Official Playstation Discussion

[Harwood Butcher]

In this topic we will discuss the Playstation 3(PS3). This includes everything about the PS3; games, accessories, downloads etc.

NOTE: In order to view the PlayStation 3 font, download the attachment at the bottom of this post if you don't already have the font.

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Latest Firmware - v2.36 - (v2.40) to include trophies, in-game XMB - Reported by Original GTA Master

June 18, 2008

+ Posted by Eric Lempel // Director, PlayStation Network Operations

A new PLAYSTATION 3 firmware update (v2.36) will be launching soon, improving system stability when playing select PlayStation format software titles. We’re also happy to officially report that the 2.40 system software update for PS3 will include “XMB” access in-game. The update will also include “trophies,” an exciting new feature that we’ll be providing more details on soon, as well as some other new enhancements. We’ve talked about some of this on the blog previously and know that many of you can’t wait to get your hands on these features. You can expect us to share all of the official details shortly.

SOURCE

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Latest Firmware - v2.30 - Reported by Original GTA Master

April 15, 2008

Firmware Update v2.30 has a redesigned PlayStation STORE that is said to be easier to use and has more features than previous versions of the STORE.

For more details on the new firmware, check out this.

~Thanks to GTA Don for the heads up~

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Firmware Update - v2.20 - Reported by Original GTA Master

March 20, 2008

Here are some of the other new features/enhancements that will be included in Firmware v2.20:

• The ability to copy PS3 Music and Photo playlists to a PSP system. We introduced the ability to create Music and Photo playlists on the PS3 in firmware update v2.0. Now you can easily export your playlists to your PSP.
  
• You can now play DivX and WMV format files that are over 2 GB. In addition, you can now display subtitles when viewing DivX files.
  
• Resume Play - begin playing a DVD or BD disc from the point where you previously stopped it, even if you eject the disc and insert a different movie or game.
  
• Use your PSP as a remote control to play back your music files on your PS3 without turning on your TV.
  
• The Internet browser now displays some web pages faster. In addition [save Target] has been added as an option under file. This option lets you save a file that is linked to a web page to your PS3 hard drive or storage media.
  

There are a few other tweaks and upgrades included in v2.20 - we’ll provide more specifics as the update is about to go live.

SOURCE

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Firmware Update- v2.17 - Reported by Original GTA Master

March 13, 2008

This update isn't a big one or anything, but it does improve some of the online PS3 titles. So...go update it.

If you’ve signed in to the PLAYSTATION Network tonight on your PS3, you probably noticed that you were prompted to upgrade the system’s firmware to v2.17. In case you were wondering what it’s all about (and a quick Google search indicates that yes, you are) the operating stability of some online PS3 titles has been improved.

Hope that clears things up!

SOURCE

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Firmware Update - v2.10 - Reported by Ciaran

December 17, 2007

New Features in update:

• Voice changer
  
  • The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat.
    
  • Using this feature, you can change the tone of a voice that is input from an audio device such as a microphone. High and low-pitched tones can each be adjusted to five preset levels. You can vary the tone when using voice / video chat under Friends.
    

  [*]You can now select [Type 3] as an option under Settings > [Music Settings] > [bitmapping]. This bitmapping process was developed specifically for the PS3TM system to enhance audio playback.

  [*]DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played.

  [*]Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported.

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PLAYSTATION CARDS Coming Soon - Reported by Original GTA Master

December 14, 2007

If you stopped by one of of the major gaming sites in the last day or so, there’s a good chance you’ve seen one of these stories confirming the existence of PLAYSTATION Network cards, or the debut of such cards in Japan.

We’ve heard the call - usually around the time we update the PLAYSTATION Store - from loyal PS3/PSP owners who’d like to give (or receive) these cards as a gift, and from those who’d like an alternative to using a credit card to purchase things on the PLAYSTATION Store. So here’s an update: Yes, the option many of you have been asking for - PLAYSTATION Network Cards - are coming, and should start appearing at retailers in early ‘08. The cards will be redeemable via the PLAYSTATION Store for PC, and on the PLAYSTATION 3 to supply the wallet with funds to spend on games, add-ons, and other paid content.

We’ll continue to keep you updated here on the PlayStation Blog as their arrival grows nearer.

Source

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Firmware Update - Firmware v2.01 Coming Soon - Reported by Original GTA Master

November 18, 2007

Hey everyone. We know you like to hear about updates a few days in advance, so here’s a quick heads up that we have a new System Software update in the works.

Firmware v2.01 is a minor update that will improve the stability of PLAYSTATION 3.

We’ll provide more specifics as the update is about to go live, but we thought we’d give loyal blog readers advance notice!

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Latest News - Reported by Ciaran

November 01, 2007

1. Firmware 2.0 news will be popping up tomorrow and the firmware will come in the next two weeks. Yay! According to Three Speech.

2. Yes. Sadly MGS4 was bumped into Q2 2008.

3. An Uncarted: Drakes Fortune demo is coming to the PSN next week.

4. A Haze demo is coming to the PSN at the end of this month.

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Firmware - 1.90

New Features in update:

• Ability to rearrange games on the XMB.
  
• Option menu now includes "eject disc".
  
• Press triangle on the XMB to eject the disc.
  
• XMB backgrounds.
  
• Change the folder classification.
  
• Emoticons are now available for use.
  
• Change CD output to 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz.
  
• Force 24Hz output for Blu-ray over HDMI.
  
• Change PS3 video settings in-game.
  
• "Bit Mapping" in the "Music Setting".
  
• Save AVCHD type animations from a Memory Stick.
  
• Change settings like upscaling while playing PS and PS2 games.
  
• Add bookmarks.
  
• Web browser security function in the browser's tool section.
  
• Avatar moves during audio visual chat.
  

~Firmware news submitted by ŠHẩĐõŴ[Ciaran](7/23/07)~

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The first thing I want to talk about is what you guys/gals thought of the PS3 when you first tried it out...the few of you on this forum that own a PS3. Well I was lucky enough to get it for Christmas and as soon as I plugged it in I was confused because it didn't turn on. I starred at it for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to work it, dumbass me not reading the directions. So after the 10 minutes I decided to try and find the button and tried feeling up the PS3 for some sort of reset button finding that the buttons were touch sensative. After that I felt like a real dumbass but at the same time felt releaf that I didn't have to return it, if it were broken.

Anyways after I got it all hooked up, and on, I signed up for the online thing as "O GTA Master"..."Original GTA Master" doesn't fit...only got to "Original GTA Mas"... After that I downloaded 3 demos; Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm and some other game I didn't try yet. The games are really good and the graphics are amazing...and I have a shitty TV for a video game system this powerful and what not. I only had about 1 hour in total to mess around with it because I went to a whole bunch of Christmas parties and ended up staying over my grandparents with my dad and brother, still there, and can't wait to get back and try it out...just hope my brother doesn't end up having a huge hang over...ok lets hear what you people have to say about the PS3.

Loading Screen Problem Solution

TGTAP Members	PSN Name	Games Owned Online Games/Regular Games/Pre-Orders
Airashii	UNCONFIRMED	MS, VT
Charger	Chargr	RFOM, NFSC, FEAR
Ciaran	MrShadowSlayer	GTAIV[sE], MS, RSV, RFOM, SM3[CE]
CQC EXPERT	smothboy	No games added
FallenClyro	Mpilk901	RFOM, OB, WH, DARK, SKATE, PJM, NFSC, LRC
GTADon	GTADon	RFOM, MS, GTAIV
gtafan07	gtagamer	RFOM, COD3, THP8, M07
IVAN ALEXANDROV	UNCONFIRMED	FEAR, R&CTD, UDF, RFOM, AC, RSV, THP8, ESO, COD4
Max Payne	GTAGanxtaize2000	RSV, DiRT, COD4, NFSC, AC, MGS4, GTAIV
Ovan	likepaulie92	CH2K7, SH
Original GTA Master	OGTAM	THP8, RFOM, SKATE, K&L, COD4, BSA51, APF2K8, SvR08, THPG, GF, AC, BOP, GTAIV[sE]
ps3 player	redunited	MS, PCWE
Wheelman101	Wheelman101	BOP, MS, R&CTD, UDF
*Fiber-Optics	ZEI	RFOM, THP8, TTG

NOTE: If you want your PS3 User Name added, just post here or PM me.

PS3 Games	Abbreviations
All-Pro Football 2K8 Assassin's Creed Blacksite: Area 51 Burnout: Paradise Call of Duty 3 Call of Duty 4 College Hoops 2K7 Darkness, The DiRT Elder Srolls: Oblivion, The FEAR Godfather: Don's Edition, The Grand Theft Auto IV Kane & Lynch: Dead Men LocoRoco Cocorencho Madden 07 Metal Gear Solid 4 MotorStorm Need For Speed: Carbon Orange Box, The Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End PixelJunk Monsters Rachet and Clank: Tools of Destruction Rainbow Six: Vegas Resistance: Fall of Man SKATE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2008 Sonic the Hedgehog Spider-Man 3 Tony Hawk's Project 8 Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Transformers The Game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Virtua Tennis Warhawk	APF2K8 AC BSA51 BOP COD3 COD4 CH2K7 DARK DiRT ESO FEAR GF GTAIV K&L LRC M07 MGS4 MS NFSC OB PCWE PJM R&CTD RSV RFOM SKATE SvR08 SH SM3 THP8 THPG TTG UDF VT WH
Collector's Edition Limited Edition Special Edition	CE LE SE

Home is a real-time online 3D, networked community available on the PLAYSTATION®Network. It allows PS3 users to interact, communicate, join online games, shop, share private content and even build and show off their own personal spaces to others in real time. Home will be available as a free download from the PLAYSTATION®Store and will launch directly from XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) on PS3.

[Mar. 7, 2007](Original Source)	Screenshots (Click Images to enlarge)
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced the unveiling of a first-of-its-kind 3D online user community service for the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. The service, known as “Home,” will enable users to create their own avatar and explore a real-time virtual community, as if they are playing a detailed 3D game for PS3. The service will become available globally beginning in fall 2007.
Home will go into a closed beta test this spring with a full launch targeted for later this year. By having a broad range of business partners participate in Home, along with an expansive catalog of upcoming game software titles for PS3, SCEI will continue to enhance the new world of entertainment and vigorously promote PS3 as the next generation computer entertainment platform.
With an avatar uniquely customized according to each user’s preference, users can explore the 3D community that is Home – a sleek, modern environment featuring spacious common areas; custom spaces dedicated to specific games; and personal apartments. Each user is assigned an apartment in Home where they can invite others to join them as they show off their own style in an area they can personalize themselves with furniture, art and other items – even a different view from their windows. They can also show their personal video, pictures and other digital media content found on their PS3 hard drives in their apartments. Very rich interactive communication with others is achieved through built in text, audio and video chat, along with sophisticated emotional animations for each character. Sharing continues in the “Hall of Fame,” where users can display new 3D trophies that will be unlocked through in-game achievements, as well as real time score rankings in PS3 games.

(Original Source)

Making your own personalized 3D character or avatar. These realistic human characters are highly customizable with different body types, skin tones, ages, clothing and accessories, creating a unique personality for each user. Exploring the 3D community that is Home – a sleek, modern indoor space featuring spacious common areas, retail shops, game lobbies and extensible, customizable personal apartments. Communicating with others through text, audio and video chat, along with sophisticated emotional animations for each character. Being assigned an apartment in Home where others can be invited to join you as you show off your own style in an area you can personalize yourself with furniture, art and other items. You can even show your video, pictures and music content stored on your PS3 hard drive. “Hall of Fame,” where you can display new 3D trophies that will be unlocked through in-game milestones in PS3 games. Players craft their own individual experience. There’s not just one way to play. Unlimited possibilities for user-created content – players can customize everything: their characters, the landscape around them and their own “patch” on LittleBigPlanet. Players discover and win new skills and items to aid them on their creative journey. Online and offline multiplayer modes – work as a team or get competitive.

[Mar. 12, 2007](Original Source) Beta Details: BETA UNDERWAY

Home Information:

The Home closed beta is scheduled to kick off in April with 15,000 users. This first stage of the beta will run through August, at which point it will enter the open beta phase and open up to approximately 50,000 users. The free service, which Sony is trying to get under 500MB in size, is scheduled to go live in October.

The Central Lounge, which is a starting point for virtual meet-and-greets, will have a cap of 64 concurrent users. Like online chat rooms, there will be several active Central Lounges on the network to accommodate users. Though currently PS3-only, Sony is hoping to expand Home to be accessed by the PlayStation Portable and mobile phones, but admits it will be limited access. Sony did not say what features will be accessible or when other devices could connect to Home. Currently, meeting someone in Home and then playing a multiplayer game with them requires both parties to exit Home and enter the game manually, but Sony says that eventually, everything will be seamless. Likewise, Home will eventually become accessible directly through a game that is being played. At the present time, Home is not a persistent world. Gamers can not visit their friends' apartments unless their friends are logged in. "We are working on the persistent aspect of Home, and expect to implement it in the long term," says the note. Among the other tidbits of information: users will be able to make money through online user-to-user auctions, there will be no child avatars, and lobbies will likely be localized and divided by region.

Screenshot Gallary (Click on images to enlarge)

NOTE: Videos may be processing MORE INFO, PICS AND VIDEOS COMING SOON!!!

Home Q&A (PDF Format) Download/View	NOTE: The entire document can be viewed below. The official document is still up for downloading at right for those that still want the offical document

Home™ Development Q&A Wed 7th March 2007

General Features

Q: What is Home™? Home™ is a real-time 3D, networked community that serves as a meeting place for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) users from around the world, where they can interact, communicate, join online games, shop, share content and even build and show off their own personal spaces. Home will be available as a free download from the PLAYSTATION®Store and will launch directly from the PS3 XMB™ (XrossMediaBar). Q: What is the target demographic of Home users? Home is for everybody. It is a global platform and the aim is to populate it with a broad and rich content experience, the diversity of which will create a broad and diverse community of users. Q: How do consumers use it? For the user, Home is a new experience in social networking. It’s a way to meet new friends online, or hang out with old friends and family. It’s also a rich media experience outside of the fundamental game-based activities on PS3. It will reside on the XMB between Game and Network. Q: What features does it have? Communication between users, creation and customisation of your own personal avatar, creation and customisation of your own personal space. Ability to share media with friends, and to experience media from publishers. Users will be able to benefit from game matchmaking, search facilities, seamless transition between game and Home. Q: What is the timeline for rollout? Closed Beta (appx. 15,000 users): April - August Open Beta (appx. 50,000 users): August - October Service Live (50,000+): October Q: What is the function of the Central Lounge? The lobby is the central meeting place where you can meet new friends or arrange to meet old friends, before transferring to a private meeting place. The current maximum of concurrent users in a lobby is 64. But a multitude of lobbies can be active at any time to accommodate all users. Q: What other lobbies will exist within Home? Over time Home will expand to include many different locations. It is our intention that ultimately anyone can create a Home Space, be they a publisher, a developer or a Non-game Company. Q: What is the Hall of Fame? The trophy room is a Home Space where users are able to display their gaming accomplishments. Q: How do I win Trophies? Players will be able to win Home Trophies when they play games that support the Home Trophy system. publishers and developers will be able to support Trophies by building them into their games' architecture. Further information on how to develop trophies within games will be available soon. Q: What content will users be able to purchase from within Home? Over time the range of content available to users will expand dramatically. If you consider Home to be a simulacra of the real world then most goods and services found within the real world could theoretically be replicated within Home. Initially all commercial transaction will be via the PLAYSTATION®Network (PSN) Store. Eventually users will be able to transact within the Home environment. Q: Will I be able to attend ticketed (paid-for) special events? Yes, in time Home will play host to many types of event. 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. Q: Can Home users win non-purchased prizes and items? Yes, it will be possible to give prizes to users. Q: Will all billing have to be via Sony Wallet? Yes, all transactions will use the Sony Wallet system within the PSN Store, although ultimately transactions will be possible without leaving Home. Q: Can users share their favourite bookmarked Home Spaces with one another? Currently there isn't a way to do this, but this is a feature that we'd like to implement in the future. Q: When can users have / manage their own spaces? Every user has a private apartment space that users can modify and change over time. The basic apartment is free and will offer users lots of options for customization and personalization. In the future we will provide tools that will enable users to have an even greater ability to create their own Home spaces and content.

Commerce & Partnerships

Q: Is Home a commercial environment? Home is primarily a platform for social interaction and the intention is not to create a space for purely conducting ecommerce. Home prioritises community and entertainment over ecommerce. That said, we believe that there will be ample opportunities for businesses and individuals alike to generate significant revenues from the Home platform. Q: When can I start to develop for Home? You can register your interest to develop for the Home platform immediately at http://home.scedev.net Q: Who should I contact about developing for Home? If you are an existing licence holder you should channel requests for information through your existing 3rd Party Account Manager. If you do not have a license agreement, please visit http://home.scedev.net where you will find more information and an application to register your interest. Q: I don’t have an existing PlayStation® licence agreement – how can get involved in developing content for Home? See above. Q: I’m an IP / content holder / aggregator – how can I get involved in Home? See above. Q: How soon can publishers and developers have and manage their own spaces? We would like to engage with interested publishers and developers immediately. If you an existing licence holder you should channel requests for information through your existing 3rd Party Account Manager. If you do not have a licence agreement, please visit http://home.scedev.net where you will find more information and an application to register your interest. Q: When can IP holders have / manage their own Home Spaces? We would like to engage with interested IP and content rights holders immediately. If you are an interested non-games company or IP holder, please register your interest with us at http://home.scedev.net . An appropriate representative will follow up your enquiry. Q: What support will SCE give to 3rd Parties? Support to publishers and developers with existing licence agreements will be provided by the Third Party Relations groups within each region. If you are a non-game content provider or do not have a license agreement, please visit http://home.scedev.net where you will find more information and an application to register your interest. Q: Who should our developers call for support? Registered developers should request information through their existing support relationships. Information will be available on http://home.scedev.net Q: Who will run Home? SCE has created a Home Platform Group that will provide the technology, strategic direction and support to each of the SCE regional headquarters. Q: Home looks so great – how do publishers ensure that users continue to play their games rather than spending all their time in Home? There is a huge scope for publishers and developers to promote their current and future IPs - as well as exploiting their back-catalogue. 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. Q: Is Home just a platform for SCE-published games? Absolutely not. Home will not be a success without broad support and adoption by our Publishing and Development partners and indeed from nongame companies and services. Q: Is Home a PS3 specific service? Will users be able to access Home through other devices? Initially Home will only be accessible via that PLAYSTATION®3, although over time our intention is to enable users to interface certain Home features and services via other networked devices such as PlayStation®Portable (PSP®) and mobile phones. Q: Can I launch and watch a BD movie from within Home? Launch, yes. Watch, no. (This means you would leave Home to watch the BD™.) Q: What is the business model? The proposed business model for Home is still under review and we'll announce the details in due course. Q: How will publishers make money from it? Initially we predict that the primary areas for generating revenues will come from the following areas: - Content purchases (e.g. avatar clothing and accessories) - Advertising - Content Auctions Q: What will be the upfront investment and development costs be for me as a Home content provider? The tools and technology required to build and maintain a presence on the Home Platform are being designed to enable fast and efficient development, and use industry-standard processes and techniques. The resources required are surprisingly low and entirely scaleable. Q: How will businesses be able to promote their products? The possibilities for promotion and advertising of products and services within Home Spaces are virtually limitless. Given the initial broad set of functions and features the possibilities are limited only by creative vision. As the native features of Home will be continually growing, the creative possibilities will grow also. The Home Platform Team will also take feature requests to support our partners in their creative endeavours. Q: Will we be able to sell products (other than Home assets) online? Eventually Home will not only support the merchandising of virtual assets, but also will provide cross-promotional opportunities for selling physical goods online. Q: Could publishers sell tutorials to their games through Home? Yes, the commercial services and features that publishers and developers will be able to support is extremely broad. Further discussion of specific content ideas that you may have, please consult with your 3rd Party Account Manager or register your interest in the Home platform at http://home.scedev.net Q: What tools will be available for creating content, and when will they be available? The Home Platform Group will be providing a roadmap for the deployment and content of Home Tools. Over time the Tools package will develop into a comprehensive set of enabling technologies that we can provide to our partners to assist them with their Home Platform content creation. Q: Can we reserve a number of seats for the closed & open betas? Yes, please liaise with your 3rd Party Account Manager and request the number of seats that your company requires. If you do not have a TMLA, please register your interest at http://home.scedev.net and an appropriate Home Platform representative will contact you shortly. Q: Will it be possible to have territory based promotions for regional content? Yes, although Home is a global platform there are regional Home Spaces that users within each regional area will access by default (based upon their registration details). There is no restriction on where a user can go from their default starting location (other than any content age restrictions). Because there are regional Home spaces, each region will operate its own promotional events and activities.

Technical & Extended Features

Q: How large is the download? We're aiming for the initial download to be under 500MB. Subsequent downloads will hopefully integrate a streaming method that makes them negligible. Q: How do users find friends and spaces within Home? There is an integrated PSN Friends list, and search functionality for spaces. Q: How many friends can I have? As many as the PSN friends list allows, which is currently 50. Q: Will I be able to trade items that I have bought or won with other Home users? Ultimately, an auction service will be implemented that will allow users to sell their Home assets and user-created content to other users. Q: How often will the content in Home change? Ultimately content in Home will be updated weekly. All the participants in Home (the service itself, 1st Party and 3rd Party publishers, non-game brands and ultimately users themselves) will be creating new content, so the flow of new features will be will on a weekly basis. Q: Can I create new items and content for Home myself? This functionality is in the works for future release. We see user created content as a very important element of Home's ongoing success. Q: How will users transact within Home? During the Beta period, there will be no purchases within Home. Subsequently, commercial transactions will take place within Home. Q: Can you enter, say, MotorStorm™ quickly through Home without having to travel to the specific MotorStorm™ lobby? Currently, users can find each other in Home, and then arrange to go off and play MotorStorm™ at the same time. Eventually, users will be able to meet in Home and seamlessly launch into a game of MotorStorm™. Similarly, users will be able to exit to Home directly from the game. Q: How often is incremental content being created for Home? Content for Home will be developed continually. In addition to an ever increasing variety of items to customize avatars and Home Spaces, there will be special events such as Halloween and Christmas where special content will be available for a limited time. Q: Will consumers be bombarded with advertising? Advertising is a core revenue source for the publishers who will have to put a lot of resource and money into making the Home experience as fulfilling as it will be. As an offset to having to pay for the basic online service, and being able to enjoy the fundamental Home experience for free, some advertising is entirely reasonable. Advertising will be kept to palatable levels however. It is in no-one's interests to cause users to leave Home through excessive advertising. Q: How will I protect my kids from seeing things they shouldn’t? Parental controls are available through PS3 and the PLAYSTATION Network. We encourage parents to take an active role in participating any time a child has access to an open communication network, such as the internet. Q: How will age restrictions be applied? Home employs the same age restriction policies as the PS3 system software and the PLAYSTATION Network. Q: What’s the development overhead? Minimal. In the extreme, an application (say a mini-game) could be written in C++ as normal, and then a thin Home layer added to implement that application within Home. Q: How quick and easy will it be to develop for? Home will allow developers to use their own assets and code for applications, and export those assets into a Home wrapper, which will allow the minimum of bespoke work. The tools that will be available serve to provide that wrapper, they do not require developers to work to particular specifications or packages. Q: Will developers be able to run existing code applications within Home? Given that any application would have to fit within the available resources while running Home, and certain TRCs will need to be satisfied, yes. Q: Will there be additional TRCs for games plugging into Home? When will these TRCs be released? There will have to be base TRCs for Trophies and Matchmaking before the service hits the XMB™. Others will come online as they are needed. Q: Will there be additional TRCs for Home game trophies? When will these TRCs be released? See above. Q: In terms of user's names are they exclusive and different from their network ID. E.g. PSN account = PeterE / Home name = Tarzan123? Your Home user name will be the same as your PSN account ID. Q: Can I log on to Home in addition to someone else from one PS3? E.g. at my friends and I want to log on... This is technically quite an advanced problem. It effectively means logging in to two PSN accounts at the same time from one machine, which makes it unlikely. Q: How will I navigate between spaces? Within Home you can travel instantly (i.e. through the world map), or at your own pace on foot. Q: How will the age restrictions work? Will I be able to see different content in the generic lobby depending on my age? Home employs the same age restriction policies as the PS3 system software and the PLAYSTATION Network. These age restrictions will apply to both the areas that users are admitted to and the content that they are able to view. Q: When I jump back from a game into Home, will I return with the same people next to me? Will I return to a default location? Upon returning to Home, you will land in the same place which was your last position before you left (for instance, if you left Home from your apartment, that is where you will return to.) However, given that Home is an online world, other users will doubtless have moved on while you are off doing something else (unless you've specifically asked them to wait for you.) 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. Q: Can I get media for my apartment from other devices such as PC? Not yet; we are working on enabling this feature which is contingent upon firmware functionality. Q: Would we be able to showcase bespoke events such a live broadcast of a multiplayer game? Absolutely - it would even be possible to replicate a game that is being played by two players together on one PS3, replicating their avatars and movements on the "world stage". This could be an invitational match, with users paying to view the event live. Q: How will the DRM of purchased items work? Home 's DRM system is based on the entitlements system which will be offered by the PSN. Q: Will I be able to give a purchased / earned item to another user? Not yet; however it is a feature which is planned. Q. How will sharing media work within the private space? Will users be able to distribute content? Users will not be able to broadcast their media to people outside their private space, but they will be able to show their own media to invited guests. We have deliberately chosen not to allow users to 'give' media to other users as this opens up serious risks of piracy and sharing of illegal content. Q: How many lobby instances can be run? This is down to the server infrastructure, and in theory is entirely scalable. Q: How will the lobbies be regionalised? Would it be possible to have bespoke, selectable backgrounds for each regional lobby, e.g. Paris / London / Rome etc? It is highly likely that the European, US and Japanese lobbies will be localised, but it is undecided as to whether individual lobbies within Europe will be. Q: Could the global Hall of Fame be filtered by region? This is possible, and also it is possible to have different levels of Halls of Fame - Junior league, Newbie league etc

Policy

Q: What is the policy on acceptable behaviour? Within our public spaces, Home follows the same rules and guidelines as the PLAYSTATION Network with regard to age stipulations and acceptable behaviour. Home uses all the same age controls as the PS3 system software. Within users' own private spaces, we take the view that what people get up to in their own apartment is their own business, within reason. Q: Will there be a restriction to the age you’ll be able to give your avatar? Yes. We will not have avatars which resemble children. The avatars are adult in appearance. Q: Will users be able to make complaints about other users? Of course. We will operate a system of logging complaints with our moderators, which will then be investigated. If necessary we are able to take away a user's login rights and ban them from the service. Q: How much control will we have over what people get up to in their private spaces? As stated before, our policy is that what people get up to in their own private spaces is up to them, and a user cannot be invited to another user's private space until they have accepted an invitation to be on their buddy list. However, the complaints process will still operate in these private spaces, so if people feel that they have been subjected to inappropriate behaviour while in someone's private space, they will be able to lodge a complaint by the usual process. Q: What moderation is used in the system for vulgar / abusive language? We will have a basic text profanity filter. Q: Will users be able to sell things to each other? Ultimately, an auction service will be implemented that will allow users to sell their Home assets and user-created content to other users. Q: Can I earn money in Home? As noted above, there will be eventually opportunities for user-to-user auctions. Q: Will retailers (e.g. GAME) be able to have a presence in Home? Yes. Retailers can create their own lobbies and deploy these for commercial operations. Q: Can we use advertising within it? Advertising will be a big part of Home. At first adverts will be fed through the Home advertising servers, but ultimately we may allow 3rd parties to integrate their own advertising engines into the service. Dynamic advertising will also be implemented, allowing us to direct specific targeted ads at particular users. Q: Are all games required to have trophies available for Home? No, it's up to each game to do what they want. But we see a huge consumer appeal for games that support the trophy system. Q: If a game does offer trophies, what is the maximum / minimum number of trophies required? This is undecided, currently. We would like to feel this out during the beta period. Our inclination is to encourage a relatively small number of high value trophies. Please note that the specifications of Home are subject to change without notice. Please keep updated on these changes by checking with your SCE PR or Third Party Relations contact on a regular basis. SCEI accepts no liability for third party reliance on previous versions of the Home specifications or FAQ's. About SCEI Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the upcoming, much-anticipated PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system. PlayStation® has revolutionized Home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation®2 further enhances the PlayStation® legacy as the core of Home networked entertainment. PSP® is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3™ is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PSP”, “PS3” and “XMB” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “MotorStorm” and the “Home icons” are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “Blu-ray Disc” and “BD” are trademarks. All rights reserved.

Edited June 18, 2008 by Original GTA Master

[Kitsune Inferno]

The price is way too much. That being said, the PS3 is an amazing machine. I played one at Wal-mart and it seemed impressive.

[Pandora]

The specs are superb but the price it way to high. But it can play Blue-ray CD's. A normal Blue-ray player costs 1200 Euro so if you look at it like that it's pretty cheap. Anyway.

Dude, isn't that just the ps2 controller.

[Kitsune Inferno]

I don't know, it's hard to tell.

Yeah, talk about blu-ray players. Some cost $1000 over here and they look like they came out of Vice City!

[Chris]

Blu-ray was probably a mistake for the PS3, but we'll see how it goes once the whole world has it's hands on the machine, only Japan and America have it at the moment, there's still the whole of Europe and Australasia to get it yet. Until March anyway.

You're pretty lucky to have one now. BTW, if you like racing games, then download Gran Turismo HD, it's supposed to be fucking awesome and the cars look just like real life as the graphics are so awesome, assuming you have an HD TV anyway, see my other project http://www.granturismo-hd.com for more info on the game

[Wheelman101]

the controllers are awsome,there the same as the Ps2 ones but the PS3 one's are light,the R2/L2 buttons now go all the way down

but the one thing i dont like about it is its fat and heavy

[Chris]

They had to take the vibration out the PS3 controllers though didn't they, so that they could put motion sensing into it.

[Pandora]

That GT HD looks awsome! Chris, do you know if it's going to also be released for the 360.

[Chris]

Nope, GT series is and always has been exclusive to Sony and the PlayStation.

[Kitsune Inferno]

Besides, Xbox 360 has Forza Motorsport 2. *cough* better game *cough*

[tommy vercetti guy]

all you bitches talking about the price of a PS3 should sock it. If you buy as PS3 sony doesn't get $600, they lost about $600. Why? Because the blue ray drive alone is $1000. PS3 online is also free you xboxers.

[Harwood Butcher]

Yeah the PS3 is amazing and as TVG pointed out, Sony is losing money over this. The only bad part for me is that I dont have an HD TV, so I cant experience the PS3 of its full potential until I get one. I think the controllers are amazing, light and wireless, we don't need it to f***ing vibrate...who cares about that. I havn't gotten a game yet but I have those 3 games like I said before and they're good enough for now...I basically got the PS3 for GTA and L.A. Noire. You people have to get it.

Anyone here actually have a PS3? If so add me to your friends list

O GTA Master OGTAM

Edited January 7, 2008 by Original GTA Master

[Pandora]

Nope, GT series is and always has been exclusive to Sony and the PlayStation.

damn it

I hate all those exclusive games but it would make the chance higher that I would buy a ps. Well, when it becomes affordible.

And if sony had been smart they would have built their machine on a way that you later could build a blu-ray driver in to it as replacement of the normal one. Cause at the moment those drivers are far to expensive and not really used, I think. (do games actally already get made on those blu-ray things?) So if you would buy it later when blu-ray is actually getting used (if they won the war against hd-dvd) then the costs of the production of blu-ray lasers would have mostlitly already droped making the whole system far more affordible.

edit:

@ tec 9: GT pwns FMS

Edited December 27, 2006 by Jace

[Red_91]

I have not had the joy of playing a PS3 yest because I live in England and I have to wait till March, but all I can say that it can seriously store loads more data than the 360. You are probably thinking so what. But with teh more space you can improve graphics, physique and gameplay. I know the price is a bit high but I am one of the lucky ones because my brother knows someone who like manages 'toys r us' and the guy has already said you can have a discount on it.

I found out that not even the game shops make profit out of game consoles. The make profit out of the packages with the games and controllers.

[Pandora]

wow... Sony really has made a mistake then. They are only going to earn via games and add-ons...

[MrLlamaLlama]

Blu-ray was probably a mistake for the PS3

http://www.granturismo-hd.com for more info on the game

Tell me about it, one blu-ray disc (formatted) costs about 12 quid, f***in hell!, no wonder game prices are so high> bu then again, blu-ray does mean that the ps3 is a true nextgen console, a new, untested idea, and hell does it impress (i've been saying'hell' alot today lo,l)

[Ciaran]

How did I not see this topic? I am a major Sony fan. I am hoping to get the ps3 when it comes out here in March. it is the best console, I must admit that it is dear but if you add up all of the things in it, Blue Ray... It is cheap. But first I have to try and get a HD T.V. So that adds another big price tag. No offence to Microsoft or Nintendo it is just that the Playstation's are always the best in the business.

I am also trying to figure out how is the Xbox 360 is considered a next gen console?

Yes I am a very biased on this sort of thing. But Microsoft are the kings on the computer's.

[chris82]

I am also trying to figure out how is the Xbox 360 is considered a next gen console?

Because it's a seventh generation console comparable to the other two; that is its specs make it able to run games at a similar speed and level of detail to the Wii/PS3, yet much faster than the previous generation of consoles.

[Harwood Butcher]

wow... Sony really has made a mistake then. They are only going to earn via games and add-ons...

Well dont forget about the whole "PLAYSTATION Store" They're gonna make a killing off of that. That's where they're gonna get the money from.

EDIT: OH SHIT, forgot that PS3 accounts dont allow spaces in the name so instead of "O GTA Master" I just went with "OGTAM"...must have forgotten about that after being over my grandparents for the holidays.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Original GTA Master

[Ciaran]

I am also trying to figure out how is the Xbox 360 is considered a next gen console?

Because it's a seventh generation console comparable to the other two; that is its specs make it able to run games at a similar speed and level of detail to the Wii/PS3, yet much faster than the previous generation of consoles.

Oh, ok thanks.

Well dont forget about the whole "PLAYSTATION Store" They're gonna make a killing off of that. That's where they're gonna get the money from.

Have you been on the store yet it sounds really good.

[DareDevilX]

I'll have to wait until March but then I'll to buy it...

Why God?Why Europe?Whaaaaaaaaaay?

Gholum,Gholum,my precious ps3,Gholum....

[Rashon.]

Lol. I wonder why the PS3 was delayed in Europe and not anywhere else.

[Harwood Butcher]

Have you been on the store yet it sounds really good.

Yeah its pretty cool so far, we just need to wait until more things come out for it.

I'm still wondering how to get up my own background for my PS3.

[Red_91]

wow... Sony really has made a mistake then. They are only going to earn via games and add-ons...

Jace I think all game consoles do that even the X BOX 360. When it first cam out it was making a loss then it found cheaper ways of making it so teh made it cheaper and made about $30 per unit.

[Kitsune Inferno]

What I heard is that both Nintendo and Microsoft are making money on their respective systems.

And TVG, XBL is only $6 USD a month. Who's the cheap bastard, now?