About Playstation Home

Playstation Home is an interactive function utilized on the Playstation 3. It is basically a virtual world wherein the player can customize features and interact with other players. This is a modern realization of “The Getaway Online", originally planned for the Playstation 2, which was cancelled and the idea put on hold. Forms of virtual social networking have become more and more common in consoles, and Sony intends to take things to the next level.

When first announced, there was talk of a full-fledged world with virtual theaters and gaming stores for playing demos, all of which are gradually being realized on the ever-expanding function. These include the ability to buy and personalize your own home, playing a real game through your virtual home, and traversing the virtual world interacting with other users. Both Playstation Network games and games on your hard drive or in your disc drive can be played in Playstation Home.

Users can immediately customize their own avatar, choosing from a wide variety of appearances, clothing and accessories. Next up you’re free to customize your "Home-Space"(typically an apartment room, house, etc.) It's even possible to invite another user to your home and watch streamed videos on your virtual TV, if the video is installed on your hard drive. Also included are functions to upload pictures and hang them on your wall, listen to and show other users your music, and play online games together such as chess and bowling.

Communication between users is handled in a variety of ways including virtual keyboard, USB or Bluetooth keyboard, headset, and emotes: fixed text messages, expressions and emotional displays. The "virtual keyboard" appears onscreen with the press of a button, and players can input text with their controllers. However, it's recommended that you use a keyboard or headset (or both) to take full advantage of the communication aspect of the game.

Additional updates have been confirmed; Sony intends to add pets and additional clothing, amongst other features. The function is entirely free to play, but there will be certain in-game items that can be bought with real money at the Playstation Store. All of these dynamic and innovative functions have helped to make Playstation Home widely popular amongst users.

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