Sony announced today that the PlayStation Home beta is expanding its U.S. user base. In order to apply, PlayStation 3 owners must check out the PlayStation Store later tonight. A new PlayStation Home theme will be released. All you have to do is download the theme and bingo, you applied.
If you live in Europe and want to get into the Home beta, Sony has good news for you. They will be adding new users by selecting people who are the most active on the PlayStation Network. So if you want in, start playing online more.
Read: How To Apply To The U.S. Home Beta.
Today PS3 gamers were let down by Sony when they announced that the Home Closed Beta will be extended to Summer 2008. Originally slated for Fall 07, Home was pushed back to Spring 08. Now gamers can only hope that Summer 08 bears some fruit.
According to Sony: “We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but 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. Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PLAYSTATION Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition.”
Let’s hope that this is the last delay.
The full press release is after the jump. Continued…
After much input from the community and game experts, WCG has unveiled the lineup for 2008. Some new faces in the lineup, while the classics sit down for another round of competition.
Warcraft III
Starcraft
Counter-Strike (version not specified, 1.6 perhaps?)
FIFA 08
Need for Speed
Command and Conquer 3
Age of Empires 3
Carom3D
Red Stone
Project Gotham Racing
Asphalt 3
Halo 3
Guitar Hero 3
Virtua Fighter 5
Quite an interesting selection of games this time. WCG does not include Dead or Alive 4, currently used by the CGS as one of its staple games. The Guitar Hero 3 competition could be pretty intense too. Overall, the game pool looks heavier towards racing games.
For more information, go to WCG’s website.
Starcraft II Community correspondent Karune has released another series of answers to some question posed by groups across the web. However, only one answered question addressed gameplay this time; a little disappointing for those hoping for more info on the game itself. The highlight:
Will there be more ways to give energy(mana) to a caster? (www.starcraft2.hu)
Protoss casters will have an ability to transfer energy from one caster to another. This ability will allow for a lot of micromanagement opportunities to maximize the amount of energy to a single caster, for the maximum number of special abilities casted.
I hope Terran and Zerg races get some way to fill their casters’ energy pools, otherwise this would create a ridiculous imbalance. Zerg players currently have “consume” on defilers (and the Kerrigan hero during the campaign) that has proven to be an invaluable asset in games. Continued…
