Sony unveiled a 3D virtual world for the PlayStation 3 games console on Wednesday, dubbed 鈥淗ome鈥�. Inside the world, users can operate 3D characters and explore virtual settings. The platform will also support streaming video and advertising.
The company also previewed a game called 鈥淟ittleBigPlanet鈥� in which players need to collaborate to solve puzzles and will be allowed to share modifications to their surroundings with other PS3 users worldwide. Both titles were revealed at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, US.
鈥淗ome鈥� is a free download and will be available globally towards the end of 2007, according to Sony. A full-featured sample of 鈥淟ittleBigPlanet鈥� is scheduled for release on the PlayStation Network around the same time, with the full version expected in early 2008 (price to be announced nearer the time).
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Sony鈥檚 new projects incorporate elements borrowed from so-called web 2.0 ventures. These include Second Life 鈥� a virtual world in which players can create and own objects and even run their own businesses 鈥� and social-networking sites like MySpace, a wildly popular site that lets users connect with friends and share everything from music to videos.
Battle plans
The move could be crucial to the PS3鈥檚 ongoing battle with Microsoft鈥檚 Xbox 360 and Nintendo鈥檚 Wii console. 鈥淚t will take the industry forward,鈥� Phil Harrison, of Sony Computer Entertainment said.
Sam Kennedy, editor-in-chief of the video game site 1UP.com, says the projects end many months of speculation over Sony鈥檚 online strategy and show the Japanese electronics giant is at the forefront of advances in online software and services. 鈥淲hat it tells me is that they鈥檙e clearly paying attentiony,鈥� Kennedy says.
He adds that functions in LittleBigPlanet, allowing gamers to make modifications to the game to share with friends, are intriguing: 鈥淭his is like game development for everybody.鈥�
