In a recent interview on Gamasutra, Time Crisis 4 producer Teruaki Minami made some interesting points about the Guncon 3 and Namco wanting more companies to implement it into their titles.
The Guncon 3 is said to feature six LED markers, making it much more accurate than previous light guns and sounds like an impressive piece of hardware. Not only does it feature dual analogue sticks, it also has SIXAXIS capabilities, too.
After its delay a while back, things have been quiet with regards to Home. However Home is progressing well, with the latest update of the beta (build 0.7.7) just being released.
The following details on 0.7.7 have been posted over at the PS3 forums:
* There’s a new building in the world, although it’s currently one that can’t be entered
* You are finally able to enter your Home Space’s patio
* You can now use your own pictures in your Home Space
* A game launching option has been added, though it is not functioning completely at the present time
* The cinema’s movie theatres have transferred from the second floor to the first floor
* America, Japan, and Europe each have their own server now
Head over to the PS3 forums for the latest news on home.
In his keynote speech at the Tokyo Game Show, Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment has confirmed that Home is now set for a Spring 2008 launch. It seems there’s still fine tuning to be done.
“This is going to be a worldwide service that needs to offer a wide range of functions required in Japan, in the US, in Europe and in Asia,” said Kazuo Hirai at TGS.
Games journalist Steve Boxer met Sony chiefs regarding the influence of Web 2.0 on the gaming world at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival. Over to Steve for what they said…
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival, which took place on August 13 and 14, is an unusual affair, best described, perhaps as a “boutique” games show. It’s always attended by a small but select band and, as it takes place while the Edinburgh Festival is on, the general vibe is relaxed and holiday-ish – rather than the usual manic nature of games shows in which everyone is trying to sell something. This year, a dream team of SCE people behind Sony’s merging of games and social networking – Jamie Macdonald, VP of Worldwide Studios, Paulina Bozek, Executive Producer of SingStar and Peter Edward, Director of the PlayStation Home Platform Group – gave a joint talk entitled Beyond Social Gaming.
During PlayStation’s E3 press conference, company spokespeople presented both in person and as their own personalised avatars within the PlayStation Home 3D community service, transitioning from their virtual-world avatars to reappear live on stage.
Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, unveiled some key new components of PlayStation Home. The newly introduced features, all available when the free 3D community makes its public debut this fall, include:
Read more…
There’s a couple seemingly in the works and they’re both worth waiting for. There’s the MotorStorm update coming on June 7, which includes the following according to IGN
- New Time Attack game mode
- Fix for 5.1 and 7.1 audio
- Corrections to a ranking system
- Correction to the boost mode in multiplayer
- Autostart with a fixed countdown time in multiplayer lobby
And many other improvements. Click here to find out more.
Also, the firmware 2.00 update is allegedly coming soon. There is unsurprisingly no detail or even confirmation available at this time, but as we like speculation as much as the next man, why not tell us what improvements you’d like to see to the firmware?
There’s already been something of an update to how the Playstation Network is going to develop in the future, as SCEA’s Michael Shorrock speaks to an audience of developers and gives out plenty of hints as to where PSN is going next. There’s nothing concrete as to where, when and how yet, but there’s plenty of hints as to how developers can incorporate Home into games by having their own virtual ‘pavilions’ within the space. Obviously this is all broad brush stuff that we probably won’t see anything of for the next six to 12 months at least, but looks like the kind of thing that could make Home stand out from the crowd. Read the whole piece from Gamasutra here
Thanks for the hundreds of requests to get involved with the next stage of the Home beta trial. Those quick enough off the mark will have an email from us sitting in their inbox with confirmation details. Sorry to all those who were unable to make it this time. However, we will keep all of your details and try to make it up to you soon!
We’ve been given ten spaces for Three Speech regulars on the second phase of the Home beta trial, which is due to start later in the summer.
To qualify for a bout of major bragging rights among your mates, you’ll need to be based in the UK and have access to the PSN Store; and we’ll need your email sign-in address. Once the second phase is underway, you’ll be contacted with details of what to do next.
We could ask you to dance, fight, sing etc for the spaces, but nah, there’s not really a fairer way than to say we’ll dish them out on a first come, first served basis. Email us at [email protected] super quick!
Keep an eye out on the registration site - www.homebetatrial.com/ - as well for more info.
Here’s a belated interview with Phil Harrison by Steve Boxer, our man at GDC - taken from the Blogger’s Round Table debate.
On Game 3.0:
Phil Harrison: We wanted to establish the idea that, as an industry, we could unify some thinking into a statement called Game 3.0. It’s more about philosophies than directions, and we’re trying to give a label to some things that were happening in the industry anyway.
This time, we put questions to Sony on presence, navigation, features and moderation within Home…
What’s the function of the lobby and what is the maximum number of users that can be in a lobby?
“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.”
So how do you make sure friends are present in the same space?
“You can invite them via your friends list or invite them to your personal Home space.”
How will we all go about finding people within the Home world?
“We will have search functions for finding people online and offline, and for finding lobbies.”
Will you create lobbies by countries/regions?
“Yes, although users can choose where they want to go.”
How many avatars can I have?
“The current plan is for each Network account to be able to build one avatar, although you can have as many accounts as you like, giving you endless avatar options. Home is the human face of PlayStation Network, and your avatar is how you represent yourself. However, it will be possible to change your appearance, through customising your character and adding accessories, so you’ll be able to constantly re-invent yourself should you so desire.”
And I’ll be able to customise my avatar?
“Avatars are fully customisable with different facial features, height, weight, sex, hair styles, clothing, accessories, etc.”
What about using game characters as my avatar? Or can I use photo data to personalise my avatar (such as using photo data as the skin for my avatar’s face)?
“Not initially - however, we will extend the variety and selection of characters over time, including game characters and pets. Photo data is not supported at this time - however, the face customisation is very detailed and allows an almost infinite variety of faces to be created.”
Can you enter a game like 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.”
What about the Hall Of Fame rewards - how are they going to work?
“Users receive points for in-game achievements. More details regarding this will be made available closer to launch.”
What is the policy on acceptable behaviour?
“Within our public spaces, Home follows the same rules and guidelines as the Network with regard to age stipulations and acceptable behaviour. Home uses all the same age controls as the PS3 system software. Private spaces will not be monitored unless abuses or violations to our policies are reported by a user.”
Will we 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.”
How much freedom will people have in their private spaces?
“Our policy is not to actively police private areas, 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.”
What means of moderation will be in place for abusive language?
“We will have a basic text profanity filter, though, as noted above, text and voice will be turned off for users not of age.”
