Sony Launches Playstation Home Online Virtual Community

Sony announced today that it has launched its much anticipated virtual community of owners for its PlayStation 3 game console on Thursday. The free-of-charge service allows current and future owners of the PS3 to connect world-wide giving them access to create digital images or avatars to represent them and to communicate with other avatars.

The figures wander around virtual lawns, bowling alleys, arcades and homes in the PS3, but the central activity is playing games and becoming friends with other PlayStation 3 game fans, according to Sony. Junji "JB" Shoda, a Sony Computer Entertainment Japan vice president, who oversees Home, said Wednesday the service isn't meant to rival virtual worlds like Linden Lab's "Second Life," which can be played on personal computers and has drawn millions of people.

"This is a community for gamers," Shoda told reporters at a Sony Computer Entertainment office in Tokyo. "It's meant to enrich the interactive experience for gamers."

The service, offered in eight languages, will start in Japan, Europe, U.S. and other areas where PlayStation 3 is available. The service will be updated with new games, licensing partners and events including a New Year's countdown ceremony, Sony said.

Home was initially promised for 2007, but was delayed twice.