duration of the Promotion is one (1) hour. The Promotion begins on February 13, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) and ends on February 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. PST (the “Promotion Period”).

4. HOW TO ENTER. Using the PlayStation®3 system, go to the PlayStation®Network and access PlayStation®Home, the virtual 3D community hub. Users who wish to enter (the “Entrants”) shall dress their avatars in a ninja costume or customize their avatars using complimentary virtual goods to resemble a ninja-like appearance (such as all-black clothing with bare feet). Entrants shall go to The Gamer’s Lounge (the “Event Space”) (accessible via the World Map on the Entrant’s Menu Pad) between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. PST (9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST) on Friday, February 13th, 2009 for a ninja-themed Valentine’s Day Dance Party. Throughout the Promotion Period Home Community Management shall ‘”instance jump” in and out of the Event Space “instances” using the administrative client to identify the first instance where all avatars are dressed in ninja garb and there are no non-ninja visitors. All Entrants identified in that first full instance shall each be awarded one (1) Warhawk® PlayStation®3 game and one (1) SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation PlayStation 3 game. Limit one entry per person per PlayStation® Network (“PSN”) account for the duration of the Promotion Period.

5. ENTRY CONDITIONS AND RELEASE. Limit one entry per person and per PSN account and per e-mail address. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures or malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrant’s ability to participate in the Sweepstakes, even if caused by the negligence of Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for changes to address, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrant. Entries not satisfying these Official Rules shall be automatically disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify, cancel or suspend the electronic portion of this Promotion should virus, bugs or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Promotion and to award prizes from among all eligible entries received prior to action taken by Sponsor. Automated entries are prohibited and any use of automated devices will cause disqualification. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual (and all of his/her Promotion entries) who tampers with the entry process.

6. WINNER SELECTION. Winners shall be determined based upon the results of the Home Community Management administrative client’s random “snapshot” of the first instance where all avatars are dressed in ninja garb and there are no non-ninja visitors.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASES. Potential winners are subject to verification by Sponsor whose decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. Potential winners must comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules and receipt of the prizes are contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The potential winners may be required to provide the Sponsor with documentation that shows he or she was an eligible participant. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the PlayStation® Network used to register will be deemed to be the registrant or player. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Potential winners may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.

8. PRIZES AND ODDS OF WINNING. The number of winners depends on the number of Entrants in the prize winning instance. Each winner shall receive one (1) Warhawk® PlayStation®3 game and one (1) SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation PS3 game with an approximate retail value (“ARV”) of $59.99. Prize fulfillment is at Sponsor’s discretion and based on availability. If necessary, due to unavailability of the prize for any reason, a prize of equal or greater value shall be awarded at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. All Federal, State and local tax liabilities are the responsibility of the winner. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification. If the winner is a minor, then prize will be awarded to winner’s parent or legal guardian. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitutions allowed. Please allow 1 week for delivery of the prize. The odds of winning depend on number of valid Entrants who were in the Event Space for the Promotion and who were part of the “snapshot” caught by the Home Community Management’s administrative client of the first instance where all avatars are dressed in ninja garb and there are no non-ninja visitors.

9. PUBLICITY . By acceptance of the prize, winners agree to the use of their name and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law and agree to sign and return an Affidavit of Release (the “Affidavit”) within ten (10) business days of prize notification.

10. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. By acceptance of the prize, prize winner agrees to release Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions, and affiliates from any and all liability, claims or actions or any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership or use of the prize or while preparing for, participating in, and/or traveling to or from any prize-related activity and/or sweepstakes activity. Employees of Sponsor and their respective parents, subsidiaries, agencies, and affiliates and each of their related companies and their immediate families are not eligible. Neither the Sponsor nor their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, agencies, divisions nor related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that winners might incur as a result of this sweepstakes or receipt of prize.

11. PROMOTION RESULTS. The names of the winners shall be posted on the PlayStation Home forums on February 17, 2009. To obtain a winners list by mail, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to PlayStation Home “I Love Ninjas” Promotion, Attn: Promotions, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd. 2nd Floor Foster City, CA 94404. The winner’s list request shall be fulfilled within four (4) weeks after the prizes have been awarded. Requests for the winners list must be received by July 30, 2009.

12. RESTRICTIONS. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
 
Launching this week, the new “Warhawk™ Command Center” space makes its way into PlayStation Home offering Warhawk fans a new place to socialize and strategize featuring the sand table. PlayStation Home is the ultimate social community gathering gamers via a rich, 3D high-definition environment and will continue to expand overtime.
 
Our video streaming is now working and we'd like to see what your experience of it is like.
We've chosen one large video to try it on and its therefore something you would previously spend quite a bit of time downloading before being able to watch it. It should start much sooner now.

We have converted "the dreaming" by Anthony Green in the Shoot! series of films available in the Theatre. Go into the theatre and turn right and its on the right in that wing.

For comparison the Other Shoot! videos require you to download the whole film before watching.

Please offer your feedback here
 
Apologies for the lateness of this message, ideally it would have been posted this morning but its just back from translation. There is an awful lot going on here and some of it is represented in this news update. Your questions are welcomed unless they're about this Xi thing you keep going on about.



So, lets run through this weeks changes before giving a little more detail on what is coming relatively soon to Home

This week

Patch 1.11
This is a minor bug fix release and addresses a problem with Game Launching. If you opened the list of game sessions available at the same time one of the sessions launched it could cause a crash.

WATCHMEN
Two complete outfits for male characters and black & white t-shirts for male and female characters are now available for free from the Threads store. Some of the items are not quite ready and will follow on as soon as they are.

Clothing
Various items of free and purchasable clothing have been added


Whats coming soon

Street Fighter IV
The unlockable items are already available in Home and are rewarded for winning online matches in the game.
Purchasable outfits will be available within a few weeks.

Home Square
A slightly updated Home Square will arrive in early March, possibly as early as the 5th.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Space
This is currently being worked on and we hope to release this for you within a few weeks

SOCOM: CONFRONTATION Space
This Space is also nearly ready but a specific date for its release is not yet available, but we are expecting it within a few weeks.

Siren: Blood Curse & Resident Evil 5, Warhawk
Content for all of these have arrived here and are being prepared for SCEE's audience now. We will bring you more information on these as it becomes available.

Game Launching
Many titles are preparing support for Game Launching but this often requires a patch to their title. It is not our intention to be announcing new releases and patches to other titles here in the Home community but hope to bring you news in the coming weeks.

Music within Home
Playing your own music to others within Home is an extremely complex licensing issue that will take time to solve, if it is at all possible.
In the meantime we are investigating various ways of allowing you to play your own music to yourself. We are also talking to other 3rd parties about making their music available to you in various ways.
 
After all the speculation and hints, Sony finally revealed that Xi is indeed something, and not just a coding mistake as first thought. There's now an official section on the official PlayStation forums, and a space called "The Hub".

CydoniaX(PlayStation Home Manager) writes:

"If you're wondering what all this is about, Xi is an adventure based in PlayStation®Home. Download PlayStation®Home for free on your PlayStation®3 and look for the graffiti on the wall in the main square. Find that and all will be explained…"
 
TedtheDog said:
Just had word that 1.20 has a serious bug that means its not going to arrive this week. Probably a couple of weeks away now, after its been fixed and retested. Will confirm as soon as I can.

Uh oh....
 
Tomorrow, April 9th, is shaping up to be a milestone date in the ever-evolving world known as PlayStation Home…and we can’t wait for you all to log in and check out all the cool stuff we’ve had brewing!

First up, EA is launching their first PlayStation Home game space to support the newly-released The Godfather II game. This space will have a Texas Hold ‘Em table and will allow you a place to gather with your fellow PlayStation Home mobsters and tighten up your poker face before EA launches its highly-anticipated Sports Complex.

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To celebrate the launch of The Godfather II space, we’ll be throwing our first Celebrity Poker tournament in-world Thursday night and we’re inviting you along to play a hand (or lose a hand, if you can’t settle your debts!). Decorate your avatar to resemble one of your favorite celebrities and then get ready to throw some cards. The party starts at 5:00pm PT (8:00pm EST) and ends when it ends.

On a similarly awesome note, Capcom is further demonstrating their support for all things PlayStation Home-related by refreshing the Resident Evil 5 game space. A new mini-game quest and a souvenir shop with new costumes will be available within the space, and much more. But the best part is that all of you Resident Evil 5 freaks will get a chance to further sharpen your zombie-slaying skills on Thursday, April 16th. Between the hours of 3:00pm and 7:00pm PT (6:00pm and 10:00pm EST), PlayStation Home Community Management team members CydoniaX, BuggieTechnica, and Locust_Star will be joining up with Capcom staff to launch into co-op games of RE5 with PlayStation Home users.

The sessions will last for one chapter or 20 minutes - whichever comes first. To participate, just be sure to show up at the Resident Evil 5 game space and have the game loaded into your PLAYSTATION 3. We’ll be looking for users with the game launching icon over their heads, and if we see you we’ll jump into your game. We’ll be dressed in either the new Chris or Sheva costumes. The question is, will you?