PlayStation Home

PlayStation Home
Developer	SCE London Studio SCE Studio Cambridge[1]
Type	Online community service Virtual world[2]
Updated	June 2, 2009
Version	1.22.3[3]
Launched	December 11, 2008 (Open Beta)
Platform	PlayStation 3
Website	Asian website European website Japanese website North American website

PlayStation Home (also marketed and referred to as Home) is a community-based service developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London and Cambridge studios for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network. It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN account. Home has been in development since early 2005 and started an open public beta test on December 11, 2008.

Home allows users to create a custom avatar, which can be made to suit the user's liking. Users can decorate their avatar's personal apartment ("HomeSpace") with default, bought, or won items. Users can travel throughout the world which is constantly updated by Sony and partners. Each part of the world is known as a space. Public spaces can just be for display, fun, or for meeting people. Home features many mini-games which can be single player or multiplayer. Users can shop for new items to express themselves more through their avatars or HomeSpace. Home features video screens in many places for advertising, but the main video content is shown at the theatre for entertainment. Home plays host to a variety of special events which range from prize-giving events to entertaining events. Users can also use Home to connect with friends and customise content.

History

The first "Central Plaza" was inside and enclosed from other spaces.

PlayStation Home (or Home), originally named 'Hub', started as a 2D online lobby for the PlayStation 2 game The Getaway: Black Monday. However, the online userbase for the PlayStation 2 was too small and the project was never completed before the release of the PlayStation 3, at which point the developers began porting code to the new platform. Phil Harrison, then president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, liked the idea of having a virtual 3D community hub for PlayStation gamers, and transferred the project to become PlayStation Home.In a 2007 keynote speech, Phil Harrison used the term "Game 3.0" to describe the service.

An online-based service had been the subject of speculation since the launch of the PlayStation Network. Sony had expressed interest in such a service, specifically trophies (known at the time as "entitlements") for first-party titlesPlayStation Home, as a feature, was first publicly mentioned in an interview with NG-Gamer. This was later detailed by Kotaku and finally confirmed by NG-Gamer. It was officially announced by Phil Harrison on March 7, 2007, during his keynote speech at the 2007 Game Developers Conference^[12] and was originally scheduled for a global public release in October 2007.

Home was delayed and expanded several times before initially releasing. Invitations to the closed beta were offered to winners of a weekly Warhawk online gaming event Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, stated that "Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition". In July 2008, further invitations were sent to some Home XMB theme downloaders in Japan and North America SCEE and SCEHK did the same, but without releasing a Home XMB theme.Users who purchased more than HK$60 or SG$12 worth of content in a single transaction over the PlayStation Store from August 29 to September 12, 2008 were also invited In November 2008, SCEA invited annual Qore subscribers After major version 1.0, invitations were sent worldwide.

The Open Beta test was started on December 11, 2008, approximately 14 months later than the initial expected release date. In February 2009, Sony reported that the number of users exceeded 4 millionand in May 2009, Sony reported that Home had been downloaded by 6.5 million users, with 85% returning users. Jack Buser, Director of Home for SCEA, stated that Home will remain in beta "indefinitely." He also stated that, "We quite like the name 'open beta,' so you can expect us to stay in open beta for some time."

Features

Users are given an avatar and invitation-only apartments which they can personalise with their own choice of decor and furnishings. The user's avatar is the means of travel and communication. The user's personal spaces and clubs are means of expressing their selves and meeting new people and friends alike.

A picture of a male Home avatar being created.

Avatar

The user can create their own avatar or use one of several preset avatars available in Home Users can access the Wardrobe from the Menu Pad at any time and location. They may customise a variety of the characters features including gender, skin tone, hair, body shape and facial structure. They may also customise their avatar's clothing and accessories using a set of standard items, or items bought from one of the clothing shops in Home. The user has the ability to save up to nine versions of their avatar for quick access at any time.

An avatar sitting in their decorated Harbour Studio.

Personal Spaces and Clubs

Each user has a Personal Space, called a "HomeSpace", which they can modify and change any time they are in it. The initial basic apartment, the Harbour Studio (a studio overlooking a harbour), is free and offers users limited options for customisation and personalisation. In the future, Sony will provide tools that will enable users to have an even greater ability to create their own Personal spaces and content. Users may invite any other Home user (even cross-region) to their Personal Space and in time, will be able to stream the host's music from their console's hard drive. Videos may be enabled in the future, but not during the opening stages of the beta Users can also place their own digital photographs in picture frames to display on the wall of their apartment (only available to North America) Whilst the Harbour Studio and basic furniture is provided to all users free of charge, premium Personal Spaces and other furniture is available to purchase from the shopping complex.

Premium Personal spaces that are available from the Home Estates store include the Summer House, the Lakeside Log Cabin, the Living Room Stage Set from Loot (North America), and for a limited time, the Chamber Apartment (North America)^[32]. The Chamber Apartment was free and was only available for one week from May 14 to May 21. The Chamber Apartment has four interactive fire pits/waterfalls and the user can decide rather or not they want a fire pit or a waterfall by stepping on a switch. There is also a living tree with a face on it that will follow the user if the user walks by the face. A Ghostbusters Firehouse Apartment will be available soon. A Killzone 2 themed apartment, called the Visari Throne Room will be available in the later half of June 2009 as well as purchasable themed furniture for Europe and North America

Users are able to purchase Clubs. Each club has a leader (the user who purchased the club) who can elect up to 4 sub-leaders and can have up to 32 members in total. In a similar way to Personal Spaces, the club's owner is able to set-up and decorate a private clubhouse as a meeting point for club members. The clubhouse also features a notice board where the leader and sub-leaders can post messages and announcements to other members.

In time, Home will have a Hall of Fame which will include "Trophy Rooms". The Trophy Room is a Personal Space where users are able to display 3D representations of their PlayStation Network Trophies.

Stage Set is a premium personal space where users, if they have a video capture system, can make their own machinimas in Home. The first Stage Set, the "Living Room Stage Set from Loot", is available at the Home Estates store loaded with interactive lights, cameras, backdrops and movie-related equipment to simulate a real-life studio production environment. The versatile lighting and camera systems allow for a wide range of desired angles, movements, transitions, cuts and lens set-ups that allow users to take control of the technical and artistic aspects. Combined with twelve props and a director's t-shirt that come with the space to decorate the set, users have access to the tools necessary to create their own film when hooked up to a video capture system. Stage Set was created by Loot, a newly formed group of developers from Sony Pictures Entertainment that will create experiences and products for Home. It is only available to users of the North American Home for $4.99 USD.

Operation

Home is in third person, users walk or jog in that way. Upon entering Home, users are greeted with the "Message of the Day"'. It contains administrative information such as upcoming updates, events, and event winners. The Message of the Day is updated frequently.

User Interface

PlayStation Home has no HUD, however, all of Home’s features are available from the controller. The options are: Quick Chat, a Gestures menu, the Menu Pad, the Safe Screen, and in-game XMB. In time, users will be able to play music on their PS3 hard drive. Whether this will be private or can be heard by others will be determined by a complicated licencing issue that Sony must attempt to solve.

The "Menu Pad" – accessible by pressing Start; controls the user's avatar’s appearance – with the 'Wardrobe', decorations, where to travel (with the 'World Map'), settings, and other main options. The Menu Pad is shown in the user’s hands when in use. It has eleven options including a Help menu for beginners. The Menu Pad features an inventory, which currently only has the “Bubble machine”. In time, "Home Stuff" in the shopping complex, will have inventory items for purchase, which the user can use at any time. The "Safe Screen" is used for reporting, changing communication settings, and quick access to the user’s Personal Space and XMB friends list. This is accessed with the Select button.

The Menu Pad was introduced in version 1.0 and was formerly a “virtual PlayStation Portable” (vPSP), but was introduced to reorganise the menus and because of the addition of the in-game XMB feature, eliminating the need for the vPSP’s XMB. A SCEA public relations spokesperson explained that “We felt that PlayStation Home deserved its own navigation device, so we built a user interface that was dedicated to just that purpose.”

Communication

Users communicate in a variety of ways in Home. They are able to write text messages to each other using a either a USB or Bluetooth keyboard or with a PS3 controller using the on-screen keyboard. These messages appear in speech bubbles over the avatar's head and in the 'chat log'. As of version 1.21, there are three modes of the chat log by clicking the left analog stick; normal, expanded, and minimized. Voice chat, with the use of a USB or Bluetooth headset is currently only available within personal spaces or by making a 'Phone call' to a specific user. The user can also perform gestures (or "e-motes") such as waving, nodding or dancing.As of version 1.10, some gestures can be performed whilst walking. A 'Quick chat' feature is also available. This library of short, predetermined phrases (such as "Hello" and "Where are you from?") can be accessed using a quick access menu.

Virtual economy

The shopping complex's store interface. Note its resemblance to the PlayStation Store.

Although the service itself can be used free of charge, premium content is available to purchase from various stores in the shopping complex. Users browse and pay for items such as virtual clothing and furniture by accessing a shop and using its PlayStation Store interface. Items are paid for in real currency using funds from the user's PlayStation Network Wallet.Alongside content designed by SCE, real-world companies are also able to sell virtual goods through their own stores in Home. For example, Diesel and Ligne Roset are both represented in Home with their own stores where users can purchase virtual items based on their companies’ own clothing and furniture designs respectively.

Advertising is prominent in Home’s public spaces. Currently, this is primarily PlayStation focused although other video gaming-related brands are also represented. Sony currently streams most advertising from ‘their’ Home servers. Most advertising is targeted to specific regional audiences although it is also possible to target particular users.

One of the ways Sony has used advertising in Home is with advertising of the PS3 exclusive Killzone 2. Users in the North American Home who pre-ordered Killzone 2 from Amazon.com received free I.S.A. and Helghast costumes for their avatar. On February 16, 2009, if users located a Helghast soldier in the North American Home, they were granted access to the Killzone 2 demo. European users got a chance to get the Killzone 2 costumes by participating in the "Killzone AM!" event hosted in the European Home on March 28, 2009 at 11 am CET. The requirement was that the users must participate in one full round of Killzone 2 and have a United Kingdom PSN. If users met the requirement, the Home Managers sent the users a voucher code for the costumes.In Japan, if users watched the Killzone 2 trailer and took the Questionnaire in the Home Theatre, the users received an I.S.A. costume. In order to get the Helghast costume, the users had to do a pre-order.

Another Amazon.com pre-order bonus occurred with the PS3 exclusive inFamous. Users in the North American Home who pre-ordered inFamous received a Reaper costume for their avatarIf users of the North American Home download the demo off the PS Store of inFamous and beat it, users will receive a Cole costume for their avatar no later than June 18, 2009.^[48][49]

Public Spaces

The North American Home Public Spaces "World map".

There are four main regions of Home: Asia, Europe, Japan, and North America. Countries which are not geographically related to those regions, join Europe. Countries that join Europe are Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates. Japan is the only country with its own version of Home. Each region has different features as well as some similar ones. SCEHK operates the Asian Home, SCEE operates the European Home, SCEJ operates the Japanese Home, and SCEA operates the North American Home.

"Spaces" on the world map are broken-up into categories based on the Spaces' publisher or purpose. Home consists of locations from Sony Computer Entertainment and various third-parties. These include the user's Personal Spaces and Clubhouses; a central meeting point; a bowling alley and gaming arcade; a shopping complex; a café; and various game, developer, and company Spaces.

The Spaces' names and availability vary based on the user's location. For example, the shopping complex is called the "Shopping Mall" in Asia and Japan, "Mall" in North America, and the "Shopping Centre" in Europe.

Sony Computer Entertainment content

The North American Central Plaza.

The Home Square (EuropeAsia, and Japan) or Central Plaza (North America) is Home's central meeting point where users commonly meet and chat. It is where much of the advertising occurs, and it connects all the main locations in Home together. Currently, they have two video screens, advertising posters (unavailable in Central Plaza), and region-specific features (such as Listen@Home for North America). 'Listen@Home' is a listening post in the Central Plaza where users gather to listen to music. There are are a number of songs for users to vote on to listen to; songs change frequently and has featured the rapper 50 Cent and music from the Winter X Games. Also in the Central Plaza, there is a pond-like feature with the mini-game "Saucer Pop". The European Home Square has the mini-game "Helicopter Hit", and a place to play chess and draughts/checkers. The Central Plaza and European Home Square both have the "Teleport" (takes users to "The Hub") and "Manhole cover"(takes users to "Home Maintenance"). The Asian and Japanese Home Square has a pier, located behind the Game Space. Those two also feature posters with event info and results.

The Home Theatre^[53] (all regions) is a virtual cinema where users can view a range of video content. This content includes film and game trailers and video game features from third-party publishers such as Eurogamer. Videos are displayed in the 3D environment on virtual video screens which can be viewed full screen. When selecting the full screen view in North Americas Home Theatre, users can also select the option "Link" that opens PlayStation.com. Users can walk around the cinema that they are in except in the European Home. The dynamic video content in Home is presented in standard definition to reduce loading times. Each region has very different Home Theatres.

The Bowling Alley- Europe & North America (left: pool, right: arcade, centre: bowling)

At the Bowling Alley (Europeand North America) or the Game Space (Asiaand Japan), social mini-games such as 10-pin bowling and pool billiards can be played; it also features a variety of arcade-machine games: Echochrome, Icebreaker, Carriage Return, and Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida www (Japan only). Prizes are awarded for beating the arcade-machine games, such as an Echochrome suit for users avatar. Users who have downloaded Namco Museum.comm (including the beta) from the Asian or Japanese PlayStation Store are able to unlock additional arcade games including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, Xevious, Dragon Spirit, and Xevious Resurrection (the latter two are not included with the beta). Users with Namco Museum.comm or the beta on their PS3 can win the prizes for Home for the corresponding account it is played on. However, users can only play them (excluding the latter two listed) at the Game Space, and not the Bowling Alley. Currently, there is pool tables, bowling lanes, arcade machines, video screens, and dart boards (only in Game Space).

The Shopping Centre (Europe), Mall (North America), or Shopping Mall (Asiaand Japan), is where all purchases are made. The shopping complexes allow users to buy new clothes, accessories, premium locations (such as new Personal Spaces), and other items. Purchases use PlayStation Network Wallet funds, and work in a manner similar to the PlayStation Store. Currently there are stores, a video screen, advertising posters, and a place to play chess (unavailable in the Shopping Mall). The current stores consist of "Home Stuff", "Home Estates", "Home Threads", a Home "furniture store", 'Ligne Roset' furniture, and 'Diesel' clothes. The latter two are unavailable in the Shopping Mall. Europe has two new clothing stores which are "Alter Ego" and "The Original V-Shirt Store". Currently, there are no items available for purchase from Home Stuff. In time, Home Stuff will have items that go into users inventory, such as the "Bubble Machine".

Home Café (Asia and Japan) or The Gamer's Lounge (North America) is a two-story building where users can meet up and chat. There is a water feature, a wine gallery and chairs, which is slowly becoming an event space for developer talks and parties.The first developer talk occurred on March 4, 2009 in The Gamer's Lounge with the developers of Street Fighter IV. Users got to ask the developers questions about the game.Japan’s Café is sponsored by Famitsu Game Magazine which features a statue of the mascot of Famitsu holding a video screen and the upstairs has a display of Famitsu’s office. This space is unavailable in Europe. The Home Café for Asia and Japan is temporarily closed due to the developers preparing for the next event.

The PlayStation Events Spaceopens to the public in the occurrence of an event. This space is a venue for special events, announcements, and VIP parties. The first event occurred during the end of January 2009. During that time, the space featured "Events Landing" and "The Gallery". When first entering the PlayStation Events Space, users received a PSP Loco Roco hat for their avatar. Events Landing had a mini-game called 'Tri Sphere' and two video screens. The Gallery had animated Loco Rocos, the 'Touchpad', which featured the 'PSP-3000 Treasure Hunt', a poster, a music-playing sphere for one song, and two video screens. During the first event, the space was only used by Europe.
Another space opened on May 21, 2009 for the next event. The space newly featured the "Presentation Podium" which has a large screen and lounge. It is known as the "beating heart of the PlayStation Events Space". Sony's E3 2009 press conference was shown in the Presentation Podium a few hours after Sony's press conference ended in three part segments for each day of E3. The event lasted all three days of E3 in Home and there were limited time, exclusive virtual items for all three days. The exclusive items were six different colored NPLH (No Place Like Home) t-shirts for both male and females and users receive them by finding the voucher codes in the Presentation Podium or the SCE Home spaces and redeem the codes. During this event, the space was used by Europe and North America.

Game Spaces

The Texas Hold'em table in the The Godfather II Game Space.

Sony Computer Entertainment and various third parties can create dedicated "Game Spaces" for specific games. These spaces depict a level of the game itself and have mini-games or interactions related to the game. There are currently thirteen Game Spaces that have been released for Home. These Game Spaces vary depending on the region the user is in. The first five Game Spaces released for the Home Open Beta were Uncharted: Drake's Fortune "Sully's Bar"^[64], Far Cry 2 "Reuben's Office", Far Cry 2 "Train Station", Minna no Golf Lounge, and Siren: New Translation Lounge. The Resident Evil 5 "Studio Lot" (or Biohazard 5 "Film Studio") was the first space to offer an in-lounge shop.

Game Launching is a feature in Home which allows users to launch multiplayer games with other Home users. Dedicated Game Spaces help do this. Currently, games that support game launching are Warhawk, Resident Evil 5/Biohazard 5, Everybody's Golf 5/Minna no Golf 5 (Asia & Japan), Namco Museum.comm (Asia & Japan), Minna de Spelunker (Japan), Catan (Japan), Street Fighter IV, Resistance 2, and Crash Commando.

Some games, such as Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5, support Home rewards. These rewards are achieved by reaching a certain achievement in the game.

In time, the PSP will be getting support for Home rewards.^[65] In Japan, the first game with Home rewards support was recently announced: Idolmaster SP.

In a discussion at GDC 2009 on March 25, 2009, Jack Buser stated "You'll see about three new spaces launched a month...I'll be shocked if we ever go under that number, we have so much in the pipeline."

Third-party content

The EA Sports Complex.

Video game developers are able to create "Developer Spaces" and their own "Game Spaces" to showcase their products in Home.Namco Bandai was the first to do this with their "Namco Bandai Game Arena" space for Asia and Japan. This space features all of the Namco Museum.comm arcade games as well as a mini-museum, called the "Community Arena", show casing Soul Calibur IV, Ridge Racer 7, and Tekken 6. There is also a 'Money Exchange Machine', a 'Vending Machine', and a 'Love Seat' in the Game Arena that give the users a Namco Museum Coin, a Namco Museum Soda Can, and a male and female love t-shirt respectively. Both rooms also feature 'The Idolmaster SP Wandering Star Vending Machine' where users can play roulette to get various cans with idols on them and a Haruka mask. The space was released on December 11, 2008 for Japan and March 26, 2009 for Asia. Irem has released a promotional space called the "Square of Irem" for Japan. This space features various 'Night Stalls' with free items such as a Kimono and was released on February 26, 2009.^[68] EA Sports released the long awaited "EA Sports Complex" on April 23, 2009 for Europe and North America. The "EA Sports Complex" is made up of two rooms, the second being called "EA Sports Complex Upstairs". The EA Sports Complex features kart racing, and coming soon, a virtual EA shop and mini-golf and the "Upstairs" features poker as well as various posters advertising different EA Sports games. By playing one game of kart racing and poker, users get a male and female t-shirt for each and by winning a game of poker at a green table, users get a silver bracelet and by winning a game of poker at the red table, users get a gold bracelet

SCEJ have also announced that Sony have given licenses to 24 companies to produce content for Home. As well as independent Japanese developers (such as Irem and Koei) the list also includes international companies such as Activision, Capcom, Tecmo, Disney Interactive, EA, Konami, Namco Bandai, Sega, and Ubisoft.

Non-gaming-related companies can also create sponsored "Company Spaces" for Home. The first to do so was Red Bull with their "Red Bull Space" released on January 8, 2009 for Europe and North America. This space features the Red Bull Air Race mini-game with two leaderboards (one for the user's friends and the other for all users of Home in that region, reset daily). Phil Harrison stated that locations built around famous coffee, drinks, clothing, and record companies; along with major retailers and other such companies could feature content depending on the company's desire to create Home content. In time, users may be able to make content for Home, but under strict moderation.^[72]

Xi

Xi
Developer(s)	nDreams
Publisher(s)	SCEE, SCEA
Native resolution	720p (HDTV)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Home
Release date(s)	March 23, 2009
Genre(s)	Alternate Reality Game

Xi is the world's first console-based Alternate Reality Game. The game is an adventure to help find "Jess" and the meaning of Xi by collecting fragments and butterflies that takes place in a series of secret areas in Home changing frequently. The game also involves the users to search for clues in the real world.This game was created by nDreams who have released a space for Xi called "The Hub" and another space called "Home Maintenance" as well as "Alpha Zones 1", "2", and "3" within The Hub and "Party at Jess's Apartment" within Home Maintenance. Xi was advertised via clues and hints over the past month prior to its release on March 23, 2009. The clues were hidden in the Menu Pad and videos in the central meeting point. Xi and all of the corresponding spaces are exclusive to Europe and North America.

The Hub and Alpha Zones 1, 2, & 3:

The Hub is the main space for Xi and can be accessed via the Teleport found in the central meeting point. When first entering The Hub, users must find three pieces of paper scattered throughout The Hub in order to access the HoloPAD, Stapler, and AlphaAFK website in that order. Inside of the The Hub includes the 'HoloPAD', 'Stapler', 'Online Getaway', 'What's New' screen, a 'View weekly re-cap' screen, 'Unregister yourself from Xi', and three teleports that access the Alpha Zones. The HoloPAD accesses Enter code, HoloMail, Display fragments, Display butterflies, and Rate avatar. Stapler is a robot that contains the twenty expeditions that reward the butterflies. The fragments are rewarded through different mini-games and puzzles throughout all of the Xi spaces and there are twenty-four in all and the sixth fragment rewards an Xi male and female t-shirt. The Online Getaway accesses the Message Board, Video Vault, Miguel's Blog, Web Browser, AlphaAFK website, Jess247, and Veilcorp.com. Each of these are used in finding clues for Xi. The What's New screen tells the updates for Xi for the day and the View weekly re-cap screen re-caps the story of Xi with the previous week added to it. Unregister yourself from Xi allows users to unregister themselves from the game. The teleports access Alpha Zones 1, 2, & 3.

Alpha Zone 1 is broken up into three rooms, the "Game Test Area", "Maximum-Tilt Lobby", and "Adventure Lobby". In the Game Test Area, users play a mini-game called 'Hexoplis' where they must run around the room playing six mini-games within six minutes (standard) or five minutes (expert). In the Maximum-Tilt Lobby, users must play the mini-game 'Maximum-Tilt' and race on hover bikes avoiding trees using the sixaxis to achieve a score of 25,000 for standard and expert. In the Adventure Lobby, users play a text based mini-game called 'Caverns of the Bandit King' for standard or 'Corrupted' for expert. Alpha Zone 2 takes users to a place called "Light and Dark". Here, there are four different mini-games. The first is 'The Good Aquarium' where users are a fish and must swim through the aquarium which leads to the second mini-game, 'The Evil Aquarium' which has the same principal just with evil fish in the aquarium. The third mini-game is called 'Puzzles 1 and 2' where users solve the puzzles called Short Circuit and Binary Bulbs. The last mini-game is called 'Puzzles 3, 4, and 5' where users solve the puzzles called Fireflies, Flashlight Jigsaw, and Shadow Match. Alpha Zone 3 takes users to a place called "Entrance and Team Maze". Here, there are four mazes. The first maze is called 'Teamwork Maze' where the users must use teamwork to get through the maze. 'Enter the Ghost Maze' takes users to "Ghost Maze" where they must make it through the Ghost Maze without touching a ghost, if they touch a ghost, they must restart the maze. 'Enter the Riddle Maze' takes users to "Riddle Maze" where they must solve riddles to proceed through the maze, if they get a riddle wrong, they must start over. 'Enter the Expert Maze' takes users to "The Expert Maze". In order to access The Expert Maze, users must have obtained the 18th Butterfly in the Xi quest. In The Expert Maze, the users must make their way through the maze using the same rules as the previous three mazes in this one maze.

Home Maintenance and Party at Jess's Apartment:

Party at Jess's Apartment is a stylised night Summer House.

Home Maintenance is accessed via the Manhole cover found in the central meeting point. In Home Maintenance, the first room users walk through contains an 'Open locker' which contains an ID for William Johnson. Users must dress their avatar like him in order to proceed through the security barrier. Also in the locker room is an 'Enter padlock code', the code is given to them by Stapler in The Hub. Before going through the security barrier, there is a 'Pick up the envelope' on the floor which is a letter from Thom. After getting through the security barrier there are 'Security Terminals' in the room to the left. The Security Terminals access New Staff Registration, Server File Optimiser, Elevator Power Circuit, Colour Code Entry, and the last three terminals say Terminal Locked but there is a code for each of the three locked terminals and each terminal has some information after entering the code. 'Controls' is a mini-game found in the room across the hallway from the Security Terminals where users must assemble a robot with a crane in four rounds. The last thing in Home Maintenance is 'Call the elevator' which takes users to "Party at Jess's Apartment".

Party at Jess's Apartment is an apartment owned by "Jess". The apartment is a customized Summer House with a sound system on the first floor for a dance party. On the second floor is a video screen that plays a music video of Paul Ballard that users must watch to find out where to get a code. There is also a 'Flyer' for the party and it also reveals a secret code that needs to be put into the HoloPAD in The Hub. On the lake is a yacht that has a secret code on it as well. On the first floor there is a "Picture" that has a safe behind it that needs a code.

Events

Home plays host to many types of events, such as developer interviews. They are organised by Home and its affiliated content providers. Live events such as sports and concerts may also be broadcast within HomePremium events may well use the PlayStation Network Wallet. Special events are held at the 'PlayStation Events Space', the 'Home Café' and 'The Gamer's Lounge'.

Several events that have taken place in Home require the users to either answer questions or suggest ideas on the Official PlayStation Home Forums for a chance to win a prize. A couple of these events are the "12 Games of Christmas" (annual event in North America), a question and answer event, and "Name the New Home Space" which determined the name of the new North American Home Space known as the 'Home Café' in Asia and JapanThe prize is generally a $10 USD product voucher for virtual items in the shopping complex. These events are organised by the PlayStation Home Managers.

Security

Sony says that it is strict on the behavior of users in Home. A variety of potentially offensive words and word combinations are automatically censored in messages that users write to each other and administrators are able to block a users' individual console and IP address from accessing the service if a user behaves illegally, inappropriately or other than in accordance with the terms of use of the service.

Users are also able to report the inappropriate or offensive behaviour of other users to moderators by accessing the PlayStation Home Safe Screen.Users are also able to change their communication settings to block messages from users who are not on their friends list.

Updates

PlayStation Home undergoes a weekly maintenance, which occasionally comes with updates. These updates provide bug fixes and expand the social and gameplay aspects of Home. The beta has received several updates such as giving the users the ability to access their patio, to access the 'Menu Pad'; and to access the shopping complex. Other features such as Home Trophies, pets, weather, and seasons have yet to be released. After location-affecting updates, the location must be re-downloaded. World map updates usually do not update the version number.

Version 1.0 was released on November 21, 2008. This version was available to beta testers as a 77 MB download from the PlayStation Store by redeeming a code sent to their email. Upon installation, 3077 MB of hard disk space is reserved for the application. Additional downloads are needed to access the different locations such as Home Square and the Bowling Alley. Those locations' download sizes vary from 16–45 MB each.

Version 1.03 was the first open beta version and was released on December 11, 2008. The Home icon automatically appears under the PlayStation Network category on the XMB when players turn on their PS3. The current version is version 1.22 and was released on June 2, 2009. The update was 13 MB and fixed a couple of bugs.

The Agency (video game)

The Agency
Developer(s)	SOE Seattle
Publisher(s)	Sony Online Entertainment
Engine	Unreal Engine 3[citation needed]
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	2010[1]
Genre(s)	MMOFPS Stealth
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Media	Blu-ray Disc, DVD
Input methods	Keyboard and mouse, Gamepad

The Agency is a spy-themed massively multiplayer online shooter. It is being developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment studios in Seattle for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3. ^[2]

Storyline

There is little released on the storyline, although it is hinted that there will be one that ties together all of the agencies within the game.

Agencies

Upon starting the game the player has the opportunity to join one of two agencies, which will determine the style of missions they receive during gameplay

• The United Network of Intelligence and Tactical Experts (U.N.I.T.E) are the world's most elite secret agents. They are the forefront of the fight against terrorism, corruption, and rogue states around the globe. UNITE agents are deadly specialists in stealth and subterfuge, with access to technology the public has never seen before. Headquarters: Unknown Location - North America. mission types: stealth action[1]
• The Paramilitary Global Operations Network (ParaGON) is one of the largest private armies in the world, serving clients both upstanding and unsavory. ParaGON's efficient, honorable, and often unconventional mercenaries can be found putting duct tape and high explosives to new and exciting uses on every continent. Headquarters: Unknown Location - Africa. mission types: action packed

[ Gameplay

In-game screenshot of The Agency

The game will feature FPS-style gun fighting (with the ability to switch between third and first person views), with some driving and other vehicular segments as well. Skill will be the primary determining factor in the success of the player, though some RPG elements will come into play as well. It has been mentioned that one shot to the head will instantly kill any player, suggesting it will be a somewhat realistic shooter The game will also include relevant subgames and minigames, among them casino games such as Texas hold 'em, which can be played for fun or can be used to initiate instance missions, such as losing or winning enough games to draw the attention of an NPC.

In an interview on All Games Interactive, the developers had stated that the title will be primarily a shooter where a headshot is still a headshot, but other enhancements will be unlocked by the player depending on what they accomplish in the game However, unlike other titles in which low level players have little to no chance in finishing off a high level veteran, it is possible to do so in the game. Although the high level player will take out many of the low level players in the example, they will "look cool" while doing so based on the skills and options that they have purchased in developing their character, but will eventually die. PvP will also be introduced as an option for players, not as a requirement for play. The user interface will be streamlined in comparison to most massively multiplayer online games, operating more like that of a shooter game to increase ease of interaction in the environment and streamline the combat and inventory processes.^[4]

Players will also be able to switch roles depending on what gear their avatar decides to wear. Players inclined to pursue an assault class will simply need to wear assault-type equipment, stealth players will wear stealthy equipment, and so on, negating the need to create a new character type every time they wish to experiment with a different play style. The amount of gear and costumes that each player will have access to will grow as they accomplish tasks within the game, allowing for more options. There will also be a firing range-type environment available for players to test weapons and gadgets.

The world is not a seamless environment encompassing the globe. The environment of the game is being developed around a hub and spoke system where public areas can branch off into other public zones or private areasPlayers will be able to encounter other players in public areas who can join them as part of a team to help complete objectives for an assigned mission. Most of the title will be focused on player missions that can be tackled solo or with up to three other members as a team during a mission. This number can increase to eight players during what have been called "crossover" missions, up to thirty two players in any area during PvP battles. Players will also be able to walk to destinations close to them, but will be able to take trains, planes, or other means of transportation to get to far off locations such as other cities or areas.

Ground, water, and air challenges with vehicles are also being planned to be part of the title. Mission types will include assault, patrol, delivery, cross-over objectives, assassination, and others inspired by many sources such as espionage films.^[3] Mini-games such as casino style gambling will also be present. Missions will be divided into "short" missions that will take 10-15 minutes to complete, "medium-length" missions of approximately 30-60 minutes, and "set pieces" that will sometimes take well over an hour to complete.^[4]

Operatives

The concept of Operatives is meant to be a key feature in The Agency. Players will complete missions to acquire new Operatives. Different types of Operatives will supply the player with anything from in-mission hints to advanced vehicles. Operatives can also initiate instance missions, by calling for help when they are in trouble. Better players will be rewarded with access to the better Operatives to add to their teams, making those players even stronger. Operatives will be stylistically represented as trading cards, which can be sold, auctioned, traded and given to friends and other players.^[2]

Networks/Joint Agencies

Once players have achieved a certain level of prestige in the game they will be able to create or join "networks" with other players. In terms of functionality, networks are similar to guilds in other MMOs. Networks in The Agency will have access to special network missions that will pit rival player teams against each other in a competition to complete a common objective first.In an interview with AGI, the developers have stated that these clan-like groupings will also be called 'joint agencies'.

Class System / You are what you wear

The Agency will feature a class system in which you can switch your class depending on what you feel like playing By switching out gear, you choose how you want to play. There are six combat classes available and there are non-combat aliases. (The names of these classes may vary).

• Spec Ops: Both silent and deadly, the spec ops is about stealth, infiltration, disabling security, and such.
• Psy Ops: All about confusing the opponent, tricking and distracting them.
• Weapon Specialist: These guys/girls can use all weapons, and excel at doing so.
• Tactical Specialist: If you need someone to lay down suppression fire, breach doors, you'll need a tactical specialist.
• Field Tech: The field tech builds turrets repairs armors and such; very comparable to an engineer class in other first-person shooter games.
• Field Medic: As the title says, these guys/girls can patch you up in no time.

Next to these combat classes you have non-combat aliases, just like 007 is also James Bond, you have an alias outfit on when you are not shooting it out. This can range from casual clothing to high town formal wear.

Technical details

The developers have stated in an interview with All Games Interactive that 30 frames-per-second is their minimum target frame rate. They have also stated that they will attempt to develop the title in order to use all of the available resolution capabilities present in the Voice communication is also a feature that will be used in the title and the hard drive will feature heavily in their ability to deliver content to the player.

• The Agency

  

  • Release Date: TBA 2010
  • Take on a wide variety of combat and stealth missions as an elite agent trying the gain infamy and build up an agency.
    

• • Angel Love Online

    

    • Release Date: Sep 25, 2008
    • A free-to-play MMO where "heavenly" characters will interact, develop their attributes, and play games.

    • Genre: Fantasy Online Role-Playing

  • Age of Booty

    

    • Release Date: Oct 16, 2008
    • Age of Booty is a casual , real-time multiplayer strategy game that puts players at the helm of their own pirate ship with the goal of sending your enemies to the briny deep.

    • Genre: Party

  • Aquatopia

    

    • Release Date: Nov 20, 2007
    • Explore an intricately-rendered undersea world using the PlayStation Eye to capture your movements.

    • Genre: Action

  • Astro Tripper

    

    • Release Date: Dec 11, 2008

    • Genre: Shoot-'Em-Up

942: Joint Strike

1942: Joint Strike
XBLA boxart
Developer(s)	Backbone Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Composer(s)	Norihiko Hibino[1]
Platform(s)	Xbox 360 (XBLA), PlayStation 3 (PSN)
Release date(s)	XBLA: 2008-07-23 PSN: 2008-07-24
Genre(s)	Vertical scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, Co-op
Rating(s)	ESRB: E10+
Media	Download (150MB XBLA)

1942: Joint Strike is a video game developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network. It was released in 2008.

Despite the name, the game is an amalgamation of various elements of the 194x series.For example, it includes health meter and bomb system from 1943: The Battle of Midway; charge-fire, land-based battle sections; and rank increases from 1941: Counter Attack, fighter lineup, bomb-based end-level bonus, level rank system from 19XX:The War Against Destiny.

Game play

The game played like the classic 1942 arcade game, but with 3-D hi-def graphics.

Continue and level select options are unlocked by beating the game once.

Fighters

• P-38 Lightning: medium health, medium speed, medium power, lowest missile
• de Havilland Mosquito: highest health, lowest speed, highest power, highest missile
• Kyūshū J7W Shinden: lowest health, highest speed, lowest power, highest missile

By completing the game on Wing King difficulty, a black and red version of Shinden becomes selectable. It is a fully powered Shinden.

Joint Strike

Joint Strike is available in multiplayer mode. During multiplayer gameplay, the game's standard homing missile attacks are replaced with Joint strike attacks. Joint Strike attack is selected at the beginning of the game.

• Shot Link: Fires a fireball at the other ally fighter.
• Chain Lightning: Fires lightning at the other ally fighter, but regular weapons cannot be use when Joint Strike is in effect.
• Clash Blast: Drops a bomb between both players. The size of blast radius grows larger when player-controlled fighters are farther away from each other.

[ Items

Weapons

Current weapon power level is increased by picking up the same weapon item as the fighter's current weapon.

• Machine Gun
• Spread Shot
• Laser

Limited Weapons

These items have limited ammo. With exception of bomb, all items have limited time span whether they are fired or otherwise. When timer reaches 0, it is replaced by regular weapon.

• Rockets
• Special Machine Gun
• Bomb: Increases bomb stock by 1.

Others

• Health: Increases fighter's life point.
• Medals: Bronze, silver, gold medals worth 300, 500, 1000 points respectively.
• Yaschichi: Completely refills fighter's life point.
• 1up: Increases life stock by 1.

Levels

There are 5 levels in the game.

At the end of each level, a rank is given based on the amount of time used to complete the level.