Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sony reinventing PlayStation Home to be more like an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/sony-reinventing-playstation-home-to-be-more-like-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/sony-reinventing-playstation-home-to-be-more-like-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/sony-reinventing-playstation-home-to-be-more-like-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Playstation Home
PlayStation Home was a hugely anticipated feature for console fans, one that ultimately garnered mixed reviews and apathetic affection. Due to the reception, Sony has decided to reinvent the game lobby-slash-virtual-world to incorporate the best of themeparks, MMOs, and social networks.

When it relaunches this fall, PlayStation Home will look radically different, resembling a sleek mall with plenty to do and faster functionality for those who want to get right to their games. But between playing commercial titles, gamers are encouraged to hang out for a while, which is where MMO elements come into play.

The new Home has a number of districts, as an amusement park would, and in them players can pick up quests, go on treasure hunts, and explore these video game-themed zones to find hidden mysteries. Sony also promises that it will incorporate persistent, ongoing stories, similar to those you'd find in MMOs, such as an alien invasion that affects all of the areas.

Sony is hoping that the 23 million Home users will embrace this new experience and form stronger social connections through it.

MassivelySony reinventing PlayStation Home to be more like an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureamusement-parksconsolehomehorrorplaystationplaystation-3playstation-homeps3rebootreimaginerevampsocial-networksocial-networkingsonysportstheme-parktheme-parksTue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What could the PS3 bug mean for console MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're a PS3 owner, you probably already know about the difficulties surrounding the PS3 Phat consoles as of late. You're probably also wondering why we are talking about this here at Massively. Well, the problems that began this weekend left many players unable to log into the Playstation Network, rendering certain games unplayable. Games like MAG. We're betting the MAG population is looking a bit sparse right now.

Earlier today, Sony warned owners of the affected consoles to shut them down and leave them alone for the next 24 hours, while they work to repair the bug with the internal clock that's causing the problem. While it's great that Sony has isolated the problem and is working to repair it, it leaves us with some food for thought.

MMO developers are beginning to turn an eye to the console market, and this incident highlights a potential significant weakness. PCs rely almost entirely on software and individual hardware when it comes to gaming. It's the rare MMO gamer who doesn't know how to open his or her tower and create a custom machine. Consoles don't work like that. If a bad update comes down or there is some sort of internal glitch (with the internal clock, for example), everyone who owns that particular console is going to get it because everyone has the same hardware. That, in turn, will affect everyone trying to play an MMO from their console.

While this doesn't mean mass hysteria and the doom of the console MMO market, hopefully it will serve to alert MMO developers to a problem that they can address before it moves from "potential" to "actual".

In the meantime, here's a little something to look at while you wait for your PS3 to come back to the land of the living.

MassivelyWhat could the PS3 bug mean for console MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Breakingconsole-mmohomeinternal-clock-bugmagmassive-action-gameplaystation-3playstation-homePlaystation3ps3ps3-fatps3-phatsodium-oneSONYMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Home no longer a priority for Sony?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Opinions on PlayStation Home seem to differ -- it doesn't have the kind of flexibility and user created content that's made Second Life successful, but it does provide social spaces and content linked to the games and other media we enjoy. For others, like writers at our parent site Joystiq, it's a brave new virtual world where the fine art of Quincying can thrive.

Now that PlayStation Home has gained some traction with its install base and users are making microtransaction purchases, does Sony intend to develop the marketplace further? Not immediately, according to PlayStation Home's Pete Edwards. Edge Online quotes Edwards, speaking at the London Games Conference this week: "It's been a long road. We've proved there is a market out there and we've got a lot of people that spend a lot of time in [Home]. It's not a priority right now but there is a business model there."

[Via G4tv's The Feed]

MassivelyPlayStation Home no longer a priority for Sony? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsedge-onlinehomelondon-games-conferencemicrotransactionsmmo-industrypete-edwardsplaystation-homevirtual-worldsFri, 30 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use PlayStation Home?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Now here's an odd question that could only be thought up at 8 in the morning. If you own a PS3, are you an avid user of PlayStation Home, or do you avoid the console's virtual world like the plague?

We ask because the world seems to present two very different versions of itself. On one hand, some of the mini-games are kinda interesting, the virtual environment does take full advantage of the PS3's graphical capabilities, and the virtual spaces for the different PS3 games are kinda cool.

However, on the flip side, you get to deal with the worst of the PlayStation Network community while you can't completely remove them from your screen. If you make a female avatar, get ready to get swamped by every guy in a 30 virtual mile radius no matter how you're dressed.

So tell us why or why not you use Home, and don't be afraid to give us all of the gritty details. Go readers, go!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you use PlayStation Home? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-discussiongamer-discussionhomeopinionplaystation-homeplaystation-networkplaystation3ps3psnsonythe-daily-grindvirtual-worldFri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/e3-2009-a-complete-roundup-of-massivelys-coverage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/e3-2009-a-complete-roundup-of-massivelys-coverage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/e3-2009-a-complete-roundup-of-massivelys-coverage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 proved to be a significant event for the gaming industry once again, with a fair amount of news and announcements related to MMOs. Massively was there on the ground for E3 this year and we've been putting up breaking announcements, interviews, and hands-on previews throughout.

Given how much info came out of E3 on Massively, here's a roundup of our coverage, day-by-day. Be sure to check out the rest after the jump as there's plenty more content, plus you'll find E3 galleries for these games as you click through. To cap it all off, we've also put together an E3 2009 wrapup video for you at the end of this post. Read on to see where the MMO industry is headed in the next year and beyond!

Continue reading E3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage

MassivelyE3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinchampions-onlinedragonica-onlinedungeon-fighter-onlinee3-2009final-fantasy-xivfree-realmsglobal-agendaheroes-of-telarahomejade-dynastyjumpgate-evolutionmassively-event-coveragemassively-hands-onmassively-interviewsmmo-industrymythosnew-titlesperfect-worldperfect-world-age-of-spiritsperfect-world-internationalrohan-blood-feudroundupstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-agencytorchlightMon, 08 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Massively's day 1 roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/e3-2009-massivelys-day-1-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/e3-2009-massivelys-day-1-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/e3-2009-massivelys-day-1-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


E3 2009 is turning out to be quite a show this year and Massively is right in the middle of it all to report on the MMO news. We got a head start on E3 and reported a bit on what's happening before the Expo officially kicked off and it looks like we'll have plenty more to share with you before E3 is over. Here's our recap of day 1 in MMO news from Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009, and be sure to click through to the E3 galleries we've got after the jump.

Boatloads of screenshots after the jump!

Continue reading E3 2009: Massively's day 1 roundup

MassivelyE3 2009: Massively's day 1 roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbiowaree3-2009eaelectronic-artseventsfinal-fantasy-xivheroes-of-telarahomemassively-event-coveragemassively-metaplaystation-homerealtime-worldsroundupsquare-enixstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortrion-world-networkWed, 03 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will you watch the Watchmen?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/the-daily-grind-who-watches-the-watchmen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/the-daily-grind-who-watches-the-watchmen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/the-daily-grind-who-watches-the-watchmen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Okay, so we know we're nowhere nearly the only folks in the MMO universe who also happen to be enormous comic book geeks. (If we were, City of Heroes and Champions Online would have a wee teeny population.) So you can imagine what the general level of Watchmen nerditry is like today in the virtual Massively offices as we all wait for the opening tonight at midnight. This morning, we thought we'd see how many fellow Watchmen geeks are out there, so we wanted to ask - how many of you are headed to catch the movie? Will you be checking it out at midnight, or later this weekend? Are you as excited as we are? Also, to make this a somewhat MMO related question - will you be checking out the Watchmen iPhone MMO or snagging the Watchmen goodies on PlayStation Home when they come out? Or are you sticking to blowing your extra cash on seeing the movie again?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Will you watch the Watchmen? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-bookcomic-book-geekshomeiphonemmomovieplaystation-homewatchmenwatchmen-iphone-mmoThu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Watchmen gear and upcoming interactive spaces for PlayStation Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Still wondering where those interactive spaces are for Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune? Don't worry, we are too, but apparently there's a bright light on the horizon.

TedTheDog, the community manager of PlayStation Home, has shed some light on the upcoming additions to Sony's online virtual space in his recent news update. What has officially been added are some brand new clothing in the Threads store, including a few free outfits and t-shirts featuring the Watchmen.

Past those additions, Ted has added more news regarding the eagerly awaited interactive spaces, including information about the SOCOM 2 space, Uncharted space, Warhawk space, Resident Evil 5 space, and Siren: Blood Curse space. It appears that all of these spaces are being worked on and will be delivered shortly, the first ones being Warhawk and Uncharted space.

The bad news to all of this is that no dates are given on any of it. Looks like we'll still be waiting, but perhaps not as long this time.

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyNew Watchmen gear and upcoming interactive spaces for PlayStation Home originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothinghomeinteractive-spaceplaystation-homeplaystation3ps3resident-evil-5siren-blood-cursesocom-2unchartedupdatewarhawkwatchmenTue, 03 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If home is where the heart is, then PlayStation 3 users have some pretty cold, racist, and sexually demeaning hearts. Hearts that make Halo 3 players look like cute puppies in comparison. Now I'm not saying that PlayStation Home is not a great idea -- in theory it's a brilliant idea. Play in a world like Second Life, meet other users, play mini games, launch into full PS3 games, what's not to love about any of that?

Well, it seems Sony forgot about the precedents of other virtual worlds. Second Life, while nice, can have the uncanny ability to resemble slums in certain areas thanks to the scary nature of some of the creators. Xbox Live sports some of the most offensive users (NSFW) around. So how exactly was Home suppose to avoid the travesties that affect other worlds?

Sony has already stated that "user behavior and feedback" will shape where they go with the Home beta. If that's the case, where are they going to go? Totalitarian state, anyone?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbanningscensorshipchat-filteringcommunitycontentfeaturedhomejoystiqfeaturesplaystation-homeplaystation3quincyracistsecond-lifesexistvirtual-worldxbox-livexbox360Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you online with PlayStation Home?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


PlayStation Home. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Well, that's what we're told, anyway. Especially when other parts of our blog network are running around and causing havoc themselves. But this isn't a story about the other parts of our blog network, it's a story about you. Today's grind wishes to ask you if you're enjoying the virtual world of PlayStation Home. Or, perhaps not enjoying it, as the case could be.

We want to hear your experiences with the software -- good, bad, and even the ugly Quincys. Is the world living up to all of the hype that surrounded it, or was it indeed released too early and in need of more work in order to live up to its potential? Let the comment box ring with your opinions!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you online with PlayStation Home? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahomejoystiqopinionplaystation-homequincyreleasethe-daily-grindvirtual-worldsSun, 11 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Home's virtual items rake in more than movies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/homes-virtual-items-rake-in-more-than-movies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/homes-virtual-items-rake-in-more-than-movies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/homes-virtual-items-rake-in-more-than-movies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While Sony's virtual-environment multiplayer matchmaker and social space Home (presently in open beta) is getting something of a padding by the media, it's mostly a case of the dog being paddled for not being a cat. Most of the criticisms seem to revolve around Home not being something it wasn't designed or intended to be.

Despite all of this, the reported exploits, assorted bad user behavior, concomitant censorship and complaints about the advertising, virtual item sales -- clothing and accessories for avatars -- are reportedly going quite strongly, particularly when compared to the sales of movies within the service.

That really begs the question, though, if you can't make movies compelling in the living-room, then you're probably doing something wrong. However, allowing people complex interactions via their avatars and allowing customization, seems to make clothes horses even of the boys.

Continue reading Home's virtual items rake in more than movies

MassivelyHome's virtual items rake in more than movies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyhomeopinionplaystationps3sonyvirtual-item-salesWed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Home open beta tomorrow, December 11]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/home-open-beta-tomorrow-december-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/home-open-beta-tomorrow-december-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/home-open-beta-tomorrow-december-11/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sony's virtual world Home for the Playstation 3 will become available tomorrow, December 11. While it's labeled as an Open Beta, users can play around with the basic features and services in Home, free of charge. And of course, Home is a free download as well. While most of us were sound asleep, our friends over at the Joystiq mothership got the full story on Home opening its doors to PS3 users worldwide, early this morning.

What can we expect from Home? Well, Snow Crash it's not, but there will be a fair amount of branded content and activities to start with from the likes of Diesel, Ligne Roset, and Red Bull, to name just a few companies already establishing a presence in Home. Throw game and film companies into the mix, which Sony states is happening, and Home could prove to be interesting. In fact, in the words of Sony Europe's Director of Home, Daniel Hill, "Home will live or die on the strength of its content." Hill was speaking at a media event in London, which Joystiq also covered this morning along with their hands-on with Home.

Continue reading Home open beta tomorrow, December 11

MassivelyHome open beta tomorrow, December 11 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betasdaniel-hillhomejoystiqlaunchesplaystation-3ps3snow-crashsoesonysony-europevirtual-worldsWed, 10 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Expanding choices in social gaming and Flash MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/expanding-choices-in-social-gaming-and-flash-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/expanding-choices-in-social-gaming-and-flash-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/expanding-choices-in-social-gaming-and-flash-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There seems be an endless tide of online games and virtual worlds being made available to us, with more always on the way. Some of them are well-known and need little introduction, such as Second Life, Playstation Home, and Facebook games, to name just a few. But there's plenty more out there, some of which falls into the standard 'MMO' category, although it's a label that we find is steadily blurring as time goes on.

Darren Gladstone, Senior Writer at PC World, has put together "The Social Gaming Guide" for his Casual Friday column. In it he explores some of the mainstays of social gaming like the options found within Second Life and Facebook, but also sheds light on some lesser known alternatives. Gladstone discusses some of the choices gamers have with The Casual Collective, which he describes as "a cool casual-gaming waterhole created by the minds behind DTD," or Desktop Tower Defense. He looks at Whirled, an open-source gaming community which is home to Flash MMOs. "For players, Whirled is an awesome collection of hundreds of games, broken out by category and just waiting for you to jump in," Gladstone writes. Forthcoming Facebook integration will also add more dimensions to gameplay at Whirled.

Continue reading Expanding choices in social gaming and Flash MMOs

MassivelyExpanding choices in social gaming and Flash MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activexbrowsercasualcasual-gamesdarren-gladstonef2pfacebookfree-to-playhomeinstantactionmoondopc-worldplaystation-homesocial-gamessocial-gamingthe-casual-collectivewhirledSun, 30 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Home and Microsoft's Avatar draw unwarranted comparisons at TGS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/sonys-home-and-microsofts-avatar-draw-unwarranted-comparisons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/sonys-home-and-microsofts-avatar-draw-unwarranted-comparisons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/sonys-home-and-microsofts-avatar-draw-unwarranted-comparisons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

From Chiba, Japan, AP reports on Sony and Microsoft's upcoming avatar-based offerings at the annual Tokyo Game Show. Associated Press goes to great lengths to avoid spooking what they seem to feel are a parochial and hidebound audience with gems like, 'In the so-called "metaverse" in cyberspace, players manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, engaging in relationships, social gatherings and businesses.'

Of course, the notion of graphical avatars as a part of a wide variety of Internet services has persisted for most of the last two decades, but even the sense of this is backwards.To the casual and uninformed observer it might appear that the user manipulates this (ahem) 'digital image' to perform actions, but this is substantively not the case. The user moves or takes action through the virtual environment in relation to spaces and to other users, and the avatar represents the action to others.

It's just that sort of long-arm punditry that seems to make AP compare Sony's Home and Microsoft's Avatar service with Linden Lab's Second Life, despite Sony and Microsoft's respective services having about as much in common with Second Life, as they have with Mortal Kombat. 'The real-time interactive computer-graphic worlds are similar to Linden Lab's "Second Life,"' writes the AP correspondent, in a wondrously surreal moment.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Continue reading Sony's Home and Microsoft's Avatar draw unwarranted comparisons at TGS

MassivelySony's Home and Microsoft's Avatar draw unwarranted comparisons at TGS originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>associated-pressavatarbetaeve-onlinegooglehomelinden-lablivelymicrosoftmortal-kombatnew-titlesopinionsecond-lifesonyvirtual-worldsThu, 09 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony claims PlayStation Home will connect gamers like arcades did in the 80s]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/sony-claims-playstation-home-will-connect-gamers-like-arcades-di/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/sony-claims-playstation-home-will-connect-gamers-like-arcades-di/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/sony-claims-playstation-home-will-connect-gamers-like-arcades-di/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MTV Multiplayer blog contributor Stephen Totilo took a second look at Sony's Home -- a virtual world community for PlayStation 3 users. He had previously previewed the service at Kotaku and given it low marks. This time, though, he seemed a little more impressed. We're not really sure why he flipped, though. He wasn't very clear about it.

Home features several instanced locations where PS3 users may converse and play minigames such as bowling. There are game specific rooms, like, say, for Warhawk, where users can get tips and such. It's a virtual world, not an MMORPG, but there's something interesting stuff in that preview. Obviously, it's most pertinent if you're a PS3 owner.

During the demo, director Jack Buser suggested that the developers might eventually add non-human character models if the community demands it (but it's not part of the plan at the moment). Most of the preview is about how Home differs from its non-virtual-world competitor: Xbox Live. Buser said he hopes that Home will give users a place to meet other gamers in an environment that's more social than the games themselves. According to him, there hasn't been a good way to do that since the arcades of the 80s.

MassivelySony claims PlayStation Home will connect gamers like arcades did in the 80s originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadearcadeshomeimpressionsjack-buserplaystation-3playstation-homepreviewps3sonywarhawkxbox-liveTue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: Updates on PS3's Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/e308-updates-on-ps3s-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/e308-updates-on-ps3s-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/e308-updates-on-ps3s-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Our sister-sites Joystiq and PS3Fanboy managed to get some new information and pictures for Sony's Home at E3 last week. The biggest piece of news is somewhat disappointing -- public areas in Home are region locked. You can still visit anyone's private area, but outdoor mingling will be restricted.

On the bright side, we are treated to a gallery of the "Game Spaces" for two of the PS3's biggest hits, Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. These Game Spaces are decorated with apparel relating to the game's they're based on, and feature interactive elements. Warhawk's room has a sand-table to formulate strategies with friends for an upcoming game. The Uncharted room has a locked door that can be opened after visitors discover a secret code, as well as a platforming mini-game to play.

MassivelyE308: Updates on PS3's Home originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolee3-08e3-2008game-spaceshomejoystiqplaystation-3ps3ps3fanboyregion-lockedsonyunchartedwarhawkTue, 22 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cinemassively: The Future of Virtual Worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/cinemassively-the-future-of-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/cinemassively-the-future-of-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/cinemassively-the-future-of-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Forget for a minute that this is an advertisement for the virtual worlds development company, Millions of Us. It's also a great video that discusses the future of these emerging platforms. Narrated by Reuben Steiger, the CEO of MoU, we're taken on a journey through the three major past, present, and future developments in virtual worlds this year. From Sony's Home, to Google Lively, all the way to in-browser worlds embedded on your Facebook pages, the road ahead is pretty exciting!

[Thanks, Eric!]

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

MassivelyCinemassively: The Future of Virtual Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinemassivelygooglehomelinden-lablivelymachinimamillions-of-usreuben-steigersecond-lifeslsony-homethe-future-of-virtual-worldsFri, 18 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A non-tester's visit to PS3's Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/a-non-testers-visit-to-ps3s-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/a-non-testers-visit-to-ps3s-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/a-non-testers-visit-to-ps3s-home/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Stephen Totilo (guest-editing at Kotaku this week) recently had a chance encounter with a Playstation 3 running the beta of Home, and managed to spend a short amount of time taking a look around. From his findings, it sounds like there haven't been any earth-shattering updates to the beta, and the areas he visited sound just like the previews from quite a while ago.

Probably the key quote from Totilo is his closing note: "Whatever it needs to make it a hit, I don't think it's in there - yet." It's unlikely that having some other Home residents to hang out with would have made a big difference to his opinion, because really, a few rounds of rudimentary bowling and holding hands while watching trailers doesn't sound like very much fun. We're sure there will be other features by the time open beta kicks off, but it sounds as though progress is pretty slow right now.

MassivelyA non-tester's visit to PS3's Home originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaclosed-betaconsolehomeopen-betaplaystation-3ps3sonyThu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Home Sweet Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/one-shots-home-sweet-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/one-shots-home-sweet-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/one-shots-home-sweet-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Today's One Shots features one of the things that we're all fond of: home. While there were a few screens that would have been useful for Memorial Day here in the US, we thought it would be nice to show a lovely in-game home, welcoming and warm that was sent in to us by Mandorak from the Gilrain EU Lord of the Rings Online server. There's truly nothing closer to our hearts than a warm, welcoming home full of friends, family and good times. It makes everything worthwhile.

Do you have a screenshot of your in-game house, or the place that you and your friends like to hang out? Have you decorated a room up so that it's all your own? Perhaps you built a keep for you and your guild? We'd love to see them. Just send those to us at oneshots AT massively.com along with a blurb about the screenshot.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Home Sweet Home originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 May 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroplayer-housingturbinewarmMon, 26 May 2008 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Home delayed yet again, open beta starts fall '08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/sonys-home-delayed-yet-again-open-beta-starts-fall-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/sonys-home-delayed-yet-again-open-beta-starts-fall-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/sonys-home-delayed-yet-again-open-beta-starts-fall-08/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Being that the Home service plans to tie into every facet of the Playstation Network -- such as games, downloads, etc -- we're not entirely unsurprised about news of yet another delay. Especially since this time, the delay is for further refinement of Home. The closed beta has been extended into summer and more invites are apparently being sent out soon. Meanwhile, fall 08 is now the time to expect an open beta event.

We follow a lot of different MMOs and virtual worlds here at Massively, but most of them -- in fact about all of them -- are specific to personal computers. One of the more interesting virtual worlds in development has been Sony's Home service, which is of course being developed for the Playstation 3 exclusively. Because of this we have to admit our curiosity is somewhat piqued.

So while the full official launch may be delayed into uncertainty, it looks like PS3 owners can expect to be trying out Home this fall one way or another. Hopefully all the delays are worth the wait. We have to admit to being overly curious as to how Home will eventually turn out.

[via Joystiq]

MassivelySony's Home delayed yet again, open beta starts fall '08 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingclosed-betadelayhomeopen-betaplaystation-3ps3sceiTue, 22 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual World ad agency already at home on Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/virtual-world-ad-agency-already-at-home-on-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,


According to a recent report from the Virtual Worlds 2008 conference, Millions of Us, an advertising agency specializing in the production of marketing campaigns in virtual worlds, is already hard at work developing projects for Sony's Playstation 3-based Home. According to Millions of Us president and co-founder Christian Lassonde, "Certainly I think in the future, console manufacturers will get into user-generated content." We weren't aware that advertising for Pontiac was considered user-generated content these days, but we'll give them a free pass because we're probably taking that quote out of context.

In any case, it may be telling that advertisers are getting early access to Sony's anticipated new virtual world while the would-be customers and fanboys are still waiting outside the gate trying to sneak a peak where we can, in the cold. It may also be raining, it's hard to tell. Home is seeming more and more like a transparently corporate tool for selling us on the next big product and less like the free-wheeling virtual wild west we're used to seeing from this category. We're OK with that, at least for now, just let us play the damn thing already!

MassivelyVirtual World ad agency already at home on Home originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisinghomemillions-of-usplaystation-3pontiacps3pshomesonyvirtual-world-newsvirtual-worlds-2008Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic Watch: VG Cats explains it all]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/comic-watch-vg-cats-explains-it-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/comic-watch-vg-cats-explains-it-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/comic-watch-vg-cats-explains-it-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Beloved videogame webcomic VG Cats has a consistently funny style, and in this episode, they take on the differences in online systems between the Big Three Consoles. How is this a Massively concern? The final panel takes a shot at both Sony's Home and Second Life.

Warning: this comic is NSFW in both image and text! So wrong ... but so funny!

MassivelyComic Watch: VG Cats explains it all originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comiccomic-watchhomemicrosoftnintendonsfwsecond-lifesonyvg-catswebcomicWed, 19 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The war of words for Sony's PlayStation Home and Second Life users begins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ron FestejoRon Festejo is hardly an unbiased observer, being the creative director of the Sony project that is bringing PlayStation Home out next week, but in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz he explains that, in his opinion Home is the best looking and most user-friendly multiplayer experience he's seen so far.

Apparently Second Life is "too garish" and the rest of the MMOs are "too hardcore." Second Life users (we're not players after all) are also too geeky, and Mr. Festejo doesn't think there will be much to interest Second Lifers. Of course I'm happy to be called a geek, and not owning a playstation I won't be checking out PlayStation Home, but what do you think? Do you need to be a geek to cope with Second Life, or is he just aiming at a "cool kids" market? He probably does need to go and read the minimum specs for Second Life page mind: whilst Second Life runs on a much greater range of engines than just PlayStations, he is exaggerating saying it has to support people on Pentium II's.

MassivelyThe war of words for Sony's PlayStation Home and Second Life users begins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gamesindustry.bizHomeplaystationplaystation-homePS3Ron-FestejoSecond-LifeSonysony-homeFri, 22 Feb 2008 22:00:00 EST