Playstation Home (BETA) is now available for download on PS3 from the Playstation Network. In development since 2005, Home is a community-based service that allows users to create an avatar for use in a virtual world. With sleek, modern environment featuring spacious common areas and custom spaces dedicated to specific games, your avatar gets their own virtual apartment space which can then be adorned with items users can receive in several different ways. Almost everything can be customised to your liking with items you collect or purchase

Best described as a mixed of The Sims, Second Life and a home media centre – Home also allows interaction with an online community of millions of Playstation users – browse the Hall of Fame for trophies players have collected in various videogames, or just hang out in a virtual outdoor lobby to talk with text and voice. You can enter cinemas to download and view films, rally a group of people to jump between online multiplayer games, play pool or bowl together. Within this ‘real world’ environment you can even invite others to view your personal video, pictures and other digital media content found on your PS3 hard drive in your apartment. I’m sure it’ll be great in short bursts but all fun aside, I think I’d rather spend my pocket-money on a real sofa and meet up with three-dimensional people that have more than a hand-full of emotive responses.

Take a look at the video above to see ‘ME’ body-popping and raving in my luxury (albeit empty) apartment!

(Opinion by: Jon Price – Designer)