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Interact with other PS3 owners in a virtual space  (Source: SCEI)
PlayStation Home pushed back once again

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. issued a press release informing that would continue its PlayStation Home testing period as a closed beta for the rest of the summer, disappointing those hoping for an open beta within the next few months.

“We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today,” said Kazuo Hirai, president and group CEO of SCEI.

The closed beta program will be extended to allow a few more registrants, though Sony has yet to provide further details. As for the rest of the gaming public, Sony is now penciling in the open beta of PlayStation Home for sometime during the fall months.

“Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on Playstation Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition,” added Hirai.

Delays are nothing new when it comes to PlayStation Home. The program, which proposed a virtual interactive world not unlike Second Life, was announced at the Game Developers Conference in March 2007. PlayStation Home was originally supposed to launch in October 2007, but was delayed just a month before launch to spring 2008.

The latest date puts PlayStation Home a year behind schedule.

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If it aint ready don't release it...
By Hiawa23 on 4/22/2008 9:00:48 AM , Rating: 5
I love LIVE, & also have a PS3, & Sony, if you learn one thing from MS, please if it aint ready, don't rush it to market because of pressure from gamers, & other pressures..




RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By bgm063 on 4/22/2008 9:16:47 AM , Rating: 2
Now I'm with you on that. MS did play it smart. After all, it was a work in progress since the days of Xbox.

I really can't wait to see HOME, but hey... if it isn't ready, it isn't ready. Would've been nice to see this go live by the 2008 holidays.


By daftrok on 4/22/2008 12:44:44 PM , Rating: 2
I'm looking forward to the games right now. I always felt Home a holiday release anyways (the beta not the complete one). Actually I think its a smart move because it gives more focus on Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4 and I guess God of War III and Final Fantasy 13 (yes its a 2008 release, so they say).

And MS did play it smart for the most part. Their online is great but I just can't get over the fact that you have to pay to play. I mean you are already paying for the internet in the first place, shouldn't that be enough?


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By tirminyl on 4/22/2008 9:34:05 AM , Rating: 2
It's a beta for a reason. I think Sony can expect users to not take it for a full release if Beta is slapped all over it. With the constant delays I am no longer hyped about it. Kudos for them for taking more time to sort whatever it is out.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By theapparition on 4/22/2008 11:16:11 AM , Rating: 2
Everything at Google is pretty much still beta...yet we can all enjoy and comment on those products.


By afkrotch on 4/22/2008 11:47:39 AM , Rating: 2
How much of those beta products is a massively multiple user online 3D interface that is connected to a downloadable content store, achievement system, personal 3D space, and who knows what else.

I'm pretty sure every beta product that Google has doesn't even compare.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By ZimZum on 4/22/2008 9:48:33 AM , Rating: 3
I think if your looking for Sony's Home to be a PS3 version of LIVE you may be in for a let down. Sony wants an online presence. But from the beginning they have said they aren't looking to create another LIVE. Theres a reason Sony and Nintendo don't seem to be in any hurry to create competitor for LIVE. Microsoft spent 3 years and over 2 Billion on the LIVE infrastructure alone.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By sweetsauce on 4/22/2008 10:27:34 AM , Rating: 2
Links or it didn't happen.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By Staples on 4/22/2008 12:05:09 PM , Rating: 2
It happened, or so Microsoft says it happened. I have a feeling that a lot of that 2B was not just for R&D but that most of it was for material costs and salaries. I don't think it would be that hard for Sony to clone a Live system. The main hurdle is that the PS3 OS was not built specifically for on online server like the Xbox 360 was. You can make a comparison between the Xbox and the PS3 in how the system was made to deal with an online service.

And on a related note, Second Life has a hellava lot of problems which Live does not have so I think MS did something right.


By AlphaVirus on 4/22/2008 1:38:30 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The main hurdle is that the PS3 OS was not built specifically for on online server like the Xbox 360 was.

Huh? Please explain.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By FITCamaro on 4/22/2008 12:09:42 PM , Rating: 2
That $2B included marketing I think. But yes Microsoft invested a ton of money in Live for both the original Xbox and for when they upgraded it to handle the 360.


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By MADAOO7 on 4/22/2008 5:35:18 PM , Rating: 2
I highly doubt LIVE cost Microsoft that much. Instead of just throwing around figures and speculating, does anyone have a reliable source?


By therealnickdanger on 4/23/2008 9:13:22 AM , Rating: 2
Here's a link from 2002. Plans to spend $2 Billion over 5 years on the Xbox brand as a whole:
http://www.news.com/2100-1040-918460.html

Of course, this was before the $1 Billion needed to fix RRODs last summer:
http://www.news.com/Microsoft-to-extend-Xbox-360-w...

I recall seeing a news story back in the day about the cost of Live specifically, but I can't find it now. It is a sizeable investment though. To put it in perspective, though, Microsoft was recently fined $2 Billion by the EU...


RE: If it aint ready don't release it...
By afkrotch on 4/22/2008 1:49:58 PM , Rating: 2
Considering a company like Valve (who's revenue is only $50 mil annually) can create Steam, then what makes you think that either Nintendo or Sony couldn't do the same?

All Live is, is a network of servers for distribution of content, game servers, servers that point users to game servers, servers to store game IDs/profiles, etc.

Sony is hardly new to the distribution of content over the internet (Sony Connect) or online game servers (EQ). They've done it before and can easily do it again. Without a doubt, Sony spent over 2 bil on Sony Connect, EQ, EQ2, SWG, Planetside, and Vanguard. It didn't seem to hard to create the Playstation Network (course the client side portion was crap, til the update). Just Sony wants to create something different. While not unique, it is unique to use it as an interface for a console system.


By MADAOO7 on 4/22/2008 8:26:36 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Without a doubt, Sony spent over 2 bil on Sony Connect, EQ, EQ2, SWG, Planetside, and Vanguard


Seriously, quit speculating with these ridiculously high numbers. Sony, the entire company, is worth $43 Billion, there is no way they spent that kind of money. You guys need to get a better grasp of economics.


By raphd on 4/23/2008 1:50:23 PM , Rating: 2
I agree. Wish EA would do this.


Darn
By FITCamaro on 4/22/2008 9:55:47 AM , Rating: 3
The digital Myspace isn't ready. Teenagers will have to emote themselves to death using just text for a while longer.

Seriously. How many of you PS3 owners plan to just sit on your console and chat with friends in a digital environment so you can run around in circles like an idiot or buy pointless pieces of digital clothing to make your avatar look "ultra cool"?




RE: Darn
By mmntech on 4/22/2008 10:01:05 AM , Rating: 2
Have you never heard of Second Life? There's a huge amount of demand for social networking. You'd have to be living under a rock not to know that. I personally wouldn't use Home for that but I know a lot of people that would.


RE: Darn
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 4/22/2008 10:18:45 AM , Rating: 4
Second Life is quite laughable. But you are correct, people will do exactly that.


RE: Darn
By DingieM on 4/22/2008 10:25:56 AM , Rating: 2
I completely agree, Second Life is a total failure.
Was a hype in the beginning though.

Best thing to do is having a social life in the real world.

Virtual reality in my opinion is only nice paired with games like Conan: Hyborian adventures or Lotro and so on...


RE: Darn
By afkrotch on 4/22/2008 12:02:16 PM , Rating: 2
Doesn't even need to be a imitation of real life for ppl to do that. Ever play WoW? EQ? Lineage? How many ppl have you seen just standing around chatting with friends for hours on end, without actually going out and doing a raid, xping, or whatever else you can do in the game.


RE: Darn
By FITCamaro on 4/22/08, Rating: 0