Joystiq

PSN scheduled maintenance tomorrow, some apps to be down

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

The following is a PSA for all the PSN users out there, calibrated in PSI and utilizing linguistic psychology: The PlayStation Network is undergoing scheduled maintenance on Thursday, May 24, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. PDT.

The PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home may not be accessible during this time, but online play and other apps such as Netflix and Amazon Instant will run as normal, provided you've signed into the network at least five days prior to Thursday. This means do it now if you have big PSN plans tomorrow.

PSN scheduled maintenance tomorrow, some apps to be down originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: 13-hour PSN maintenance begins tomorrow morning

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

It's time once again for the PlayStation Network to be poked, prodded and generally fiddled around with by Sony's countless technicians and maintenance cyborgs. As per usual, 13 hours chock full of network rejiggering are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EST, during which time the PSN Store, PlayStation Home, Account Management services and online play will be unavailable.

PlayStation websites hosted on PSN servers, like the Official PlayStation Blog, will also be offline during maintenance. The official PlayStation Twitter account, however, will continue to function properly, since it's on Twitter and everything. Updates regarding maintenance can be found there, though extended periods of downtime are usually situations where no news is good news.

PSA: 13-hour PSN maintenance begins tomorrow morning originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pirate ships lead charge of new PlayStation Home games

JC Fletcher — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

PlayStation Home continues to be the, well, home of exclusive games, to the surprise of those of us who just remember it as a hangout for terrifying mannequins. Sony just announced three new Home-exclusive games, including one that is available now, and has pirates in it.

Cutthroats: Battle for Black Powder Cove is a "persistent and perpetual game of maritime combat" in which players fight as a captain or gunner of a pirate ship, blasting enemy ships and collecting the booty from their wreckage.

Coming later this spring, No Man's Land is a third-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ... in Home. Naturally, it's freemium, with the ability to buy weapon and armor upgrades. Mercia, due this summer, is a multiplayer fantasy RPG. You can read all about the new content on the PlayStation Blog, and then consider updating your avatar with a more recent version of your haircut.

Pirate ships lead charge of new PlayStation Home games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Street Fighter X Tekken promo brings violent altercations to PS Home

JC Fletcher — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST

If the only thing keeping you from a meaningful PlayStation Home experience was a lack of fistfighting, good news. For a promotional Street Fighter X Tekken "Total Game Integration" event, you'll get to beat the crap out of those annoyingly placid-looking Home avatars. A series of challenges will allow you to unlock Ryu and Kazuma costumes, enabling you to spice up your brawls with hadoukens and jump kicks.

For the ultimate "stuff you never thought about doing in Home" experience, you can even pre-order the game from within the virtual world, getting access to a pack of in-game Gems.

Street Fighter X Tekken promo brings violent altercations to PS Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN maintenance starts on March 1 at 11am ET

David Hinkle — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:45:00 EST

Expect some PSN downtime starting on March 1, from 11am ET until 2am ET the next day. The PlayStation Store on both the PC and consoles will be unavailable, as will account management and PlayStation Home. If you're signed in when maintenance starts, you'll be signed out automatically.

PSN maintenance starts on March 1 at 11am ET originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home relaunches on PS3 tomorrow

David Hinkle — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

That's right, if you've been anxious to see PlayStation Home's transformation for yourself, you'll get a chance to download the new client sometime tomorrow. Or you could just watch a video. Entirely up to you.

As we've covered before, the update brings with it newly themed districts, some free-to-play games and a (hopefully) more useful hub. No specific time for (re)launch was given.

Gallery: PlayStation Home Relaunch

Continue reading PlayStation Home relaunches on PS3 tomorrow

PlayStation Home relaunches on PS3 tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Welcome to your new PlayStation Home

JC Fletcher — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST

In this video, Sony takes us on a tour of the new PlayStation Home. If you're not sure what's different, maybe now would be a good opportunity to go check out Home for the first time -- if only so you have something to compare to the new version.

Video: Welcome to your new PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home gets 1.55 update this Thursday in advance of relaunch

David Hinkle — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EST

Yes, yes, we know the relaunch is coming, but don't expect it this Thursday. PlayStation Home community manager "Locust_Star" posted on the PlayStation Blog today, announcing the 1.55 update and some patch features arriving prior to the big relaunch. Included in 1.55 are an improved "start-up flow," some wardrobe and furniture browser tweaks and the ability to manually clear the PlayStation Home cache on your HDD.

Outside of technical stuff, Home has also added some new costumes, spaces and Loot, a game that lets players record and download their own custom videos right to their hard drives. There's also YouTube functionality for those must-share Quincying moments.

PlayStation Home gets 1.55 update this Thursday in advance of relaunch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home relaunches this fall with a questing system, themed districts

David Hinkle — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Big things are happening in PlayStation Home this fall. Sony has announced that an entirely new Home experience is currently in the works, one which it hopes will better cater to the needs of its users and offer a better experience overall. Home will relaunch with a new Hub and destinations based on desired gaming experience.

The new Hub "integrates games, quests, community events and user-generated content, while providing players with additional navigation, shopping, socialization and entertainment options." Essentially, it's the launch pad to anything else in Home. Within the Hub, players can go over to the Activity Board to check on quests or create their own events and share them with their friends. Users can also check out the Activity Board to quickly jump to games and content.

Outside of the Hub, there are four main areas: Action District, Sportswalk, Adventure District and Pier Park. As you can imagine, each caters to the needs of a certain gamer -- the Action and Adventure Districts both cater to hardcore and action-adventure fans, respectively, while Sportswalk is for sports nuts. Pier Park is an interactive theme park, replete with rides and games and such.

This big update will piggyback on a core client update arriving this fall, which Sony hopes will help players get into games and content much quicker than before.

Continue reading PlayStation Home relaunches this fall with a questing system, themed districts

PlayStation Home relaunches this fall with a questing system, themed districts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch EVO fights from within PlayStation Home this weekend

JC Fletcher — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST

PlayStation Home is quickly becoming the destination for pretending you're in a room watching an event. After the popular E3 viewing, Home is now hosting live streaming footage from the EVO fighting tournament in Los Angeles. Through Sunday, you'll be able to watch the world's best players compete in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Tekken 6, Mortal Kombat, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2, and Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition from within the PlayStation Home Theater.

You'll get some pointers about how to play fighting games, and you'll get free junk for your Avatar, including an EVO shirt on Friday, a fighting stick item Saturday, and an EVO trophy on Sunday.

Watch EVO fights from within PlayStation Home this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome Back goodies for European PlayStation Home outlined

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Who cares about free games, downloadable content or PlayStation Plus memberships? We certainly could not care less -- our envious eye has fallen on the European PSN, whose Welcome Back rewards now include a grip of free PlayStation Home swag.

Continue reading Welcome Back goodies for European PlayStation Home outlined

Welcome Back goodies for European PlayStation Home outlined originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2011 spurs half a million PlayStation Home visits

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:15:00 EST

We like to make fun of PlayStation Home, but it turns out if you put cool stuff there, people will log in. VentureBeat reports over 500,000 people showed up for the festivities, which included interviews and gameplay demonstrations of what was on offer on the E3 show floor, plus a live stream of Sony's press conference and a virtual recreation of its booth area. Sony did a similar thing last year and pulled in 250,000.

If for some reason you weren't able to make it into Home, get caught up on our admittedly less interactive Sony coverage from the show: the keynote, the booth and E3 overall.

E3 2011 spurs half a million PlayStation Home visits originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's E3 keynote to be streamed live in PlayStation Home

David Hinkle — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST

Got any plans for Monday night? Sony's announced that it will stream its five hour E3 press conference straight from the very real, very solid Los Angeles to the ephemeral metaverse of PlayStation Home. Normally, we'd judge anyone who spends five hours inside of PlayStation Home, but we'll make an exception for this. The keynote kicks off on June 6 at 5pm PT.

In addition to the press conference, Sony will also recreate its E3 booth set-up in Home. Starting Tuesday, June 7 at 12pm PT, users can take a virtual tour of Sony's re-creation and unlock exclusive Home content in the process. Also, the PlayStation Blog guys will be streaming live from the show floor at random intervals, offering up game demos and interviews for virtual patrons.

We'll be honest ... we're a little jealous. We'll be there, dragging ourselves through the aromatic halls of E3 to bring you all the hot scoops ... but instead of F5-ing our internet site, you'll be kicking it in Home. We quit. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Sony's E3 keynote to be streamed live in PlayStation Home

Sony's E3 keynote to be streamed live in PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home 1.5 debuts April 20

Randy Nelson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:30:00 EST

Announced during GDC, version 1.5 of the PlayStation Home client will go live tomorrow morning, April 20. The update not only introduces engine enhancements designed to aid developers in making full high-performance games for the platform, but a number of interface tweaks as well.

Sony is launching a new Sodium themed private space along with the update, although Lockwood Publishing's futuristic racer utilizing the Home 1.5 framework, Sodium Two, is still in closed beta. You can find a complete list of the UI and functionality updates being introduced at the source link below.

PlayStation Home 1.5 debuts April 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Leaked Home screens show revamped Central Plaza

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST

Are you sitting down? Please, take your time. All set? Great! Earlier this week, leaked shots showing up on FourPlayerCoOp depicted a brand new, kinda futuristic Central Plaza in Home. Relax! Breathe! We're not 100 percent sure whether the shots are conceptual or final, though they look awfully real to us (aside from that woman's impossibly tiny skirt).

Either way, we'll see soon enough as PlayStation's Home update 1.5 will arrive this spring. Or at least those of you who are still using Home will. We won't. Because we aren't.

[Image credit: FourPlayerCoOp]

Rumor: Leaked Home screens show revamped Central Plaza originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home version 1.5 bringing new game tech, realtime multiplayer

Randy Nelson — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

The first of Sony's GDC 2011 announcements isn't a new piece of hardware or a major sequel, but rather a new version of its virtual world, PlayStation Home. Version 1.5 of the core Home client, due this spring, is the most significant since the service's launch in terms of new technology.

Specifically, Sony is making new features available to developers looking to make games that run within Home. The most significant improvements involve low-lag realtime multiplayer gaming, paving the way for first-person shooters, racing games and other fast-action genres within Home. To (literally) drive this home, Sony showed off an early glimspe of Sodium Two: Project Velocity from Lockwood Publishing, which unlike its arena-shooter predecessor is a Wipeout HD style racing game.

We'll be getting our hands on Sodium Two later this week on the show floor, but we're already impressed with its fast, super-smooth framerate -- the result of new graphics engine capabilities. Its gameplay should provide a sense of the improved physics client Home 1.5 will offer. We have a sneaking suspiscion it will play a lot like Wipeout, but you never know.

PlayStation Home version 1.5 bringing new game tech, realtime multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch space shuttle Discovery's final launch from PlayStation Home premium yacht

JC Fletcher — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Home users! Be sure to step out of your promotional wastelands and secret subscriber enclaves today, for the sake of history. Space shuttle Discovery is taking off for the last time today at 4:50PM ET, and you can watch the whole thing from the confines of the PS3's virtual world.

However, there is a catch. You can't just watch from your own room in Home or the Central Plaza or wherever -- you can only view the launch from the Loot Sunset Yacht, a "premium personal space" available for purchase (previously known as the "Amaterasu Yacht"). Of course, this makes the event sound a bit less "historic" and more like "paying Sony for the privilege of watching your avatar watch the shuttle launch, instead of just watching it yourself on your whole TV screen for free."

Watch space shuttle Discovery's final launch from PlayStation Home premium yacht originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Killzone 3 to include 'total' PlayStation Home integration

JC Fletcher — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:32:00 EST

If you happen to wander into PlayStation Home's Central Plaza after this Thursday, January 27, you may not find it as antiseptic and serene as you remember. As part of a Killzone 3 promotion, Sony is going to transform Home's main meeting area into "the last ISA stronghold," wrecked by a Helghast attack. Players can fight back in three "levels" of Home minigames, earning points that can be used to unlock content in the real game's multiplayer mode.

Sony is also adding the somewhat impractical functionality of a Killzone 3 pre-order from Amazon ... from within Home. For the first time, you'll be able to reserve a game from within Sony's virtual world, securing an exclusive jet-pack "costume" for your avatar (are you really asking -- not a chance it actually works!); in addition to Amazon's standard pre-orders bonuses, including more multiplayer points and the "Retro Map Pack" (two maps from Killzone 2 playable in the new game). So, you're supposed to go to the fake Killzone to buy the real one -- is that right?

Continue reading Killzone 3 to include 'total' PlayStation Home integration

Killzone 3 to include 'total' PlayStation Home integration originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Dead Redemption multiplayer XP challenge for Avatar awards begins

Mike Schramm — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

With all of the planned DLC out the door and a shelf full of Game of the Year awards to display, you might think Rockstar is done riding the Red Dead Redemption train -- but not so fast, pardner. A Rockstar XP challenge is now underway in the Wild West shooter which has players collectively earning XP in the multiplayer modes towards unlocking special Avatar awards for Xbox Live and PlayStation Home for everyone. The items include system-specific versions of both the RDR T-shirt and John Marston's in-game Elegant Suit.

Of course, each system's goodies will only unlock when the totals for the platform are met. You can watch the bars rise on the official Rockstar Games newswire or Social Club site. What'er you waitin' for, cowboys and cowgirls? Get to yer XP earnin'!

Red Dead Redemption multiplayer XP challenge for Avatar awards begins originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home celebrates two years, outlines next year's additions

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:44:00 EST

Man, it seems like only yesterday that we first stepped virtual foot into PlayStation Home, communicating with fellow PS3 owners using a complex system of gestures and gender morphing. In actuality, it's been two years since the platform launched, and according to a Sony press release, over 17 million users have visited its ghostly halls in that time. These users have participated in over 600 "community events," some of which were sponsored by other game developers and publishers, while some of which were hosted by us, such as our lightly-attended "Virtual Pizza Party/Singles Mixer 2009."

The presser also announced two games which will arrive on the platform next spring: Sodium 2, a follow-up to Outso's successful, Home-based competitve tank shooter, and Conspiracy, a multiplayer "Spy/Puzzle game" from Jet Set Games. You can check out a few screenshots from the latter of these two titles in the gallery below. We wonder if our own proclivity for sexual espionage will give us a leg up?

Gallery: Conspiracy (PlayStation Home)

Continue reading PlayStation Home celebrates two years, outlines next year's additions

PlayStation Home celebrates two years, outlines next year's additions originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Force Unleashed 2 items hit Avatar Marketplace, PS Home Dec. 9

David Hinkle — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST

In the galaxy you currently reside in, LucasArts plans on hocking more digital Star Wars wares. On Thursday, avatars can tap into whichever side of The Force their inner fashionista prefers on both Xbox Live and PlayStation Home.

Continue reading Force Unleashed 2 items hit Avatar Marketplace, PS Home Dec. 9

Force Unleashed 2 items hit Avatar Marketplace, PS Home Dec. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Plus users get an exclusive space away from the crowds of Home

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:30:00 EST

Are you looking for the quietest place in the (virtual) world? Yes, even quieter than PlayStation Home. Sony Europe just launched a PlayStation Plus-exclusive lounge inside of Home. Perfect for the person who likes Home, but just wishes it didn't have so many people in it.

Once you get past the doorman in the marble foyer, you'll be able to converse with the other occupant of the PlayStation Plus Private Members Club in peace -- mostly about how awesome it is to have a place to go where you can get away from all the people who meant to launch the PlayStation Store. There's a bar, "alcoves" for conversation, and even an exclusive card game, optimistically designed for two to four players.

PlayStation Plus users get an exclusive space away from the crowds of Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Rewards program to offer free PSN bonuses for 'highly engaged' fans

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST

Sony is preparing to launch a new incentives program called PlayStation Rewards. A closed beta for the offer is currently invite-only -- for "highly engaged" PlayStation owners -- but the full service will open up to include everyone next year. The program will reward players with a number of PSN bonuses, including "exclusive" avatars, dynamic themes and PlayStation Home content. In addition, Rewards will feature "member-only" sweepstakes, events and giveaways.

At first glance, PlayStation Rewards seems to offer many of the same features as PlayStation Plus. However, the two services are separate from each other and will offer different bonuses. Rewards is free, and will be open to all PlayStation owners, regardless of Plus status -- although, Plus members are more likely to be offered entry into the service during the beta.

Like Club Nintendo and Square Enix Members, PlayStation Rewards is tiered, separating its members into three groups: Select, Pro and Legendary. Playing games, downloading demos, using PlayStation Home, being active on the PlayStation.com Forums, answering surveys and buying content on the PlayStation Store are some of the ways in which members can increase their ranks in a Trophy-inspired leveling system.

Continue reading PlayStation Rewards program to offer free PSN bonuses for 'highly engaged' fans

PlayStation Rewards program to offer free PSN bonuses for 'highly engaged' fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony discounting PSOne Classics for 15th birthday celebration

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Sony's rolling out the average-sized guns for its celebration of the original PlayStation's 15th birthday. In a recent newsletter, the company announced that select titles on the PSOne Classics storefront will be discounted on a weekly basis over the coming months. In addition, one of the early PSN titles, Super Rub A Dub, will receive a 50 percent discount starting today and running until Monday, September 20.

If you don't feel like spending any cash to join in the revelry, you can also pick up a free PS1 ornament (pictured above), with which to decorate your apartment in PlayStation Home, by visiting the Theater space. We sure hope Sony also releases a "Tower of Dave Matthews Band CDs" ornament and "A VCR With a Copy of Bio-Dome Stuck Inside" ornament, just so we can recreate that late-90s college dorm room experience.

Continue reading Sony discounting PSOne Classics for 15th birthday celebration

Sony discounting PSOne Classics for 15th birthday celebration originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Empire Strikes Back at PlayStation Home with new avatar items, bundles

David Hinkle — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Tomorrow, PlayStation Home enthusiasts will be able to pick up some Empire Strikes Back gear for their virtual pad. Pictured above are the upcoming items, available as part of the 30th celebration of Episode V in the Star Wars saga. The odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field may be 3,720 to 1, but the odds your pad will look totally badass with a carbonite Han Solo hanging on the wall? Definite.

Coincidentally, LucasArts will also release two PlayStation Home bundles tomorrow. The "Everything Empire Strikes Back Bundle" includes everything related to the movie released in PlayStation Home so far for $24.99 -- a total of 51 items. Then there's the "All Furniture Items Bundle," a specific collection of ten specific Empire Strikes Back items for $9.99.

Oh, and if you find yourself in PlayStation Home today, stop on by the LucasArts shop for a free "Yoda Ears" cap. Today's the last day you can snag one!

The Empire Strikes Back at PlayStation Home with new avatar items, bundles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World price, pre-order bonus announced

Andrew Yoon — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

While it's unlikely Scott Pilgrim vs. the World will be sold out when it launches on the PlayStation Store's virtual shelves next month, you may still want to pre-order the game. Ubisoft's official online store is throwing in a special bonus: a free "Sex Bob-omb" t-shirt for your PlayStation Home avatar.

Okay, this may not be the most exciting pre-order bonus ever concocted, but there's still good reason to be excited. The Ubishop has Scott Pilgrim listed at $9.99, bucking the recent trend of $15 downloads. We definitely approve.

Gallery: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Comic Con)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World price, pre-order bonus announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Codename bringing original indie games to PlayStation Home

Randy Nelson — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Sony has announced a partnership with upstart independent game label Codename that will see a variety of games from indie devs released on PlayStation Home, beginning with four revealed today that are due over "the course of the next several months."

The group includes Dueling Gentlemen from Odd Gentlemen (Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom) which, as its title suggests, will see Home inhabitants squaring off one-on-one in a classic battle of honor. The hook: Duels will take place live on stage in Home's Central Plaza. Addiitonally, Lazy 8 Studios is bringing its unique 3D puzzler Cogs to Home as a Central Plaza spectacle, complete with multiplayer.

Super Awesome Mountain RPG -- a board game/RPG mash-up from Codename itself -- and Minor Battle, Peanut Gallery's Indiecade award-winning, team-based platformer round out what we here at Joystiq HQ are calling "The Most Excited We've Been About Home in Forever Collection." The official announcement is posted after the break.

Continue reading Codename bringing original indie games to PlayStation Home

Codename bringing original indie games to PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Develop: Is PlayStation Home the next great game development platform?

Kyle Orland — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

These days, every developer and their brother seems to be making a beeline for hot new gaming platforms like Facebook and the iPhone, visions of Farmville- and Doodle-Jump-style riches dancing in their heads. But nDreams CEO Patrick O'Luanaigh says all these gold rushers might be ignoring a more welcoming and neglected platform for their gaming projects: PlayStation Home.

Continue reading Develop: Is PlayStation Home the next great game development platform?

Develop: Is PlayStation Home the next great game development platform? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home 'Wipeout Museum' preserves futuristic racing history

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Have you taken the time to familiarize yourself with some of the biggest moments in the history of the Wipeout franchise? The original game's ship date? The day Psygnosis was acquired and rebranded SCE Studio Liverpool? How about the time young Billy Caruthers first traveled fast enough in Wipeout 64 to break the sound barrier, causing the speakers of his 17-inch television and his left eardrum to disintegrate?

You can learn all about these momentous occasions by visiting the "Wipeout Museum" space, which recently opened in PlayStation Home. The space celebrates the franchise's 15th birthday with a few scale models of the game's hovercrafts and a couple of interactive minigames -- you know, games like Wipeout Shooter, which recreates all the thrilling shooting gallery action for which the core series is known.

PlayStation Home 'Wipeout Museum' preserves futuristic racing history originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home is a good, profitable business, says Sony's Buser

David Hinkle — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Ask anybody what they think about PlayStation Home and you'll likely get one of two reactions: "What is that?" and "Meh." For PlayStation Home director Jack Buser, however, it's quite the accomplishment -- a "very good business model for PlayStation, and quite profitable," he told Gamasutra.

"With numbers like we have, it goes without saying that Home has been a huge success for our company, something that we have been very proud of." The numbers he's talking about look pretty decent on paper: there are over 100 games on the service, the average user session is about 70 minutes, there are over 50 unique spaces available and 14 million people have at least stepped foot in Home once. Not bad, but it's all about the context -- do people play those games? Do people explore those unique spaces? How many of those 14 million are actual active users?

"We haven't talked too much about the platform itself, but what we have said is that every mature virtual item we have ever created has been profitable," Buser said. "We've released over 5,000 virtual items on the platform, and we know that once those items reach maturity, they are profitable. So you see us creating a tremendous amount of virtual items, because it is such a high margin business for us to be in." So it's very much a long-tail thing, then?

Look, you could probably present the numbers in any way possible and spin the service as a success, but for us, the real success is its ability to pull in new users, its effectiveness as a marketing tool and its profits from the sale of virtual goods. Log in now and you'll no doubt find a community there, passionate about Home. But is it pulling in new users? Are marketers beating down the (virtual) door to get into Home? And how much does Sony really earn from the service annually? Until we get less vague statistics and hard numbers, we might never know.

PlayStation Home is a good, profitable business, says Sony's Buser originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More people visited E3 from PlayStation Home than real life

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Though there are few things we love more than our annual excursion to E3, there are some inherent downsides to the trip which we could do without. Namely, the ever-present threat of apocalyptic earthquakes.

Next year, we might just follow the example of the quarter of a million people who PlayStation Blog claims stopped by Sony's virtual booth in PlayStation Home. Sure, our coverage might be a little one-sided given the absence of every other company, but seriously, guys, earthquakes are terrifying.

More people visited E3 from PlayStation Home than real life originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home launches Community Theater with PS Nation

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:20:00 EST

PlayStation Home has launched one of its most exciting initiatives yet. The Community Theater is a screen in Home's virtual film house dedicated to bringing players "close to their favorite gaming websites" through "exclusive videos specially crafted for PlayStation Home." The first partner to join Sony's online community is PS Nation, a long-running PlayStation-oriented podcast (which was formerly partnered with Joystiq).

Glenn and the rest of the PS Nation team are working on providing regular updates to the online service. While other outlets haven't been named, this is a good first step in countering Xbox Live's video partnerships, such as IGN Strategize and the OXM Report.

PlayStation Home launches Community Theater with PS Nation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet crashes into PlayStation Home today

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:15:00 EST

This week's PlayStation Home update promises to be the LittleBig-gest ever. It will add the LittleBigPlanet PlayGround space, which features the King's Snap Happy Photo Challenge, a new Home-exclusive minigame that lets you take pictures to unlock rewards. There's also a Creator minigame that has you building a custom LBP-themed wallpaper for the XMB using a variety of stickers you can place, stick and combine. (Check out the trailer after the break.)

Finally, Qore fans will want to pay attention to this: show hosts Veronica Belmont and Audrey Cleo will be making an appearance in Home to chat with fans of the PSN video magazine. For more details, check out the PlayStation.Blog.

Continue reading LittleBigPlanet crashes into PlayStation Home today

LittleBigPlanet crashes into PlayStation Home today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 May 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Become Iron Man with new flying game on PlayStation Home

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:29:00 EST

This may be the greatest thing to ever happen to PlayStation Home ever. To promote the upcoming Iron Man 2 movie, Paramount Pictures and Audi have partnered up to create a brand new Iron Man-themed mini-game, exclusively for PlayStation Home. Debuting on Thursday, April 29th, the Audi Space will be updated with a game that has your avatar donning an Iron Man suit, flying through an aerial obstacle course.

The best times will be recorded on a leaderboard, and the top 10 scores by the end of June will be awarded with a virtual Iron Man suit to keep, making this one of the rarest virtual items ever offered for Sony's online community.

Unfortunately, this game is exclusive to the European PSN, meaning those of you outside of SCEE's domain won't be able to partake in the fun. To see what you're missing out on, check out the trailer after the break.

Gallery: PlayStation Home: Iron Man 2

Continue reading Become Iron Man with new flying game on PlayStation Home

Become Iron Man with new flying game on PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIII and BioShock 2 costumes available today in Home

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:00:00 EST

Your adventuring in Final Fantasy XIII may be coming to an end. You can show your fandom for the game by buying a five pound tub of hair gel and cosplaying at the next anime convention ... or you can buy a Final Fantasy XIII-themed outfit for PlayStation Home. Good news: you'll be able to take the easier option later with today's PlayStation Home update.

Costumes for Lightning, Vanille, Sazh and Snow will all be available in the Costumes store in Sony's virtual world. In addition, you'll be able to rock costumes from BioShock 2 with purchasable Big Daddy and Big Sister costumes. Expect Home to have an interesting denizen of costumers this week.

Final Fantasy XIII and BioShock 2 costumes available today in Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monkey Island avatar clothing comes Home

JC Fletcher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:45:00 EST

Click to learn the Secret of Monkey GalleryHave you been holding off on purchasing games, DLC and other playable content in anticipation of pirate outfits for your Home avatars? If so, get your wallet ready, because LucasArts is adding Monkey Island 2 clothes to the PlayStation Store today. LeChuck, Elaine, Stan, Swordmaster and, of course, Guybrush outfits will be available, along with a LeChuck pirate ship space and various decorative items.

If your tastes run more toward, you know, games, our gallery also features more screenshots of Monkey Island 2: Special Edition -- just in case the last set didn't convince you of its spruced-uppedness.

Gallery: Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge (PS Home)

Monkey Island avatar clothing comes Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Home integrates into games, beginning with SOCOM Confrontation

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:45:00 EST

We've seen many games unlock new content in PlayStation Home, like the Batcave from Batman: Arkham Asylum. However, what we haven't seen yet is the ability to unlock content in-game from Sony's online world. That changes this week, with the addition of the SOCOM OPFOR game space. A Home-exclusive minigame will challenge players to assemble an assault rifle in 12 seconds or less. The prize? A golden AK-47 that can be transferred into SOCOM Confrontation.

Likely, this is just the beginning for expanded Home integration. Associate Producer KC Coleman commented on the PlayStation Blog: "It's truly a win-win-win situation. It's a win for Home because we have opened up a huge door that will allow developers to continue to blur the line between PlayStation Home and PS3 games." See a trailer after the break.

Continue reading PlayStation Home integrates into games, beginning with SOCOM Confrontation

PlayStation Home integrates into games, beginning with SOCOM Confrontation originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliens vs. Predator in PlayStation Home dance-off

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:15:00 EST

It's time for another PlayStation Home dance-off! Unlike the original Hamsters vs. Humans dance-off, this one is a community-driven event, powered by passionate fans of Sony's online service. To participate in the least violent conflict between these two species, you'll want to log on to Home's Central Plaza this Wednesday, April 7 at 9:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. PDT).

Anyone else suddenly reminded of the tagline to the AVP movie?

[Via @SonyPlayStation]

Aliens vs. Predator in PlayStation Home dance-off originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Assassin's Creed Space coming to PlayStation Home

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:13:00 EST

One of the coolest aspects of Joystiq's #2 Game of 2009, Assassin's Creed II, had to be the search for "the truth." The meta game was hidden across the entire experience, and had players solving puzzles in an effort to unlock a video that would explain one of the franchise's biggest mysteries. That mystery and intrigue is coming to Sony's online community this week, in a brand new Space for PlayStation Home.

The Personal Space will include a multiplayer tower defense game that "pits Assassins against Templars," and includes access to developer blogs, concept art, the Animus 2.0 database, and the full "Assassin's Creed: Lineage" live action short film. The Space will cost $4.99, but for hardcore Assassin's Creed fans, the ability to have your Home Avatar walk around the Hideout from ACII may be worth the price of entry.

Assassin's Creed Space coming to PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you want to become a PlayStation Home community volunteer?

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST

Now that PlayStation Home is twelve million strong, Sony is looking for community volunteers to help newcomers ease their way into the PS3 virtual world. Applicants need to be "friendly and knowledgeable" as they help new users navigate the various community events available online. According to a recent call for applicants, the program "offers a great outlet to the most passionate Home users to help give back to the community."

To submit an application, you must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the US, and have "dependable access to email and Internet." Also, not only will you need to describe your most embarrassing PlayStation Home experience, you'll also have to answer this very telling question: "Do you have more friends in real life or in Home? Which do you prefer?" Don't worry, you should answer truthfully. We won't judge you.

Do you want to become a PlayStation Home community volunteer? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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