Sony's much-hyped foray into virtual worlds is turning into an embarrassment for the company and the PlayStation 3 platform. When Home was first announced early last year, the potential Second Life competitor was heralded as a "very friendly, enticing platform" that would "finally bring secure 3D virtual communities to the masses."
But it wasn't long before news of delays began to leak out. At last year's Tokyo Game Show, Sony Computer Entertainment President and Group COO Kazuo Hirai confirmed that the project would be held back until spring 2008. Microsoft's Xbox 360 group, which at the time was glowing from the well-received Halo 3 buildup, was quick to pile on.
Now, Hirai has announced Sony is once again delaying Home, in order to develop a "more focused gaming entertainment experience." The open beta testing period won't happen until the fall, and Hirai's statement did not say when Home will be released to the public. TD Daily notes that the Home environment has been "completely reconstructed" several times since testers first began using the service in 2007.
While there was disappointment last year when Home was first delayed, at least this Christmas is looking a lot brighter for the PlayStation, in part because of the Blu-ray victory and also because of the expanded number of PS3 titles coming out this year.
Related news, commentary, and predictions:
- Prediction: Blu-Ray market share will not exceed 50% this year
- Analysis: Second Life: Interface, infrastructure and growth woes continue
- Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
- News: Apple plots Second Life-like online store
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Comments
ya w.e.
Sony is a very promising rand i do expect at leat the graphics of sims with the game soo smooth that you will fell like single player.
ya w.e.
Sony is a very promising rand i do expect at leat the graphics of sims with the game soo smooth that you will fell like single player.
the graphics will be a million times better then the sims and i hope it comes out soon ive been waiting for it since 2007
I WONDER IF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CAN BE FILED AGAINST SONY FOR MAKING ALL OF THESE FALSE RELEASE DATES (EXAMPLES: SOCOM & HOME...... ECT) IN ORDER TO INCREASE SAGGING SALES. I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE TRADED PS3'S FOR XBOXES WHEN SONY PROMISED ALL OF THESE GAMES AND PRODUCED NOTHING. OK.....SO THEY GAVE US METAL GEAR JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT BUT TWO YEARS OF PUSH BACKS AND BULLSHIT DELAYS! C'MON SONY GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just wish they wud release what they have done now and everyone wud keep in mind that its not the actual finished project so no one wud complian and then we can finally test/ use it but i bet they wont release it until 2010 cuz i bet they will just keep delayin n after a while everyone will be so sick of waitin they will end up switch over to either xbox and/or wii so hurry sony
O SHUT UP CRY BABY IM SURE SONY WOULDBE GLADE IF YOU GOT A XBOX ALSO ***NEWSFLASH ***** SONYS THE RICHEST ELECTRONIC COMPANY EVER!!! SAGGING SALES PLEASE IF THEY DONT SALE ONE PLAYSTATION THELL SALE 10 TV'S MAYBE ONE TO YOU AND STILL MURDER XBOX .O YEA MOST XBOXS ARE PLAYED ON SONY TV'S DICK GETTA LIFE AND THE WAIT WONT BE SO BAD YOU CANT RUSH PERFECTION HAHA !!! SINCERLY A TRUE SONY LOVER
i agrre sony is the best company and they know what their doing so stfu! u cant rush perfection! home would make billions for sony, so its not like their holding back!! ppl will buy ps3's if it comes out!
heh shardae ur such a dickheaded loser lol
SCREW SONY AND MICROSOFT!!!!! APPLE OWNS YOU ALL THEY DON'T EVEN NEED A GAME CONSOLE HAHAHAHA SCREW YOU ALL HAHAHAHA NERDZ ONLY NERDZ USE MICROSOFT AND SONY GEAR LONG LIVE APPLE
two words....apple sucks
Sony should take a page out of microsoft's book and just release it. Sure it won't work (much like the fiasco named Vista) but at least people will stop whining about it. Then Sony can update regularly with patches just like MS does and sometime just before the release of the PS4 it may actually work most of the time.
ok calm down. its time 4 u 2 get off apple computers d***. stick 2 the subject ****........SONY RULES!!!! X-D
I have been very ashamed with Sonys lack of keeping the pubic informed with the development of Home and release dates ......... I remember downloading the Home trailer on the PlaystationStore back in 07 .... When I first saw the video I was excited .... Then a couple of months passed being in the dark about Home ... Next Sony came out with a second video again telling us nonthoing about how far in development Home is or a release date .... Now they come out with a stupid theme just to shoot up are spirits ....... The theme said that you might get in for a beta for Home Thus pushing the release date further back ....... I for 1 have gave up even thinking about Home and I am tired of Sony thinking it is ok to keep makeing up excuses ........ If you need to contact me heres my PSN: TheSickness666
no kidin im a sony fan but realy they have pushed it back and back to the point that it may not be out till 09 but a few sites say that there was a garente it would come out in the last few months of 08 i have spent hours trying to get into the beta for this and most of this was on the web i have read !!!!EVERYTHING!!!! ther is to read about the pshome as a matter of fact i was lookin it up when i found this so i have read EVERYTHING!!! ......... now most of the info above is off the net so im not going to tell you that it is all true for shur but ill bet that most of it is read about pshome if you dont want to take my word for it but i promise you that you will spend atleast 3-4 hours and wont find all the info i have by the way i would never trade my ps3 for a crapbox360 or wii all you have to do is look at the game line up ps3 has SOCOM.SAINTS-ROW-2.KILLZONE 2 ect. crapbox360 =NOTHING +NO BLU RAY ! and the wii is for kids SONY FOR LIFE
SONY ARE CRAP
SONY ARE CRAP
lmao ok... its funny to see all of you bitching... yes SONY IS A SHITTY COMPANY and they do remark alot of pushbacks however they do produce a well constructed product... second of all they ruined Star Wars Galaxies HAHAHA! dumbasses get over it... sony IS a shitty company but if you need reminding... people dont buy Xbox's for the games they buy it for functionality hmmm OH YEAH they are owned by microsoft which IS the richest company IN THE WORLD have facts before you make stupid ass comments...
(sincerely an apple employee and a PS3 owner)
dude learn how to spell
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