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[Oni Jazar]

Major Home update this week:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010...-event-alpha-protocol-toy-story-3-items-more/

If you came out to the Los Angeles Convention Center a few weeks back and managed to catch up with GlassWalls and me in the PlayStation E3 Booth (err…complex), chances are you got a glimpse at a new suite of games packed into one convivial space known as Midway. And chances are you asked us when it was going to be released. And chances are we gave you a wink and a sly smile and said “soon.”

It’s funny how quickly “soon” turns to “tomorrow” in the rapidly-growing world of PlayStation Home. As the holiday weekend approaches us (and with it, all those extra hours to play our favorite games), we figured tomorrow would be the perfect time to launch what is easily one of the most epic gaming experiences to ever be released in PlayStation Home.

The Midway — available Thursday, July 1st — launches with 10 games, over a hundred rewards (including the Darla’s Den personal space), and plenty of secrets that you will have to uncover for yourself as you progress through this massive new game space. Simply collect your tickets from the kiosk at the entrance to the Midway and embark on a journey where a new reward is unlocked for every level of every game you master. Hang out in the space for long enough and you can even be rewarded with more plays for your favorite games (or the ultimate bragging rights at the Meet Darla photo booth). You can even collect exclusive arcade-style games like Trigger Happy-in-a-Box for the Darla’s Den personal space! Just enter the hilarious Tele-Porta-Potty in PlayStation Home’s Central Plaza to access the Midway when it launches this week.

For a holiday as important as Independence Day, we wanted to make sure we delivered the best event we possibly could to you, the loyal PlayStation Home community. And we wanted to make sure that both Canadians and Americans got an ample opportunity to celebrate – hence, Captain Kablooey’s Boombastic Bonanza! Simply head to the Central Plaza on Canada Day (Thursday, July 1st) and/or the 4th of July to participate in the festivities by playing the brand new Independence Day game with your friends, unlocking exclusive rewards (that you’ll have to see to believe), and then using those rewards to unlock progressively bigger and badder fireworks displays for the enjoyment of all onlookers. It’s easily one of the largest and most awesome events we’ve ever thrown — and it will only be available for a limited time — so come out to Central Plaza and show your national pride Home-style.

This week also plays host to some serious updates in the PlayStation Home Mall — with the highly-anticipated Active 8 Apartment UFO (which we’ve heard has a penchant for cattle abductions), new Independence Day-themed items from the Sodium store, full Woody, Jessie, and Zurg costumes from Toy Story 3 (and a bunch of furniture to boot), and tons of Alpha Protocol clothing items (including Michael Thornton, Sie, and Scarlet Lake costumes). So be sure to head to the PlayStation Home Mall this Thursday to keep your collection complete with these awesome new items.

 

[spats]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/06/30/the-midway-comes-to-playstation-home-massive-independence-day-event-alpha-protocol-toy-story-3-items-more/

I'm surprised by the firework ad, surprisingly high production values. Home has to be making decent money, otherwise they would never ever spend money on something like that.

Also the Midway space looks pretty neat.

edit: beatered *shakes fist*

 

[darkwing]

sweet more items to collect, packrats rejoice!

 

[Majine]

I'm surprised by the firework ad, surprisingly high production values. Home has to be making decent money, otherwise they would never ever spend money on something like that.

I was kinda hoping Sony would do a Kevin Butler ad for Home. Most other features of the PS3 already has got one.

 

[Metalmurphy]

"Midway games will be available on a pay-to-play model"


pass

 

[DMeisterJ]

"Midway games will be available on a pay-to-play model"


pass

Yeah, fuck that noise.

I'll see what the rewards are and if I'm tempted, I'll bite.

 

[kevm3]

I like the fact they are adding games, but the pay-to-play model is lame.

 

[spwolf]

Yeah, fuck that noise.

I'll see what the rewards are and if I'm tempted, I'll bite.

Midway games will be available on a pay-to-play model, but will also have free “timed plays.” And as you master each game (meaning: you pass level 10), you in turn unlock unlimited plays for that game. Add into this the 100 + rewards (one reward for each level of each game that you beat – including a free personal space), and we think you’ll find the Midway a great value.

seems like something that might work...

 

[TheSeks]

Ew, having to reach level 10 before you can stop paying. Not thanks.

Finally got the Soccer cleats from that minigame. Fuck it. Fuck it hard. And I have about 2000 FP for rewards in the FevaArena space, but the dolls don't really show what different shirts they have and the 1000 awards aren't that great (IMO). :|

 

[DMeisterJ]

Ew, having to reach level 10 before you can stop paying. Not thanks.

Finally got the Soccer cleats from that minigame. Fuck it. Fuck it hard. And I have about 2000 FP for rewards in the FevaArena space, but the dolls don't really show what different shirts they have and the 1000 awards aren't that great (IMO). :|

I finally said screw it for the soccer game. Fucking queue always fucks up.

The dolls are pretty cute, I got about 5 of them, but a lot of the shirts are alike.

 

[mckmas8808]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/06/30/the-midway-comes-to-playstation-home-massive-independence-day-event-alpha-protocol-toy-story-3-items-more/

I'm surprised by the firework ad, surprisingly high production values. Home has to be making decent money, otherwise they would never ever spend money on something like that.

Also the Midway space looks pretty neat.

edit: beatered *shakes fist*

Great idea.

 

[CoLaN]

Well i've been to Central Plaza, and i can safely say that this is the best ps home event ever, they should follow this route, especially about the interaction (items used by all the people in a certain area improving the minigame for whos playing). Very well done, and cool rewards

 

[TheSeks]

Well i've been to Central Plaza, and i can safely say that this is the best ps home event ever, they should follow this route, especially about the interaction (items used by all the people in a certain area improving the minigame for whos playing). Very well done, and cool rewards

Did you get a reward for 25 people, or did your PS3 lock like those of us that attempted that for the reward?

I finally said screw it for the soccer game. Fucking queue always fucks up.

I got into a private server one day following a friend, took about six attempts (no one was there) to get it. So glad I got them, but man fuck that mini game. The middle top parts are the hardest thing in it. The edges and bottom parts are a lot easier to hit.

 

[darkwing]

Midway room is awesome i just spent a few bucks there lol

 

[scottnak]

Erm, newbie to the whole PS3 thang, so bear with me for this question that might be answered time and time over... but is anyone aware of how to type in Japanese on a US PS3?

Home is pretty interesting to roam around! Heh

 

[patsu]

I use English to spell out the Hiragana.

Are you visiting the Japan Home or the FIFA space ?

 

[TTP]

Erm, newbie to the whole PS3 thang, so bear with me for this question that might be answered time and time over... but is anyone aware of how to type in Japanese on a US PS3?

Home is pretty interesting to roam around! Heh

You can only type in Japanese if you log into Japanese Home. Whatever the system region and the system language you set, you can only type in the same language as the one used in the region you are logged into.

 

[scottnak]

I use English to spell out the Hiragana.

Are you visiting the Japan Home or the FIFA space ?

I was looking in the FIFA space (the world pitch or something like that)

You can only type in Japanese if you log into Japanese Home. Whatever the system region and the system language you set, you can only type in the same language as the one used in the region you are logged into.

Ah I see... well that's a pain then. No way to switch back and forth huh.
Is it possible to change into a Japanese Home from the US?

 

[TTP]

Is it possible to change into a Japanese Home from the US?

Not really, but you can still visit it with a different account.

Just create a Japanese account on your US PS3 (create a new user, then select Japan as your nationality when signing up to the PlayStation Network) and use that to connect to Home. You'll find yourself in the Japanese Home instead of the US one.

 

[Oni Jazar]

WipEout space & Observatory space tomorrow with a few games:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010...tion-minis-event-just-cause-2-sodium-updates/

Attention Speed Demons: WipEout – one of PlayStation’s most celebrated and longest-running franchises – turns 15 this year. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we’re launching the WipEout Museum – a brand new space stuffed to the brim with games based upon this critically-acclaimed series of hypersonic, futuristic racers. From the Team Logo Hunt questing game to the breakneck fury lying within in the WipEout 2D arcade cabinets; the point-and-blast excitement of the WipEout Shooter to the interactive DJ area (where you can crank your favorite tracks and pump yourself up for the impending races), the WipEout Museum is the premier destination for fans of the long line of classic, gravity-defying titles that make up the WipEout universe.

In other news, we’ll be opening the doors of the new Observatory space this Thursday, July 8th, for the PlayStation minis event. Challenge your friends to a battle of wits, memory, and luck over a board consisting of a grid of glowing tiles. Flip the tiles over to reveal a variety of minis images; reveal two matching tiles to score a point. To keep things interesting, we’ve riddled the board with random tiles hiding bonuses and traps (such as a tile that steals points from your opponent). You can even hide traps of your own, weakening your opponent and securing the spoils (which, of course, come in the form of a highly-collectible reward). Elsewhere in the Observatory you will find the pool-esque FreezeBall game, which rounds out the exclusive PlayStation minis event.

There's also some more costumes and items for purchase. (Monkey Island 2, Just Cause 2).

 

[Majine]

WipEout invades EU Home this week.

WipEout celebrates 15 years on PlayStation with the brand new WipEout Museum space in PlayStation Home launching this week! Start by exploring the futuristic space, where you’ll find full sized models of iconic WipEout craft, then check out the various activities on offer. For the speed junkies, there’s race action with the WipEout 2D arcade cabinets. If point-and-shoot is more your thing, battle for top spot on the leaderboard in WipEout Shooter. Prefer simple exploration? See if you can find all the logos in Team Logo Hunt to win some funky head wear!

The space also includes a DJ area for relaxing or getting pumped up before a race. Access the DJ decks to pick a track and pick your spot to dance along to the music! Take WipEout back to your personal space with the cool new range of WipEout furniture, trophies and clothing on offer.

Also hitting the stores this week is the latest range of 80’s attire from the Playground space. Over at the Mui Mui ship you can pick up the latest crazy head wear with the Domingo hat, along with some new swim wear. For fans of Just Cause 2, there’s a range of great items available this week. The V-store updates this week with a range of Batman shirts.

Been waiting for more Street Fighter IV costumes? Good news this week, then, as we release seven more costumes: Rose, Sakura, Abel, Dan, Fei Long, Gen and Gouken will all be available this Thursday.

Starting this Thursday there will be trailers for The Last Airbender in the cinema. Keep your eyes open for the special posters, where you’ll be tasked to ‘Discover Your Element’. You’ll receive a special element flag to hang on your personal space wall and a Last Airbender t-shirt.
Heads up for those who have been enjoying the Hustle Kings event space. We’ll be removing this one next week, so head to the space during the week for a final ball-dodge fix. If you’ve not won the prizes yet, then this is your last chance!

More pictures and video clip from WipEout Museum

 

[Shinriji]

I often wonder when Namco will recreate the Namco Museum (just like the PS1 games) on Home.

 

[mckmas8808]

The Wipeout space looks great!

 

[TheSeks]

I often wonder when Namco will recreate the Namco Museum (just like the PS1 games) on Home.

They never will. There is a reason they want you to buy the PS3 application of Namco Museum to use the arcade machines.

Wipeout space sounds nice. Hopefully the arcade machine is a free reward.

Actually, fuck that: I hope there is some decent free rewards this week. They've been slacking on this front a bit.

 

[SolidusDave]

WipEout Home space is really nice. I like when they basically design the space to show you how it's like in the game's world and you wouldn't really see it in the game itself because it's all racing etc, (the MotorStorm carrier is another good example, I just recently realized that you can see the whole fleet around the coast of MSR's island).

the light/logo search minigame gives you a panda head and a cat helmet.


anyway, screenshots:

(lots of robots and ships flying around)

the dancing robo-DJ is awesome, lots of music to choose from, too

back of robo-DJ + panda head (and someone mocking me for having a higher trophy level but less platinum trophies than him)

note the race track

avatars sometimes have these automatic animations, here mine is looking into the camera

damn furries always wanna cuddle while I'm taking pictures (note the nice use of shadows in this space btw)

a few more in my picasa album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/107135601197726521115/PlayStationHome#
(FW3.40 <3 )



the WipEout 2D game is kinda neat, original WO tracks but from a top view ^^

 

[womfalcs3]

How do you take direct shots in Home?

I've been checking out Home more often now, after months of abandonment.

I made my own LittleBigPlanet wallpaper, which I've also played with on GIMP. I'll be using that as my XMB wallpaper from here on out.

The Buzz quiz game is actually pretty fun. I checked out the Batcave from Arkham Asylum, and it's nothing special. I randomly placed an Uncharted ornament on the floor there and left.

 

[Ashes]

@wipeout home space. Dare I say it. Home is actually cool now.

 

[agm2502]

How do you take direct shots in Home?

I've been checking out Home more often now, after months of abandonment.

I made my own LittleBigPlanet wallpaper, which I've also played with on GIMP. I'll be using that as my XMB wallpaper from here on out.

The Buzz quiz game is actually pretty fun. I checked out the Batcave from Arkham Asylum, and it's nothing special. I randomly placed an Uncharted ornament on the floor there and left.

Use the camera item, you can access it via the pad in the personal items section.

 

[Septimus]

Use the camera item.

 

[womfalcs3]

Got it. Thanks.

 

[DJ Crimson]

Just started using Home again, can you switch between apartments and still have everything where you placed them? Going back and forth, et cetera.

 

[sykoex]

Wow, that Wipeout space is incredible. Awesome pics man. I'd like to watch narrated video tours of different spaces where the user sort of reviews the space. Would make a cool youtube channel.

 

[DMeisterJ]

Just started using Home again, can you switch between apartments and still have everything where you placed them? Going back and forth, et cetera.

Yeah.

 

[yencid]

So im not sure when this happened but sony is selling some of the home products/clothe designs IRL... pretty cool, I would so buy the "fire inside" hoody

 

[DJ Crimson]

So has anyone bought the personal pool table or darts they put up today? Pool table is only 3.49 and might consider getting it since I fucking hate waiting.

 

[darkwing]

So has anyone bought the personal pool table or darts they put up today? Pool table is only 3.49 and might consider getting it since I fucking hate waiting.

i was under the impression its the same pool table in the game room

 

[DJ Crimson]

i was under the impression its the same pool table in the game room

I just read this. Talk about disappointment...

 

[spats]

Big announcement on Monday?

The first step towards Trophy integration has been to award virtual items based on Trophies in select games[...] What’s Step 2? …I can’t talk about it yet but I can tell you the idea of Trophies in Home is one we are committed to, and we’ve already begun…

Last but not least, be on the lookout for a big Home-related announcement coming on Monday. We can’t tell you anything about it right now but based on the tone and subject matter of this interview, you can probably guess what it might entail…

http://www.alphazone4.com/2010/07/jack-buser-on-playstation-home-big-announcement-on-monday

 

[SolidusDave]

Big announcement on Monday?





http://www.alphazone4.com/2010/07/jack-buser-on-playstation-home-big-announcement-on-monday

I actually hope it's not (only) the trophy room but Trophies for Home itself. Then, give every PSN account a 0% trophy entry for Home, even if they never launched it :lol

 

[yurinka]

I actually hope it's not (only) the trophy room but Trophies for Home itself. Then, give every PSN account a 0% trophy entry for Home, even if they never launched it :lol

This is one of the Home features I was always looking forward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnBwF2fuFqw

I also would like to put images from my HD in portaits of my apartment, and to see movies streamed from my console with friends. But right now, I would be happy with the trophy room.

I like the fact they are adding games, but the pay-to-play model is lame.

95%+ of the games are free. As I remember, only Midway and Sodium are paid.

 

[darkwing]

Big announcement on Monday?





http://www.alphazone4.com/2010/07/jack-buser-on-playstation-home-big-announcement-on-monday

mind blown! can't wait! been playing Sodium

 

[darkwing]

damn me, i only knew now that there is a mini game on the Burn Zombie place :lol

 

[TheSeks]

I'm personally waiting for them to give us a Poker table. Of course, I could just pay $10 on PSN, have PS Eye support (but no text chat) and trophies in comparison to glitches and shit like that like the EA Sports Poke spaces. :/

 

[spats]

The Wipeout space is great, really stylish. The Home merch is very cool aswell. Almost bought the Assegai chair because I'm such an Assegai fanboy. <3

Also seeing all the insanely cool robots, hearing all the futuristic cityscape ambience and seeing Liverpool's super cool graphic design makes me sad what happened to Wipeout. WOHD is incredible but sold like crap. FU Sony for mistreating one of your best IP's. :,(

 

[TTP]

Why nobody asks about the future of Home come next gen? Or am I the only one worried about the prospect of losing everything I've set up in Home when "Home 2.0" comes out on the PS4 or whatever?

How do they plan to deal with the transition? Will Home 2 client be backwards compatibles with current Home content? (like LittleBigPlanet2)

 

[spats]

Why nobody asks about the future of Home come next gen? Or am I the only one worried about the prospect of losing everything I've set up in Home when "Home 2.0" comes out on the PS4 or whatever?

How do they plan to deal with the transition? Will Home 2 client be backwards compatibles with current Home content? (like LittleBigPlanet2)

I've thought about that a lot. Either they scrap it completely or come up with some way to properly migrate all the content to the new hardware.

It would make sense because they can reserve more overhead on the new hardware and do much cooler stuff with integrating Home into the OS functions and game connectivity. A lot of people use Home even though GAF doesn't seem to think so, and it's a profitable platform so I can't see Sony completely abandoning it.

 

[PjotrStroganov]

PS3 resets when I try to update to 1.36.



okay, it updated.

 

[gofreak]

Dunno if this was the 'big announcement on Monday' but there's an article here about Sony partnering with 'Codename', which is bringing together various independent devs to make Home versions of their games. Some of them sound pretty interesting.

http://games.venturebeat.com/2010/0...nerate-new-games-for-sony-home-virtual-world/

Codename is an indie video game label that will work with indie developers from around the world to create exclusive new titles for Sony’s Home, which has 14 million registered users. It’s part of Sony’s multi-year effort to turn its virtual world for gamers into a social gaming hub.

The games will be made by a mix of fan favorite, die-hard experimental, and undiscovered first-time developers.

In the coming months, Codename will introduce the following games: Dueling Gentlemen, a strategy game crated by Odd Gentleman and played on a stage in Home’s central plaza; Minor Battle, a capture-the-flag style platform game where two teams run around a cube of four screens, created by Peanut Gallery; Super Awesome Mountain RPG, a mix of tabletop board and fantasy role-playing games where players ascend a fantasty mountain in Home’s central plaza using a custom-animated figurine, created by Codename; and Cogs in 3D multiplayer, a multiplayer version of Lazy8’s Steampunk style game to be played in Home’s central plaza.

By the sounds of it they really are increasingly serious about turning it into its own platform for game content.

 

[SolidusDave]

I didn't realize how many cool Personal Spaces there are in Home. It's actually a shame that you have to pay for them because I think even the hardcore Home users are more intro roaming the public spaces and don't often meet up in their apartments. So a lot of people will never see/use them. At least the game related ones should come with the game, a trophy or a CE/DLC etc.

Some of them have a clever theme, some are good looking, some come with their own games or are interactive, some have a nice atmosphere... and some have all of that.


I mention this because I just found a list with video tours etc. for (almost?) all personal spaces of all Home regions and I was quite overwhelmed:

http://www.yourplaystationhome.com/pages.php?pageid=3
that's an overview of the spaces and in which region they are available. The video links don't work because the site gets redone or whatever.

but you can just seach for the name of the space in their youtube upload list:
http://www.youtube.com/user/YourPlaystationHome#p/u

also, most of them have screenshots:
http://www.yourplaystationhome.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=10


e.g. the Warhawk apartment is a flying aircraft, including shooting minigame etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83FhCyuBwjM
the Toy Story 3 apartment has lots of minigames:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWzzZZGG-tg

 

[Winterblink]

Yeah that new indie game announcement was weird in a way, they had a guy talking in an interview recently all about trophy stuff, then hinted at something coming to Home that would be announced on Monday. Everyone thought it would be trophy related (trophy room, anyone?) but alas, no.

There's a TON of neat personal spaces, but at $5.00 a pop it's a bit absurd. They'd probably sell a shitload more than they are if the prices came down a by a few bucks.

I dropped into Home the other day to check out The Midway and Wipeout spaces. I love Wipeout, so it was a neat, if brief, walk through some of that history. The Midway was nothing but people bitching about having to pay for those shitty minigames they had in there, and I can't say I blame them. Who the fuck would pay per play to do that "test your strength" hammer game?