PlayStation 3 Releases Long-Awaited Virtual Community 'Home'
Posted on: Wednesday, 10 December 2008, 13:39 CST
Sony officials announced that the much delayed virtual community for owners of its PlayStation 3 game console will start worldwide Thursday, but it's unlikely to attract many newcomers to the machine.
The company reiterated that the free-of-charge PlayStation Home service is mostly meant to make gaming more fun for people who already own the PS3.
Users of the Home software can connect their PS3 to broadband to create three-dimensional digital images that represent themselves called "avatars," and communicate with the avatars of other PS3 owners.
Sony says a player’s avatar can stroll through virtual lawns, bowling alleys, arcades and homes in the PS3, but the central activity is playing games and becoming friends with other PlayStation 3 game fans.
The service isn't meant to rival virtual worlds like Linden Lab's "Second Life," which can be played on personal computers and has drawn millions of people, according to Junji "JB" Shoda, a Sony Computer Entertainment Japan vice president, who oversees Home.
He claims Sony had the idea for Home before such virtual worlds or ‘metaverse’ in cyberspace became popular.
"This is a community for gamers," Shoda said. "It's meant to enrich the interactive experience for gamers."
The Home service will start in Japan, Europe, U.S. and other areas where PlayStation 3 is available. Sony said it would soon be updated with new games, licensing partners and events including a New Year's countdown ceremony.
The service was originally planned for release in 2007, but was delayed twice. The delays, Shoda said, were needed to get feedback and understand what gamers wanted, as well as check on security and other anti-crime features.
“Home will help ensure PS3 owners will keep coming back to play games. It may also possibly encourage family members to start playing with the PS3 that's in their homes,” said Ryoji Akagawa, a senior producer at Sony's game unit.
However, Shoda and Akagawa both were cautious about promising significant console sales perks from Home. The PS3 has struggled against rivals Wii from Nintendo and Microsoft's Xbox 360.
On Tuesday, Sony announced it was trimming 4 percent of its work force, or 8,000 jobs, as the global downturn erodes profits. It also plans to cut another 8,000 temporary jobs worldwide.
However, the reductions are in electronics and don't apply to the gaming business.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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