Kotaku: ps home

PS Home Beta Drops Video Sharing

Stuart Houghton — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:20:00 MDT

Sony have confirmed that the video sharing features have been dropped from the PlayStation Home beta.

In retrospect, the idea of any kind of multimedia sharing from the copyright-wary Sony was always looking a bit wobbly, but it is unclear if the decision was made on technical or IP rights grounds. Home users were meant to be able to invite other gamers to their virtual space and watch videos together - possibly while eating virtual Pringles.

Sony were unable to confirm if the feature is gone for ever, or if it will be returning in the final release.

Sony: No Video Sharing in Home Beta [Wired]

PlayStation Home Beta Ends In May?

Mark Wilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:20:33 MDT

Chalk this up to rumor, but according to at least one PS Home beta tester's account page, Sony's closed beta will be ending on 5/15/08. This date in itself means little. But it could mean that Sony might begin an open beta—or just launch Home once and for all—sometime not so long after that date. Either way, we wouldn't hold our breath for Home to magically appear any time soon in a firmware update...especially since 2.4, expected this summer, has not been rumored to contain Home.

Thanks tipster!

NCSoft: Home Could Be Good, Won't Move PS3s

Mark Wilson — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:20:58 MDT

PSHome looks like it could be the PS3's underestimated weapon in recapturing public interest in a brand that's taken its share of bruises this time around. But NCSoft's Thomas Bidaux sees the platform's potential a little differently:

I think Home is very interesting, but I want to see how people use it. Again - content. If there is an incentive for people to go into Home, beyond just customising their avatar, then it will be very, very good. If there is no incentive, then it will remain quite limited.

One of the limitations is linked to the PlayStation 3 - so the success of Home is 100 per cent tied to the PS3's penetration into the market.
I don't think you can say you will sell more PS3s because of Home, but if the PS3 had the right penetration in the market, then yes - Home will be very interesting.

We've become less excited about Home since its announcement—granted the adrenaline rush dies down when Sony isn't after you—but that's only because we haven't seen much more since then as we're forced to sort through the limited experiences of beta testers for more info. If Home has the content and it's marketed with gusto, why couldn't it move some consoles?

Virtual Reality [via gamingtoday]

Microsoft Considering A Virtual World, Too

Mark Wilson — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:20:56 MDT

At the recent virtual worlds conference, Microsoft general manager of entertainment devices Daniel Schiappa was on hand, and not all the quiet about why he was there.

By next year, you'll probably know more about why I'm up here.

OK, so he wasn't completely forthright about why he was there, but we get the point (mainly because he explained later). Microsoft is looking into deploying a virtual world like Second Life or PSHome to span the PC, Xbox 360 and possibly other entertainment devices (like the Zune?). And if such a world could seamlessly piggyback on Xbox Live...things could get interesting. But is it too little too late from Microsoft? Schiappa tells us more:

[Timing is] definitely a concern...But I think we've got a good understanding now of the landscape, we have a strategic plan in mind ... if a year from now we don't have anything, then we probably won't have anything.

If anything, this move acknowledges that Microsoft has noticed the buzz around Home. And the timing, even if late, certainly allows Microsoft to watch Sony sink or swim before jumping in that pool. Because someone may have peed in it.

Is Microsoft headed toward a virtual world? [via maxconsole]

The Banhammer Coming to PS Home

Mark Wilson — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:40:42 MDT

Sony isn't putting up with players who ruin the community experience of PS Home. Utilizing a user feedback system (ala Xbox Live), Sony is ready to permanently ban the jackasses from ever setting foot inside their virtual world again.

Ultimately we know a user's details, we know machine details and we know where they live...so you would have to move house and buy a new PS3 before you could get online again.

As far as I'm concerned, this is fantastic news that will keep the douches at bay. But it is sort of a three strikes and you're out and dead philosophy.

EIF: Home abusers can be turned off and banned, warns Sony [gameindustry]

New PSHome Beta Screens

Mark Wilson — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:20:22 MDT

I have absolutely zero interest in going bowling. The "sport" peaked in Kingpin and I've been done with it since. But Sony puts a bowling alley in PSHome? Freaking genius.

Aside from a few necessary reboot glitches while playing pool, the experience is supposed to be pretty fluid and the PSP interface actually works. Hit the link for extended impressions.
Home Beta Exclusive Look [sonyprotectiongroup]