Japanese Home beta opens, adds Namco classics

by Randy Nelson { Jul 31st 2008 at 3:50PM }

Sony has begun accepting applications for the next beta phase of Home ... in Japan. PS3 users can put their names in the hat (from which 10,000 will be chosen) directly from a new option in the Japanese PlayStation Store. Successful applicants will be notified via email before the beta officially kicks off at the end of August.

In related news, classic arcade games from Namco are showing up as virtual coin-ops in the Japanese Home client. Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, and Xevious have been rolled out so far, with three "secret" titles still on the way. It's interesting to note that Home users – at least in the beta – can play these games for free, whereas they are paid downloads on Xbox Live Arcade. We'll have to wait and see if this holds true for Home games from Namco and other publishers in the open beta (which is supposed to hit by year's end).

Source – Engadget
Source – Siliconera

Tags: beta, BreakingNews, dig-dug, galaga, home, namco, namco-bandai, pac-man, playstation-home, xevious

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

brickwalker0 @ Jul 31st 2008 3:52PM

hmm wonder if America will get a beta?

Killjebus @ Jul 31st 2008 4:11PM

There will be an expanded beta in both EU and America b4 the Fall open beta launch. Yes there WILL be an open beta in the fall and the most telling reasons are that several scheduled fall release games have Home compatibility. It would seem strange and a WASTE of time for the developer to implement Home features if they did not know for SURE that Home is coming this fall. Both R2 and Bioshock will have Home integration.

Nice that these classic games in the Namco Homespace will be free. It makes one wonder what other Homespaces are being cooked up by other 3rd party companies.

Home was originally announced back at GDC 2007, so when it comes this fall that would mean a year and a half between the first OFFICIAL announcement and Home being on everyones PS3. NOT as long as it seems or as long as people claim. The original launch of the open beta was fall 2007, so it has in REALITY seen a 1year delay and NOT 3 years as others have claimed.

Duke @ Jul 31st 2008 4:26PM

I wouldn't take the road of defending Home when you have't touched it yet. Just sayin.

Ayrkain @ Jul 31st 2008 5:02PM

Yeah, but those who have 'touched it' can't talk about it, so what's the difference?

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 31st 2008 5:09PM

Those who have 'touched it' have frequently talked about it on different blogs like Joystiq and Kotaku, and said it's lame and boring, which is understanding since it's really not populated at all at this point.

Don't blame Jeebus tho, flaming sony lemming that he is will gobble it up regardless of anything.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 31st 2008 5:14PM

I know his posts generally elicit some sort of fanboyish response, but killjebus didn't really say anything that was flamebaiting in his post. And he didn't make any claims about Home's quality either.

Duke @ Jul 31st 2008 5:23PM

Im just saying that people hype the thing way too much for not having tried it.

Killjebus @ Jul 31st 2008 7:40PM

Its funny sometimes, you see some of the responses to my post and you see whos they are...and you realize there are several that constantly whine and cry when I or someone else makes fun of a certain "other" console yet they see the need to beat thier chests with name-calling.

Hey, if thats what gets you thru the day...being hypocritical in your comments...

Saria the Cat @ Aug 1st 2008 7:26PM

Reading everyone talk about "touching it" gave me the giggles.

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Jul 31st 2008 3:58PM

Just another 2 years until Home hits the US.

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 31st 2008 4:06PM

Even if it DOES come out, what's the point in playing a far inferior Second Life clone? Especially the one where you can't yiff.

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Jul 31st 2008 4:11PM

Home is superior to Second Life FOR THE SOLE REASON that you can't yiff in it.

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 31st 2008 4:18PM

Oookay...

...so since you're not allowed to yiff, is there anything else you can do on Home?

Cal @ Jul 31st 2008 6:39PM

Laugh at us poor 360 owners and our avatars?

Gaucho @ Jul 31st 2008 4:01PM

I wantz things too damn it! Crafty Japanese and their fancy Jpop and sushi and really hot chicks. . . you know what . . . maybe they deserve it. I love the ladies, they rev my engine.

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Jul 31st 2008 4:05PM

I've never really been too fond of asian women. Even my ex gf was pushing it for me, and she was half asian/half european. :s Maybe that's just me, though.

Gaucho @ Jul 31st 2008 4:09PM

I've had two asian GF. I got the fever. haha their parents sucked ass though

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jul 31st 2008 4:22PM

eeeh. I wouldn't say Japanese women are hot.

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 31st 2008 4:26PM

Women draw by Japanese are hot.
Japanese Women...meh.

Mr Khan @ Jul 31st 2008 5:28PM

Neither better nor worse than the other races/ethnicities, i say

The difference is that the whole "idol culture" produces a lot more in the realm of swimsuit idols than in North America, or elsewhere

At least from what i've seen

MKA @ Jul 31st 2008 4:02PM

Home better be amazing. Its been in some sort of beta Since before the invention of the wheel.....

deaftly @ Jul 31st 2008 4:07PM

2015 can't come soon enough!

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Jul 31st 2008 4:12PM

Maybe Diablo 3 will be nearing its release date by then!

Superstar90 @ Jul 31st 2008 4:17PM

I hear that duke nukem is hiding somewhere in the home universe...

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 31st 2008 4:25PM

In 2015,if any of you guys see an old man riding a DeLorean remember to grab a sports almanac and steal his car.

Mr Khan @ Jul 31st 2008 5:31PM

Really, if they had cut out the Flying Cars and the Weather Control (despite China's current efforts), that portrayal of the future wouldn't be that far off from what we'll probably have come 2015

Also: "Hoverboards don't work on water, unless you've got power!"

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 31st 2008 6:04PM

@ Khan

Good looooord, I just instantly recalled the dude's annoying tone of voice and laugh from when he says that in BtFII

alex @ Jul 31st 2008 5:02PM

can someone please tell me what the point of home is? I want to play games ok my ps3, not interact on a virtual lobby all day long.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 31st 2008 5:05PM

Well, good news, it's not mandatory that you have to do anything with Home. So you're all set.

Park Zero @ Jul 31st 2008 4:17PM

I am following home closely. It will great or horrible. Either way it will be fun to watch.

baby sea tuna @ Jul 31st 2008 4:22PM

"I like your hair!"

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Jul 31st 2008 4:31PM

Exactly why I'll never use home.

I hate hearing that irl from people that see my mohawk, and I'd hate it even more hearing it in a video game.

Marty @ Jul 31st 2008 4:40PM

"This is the best trophy in the game"

baby sea tuna @ Jul 31st 2008 4:30PM

Congratulations Scut Farkus, you have won the best trophy in the game!

Dracula Jones @ Jul 31st 2008 4:59PM

Yellow eyes!

BIGFAT @ Jul 31st 2008 4:38PM

Starts slow clap!

CLAP!.....CLAP!.....CLAP!.....CLAP!..CLAP!..CLAP!.CLAP!

congrats

Arcane Magic @ Jul 31st 2008 4:56PM

@Gaucho & Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck}

Here's a stupid off topic question that spawned from two Joystiq users comments above. (I never understood this.)

Why can't a non Asian person (or male, in this case) like an Asian female without it being about Asian or yellow fever? Why does it always have to have some kind of fever thing attached to it? Why can't it just be a normal attraction towards a female who is Asian?

So, if an African-American male likes a Latino female, then that automatically means he has Latino fever? What's the deal with the whole "yellow fever" shit? Who came up with that stupid phrase or term? I wanna know!