Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Revolutionary: It Ain't Mii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/revolutionary-it-aint-mii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/revolutionary-it-aint-mii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/revolutionary-it-aint-mii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As the New Year approaches and some of you are making your resolutions, it's a natural time to reflect on who you are and who you would like to be. Two years ago when I brought home my Wii and was sculpting a likeness of myself in Mii form, I was doing just that sort of reflecting.

Recently, Sony opened up their new Playstation Home service to public beta and Microsoft unrolled the New Xbox Experience. With these additions, it has become possible to create an effigy of ourselves across each platform, so I'd like to give you my impressions of my own three representations. I can tell you right now, a couple of these ain't pretty.

Continue reading Revolutionary: It Ain't Mii

JoystiqRevolutionary: It Ain't Mii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarshomejoystiqfeaturesmiimiiplazamiisnxenxe-avatarsplaystation homePlaystationHomeRevolutionaryWed, 31 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Homesick: Phil praises PS Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/homesick-phil-praises-ps-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/homesick-phil-praises-ps-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/homesick-phil-praises-ps-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Though PlayStation Home seems forever out of reach, this hasn't stopped Atari's Phil Harrison, one of the original architects of Sony's much-anticipated virtual landscape, from singing its praises. The former Sony exec was one of Home's chief evangelists, and, according to Eurogamer, believes Sony has "brilliantly realised their ambitions."

While also "quite impressed" with Microsoft's efforts around the social networking buzzword, Harrison noted that he feels his former employer "will have a very successful platform." We just hope that when he gives Home a congratulatory slap on the back, he does so with enough gusto to actually push it out the door.

JoystiqHomesick: Phil praises PS Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atarihomephil-harrisonphilharrisonplaystation-homeplaystationhomePS3sonyFri, 05 Dec 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Bull charges into PS Home as first major sponsor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/red-bull-charges-into-ps-home-as-first-major-sponsor/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/red-bull-charges-into-ps-home-as-first-major-sponsor/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/red-bull-charges-into-ps-home-as-first-major-sponsor/#commentsFiled under: ,


Puzzling through Sony's reasons for throwing money at PlayStation Home is not a task for weak of heart, but for long, sleepless hours spent burning the midnight oil. Thankfully we now have Red Bull, the online service's first major third-party partner, on tap to help energize our search for enlightenment.

Details remain scant, though UK site Brand Republic notes that the energy drink company will have its own caffeinated island space in Home featuring "an aeroplane racing game based on Red Bull's real world Red Bull Air Race series." As Home does anything but race to release, we can't help but wonder if someday we'll take in Sony's advertisement-laden virtual landscape from the air, rather than while wandering aimlessly on the ground.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

JoystiqRed Bull charges into PS Home as first major sponsor originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energydrinkshomeplaystation-homeplaystationhomeracered-bullredbullsonysponsorWed, 03 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home gets own home on the web]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/playstation-home-gets-own-home-on-the-web/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/playstation-home-gets-own-home-on-the-web/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/playstation-home-gets-own-home-on-the-web/#commentsFiled under:

Those who continue to experience PlayStation Home from the outside-looking-in have another outlet to fuel their desire to traipse about in Sony's social bowling experiment. The oft-delayed service has been given its own home on the official PlayStation website, though like Home itself at present the site is sparse in both content and purpose.

Currently visitors can wow themselves by reading a description of Home, as well as watch a video tour, look at a handful of screenshots ... and that's about it. Even so, pressing your face up against the screen is nearly as much fun as wandering aimlessly though the virtual world's vapid halls. Nearly.

JoystiqPlayStation Home gets own home on the web originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahomeplaystation-homeplaystationhomePS3Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft holding first third-party media event in PlayStation Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/ubisoft-holding-first-third-party-media-event-in-playstation-hom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/ubisoft-holding-first-third-party-media-event-in-playstation-hom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/ubisoft-holding-first-third-party-media-event-in-playstation-hom/#commentsFiled under: ,


There are a number of negative traits associated with video game press events and conventions, the most obvious of which being the time and expense required to haul one's widely dispersed blogging crew to the west coast (or in some cases, overseas). However, not many know about a phenomenon known widely in our circle as "Blogger Stench", a condition brought on by packing a convention hall with tired, sweaty, uncomfortably close gaming writers. Luckily, Ubisoft is taking measures to avoid this putrid odor -- simply by bringing one of their events into an odorless space.

Okay, they're still holding their Ubidays press event in Paris today -- but for the next five days, the PlayStation Home's Media and Events space will be dedicated to previewing new Ubisoft titles, such as Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy's HAWX, and Soul Calibur IV. Those blessed with a closed beta account can check out these new titles from the comfort of their own homes -- those who attended the brick-and-mortar Ubidays event will likely spend the next five days replacing their overseas wardrobe and attempting to remove their outermost layer of skin with a Brillo pad.

JoystiqUbisoft holding first third-party media event in PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggerstenchhomemediaandeventsspaceplaystation-homeplaystation3playstationhomePS3sonyubidaysubisoftThu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony reveals Home integration for Resistance, Uncharted, Warhawk]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/sony-reveals-home-integration-for-resistance-uncharted-warhawk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/sony-reveals-home-integration-for-resistance-uncharted-warhawk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/sony-reveals-home-integration-for-resistance-uncharted-warhawk/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Worried that game integration with Playstation Home will just be trophies, trailers and t-shirts? Well, so were we, actually. Luckily, Kotaku's learned some interesting details about the Home integration of Warhawk, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and Resistance: Fall of Man. Turns out its way cooler than we thought.

Warhawk will reportedly allow up to eight players to meet in a "war room" prior to a match, mapping out strategies on "sand table" replicas of each level. Once they're ready to go, players can jump right into an online Warhawk match from the Home interface. A nice touch, indeed.

Resistance and Uncharted, meanwhile, will give Home users access to full unpopulated levels from the games, allowing players to casually walk through battlefields with their Home avatars. In addition to this killer feature, Resistance will allow players to explore unseen portions of the game, and locate radio transmissions that further explain the storyline. Uncharted will feature a Contra-style 2D shooter that launches from Home. Consider us floored. We can't wait to see these features in action.

Read - How Resistance makes Home really, really cool [Kotaku]
Read - How Uncharted makes Home really, really cool [Kotaku]
Read - How Warhawk makes Home really, really cool [Kotaku]

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

JoystiqSony reveals Home integration for Resistance, Uncharted, Warhawk originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homeplaystation-homeplaystationhomePS3resistancesonyunchartedUncharted-Drakes-FortunewarhawkFri, 29 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Devil May Cry 4 PS3 'accomplishments' may hint at Home integration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/devil-may-cry-4-ps3-accomplishments-may-hint-at-home-integrati/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/devil-may-cry-4-ps3-accomplishments-may-hint-at-home-integrati/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/devil-may-cry-4-ps3-accomplishments-may-hint-at-home-integrati/#commentsFiled under: ,


Our BFFs over at PS3 Fanboy have noticed something interesting about the "Accomplishments" received while playing the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4. Though it's not the first game to copy and paste the in-game achievements from the 360 version, DMC4 is the first title to recognize the accomplishments with a PS3 system screen, rather than an in-game notice.

This could possibly mean nothing, but it's equally possible that Devil May Cry 4 may be one of the first games to send accomplishment information to the PS3 system, for integration with services like the upcoming Playstation Home. We've already seen that Home will feature trophies collected from various accomplishments in games. Perhaps this could be the key to that feature.

As drab as the accomplishments notice is, it'll be interesting to see what it portends, if anything.

JoystiqDevil May Cry 4 PS3 'accomplishments' may hint at Home integration originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdevil-may-cry-4devilmaycryhomeplaystation-homeplaystationhomePS3sonyTue, 05 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Playstation Home gets a pre-launch makeover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/playstation-home-gets-a-pre-launch-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/playstation-home-gets-a-pre-launch-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/playstation-home-gets-a-pre-launch-makeover/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony's Playstation Home virtual world has undergone a few cosmetic changes since we last took a look at it. At the IMAGINA 08 event in Monaco, a session led by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe introduced the changes, which were largely the result of user feedback culled from the beta version.

Rather than entering the world via an enclosed lobby, the Playstation Home experience will now begin in a large outdoor space. Entrances to areas like the Theatre and Bowling Alley have been redesigned to be more easily spotted, and the Theatre's screening rooms have been moved closer together, as testers were complaining about the long walks (lazy gamers).

The talk also revealed the inclusion of balconies in players' in-game apartments, and a choice of around eight different apartment styles at launch. Swanky premium apartments will also be made available, though of course not without a cost. Playstation Home is scheduled to launch on the PS3 in Spring 2008.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

JoystiqPlaystation Home gets a pre-launch makeover originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>imaginaplaystation-homeplaystationhomeps-homePS3sceesonySony-Computer-Entertainment-EuropeFri, 01 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A progress report on PlayStation Home beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/a-progress-report-on-playstation-home-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/a-progress-report-on-playstation-home-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/a-progress-report-on-playstation-home-beta/#commentsFiled under: ,

Information regarding the closed beta for PlayStation Home has been hard to come by, but thankfully IGN has managed to get a status update from an anonymous tester.

First off, let's talk about what's missing from the beta. "None of the new features or areas outlined at E3 have made it into the beta. None," said the tester. That includes transition from Home into other games (e.g. Resistance), no trophy room and no new lobby. "Sony also had a monthly roadmap of improvements/features/places they were going to implement but have not followed it," said the tester. "Home has had one update since launch."

On the positive side of things, voice chat is said to work very well, as do the game's physics and the variety of facial customization. "The features that are in home do work well. All the games are fun to play and promote communication," said the tester.

We don't know how indicative the report is, if at all, on Home's ability to launch this year, or if there is even another, even more exclusive beta with the new features included. What we saw at E3 looked good, but unfortunately we were unable to see it with multiple people in the same space.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

JoystiqA progress report on PlayStation Home beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahomeplaystationhomePS3pshomesonyTue, 28 Aug 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 'gamercard' option seen during demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ps3-gamercard-option-seen-during-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ps3-gamercard-option-seen-during-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ps3-gamercard-option-seen-during-demo/#commentsFiled under: ,


A menu selection spotted during a demo of Unreal Tournament 3 seems to suggest that Sony is working on a player-identification system, perhaps similar to Xbox Live's Gamertag. After seeing the "Gamercard" option in a menu at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, Games Digest was reportedly told by Epic's Mark Rein "Oops, you shouldn't have seen that."

What's more, a member of the Evil Avatar forums put forth an image from PlayStation Home that also has the "gamer card" option, this time with a space in the middle. We know very little at this point, but thought you all would appreciate a head-start on speculation. By the way, if the phrase "gamer card" seems familiar to you, you aren't imagining things.

Read -- 'Gamercard' spotted in UT3 demo
Read -- Gamercard image from Evil Avatar

JoystiqPS3 'gamercard' option seen during demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamercardplaystationhomeps3unrealtournament3Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: PlayStation Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

From a technological standpoint, PlayStation 3's social MMO Home will differentiate the console from its competitors, but it's not a system seller. Nothing against the title, but its primary purpose is only to supplement and show off the hardware itself. We had a chance to run through the (here rather empty) areas of the game and try out what each offers.

We first started out in our apartment, which was pretty barren except for a few pieces of furniture and a picture frame. We first grabbed the highlighted the couch and moved it high up into the air, rotated a few times, and dropped it (none of this is actually done by your avatar, mind you). It didn't break, but it did bounce slightly and land on its side. We sat down on another couch, but there's nothing else you can really do with it. We can reportedly expand our apartment size later -- for a price, of course.

After we sifted through a library of images to put in the wall frame, we activated our in-game PSP and viewed the options. You can teleport to the popular locations -- lobby, game room, theater -- as well as any of your friend's apartments if they are home. Calling your friends is also available, as are invites to your place. At this point, the front door in the apartment was locked and unusable, so we instead teleported down to the lobby.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: PlayStation Home

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e307handsonhomeimpressionsplaystationhomePS3Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SGD '07: Joystiq hands-on with PlayStation Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click for larger version.

One of the things we were most eager to do at Sony's Gamers Day was to transport ourselves inside of the PlayStation Home world, and see what was going on. We finally got our chance after the crowds dissipated on the last day. We swooped in, grabbed the Sixaxis, and tried to find our bearings.

While the PlayStation Home beta is going on right now, there weren't too many people wandering around, which is probably a good thing. For first timers, it sure would be hard to figure out what was happening with crowds walking through you, talking to you, and ... dancing. Yes, right now dancing is the most popular feature for groups to participate in, continuing the World of Warcraft phenomenon of cutting a rug when you encounter other players.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

Continue reading SGD '07: Joystiq hands-on with PlayStation Home

JoystiqSGD '07: Joystiq hands-on with PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2007 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation HomePlaystationHomePS3SGD07Tue, 22 May 2007 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[How about a video of your favorite Home?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/how-about-a-video-of-your-favorite-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/how-about-a-video-of-your-favorite-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/how-about-a-video-of-your-favorite-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you weren't one of the lucky few to have been selected for PlayStation Home's closed beta testing, we've got a shaky hand-cam surprise for you today! A user-made video over at GameTrailers details a lot of what's going on in PS Home, from what it looks like in general to what you can accomplish. The man's character walks over and watches the trailer for Gran Turismo (HD, we're about 110% certain). It's neat.

We chose this video because it was the longest -- it details the mini-games available for now, the movie theater, even a little announcement for the October 2007 public launch. However, the man is speaking Spanish. It's a different dialect than what I had been taught, so it might even be Italian. Don't worry, his narrative isn't necessary. Feel free to mute the video, but let us know what you think!

JoystiqHow about a video of your favorite Home? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 May 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HomePlayStation 3PlayStation HomePlaystation3PlaystationHomePS HomePS3PsHomeSonySun, 13 May 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home footage is beta-than Second Life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/playstation-home-footage-is-beta-than-second-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/playstation-home-footage-is-beta-than-second-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/playstation-home-footage-is-beta-than-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If we weren't excited enough about PlayStation Home before, we certainly are now. It's a week of leaked beta footage, and although you might not think it was possible ... this is even cooler looking than Bungie's baby (please don't kill us).

The graphics in this look pretty sweet, and make us believe that something like Snow Crash might actually be possible one day. The in-game PSP interface is pretty swanky as well, and we were able to glean a few things off of the tiny text, which required much squinting and gave us some Dead Rising flashbacks.

Besides the Evac arcade game seen being played in this footage (which looks new ... and reminiscent of Choplifter), we also noticed the following pieces of information on the in-game PSP:
  • In-game phone calls will be featured
  • Open Beta: July 2007
  • Launch: October 2007
  • There is possibly a chess game coming, if we're reading some of the text right
Eagle-eyed viewers are invited to try and glean other information from that text. Watch it quick before it gets yanked.

JoystiqPlayStation Home footage is beta-than Second Life originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3PlayStation HomePlaystationHomePS3Fri, 11 May 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[40 delicious PlayStation Home screenshots]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/40-delicious-playstation-home-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/40-delicious-playstation-home-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/40-delicious-playstation-home-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you are like us and weren't lucky enough to be chosen for the closed beta of Sony's ambitious Home project, you're probably looking around for some great screenshots to at least imagine what's going on in there right now. We've found 40 screenshots. We don't have that much to say unless you're expecting us to describe what's happening in every screen.

You can get a pretty good glimpse of what the characters will look like -- it's not final, but it's a pretty good estimation of the final product. There are pictures of the games you can waste your time on (bowling, pool, etc), pictures of your personal space with bits of furniture, n' other stuff. Seems like some people were crowded around a big screen to watch a trailer for Spider-Man 3. Full movies upon release, perhaps? One dollar admission? That'd be pretty swanky. Watch out for the open beta, coming in July!

Joystiq40 delicious PlayStation Home screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HomePlayStation 3PlayStation HomePlaystation3PlaystationHomePS3SonyMon, 07 May 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Welcome to Home, where play-people meet up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/welcome-to-home-where-play-people-meet-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/welcome-to-home-where-play-people-meet-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/welcome-to-home-where-play-people-meet-up/#commentsFiled under:



We're pretty excited about PlayStation Home, sure. In fact, boredom set in so heavily on this day that we stumbled across this spoof on the PlayStation Home trailer available on the PS Store. Complete with that female British accent, everything's the same except the words you hear. What do you hear instead? Exactly what that immature part of your mind was thinking the first time you watched the trailer. Check it out -- it's humor, but the jabs at Sony at the end kind of disrupt the tone the previous two minutes set up. They aren't untrue accusations, but they seem out of place. Let us know if you agree.

JoystiqWelcome to Home, where play-people meet up originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3PlayStation HomePlaystation3PlaystationHomePS3SonySat, 05 May 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Harrison reveals new Home details, including privacy and safety features]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/phil-harrison-reveals-new-home-details-including-privacy-and-sa/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/phil-harrison-reveals-new-home-details-including-privacy-and-sa/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/phil-harrison-reveals-new-home-details-including-privacy-and-sa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MTV News' Stephen Totilo has managed to glean new details from Sony's Phil Harrison on their megaton PlayStation 3 announcement, Home, in a video interview (after the break) and accompanying Multiplayer post (scroll down to yesterday's entry).

The initial plan with Home is to start with apartments for users, then go on to outdoors, houses, gardens, neighborhoods. Currently, 16 people will be allowed in one apartment at any given time, although that limit is being tweaked. As for lobbies, which will be "infinitely spawned by the number of users online," 64 will be the limit. A search function will be included to help users find their friends online.

As to concerns whether the social aspect of Home will take away from time spent gaming, Harrison sees that as a non-issue. "I think that you shouldn't lose sight that home is all about games and creating social interaction between gamers ... [Home is] a springboard to a deeper gaming experience," he said.

Also mentioned was that no collision detection would be implemented, so users will likely just walk through one another. While that should eliminate problems associated with crowds, it also reduces the options for those who wish to use their avatars for naughtier means.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

Continue reading Phil Harrison reveals new Home details, including privacy and safety features

JoystiqPhil Harrison reveals new Home details, including privacy and safety features originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>harrisonhomephil harrisonPhilHarrisonplaystation homePlaystationHomeps homePS3PsHomeTue, 13 Mar 2007 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Readers pick best webcomic, how ironic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/readers-pick-best-webcomic-how-ironic/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/readers-pick-best-webcomic-how-ironic/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/readers-pick-best-webcomic-how-ironic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It takes guts to admit something good about a company who you've lost faith in so long ago. That's just what the Penny Arcade crew tackled in their strip relating to the recent PlayStation 3 announcements, winning best game-related webcomic of the week. Special thanks to Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, who was kind enough to stop for a quick chat at GDC last week.

Second place goes to the comic we were most tipped off to, the Perry Bible Fellowship, and third place was claimed by Extra Life.

A note about Tip of the Sword. While we thought the MMO joke was funny, we really loved the Halo gag more. Unfortunately, we were of the mindset that we picked that strip last week -- blame it on the jet lag from GDC. Apologies to Auker for not using the comic he submitted. Still, we thought the MMO one was funny.

Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week!

Continue reading Readers pick best webcomic, how ironic

JoystiqReaders pick best webcomic, how ironic originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gabehalohomelittle big planetLittleBigPlanetPenny ArcadePennyArcadeplaystation homePlaystationHomeps homePS3PsHomeTychoweb comicWebComicTue, 13 Mar 2007 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft attacks our HOME]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/microsoft-attacks-our-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/microsoft-attacks-our-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/microsoft-attacks-our-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've already heard Nintendo's response to the PlayStation HOME, but we hadn't talked about how Microsoft felt about the ambitious new service. We will now. Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft's Game Developer Group, poo-pooed the HOME, saying it was "not a very game-centric approach." Oh, really? Last we checked, Sony has stated that everything is about software now -- software generally includes games. Since that's their focus, isn't that a game-centric approach? Meanie.

Satchell goes on to the inevitable comparison ending with a "we're better" indirect implication: "I think they've definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they're pushing in a different direction and we've sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here. I think theres is very much a vision that people see it and it looks cool but it's fundamentally separate from the games - or at least what they've shown so far. It's a cool world but it's like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it's that games are the center and that's the star of the show, that's what people buy the console for."

Satchell did say LittleBigPlanet is a neat game and concept, what with user-generated content and all, but he says that "I can't see a big portfolio of games at the moment that do this. I don't think there's a whole load to catch up." Maybe not yet. But soon. Wait, isn't LBP a game? That's software. Lay off, Microsoft. Sony's concentrating on games... you yourself called HOME a "little game by itself"... again, software. What are your guys' thoughts? Is MS blowing steam or do they have a point?

JoystiqMicrosoft attacks our HOME originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCMicrosoftPlaystation 3PlayStation HOMEPlaystation3PlaystationHomePS3SonySun, 11 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[LocoRoco spotted in PS Home trophy case]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/09/locoroco-spotted-in-ps-home-trophy-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/09/locoroco-spotted-in-ps-home-trophy-case/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/09/locoroco-spotted-in-ps-home-trophy-case/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

locoroco trophyThough Sony continues to toy with us about LocoRoco sequels, the recent trophy sighting in the PlayStation Home video seems to confirm what Sony's led us to expect. LocoRoco is (likely) headed to PlayStation 3.

When questioned during his GDC presentation about which platform -- PSP or PS3 -- the next LocoRoco would land on, the game's director Tsutomo Kouno said he couldn't yet answer that question directly, but slyly added, "I'm not going to betray your expectations. You can count on this." And he teased, "I'd like to use a new way of playing the game for the next version of LocoRoco." Just say it: "SixAxis."

JoystiqLocoRoco spotted in PS Home trophy case originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCgdc07LocoRocoPlatformerPlayStationHomePS3PSNFri, 09 Mar 2007 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony launches Playstation Home site for beta interest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/sony-launches-playstation-home-site-for-beta-interest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/sony-launches-playstation-home-site-for-beta-interest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/sony-launches-playstation-home-site-for-beta-interest/#commentsFiled under: ,

When we initially brought word of PlayStation Home -- the upcoming virtual world for the PS3 -- we mentioned that Sony would be conducting a large scale beta for the service this April. They've taken a small step towards that goal with the launch of the PlayStation Home Beta Trial website.

Or have they? It doesn't say that you'll be taking part in an early test of PlayStation Home. They merely want you to "register your interest" in taking part in an early test of PlayStation Home. Ah, Sony... we know what you mean!

And like all good things Web 2.0 (or is that Game 3.0?), the human powered world of user-created content that is PlayStation Home now sports the beta tag. We'll be sure to drop another line once Sony opens the flood gates of Home.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

JoystiqSony launches Playstation Home site for beta interest originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc07playstationhomePS3Thu, 08 Mar 2007 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[More details on PlayStation HOME... lots more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/more-details-on-playstation-home-lots-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/more-details-on-playstation-home-lots-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/08/more-details-on-playstation-home-lots-more/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The semi-official ThreeSpeech has gotten some extra-juicy details about HOME that you may or may not have been wondering about. Some of this has already been talked about, but there's quite a bit that's not as well-known. Time for a list! Imagine a collective quotation around the whole thing.

  • "Is the first of its kind on a computer entertainment console
  • A unique blend of community, user-generated content, collaboration and commerce that is the future of computer entertainment.
  • Will broaden the online community market in the same way that the PlayStation brand has broadened the gaming market
  • Will take the mystery and the geekiness out of online interaction, and make it as easy as text messaging or picking up the phone
  • Is inclusive and welcoming, not exclusive and daunting like current offerings
  • Is the gateway and start point for a whole raft of future PlayStation Network services"

"Not exclusive and daunting like current offerings"? What? Maybe the codes needed to make friends on the Wii, but XBox Live hasn't really been described as exclusive or daunting. Whatever. There's a lot more to be read on this subject... so please, click the continued link and prepare to read about HOME.

Continue reading More details on PlayStation HOME... lots more

JoystiqMore details on PlayStation HOME... lots more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HOMEPlaystation 3PlayStation HomePlayStation StorePlaystation3PlaystationHomePlaystationStorePS-StorePS3SonyThu, 08 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: Virtual PSP debuts in Playstation Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/gdc-07-virtual-psp-debuts-in-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/gdc-07-virtual-psp-debuts-in-playstation-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/gdc-07-virtual-psp-debuts-in-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under:


At last night's Sony media briefing, Sony unveiled a plethora of new games and features for their next-gen home console, the PS3. Suspiciously absent was the PSP. Well, almost. Playstation Home, the PS3's upcoming social networking service, has a "Virtual PSP" that allows you to customize your virtual avatar. Sony states that "Your Virtual PSP gives you access to all the navigation, features and options of Home." Although this product placement is a cute way of promoting the platform, there's one thing that will work even better: more games on the system. Hopefully, the Phil Harrison keynote (happening now) will reveal some interesting non-PS3 tidbits for handheld gamers to enjoy.

See also:
Sony fights back; unveils Home, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone, more

JoystiqGDC 07: Virtual PSP debuts in Playstation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc 07Gdc07playstation 3playstation homePlaystation3PlaystationHomeps3virtual pspVirtualPspWed, 07 Mar 2007 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home, the free virtual world of PlayStation 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-the-free-virtual-world-of-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-the-free-virtual-world-of-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-the-free-virtual-world-of-playstation-3/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony has validated the "blackball rumor" with the unveiling of PlayStation Home -- a free to download, virtual world for the PlayStation 3. While earlier murmurings mentioned customizable avatars and achievements, our brief demonstration revealed that to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Comparable to Second Life, PlayStation Home is a virtual community of PS3 owners living together in both public and private environments. Users will be able to login, chat with both text and speech and play casual games together such as pool, bowling and even embedded arcade machines. And when the old stand-bys grow stale, users can invite one another into other PlayStation Network titles outside of PlayStation Home.

Every user will have their own virtual apartment to decorate with furniture, their trophies from various games (see: achievements) and content from their own PS3s. For example, Phil Harrison took a snapshot of us in the crowd, slapped it onto a USB stick and right into a picture frame in his virtual flat. Not content at just images, users will also be allowed to share both music and videos with friends inside their private homes, which will most likely lead to some sort of underground pornography syndicate on the PlayStation Network.

Check out video footage of PlayStation Home after the jump!

And while the download itself is free, users can choose to accentuate their looks with additional clothing for an unspecified fee. The PlayStation Home will also feature dynamic advertising -- the details of which are not currently known. A large scale beta for the service begins this April with the final product to see release this Fall.

Gallery: PlayStation Home

Continue reading PlayStation Home, the free virtual world of PlayStation 3

JoystiqPlayStation Home, the free virtual world of PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc07playstationhomePS3Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 'PlayStation Home' launches fall '07, confirms NY Times]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/ps3-playstation-home-launches-fall-07-confirms-ny-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/ps3-playstation-home-launches-fall-07-confirms-ny-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/ps3-playstation-home-launches-fall-07-confirms-ny-times/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mock playstation homeThe New York Times has confirmed rumors that Sony will today reveal "PlayStation Home," an online service for PlayStation 3. The news was leaked by an anonymous senior game industry executive who was not authorized to discuss the service. Besides the confirmation, scant details suggest that PlayStation Home will apparently blend elements of Xbox 360's Gamertags and Wii's Miis, namely 'achievements' and 'virtual avatars'; PlayStation Home will allegedly allow "users to create persisting online identities that record players' achievements in different games," reports NY Times. "As players progress through a game, they will unlock various virtual prizes that they can then show off to friends and rivals," said the anonymous source. PlayStation Home is currently scheduled to launch in the US this fall.

While expected to disclose full details during a GDC keynote later today, Sony's Phil Harrison briefly detailed the new initiative -- er, Game 3.0 -- in a statement published by NY Times: "The packaged media approach on its own offers a closed experience," he said. "You can only enjoy the game experience that the game developer put on that disc. But with the increase in adoption for the Internet and also the increased bandwidth, the Internet has democratized the audience to become content creators, as well as content consumers, and create what I call emergent entertainment. We've seen that with things like MySpace and YouTube and Flickr. Now we want to take those kinds of collaborative experiences and make them more central to the gameplay experience."

JoystiqPS3 'PlayStation Home' launches fall '07, confirms NY Times originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsGDCgdc07PlayStationHomePS3Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home confirmed by New York Times!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-confirmed-by-new-york-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-confirmed-by-new-york-times/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/playstation-home-confirmed-by-new-york-times/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's not exactly a 100% super-truth confirmation, but the New York Times have released a story stating that Sony "plans to announce new online capabilities for [the PS3], meant to draw gamers into Sony's cyberspace community and allow them to share entertainment content they have created, à la YouTube." Sounds like... yeah, it is! PlayStation Home! The online world that allows you to create a persistant identity that records your achievements in multiple games -- decorating a "room" with said achievements. Hopefully it's in 3D.

The article goes on to talk about GDC and how it's Sony's time to show off the PS3 and create the buzz that was more or less absent for the console's launch. It's all a bunch of stuff we've heard before, in truth. That doesn't mean it isn't important, but the subject here is that the New York Times has announced the PlayStation Home is coming in the Fall -- if it doesn't, that spells big trouble for Sony. Everyone's expecting it now, so if it weren't true, it had better become true. What do you guys think? Will GDC give Sony some positive press at last?

JoystiqPlayStation Home confirmed by New York Times! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3PlayStation HomePlaystation3PlaystationHomePS3SonyWed, 07 Mar 2007 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home -- there's no place quite like it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/02/playstation-home-theres-no-place-quite-like-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/02/playstation-home-theres-no-place-quite-like-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/02/playstation-home-theres-no-place-quite-like-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Surely many of you have heard of the whole Kotaku vs. Sony debacle. I did, but found it useless to talk about because when I found out about it, Sony had already pulled a "oh, nevermind... we're cool, right?" and it all blew over. With that in mind, we can feel fairly confident in reporting on the initial story that spawned the whole business: the PlayStation Home.

We'll just use the quotes Kotaku used, since that's where the news is at: "Basically, you get to make an avatar for your console (like a Mii) and this avatar has a room. As you play games and accomplish certain tasks, you will receive items with which to adorn the room that are specific to the game (achievements). The kicker is that this is going to be a new requirement for every PS3 game..."

"So we move from product based to service based, starting with packaged product augmented by downloadble content. We'll enhance this with social networks, the MySpace experience, this will be a key part of the PlayStation3 going forward. What brings it to life is the voice chat, the text chat, the video, the social features we're building in for the future." We've already seen that video and voice chat is implemented (albeit poorly), so seeing this new version will be pretty, ah, shibby. Dude, Where's My Car reference. I'm not making that up.

That's about all we can glean from the article, but this is a pretty big deal. Since all I play is Virtua Fighter 5 for now, expect a lot of weird martial arts crap in my room. What do you think your room would look like?

JoystiqPlayStation Home -- there's no place quite like it originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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