Sony’s recently announced PlayStation Home service will launch in October. The news comes, along with various other morsels of information, from an uncovered Sony Q&A for interested developers and publishers.
The PDF, which comes from Sony’s developer website, that following the closed beta for Home (which will run from April to August) an open beta will commence enabling some 50,000 users to test the service. This will run into October, when the service will go live.
Home will launch with a modest download of 500Mb. “Subsequent downloads will hopefully integrate a streaming method that makes them negligible”, Sony claims. When things get into full swing the service will be updated weekly with new content from “…the service itself, 1st Party and 3rd Party publishers, non-game brands and ultimately users themselves.”
Sony states that access to the service may not be exclusive to the PS3, “...over time our intention is to enable users to interface certain Home features and services via other networked devices such as PlayStationPortable... and mobile phones.”
You may also be able to import media from your PC without first transferring it to your PS3. Sony says, “…we are working on enabling this feature which is contingent upon firmware functionality.”
In terms of content for Home, the PDF mentions a number of features that third parties might be able to use for turning a profit. “Bespoke events such as exclusive game previews and developer interviews will be organised by Home and its affiliated content providers. Live events such as sports and concerts may also be broadcast within Home,” Sony notes.
Also possible, as you might expect, will be commerce. It will be possible to buy assets, such as clothing for your avatar. Commerce will eventually be open to individuals, too, via an auction service.
In addition to these events, Sony’s even being good enough to allow scope for some good, old-fashioned gaming in there. “There is a huge scope for publishers and developers to promote their current and future IPs - as well as exploiting their back-catalogue,” the PDF states. “For example, it will be possible to develop small demo-areas within Home that promote new titles, or to re-publish an old IP as mini-game within their Home Space.”
No bones are being made, then, about the scope for making money out of the service. The other biggie in terms of money-making – advertising - will be prevalent but “palatable”.
Sony states that it is still working on persistence within the world, “Currently Home is not a persistent world, so when you leave Home, all of your possessions go with you. For instance, it is not currently possible for other users to visit your apartment while you’re not there. We are working on the persistent aspect of Home, and expect to implement it in the long term.”
Microsoft and Nintendo have both been quick to point out the similarities with Home and their services. Is Sony just jumping on an over-loaded bandwagon, or is it blazing a new trail? Let us know in the Forum.
The PDF, which comes from Sony’s developer website, that following the closed beta for Home (which will run from April to August) an open beta will commence enabling some 50,000 users to test the service. This will run into October, when the service will go live.
Home will launch with a modest download of 500Mb. “Subsequent downloads will hopefully integrate a streaming method that makes them negligible”, Sony claims. When things get into full swing the service will be updated weekly with new content from “…the service itself, 1st Party and 3rd Party publishers, non-game brands and ultimately users themselves.”
Sony states that access to the service may not be exclusive to the PS3, “...over time our intention is to enable users to interface certain Home features and services via other networked devices such as PlayStationPortable... and mobile phones.”
You may also be able to import media from your PC without first transferring it to your PS3. Sony says, “…we are working on enabling this feature which is contingent upon firmware functionality.”
In terms of content for Home, the PDF mentions a number of features that third parties might be able to use for turning a profit. “Bespoke events such as exclusive game previews and developer interviews will be organised by Home and its affiliated content providers. Live events such as sports and concerts may also be broadcast within Home,” Sony notes.
Also possible, as you might expect, will be commerce. It will be possible to buy assets, such as clothing for your avatar. Commerce will eventually be open to individuals, too, via an auction service.
In addition to these events, Sony’s even being good enough to allow scope for some good, old-fashioned gaming in there. “There is a huge scope for publishers and developers to promote their current and future IPs - as well as exploiting their back-catalogue,” the PDF states. “For example, it will be possible to develop small demo-areas within Home that promote new titles, or to re-publish an old IP as mini-game within their Home Space.”
No bones are being made, then, about the scope for making money out of the service. The other biggie in terms of money-making – advertising - will be prevalent but “palatable”.
Sony states that it is still working on persistence within the world, “Currently Home is not a persistent world, so when you leave Home, all of your possessions go with you. For instance, it is not currently possible for other users to visit your apartment while you’re not there. We are working on the persistent aspect of Home, and expect to implement it in the long term.”
Microsoft and Nintendo have both been quick to point out the similarities with Home and their services. Is Sony just jumping on an over-loaded bandwagon, or is it blazing a new trail? Let us know in the Forum.
Read More Like This