London (England) - The longest-delayed Playstation 3 title to date, Home, has been pushed back again to autumn 2008.  It was initially scheduled to be available in autumn 2007.

The ambitious online application has been in a closed beta test for over a year and has faced massive changes during that time, causing developers to continuously delay the final release.




Sitting on a virtual couch in Home

The Home project, based in Sony Computer Entertainment's European studios, was first announced at the 2007 Game Developers Conference.  It was mentioned again at length at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.  However, Sony has made little to no public comments about Home since.

The service was initially planned for release last October, and then was pushed back to "spring 2008."  Now it has been delayed even further.  Home was also supposed to move into a public beta nearly a year ago.  However, it remains on a restricted access level.

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer," said Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai.  "We have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today."

Sony is looking into ways to market the service, not just to PS3 owners but to advertisers as well.  There are numerous outlets for sponsored spaces, including a movie theater room for trailers and virtual picture/video screens throughout the environment.

Adding additional logistic problems, based on reports from beta testers, the Home environment has been completely reconstructed a couple times since regular users began the trial run in the first half of 2007.

In addition to providing a "Second Life" kind of online community, Home is expected to bring with it the launch of a feature like the Xbox 360's "achievements," with bragging rights for completing specific tasks in new PS3 games.

Games

Apr 22, 2008 10:42     

I was $ony would just drop this thing and throw some of the cash in to some game dev instead.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Mwahahahahha

Apr 22, 2008 12:25     

Programming for the cell processor is not cheap or easy boys and girls. Expect more missed dates. Who thinks Metal Gear Solid is going to be out on time? Yea... me neither.
RockHop report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Dough

Apr 22, 2008 13:26     

I wonder if Sony has the dough to deal with the potential lawsuit from Linden Lab, what with these momentous failures recently I hope the depth of their pockets doesn't run out.
Revrant report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Mwahahahahha

Apr 23, 2008 00:03     

"Who thinks Metal Gear Solid is going to be out on time?" Who HOPES that Metal Gear Solid isn't going to be out on time? Interesting... the same hands raised.
Fredo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Fredo... do you EVER add value?

Apr 23, 2008 13:37     

I would love to buy a PS3... there is just not any reason too. Not a single game currently on that system exclusively is a killer app. I do admit... I love watching Sony screw its customers time and time again.
RockHop report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

@ RockHop

Apr 23, 2008 16:01     

I also like to watch as they make the prices of Blu-Ray and keep on promising things but nothing will come through. I can't wait till one of their Blu-Ray updates brick all the PS3. Sony will respond with, "We'll fix them for $199 or you can but a new PS3"
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