[Gradthrawn]

For you registered PS Underground Members, Home Beta sign-ups have started. I'm not sure about the exact conditions for the sign-up invite, however. If I were to guess, you need a PS Underground Account along with a registered PS3 under that account. You may also need to be a GAP member, and possibly have a number of PS3 games registered, but I don't know that to be true (just a possibility). So, if you have an Underground account, check the email account you used to register, you may have an invite to sign-up waiting for you. Please note, this is only to sign-up to be put on the list of potentials for the Beta. They'll decide who actually participates later.

[Bad_Boy]

Yeah I got my invite, hopefully I get accepted to join the beta.

[Todd33]

Sorry, this survey has closed. Thank you for your interest.

I got that when I hit submit...

[Gradthrawn]

Originally Posted by Bad_Boy

Yeah I got my invite, hopefully I get accepted to join the beta.

It would be nice to have a few B3Ders get in. To those that get in, maybe they should post there PSN IDs here. That would help test out some of the friend grouping functionality they spoke of.

[Titanio]

Reportedly, the beta has started for a lucky few European beta testers. If you have a beta tester on your friends list, you'll be able to see them using Home as with other applications. and this has started popping up.

Unfortunately, the beta is NDA-ed to the hilt, and with the beta being apparently very small right now, it might be difficult for the moment for details to leak out.

Update - and here's an acknowledgement from SCEE:

PlayStation Home


European Closed Beta Test Starts Today

London, 1st May 2007. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that the first phase, closed beta test for Home, the 3D, online, avatar based community for PLAYSTATION®3 had begun.

Starting with an initially small group of both internal staff and known beta testers, the test will be opened up to many others at some point during the summer, including those registered on www.homebetatrial.com.

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Cont...9&NewsAreaID=2

Yeah, short and sweet.

[Titanio]

It looks like the Home Beta is up on the North American Playstation Store for those who were accepted. Someone on the official forums posted a photo of the download screen.

No idea how many were taken in at this stage..it's literally just up a short while. If you weren't accepted, it doesn't appear for you on the store at all.

edit - here's a photo:

[DJ12]

Lucky gits

Wonder if Sony has put a gagging order on all participants to stop news of the bugs there's bound to be from getting out.

[Titanio]

The EULA says you can only discuss it with 'close friends'. Whatever that means.

[Titanio]

There are pictures leaking out all over the place. Not sure if it's OK to post them here?

Anyway, looks really nice. Perhaps improved a bit (graphically) over the GDC demo (though it may be the ol' 'camera-on-tv' effect making things look better).

[one]

Originally Posted by Titanio

There are pictures leaking out all over the place. Not sure if it's OK to post them here?

Anyway, looks really nice. Perhaps improved a bit (graphically) over the GDC demo (though it may be the ol' 'camera-on-tv' effect making things look better).

I think it's OK, as long as they are not big and not from mags

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=22121

About Posting Pictures

You can post pictures as long as they're not of a large size (Anything over 800x600 is considered as too large), and as long as you don't post a boatloads of pictures (Posting a few pictures plus a link to the rest is enough).

* About Posting Scans from Recent Publications

That rule is simple. You don't have the right to do that. Easy to remember, isn't it?

You can, nevertheless, post scans from "vintages" publications, and from promotional printed materials (Ads, Press kits...).

How many places/rooms are available in the beta demo and how big is the file size?

[Titanio]

Well, here's a few then..









There's more here: http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=163351

From what I read on the US playstation boards, the filesize for the current client is just over 200MB. Thusfar they have access to their own apartment, the central lounge and the theatre, I think.

[patsu]

So... no arcades besides bowling yet ?

[Titanio]

Bowling isn't considered an arcade game per se. Bowling and pool are available, and the arcade cabinets are working. I read someone talking about playing "that helicopter game" they showed in the arcade cabinets at GDC. I've heard there are already others there too, but no details..

[Afrikan]

what is GR8ST doing here....


I hope some kids don't get too out of line...... I know there are going to be some undercover mods walking around so that should be help out.....

but these different HOME scenarios remind me of scenes from the movie "The Island".....like were being watched

[Tap In]

wow... looks very cool.


thanks for the pics and info

[DieH@rd]

Originally Posted by Afrikan

but these different HOME scenarios remind me of scenes from the movie "The Island"

Just without those Xbox deathmatch contests

[zed]

shit, they look amazing ( though could just be the low quality photos that are hiding faults ), lighting is very nice. this is gonna be huge once the mainstream press picks up on it. WRT graphics its certainly lives up to the hype

[rounin]

Interesting. Now this is something I wouldn't mind seeing a few ads on

[Titanio]

Sony has sent out emails to those GAP members who got invites to apply, but who were not yet accepted:

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/920/picture1yw2.png (from chriskzoo on gaf)

Basically they'll be adding new beta testers weekly, for the next several weeks at least.

[J_Saint]

I got that email last night.

[patsu]

Some more Home beta pictures here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=207
(including Home arcades).

You can also see a Heavenly Sword T-Shirt in one of the shots.

[Titanio]

Nice, some pictures of the other arcade games in there. I guess there is indeed 4 different games in there right now.

I really like how you seem to have some environmental awareness when playing the arcade games. You don't just exit the environment to load the game, it's all there still in the world.

Graphically those shots show the whole thing off nicely too.

[patsu]

Yes... concept.

Are the Home arcade games streamed ? If so, I think it's a good complement to the Playstation Store "download demo/arcade and play locally" model.

I hope they evolve the idea further. e.g.,
Informal P2P distribution of Homebrew games (from own apartment or via friends)
--> Short "Official" or most popular Homebrew games in public Home arcades
--> Longer Playstation Network games (like flOw) or demos
--> Full game

I also like how you can see other people access their virtual PSP too.

[Titanio]

Originally Posted by patsu

Yes... concept.

Are the Home arcade games streamed ? If so, I think it's a good complement to the Playstation Store "download demo/arcade and play locally" model.

I hope they evolve the idea further. e.g.,
Informal P2P distribution of Homebrew games (from own apartment or via friends)
--> Short "Official" or most popular Homebrew games in public Home arcades
--> Longer Playstation Network games (like flOw) or demos
--> Full game

I had thought of homebrew games when Phil Harrison was asked about that, but not P2P sharing of homebrew games without having to go through Sony and get approval. If you can have an arcade machine in your Home and share games between each other..that is a cool idea.

[patsu]

Hmm... that's an interesting view.

Do you feel that Home is safer if Sony vets the game ? Before your post, I would have thought most (all) prefer "self-regulations" and freer distribution for user generated content. As long as these content do not get onto public "screens", the community can block/report said content, and Sony has the final "veto", it should be ok.